Silicon Chip magazine

[Phil Allison]

"Julian Edgar"

Thanks Phil, but every point I have made here is either supported by
written evidence (eg "we recognise none of your claims to intellectual
property rights"); earwitness accounts (eg "So Leo you're saying you
might go ahead with the new magazine but without my involvement?"
"That's right!") and so on.

** You are very naive about the law of defamation, Julian.

The general tone and implications of your posts may dissuade others from
contributing articles to SC or having dealings with Leo etc.

You are practically forcing SC to take action against you to silence you.




........ Phil

 

[Julian Edgar]

"Julian Edgar"



** You are very naive about the law of defamation, Julian.

The general tone and implications of your posts may dissuade others from
contributing articles to SC or having dealings with Leo etc.

You are practically forcing SC to take action against you to silence you.




....... Phil

Leo Simpson remains a man of tremendous capability in many areas. I
seriously encourage others to write freelance material for Silicon Chip
- especially when contributing just an occasional article here and
there, I found the relationship to be very fruitful. If you do the
articles as a hobby, it can pay quite well too.

In the main, Silicon Chip magazine is extremely good - I think in the
presence of John Clarke they have an electronics engineer who performs
brilliantly in the niche of designing for a hobbyist electronics
magazine.

But I think that anyone who writes for the magazine long-term and in
bulk should insist on being appointed to a staff position, if only so
that ideas like ownership of intellectual property and suchlike are
clearly resolved.

Leo Simpson is the driving force behind the magazine, in addition to
being (with his wife) the owner. He has achieved a great deal in
starting the magazine from scratch and knocking out the competition.
However, in a way he is a victim of his own success - a very big fish
in a very small pond.

I am glad to be out of that pond.

Julian Edgar

 

[Phil Allison]

"Julian Edgar"

Leo Simpson remains a man of tremendous capability in many areas. I
seriously encourage others to write freelance material for Silicon Chip
- especially when contributing just an occasional article here and
there, I found the relationship to be very fruitful. If you do the
articles as a hobby, it can pay quite well too.

In the main, Silicon Chip magazine is extremely good - I think in the
presence of John Clarke they have an electronics engineer who performs
brilliantly in the niche of designing for a hobbyist electronics
magazine.

But I think that anyone who writes for the magazine long-term and in
bulk should insist on being appointed to a staff position, if only so
that ideas like ownership of intellectual property and suchlike are
clearly resolved.

Leo Simpson is the driving force behind the magazine, in addition to
being (with his wife) the owner. He has achieved a great deal in
starting the magazine from scratch and knocking out the competition.
However, in a way he is a victim of his own success - a very big fish
in a very small pond.

I am glad to be out of that pond.

Julian Edgar

** There is no response here to my warning - likely because there is no
comprehension of it.

Julian continues to dig his hole deeper.





....... Phil

 

[David L. Jones]

Leo Simpson remains a man of tremendous capability in many areas. I
seriously encourage others to write freelance material for Silicon Chip
- especially when contributing just an occasional article here and
there, I found the relationship to be very fruitful. If you do the
articles as a hobby, it can pay quite well too.

In the scheme of things the Oz magazines have never really paid that
well.
SC is (or was) (IIRC) $100/page, tax free if you claim it as hobby
income. EA was more complicated in how it was calculated, but was
similar overall.

That's might be a nice little side earner if you can churn out general
interest articles that don't need much work, but if you design a decent
sized project then the prototype costs alone could be more than you
might get paid for the article. That of course dosn't count your time,
and if you are used to getting say $50/hour in industry, you certainly
wouldn't do it for the money. It is a labour of love for most, with the
real benefit being the kick you get out of seeing your project
published, or possibly selling kits or bits on the side. It doesn't
hurt on the resume either.

But money aside, I agree, I've found my dealings with SC quite fruitful
and will most likely continue to contribute every now and then, and I'd
also encourage others to do so as well.

Dave

 

[Terryc]

Thanks Phil, but every point I have made here is either supported by
written evidence (eg "we recognise none of your claims to intellectual
property rights"); earwitness accounts (eg "So Leo you're saying you
might go ahead with the new magazine but without my involvement?"
"That's right!") and so on.

Well, if you've lost the idea, why not share it around. You might find
someone who knows Australian magazine publishing who is interesting in
running it with you.

 

[Alan Rutlidge]

"Julian Edgar"

(snip)




** Be very careful what you post here - Julian.

Or, you might just get a RED HOT phone call from Greg Swain one morning
followed up by a letter from Leo Simpson's lawyer ( Lynden E. Hooper and
Co ) like I did, in September of 2002.

Or maybe you already know that.




....... Phil

Let me guess. You didn't get paid enough for your in-depth article on
toaster repairs?

 

[The Real Andy]

Leo Simpson remains a man of tremendous capability in many areas. I
seriously encourage others to write freelance material for Silicon Chip
- especially when contributing just an occasional article here and
there, I found the relationship to be very fruitful. If you do the
articles as a hobby, it can pay quite well too.

In the main, Silicon Chip magazine is extremely good - I think in the
presence of John Clarke they have an electronics engineer who performs
brilliantly in the niche of designing for a hobbyist electronics
magazine.

But I think that anyone who writes for the magazine long-term and in
bulk should insist on being appointed to a staff position, if only so
that ideas like ownership of intellectual property and suchlike are
clearly resolved.

Leo Simpson is the driving force behind the magazine, in addition to
being (with his wife) the owner. He has achieved a great deal in
starting the magazine from scratch and knocking out the competition.
However, in a way he is a victim of his own success - a very big fish
in a very small pond.

I am glad to be out of that pond.

Julian Edgar

I have in just completed a project which I was going to offer to SC. I
have just changed my mind.

I understand it is popular mag with the hobbiest, but it is a 'has
been' mag with very poor content, and has been like this for some time
now. I fail to understand why people buy it. I rate it up there with
the 'New Idea' mags.

 

[Brian Goldsmith.]

"The Real Andy" wrote

I have in just completed a project which I was going to offer to SC. I
have just changed my mind.

I understand it is popular mag with the hobbiest, but it is a 'has
been' mag with very poor content, and has been like this for some time
now. I fail to understand why people buy it. I rate it up there with
the 'New Idea' mags.


****Then just why would you have entertained the idea of offering a project
to them????????????????????/

Wotta wanker!!!!


Brian Goldsmith.

 

[atec77]

"The Real Andy" wrote

I have in just completed a project which I was going to offer to SC. I
have just changed my mind.

I understand it is popular mag with the hobbiest, but it is a 'has
been' mag with very poor content, and has been like this for some time
now. I fail to understand why people buy it. I rate it up there with
the 'New Idea' mags.


****Then just why would you have entertained the idea of offering a project
to them????????????????????/

Wotta wanker!!!!


Brian Goldsmith.

Brian it's patently obvious you have not heard the old axion about
keeping quite and not confirming your foolishness..

 

[David L. Jones]

"The Real Andy" wrote

I have in just completed a project which I was going to offer to SC. I
have just changed my mind.

I understand it is popular mag with the hobbiest, but it is a 'has
been' mag with very poor content, and has been like this for some time
now. I fail to understand why people buy it. I rate it up there with
the 'New Idea' mags.


****Then just why would you have entertained the idea of offering a project
to them????????????????????/

Because "it is a popular mag with the hobbyist" perhaps...
There are benefits to getting a project published, even if you don't
partically find the mag useful yourself, the two are not necessarily
mutually exclusive.

Dave

 

[Bob Parker]

There are benefits to getting a project published...

Dave

Like having to answer thousands of e-mails over a period of >10
years from constructors whose poor soldering stopped the kit you
designed from working, and/or didn't bother to read the kit notes,
perhaps....?

Bob

 

[Phil Allison]

"Bob Parker"

Like having to answer thousands of e-mails over a period of >10 years
from constructors whose poor soldering stopped the kit you designed from
working, and/or didn't bother to read the kit notes, perhaps....?

** The female staffers at EA mag seemed to think that outside contributors
has some legal/moral obligation to deal personally with each and every half
witted kit constructor who wrote a some bitching, stupid letter to them.
Instead of the shonky commercial operators ( ie like DSE, Jaycar and Rod
Irving ) that sold the damn kits.

They would forward a copy of the ( usually scrawly, hand written) missive on
with a curt request to answer it !!!

Why ??????????

9 bloody chances out of 10, the dickwad had already found and fixed his
dumb error before his dopey letter arrived at the offices of EA.


All they had to do was send out a standard reply letter:


" We KNOW the design is A-OK, hundreds of working examples prove that
point beyond doubt.

Please re-check all your soldering and all component values and orientation.

Missed solder joints and solder bridges account for most non working PCBs.

Kindly direct all future correspondence to your kit supplier.

They are making all the money out to this - not us . "



Arrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh !!!!!!





........ Phil

 

[Bob Parker]

"Bob Parker"



** The female staffers at EA mag seemed to think that outside contributors
has some legal/moral obligation to deal personally with each and every half
witted kit constructor who wrote a some bitching, stupid letter to them.
Instead of the shonky commercial operators ( ie like DSE, Jaycar and Rod
Irving ) that sold the damn kits.

They would forward a copy of the ( usually scrawly, hand written) missive on
with a curt request to answer it !!!

Why ??????????

9 bloody chances out of 10, the dickwad had already found and fixed his
dumb error before his dopey letter arrived at the offices of EA.


All they had to do was send out a standard reply letter:


" We KNOW the design is A-OK, hundreds of working examples prove that
point beyond doubt.

Please re-check all your soldering and all component values and orientation.

Missed solder joints and solder bridges account for most non working PCBs.

Kindly direct all future correspondence to your kit supplier.

They are making all the money out to this - not us . "



Arrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh !!!!!!





....... Phil

I see that I'm not alone. The internet has made it much easier
for them to tell you that they never make mistakes and they've checked
the soldering a dozen times.
Then there are the nit-pickers who tell you how you *should* have
designed it, plus the aggressive Americans/Canadians who think the kit
is a scam and that they've been conned, and that the only reason you
make appearances on newsgroups is to subtly promote "your product". I
could write a book!
I absolutely agree with your final 'word'.



Bob

 

[Ross Herbert]

On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:23:42 +1100, Bob Parker wrote

SNIP

"I could write a book!"

Now there's an idea for a Silicon Chip article Bob

 

[Bob Parker]

On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:23:42 +1100, Bob Parker wrote

SNIP


Now there's an idea for a Silicon Chip article Bob

I wonder if they'd publish it?

 

[David Segall]

"Julian Edgar"


** There is no response here to my warning - likely because there is no
comprehension of it.

Julian continues to dig his hole deeper.

It was kind of you to warn Julian of some possible consequences but
Julian's response was helpful to the group and should be encouraged in
a general social sense. Did you actually lose any money as a result of
your encounter with Lynden E. Hooper and Co or were they simply used
to silence you?

 

[Phil Allison]

"David Segall"

It was kind of you to warn Julian of some possible consequences

** No more " kind" than warning a blind person they are about to walk in
front of an oncoming bus.

but Julian's response was helpful to the group and should be encouraged in
a general social sense.

** What response was that then ?

The one YOU just snipped out of sight ??

How dopey of you.

Did you actually lose any money as a result of
your encounter with Lynden E. Hooper and Co or were they simply used
to silence you?

** No money was expended by me - can't say how much Lynden E. charged
Leo, SC and Co.

I have not been silenced - you presumed far too much.

Julian's predicament is another matter entirely.

Watch this space.




....... Phil

 

[Ross Herbert]

I wonder if they'd publish it?

And if they did... would they pay?

 

[David Segall]

"David Segall"




** No more " kind" than warning a blind person they are about to walk in
front of an oncoming bus.





** What response was that then ?

The one YOU just snipped out of sight ??

How dopey of you.





** No money was expended by me - can't say how much Lynden E. charged
Leo, SC and Co.

I have not been silenced - you presumed far too much.

Julian's predicament is another matter entirely.

Watch this space.

I am sorry if I offended you. I only wanted to say that although you
were right to warn Julien of some possible consequences of his posts I
thought his posts were valuable. And yes, I did snip one of those
posts because I did not think it was relevant to this thread about the
legal and moral aspects of the posts. In addition I guessed that, in
your case, the lawyers were used in an _attempt_ to silence critics
and that Julien should not be too concerned before he gets a letter
from the lawyers. I am glad that you were not silenced and the purpose
of my post was to encourage Julien to speak out too. I hesitated to do
that before confirming that you were not bankrupted by Hooper and Co.

 

[David L. Jones]

Like having to answer thousands of e-mails over a period of >10
years from constructors whose poor soldering stopped the kit you
designed from working, and/or didn't bother to read the kit notes,
perhaps....?

Bob

Hi Bob
Yes, I forgot about that nice "side benefit" :-/
Great if you are a "people person"
In one case I had to even answer hardware questions on a kit I didn't
design!

I had one guy send back one of my kits (unsolicited) and demanded that
I fix it "under warranty". He had the 78L05 regulator in backwards.

Like I said, it's certainly a labour of love...

Dave