SKY and SPACE What a Joke! - Page 3

WadeH (Wade) · #41 18-10-2007, 08:10 PM

Got my Sept/Oct? issue of S&S yesterday. As usual a quick glance reveiled what will probably be a great read.

That said, I can put up with the continued lateness as this has no real affect on the greater content, but, as an astronomy mag. what does get up my goat are the sections that show and tell what is going to happen in the heavens over the term of the issue. What is the use when the data is so out of date by the time the mag is recieved?

That said I shall continue to subscribe as I can for the present forgive this for the greater read.

iceman (Mike) · #42 18-10-2007, 08:11 PM

You're right about me staying me out of the debate, Mark. My comment wasn't meant to take sides. I apologise if I offended anyone.

I enjoy reading all astronomy magazines. I enjoyed both Mike Sidonio's and Paul Mayo's articles in the recent S&S.

There's 2 major astronomy magazines in the US, with a much bigger amateur astronomy market. I hope Australia/NZ continues to be able to support 2 magazines. It would mean that amateur astronomy continues to grow, and that's a good thing for all of us.

Rodstar (Rod) · #43 18-10-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satchmo

Yes , I 'd call that hair-splitting when the other 15 or so authors in the magazine are all australian residents.
One foreign written article hardly brings down anyones perception of a magazine who is acheiving an exposure of most predominently Australian talent.

Mike , you are an AS&T contributer and AS&T are sponsors of your website. Your comment hardly projects an air of neutrality from IIS maneagement ?

100% Australian does not equal 93% Australian.

Mike's point is correct, and does not indicate any loss of objectivity.

The moral high ground S&S is trying to claim seems to be suffering considerable subsidence.....

Lee · #44 18-10-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WadeH

...... as an astronomy mag. what does get up my goat are the sections that show and tell what is going to happen in the heavens over the term of the issue. What is the use when the data is so out of date by the time the mag is recieved?........

I've wondered about that myself too......

mib · #45 18-10-2007, 09:15 PM

I think S&S is a great mag and my wife enjoys it too. I feel there is considerable agreement on this but the issue is the continued tardiness in its delivery.

I personally don't mind it being a month out of sync with AS&T it helps to spread the reading. I find it more anoying when it is a month and a half late. I just think they should change its issue to Oct-Nov and stop pretending they were ever going to get it out for Sept.

The only thing they would have to change is what's on in the sky pages. I know most people here may not have great use for them but many people starting out do. After all they are 15% or more of the mag we are paying for considerably more than small amount of OS content being debated.

So S&S just change your issue names, so the next one is Dec-Jan and fix the sky pages and the problem is gone away!

Dazzler · #46 18-10-2007, 09:34 PM

I sent an email to S&S yesterday as I wasn 't sure when my subscription ended. They replied within an hour that it ended the previous month.

I promptly resubscribed on their website. Hopefully the current issue doesn't take too long to get to me.

Great to get a quick response from them but in hindsight I am amazed that they hadn't troubled to at least send me an email to try and get my subscription renewed.

If I hadn't followed it up I don't think anything would have happened.

Should be easy to make use of a database of current subscribers.

StarLane · #47 18-10-2007, 10:10 PM

It's a business and not a charity. We pay for this thing, it's not a freeby. The least they can do is make sure it's out on time. Why is the Sep Oct edition released half way through Oct??? although I have not seen it in newsagents here yet. They have skipped issues in the past altogether, one recently becasue they couldn't complete it on time. There is always an excuse (which I have found out later), new look mag meaning longer to create, printing problems, what ever. It is obviously a popular magazine, someone makes profit out of it, why don't they put on a couple more staff??, maybe it can get released on time?
I've got to tell ya, I will never be subscribing to such a magazine.

There is obviously alot of people out there concerned about the delay with every issue, evidence of this is the amount of people replying to this thread in only a couple of days.

In the past I too have sent polite emails commending them on a great Oz mag and to ask when can we possibly see the next edition in the shops, and you guest it, no reply.

xelasnave · #48 18-10-2007, 10:22 PM

Well its time for a new face..it may be time for someone to step up and say I dont need an excuse to justify my slack approach..maybe..just maybe..someone will seize the opportunity that is available by being on time, being in tune and being there. It is not much to ask ..give me what I paid for and hold the excuses..so simple really.
alex

astroron (Ron) · #49 18-10-2007, 10:33 PM

A few years ago they had a spread about the forthcoming Queensland AstroFest, The magazine came out in the shops the day AstroFest started

Hence the name Lost In Space

xelasnave · #50 18-10-2007, 10:45 PM

Like the adds you get on TV sometimes advertizing a sale that happened a day earlier... no excuse for stupid, no excuse for slack , still some folk think its ok so long as they go thru the motions..it is not ok... you cut it or give it in...
A muso does not get awy with saying... my string broke... they play with the ones that are left..no grizzle...no excuses... simple.
Try bike racing with excuses ..I could not fiund my goggles so the race should have not started before I found them..
get real ....
I think another mag will pop up and blow them away...the writing is on the wall... the weak fail the strong take over.
alex

Bisqueboy · #51 18-10-2007, 11:18 PM

Id hang onto all your Australian Sky and Telescope subscriptions just yet folks

Theres a great disturbance in the force.

firstlight (Tony) · #52 19-10-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

I did subscibe to the late lamented Southern Sky and also to Sky and Space just after the two combined.

Um, Southern Sky didn't combine or merge with S&S, but succumbed to a relentless economic attack. You might be referring to the name change from Southern Astronomy, an effort to appeal to a larger audience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

Late or non delivery of issues caused me to not renew my subscription and ever since have just picked it up if it is available at a newsagents.
I am a bit unforgiving when it comes to not fulfilling contracts. In my job I used to spend large amounts of company money on materials, businesses got 2 chances for fulfilling orders on time, after the second let down, I looked elsewhere.

As I said earlier, the market in Australia is small and financially difficult to produce a quality mag to deadlines. Having said that, I'm a big boy, I can handle being told that money is tight and the mag will be late. However most responses I got ranged from "It is at the printers, you will have it next week" (arrived 2 months later), "the premises burnt down" (not sure how many times), "my dog ate the proofs" (OK... I made that one up, but you get the idea).

I don't like being told untruths. Can't bring myself to subscribe again, (2 year sub lasted 4, =12 issues). Has to have something special in it to get me to buy it from the stands.

AJames · #53 19-10-2007, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bisqueboy

I'd hang onto all your Australian Sky and Telescope subscriptions just yet folks

Theres a great disturbance in the force.

Ah Dear Bisqueboy,

Yet again you have decided to show your head again into the speculative world of the local telescope magazine machinations, eh? After your almost wicked IIS romp during August/ September with your thread "Australian Sky and Telescope Troubles", no one ever thought you be brave enough to return?

Isn't Funny. Last time you were questioning the ethics and business practices of AS&T and now your seemingly supporting them! So what gives?

Pot stirring is one thing, but do you have the courage to reveal your sources? Methinks not. Hence, you should probably be ignored.

As for your "disturbance in the farce", whoops force, I somehow already think this presumed quiver is all in your own mind. [Besides, like me, you probably wouldn't have enough metachlorians in your system to discover what's going on anyway.

]

Be sure to give my kindest regards to your sources.

(PS. The Meade adverts in AS&T did come back you know!!!)

rogerco (Roger) · #54 19-10-2007, 10:35 AM

What is it about magazines that people can't cope with them being a little late before they start bagging them, are they so addictive that the readers go into withdrawal and their fingers start shaking over the keyboard.

I think its great that a minority hobby has two local magazines. I have been involved with ham radio and hobby electronics for many years and have seen that field reduce from four to one (with no ham radio mag other than the Institute one). And they suffered from the "why is it late" problem from their readers.

I have also been involved with club magazines where everybody wants a mag but nobody wants to contribute anything.

I'm just glad to have some local mags with southern sky content which I can buy at half the price of the northern alternatives.

Roger Cooper

Neilzstar · #55 19-10-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJames

(PS. The Meade adverts in AS&T did come back you know!!!)

So where on Page 99 of AS&T is Meade officially listed - never mind the agents. Maybe Bisqueboy was not so wrong. Neilzstar

AJames · #56 19-10-2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilzstar

So where on Page 99 of AS&T is Meade officially listed - never mind the agents. Maybe Bisqueboy was not so wrong. Neilzstar

See: http://www.austskyandtel.com.au/advertiser_sites.htm

If there was a problem they wouldn't be here?

ving (David) · #57 19-10-2007, 12:46 PM

bah! its a good read, i recieved mine ages ago and have read it cover to cover

Neilzstar · #58 19-10-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJames

See: http://www.austskyandtel.com.au/advertiser_sites.htm

If there was a problem they wouldn't be here?

Still not in the mag. Neilzstar

h0ughy (David) · #59 19-10-2007, 12:49 PM

its time we started to complain about clear skies and a full moon

, more to been seen and imaged for the next time we come together to complain

Neilzstar · #60 19-10-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

its time we started to complain about clear skies and a full moon

, more to been seen and imaged for the next time we come together to complain

hOughy, Not sure that I am complaining, merely pointing out a bit of spin that perhaps should not have occurred. I noticed it particularly as I have waited for my AS&T to see about Meade, and I can't find them. Again, as in other posts, I tell all that I take both magazines. Cheers, Neilzstar