Barrs Post Card News

Starting a new subscription for Barrs Post Card News was so easy. Absolutely not a bit of trouble. I recommend this as the only way to subscribe to any magazine!

Not a bad magazine for the price. Thought it would contain a bit more information but there's not that many books/magazines out there for postcards that I've found so it'll do. It is giving me sources for information so that's a big help as I'm just getting back into postcard collecting and selling after about 10 years away. Would have liked to have seen something with a bit more pricing information.

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Christian Research Journal

Have subscribed to CRI journal previously for many years and when I lived overseas, but had to give it up when the organization became too difficult to deal with to get the subscription changed back to the US. But, wanted to give it another try.

Generally I like the content of the articles, some are quite inapplicable to me. Unfortunately, it looks to me like the articles have gotten smaller over the years, but same level of quality and attention to detail seems to be there.

My main objection is that when I subscribed to the magazine I didn't realize I was signing up for fundraising letters. I support the organization, but hate to see them waste money on fundraising mail that's not going to get responded to. Why they don't just put it in their magazine and let the reader decide to donate above and beyond as they see fit I don't know.

I just ordered a 2-year subscription, and I can't wait to get my first copy. I have been very interested in the ideas of this Journal for years, but I am only now subscribing. It is expensive, but the original research and contents of the Journal promise to make up the difference. It's basically a scholarly journal but presented in a nice magazine format and written to the college educated reader without assuming they have their PhD in Philosophy or Theology. I look forward to getting my first copy.

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It's a GREAT magazine but the price is outrageous now! I think they know they have a good product and have gotten a little too proud of it.

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I ordered this for my son-in-law for Christmas. When I ordered it I got a reply that it would be 14-16 wks. before he would receive. But to my surprise when I gave him the card telling him of his gift, he had already received the first copy. He is very pleased with the magazine.

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Karavan Istorij

Karavan Istorij and Karavan Istorii Kollektsiia are the best magazines ever published in Russia. The stories are great and the images by Ekaterina Rojdestvenskaya are wonderful.

Review of Metaphysics

"The first issue should arrive in 12-16 weeks." Sure, why not? The ROM is a quarterly, after all.

But after six monthsand after your "Where's my subscription?" e-mails get ignoredyou look at this part that you neglected to pay enough attention to before: "Cancellation: This magazine subscription cannot be canceled or refunded."

And then you realize Amazon has stolen your money, and is quite satisfied with that state of affairs.

Not only that, but when you click on the "Read more" button, you get a pop-up announcing that "Some publishers of professional or trade magazine subscriptions do not allow cancellations." Therefore, avers Amazon, adding insult to injury, 'tis not we but the Review who have robbed thee.

The Review of Metaphysics has a toll-free number through which you can order directly. Use it. Avoid being robbed by Amazon.

As a member of the staff of the Review of Metaphysics, I can vouch for the quality of our product. If you have a scholarly interest in metaphysical questions and you do not confine your interest to any one historical period or school of thought, then the Review is exactly right for you. You can order directly from our website and avoid the wait that Amazon causes. We offer discounts to senior and students and we will ship to non-US customers if they pay an additional $12 for shipping.

But of course, it's all the same to us if you go through Amazon, they will, after all, handle the billing for you.

The reason I give my own journal four stars is because of its narrow topic area. I must admit, that for the most part, this is not a layman's journal, but one designed for those that know the terminology of Aristotle, Aquinas, Hegel, Heidegger, etc and who already know the lay of the metaphysical landscape.

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I totally disagree with the posting made by this gentleman.

All the years I am ordering through Amazon, I have never experience anything wrong as regards my orders and payments. I always got what I paid for !

Amazon is a great Store and I recommend it to all.

George Agathokleous

Athens, Greece

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Oregon Coast Magazine

If you live in or near Oregon, live at the coast, visit the coast, are planning a trip or just like to dream and scheme, Oregon Coast is a great magazine to subscribe to. It is informative and colorful. While not as glizty as the more generic coastal magazines like Coastal Living, it is targeted and useful.

I can't afford to go to the Oregon Coast every year so this magazine is a dream. The pictures and articles are wonderful and I feel like I'm there. I've been reading this for over 10 years and it never fails to charm me with its recipes, advice, advertisments and reccommendations.

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Love Oregon Coast magazine as I can only get up to the Oregon coast a few times a year and this magazine brings the coast to me. Great photos and articles.

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Hockey News

i saw that this was unrated & didn't want any fans to miss out. i've been getting the hockey news for several years now. Being in california it can be hard to get info on the goings ons in the hockey world. things have gotten easier with the nhl network, but it's still by no means mainstream. the hockey news is awsome! it comes out of canada but they say new york, covers mostly the nhl but also cover most minor, &pro hockey leagues (ahl, echl, omjhl etc.) i can't say enough about this mag but can't think of anything to say. as a hockey fan to other hockey fans, "if you love hockey & want more info on the hockey world or more info on both player in the nhl & on there way there than this is what you're looking for." there aren't many hockey mags out there so don't waste your time or money on anything but the best & in this case that's the hockey news.

I ordered this subscription for my son who is a hockey lover, and he reads it cover to cover. He is very satisfied with the magazine.

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Fancy Fowl

Too bad we don't do something like this in the US. Don't get me wrong I love Poultry Press for a US publication it is more than worth the money and it comes with coupons that if you use more than pays for itself. But Fancy Fowl is written like some of our US Horse Magazines; The April Issue for 2006 talked about how to judge White Wynadotes and Light Sussex. And with Poultry there is nothing like having color pictures but your going to pay for it. And they talk about ALL poultry Turkeys, Ducks, Swans, of course chickens, but the off breeds like Black Grouse. It is for the fancy and not as commercial as the Australian Mag.but the price is worth it.

I am subscribing to get ahead of the problem of H5N1. Brittan is dealing with this as they did with Mad Cow, and folkes if you own chickens the hoops of politics are a real eye opener. So I'm jumping the shark so to speak and learning ahead.

International Figure Skating

International Figure Skating has articles on past, present, and future skaters from all countries, but mainly the U.S., Canada, Russia, the U.K. and Asia. It was recently taken over by a new publisher who has made a few changes, mainly changing the focus from short paragraphs about skaters to longer, detailed articles. Other changes include a listing of web pages featuring skaters, articles aimed at skating students, and movies, television and books about skating. Remaining as features are results from competitions and a long article each issue on a featured skaters. The pictures are well done.

International Figure Skating is a good read for figure skating fans.

IFS gives the most up-to-date info on the sport's current and former champions as well as the up-and-comers. An excellent overview of the championship and professional circuit with stylish photos, this is THE magazine for fans.

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Bottom line, this magazine is for people who are up-to-date with big skating names and who are interested in their acheivements. It is full of pictures and interviews. My advice is thisif you trully are interested in the sport and the stars, subscribe. But if you're only interested in how to land your double axel, this magazine won't help too much.

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I was looking for a magazine with interesting, informative, enlightening content. I didn't find it in this publication and you won't either. I won't be renewing my subscription and that's the real indication of the lack of value in this magazine.

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Although raised in sunny Cuba I learned how to skate in that country at age 6 and have been an avid figure skating fan ever since. I had the good fortune of meeting Sonja Henie, in Cuba, as a child when she skated there in 1952.

It took me years to locate a magazine on figure skating, but finally located and subscribed to IFS. I have been a subscriber for over ten years.

Although it went through a recent change in ownership, it only became better, offering the reader now a section on books, videos and television times which I have found very helpful.

The articles are,indeed, international in scope and offer good coverage of current events as well as what has turned out to be very good glimpses of future stars. I read my issues cover to cover and that never changes. The interviews are well documented, and the graphics are beautifully laid out. I hope others can share in my enthusiasm for this fine publication.

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Simple & Delicious

I'll keep this review simple (and delicious). Like another reviewer said, it's pretty much all recipes and very little of anything else. You get the occasional kitchen shortcut, product comparison and article but nowhere near what Taste of Home or other cooking magazines offer. Is that a bad thing? Well it depends on what you're looking for. I subscribed because I wanted simple recipes I could make during the weeknight and not spend a lot of money. That's exactly what S&D delivers. As for the recipes themselves most of them are hits with only a few so far being near misses. Out of the three Taste of Home magazines, (Taste of Home and Healthy Cooking being the other two) this one is my favorite and the only one I subscribe to. If you're looking for an upgrade of this type of magazine then I would recommend Cook's Country.

I got this magazine as the companion publication of Taste Of Home, (TOH). While TOH is a nice collection of articles and features, along with recipes, this magazine is pretty much a bi monthly set of recipes only, with a couple of short, not so in depth articles along the way. It's a thin magazine that for me is fit for mostly browsing, more than really reading. There is always a generous amount of recipes of all kinds with every issue, but truly without the entertainment of in depth articles and regular departments I feel you can do just as well browsing the web for dinner. Not really a bad magazine or rip off, but in my opinion still not worth it. I will probably end up letting it drop when its finished...

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We love this magazine. It has a color picture for every single recipe. The recipes are easy to make, with easy-to-find ingredients. We have thoroughly enjoyed receiving this magazine and have given it to family and friends as the perfect gift.

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This is one of the best cookbooks I have ever purchased.....and I've certainly purchased many over the years. It's simple, easy, delicious and you most likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen, which makes it all the more endearing. I love this cookbook!

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I just bought this magazine and have not received it yet. The ones I have bought at the store, I have enjoyed reading and have gotten great tips and easy preparation instructions.Looking forward to many more once I start getting the magazine.

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Slimming World

This is a great magazine that explains how the Slimming World program works, provides yummy recipes, and presents real-life success stories that are truly inspiring. Some of them are just about unbelievable. The articles are great, relevant.. and are presented in a compassionate way that so many other weight-loss and fitness magazines lack.

I've been on this program for three weeks... and have even cheated terribly several times (only one... possibly two meals a week). This was only because I was out with family and couldn't get food the way I wanted. That being said, I literally STUFF MY FACE with food the rest of the time. I'm a food-noshing MACHINE!! Ready for this?? I know it's not typical (most lose 2-3/wk), but I've lost 18 pounds in 3 weeks!! I'm sure that's partially because I have so much to lose (over 100 pounds), and because the times I didn't cheat, I followed the plan very closely. Honestly, it's not hard to follow, and because so many foods are unlimited (yes... I said UNLIMITED) I'm always satisfied.

No foolin'... this is the EASIEST, most effective thing I've ever tried. I have friends on other plans, but I want to slap my forehead when I see all the point-counting, carb counting and calorie counting they have to do.

It's taught me a liberating truth, folks... FOOD IS NOT THE ENEMY. It's the way we've learned to prepare it and cover it with fat and sugar-laden condiments that's the enemy. Many sauces you can make from fat-free plain yogurt, fat-free cottage cheese, and fat-free sour cream. After a couple weeks of eating that way, the heavy stuff (the way most of America prepares it) tastes.... icky. Gives me a tummy ache.

I was considering lap band before I found this... and I'm thanking God a friend turned me on to this. It's changed my life already!! This program is the light that leads to the end of a long, lonely tunnel. There are people all along the way, cheering you on. It doesn't get any better than this!

Luxury Travel Advisor

My passion for travel is one of the reasons that led me to check out Luxury Travel Advisor magazine. I had initially heard of this magazine through the dvd "Untold Wealth:The Rise of the Rich". Technically, it is geared towards a travel agent who services wealthy clients. However, it is comparable to some of the other travel magazines because of the inclusion on cruise travel information and exciting travel destinations. My only caveat with "Luxury Travel Advisor" is that the magazine at times contains less travel articles and pages than some of the other cheaper travel magazines: "Conde Naste Traveler" and/or "Travel& Lesisure". For this reason, "Luxury Travel Advisor" is more for those who truly enjoy travel magazines and have a passion for traveling.

Baltimore Magazine (1-year auto-renewal)

I first subscribed to Baltimore Magazine because I was attracted to the many different places around Baltimore they reviewed. Since then, I've been completely put off by the sheer amount of advertising that they put in the magazine. The last issue I just received had a 19-page advertisement for cosmetic surgery followed by a 39 page (not a typo...39 FULL CONSECUTIVE PAGES) advertisement for lawyers. It's gotten to the point where I can't even flip through the magazine anymore. I have to turn and scour each page to find the real content now. Needless to say, I won't be renewing my subscription anymore.

I picked up this magazine, as I'm sure many people will, because of the current issue (May 2010) with the big words "FREE 159 Things To Do This Summer" plastered all over the front. I thought, hey, great! What a great feature article, for everyone looking for a cheap way to get out and see their city. When I first picked it up, before I read any of the magazine, I was thinking it would be nice to subscribe.

No.

The subscription price is ridiculously low because of the millions of ads. You will not go one two pages without hitting an ad. The feature story was mediocre, and you can find their information on the magazine's website.

In short: Don't bother subscribing, any information that's worth getting is on their website.

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I go to Balto every week and this magazine keeps you current on everything from the best hot dog to haircut and they are 99% right. I love it.

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Very informative magazine for the Baltimore area. Also includes reviews of Maryland restaurants to help choose new places to try.

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I ordered a subscription to Baltimore Magazine through Amazon.com. I was expecting to receive my first magazine in Feb., but it actually started with the Jan. issue. I was pleased with both the quickness with which my subscription started and also with the price of the subscription.

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Modern Dog

A stylish and witty addition to the underpopulated dog magazine scene, Modern Dog is a finely crafted and informative quarterly.

Its foundation is geared for the purebred (that is to say unrepentant) dog lover, and from that springs articles on dog art and illustrators, living arrangements with dogs, high fashion and style, book reviews and recipes. In short, the assumption is that anyone interested in dogs is an interesting person with a need to be visually and intellectually stimulated.

What a arch magazine this is. How clever to pair an article on summer wines with appropriate recipes ... and illustrate the same with a dog in a straw sombrero ready to party.

And if there's a trend in human fashion to be explored, that trip is going to be taken with a dog in tow. The photography and styling in this magazine is inspired, doggy and fun. Plus, there is ART to behold. Articles on accomplished illustrators, outsider and funky art. The art blends in with dog stories and book reviews, which leads into articles on travelling with dogs.

A good read, a good sit to be taken with your favorite dog in your favorite chair. Or, if you're dog-deprived, a good way to lessen the pain.

Modern Dog is a magazine worth reading.

My new favourite magazine! Beautiful photos, smart and entertaining articles, fashion, art, exclusive celebrity interviews... all with a dog focus! Cover models range from Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell to Virginia Madsen and her dogs. Thanks to Modern Dog I now know how to throw a dog-friendly cocktail party (complete with hors d'oeuvres for both twoand four-legged guests) AND actually get my dog to come when she's called. Definitely worth checking out.

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Modern Dog magazine is especially perfect for those who own small dogs and/or live in urban areas. The magazine is well-written, full of timely articles, and includes ads from unique merchants. I have a Lab and two Boston Terriers so I feel that I am included in their target audience; however, this magazine does include something for everyone who has a dog and wants the best for it, even if it isn't a smaller dog. I like how edgy the magazine is and this is why I think it's more tailored for urban dwellers.

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If you are a dog parent (and not a parent of a child) this is a MUST! This magazine will allow you to keep up on all the fun & exciting outfits and products offered for your fabulous fur baby! If you are a modern dog parent you'll want to subscribe to Modern Dog. Like any good parent magazine you'll find information needed to care for your fido! The magazine will keep you up to date on modern trends and happening places. Of course, if you're not a true dog parent and have children, you will still love the magazine!!! Enjoy!

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I've not subscribed to a pet magazine since middle school when I couldn't get enough of Cat Fancy and the pictures of all the adorable, fluffy kitties. Now, content is more important than pictures, and Modern Dog delivers. I read every issue cover to cover and have yet to recycle one because they are so full of information. Everything from food to training to breed quirks to pet friendly businesses are covered. The product reviews are thorough and cover a wide variety (and price range) of products. The holiday 2010 issue had several pages of gift ideas, and I was surprised that so many items shown were actually affordable. Many times pet magazines showcase items that are out of almost every income bracket are listed, so this was a refreshing change.

Dog owners will get a lot out of this magazine health information, adoption stories, training tips, travel tips, nutrition, caring for senior dogs, products, shopping resources it's all there. A subscription would made a wonderful gift for any dog lover.

Poets & Writers Magazine

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)Poets & Writers is a non-profit organization dedicated to issues of interest to both amateur and professional writers; this is the organization's magazine. Every issue features an in-depth interview with a writer, articles on subjects such as copyright law, writer's conferences, and book promotion, a list of grant/award/contest deadlines and winners, and the ever popular classifieds where writers can find listings for anthologies and calls for manuscripts. Even the ads scattered throughout are informative. Your subscription cost gives you membership in the organization, allowing you access to their services. Published writers are eligible to be listed in their directory.

If you are a fiction writer or poet, you will appreciate this magazine. Poets & Writers is an invaluable tool for beginners and established writers alike.

There are a few magazines about writing serious writers need to read. "Poets & Writers" is one of them. It has a literary bent, but avoids the nose-in-the-air attitude. It is practical and educational, and is pleasingly presented.

A favorite factor for me are the long feature articles on the culture of writing. In the issue out now, there are two major articles. One is about author Stuart Dybek and his fiction that pulls from his experience growing up on Chicago's colorful South Side. The other is about writing contests, dealing with how ethical they are run, the view of literary judges, and when a writer should considering entering one.

The secondary articles are as informative and as useful, whether you want to learn about promoting your book, doing online workshops or understand the trends driving the industry.

Contests, incidentally, are a big part of PW's value. The magazine tells you who won, and which contests/grants are currently accepting submissions. PW is careful to screen which contests are listed, ensuring only legitimate ones make it through the editors.

The writing itself is interesting. It is not always true that writing magazines are fun to read. It should be, and in the case of PW, everything is engaging.

PW's design is clean. It looks like what a small press literary magazine should look like. The typography and layout are not pretentious or overbearing, but get the job done. It is never work to read this magazine.

I fully recommend "Poets & Writers." You will be better informed about writing and writers, just like the titles implies.

Anthony Trendl

editor, HungarianBookstore.com

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Certainly, it depends on what you're looking forthis periodical is thick and comes every two months. I felt that maybe too much of its thickness came from the large number of ads, mainly ads for writing retreats, seminars, or contests. I was interested in those things, but I was more interested in instruction/tips/exercises that would help me learn about writing, and this I felt was in somewhat short supply. So I didn't renew this, and instead subscribe to "The Writer," which comes monthly, includes lots of instruction/tips/exercises, as well as some ads and notices about opportunities for writers, but not as many as this publication. "Poets & Writers" does include some good interviews, bios, and reviews, but for my money, I favor "The Writer."

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I've been a P&W subscriber and reader (even when not a subscriber) for years. I've also tried various other writers' magazines, such as The Writer and Writer's Digest. The latter two were fine when I was just beginning to dip into the freelance market, just beginning to look at publishers for first manuscripts, but when I gained more experience, I soon realized those just didn't make the cut anymore. The articles were too often repetitive and geared towards such elementary basics that I was no longer gaining new insights. P&W was the next step up.

P&W provides advice, inspiration, informative interviews, current resources for the more experienced and discriminating writer. The bimonthly issues include articles, detailed listings of markets, contests, grants, and helpful, relevant ads. For the price, this is the best magazine available today for the writer who has a portfolio already underway and keeping an ear to the ground for more, staying up to date with what's rumbling in the literary world. With its up-to-date information, I've been able to leave the others aside, including that old bible, Writer's Market, which was, unfortunately, obsolete the moment it was off the presses.

Highly recommended for the writer wanting more.

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There's an inescapeable feeling when reading most writing

publications that you're about to be fleeced. There are ads

that offer instant publication, or expensive editorial and

design services. There is also a tone of phony upbeat optimism

about success in what is admittedly one of the most competitive

arenas in the world.

So Poets & Writers is a relief and a blessing. It offers realistic,

unfawning stories about the experience of real writers. It

also has listings of real prize competitions (not the phony

ones that are about collecting entry fees), winners of

competitions and notices of grants and awards.

Perhaps the best endorsement of all comes from my discarded

copies. I bring them to the magazine rack at my gym. As I

walk past the ranks of people doing their dutiful cardio,

I almost always see one copy being read.

Next to the magazine of the Author's Guild, there's no

better periodical for the committed writer.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and

the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN 9781601640005

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Get Lost Magazine

Primarily aimed at the younger (and poorer) travel bug sufferer this glossy Australian magazine is a pretty good read and in it's country of origin quite cheap.

The magazine covers travel spots around the world and is aimed very much at looking at travel to out of the way places and undiscovered gems and it probably doesn't matter where you are from given that the magazine tends not to focus overmuch on it's home turf. Most of the articles are just a few pages long and overall the format is pretty much par for the course for any travel mag around the planet.

One thing that would make it a tiny bit less useful for the international reader is that the adverts in the mag are going to be aimed at Australian readers and any dollar prices listed are generally for the same readership.

Overall a good magazine chock full of great travel ideas with which to destroy your bank balance.... I just put down my latest copy a moment ago!

Montana : the Magazine of Western History

I have received Montana for the last three years. Articles are informative and often quite thought provoking. Recent articles on health-care history and social welfare in gold rush-era Virginia City relate directly to issues we face today. Other articles, if not directly relevant to me, have at least told interesting or entertaining stories on topics like pioneer women, Indian history, battles, etc. All in all, I look forward to each issue.

Love this!! I live in Montana and this is full of great information and beautiful pictures. Some family will be getting this as gifts.

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Animals & You

i ordered this and have not heard anything from the company or see any thing in the mail. Not to happy about it at the moment.

Can't boys care about animals as well? That seems kind of sexist/stereotyping to me. (I seriously doubt that Scotland Yard is going to investigate any parents letting their male offspring have access to this magazine, but still...)

Also in a previous issue where readers send in photos of their pets, I saw where a girl had sent in a photo of her pet marten, which is a cat-like relative of the weasel. The note accompanying the photo read something like: "This is my pet martin(sic)Squoodgy. Isn't he adorable?"

Umm, Okay. Maybe things are different in the UK regarding keeping martens as pets, but here in the States it requires big-time permission from wildlife officials and special licensing and all that.

And whether you need permission or not in the UK to keep a wild animal like a marten as a pet, he is still a wild animal. (The recent incident in Connecticut w/the chimpanzee viciously attacking his owner's friend can attest to that)

And one day "Squoodgy" (or whatever his name is) the Marten might take it upon his wild instincts to use his young mistress as something to sink his sharp little teeth into. Would he be so 'adorable' then?

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Wine Spectator (1-year auto-renewal)

Wine Spectator is the most prominent and widely available wine criticism magazine and as such it has been endlessly pilloried. Well, they deserve it one recent issue's cover story was "Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman, Hollywood Power Couple!" How ridiculous can you get? The pages are littered with articles devoted to wealthy Californians and their extensive cellars; one recently spent an entire article on a rich man who helps his rich friends by cataloguing their cellars on, gasp, a spreadsheet! Yeah, it's like that.

Wine Spectator has also been criticized for the way it uses hyperbole to the extent that no one believes them when they're right anymore. Oenophiles now wait for Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) to back them up before believing it. "Best Vintage since 1961" and "Vintage of the Century" and "Vintage of the Decade" are far too common copy, coming once a year or so.

The vintner profiles hold some interest, but don't fool yourself, you read this magazine for the scoring. Wine Spectator has the resources to taste more wines than any other English language publication (that I know of) and despite some strange results, are generally good at evaluating the bottles in question. As I've noted elsewhere, in spite of the hyperbolic headlines, the Spectator is stingier than Robert Parker for rating wines "Outstanding." The caveat is that a lot of wines get bunched up in the 84-86 point range, although I suppose that matches my experience.

By comparison to the Wine Advocate, I find Wine Spectator scores much more inconsistent. This makes sense because the Spectator has a larger staff and it's difficult to establish a common benchmark across all of the offices and tasting panels. In their favor, they do review a fair number of lower priced wines, more than their aforementioned colleague, and their reactions are more or less in the ballpark as to where I'd put them if I were doing the reviews. But know when using the Spectator to allow some give on either side, a confidence interval, if you will.

It might be terrible that a magazine wastes its first three quarters of every issue on mindless fodder for social climbers. It might be tasteless that they spend so much time promoting the notion that wine is an investment, instead of an immensely enjoyable consumable commodity. But those of us with big brains and modest credit ratings know that there is much to be salvaged from the back of each issue. We also know that Parker is the first point of reference.

There's certainly a lot to hate about Wine Spectator and, for that matter, Wine Advocate. Many winemakers decry the existence of both magazines, and usually lay the blame entirely at Robert Parker's doorstep for making the 100-point rating system an industry standard.

Wine Spectator's scores have gotten better with time, as have their articles. They've shied away from California "glitz" and have looked more into food. Also, the education classes that they list on their website are becoming increasingly more helpful.

Apparently they listened to much of the criticism and worked toward creating a more respected magazine. I think they've done well.

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The Wine Spectator is one of those magazines designed to reassure you that you're rich or that you soon could be, all in the context of a shared love for the fruit of the vine.

There's lots of deadly serious material in this glossy, pleasing publication. But if you're a lover of wine who is *not* rich the category includes this reviewer you need to learn to take it with a sense of humor. Just enjoy the game.

That game includes a travelogue of the world's wine regions as well as the possibility of gaining a decent education via month-by-month reading in viticulture and wine appreciation itself. This reader is in it for the long haul I hope to enjoy good wine at an affordable cost for the duration of this earthly slog and the Wine Spectator is my companion along the way.

My job takes me out for many dinners in various parts of the world that include wine-splendored places like France, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and of course Northern California. But with wineries now in 49 of the USA's fifty states, what's *not* a wine region these days?

On those business treks, I find myself out for dinner as often as not. It's personally satisfying to know just enough to order a Pinotage in Capetown, since only South Africa produces this varietal, or to opt for one of Argentina's persuasive Malbecs because they're just *that* good. We're not talking wine snobbery here, just satisfaction at the margins of life's all too margin-less journeys.

If this sounds like your game, the Wine Spectator may be a worthwhile investment. Even if not, consider splitting a subscription with a colleague. That's what I do. At half the price, I get a fine magazine and avoid burdening my bookshelves with one more heavy, beautiful, pleasant magazine. Life can deal you worse.

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The fact is that Wine Spectator is about the most inconsistant, beholden to special interest, pseudo-wine magazine ever! Their reviews are indeed gushing...I challange anyone to find a single negative comment. They say tastings are blind and comments are registered before the bottles are revealed so I would like to know how they consistantly come up with bottle-specific comments like, "this is a good Grange, but not quite up to the standards of previous vintages." ...Tasting is also done by panal highlighting another weakness: Usually, you can learn the palate and preferences of a particular reviewer, compare them to your own, and weight that person's ratings accordingly...here you have no idea which so-called 'experts' have reviewed a particular wine, so this tool is lost. Additionally, none of the WS reciewers, to my knowledge, posesses either a 'Master of Wines' or a 'Master Sommielier' certification. While extremely difficult to earn (Robert Parker has failed the MoW test twice), either should be a prerequisite for a professed expert (or at least one of them). For real wine enthusiasts, subscribe to decanter; for the more casual drinker, food&wine presents a much better value.

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I subscribed to WS for a couple years in the late 90s, and loved the magazine. It keeps a balance between reviews of wines both new (which is the main emphasis) and older vintages, and background stories on vintners and so on. The writers are almost all very good (and I'm a professional writer myself) -only one of them do I dislike and he doesn't review the wines. Both the wine connoisseur and the novice can profit from reading this publication. I only dropped the subscription because I moved and the collection, no issue of which I wished to discard, was occupying more and more space on my bookshelves.

Now I subscribe to the online edition so I can check ratings before I buy a wine. The WS, in addition to Parker and other reviewers, perform an essential service for critical consumers who can't otherwise judge whether a bottle is worth the price asked. And we need WS and Parker and all to tell us when the best reds are ready to drink -some really great ones are not mature for more than a decade. I drank the highly rated Chateau Canon 1982, for which I'd paid over $100, 17 years after harvest, and my group could tell it wasn't ready -still closed down. Sure enough, if I had read Spectator carefully, I'd have picked another bottle for that occasion because they said it wasn't yet mature.

Robert Parker has the reputation for being more influential for high-end wines, but Wine Spectator's scores are generally pretty close to his. And they review a broader spectrum, as noted by other commentators below. WS will often steer you to excellent buys for under $15, or even under $10. If you get only one of these per month, or steers you away from a very overpriced bottle, the subscription (about $50) pays for itself.

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Working Mother (1-year auto-renewal)

I would hoping this magazine would be something helpful to us "average" working mothers (read: not high-ups in a big corporation). I would love to read articles on time management, handling guilt, finding a good daycare, etc. Instead, this magazine prints lots of articles on what other companies are doing that's great for working moms (good for them, what does that help me?) and profiles women who make 6-figure salaries while raising kids. I'm sure there's a target audience out there who like this magazine, but it sure isn't me. Let me emphasize, too, that I'm not the mom who hates her job but works to put food on the table. I like my job and choose to work, but I just don't find this magazine helpful or interesting at all. Highly disappointing.

I bought Working Mother thinking that it would be filled with great tips on time management, recipes for food kids will actually eat (and don't take all day to prepare) and fashion tips for people who shop at JCPenney, not Banana Republic or Bloomingdales. This wasn't the magazine for that. It might be great for high-end moms who make $100k and have nannies but it seems to be oblivious to other working mom needs.

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I've read the past 6 or 7 issues of this magazine because they subscribe to it at the office where I work. It's definitely not worth paying for.

They LOVE to highlight corporations who are helping working mothers and it often comes across as just free publicity for these companies. It's great that these companies are supporting working women, but not all of us working moms work there, so what's the point?

They also spend time each magazine highlighting certain working moms, but personally, I've never been able to relate to the women they highlight. Another reviewer commented that it's women making 6 figures, and I highly doubt that's the average American working mom. I guess this magazine is targeted to a specific type of audience, that just doesn't include me.

Skip this one and stick with the other parenting magazines for more useful info. This one just doesn't have all that much for the average working mom.

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This magazine doesn't have anything useful for the majority of working mothers. Whether you're working for minimum wage, or you're in a professional field, it doesn't matter, this magazine is not aimed at you. If you're not the CEO of Kraft Foods, I wouldn't recommend this magazine to you.

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The first few I got, I flipped through in less than 15 minutes. There wasn't much that interested me. It's geared toward high-paid executives. There was a lot of profiles of moms that didn't help me at all. Even though I got this magazine at a discount, I wish I hadn't have wasted my money. I now flip through in less than a few minutes and then trash it.

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Whole Dog Journal (1-year auto-renewal)

A few years ago a dear friend recommended Whole Dog Journal (WDJ) to me; I subscribed and my dogs and I have both benefited tremendously.

Articles over the last couple years that I found helpful and you might too:

"VeggieDent Chews Recalled in Australia" August 2009

"Update on Doxycycline and Heartworm Disease" August 2009

"Needing Pain Relief" acupuncture October 2009

"Do My Nails ... Please!" March 2009

"Help for OCD Dogs" October 2008

"Fence Sense; How to effectively contain your dog, and avoid the many pitfalls of inferior fencing" May 2009

"Finding the Right Rawhide" May 2009

"No More Jumping up" December 2009

"Calendula: 2008 Herb of the Year" April 2008

"Counting Calories" September 2009

"Microchip Registration Locator Tools Launched" November 2009

"Choosing Good Foods" Every start of the year they have their dry and wet food recommendation issues; I greatly appreciate this. WDJ does explain all of their reasons for selecting dog food companies and reasons why they disqualify companies. Reasons for disqualification include ingredients such as meat by-products, added sweeteners, artificial preservatives, such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin, artificial colors, etc ... WDJ also says that the giant corporations do a lot of research into their animal foods.

If you have a dog, please consider finding it in your budget to subscribe to Whole Dog Journal.

In depth articles about all things that should be of interest for any dog owner. No advertising to pollute the recommendations. Of special value are thier food articles, you may be surprised what is in some dog foods.

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I've been a subscriber for many years and have learned MUCH about holistic dog care. There are no advertisements, so product reviews are sincere and honest. Health and training articles are detailed and focused on a positive, holistic view. Great value for anyone who wants to do more than the often toxic "conventional" for their dogs.

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Thank you WDJ for your excellent standards in research and reliable communications for serious dog-lovers. This publication stays on the cutting edge of what is good, bad, and ugly in the world of dogs. It professionally delivers unbiased and credible information to its loyal fans, of which I know many. Every issue is interesting, informative, and thought-provoking for all dog-lovers. A must have if you own dogs.

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I took this journal for years, and had to stop it a couple of years ago b/c of budget crunch. However, I'd always just loved it. Every issue had something in it that answered a current question. I especially like their information about nutrition, and that they work so hard to promote good training practices. Now I hope never to be without it again well, as long as my dogs and I last!

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Cicada

This is a preteen/early teen mag. Lots of good writing. Well edited, has some tough stuff as written by kids themselves. It's a good magazine and is argued over for the first reading.

We gave this magazine as a gift to our granddaughter who will soon be 14. Our Library director recommended this magazine as suitable for gifted children who enjoy poetry. Our granddaughter writes her own poetry. She likes Cicada so much she asked us to renew it.

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I'm in my mid-20s now but I received Cicada when I was a teenager and I loved them. The stories and poems were stimulating and I always dreamed of submitting my own work (though I never did). I hope this is still around when I have teens in the house.

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