Thursday, February 6, 2020

Aldus Manutius – A Man of Letters


Manutius was the premier fifteenth-century printer of classic Greek and Latin texts. He championed a revolutionary approach, placing accessibility, affordability, and quality first and foremost.
“Manutius produced the first printed editions of many of the Greek and Latin classics and is particularly associated with the production of small, excellently edited pocket-size books printed in inexpensive editions.” – Britannica.com
Manutius is most recognized for his dedication to making the ancient Greek classics  such as Homer, Plato, and Aristotle  widely available in their original Greek. To achieve this, Aldus worked to create a standardized italicized typeface – the first ever created. Alongside this, he masterminded a new publishing format – books designed to be easily carried by readers on their travels. This was a startling idea, one that changed the way publishers and scholars viewed books and coincidentally reduced production costs. His publishing imprint, Aldine Press, became internationally celebrated, and his innovative adaptations were quickly copied. Read More

Who and how to pay for OA


Now there is the question of how to pay for this? Although OA also is known under the moniker Author Pays (as opposed to Reader Pays) it will be clear to all that it is not the scientists who are asked to pay, using private funds, for the publication of work created as part of their employ. So Reader Pays in essence should be: University Pays, Employer Pays or perhaps Funder Pays. Read More


Alduspress


Phillips Director of the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies at Oxford Brookes University have recently published the fifth edition of Inside Book Publishing which remains the classic introduction to the book publishing industry, being both a manual for the profession for over two decades and the bestselling textbook for students of publishing.
This new edition has been fully updated to respond to the rapid changes in the market and technology. Now more global in its references and scope, the book explores the tensions and trends affecting the industry, including the growth of ebooks, self-publishing, and online retailing, and new business models and workflows. The book provides excellent overviews of the main aspects of the publishing process, including commissioning, product development, design and production, marketing, sales and distribution.
Angus and Giles where even kind enough to allow me to author a section on XML-structuring.Read More

WHY WE LAUNCHED ALDUS PRESS


A few friends asked me some time ago if I wanted to start an Open Access Book Publishing initiative with them. The idea was to combine our knowledge of publishing in general and scholarly communication in particular. During conferences and later in bars we discussed how Open Access has changed the industry and how automation and computerization will mean more change to come. We all felt that existing publishers could do a better job. Perhaps not a revolutionary better job, in the way Steve Jobs changed mobile telephony to the smartphone, but perhaps a more efficient, pleasant change. Certain publishers, we felt, are perhaps just resting on their laurels, expecting their bonuses to come in through the ‘Big Deals’, others we felt, are incredibly inefficient and spend way too much time discussing, arguing and debating ‘whether footnotes should be tabulated or indented’. We never understood completely why the publication times for scientific journals can be fast; under 3 months whereas books quite often take more than 3 quarters. Read More

How to be a successful academic book series editor at Aldus Press


intervals. The books by themselves are self-contained in their topic and content. They are thus an ever-growing number of individual anthologies that, together, form a developing canon of knowledge. The series editor is the embodiment of the series, the person who ‘sets the course and steers the ship’.
What makes a successful series editor?
Five elements go into the making of a successful series editor.To start a series, a series-editor begins by working with the publisher and, possibly a small group of peers, to define the series itself.  The subject area, as well as aims & scope, needs to be defined. Here, often, a trade-off is made. In general, a publisher would desire a broader subject area hoping to be able to publish more, whereas a series-editor might want to be focusing strongly on a niche. In line with the aims & scope, form an editorial policy regarding desired quality, review policy, English language only or also other languages, frequency, and so forth. All this information is published on the publishers’ website and promoted, both by the publisher as well as by the series-editor. This process usually is summarized by a descriptive title that, quite often, reflects the group of series. Think Anthologies in Medicine, Anthologies in Religious Studies and so forth. Read More


Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Personal Trainer will Help To Get Fitness Goal


Unfortunately, most people who are looking for personal trainers do not have an idea what are the reputable certifications they should be looking out for.
Who wants to end up looking in the wrong or worse shape than they started off? The problem is anyone can get a fly-by-night online personal training certification and claimed that he is a qualified personal trainer even without proper practical experience. In fact, there are literally hundreds of personal training certifications out there and there is only a handful that meets the highest standard.
Although you can be in good hands when you find a "superstar" trainer, it does not guarantee success in achieving your fitness goals. A great personal trainer is certainly not a magic bullet. All he can do for you is motivate you, show you the right way and become a vital resource for you. In the end, your level of success depends on your level of commitment to the program.

Like all things, there are personal trainers who are better at their job and with their advance knowledge and experience they can get the most out of you than you trying on your own. Certainly, some are just being in the profession to earn some part-time cash and may not be into training.

How do you find the right trainer for yourself? What do you look for? Let's look at the following:

What are their relevant qualifications?
First and foremost, the level of education or training is an important factor you must consider when getting a personal trainer. Having a college degree in exercise science certainly helps but it should not be judged as a sole determinant on the quality of the fitness professional. There are many great personal trainers who do not have a college degree but still have in-depth knowledge in training. However, the trainers should be at least certified by reputable international fitness certification agencies. So what are the good few one? They are as followed but by no mean limited to the following:
American College School Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer or Health Fitness Specialist
National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Personal Trainer
Chek Institute
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
YMCA

As a personal trainer in Perth Western Australia, I know for a fact most of the fitness trainers in Australia do not hold the above mentioned certification. This is because the tightly regulated fitness industry requires the personal trainers to hold Cert IV Fitness Qualification, a set minimal Australian national vocational standard, to conduct personal training services. Therefore, you are most likely to find a qualified fitness professional with at least Cert IV qualification in Australia. However, all the paper qualification counts for nothing if he or she does not have industry experience.

What are their Industry Experiences?
Depending on your fitness goals, you should find out about the type of experience the trainers have. Some of them can be more specialized in strength and conditioning in sports, rehabilitation or weight loss. If you are seeking results, be sure to look for someone who is specialized in your area. Although it can be very impressive to hear of someone having more than 10 years of experience in the fitness industry, it is important to ask about the work experience, seminars and relevant certification courses he or she had attended. You will be surprised that some of them do very little in their careers to stay current to the latest practice and trend in fitness.

Are they insured?
Be sure to ask about liability insurance. Have yourself covered. No matter how good the trainer can be, there is always going to be an inherent risk to exercising. Not having liability insurance may also be a sign that the "trainer" is not adequately certified. Especially in Australia, it is not possible to get liability insurance if you are not a member of the Fitness Australia and not hold a Cert IV fitness qualification.

Do they have Testimonials?
If the personal trainer you are seeking out has been in the fitness industry for some years, he or she should have written testimonies from his former and existing clients. So don't be afraid to ask for testimonies and make a call or two and find out what other people are saying about the trainer. If he is specialized in weight loss, he should have before and after pictures of his clients to show for.

How about you?
It is important that the prospective trainer you meet does not just talk about his great careers achievements and certifications that he holds without asking about you. After all, personal training is about you and your fitness goals.

At the very least, the personal trainer should find out about your specific fitness goals, exercise history, past and present medical conditions and current lifestyle. If the fitness professional shows no interest in why you are meeting him or her for, it is better to look for a trainer somewhere else.

The aforementioned guidelines are not hard and fast rules on what you should be looking for in a personal trainer. It is intended to help you in your decision to get the best possible personal trainer for your fitness goals. In the end, it boils down to personal preferences and the rapport you have with the prospective personal trainer that you meet. However, do bear in mind that it is YOU that have to make things work! Be sure to work closely with the personal trainer you choose for the best outcomes.

Personal Trainer For Fitness Goals


Everyone thinks that they can exercise on their own and get the results they want. If that is the case, then why do professional personal trainers need to attend courses to get themselves certified and subscribe to expensive journals to keep themselves abreast in what is happening and new discoveries in the fitness fraternity?
To lose weight or to gain muscles just to name a few. Some may have tried on their own to achieve their personal fitness objectives without success while others may believe that by hiring professional trainers, they can achieve their goals much faster with professional guidance.
Whatever the case may be, if you are working out in a gym without a realistic fitness plan, chances are very likely that you may become quickly frustrated as results are slow to come by and eventually giving up your quest. As such, one way of sticking to an effective workout program is to use the services of a qualified personal trainer.
So here are a few reasons why gym instructors can be an essential part of your fitness program. Firstly, a good personal trainer will design a fitness program to meet your particular needs. Everyone is unique and has different goals and so there cannot be a one size fit all workout programs like those you see in magazines. If what you read in magazines can really transform you, then the magazines will be out of circulation real soon since everyone will have achieved their goals and need not buy another one to read.
Next, your fitness trainer will have to assess your present physical fitness level and plan a comprehensive program that matches your present fitness capability. This is crucial to avoid injuries and accidents. The trainer will also have to demonstrate each exercise using free weights and machines so that you can use them most effectively to get your results in the shortest time possible safely.

As your physical fitness level improves week after week, your gym instructor will be the one to gauge when it is time for you to increase your workload and activities. Your performance will be tracked so that every few months or so, your instructor should be able to produce a comprehensive report of your progress.

Because you are paying good money for a good personal trainer, you will be more motivated to achieve your goals and with your instructor coaching you on specific time of the week, you are less likely to miss your workout sessions or to quit exercising completely. A good personal trainer is also a good motivator who is able communicate and bond with you.

Since certified personal trainers are professionally trained themselves, they will also have to draw up a nutrition plan for you to achieve your desired result whether for muscle gain or to lose weight. You can be well assured that these plans will be safe and effective because they are planned with your health condition and objectives in mind.