American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences

Excellent academic publication. Solid overview of anthropology and sociology academic work being done from the Islamic viewpoint. Highly recommended for both laypeople and people in academia as well as anyone interested in understanding how Muslim social scientists are exploring the world.

Rolling Stone (1-year auto-renewal)

I have been a faithful subscriber to RS for almost twenty years, and I have witnessed the magazine slowly transform from a credible rock and roll journal to the music equivilent of Tiger Beat. In the 1980s, Rolling Stone's passion was music, and it often gave well-deserved nods to artists that were on the cutting edge: U2, Prince, REM, the Smiths, and so on. These days, its attempts to sell copies are getting more desperate as they feature people like Britney, NSYNC, and BSB on their cover sometimes as much as twice a year. I have nothing against teen pop; after all, RS gave Duran Duran a cover story in the 1980s. But it's troubling to see a magazine follow trends when they used to create them.

The record reviews are, for the most part, dubious. Rob Sheffield is one of the usual suspects. Three-and-a-half stars for Britney and Destiny's Child? More trustworthy critics include longtime writer David Fricke, Anthony DeCurtis, and Barry Walters. These guys seem to know what they're talking about when they review records.

The only section of the magazine worth reading is the movies section by Peter Travers, a critic I may not always agree with but one I do respect. Travers has enough heart to go against the grain of public opinion by trashing shallow, self-important, corporate driven, Holllywood movies. It really seems that he is criticizing the very hype machine the rest of Rolling Stone seems to embrace.

All in all, RS has its moments, but its getting disappointing within recent years. Here's hoping it can regain the edge it once had back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Two years ago, Rolling Stone and MTV teamed up to create a list of the "top 100 pop songs of all time." According to that list, the number 10 song OF ALL TIME is, I kid you not, "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. It was then that I started to suspect the once-great Rolling Stone was losing it.

In 1967, Rolling Stone started with a simple idea: a "real" music magazine to counteract trendy teenage fluff like "Tiger Beat." As the years wore on, they stayed true to their mission despite the inroads of disco and the MTV pretty boys of the '80s. Sure, artists like Duran Duran appeared on a few covers, but on the whole Rolling Stone worked hard to maintain its credibility, giving much-needed exposure to then-cutting-edge acts like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, U2 and Nirvana.

Then, through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Rolling Stone eventually became part of the Vivendi Universal empire. Soon, pressure to increase circulation and "appeal to a younger audience" escalated. The people at Vivendi, a French water company that knows nothing about entertainment, seem to think "a younger audience" doesn't want to read anything about artists they've never heard of. In fact, "a younger audience" probably doesn't want to read at all; they just want to see a sexy pinup photo of Britney's boobs or Justin's pecs, whatever you prefer.

Now here's where I lost my last shred of respect for RS: All those Britney/boy band covers and the MTV Top 100 fiasco were bad enough, but what gave them the nerve to put CLAY AIKEN on the cover?! Any magazine with a reality-show contestant on its cover instantly loses all "music" credibility. They might as well hold their own "American Idol"-style contest to pick their next cover boy/girl. (You can see where that kind of strategy has gotten Vivendi; now they're desperate to sell off their entertainment assets so they can get back to what they know best, preventing cholera and dysentery among the French.)

In its heyday, Rolling Stone was a rallying point for those who truly appreciate great music. Today it's a glorified pinup fanzine with slightly better writing and production values than "Tiger Beat." Come on, Clay Aiken on the cover? Imagine the Rolling Stone of 1967 with an Ohio Express cover.

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You might as well read Vibe, People or Spin--they're all the same editorially as the current shell that is called Rolling Stone. The quality that used to define RS as a distinguished platform for thoughful cultural reflection is gone.

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Many reviewers slam RS for slipping away from the cutting edge but let's face it, that happened a long, long, long time ago when rock and roll itself stopped being cutting edge. If nothing else, Rolling Stone magazine precisely mirrors rock's co-opting with corporate America. Furthermore, in this day and age there is no shortage of available magazines, blogsites, websites, etc. for one to subscribe if they care to avoid what they perceive as blatant commericialism, so why slag off a magazine that has simply followed the path of the music form that spawned it?

I took a long time off from reading it because I too thought that RS has long since ceased to be worthwhile and it wasn't until I decided to browse some issues that I thought I'd give it another try. Since that time, I've dropped nearly all my subscriptions (too much money and not enough time in the day to read them all!!) and I'm glad that RS covers many of those various interest areas for me. I get political coverage that I generally agree with provided you understand their strong left leanings, movie reviews to keep up with what's out, solid music reviews that at least make you aware of who is releasing what, the old stand-by Random Notes, and the interviews. I still enjoy reading about rock performers and since I started back up half a year ago, I've seen enough of the older artists to satisfy my particular interests. Another good thing about it is that I can stay abreast of new acts and keep my own music collection fresh.

Yes, there are way too many ads, yes their incessant 'Top Whatever' lists are little more than reasons to get hate mail to print in their letters section, yes it is a corporate rag, yes it sucks at the teat of pop culture way too much, and yes it is too middle of the road to ever satisfy those who seek a bit more cojones in their periodicals, but it is bathroom reading at its best, it keeps me informed, keeps pressure on Washington, and still shines enough light on the dinosaurs I enjoy. When you consider that they practically give the magazine away in subscription form (versus the staggeringly high newsstand rate), it won't be a waste of your money to buy a subscription and give it a chance.

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Remember that adorable teen from "Almost Famous," who dreamed of writing cuting-edge rock articles for Rolling Stone? No way. Not now, anyway. Once an edgy herald of music and rebellion, Rolling Stone has lurched gracelessly into its old age, filled with a mess of stars du jour and frenetic MTV coverage.

Rolling Stone keeps an eye on the music industry -scandals, controversies, concert coverage and reviews of the latest albums. They cover quite a bit of movie stuff as well, interviewing/covering directors like Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino, as well as (always attractive and usually young) actors. And there's also political commentary, stubbornly one-sided and lacking in subtlety and brains.

Long ago, Rolling Stone was a force to be reckoned with. But now it's the magazine equivalent of a paunchy, wrinkled guy who buys a toupee and sports car, in a futile attempt to convince the world that he's still young and cool. Newer, wittier, more musically interesting magazines like Filter, Under the Radar and the online Kludge have slipped into the place that Rolling Stone once occupied.

It certainly doesn't help that Rolling Stone is having an ongoing personality crisis. Is it a music mag? A political mag? A movie mag? It tries to be all three, and succeeds at none. Their politics is ridiculously one-sided, lacking any complexity. And the music coverage is too mainstream to be terribly interesting. Yes, some of the bands covered -like the White Stripes -are good. But up-and-coming bands, not to mention most of the rich indie music scene, are left to languish in the shadows.

Certainly Rolling Stone can't be commended for many of their choices -it was a welcome relief when they put rock great Jimi Hendrix on the cover. But every cover of Jimi or the Beatles is outweighed by shirtless pictures of Timberlake or Usher, or naked pictures of Britney or Christina. Even the ones wearing clothes (like wannabe-rebel Avril) seem to be appealing to fetishes. Yep, many of the covers are eye-catching mainly for the skin factor.

Even those things might be acceptable, were the writing good. But save a handful of insightful movie reviews, the writing comes across as strained and painful. Attempts at wit and jokes fall flat. And some of the "human interest" stories border on revoltingly tasteless.

Creaking and covered in dust, boomer mag "Rolling Stone" passed its prime long ago. Let the gossip and pop coverage rest. Instead, check out mags like Filter, Kludge and Under the Radar, with their rich music coverage and insightful writing.

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International Journal of Arts Management

Nearly 10 years old now, the IJAM is one of the leading scholarly journals in arts management. Each issue brings a new selection of essays on marketing, leadership, fundraising, programming and other topics relecant to arts organizations. There also is generally a profile of a specific arts organization or festival, giving a sense of realism to the other more academic essays. Articles are written by experts and are well-edited and documented. Layout is clean, with numerous bi-lingual articles (generally French and English, reflecting the location of the editorial office in Montreal). A good place to follow developments in arts organizations and to pick up some cues for 'best practices.'

Rubberstampmadness - Rubber Stamp Madness

This is the oldest art rubber stamp magazine still publishing (National Stampagraphic went under a few years ago) and it doesn't show it's age. For the latest news on various techniques, conventions, stamps and accessories, this is the place that the majority of rubber stampers (if not all) turn to for advice.

That's because in addition to rubber stamp art, there are profiles of stampers, examples of mixed media (collage, copier) art and catalog reviews of stamp companies, There's a convention list. There's an area where you can post mail art calls as well as an area to request pen pals or find various rubber stamp essentials.

And for the vast majority of rubber stampers, this _is_ an essential magazine. If you're interested in rubber stamp art, this magazine is the best place to start on the inky trail. Buy this subscription and be prepared to forget about dinner when the magazine is delivered it's that absorbing.

RSM is a magazine that keeps me updated on innovations in the stamping genre. The instructions are easy to follow, and the examples are eye-catching and great to browse.

The reviews of the rubber stamping websites are very informative, as are the reviews of new products and publications. Plus, their website has links to their advertisers, so I can leave my magazine in my reading area, and still browse the links from my computer!

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This used to be a wonderful, innovative, different rubberstamping delight. Now it looks like all the others. It's small and not nearly as much fun as it used to be.

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Pointe (1-year auto-renewal)

Pointe Magazine is the finest American magazine devoted exclusively(more or less) to ballet, as opposed to other dance styles. It is geared towards both men and women equally, and is at an adult level. The quality of the coverage is great, and there are lots of interesting regular features, such as highlighting a dancer of the month and question and answers of famous dancers. The quality of the photography is top notch, as is the fantastic paper it is printed on. It is also very affordable. I don't know any ballet dancers who don't subscribe to Pointe!

Great for dance students and all who love classical ballet. Practical tips for current students, information for all who genuinely appreciate the art of classical ballet. wish this had been available 50 years ago!

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This magazine is a must for any dancer who wants to learn more about the dance world ( specifically ballet). It offers excellent tips and information. Every issue is helpful, informative, and fun. An excellent purchase.

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my daughter the dancer loves this magazine and reads it cover to cover as soon as it arrives. a must for dancers.

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You can get a one year subscription directly from the Pointe magazine website for 25% less. Of course you get the exact same product, so this review is just about the pricing.

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Investigacion Y Ciencia

I would like this product or my money back. I've been waiting since January for this product that was promised no later than April 2.

Esta es la edicion en espanol de Scientific American, bueno no hay mas que decir, es la mejor publicacion de divulgacion cientifica.

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Christian Retailing

Whether you are selling your otherwise secular product to a Christian market, or a "Christianized" secular product (like caps and mugs with a Christian-type logo), or are selling Christian products to the secular marketplace, this magazine is for you.

"Christian Retailing" is published by Charisma Media (rebranded from Strang Communications), which has an inconsistent line of magazines. This remains one of their most solid, with predictable quality.

Get a feel for the niche markets, ideas how to meet your customers (bookstores, etc.), or meet your vendor at a convention. Learn point of purchase display strategies.

Once dismissed as a nonmarketable market, Christian retailing is now a power.

It would be nice to see some moree in depth articles about how to deal ethically and legally with the snake oil salesmen. With schisters hitting the streets of Christian TV, selling items Christ would've tossed from the temple, retailers who are Christians need help in knowing how to evaluate this.

"Christian Retailing" is not only the best of the field, but for all purposes, it is the only one. Competition would do them good, but no other decent general product publication exists in this genre.

I fully recommend "Christian Retailing." Without it, you simply are unprepared to meet the marketplace.

Anthony Trendl

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Phosphore - Without Hors Series

Our school library got this magazine, and I used to spend one of my free periods reading it. It deals with current issues and has excellent reviews and lists. It also has great profiles of celebrities and other issues of teen interest, but still deals with current events and hot topics in the news.

American Journal of Nursing

This is a really great magazine for all levels of learning/nursing. As a student, I am able to learn a great deal from it. The publisher sent me 6 months worth of back issues as part of the 12 monthly issues that I ordered! I would have rather had my subscription run for the entire year instead of having 6 issues in one month and need to pay to renew this again so soon!

If I could only read one professional nursing journal AJN is the one I would read. I have read AJN since nursing school and no matter what specialty I have worked in, I have appreciated its content. I find the articles to be of extremely high quality, I discover important nursing news, and the research articles are written in language that is clear and understandable.

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As members of a complex profession with a range of specialties, it is easy for us to lose sight of our common core as registered professional nurses. This is the only journal covering the range of nursing practice at a professional level, incorporating original research, commentary and clinical applications. Reading it regularly provides me a regular overview of important issues facing nurses and nursing, beyond what I might seek out for my special interests in public health. A subscriber for 40+ years, I would not miss an issue.

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I have been reading AJN since I graduated from nursing school 30 years ago....it is timely, well written, ballanced, and provides me with the information that I need to stay in touch with current nursing practice. Thank you to Dr. Mason for an outstanding job.

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I agree with the Bradshaw review. I too subscribed for supposedly three years, but still cannot access online. Also got back issues from 4-6 months before subscribing. The LWW company is poorly organized. I had only confusing, inconsistent, and simply wrong information when trying to straighten out my account with the LIPPINCOTT publisher. Do NOT buy from them !!

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Technology Review/MIT (1-year auto-renewal)

This is a good source for a quick interesting survey of latest innovations. There are also a few longer articles in each issue that are well written and interesting. The content is easily understood by non-experts in the various fields discussed.

MIT's Technology Review covers a respectable range of technological topics, ranging from, for example, computer security to the guts of an iPad to anti-aging drugs, all in one issue. Also includes a neat section called "To Market," which highlights various tech products, which could be light bulbs, bomb detectors, solar charger, electric vehicles and robots. Shows just how fascinating science can be. A credit to science publishing.

I picked it up in the store and became a subscriber immediately thereafter.

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Technology Review, never disappoints, wide range of subjects, with points of view fully discussed. At almost 70 the review, stimulates my mind as being at MIT 51 years ago did. Couple this with Rolling Stone, and a few publications from my profession, architecture, and I am all set for a score more of years. Peter Thomas Chris's Dad

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While it won't replace my Scientific American, that's only my personal preference. MIT TR leans toward the business and economics side of technology by tracking start-ups, new tech, energy projects and other things. Of course there are more in depth articles that are always very well written it's just not ALL science like SciAm. If that's what you like, this magazine is for you.

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I can't really say that I am enjoying this subscription. I expected the content to be more 'technical' somehow, with it being published MIT. Instead, it does cover in very general terms some overall technology trends, but only to the slightest level of detail. The content is so fluffy and opinion driven that It's almost like you're watching "E" TV, except it occasionally uses the word "technology". I wouldn't recommend it for a serious tech-head.

After about 30 seconds of thumbing through new issues, they go straight to the trash with the rest of my junk mail.

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