As part of my job as the librarian of my preparedness group is helping select, catalog and review Periodicals and Journals that the group is subscribing to or buy on a review basis. Each of these magazine are retained either electronically, clipped or in their totality. Once a year the group gets together and selects which magazines we want continue subscribing to, whichif any to add and which we want to stop subscribing to. I thought the net might find our internal review notes of interest and a value on deciding which you might to add to your subscription lists. These are listed in broad areas of interst and not in any particular order. Home Mechanix - 10 issues, 11.97 a yr PO Box 51600 Boulder, CO 80321-1600 - A good to excellent source of Do It Yourself(DIY) articles, review of products. - For example in the February 1993 issue - Review of the 1993 Ford Ranger Pickup - Review of Kit Homes, Additions, and Garages - Review of Norm Abrams "New Yankee" Workshop - Simple DIY Home security systems - How to Repair plaster ceilings - How to design & Install a Island in your kitchen Family Handyman 10 issues, $19.97 7900 International Dr. Suite 950 Minneapolis, MN 55425 - A DIY source book, with well illustrated articles on home related DIY projects. How to use tools properly and product reviews. Similar to Home Mechnix, a little better illustrated but not as detailed. Home Power - 6 issues, $15.00 a yr PO Box 520 Ashland, OR 97520 - A must periodical to subscribe to, the only regular source of information on solar, wind, water and other alternative power sources Country Journal - 6 issues, 16.95 PO Box 392 Mount Morris, IL 61054 - A must magazine to subscribe, 20+ year old, each month has an consistently superior collection of articles, commentary, columns, reviews and stories targeted at rural life. The June 1993 issue had articles covering: - Pond Building - Working dogs for farms - Buying farm land - A guide to weeds, garden and other wise Harrowsmith Country Life, 6 issues, $18.00 Ferry Rd Charlotte. VT 05455 - Good publication, In the same genera at Country Journal. Each issue has articles targeted at the Rural life style and the want to be's. A recent issue had articles on landscaping, how to raise pears, DIY direction for a lake raft and a review of binoculars. Country Living GARDENER, 4 issues, $9.97 PO Box 7335 Red Oak, IA 51591 - A glossy qrtly magazine that covers garden, decorating, cooking and crafts. Published by the same folks that publish Country Living, is a brand new publication that has promise, but is to early to know for sure. Premier issue had several excellent articles on composting, growing herbs, roses, how to grow colorful pots and how to build a pond. This magazine is inexpensive enough to gamble a subscription on. Organic Gardening, 9 issues, $16.97 PO Box 7304 Red Oak, IA 51951-2304 - The is a seamingly timeless classic, that has managed to hold it quality since Robert Rodel's death a few years ago. A tighty targeted magazine at the home or recreational gardener. If you are into this area, a must subscription, each issue will return the price of the subsription. Backwoods Home, 6 issues, $17.95 1257 Siskiyu Blvd. #213 Ashland, OR 97520 - Another must subscribe periodicals, similar to Mother Earth News it its heyday. Targeted at back to land people. Consistantly good mix of how to, why to do it, examples of who have and projects. The May/June issue covered: - Gardening, raising ducks, and how to buy & raise goats - Self defense issues, - How to build a well and fence's - What's home birth about Backhome, 4 issues, 16.00 119 Third Ave. West Hendersonville, NC 28792 Another publication based on the Mother Earth New, back to the land. Published by a group of MEN staff people, Very well done. Backwoods home better and more direct, but a good companion subscription to go along. Mother Earth News, 6 issues, $14.95 PO Box 56304 Boulder, CO 80323-6304 - The original back to the land magazine, lost its way in the 80's and is just starting to get back to what made it great. At this point not worth subscribing to, worth reviewing in the news rack if there is anything worthwhile and then buy. Still dominated by articles and thought from the east coast, with little coverage of west concerns and issues. Woodworkers Journal, 6 issues $17.95 PO Box 1629 New Milford, CT 06776-9976 -Targeted at the mid to advanced level woodworker, is a project driven magazine. A recent issue had articles on how to trouble shoot the electric motor in your power tools, how to make various types of wood box joints, a plans for making wood deck chairs, towel drying rack and a garden arbor. Monitoring Times, 12 issues $19.95 PO Box 98 Basstown, NC 28902 - An excellent magazine covering broadcast signals. The have columns covering Shortwave, CB Radios, Satellite, Scanning, and Ham radio, along with regular articles that are insightful. Each month they have a listing of english language programs(indexed by time or day) and propagation guides for various sections o US. If you are into any of the above this is the most consistent source of information, written in layman's terms that we have found. Handloader, 6 issues, $19.00 Wolfe Publishing 6471 Airpark Dr. Prescott, AZ 86301 - The only magazine that is exclusively targeted at reloading ammunition for pistols, rifles and shotguns. If you are interesting in reloading or having that type of information for the library, this is a must subscription. Also Ken Waters has written a column for 20+ years, called PetLoads, each issue he concentrates on one cartridge and covers various the bullet types and powder selections availiable. Wolfe has bound then into a outstanding set of book also called "Pet Loads". The finest source of reloading there is a availiable, without a bent to a single powder or bullet manufacture. This magazine is on our "do not throw out list". Rifle, 6 issues, $19.00 Wolfe Publishing 6471 Airpark Dr. Prescott, AZ 86301 - Same publisher as Handloader, a non-militant gun/hunting magazine. It does a nice balance of covering RTKBA, hunting, weapon reviews and other commentary. Swat Magazine - 9 issues, $26.95 a yr PO Box 16598 North Hollywood, CA 91615 - Interesting reviews of products, how to and tactics for police SWAT teams. Not a must have, but a good reliable source of article on guns, ammunition and small unit tactics. Command - 6 issues, $17.95 @ yr or 6 issues with a Game $30.00 PO Box 4017 San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 - Interesting source for War Gamers, Military history, reviews of military campaigns. A excellent for gaining a understanding of miliary tactics a recent edtion covered: - Civil War - Antietam - Normandy Invasion - Jugoslavia, during WWII - Green Berets - Today - New Kind of war - in the 21st century Whole Earth Review. 4 issues, $27.00 PO Box 38 Sausalito, CA 94966-9932 - A strange publication, it's agenda is strictly left wing, but in a odd "Non-Political" way. Political discussions or articles are rare, but the agenda of the work is left wing fringe, ecological, socially and futuristic. What makes this magazine worthy of subscription are the "Tools & Supplies and Nomadic" sections that J. Baldwin edits, he consistantly comes up with great suggestions and products that are worth the price of the subscription alone. Also you'll see ideas presented here 3 and 5 yrs ahead of the rest of the world. If you are easily offended or left wing idea's bother you this one is not for you. - Fur-Fish-Game, $14.95 12 issues 2878 E. Main St. Columbus, OH 43209-2698 - This magazine is the best source we have been able to find that covers techniques on gathering game animals. It covers trapping techniques, hunting and predator control. A recent edition covered: - Decoy sets for ducks - Mink and raccoon trapping - using dogs to track coyotes - Fishing with man-made attractors - Taunton Press - Fine Gardening & Fine Homebuilder - Backpacker - Shooting and Guns realated magaziens Shooting Times Guns Guns & Ammo - Boardwatch Magazine, $36.00 12 issues 8500 Bowles Ave. Suite 210 Littleton, CO 80123 - A first rate source of information for both Bulletin Board Systems operators and users of computer bulletin boards. Has monthly lists of good Bulletin boards in a specific city, covers internet in depth, regularly talks about the best modems and software for BBS's. Month in and month out excellent information source. - Business Magazines - Entrepreneur, Small Business Authority - Money Magazine - Inc. - Success - Kiplingers Personal Finance Magazine - Harvard Business Review - Botton Line, personal edtion, $39.00 a year, 24 issues Subscription center, PO Box 58426 Boulder, CO 80323-8426 - This bi-weekly magazine provides synopsises of articles and books that deal with personal finanaces, life and people issues. Well worth the subscription price. They also publish an edition targeted strickly at business - Home Office Computing - An interesting combination of computer magazine and business magazine, that is targeted at the home or small business entrepreneur. It has consistently good articles, targeted at that nitch market. Michael Jordan, July 1993 Home BBS Ouija, Hemet California 714-925-9564