[OT] Packtpub?

[Richmond]

On 07/09/2013 10:31 PM, Phil Davis wrote:
> Hi Richmond,
>
> They published Colin's book last year. That all I know about them.
>
> I received an email from them too, similar to yours. Not sure how to 
> respond.

Well, I read their "guff" and said 'Yes', and they have sent me more 
guff, and I am waiting for a chap
to start sending me chapters.

At worse I will lose a few hours reading the book; at best a copy of the 
book and another one, and, just possibly, something to put on my 
"brag-sheet".

I certainly cannot see any real damage ensuing.

I will "have a go" with this one, and then have a good long think 
afterwards as to any future stuff they may
lob at me.

I do get a slight "half-a-dozen people in a small room with a couple of 
computers hooked up to the internet"
feeling; but as a Schumacher sort of capitalist, I'm going to find that 
hard to fault so long as they are not ripping people off.

Probably the best way to 'cope' with this is to watch 'Bowfinger' [ 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowfinger ]
and have a good laugh; BUT, make sure you do your bit 100%. That is the 
way I'm getting on with it.

Richmond.

>
> Best -
> Phil Davis
>
>
> On 7/9/13 12:20 PM, Richmond wrote:
>> Packtpub, apparently an India-based published operation concerned 
>> largely with computer stuff
>> have asked me to be involved in editing a publication.
>>
>> What is unclear to me, and they don't seem to want to answer . . .
>>
>>  . . . is what their academic standing is as well as the extent of 
>> their market reach.
>>
>> What is also unclear is how they select their editors as they have 
>> made no enquiry as to an academic qualifications I may have, years of 
>> experience in the field and so on. This strikes me as very odd indeed.
>>
>> "I came across your discussion, and felt that you would be an ideal 
>> person to review this book for us."
>>
>> Is opaque in the extreme: what discussion? where? and what on earth 
>> would that actually tell you
>> about either my ability to review a publication or my academic bona 
>> fides vis-a-vis computer programming.
>>
>> Now all they are offering me for my work seems to be a hard copy of 
>> the book plus another from their
>> "stable" of publications. That is all very jolly, but it is not what 
>> motivates me; what does is the fact that my
>> c.v. has got a bit thin on the ground recently, and the odd 
>> editorship and/or publication would spice things
>> up a bit when/if I decide to apply for a new job.
>>
>> What I am really wondering is whether this will have any sort of 
>> clout in a c.v at all, or is just a bit of
>> fun to get a couple of books.
>>
>> Richmond.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> use-livecode mailing list
>> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
>> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your 
>> subscription preferences:
>> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
>>
>