Skip to main content

New Magazine launches:
Sex drops out of the Top Ten

"Maybe it's because of the Internet" Myrna Blyth's articles on women's culture at NRO are often interesting. Today's is about new magazine launches in the year just past, 2004. Blyth is a former magazine editor and today she talks over new magazine launches with Samir Husni, an expert in the subject. What Samir has to say is encouraging:
Samir thinks the magazines that will succeed today appeal not to the buzz-based, let's-do-lunch-at-Michael's media elite but to the genuine interests of red-state readers. Another launch he likes is a teenage magazine called Justine, published in Memphis, Tenn. "It has beauty and fashion and relationship features but it is wholesome. My daughter reads it." And what do you think was the category with the most launches in 2004? "Crafts!" Samir reports. "Everybody in America is making something for their home." And which category had far less launches than in the past? "Sex. Maybe because of the Internet. But for the first time it wasn't even in the top ten."
It little things like this, I see hope for the future. We could all use less Cosmo in our lives and in the lives of the young women we care about. A full blown Return to Modesty would be grand, but that's still a ways off. I can vouch for the craft thing. Rebecca is crocheting (not knitting! I've been warned) and through her and her friends I've seen a real wave of interest in traditional women's craft. They seem to be doing it, not because they have to, but because there seems to be a resurgence of interest in what mothers used to do; it's curiosity and it's pride. I think this trend is quite cool. It's been a while since I've been able to say that.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Reuters joins CNN on the bench

Makes room for CanWest to join the majors Kudos to CanWest for calling a terrorist a terrorist . Many, including The Last Amazon , will be happy to hear it. Reuters is among the worst of the major western news services, where I would also place the BBC and the CBC. Unsurprisingly, Reuters is not happy about the changes CanWest made to Reuters wire stories: Our editorial policy is that we don't use emotive words when labeling someone," said David A. Schlesinger, Reuters' global managing editor. "Any paper can change copy and do whatever they want. But if a paper wants to change our copy that way, we would be more comfortable if they remove the byline." Mr. Schlesinger said he was concerned that changes like those made at CanWest could lead to "confusion" about what Reuters is reporting and possibly endanger its reporters in volatile areas or situations. "My goal is to protect ...

Where credit is due

A good'un from Sawyer Brown . Thank God for You Well I've been called a self-made man Girl don't you believe it's true I know exactly how lucky I am When I'm gettin' this close to you It's high time I'm giving some praise To those that got me where I am today Chorus I got to thank momma for the cookin' Daddy for the whuppin' The devil for the trouble that I get into I got to give credit where credit is due I thank the bank for the money Thank God for you A strong heart and a willing hand That's the secret to my success A good woman - I try to be a good man A good job - Lord I know I've been blessed I'm just a part of a greater plan It doesn't matter which part I am Chorus I got to thank momma for the teachin' Daddy for the preachin' The devil for the trouble that I get into I got to give credit where credit is due I thank the bank for the money Thank God for you

Wordpress

My move to Mac has been very happy except for two issues - gaming and blogging. For websurfing and multimedia, a Mac is of course a terrific machine. Games on the Mac platform are often ports of games made for the larger PC market and that means a Mac gamer will have to wait for the port. I'm not a heavy gamer by any means but I am very happy that the Mac port of Civilization 4 is finally here. Well, my copy isn't here quite yet - but it has been ordered and ought to be here soon. The blogging issue is more complicated. I'm not fond of writing my posts in a browser window. This goes back to when I was first blogging and I lost one or two large posts into the ether. After that I moved to w.bloggar - a great little app that let me compose on my desktop and then click send when all was said and done. I have not been able to recreate that experience on my Mac, and not for a lack of trying! I looked at Marsedit , but that forces you to compse while staring at a bunch of HMT...