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[Phys-L] Re: SciAM goof



I used to look forward to articles on cutting edge physics that would show
up in SciAm. One could expect the authors to give insightful expositions of
new topics. They seemed to take special care to do a step by step exposition
of concepts in a non-mathematical way. One could assign a reading to a
student with reasonable expectation that they would get something out of it.
I found myself reading every physics article in detail - and many of the
life science articles also.

I noticed a big change a few years ago. Articles seemed to be presented
solely for the glorification of the author. The attitude appeared to be that
the audience is too dumb to follow the intricacies of a particular subject
and the authors make no attempt to clarify concepts for the non-specialist.
The usual wonderful diagrams and graphics have evolved into slapped-together
power point presentations.

The editorials have become preachy. The recent attack on Lomborg was more
akin to character assassination than a reasoned rebuttal of his ideas.

I find that I now just skim through the pages and file the magazine on the
shelve. Instead of SciAm, I now find myself reading Popular Science and
Popular Mechanics. I am finally at the point where I will probably let my
subscription lapse after 45 continuous years.

:-(

Bob at PC



-----Original Message-----
From: Forum for Physics Educators [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On
Behalf Of Bernard Cleyet
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 6:47 PM
To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
Subject: Re: SciAM goof

Yes.

Also, much as I appreciated the editor before it was bought by the
runaway capitalist, I'm disappointed he fired an editor of the amateur
scientist, because of his religion, so I've read.


This leads to a goof I just saw at the the Steinbeck Center. John was a
chemist's helper between stints at Stanford. One of his jobs was
finding the sugar concentration of sugar beets w/ a polarimiter. On
view is an beautiful antique one, "like one John used". In the
description the curator described it as if it were a refractometer. One
more thing on my list.

bc, busy

p.s. I've forgiven my mother for throwing out the turn of the century
SciAms my elem. school principal gave me ca. 1946.
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