Consumer Reports (1-year auto-renewal)

A friend of mine once remarked that CR seesm like a great magazine "until they write about something you actually know a bit about..." and that's the problem with CR. They're great when it comes to quantifiable things like repair frequency, reliability, warranty information and so forth. They're much less useful when it comes to reporting on subjective things, or on technical matters.

That's a problem with trying to review every possible consumer item; you can't be an expert on everything. Sure, CR has their own labs and testers, but they're as likely as not, when confronted with something they can't quantify, to come up with some arbitrary measure and then rate products on that. For example, I've read some hilarious HiFi reviews that never involved actually *listening* to units. Instead, they take some statistic they consider to be critical and rate all units on that. Computer reviews often are very superficialyou'd do far, far better with PC or a similar magazine. And some of their financial advice on life insurance, mortgages and investment has been rather narrow, preaching single solutions for all.

So yeah, read CR when you're buying that next vacuum cleaner, or toaster, or popcorn popper, but before making any major purchasers or investments I'd look a bit further than the pages of CR.

As a 25-year reader of and current subscriber to Consumer Reports (CR), I find the magazine quite informative and money-saving, despite some flaws, which I discuss below. CR covers a wide range of consumer goods such including automobiles, small and large home and garden appliances, consumer electronics, groceries, and more. They also cover a variety of services such as car insurance, hospital billing, mutual funds; and issues such as consumer privacy and safety. I enjoy their clear writing style, informative photos, charts that pack a lot of information into an easy to understand format, and helpful index of products covered in the past year's back issues. Each month I first check their "selling it" section on the inside back cover, where they chronicle "excesses in the world of marketing" with photos and delightfully sardonic yet understated comments.

I consider CR's product testing and research of tangible consumer goods to be among their strongest assets. When I bought my car and digital camera, CR was the first place I turned for market research. The product tests, comparisons, and recommendations are first rate. Also, CR gave this tool-clueless read a good education on cordless drills. :-) CR buys all consumer goods themselves and doesn't accept gifts or advertising, which helps them maintain impartiality.

CR does have some biases though. They're very luke-warm toward any type of alternative medicine. Several years ago, I laughed when they pronounced acupuncture, practiced successfully for thousands of years, a sham. Overall, they're quite mainstream, not taking into account purchasing factors increasing numbers of people now consider, such as whether an item is made with slave labor or tested on animals. Often, they'll only review a token "green" household product made of recycled paper or non-toxic ingredients. However, they do cover hybrid automobiles, but not fully electric ones. You may not always find the brand you're looking for within a product category. Their report on luggage might not cover the brand of suitcase you're evaluating, but does provide good advice on what to what to look for when choosing a suitcase.

Recommendations: There's probably less of a need for CR now that one can find so many reviews and testimonials on the Internet. Yet they're fabulous for side-by-side professionally-conducted product comparisons of features and performance, as well as information of interest to consumers. If you only want to consult CR to research an occasional purchase, it may suffice to check CR out of the public library. But if you like to keep up on product technology and issues of importance to consumers, you may benefit from a subscription. When making a purchasing decision, don't automatically buy the best-rated item in the category. Carefully evaluate how the product features fit your lifestyle, plus any price/feature tradeoffs. Two years ago, I purchased the top of the line digital camera, found it difficult to use, and traded it in for an easier to use digital camera rated a bit less highly but which works better for me. Overall, despite its flaws, CR is one of my favorite magazines and I read it cover-to-cover the day it arrives in my mailbox.

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Consumer Reports is in a league by itself. Where else are you going to find reliable information and comparisons on consumer products without the conflict of interest of paid advertising? However, it's a small monthly magazine; so don't be surprised if (1) several issues review no products you're interested in and (2) the item you're thinking of buying was last reviewed six years ago and the information is completely out-of-date.

A less serious problem is that the magazine's reviews occasionally give a product a mediocre rating for reasons that I find picky or insignificant. However, their criteria are clear, so it's not hard to know when this is the case. From time to time, they also seem to miss the point. For example, a faucet-mounted water filter is said to clog easily, when in fact it's designed to cut off after so many gallons. Removing the filter cartridge and reinserting it--which the manufacturer understandably advises against--takes 10 seconds and returns the flow to normal.

Nevertheless, I like the idea of what Consumer Reports offers and represents. That alone might be a reason to subscribe, if you have some disposable income for a good cause.

I don't subscribe and as someone who lives and earns modestly by choice, I probably never will. Instead, I consult Consumer Reports at my public library whenever I'm considering a purchase that the magazine might be helpful with. This has two advantages: (1) I save the price of a subscription and (2) I feel less disappointed and frustrated when it offers no useful information on a particular product (about 60% of the time).

If you buy a lot of consumer products beyond the essentials, then your chances of finding the magazine helpful are increased, the price of a subscription perhaps no problem, and the magazine is probably for you. If you're not sure, consult the magazine at the library before you're next couple of purchases. Then you'll know for yourself whether it's worth having your very own copy in your mailbox every month.

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I've subscribed to this magazine for years. First of all, I love magazines that don't accept advertising. They are committed to helping consumers make good, educating buying decisions. Each issue reviews a variety of products from cars to canned soup, from CD players to cell phones, from dishwashers to drinking water they have it all.

There's an option to have total access to Consumer Reports online. It's $24/year if you aren't a subscriber, and $19/year if you are a subscriber. Even though I subscribe, I still pay the money to have the wealth of information at my fingertips when I need it. I'm not organized enough to find the September 2002 issue handy when my freezer breaks down and I have to hurry out and buy a new one. When our family needs a major (or smaller) appliance, we ALWAYS check out Consumer Reports. Though we don't always buy their Best Buy or top pick, it alerts us about things to look for, features to consider, and what brands are more reliable. I love having all that information when I go to the store to buy something.

I enjoy their Letters section, their short articles, recalls, and updates on previous product reviews. When you subscribe to CR you get the 2004 Buyers Guide, which is a handy thing to have around the house! This is one magazine subscription that I never allow to expire.

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If you want the unbiased FACTS on the things you are considering buying, I say go with CR. It is the most venerable consumer review source with the deepest pockets and largest audience and most experience, and has scruples. It does not accept advertising in its pages, a rarity today. I refer to CR before making any major purchase and find its articles entertaining and informative and written with common sense and far-sightedness.

I do have some beefs with CR, which is a nervous Nelly Yankee publication with obnoxious eccentricities that need to be weeded out.

1. Their marketing dept. likes to mail people to death with offers for their online service, renew subscriptions, etc. etc. Give it a rest already! CR needs to quit wasting membership fees on junk mail. I have received at least 12 envelopes from CR in a year's time. And I have a 5 yr subscription already! NO excuse for that kind of wasteful misuse of funds.

2. CR just considers a limited number of brand names for items such as plasma or LCD or CRT tv's. Go to any store, you will see a dozen brands that CR has NO rating for. Inexcusable really.

3. CR's focus is totally on cars. Each issue, about 1/4th the magazine is blown on new cars costing $25,000 $75,000. That's real sweet if you're in the upper middle class and buy new cars every few years. For those of us who prefer used cars it's just a waste of space. Why not leave the car ratings for the annual report? Why put a new car review in every cotton-pickin' issue?

4. CR says "no advertising" but in reality it spends space advertising its OWN products such as "Put CR in your Will" (a program where you leave your money to CR, obscene really) and the car-rating thing and the online service and then an annuity for seniors.

5. Open up a CR, and it's a battle fighting the postcards hooked into the paper. Being a consumer mag, they should KNOW already that consumers hate that. It's just a tacky waste of paper and an annoyance to the reader.

6. CR's lobbying wing is down on supplements and tries to get over-the-counter substances transformed into prescription-only affairs, or banned altogether. Such as the natural herbs, Kava, Ephedra, and the list goes on. All in the name of "safety". The last straw was when I read that CR was trying to clamp down on sam-e, which I purchase and consume on a regular basis. The idea that my membership fees are going to be used to force me to get a doctor's prescription and pay 10x more for the same pills, makes me think that CR will not get a "5 star" rating here, but instead a "3 star" rating. CR should reconsider their notion that Government must prohibit/limit citizen's access to substances.

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Engineering News-Record ENR

Delivered within about 4 weeks. Online activation worked great. No problems on that end. As for the mag itself? It's ENR. If you have any interest in the world of construction and engineering, it is a no-brainer. Amazon price ($52) also beats the next best ($82) that can be found on the actual website. Awesome. Very happy with purchase.

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The Nation

The Nation is a great publication that has featured the works of scholarly writers such as Eric Alterman, Barbara Ehrenreich, Noam Chomsky and Norman Mailer. Though the issues addressed and the opinions expressed are often labeled as leftist, this magazine nonetheless contains some very thought-provoking nuances and propositions for a better America that sound intelligent.

Though many are outraged about some of the stances that the editors and contributors of The Nation have taken, their retorts often fall short of being strong, tangible, clearly expressed responses. From what I see and hear, too many discussions from them center around using diatribes and trying with no success to portray or effectively deconstruct the perceived merits and flaws of this work or the like.

It was from reading nonfiction books by Ayn Rand that I was perpetually presented the term straw man, an argument approach that was, according to Rand, used by those of altruistic and socialistic agendas that stripped mankind of its individual freedoms. With The Nation, there are bits and pieces of anecdotal evidence that might oppose any laissez-faire capitalistic themes championed by Rand, but I cannot say that they are mere straw man commentaries.

I concur that the magazine might be somewhat slanted, as are all other publications. But global and domestic complexities, I believe, are abounding at a rate that not even the most sophisticated philosophies or ideologies from years past can focus upon in adequate context. To me, The Nation is one of those rare, bold sources that unequivocally acknowledge this disturbance.

Among the recurring themes in this publication is that in this twenty-first century, despite the technological advances that have come to fruition, our nation and world are as divided as ever and that economic globalization seems to have married or melded the worst elements of opposing political platforms. To many contributors, it was decades ago that very few envisioned that the powerful from the freest of societies would be expanding their businesses and increasing their wealth by overtly banking upon productivity levels from geographical areas where human rights are minimized or obliterated.

In The Nation, very interesting columns and analyses are provided regarding the living conditions that working class Americans are either embracing or enduring. Suggestions are intermittently proposed regarding higher pay, better health care, and improved living standards through government reforms, often where the efforts from hard-working individuals and the private sector fall short.

As a reader, I do not necessarily agree with the views espoused, and the level to which I do so is not what I find to be the value of The Nation. What is priceless about this publication is that regardless of what school you are from or what think tank you highly esteem, it will either perpetually reinforce your cherished ideals or will make you use introspection, perhaps re-examine what you thought were sound resolutions for a progressive society.

While many mainstream publications have been shying away from calling members of the current American government into account for their transgressions from bribery and theft to misinformation and cover-ups of sexual escapades "The Nation" has done its job and reported the facts. For its trouble, many of those who lean the same way as the current administration lambast the magazine as "too liberal" and "naively progressive."

So let's put it this way: If you value truth over lies and think the rights of "the little guy" are just as important as the rights of fat cats, you will like "The Nation." But be warned -"The Nation" is rife with page after thorough page of intense reporters' writings, and even some clever poetry, but only rarely has pictures. Which may be the real reason why right wingers don't like it.

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This publication owes nothing to no one. It tackles complex subjects with the assumption that the reader is intelligent enough to follow the text. It is such a joy to read thoughtful indepth articles about the big story--and all the little stories underneath. I read The Nation when I was young and I am still reading it in my middle age. What a pleasure to hear news without catch phrase or the latest missused hyperpole. I donate to this publication and I would think that anyone who discovers it ( or re-discovers it) would do the same. I am so pleased to be part of The Nation's continuing quest to enlighten and challenge.

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I have been receiving the Nation for several years. I got started during the Bush years when other media sources seemed to be in lockstep, beating the drum for the (Iraq) war. The rise in popularity of Faux News is inversely proportional to the level of intellectual sophistication of its audience. I have subscribed to several progressive publications but they lacked the seriousness and depth provided by the Nation. The Nation is thoughtful, well researched and well written an effective and direct antidote to the reactionary mainstream media. I look forward to receiving it, especially when something newsworthy arises. I particularly appreciate the impressive credentials of the Nation's contributors; because today's issues can be complicated and confusing. Especially since power brokers are less than candid. The Nation is critical of all hypocrisy whether it comes from the left or the right. Even though my budget is very tight this is one item I do not consider to be dispensable. I need to be informed and I trust the Nation to help me reach that goal. Beware! After you start reading the Nation everything else will appear dumbed down!

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Ordering this subscription here (rather than direct) saved a couple of dollars, but it's going to take over 4 months to receive the first issue. As a gift, this is a bit of a failure.

Catholic Historical Review

I have subscribed to this fine quarterly for over 25 years. How I wish I had taken a lifetime subscription out when I first subscribed. I have never failed to find interesting and informative material in the magazine, and usually read the issue cover to cover the day it arrives. Its book reviews are outstanding, and bring to one's attention books you would otherwise miss. Subscribe--you will never regret it.

Current Archaeology

I really enjoy this magazine a mix of new discoveries and updates on past ones. Coupeled with a number of other magazines I enjoy this is always a first read.

Easyriders

I like choppers and babes;but sleds are the main thing that makes you wonder which is the beauty and which is the beast!The rag falls short of being informational and useful.If the price was 5.00 per year maybe a good deal.Im glad I subcribed this time,to see how far down it has gone.ADIOS SUCKA!!!!

Easyriders is one of the most informative and entertaining magazines I have had the pleasure to read. H-D58s review is so distant from any reality that I am at a loss to understand his motives or his reasoning. First, there is absolutely no "kiddie-porn" in this magazine. I do not have the time, nor inclination, to diagnose why H-D58 would consider the exposed breasts of "Women" to be pornographic. But I for one find viewing the female form as a healthy and pleasurable experience.

Second, the "Easynews" and "Taking it Easy" sections of the magazine are so enlightening and enjoyable they are almost worth the price of the magazine on their own. Not to mention the exceptional journalism that permeates throughout, giving relevant and expert information covering all aspects motorcycles and motorcycling. The occasional "Women" that so graciously appear from time to time, only add a beautiful contrast to this highly respected and remarkable magazine.

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I have read Easyrider Mags for years, being a seasoned biker I find Easyriders to be informative, has a varity of products and services. There articles are well written and the layouts of events are good.

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This is a great magazine for anyone who is seriously into motorcycling and the "biker lifestyle". It covers many great articles showing and reviewing some of the best customs out there, not to mention they cover the standard factory bikes to, including classics. Oh yeah, and the babes aren't bad either!

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You better have your girl tame before you get this mag. Full of all the right bikes with lots of curves and booby shots. Pure American Man magazine!

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Skeptical Inquirer

Nothing like starting with a trite title. I've been subscribing to this fine journal longer than I have "Skeptic" which I also recommend. Indeed, I recently argued with a colleague, one who's convinced that she's had an out-of-body experience (OBE), who thinks this journal is the closest thing to heresy she's ever encountered. (Suffice it to say, the argument didn't go on for long. I climbed aboard my UFO and went off to Xanadu and we remain friends.)

I should mention too another friend who jumps from one New Age fad to another. He prefers "Skeptic" to this as he feels the editors of that magazine are less prone to insult the things in which he chooses to believe. So if your hypersensitive, this might not be for you. I'm not that sensitive, just know who NOT to bother arguing with.

I look forward to every issue of Skeptical Inquirer. Some of the articles are a little terse, but that's okay. I mean, Carl Sagan was right: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Yet there's people who'll buy the latest health fads, the latest UFO claim--the list grows by the day.

To be perfectly honest, I thought the magazine was a little better when it was quarterly. (I think it's every other month now.) But I still read it cover to cover. It's a little less "academic" than "Skeptic" but that doesn't mean less researched. There just tends to be a little more wit than that other journal. When Martin Gardner had a regular column, I turned to that before the other articles. But Martin, like the rest of us, isn't getting any younger. I'll still have to read his library of books much of which graces my bookshelves.

Folks, there's a lot to learn. The "mainstream" media tend to NOT discourage items that lead to the Amityville Horror and countless other scams. (I just remember that one, hence my referring to it specifically.) Indeed, this is one of the few magazines that I not only read but save in one of the binders I also got from them (along with the legged Darwin fish for my car and the slogan, "I doubt it" which flashes on my cyber-hat. Sorry. Someone gave that to me for my birthday and that just seemed an appropriate slogan to flash to people who buy the stuff so seldom challenged by people who should know better!)

If you are inclined to skepticism, you're healthier than the average American these days. I recommend this journal. The subject matter is broad, the articles are fun, and

This magazine is put out by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP for short). Their mission statement is "Encourage the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and disseminates factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific community and the public" and the Skeptical Inquirer magazine is one of the main ways the information is disseminated.

The articles in any typical issue cover a wide range of subjects from ESP and alien abductions to the claims of efficacy of various alternative medicine practices. The point being with all of these topics, to apply the scientific method to either prove or disprove a claim. I've always found the articles to be unbiased. If a test is inconclusive the results are reported as readily as a positive result. In addition, since the magazine is intended for the public and not specifically scientists, the writing is always very clear and easy to read.

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While it lacks the gloss and pizazz of the one other major magazine in the field (Skeptic), the Skeptical Inquirer is the far better publication of the two. It's much less of a one-man show, being guided by an organization (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of the Paranormal, or CSIOP) rather than a semi-charismatic leader. That's not to say it doesn't have its faults.

Like Skeptic, Skeptical Inquirer is heavy on the polemical approach and light on the tolerance. There tends to be a very heavy-handy and condescending attitude towards any religious belief, with a few odd and contradictory exceptions. For example, Martin Garder is a board member and a major inspiration of CSIOP; indeed, his books on "Fads and Fallacies" are among the most often-cited works on pseudoscience. Gardener himself is a practicing Christian, as he discusses in his book "What I Believe", yet he's all too quick to comdemn religious beliefs not concordant with his own. The truely skeptical reader might wonder why Garder's beliefs get a pass, but other religions are deemed cults. Why are only some revelation acceptible?

Overall, though, The Skeptical Inquirer does tend to have a little more of a scientific slant than does The Skeptic, and one will find more scientists writing in The Skeptical Inquirer. For instance, the current issue (July/August 2003) has an article on Memory Recover authored by (among others) Elizabeth Loftus, and a reply by Stephen PInker to an earlier article.

Given the choice between the two magazines mentioned, The Skeptical Inquirer gets my nod as the preferred publication. But it should still be read with an attitude at least as skeptical as the magazine itself.

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This magazine contains detailed articles debunking modern mythology; ranging from crop circles to spontaneous combustion to psychics and beyond. Their well educated and preceptive journalists do significant scientific and historical research to provide detailed analyses of many proported paranormal occurances and explain the creation of such hoaxes. Their analytical results might be a bit offensive to people who truly want to believe in the paranormal, but most of their articles are carefully and tactfully written, and each experiment is done fairly, with an open mind. The articles contain comprehensive information that is useful to send to family and friends who are certain that (any such supernatural occurance) does exist. Skeptical Inquirer also contains reviews on related literary works and lectures. This is a must have publication for a well educated, rational person today. I have enjoyed every issue I have recieved.

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The act of skeptical inquiry in and of itself primarily results in what is often called "debunking." As a citizen living in country of people hoodwinked into beleiveing that witches, unicorns,and bigfoot all exist relative to their fairy tale roots, this magazine serves as a refreshing antidote. Most often you will find that those who are displeased with the magazine are those who want to read "serious inquiry" into X Files type events that are invariably a hoax. If someone wants to believe in the Loch Ness Monster or bleeding statues; that is their perogative. But they shouldn't be surprised when skeptical inquiry results in a less than favorable verdict for their pet-fantasies. For those that are interested in reading the best magazine of skeptical/rational inquiry outside of a straight science magazine; enjoy this one.

Current World Archaeology

I also get Archaeology magazine, a US publication. Both are wonderful and just great for those with active interest in the ancient world. Really well put together!

Weight Watchers Magazine (1-year auto-renewal)

There are not too many magazines that you can really enjoy. Some are filled with way too many ads, and others have a lot of things that really don't apply. This magazine blends weight loss issues, along with articles, on food, fashion, and beauty. Their recipes are easy to make, and don't require a lot of complicated ingredients that you can't find. I have enjoyed the articles on beauty and fashion as sometimes we loose focus on the positive things we can do for ourselves. Best of all even if you are not on their program the magazine still has a lot to offer you. I would consider this magazine if you are concerned about eating healthy, losing weight, and trying to look good.

This is an excellent magazine for those who are trying to lose weight or maintain their weight. It provides recipes for well balanced, low fat meals. It usually features a motivational article, as well as articles on proper nutrition and exercise in order to achieve a healthier lifestyle. I wish that that the articles were a little more substantive, however, and that the magazine, as a whole, would have less filler. Still, as a current subscriber, I find the magazine to be a generally useful tool for someone who is trying to effect a more healthy lifestyle.

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I lost 34 pounds on Weight Watchers and part of that was because of their phenomenal publication. My wife and enjoy every issue, filled with new research, helpful facts, loads of coupons and those recipes.

My wife enjoys cooking from the recipes. What I love about WW is that you can live a normal life and eat the things you want. You'll be surprised at how many calories you can cut out of a regular dish just by substituting certan ingredients. And you don't even taste the difference! Sometimes its even better.

If you're trying to lose weight through WW, you really should have the magazine. It's inexpensive and it will help you along the way.

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I love going to Weight Watcher meetings and recently subscribed to the magazine. I am impressed. I have stopped almost all subscriptions but I will keep this one going. It has the best of everything, including the motivation we need to keep us going.

You may think this will be geared just for the person who is on Weight Watchers but it has more. You will find articles on beating diseases, articles on beauty, fashion and makeup, exercise tips, advice on supplements and of course, recipes. I don't cook much but I have used some of the recipes in this magazine. I found them easy and healthy. This is a great magazine and I highly recommend it.

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Weight Watchers has helped me stay in a healthy weigth range for five years now. During the course of time, we all need motivation and encouragement. I no longer attend WW meetings, but I read this magazine and use WW's website to help keep me headed in the right diretion. The recipes are good and trying new food keeps me from getting bored. Reading about the success stories of others helps me stay in line too. The advertisements also provide a source of new snack and exercise sources. I only wish the magazine came out every month instead of bi-monthly!

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Total Guitar

If you don't live in the UK, you'll often find a lot of music and bands you've never heard of in Total Guitar, but that's a good thing. As an alternative to Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Guitar World, which mostly feature the same transcriptions and cover artists you're already tired of ad naseum (and usually only focusing on a certain type of band for two years straight), TG, on the otherhand, is a breath of fresh air EVERY SINGLE MONTH. They may have a pop artist on the cover one month, a country legend another, a heavy artist the next, a funk or punk artist the following. In each issue, you can find a diverse palette of music to choose from with transcriptions and faithfully recorded instrumental tracks on CD for you to play along with and learn from (just like having a band right there with you), along with very helpful tips for the novice and experienced player alike. You're bound to find something new to pique your interest every time. Their only downfall is that they have an Oasis fixation that will hopefully come to pass, but this IS a UK magazine, you know? This is the type of magazine where you can find transcriptions of bands such as the Pixies alongside The Smiths, Blur, Van Halen, Elvis, James Bond, Metallica, and tons more. Guitar Player and Guitar World just don't match up. So you may be scared off by the pricetag of Total Guitar. I believe it's worth every penny. If you're just starting out, TG is like an invaluable set of FUN lessons sent to your door (or at your newsstand) each month, and if you already play, TG offers a wealth of tips and information to help you stay on your toes. Again, you're not only getting an action-packed magazine, but also a cool CD to play along with each month, and they have to import it from England, so that's where the price is coming from. Completely worth it, though. If you're like me and don't really care to see the 10th Korn transcription in Guitar Magazine in 3 months, then Total Guitar is definitely worth you checking out.

GUITAR PLAYER MAG

I collected Guitar Player magazines from 1978 and stopped only in 1988.I have been playing the guitar as a hobby for 35 years. Was in many amateur bands in my youth.Thought I knew every tricks when I was young. Stopped jamming to pay attention to family and career.

FUTURE PLUBLICATIONS

Then I came across Total Guitar, Guitar Techniques & Guitarist. These magazines changed my life. I learned to play near to accuracy the likes of Eric Clapton, George Harrison,Jimi Hendrix,Van Halen, Queen, Free, Bad Company, Jimmy Page, Hank Marvin,Dire Straits, SRV, Richie Blackmore, Black Sabbath, Johnny Winter etc. All the tricks were let out of the bag.

TOP NOTCH TEACHERS

The publisher Future Publication employs top notch guitarists as editors and teachers to share all the secrets with us. And the best of all, you do not need to understand music theory. All you need is some basic skill in understanding guitar tabs, a great love in guitar, a DVD player that has A-B setting & lots and lots of patience. Nothing equals the joy when you master a guitar part which you never thought you would have done on your own.

ONE MAN BAND

However one sad note for all new. The permits for new songs to be transcibed are getting lesser as the onwers of these songs now realize that the magazines reproduce the full backing track (without the guitar, some people call this MINUS ONE track)that is so close to the original that it can be used for public performances.

CONCLUSION

Grab all the back issues. Check out eBay. The old issues are reselling at very high prices as more and more guitarists are getting turned-on by these magazines. Goodluck.

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Marie Claire Maison - France

Reading Marie Claire Maison over stolen afternoons at the Alliance Française library in Santo Domingo was my ideal oasis from the grind of the sticky hot city and my leaky rental apartment (with matching leaky budget). The designs consistently feature eclectic materials that make you look at objects around you with an artist's eye to composition, contrast, light and mood. It also stokes the flames of thrift shopping or dumpster diving to unearth beautiful and underappreciated objects to spotlight in your home. It was a wonderful way to improve my French vocabulary and to draw back the curtain on French homes and mindsets. You can't go back to matchy-matchy design magazines after this. Vive Marie-Claire Maison !

These magazines are published in different countries such as Italy and France. I did not know that. I wanted to purchase the Italian version and until I received it, did not know that it was also published in French-a bit of a surprise. I did enjoy the magazine though-the pictures were nice. Wish I knew how to get my hands on the Italian version though. Also wish the information was clearly marked when ordering. The writing was too small for me to determine that it was a French, not Italian, magazine I ordered.

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Us Weekly (1-year auto-renewal)

I signed up to receive 12 issues/weeks of US Mag for $1 and was told I could cancel at anytime. This is a lie! in week 4 of the original 12 week, my credit card was charged the full renewal fee of $15.48 and the option to cancel this subscription was "not available at this time". Let this be a warning so you don't get screwed too.

Be careful when you deal with this vendor. They auto renew without notice (and claim they send notice). It is easy to turn it on but impossible to turn it off.

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I subscribed because of a special deal from a previous Amazon purchase. What I didn't know was how hard it would be and the trouble I'd have to go to when I wanted to cancel the subscription. It literally took weeks, and I've yet to get my refund that I was told I would get. Definitely not worth the trouble unless you know for sure you are going to want to keep the subscription beyond the "special price" period.

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great magazine, but there is no way to stop the subscription. I will disengage of Amazon...forever if this situation remains the same! Trust me!!!!

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Man this magazine has fallen to the bottom of the barrel. I got six months of it on a 4.99 special offer deal with something I bought here at Amazon (the product escapes me at the moment). And I thought...Kewl!...more entertainment news like Entertainment Weekly (very good by the way)...boy did I miss the boat...I don't know when this went from a semi-hard entertainment news mag to a magazine sized Enquirer but the transformation is complete and it is undetectable from it's larger doppelganger. Maybe for women this tripe is food for thought...but it definitely isn't for men (aside from the Perez Hilton business model of men). Now I'm stuck with five more months. Needless to say...I've turned off the auto-renewal! At least my granddaughter, Kayla, likes to look at the fashions (she's fourteen) so it's not a total loss. I just feel guilty letting her read the rampant gossip and innuendos...to paraphrase Groucho:..."when gossip comes innuendo...truth goes out the door!"

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Coins Magazine (1-year)

Time-sensitive data such as mint release dates and pricing is not current in a monthly magazine such as this, but the articles are very interesting and I enjoy it very much.

i get so excited when my magazine comes, i love the large pictures of the coins being reviewed and use my magazines for reference for prices,i share them with a man who buys storage lockers and ALWAYS finds old coins,the magizine gives you a current up to date view over the OFFICIAL RED BOOK.. giving you a more realistic view of what to expect from the coin marget and i also love reading the stories of how and where people find there coins!

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This magazine fits right into my collection. It is easy to use and to identify the coins I am looking for.

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If you are a coin collector, you need to subscribe to this magazine. Found it to be very helpful. Buy it.

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It is probably most in depth monthly magazine on the market with good market price guides. Wish they had more categories of grades and more of current year pricing.

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Shambhala Sun (1-year auto-renewal)

"Shambhala Sun" has a beautiful lay-out, and is filled with words of wisdom from ancient and contemporary Buddhist thinkers. It features articles and interviews from people like Alice Walker We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Light in a Time of Darkness, Jon Kabat-Zinn Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life and many others. One author in particular had an influence on me and how I think about relations and even politics, and that is Jack Kornfield After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path. I used to work as a security guard and had the opportunity to listen to a presentation he gave on "The Roots of Buddhist Psychology" (available from Sounds True audio). He revealed all sorts of counter-productive habits of mind we find ourselves in, or that we've been put in by a very manipulative corporate media Manufacturing Consent Noam Chomsky and the Media. For me, Buddhism isn't just a spiritual practice, but something that can assist in bringing on progressive social change, exemplified by the many Buddhists who are engaged activists. We hear a lot about the Christian Right and its political power, but the Buddhist Left (among other progressive denominations) is quietly revolutionizing how we perceive the world and encouraging kindness, which is a radical proposal in what can be a mean world.

See Turning Wheel magazine for more on Buddhist political action.

Regularly recognized by Utne as one of the best magazines in its field, "Shambhala Sun" will appeal to both serious Buddhist practitioners, and those with a vague interest.

See also:

Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children

Discovering Buddhism

Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution

This magazine is great, and I look forward to receiving every 2 months. Great articles, book reviews, authors, stories, etc. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the buddhist or generally mindful path. Gives great insight into multiple traditions as well.

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I have just received my first copy of the Shambhala Sun, and although I am not completely through readying it yet, I am completely in love with this magazine. It is so knowledgeable and has something for everyone. The photography is beautiful and even the advertisements, which do not take up the entire magazine, have a reason to be read. I am more than happy that I chose this magazine and I will be renewing it too. The most important things is that there is something detailed in it about Buddhism and the Dahli Lama that affects you personally and something you did not know that you can learn and live with and apply to your life immediately.

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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, among which this is the best-known.

SHAMBHALA SUN presents us with some of the best Buddhist writing available today. I have watched this magazine mature into an eminently readable publication as it has shifted its primary focus away from dry scholarly and pedagogical articles written by University Professors of Oriental Studies and obscure Vajrayana mountain hermits to the more immediate concerns of Western Buddhists---like how to maintain your practice in the face of an interaction with an obnoxious sales clerk; or how to be "in the moment" with digestive troubles: "The Sh***y Monk," a recent article, reflects SHAMBHALA SUN's movement away from self-importance.

The scholarly and pedagogical articles still do appear, albeit written with a lighter hand. Information on the neurological changes caused by meditation and information on little-known aspects of Sri Lankan Buddhism no longer cause me to develop glazed eyes and a sudden desire to find the ecstasy in the laundry.

Does SHAMBHALA SUN have shortcomings? Well, in my opinion, a few:

It has become the self-appointed promoter of the emerging "Mindfulness" movement, an academically-sanctioned whitebread-and-jelly form of meditation practice sans spirituality now becoming the new darling of Corporate America.

Like "Green," "Mindfulness" permits companies to appear to be interested in the human concerns of their employees while co-opting workers into accepting even less autonomy. Soon, meditation, or at least sitting on your arse quietly, may become a job pre-requisite for health benefits. But without allowing for a spirit of internal inquiry, it really is just sitting on your arse.

SHAMBHALA SUN is also slick and 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 Mindfulness training, retreats, and practice aids. SHAMBHALA SUN itself is hardly responsible for the hijacking of meditation practice into the corporate culture. Also, the magazine only runs ads, it doesn't judge them. Thus, insofar as this reviewer goes, none of this costs the SUN a star.

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I have read many different Buddhist magazines over the years, and Shambhala Sun stands out in taking a fresh new look on the traditions. Where many other magazines might talk about meditation basics or a history of a famous person, Shambhala Sun is interviewing Buddhists with tattoos who swear and who bring Buddhism into inner city environments. The same issue had a look at the blogging firestorm that erupted around Tiger Woods, his infidelities, and his statements about Buddhism.

Yes, there are the articles on the Dalai Lama, there are reviews of recent books that touch on the Buddhism world, and there are the typical pages and pages of advertisements. I really wish magazines didn't have to be so densely populated with ads. Do they really need *that* many in order to pay their basic bills?

For me, I'm taking off one point because while many of the articles are interesting, they're more newsy than practical. I do enjoy learning about Buddhism in other parts of the world, but I can do that online fairly easily. I am hoping with the magazine to get more of a direct, helpful way to improve my own practice.

Still, a fairly minor complaint, and if you're keen to learn about the various ways Buddhism is changing and growing as it spreads into untouched nooks and crannies of our world, this magazine is the one which will cover it.

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Personal Real Estate Investor

Purchased this at local book store at first then signed up for a year. Like reviewer in Indiana I will renew too. Lots of ads, but someone has to pay for cost of the nice paper! Has given me some good websites to visit and sent me the right direction.

Have gotten some good tips and information from this magazine. Recieved the magazine for 1 year now and will renew my subscription

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Mr. Andrew Waite sent me an unsolicited email because I subscribed to his magazine. It was a scam that cost me $8,000. It was suppose to be for mortgage modifications, but nothing more than a scam. This one year subscription cost me $8,000. To this day, I don't know if he's just a marketer who will send anything to his subscribers as long as it pays him money, or if he was involved in this scam. Either way, I'd be very wary of the advice he and his magazine gives you.

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