subscriptions

Smithsonian
$59.88
I purchased a subscription to the Smithsonian for my parents who are retired and living WAY up in the mountains. They have remarked several times how much they enjoy it and specifically refer to articles they have read. It's the only gift I've ever gotten them that they rave about. They get one every so often so it's a gift that keeps on giving all year long (and gets me out of trouble if I only manage to get a call in on a birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day . . .). It's a great magazine, different, intelligent and I enjoy reading it whenever I come across one. Wish I thought to get myself a subscription but. . . .

Cooking Light (1-year)
$49.50
Cooking light has great recipes. I really love the format of the recipes and the beautiful pictures. I find this magazine extremely inspiring to actually get me to the kitchen to make something extra special. There is also a great variety of healthy foods.

InStyle (1-year)
$51.87
This offer beat what the magazine's publisher's best offer. If you like this magazine, why pay more than you have to? Good-o for Amazon!

The Wall Street Journal (6-month subscription)
$306.00
Call me idealistic and hopelessly naive but I would love to find a daily paper that doesn't shamelessly pursue a shallow and impossibly simplistic agenda. I wouldn't say the Journal is necessarily "conservative" but rather supports specific aspects of the conservative ideology i.e. limited government intervention and the absolute right to profits at any cost. Apparently anyone or anything that limits your ability to enrich yourself, regardless of the collateral damage that enrichment might cause in both the short- and long-term, must be vehemently opposed. In an overly simplistic, "you're-with-us-or-against-us" kind of way. Reminiscent of the arguments the old industrial magnates used in the holy pursuit of greater profit - as they polluted fresh water supplies. The ends surely justify the means. If the Journal just stuck to reporting the news objectively, and providing their insightful commentary, I would be a subscriber for life. But after enduring 4 years of this, I've finally had enough. Will try the new Bloomberg/Business Week for my financial stories and see if I can find my objective coverage.