MAGAZINES : Savvy Smithsonian worth revisiting
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sometimes a good magazine can become so familiar and comfortable, we begin to take it for granted.
It lands on the table or counter with the mail, maybe we thumb through it and admire a picture or two, promising ourselves we’ll read it. Maybe we do, maybe we don’t and it’s off to the stack of unread periodicals or into the recycling bin.
I’m certainly guilty of that where Smithsonian, published by the Smithsonian Institution, is concerned.
During a recent stay in a medical waiting room, we got reacquainted. The July issue ($ 4. 99 ) is an intriguing mix of stories, including: The Vikings. The mag’s cover story uses the voyage of a replica Viking vessel to explore what the Norsemen “were really up to.” Vikings have captured Americans’ imagination, says Swedish archaeologist Wladyslaw Duczko because “they were people without boundaries.” The story reveals much about the Norse interest in trading and exploration.
John Muir. The real person who was the American naturalist, writer and conservationist has almost vanished beneath the adulation, literate quotations on nature, and misconceptions, according to the story by Tony Perrottet. Muir, who died in 1914, helped draw up the boundaries of Yosemite National Park in California, and the Muir Woods near San Francisco are named for him. This story presents Muir with more depth, warts and all, than one usually reads. Lebanon. Joshua Hammer examines the tragedy of Lebanon, its many flash points and its fragile peace. Greek statuary. How many of us have marveled at the gleaming white marble beauty of classical Greek statuary and imagined what it might have been like to step into the Parthenon ? The vision of white is shattered by an archaeologist’s vivid reproductions of ancient statuary, guided by paint fragments on the statues. Marco Polo. Writer Mike Edwards followed Marco Polo’s footsteps through Asia to see if the explorer’s writing was tall tales or truth... and finds it was both.
Smithsonian has a savvy mix of subjects and is consistent in the quality of its writing, handsome design and photography. Want more good reading ? Go to www. smithsonian. com and see Web-only stories on Navajo fry bread and a lovely look at the Champagne region of France.
BUDGET SAVERS The wobbly economy and rising gasoline prices have many of us looking for ways to reduce our living expenses. More and more magazines are seizing upon this with an array of bargain-hunting suggestions and tips to reduce consumption, change patterns of behavior and cut costs without cutting quality. One of the best magazine friends a savvy consumer can have is ShopSmart ($ 4. 99 ), published by Consumers Union, which also publishes Consumer Reports. Here’s what the September issue has to offer: Produce pros offer their insights on how to pick the best fruit and vegetables and keep them fresh longer. For example: rub your thumb across the skin of an apple. If it wrinkles, put it back. Ten places to save on monthly bills. For example: Set the water heater a little lower. Each 10-degree drop can save up to 5 percent on energy bills. Switching to generic medications can save up to 50 percent.
Gasoline. Along with a list of best new and used cars for fuel economy, the mag offers 10 tips to cut gas consumption, including keeping tires inflated at the right pressure and watching your speed. The faster you go, the more fuel you burn.
With back-to-school shopping bearing down, the Family column offers seven ways to reduce spending on children’s clothing, including taking advantage of coupons and sales. And once again, we’ll remind readers about All You which, on its coupons alone, more than pays for its modest $ 1. 97 cost. It continues to offer useful suggestions, money-saving ideas and fast-to-fix recipes.
PAGE TURNERS The July / August issue of Country Home ($ 4. 95 ) relays a fun trip searching for the “mother lode of antiques” near San Antonio. On its Web site (www. countryhome. com ) has a new interactive “antiquing highway” feature. And while we’re on the subject of flea markets and antiquing, the mag’s Top 10 Collectibles feature also may be of interest. What’s No. 1 ? Colorful painted hens on nests, which were very popular in 19 th-century England. Also on the list: signature quilts (with the name of the quilter ), Bakelite kitchen utensils and political buttons.
Astronomy ($ 6. 95 ) will probably put its readers into orbit in August with its 35 th anniversary issue focusing on the 10 biggest discoveries of the past 35 years. The top choice of the magazine’s editors is the detection of dark energy. Also on the list is the discovery of hundreds more planets, and the Voyager spacecraft. A nifty poster is also included.
The cover story of the August / September issue of Plenty ($ 4. 95 ) discusses home renovation with energy-efficient and “green” materials. The magazine describes itself as “the world in green,” as part of the self-described movement to reduce waste and help clean up the earth. Other subjects include clothing dyes, laundry detergents, cosmetics and a look at China’s efforts to clear the air for the Olympics. Martha Stewart is still rolling with body + soul ($ 4. 99 ). Its emphasis on health and personal well-being is reflected in the July / August issue’s cover story on “the 41 healthiest foods you can buy,” a look at the consumption of water (enough or too much ?), alcohol’s health benefits and heirloom tomatoes. E-mail ewidner@arkansasonline. com
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