Preschool Friends

I bought this as a gift for my granddaughter's 4th birthday! She started to receive it quicker than what was stated which was a big surprise as her birthday is just a week away! She loves it and will enjoy receiving it directly to her! She is familiar with all the carictors and they're all her favorites. She likes to color and the activities are fun for her and her mother to do together (maybe Grammy will be invited to join in sometimes *=))! This was a worth while purchase!

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Bust

About every four months or so I pick up an issue of Bust. It's not something I'd like to read on a regular basis, as I find any pop culture commentary to be a bit preachy, but this is a fun magazine with a sense of humor (Praise be!). Every issue features an interesting interview: Amy Sedaris, Tina Fey, etc. Nothing is overly examined; if you want a really thought provoking magazine, I'd subscribe to Ms., but I like Bust's writing because it is accessable and less angry and frustrated than Bitch--a comparable magazine. It also has a terrific column by writer Ayun Halliday (No Touch Monkey and East Village Inky), which usually cracks me up. In addition, you can usually find liberal join-up type articles as well as personal essays. Babes in Toyland is one of Bust's larger sponsors, so there are lots of articles on pleasuring yourself, vibrators, and getting in touch with your inner-inner woman. I think in terms of tone that Bust lies somewhere between Jane and Budget Living (sounds crazy, but it's true), with the obvious feminist bent. I really appreciate that it's not anti-male, too.

I'm really upset at all the negative reviews of BUST here. Bust magazine isn't claiming itself to be your feminist go-to source, it's a magazine for girls who like magazines. Personally, I love bust because I can look at fashion and trends & new designers without being bombarded by articles like "HOW TO MAKE HIM GROAN". If i wanted intense feminist essays I'd go read bitch magazine, but if you just want a fun magazine with cool fashion & a girl positive vibe, BUST is for you.

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Bust is an entertaining, highly readable magazine aimed at 20and 30-something women who unashamedly self-identify as feminists. It reflects a heavy influence of NYC/Brooklyn and the indie scene. The journalism is not terribly political or hard-hitting, but I don't think it intends to be. Bust does occasionally discuss things like comprehensive sex ed, breastfeeding in public, and misogynistic commercial ads; however, for the most part, the content is on the lighthearted side. I have subscribed for almost a year, although I've read it intermittently off newsstands since 2005, and overall, I really enjoy reading it.

The great thing about Bust is that it has substance and is fun to read. There are never articles like "How to Look Thinner," "Choose the Right Anti-Aging Surgical Procedure," and other inane, self-hate-inducing garbage typically found in mainstream women's mags. By contrast, Bust has articles on female stand-up comedians, women who travel the world volunteering, and how to choose the right vibrator or electric guitar. (These are also great examples of how Bust has a more lighthearted tone than Ms. or .) [MM edit: Thanks a lot, Amazon, for editing out the word B**ch right there -it's the name of a feminist magazine, not a derogatory term. Just shows you how far we still have to come.]

Bust's regular features include:

* Feminist interest columns -Pop Tart, a tongue-in-cheek take on current pop culture; Museum of Femoribilia, with articles on women's cultural objects (swimsuit bra cups, restrictive petticoats, girls' toys, etc.) from the 1920s on and the feminist issues raised by them; and Mother Superior, by Ayun Halliday, who writes self-effacingly and hilariously about her kids' antics

* DIY projects -Make your own queen-size headboard, reusable tote bags, mod-themed tea towels, pillbox hat, subversive cross-stitch art, etc.

* Recipes -Chinese wontons, gingersnaps, tsimmes, mozzarella cheese (yes, how to curdle cheese), how to throw an eco-friendly Thanksgiving feast

* Boy du Jour -A short interview with a hot, progressive, not-so-mainstream dude

* Fashion features -Trend spotting; up-and-coming independent designers; a multi-page fashion spread illustrating a current trend (steampunk, outdoorsy hippie, cowgirl, 80s rock-chic)

* Interviews with 1-2 progressive celebrities

* Travel -Articles on domestic and international destinations, with suggestions on restaurants, worthy hole-in-the-wall shops, things to do and see

* Sex -Reader Q&A with Betty Dodson and, more recently, Carlin Ross (this can get graphic at times, but it's info we were all wondering anyway); Sex Files, a column discussing general women's health topics; the "One-Handed Read," stories similar to those in other popular women's mags (i.e., porn for women)

* Reviews of 1) not-so-mainstream beauty products, 2) recent indie music, 3) books written by or about women, and 4) recent indie movies produced/directed/written by or about women

* Comic strip detailing the trialz & tribz of a high school sophomore in the 1980s (by Esther Pearl Watson) and a feminist-themed crossword puzzle at the end -I luuurve the comic strip and the crossword!

Bust is really big on indie musicians, especially those with a progressive bent, male or female. There is always at least one feature on a musician in each issue.

It's also important to note that Bust is not misandronistic in any way; in fact, they're very open about appreciating, crushing on, and having relations with men.

However, here's my one gripe: Bust has a somewhat "exclusive" vibe. Don't get me wrong -they're not out there bashing people who don't subscribe to their indie ethos; they're just not inclusive of a wide audience. I agree with a previous reviewer about the general lack of inclusion of women of color (and I am white). There are, of course, some exceptions to this -like the features on Eve, Rosario Dawson, Margaret Cho, Charlyne Yi, Sandrah Oh, and Rosie Perez, for example. But these features may be too few and far-between for women of color to feel truly championed. The bottom line is that Bust just aims for a very specific audience, which happens to be white, straight, crafty, indie/hipster feminists in their 20s and 30s. For some people, this may feel alienating. I occasionally feel like I'm not "hipster enough" for Bust, even though I'm pretty sure I fit into their intended demographic. ;)

Despite this, I continue to read Bust because I enjoy the positive media outlet it provides, especially compared to the likes of Glamour, Vogue, Cosmo -which make ALL women feel like crap, regardless of heritage, size, and interests. Personally, I get enough positive value out of Bust as a whole to let the occasional self-doubt slide.

Overall, Bust is an enjoyable, lighthearted, pro-woman magazine. I'd suggest you check it out at Borders or B&N before subscribing, just to get an idea of its readability and look/feel. Recommended!

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I have been reading Bust magazine for close to five years now.

I have to say that all of the wonderful things that I love about being a woman are talked about in this magazine. And it isn't just for women, with music and book reviews, the magazine is for almost anyone who has a pulse. The main reason it is for women is that it says everything that our mothers wouldn't say but taught us that we should feel allowed to say.

This magazine is a must for any female who has no problem with calling herself the f-word: feminist.

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I'm not going to say that Bust isn't a decent magazine. And if other feminist publications weren't around, I'd probably be reading it cover to cover. The problem is that they seem to assume that everyone who reads their mag is all do-it-yourself-y and artsy. And that they're actually interested in clothing. I'm not. I still appreciate some of the articles -for example, the article several months ago on the womanly diagnosis of "hysteria" and this latest issue's article about American women converting to Islam.

If you're a knitter, cool. If you're a sorta-kinda feminist, cool. If you just want to read something that isn't telling you to go out and find a husband, like, yesterday, this is a good mag too. But if you're looking for something that is a little more FEMINIST, pick up Bitch magazine.

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History Ireland

I have previously had a subscription to History Ireland. The articles are always topical, thought provoking and, sometimes, controversial. A great source magazine for anyone interested in Irish hsitory and culture. An absolute must read!

I love this mag. It has wonderful articles that go deep into the subject not fluff pieces. Anyone who is into Ireland and history will enjoy this mag.

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V-Twin

This magazine is published by the same people that brought us Maxim. So if you like Maxim, check it out. If you don't: pass. The pictures are slick, models are attractive, but there is little in the way of information on how to do it yourself or what was actually done to the bike. It is basically a picture book. If you are looking for technical articles, how tos or performance installs; check out Road Bike for metrics or Hot Bike or American Iron for Harleys and Victory's.

Are you a cruiser owner that is sick of all the Harlier-Than-Thou magazines out there? Let me tell you, if all you want is to see a magazine chock full of awesome V-Twin custom bikes and you don't care what part of the globe they are from or what badge was on the tank then you better slap yourself down for a subscription to V-Twin magazine.

While pouring through a recent issue of V-Twin I find numerous four page spreads on fantastic custom cruisers that include a Kawasaki Vulcan 800, a Yamaha Road Star and a Yamaha Royal Star plus pictures of reader's rides showing a Yamaha Road Star and a Suzuki Intruder. Of course there are your typical custom Harley entrants including a fantastic Knucklehead and an INSANE custom from Eurocomponants! There are also heaps of ads for vendors that cater to both the Metric and Harley owners which is nice to see. And of course there are naturally write-ups on product reviews, wrenching advice, bike events, biking editorials and general bike news geared to the cruiser owner.

To me this is a great magazine that doesn't try to push the Harley world down my throat and I don't think I found a disparaging comment towards Metric bikes anywhere which was quite refreshing. V-Twin isn't about bad ... `tudes, nor is it full of half naked women and profanity, it's all about custom cruisers and doesn't attempt to be anything its not. Don't get me wrong, I love a picture of a half naked woman laid over a bike as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day we are here for the bikes, admit it. For the record, I`m the owner of a 1999 Yamaha Road Star that I bought almost four years ago (my eighth bike), plus I am the owner of RoadStarMagazine.com, so you can see that metric cruisers and cruisers in general are a passion for me.

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I've purchased this magazine off the shelf before, and I'm happy with it, but it's been over a month since I made the purchase, and I still don't have the first issue.

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Come on! How long does it take to actually get this magazine in the mail!! Ordered this forever ago and STILL HAVE NOT RECIEVED IT!!!

Really upsetting to wait and wait!

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Just can't wait to read each issue....like the old days!

Wish all my motorcycle mags were this good.

Great articles.

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SSIR: Stanford Social Innovation Review

A brilliant opportunity to see real innovations in the non-profit sector reviewed by leading minds in the for-profit sector. Stanford Graduate School of Business, one of the premier business schools in the United States present the best practices of non-profit management, corporate and venture philanthropy, and the pressing issue of social return metrics in very accessible articles.

This publication is a must for non-profit managers, social entrepreneurs, public policy makers (especially in developing countries), and for profit entrepreneurs interested in social benefits.

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Home Theater

There are so few magazine publishers these days. This used to be a great magazine, but like so many other little magazines, it has been sucked up by a larger publishing house and the overall quality has suffered ever since.

It is interesting to read about the absolute best products that are out there, but it would also be cool and helpful to review all classes, from low to mid to high end. The truth about electronics is that you can get a huge improvement in quality by spending more, but once you reach a certain level of quality you have to shell out even more money for just small increments of quality. So why focus on the upper mid range and high end only?

Home Theater is my hobby and HTM was an excellent place to learn about the subject. They had engineers doing real tests and comparisons that had integrity. A few years ago the mag was sold to a large publisher who fired all the good people and brought in writers that should be working for Home and Garden Magazine.

The reviews we could once count on are now paid for by the advertisers so you can no longer draw any conclusions from them.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of my favorite publication.

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I have been a subscriber for about 5 years now. I love the equipment reviews! One reviewer complained that they only review expensive stuff but I dont agree with that at all. I have seen plenty of reviews for equipment that is priced for the average joe. Keep in mind though that home theater equipment isnt dirt cheep. Since when have tv's been cheap? Since when have good speakers been cheap? The magazine is about what equipment is going to be worth your money and provide a good experience not, "I got these bad boys for $50!" Anyways, another section I like in the mag is that they have articles and pictures of cool home theaters. Real theaters in peoples homes, not demo rooms in stores. As far as people having a bad experience with receiving the mag after they first order, maybe getting it here isnt the best way to order it. I dont know. I ordered my subscription straight from home theater mag (for the same price) or you can send in the typical paper square that comes in the mag. All I know is this, I will subscribe to this mag for years to come.

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This is one of the best Magazines ever, Or at least that's how Home Theater Magazine (HTM) would review itself.

HTM is a great magazine; they have an awesome editor, and great editorial columns. They have an excellent section listing all of the new HD video and audio products being released. HTM always does a great job of keeping you up to date with new technologies and FCC regs without making you read several pages of technical information. Additionally, HTM reviews both high-end equipment and low-end stuff most of us will actually buy. I've seen reviews on $30 mp3 players, and reviews on $15,000 amplifiers. The magazine is colorful, well laid out, easy to read, and is completely spotless of any offensive material.

Where does HTM fail? I have yet to see something reviewed below 83%. And it isn't unlikely that everything reviewed in any given issue will be 90% and higher. I suppose HTM doesn't want to loose demo equipment by shelling out bad reviews. But honestly, it's hard to tell when MAG is serious about a product.

At any rate, HTM is a great home theater mag. After all, it has a low subscription cost and in the end it is enjoyable to read. I give it 4 stars I can't be too critical on people just because they are too positive.

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Always a good Magazine...wish they would try more brands of TV's in their reviews....and maybe less on the audio side of things. But that is just my 2 cents.

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Practical Photography

Good magazine if you like to do equipment comparisons and film comparisons. As well there is photo tips that are practical and intresting.

Almost every photograph has a story behind it. What equipment was used how the photographer succeeded and failed, what they would have done better, what were the limits of the situations. I like that all aspects from macro to landscapes are covered here, as well as a lot on candid and non candid photography.

This magazine has improved both my color and BW photos.

As well all ranges of photographers contribute from the beginer to the most advanced expert. There is a lot on digital dark room which I like. As well there is alot on composition including lens and exposure trick for specific kinds of shots.

Great photos too. The photo contest always amaze me. As well as there photo challenges were poeple go out and shoot and then analyze the photos. Amatures and experts shooting some great stuff.

The magazine is a little anglo centeric and at times can be a little bit elementry in some of its guide. BUT they always have good recommendations on new equipment and great ideas. Plus sometimes we for get the basics and we need to be reminded how to do things that we alread learned.

Well worth the money, beautiful color and BW reproductions

This is one of the best amateur photography magazines from the UK. I always buy it when I go there, which is 3 or 4 times per year. Not too many ads. Lots of photos and articles on technique. The magazine is well laid out and clearly written. There are some reviews (not too many) of new equipment, which seem to be more objective than some popular US photo magazines.

At ($$$) per issue the price is a bit stiff. And some of the articles are repetitious from year to year.

Overall, this is one of the better magazines.

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I have read lots of photo Magazines over the years this one is one of the best out there. If you want to learn great tips on how to make you shots better then pick up this magazine.

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I've been reading Practical Photography for years. I've not found a single state-side magazine that can match half the content that a single issue of PP provides. And its not just the magazine, with a website full of content and extras included in the magazine each month its an incredible resource for both amateur and pro alike. I buy my subscription direct from the UK and normally in 2 year chunks, it shaves $$ off the price being asked here. Highly recommended!

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Having given a look at all the American magazines on the market which, over time, rehash the same things over and over in a dumbed down way, I was given a copy of Practical PHotography. It blows the competition out of the water for substance and style.

Sew News (1-year auto-renewal)

I have been sewing on and off for about 20 years and am always looking for ways to improve my sewing. I really like this magazine. Each issue contains instructions for several projects, but what I really like about this magazine is that it is full of tips and tricks that I can really use. Just as an example, my current issue (April/May 2011) contains articles on adjusting tension, working with knits, draping principles, pant fitting tips, fashion sketching and much, much more.

This is a great all-around sewing resource that covers all aspects of sewing. This magazine seems to be mainly geared towards the beginner or intermediate sewer, but I think even an advanced sewer may find it useful.

I bought this magazine via Amazon Mag Subs and have loved every issue. As a beginner sewist (sewer? seamstress?) I value their easy instructions, terrific photos, fun projects, and user-friendly layout. I give the magazine five yummly stars! I would happily subscribe to this magazine for years to come!

However, what seriously bugs me is the number of "renew your subscription" letters I receive in almost every issue, practically from the start of my subscription! Minus two stars. :(

Today I received yet ANOTHER letter that says (and I quote directly from the letter):

"This is the 4th time we've written with no word from you. We're concerned that you haven't responded."

They go on to state (again quoted directly from the letter, capitals are theirs):

"THE SHORT OF IT IS THIS... Service interruption is pending so we need to hear from you by 05/30/12"

Firstly, my subscription only expires in October 2012!!! Seriously???

Secondly, I subscribe via Amazon because I LOVE their customer service. I will NOT change and subscribe direct.

SewNews, consider this my "response": quit the subs requests before I quit my subscription! I don't appreciate being harassed!

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I have been buying this magazine for years! I keep the old issues for students and also for reference. What a great source of inspiration in every issue! I highly recommend it for anyone who sews or is interested in learning how to sew.

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Sew News is one of my favorite magazines. I like the auto renewal feature because it allows me to not have to remember when to re-new. What I did not like is that the auto renew waits till the very end of the subsciption and the last magazine is sent before it renews. This causes an interuption in the magazine and 1 or 2 magazines are dropped until the renewal kicks in.. :(

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One of the best magazines for looking and planning. It has many great tips. I read it cover to cover.

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Buddhadharma

Named for the mythical (?) and mystical kingdom in the East, Shambhala Publications is known for bringing some of the greatest and sometimes most obscure philosophical writings of Mankind to the attention of the general public. As part of its Dharma mission, the company markets several web portals and periodicals.

BUDDHADHARMA presents us with some of the best Buddhist writing available today. I have watched this magazine mature into an eminently readable publication, a sister magazine to SHAMBHALA SUN, but more focused on the whys and wherefores of Buddhist practice and the issues confronting serious practitioners today.

Does BUDDHADHARMA have shortcomings? Well, in my opinion, a few, some of which it shares with SHAMBHALA SUN:

Like SHAMBHALA SUN, BUDDHADHARMA is a "slick" magazine chock full of ads and promotions for meditation retreats and other expensive products. I know ad space pays the bills, and I like money as much as any capitalist can, but the nakedly exploitative nature of some of the ads is troubling. Chogyam Trungpa, the founder of Shambhala, wrote a seminal work named CUTTING THROUGH SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM, and I have to wonder what he would think of the Dharma practices of Ford Motor or the "Geshe Lama Gogolak Awareness Retreat of Telluride Colorado (only $10,000 per day, minimum twenty days)."

Having made these objections, I will quickly add that these issues are raised by way of promoting awareness among potential subscribers, not as a critique of the magazine itself. People can and do benefit from Dharma education, training, retreats, and practice aids. BUDDHADHARMA only runs ads, it doesn't judge them. Thus, insofar as this reviewer goes, BUDDHADHARMA is a valuable resource in the propagation of the Buddhadharma.

Alaska Quarterly Review

I find it quite funny that almost 3000 people have posted a review for the DaVinci Code, and no one has reviewed AQR, one of the world's foremost forums of contemporary literature. As a reader of short stories I can say the 30 or so stories published each year in this magazine help set the trend for fiction writing, consistently, year on year. Some of these stories are simply magnificent the best I've read anywhere. Journals like this are terribly under-rated, and their only objective is to produce the highest quality writing. There is negligible payout and no profit involved. This is art here, folks, in the truest sense of the word.

Cards

These are more idea books than "magazines" full of wonderful ideas for cards & tags. The examples shown are incredible! Worth every penny!

I bought my wife a one year subscription to Cards Magazine (not thru Amazon). I received exactly one magazine for my $70 before I received an email telling me they would no longer be sending actual magazines. Instead I would only get a link (the link also included several other online publications I had no interest in).

An honest publisher would have asked if I agreed to this trade off. These crooks wont even answer their phones.

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