April's Reader's Digest

I think I like Reader's Digest because of its size.  It's great to tuck inside even a small purse and while some of it is still a bit mature for my taste, other sections are interesting and funny- ok, well there was this one joke that I had to read several times and I still didn't get it.  Maybe Reader's Digest is too mature for me!
April's issue had a lot of trivia-type items, which I love.  In a little section they called Mind the Gap, they highlighted some of the items that make up this year's (for the class of 2014) Mindset List compiled by Beloit College.  I suppose you have to be slightly mature to enjoy this- I know I did.  Check out the Mindset List online and chuckle over gems like #50:  Toothpaste tubes have always stood up on their caps.

Watch for more news in April.  I'm not fooling!

Dangers of acetaminophen

April's Harvard women's health watch warns of the dangers of both over-the-counter and prescribed acetaminophen.  The toxicity of this common pain reliever  should not be underestimated as overdose can cause liver failure.  Closely monitor intake of acetaminophen by following this article's advice:
- Don't take 2 over-the-counter medicines that both contain acetaminophen.
- Don't take more than the label recommends or your doctor prescribes.
- Don't take more than the recommended dosage in any 24 hour period.
- Don't mix with alcohol.
Stay safe and read all medication labels carefully.  For more advice sign up on the website for the free weekly HEALTHbeat e-newsletter from the Harvard Medical School.

People remembers Elizabeth Taylor

The April 11th issue of People remembers Elizabeth Taylor in a multi-page photo spread and brief biography of her accomplishments.  It almost runs like the 12 Days of Christmas song:
12- age she starred in National Velvet
10- length in years of her longest marriage
8- marriages
7- husbands
5- Academy Award nominations
4- children
2- violet eyes
1- Taylor-Burton diamond (69.42 carats)

Definitely more than 15 minutes of fame... if only we could all live this glamorously.

More magazine

It's nice to know maybe I'm not as old as I think, because many of the features in More magazine just don't really appeal to me.  Too bad for More because I don't think I'll be renewing my subscription.  The subtitle of the magazine is 'For women of style and substance.'  I thought that fit me, but maybe not.  I did find a couple things of interest in April's issue to share:
-women ages 55 to 64 are less likely to house clean daily (I'm not really close to that age bracket yet, but it's nice to know there is something to look forward to at that age)
-The back page feature called 'Big names, big brains' tells where 10 female stars went to college (some ivy league schools) and the degrees they earned (none went to Drexel though)
-A lengthy but very interesting article, A country of women, on older women living in Chernobyl's radioactive wasteland.  Is it coincidental that there were butchered animals in two of the photos?  A very eerie symbolism.

Why to drink organic milk

April's Health magazine features a guide on '11 Things it's best to buy organic' and milk is one of them.  I have to say since trying organic milk, I will never go back to regular milk.  I think the organic tastes just like the milk I used to drink as a kid.  The flavor is richer and it goes down smoother.  And it doesn't have to be whole milk either.  Organic comes in 2%, 1%, and skim (I usually buy the 2%) and all of them are just as good for drinking straight as in a nice cup of tea.  The main reason Health gives in favor of organic milk:
Organic milk is free of the hormone rBST, given to dairy cows which increases their milk production.  Studies show it may not be good for humans, though, leading to increased health risks.
Why take the risk?  Organic milk tastes better and it's truly worth the extra cost.

In my office...

April's Marie Claire has an article 'What does your desk say about you?'  Of course, everyone makes some kind of personality statement with what's in their office.  I thought I'd share a virtual trip to my office with you and take a look at some things I like with me when I'm working.
Yes, I do have my diploma (which Marie Claire says shows your boss they've hired a winner- I sure hope so!).  Actually it was just sitting on the floor at my apartment, where I'll never have as much room as in my office, so it's actually a space saver.
My coffee mug (vital)- I use a San Diego Wild Animal Park mug, mainly because I had two at home which I got when my daughter and I camped there.  (Marie Claire says don't go for a too cutesy design)
Box of tissues- Marie Claire says it makes you look compassionate.  Mine also double as napkins because I love to eat at my desk.
Moccasins- sometimes my feet hurt...MC says it shows you're "motivated and concerned about your well-being."  Ok, I just don't want achy feet.
Fingerless gloves- Mine are grey wool with red skulls (there's my personality coming through!)
US Holocaust Museum calendar- My fave charity...they send me one every year with my membership.
A soft shawl- A gift from the lady who retired from my job.  I think of her fondly every time I use it.
Sea salt grinder & pepper mill- Sorry about the sodium, but I need my veggies seasoned.
Two small plush bears- A white one & a brown one which were gifts from a wonderful friend and library volunteer.
My Lenox heart shaped candy dish- Always filled with peppermint LifeSavers...I'm addicted.
My bulletin board- Surprisingly for a librarian no cat pics.  I have a couple pics of my kids and monkeys (no, they are not one and the same!).  Also an article on how to behave in front of a gorilla, just in case one should happen through my office.
All in all, I think I'm pretty organized, but then I do have a lot of room to spread out.  Maybe I could further de-clutter my apartment by taking more stuff to work!

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire- 100 years later

In Sunday's NYT there was an article about remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist fire where over 140 workers (mostly female immigrants) died because of poor working conditions and slack fire inspection laws.  The 100 year anniversary is March 25th and will be remembered by events organized by Ruth Sergel, founder of the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition.  The event was a catalyst for womens' involvement in worker's unions, building code improvements and worker's rights.  The NYTCityRoom blog has several feature entries this week on the history and remembrance of this tragedy that changed American labor and the Times Topic page has archive highlights.  A fascinating book on the subject is “Triangle: The Fire That Changed America,” a 2003 history by David Von Drehle.

The Panda's in for Spring

Panda trend - black and white

Harper's Bazaar published its fashion issue in March.  Aside from the great subscriber cover (the newstand cover just had Kim Kardashian) the editor's choice section showcased some Spring trends I will and won't be following- that is of course if the snow ever stops!  Easy to follow trends include animal skin patterned goods (when has snakeskin ever been out?), black and white (ditto), lace (love it-so feminine), and neutrals (I am definitely seeing a pair of nude platform heels in my future to wear with summer dresses).  Trends which will be difficult for me personally to follow are:  Chartreuse & other neon brights (we did this in the 80's- not going there again!) and Reds (just not my best color).  The issue also has some great photos of Kate Middleton in Issa- I'd personally like to see Kate in an Issa wedding dress on April 29th, but we will just have to wait and see!

Get your protein...

An article titled Staying strong:  How exercise & diet can help preserve your muscles in the April 2011 Nutrition Action Healthletter says as the body ages it needs more protein and immediately after strength training is the best time to consume protein to build up protein in the muscles.  How much does the RDA recommend and what are good sources of protein, you might ask?  The RDA is .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight.  So if I am 110 pounds (really I am) I should eat 39.6 grams of protein per day.  But remember, protein does not have to come from meat alone.  Vary your protein sources with options like these:

Edamame - yummy!

A favorite of mine- edamame (1/2 c. has 8g)
Nuts- 1/4 c. has 6g
Peas- surprisingly have 4g of protein per 1/2 c.
A cup of milk has 8g
An egg contains 6g
Would you rather indulge while getting your RDA of protein?  The Nutrition Action Healthletter suggests:
A Kashi TLC chewy granola bar (the dark mocha almond is very good) has 6g of protein
If you like Starbucks, a Nonfat Caffe Latte grande is full of a whopping 13g of protein.
Have fun getting your protein!

Abandon

Thanks to Publishers Weekly for sending me an advanced reader's copy of Meg Cabot's new YA novel Abandon. This is the first in the Abandon Trilogy with book 2 tentatively titled Underworld. In Abandon, Cabot conjures a vision of the gateway to the afterlife complete with a handsome gatekeeper.  I liked the way Cabot blended myth and history into the novel's location and traditions bringing a bit of reality to the fantasy. Abandon is a clean fantasy that YA readers will enjoy in a Twilight sort of way while the novel is entertaining enough to be an absorbing, quick read for busy adults who need a literary escape.  Publication date is April 24, 2011 and it can be pre-ordered at Amazon.

  Read the complete synopsis online at PW.

Great past covers

Short and sweet today...Take a look at this link from the American Society of Magazine Editors top 40 covers from 1965 to 2005...I've chosen my favorite of the list to display here.


National Geographic June 1985



Wait a minute Mr. Postman

Email, texting, evites, online bill paying...Sure it saves us money on communications (44 cents at last count), but it's killing the US Postal Service.  And we wonder why the price of a stamp keeps going up.  They have lost $8.5 billion in 2010 alone and mail volume decreased by 17% from 2006-2009.  A proposed solution is explained in April's issue of Popular Science.  The chief counsel at the Postal Regulatory Commission has suggested an innovative concept to boost revenue for the USPS, however it doesn't involve paper communications.

The proposal is for installing monitors on mail trucks that could gather data and sell it to private companies.  Likely information could be air pollution measurements, traffic conditions, ozone levels, or reporting Wi-fi coverage areas or dead zones for cellular service.  (And you thought you were paranoid about the postman reading your mail!)

The concept is not quite original though.  Some Greyhound buses already have sensors which track atmospheric weather information for the National Weather Service.

It appears the USPS, which has been in place since 1775 (another invention courtesy of Ben Franklin) will need to evolve to meet the current needs of our digital society.

Buying the right shoes

Those who know me may think this is another story about where each pair of 5 inch heels in my closet came from, but what is even more important is your workout shoes.  I recently had to buy yet another pair of sneakers.  With the number of miles I'm doing every week they seem to lose their support quickly.  I was overwhelmed by the selection, so much so that I bought two pair.  March's Runner's World has some great tips for picking shoes you & your feet will love.
*Have your feet measured each time you go to buy shoes - your foot size can change
*Wear your workout socks so you can be sure of the fit
*Shop late in the day when your feet are their largest - this is good if you're buying those 5 inch heels also!
Check the Runner's World online shoe finder (on the homepage) to give you some ideas before you hit the store.

What is a magalogue?

According to WWD (March 14) it is what is being released this week by Frederick's of Hollywood.  Billed as a combination catalog and magazine creating the Frederick's lifestyle brand, the publication is planning to go monthly in fall with 16-36 page issues.    FOH has gone beyond lingerie to "biker chic and shoes."  Get your name on the email list.  I'm interested to see how this will turn out and if it will be a new publication trend.

The new Frederick's of Hollywood manifesto

Baby bellies...

can be hard to get rid of, but would you ever consider going under the knife?  In Redbook this month the question posed is Would you get a "mommy tuck"?  In this Redbook poll, 69% of readers said yes (if money was no object; prices for the procedure range from 5-8K), however that number dropped to 29% once women were given an in-depth look at the procedure.  The graphic really shows it all.  After the initial incision, the ab muscles actually are stitched back together - OUCH!  And it wraps up by cutting away excess skin and stitching around your belly button to close it all up again.  Read the complete article online at Redbook .  I now know why I don't watch those surgical tv shows.  I think I'd take crunches anyday.  If you hate the idea of crunches try some of these yoga moves for great abs from the Women's Health twitter feed.

What's that green stuff at the back of the fridge?



Dec/Jan 2011 cover image

 If it's not a bunch of kale or an avocado, you might want to "use it or lose it" says an article in the April/May issue of Natural Health.  First we might need to backtrack to the article on the Cheapskate's guide to a greener home where tip #37 tells us to Stop wasting food.  Buy only what you are going to eat in the next few days - after all it's not Old West where you might not get back into town until after the spring thaw.  Now back to what to do with those items that got lost in the back of the fridge..."Spoiler alert" says foods will have the best flavor by the "best by" date. "Use by" dates give you a couple of days leeway, while "expiration date" is the last day food should be eaten.  "Sell by" is the last day the store can sell the item - I usually stay clear of these unless I am going to be using it immediately.  But remember, if you didn't buy the item to eat, then why is it sitting in your fridge?  I suggest pushing the point and keep a running tally on a magnetic notepad on your fridge.  Everytime you throw away spoiled food write down how much you paid for it and subsequently wasted...I'll bet in no time at all, it will be close to the price of a meal.

I think I read Cosmo because I like dry humor...

The content is really totally irrelevant since I haven't had a date in years (really).  I thought the March issue could cure that, though.  I stupidly still have faith that I'll meet someone (totally unrealistic).  The headline on the cover "We found your future boyfriend!  23 Great places to meet men" sounded promising.  Maybe I could educate myself on where these elusive creatures (men) spent their time.  It was the first article I read and quickly learned that I will be forever single...Some Cosmopolitan advice I will not be following:
*Hanging out at luxury car dealerships to chat up men looking at cars they can't afford (avoid the men who got off the bus to look at Mercedes)
*Eating at hospital cafeterias in hopes of meeting a good-looking doctor (all the good doctors are women anyway - everyone knows that)
*Going to a guitar shop because you're sure to score with a musician (I'm gagging)
*Signing up as my male alter ego on Groupon so I see where guys are shopping (yes, we all want a man who is in pursuit of a sale)
I think I'll get back to my game of Solitaire now.

Are you a cheater?

On your workout, that is.  Are you really concentrating on the correct posture?  Is your back flat?  The April issue of Women's Health has a list of Shape-Up Shortcuts that lets you know exactly when and where you can cheat without defeating the purpose of your workout.

March 2011 cover

*Resting a few extra beats longer before your next set - Totally ok...good sometimes I just need a minute especially during obliques crunches...ouch!

*Skipping cooldown - WH says it's fine to let your heart rate come down just from normal activity...I really never saw the point in neck rolls anyway.

*Shaving off the last couple reps - It's a no-no...Push through and stress your muscles - it makes those body changes you're looking for.

Also in the issue - some popular moves which will get your arms ready for sleeveless by summer!  For more tips follow WH on twitter.

An apple a day...

Did you know there were, at one time, over 15,000 varieties of apples grown in North America?  Apples seem to be going the way of glaciers, African gorillas, & John Galliano's career.  That's right, certain varieties of apples are becoming extinct.  At this time there are only about 3,000 varieties of apples grown in the US.  That's still a lot of choices, however in the March/April issue of E: The Environmental Magazine there is an article featuring Big Horse Creek Farm in western NC that grows some rare apples and they do it organically too!    They have some interesting names:  Bunker Hill, Limbertwig, Ben Davis, Gravenstein, Newtown Pippin, and Westfield Seek-no-further.  Cheers to the apple growers that are striving to preserve the all American Apple Pie!

Best You

Originally intended to be a series of newstand only bookazines (those one topic mini-books that are impulse buys at the checkout counters), Reader's Digest Best You has instead taken the form of a free online newsletter.  Sign up and you'll be emailed one short tip or fact every day that contains a link to the Best You website which has more online articles.  The main categories are Look great, Get healthy, Eat well, & Embrace life.  Each is like its own little blog with links to more in-depth information.  Each week Best You Asks... a question of its readers and responses are revealed each Friday.  Interaction is encouraged by buttons to share on Facebook, twitter, via email and RSS feeds.  I've found it has some short things that are good for reading on your Smartphone during those off moments and I haven't been bombarded with more than one email a day.  Good tips, nice format, but not too cutting-edge.  Sign up for free and judge for yourself.

Mental Floss...

bills itself as "Where knowledge junkies get their fix."  The writers for this magazine must have fun in their office.  The contents are a Jeopardy! lovers' dream (and you know how I love Jeopardy!).  All sorts of crazy facts are partnered with funny cartoons and photos with more facts running along the bottom of the pages.  It's trivia mixed with David Letterman-like top 10 lists.  I love the knowledge quiz in the back where, according to the scoring key, it really doesn't matter how many you get right or wrong.  Check the website for short "Lunchtime Quizzes."  The article in the January/February 2011 issue "Masterpiece #81:  Shirley Jackson's The Lottery" takes a look at the writer's inspiration for a classic short story we all read in high school and another interesting article looks at cow vs. camel milk.  I would call Mental Floss a good choice for light reading.  Laugh a little!

New Newsweek

Another new redesign-Newsweek now has a female editor and the March 14th issue is focused on women.  From Hillary Clinton on the front cover to the feature on the 150 Women who shake the world, it celebrates International Women's Day, which is today, March 8th.  In the editor's introduction to the new format, Tina Brown offers this insight on weekly news magazines, which I found to ring very true.  In response to the thinking that weekly news magazines are outdated in today's deluge of daily news, she says weeklies are "filling the gaps" and help readers comprehend details other news sources may have glossed over.  An article can offer background that a 30 second newsclip can not.  As with other forms of digital information, news coverage also needs the backing of journalistic pieces such as those found in Newsweek and the previously mentioned The Week. 
You can get yourself a subscription to Newsweek by making a pledge to NPR station WHYY and you'll be supporting two great sources of current events coverage and making yourself news savvy.

Spring Cleaning

I've been spring cleaning for a few weeks now.  I'm trying to organize what I do use and reduce the amount of things that just no longer serve a logical function.  A lot of the April magazine issues arriving have tips to help with spring cleaning.  In the April issue of Ladies Home Journal I found some great ideas (see the de-cluttering article here which names digitizing websites) for reducing the volume of stuff I own.  It recommends digitizing documents and recipes (I clip a lot, but it doesn't mean I use them).  I am definitely going to check out converting  photos onto DVDs.  This is a great idea, as I really hate the shoeboxes of photos hanging around in my closets that for sentimental reasons I can't bring myself to throw away.  I'm imagining all the extra space I'm going to claim in my closets and storage chests.  And the less stuff I'll have to move when I have to move closer to work to avoid spending my whole paycheck on gas!

The New New York Times Magazine

No, the title of this post is not an error.  This weeks' New York Times Magazine has been reworked and very appealingly updated.  The cover has changed by enlarging the Old English type script logo and adding feature article blurbs with their corresponding page numbers across the top.  The table of contents has been progressively revamped and the editors must have saved some of their most interesting articles for this unveiling. Look, a new photo essay layout, is a welcome addition while the crossword holds its revered space in the back.  I'm also going to be following the blog of the New York Times Magazine called the 6th Floor, which I'm sure will prove as engrossing as the print issue.  My only wish is that the Times offer an individual subscription to the magazine.  After all, my second favorite part of the Sunday Times, the Book Review, offers an individual subscription, so I can read it before Sunday.  How about the magazine?

Iditarod!

Lance Mackey after his 2008 win

The race is on from the ceremonial starting point in Anchorage to Nome.  This year 62 mushers and their teams will try to be the first to Nome on the 1000+ mile course.  Since 2011 is an odd-numbered year the southern route will be run.  After the ceremonial start on Saturday, the restart (and real race) begins on Sunday in Willow Lake.  This point is has been moved further north in recent years because of warming temperatures (can you say global warming??). Called the Last Great Race on Earth, mushers and their teams of 12-16 dogs will endure the harsh elements on their 8+ days to the finish (current temp in Wasilla, Alaska 14 degrees.)  Progress of the race and current standings are available on the Official Site of the Iditarod.  This year Lance Mackey will be trying to win his 5th straight Iditarod.  Sports Illustrated (March 7th issue) had a great article on his training techniques and a fabulous photo of his kennels.  Each of his 120 dogs has their own wooden dog house and it looks like a miniature snow covered village.  I had immediately thought about how expensive it would be to feed all those dogs, but the article explained that a dog food company does sponsor him and provides food. 
The March 2011 issue of Alaska, 'the magazine of life on the last frontier' has a very informative article on the breeding of both long distance and sprint dogs and the careful selection that is involved in choosing a winning team.  And, of course, the photos in Alaska are stunning.
I'll be enjoying the race from the comfort of my couch.  I think I might even wrap up in a Snuggie.  Just looking at all that snow makes me cold.

The Week

If you are going to read a news magazine every week, I highly recommend The Week.  It was first published in 2001 and carries the tagline 'All you need to know about everything that matters.'  It is sort of like a condensed version of the Sunday New York Times and covers all areas from politics to the arts. In short articles, compiled from global newspapers, magazines and online media, it gives the concise version of current events.  I especially like the World at a Glance feature which has short paragraphs of international news plus points the locations out on a map.  I was a heavy CNN watcher, but when I decided to go cable-free in my home, I found The Week among other news sources to catch me up on the smaller CNN stories I might not have caught during my workout time at the gym.  Do I go to the gym to workout or watch CNN?  Well, it's really convenient to do both simultaneously.  I'm not sure which I look forward to more.  In any regard, try The Week.  In about an hour of reading it cover to cover you'll be able to confidently discuss current events and the state of the world.

Thursday's tidbits

I didn't have much time to read today as I spent my lunch hour with a lovely friend.  But, like Charlie Sheen's rants on his Vatican warlock powers, I always have something to share - hopefully something more intelligent.
You might not realize it, but there were over 800 new magazines published in 2010.  Some of those will have a few issues and never get off the ground.  Others may grow in circulation to become mainstream.  Check out Mr. Magazine's blog for other odd facts.

Distressing news from the January/February issue of Information Outlook:
The US is home to less than 5% of the world's population, however it houses 25% of the world's prisoners.
Another from Information Outlook:

The US leads the world in leading researchers on climate change with 9,211, so why can't we do anything about it?

I think the answer to the two questions above may be tied to the fact that Charlie Sheen now has over a million followers on twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/charliesheen

A matter of economics

If you've never seen the Robb Report Exceptional Properties magazine, it's worth seeing how the other half might live.  The images of luxury homes for sale are unreal (not to mention the prices)!  It seems unbelievable that any one needs (or wants?) 20,000 square feet of living space-and some of these offering are obviously meant to be second homes!  It's a real curiosity as well as a bit nauseating to imagine.
On a more realistic note, Mary Hunt's Debt-Proof Living newsletter contained a reader letter about how paying just $10 more per month on a student loan for 14 months reduced the payback period by 10 months.  $10 a month is much more feasible for us normal folks who don't live in a $20 million dollar home.  I'll never have an 'exceptional property' but I see a shorter repayment period in my future-that's always good news.

March Magazines

I haven't been written for a while.  I hadn't realized that it has been more than a month.  I've been so busy, but am resolving to blog regularly, no matter how short the posts might be.  At my new job as a periodicals librarian (which I am so thrilled to have), I'm being exposed to a lot of different magazines, journals, newsletters, and email updates.  I find something of interest every day, so of course I thought I'd share. 
Two tidbits I drew a correlation between today were relatively frightening (considering the news on CNN lately).  The first came in a Trends Journal email alert titled Trends Journal Predicted Global Anti-Gov't Protests:  What's Next? which discusses the impact of social media on global politics and seems to predict dire consequences.  See the Top Trends of 2011 (from the Trends Research Institute).  I am told that studying trends is really a key strategy for media this year.  Early this year I was able to sit in on a webinar by The Futures Company (formerly Yankelovich) which discussed the importance of trends in media.  I would like to hope the Trends Journal prediction is not going to come to pass.  However, in the March 1st issue of Bottom Line/Personal, I found an article titled How to survive a nuclear bomb (including decontamination methods).  The Bottom Line web site claims they have over 1 million readers (who may be in a frenzy of panic as I type).  How long before these types of articles show up in Woman's Day or worse, Newsweek? 
I'm glad I read a bit of everything.  Everyone should so they can evaluate and form their own opinions.  There is an overwhelming plethora of information.  Each reader needs to decide for themselves what to believe.  I hope this 'trend' is purely hype, but what do you believe?

Is this a scary new trend beginning?  Or just media hype to sell print?