Magazines

I don't read enough, but when I get a chance a few unusual magazines can be very enlightening. Along with your boring old Time and US News, read some of these...email me and I'll send you my old copy!

One of my favorite magazines is an alternative bi-weekly newsmagazine called In These Times. It is published by a group called the Institute for Public Affairs in Chicago. It is not cheap, but it contains information not found in the big bland major newspapers (Chicago Tribune, NY Times) or magazines (Time, Newsweek, etc.) Actually, most of the stories never get published or any air time at all, which indicates how much power the communications conglomerates have over the information we see and don't see. I don't watch TV news - it's all killings and entertainment - no wonder most of the country has the IQ of a turtle and don't know much about the sad state of the world.

As an example, I am enclosing an article by Jim Naurekas called "Info-Bandits" about the recent obscenity known as the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This little puppy is courtesy of YOUR government and the paid stooges for industry known as Congress - although I know Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) voted against it, but of course he has retired.

Also, another article by Joel Bleifuss called "To Die For" hot off the press on the carcinogens in common cosmetics and the FDA's unwillingness to defy Big Cosmetics and regulate cosmetics like food. ( They are totally unregulated...no wonder there's junk in them.)

A cool article by Robert W. McChesney, "The Digital TV Heist", talks about how the corporate assholes continue to exploit the public for everything and leave them holding the bag. This time, powerful broadcasters get billions of dollars of public spectrum and give us bad TV and commercials in return. Excellent Deal.

An article which affects me directly is "Political Ergonomics" by Vernon Mogensen, which discusses how the government has knuckled under to industry in preventing employess suffering from Repetitive Stress Injury ( ala Carpal Tunnel, which I have ) from fighting back and from even knowing anything how serious this is. All I can say, in ten years, everyone will be hopeless cripples, and your government will be as responsible as the stupid short-sighted companies we all work for.

A must-read is this plea from a gay man to the churches to get their act together and support gay human rights. You know, I'm not gay, and I don't think I want my son to be gay, but I sure don't want to see gays get beaten and killed for holding hands in public. And I think the curches, instead of convincing their flocks to kill gays ( which seem to violate certain commandments ) should be promoting tolerance and peace. Read "Bullies in the Pulpit" by Dave Cullen-good stuff.

Please subscribe and enjoy - they run a first rate publication and get paid very little, and need to even beg once in a while ala public television. Surf to http://www.inthesetimes.com, or get subscription info by writing to In These Times, 2040 N Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, 60647, or by email.

The Utne Reader is a fascinating magazine. It compiles articles from progressive journals and magazines from all over the world into a "Reader's Digest for the hip." They have a Web page at http://www.utne.com.

I am enclosing an article about the new anti-technology movement: read article "The New Luddites" from the Utne Reader.

TheWashington Spectator is a two page newsletter with 22 issues a year by the Public Concern Foundation. The editor is Ben A Franklin, an unlikely name for a political newsletter editor if I ever heard one. The Washington Spectator typically has a main story for three pages, and the last page is a collection of bits on various issues. The slant is progressive, but non-partisan; the Democrats have been slammed many times too for knuckling under to special interests, etc. I find it interesting that a major radical conservative magazine is also a Spectator. Lots of Spectating going on these days.

I enclose the FYI page from March 15, 1996 when I get around to it.

The best thing about this newsletter is the price - I first subscribed about ten years ago, and it was ten bucks a year. This year, the price went up to fifteen bucks a year. Oooooh. A better deal you will not find anywhere.

Write to The Public Concern Foundation, PO Box 20065, London Terrace Station, New York, NY 10011, or send your name, address, and a check for $15 to the above address.

Looks like a new Web site: http://www.newslet.com/washingtonspectator

Upside

A fascinating magazine about the business deals in the high-tech world. Lots of ads about venture capital, and articles about IPOs and leverage. And interesting tidbits about the companies and people you know and hate.

Visit them at www.upside.com

Men's Health

Interesting reading, informative -- and cheap. Good exercise and nutrition information, with stuff on fun outings, extreme sports, articles on women, relationships, and sex ( every month ) (!), and very few celebrities. Highly recommended for all men ( and nosy women <g> ). Surf to http://www.menshealth.com.

		AboutMe		DayJob
				SideJobs