For Dr. Shimek: general articles

[smidoid]

Dear Dr Shimek, as we've previously corresponded, I'd like to ask you and others in an open forum if it's possible to reprint (so to speak) and update some of your articles that have vanished into the mists of cyberspace. I note that a few of your linked pages on your website have gone west, too.

I'm particularly interested in your work on natural marine ecosystems and how we may attempt to simulate them in the home aquaria; sand beds, fluctuating temperatures, light levels and so on.

For example, I have a 50 gallon mini-reef (more of a FOWLR right now as it's developing from square one) with a sump/fuge and I'd like to simulate the environment for clownfish and other species in that depth of ocean; so what sort of stock should I be aiming for? I'm particularly interested in the microscopic and invertebrate life, the fish seem less of a problem.

Is that a good starting point?

[Ron Shimek]

Hi,

I thank you for the interest in my articles.

Well... I will probably revise and republish some of these articles. As you may be aware, when an article gets published the magazine that purchased the rights to the artice retains the copyright to the contents in the specific format of the magazine. The actual contents, however, are still copyright to the author. So... I can resell and republish the article.

The problem is that most editors don't want to publish something "the second time around." And I am sure Scott Z. would feel that way about these articles, if I just published them "straight up." Consequently, I will have to revise them. However, that having been said, I certainly can do that and submit them to be published. And, I will probably do so, to some extent, once my current series on microscopy is finished in my column in RHO.

A second problem, for those who want them "NOW" is that RHO publishes every other month, so that it will probably be on the order of at least 6 months before the first of them could appear in the magazine.

So... if you want them sooner, you (and presumably a number of other readers) will have to lobby the editor to 1) purchase them and 2) publish them in a more rapid manner.

I am an assistant editor and an author for RHO, and I am not privy to, nor do I want to be privy to, the financial situation of RHO and reefland. It, simply put, is none of my business. Scott and Gene have been more than generous in purchasing my articles. I cannot and will not pressure them to buy any more that would be normal for any given period. However, if there is "reader pressure" for more articles and if the money was there to purchase the articles, I presume there are options for "special issues" and such.

Basically, the ball is in your court...

[smidoid]

Excellent points there (and yes, I have been in Scott's position). All my stuff was published under the "first world serial rights" agreement so I had the option to re-use (albeit edited versions) of my stuff in books, etc.

I think the trouble of having a favourite author who writes in several different publications (some of which later vanish from view) is that you lose track of good stuff: a great shame.

The other problem as a publication is that you have to balance advertising revenue against author's remunerations. Tricky business that I wouldn't want to have to do again: ever!

Personally, I'd probably buy an RHO special if it were cost effective (say $10) and sufficiently detailed. I have no doubt that it would be of excellent quality. However, I'm guessing, as is the nature of the net, that I'd be in a slim minority.

I note that Steven Pro maintains a sticky list of his articles on the forums - and if you could do the same, that would a be great help! I'll do the existing list for you, complete with checked links if that helps... but I'd prefer to have the nod rather than just doing it!

[CirolanidHunter]

smidoid,

If you go to Dr Shimek's website, under the Aquaria button he has a list of his online articles. He would have to comment on if it is a complete list, but I would guess the majority are there.

Brian

[smidoid]

See it (the list that is) and it's a bit out of date with broken links all over the place. That's not Dr. Shimek's fault, just the nature of the net. I'm rather fond of his stuff so I'm a bit of a ShimekHunter... ;-)

[Ron Shimek]

Hi,

The broken links are to either the original places the articles were published or to archive sites where the articles were "cached." If those links are broken, it is likely the articles are not longer available in any form. I do maintenance on my website as time permits, generally every couple of months, or so, and try to keep the links updated, but the archive sites seem to "come and go." The Aquarium.Net site where some of my earliest work was published appears to have vanished completely, and the Aquarium Frontiers site is "selectively" available. For what it is worth, I will be doing some "maintenance" on the website in the next week or two, so things will probably be better in a bit.

Additionally, there are a large number of print articles published in Aquarium Fish Magazine (mostly back in the 1997-99 period, but some sporadically since), as well a couple in TFH and FAMA. Those might be available in some public libraries.

[marinefiend]

Mr. Shimek

I spend a lot of time here reading all of the very informative stuff that the top people have to say here.

If I was to paste the first paragraph and the provide the link back to any original thread even if my site is a forum dedicated to the aquarium hobby would this cuase you or any other member of RHO any issue?

I have to admit that I have to say that I learn a lot here, and I wish to help others learn as well.

[Ron Shimek]

Hi,

Such linkage is often prohibited in user agreements. I am not sure what Reefland's policy is on this, you should contact the owners and get their permission.

I would just as soon that you do not do this with my articles, however.