JPG Magazine Doesn't Blow JPG Magazine Doesn't Blow

Though IKEA might sell it as a 'bookshelf,' there's a cheap wooden structure in my apartment that is far better described as a 'magazine shelf.'  I subscribe to a LOT of magazines and, typically, when I'm done with each, I file them in order on the shelf.  My stash has begun to rival the cumulative stock-pile of every dentist office in the city.

I think the idea was that I'd go back and read them again - of course, I never do.  I don't know why I think that one day I'll need to refer back to Entertainment Weekly's profile of Mission Impossible III, or check out The Week when the week in question in Dec. 4-10, 2005, but those issues remain at the ready.

Recently, however, I've found myself frequently rereading my first issue of JPG.  I suppose that's because there's not much there to read.  It's a photo magazine my friend Paul publishes - there are articles, but, mostly, it's interesting pictures that are uploaded by readers for consideration in the mag.  As someone who has drunk the kool-aid on Current's philosophy, it's a mission I can get behind.

Also, as a magazine fan in general, I was psyched to see that JPG

a.) hardly has any ads. (I hate it when I pay 5 bucks for a magazine that's half Sketchers and Absolut Vodka ads)
b.) uses one of the few ads they do carry to tout the fact that they don't carry 'blow cards,' which also suck.

I didn't know they were called 'blow cards' until I read the ad, but everyone is familiar with them - those annoying, post-card subscription offers in every magazine that fall out and go everywhere - they're awful.  JPG basically says, listen, we know you hate that - if you want to subscribe, go to this web address.  Very cool, and very obvious - I hope more publications follow suit.  Not that I need to be convinced to subscribe to more magazines - I'm out of shelf space.