With almost the same cover.

 I have to say I have not seen this happen before at least not so noticably :

Unfortunately my scanner didn't do a very good job as the red was less red and the pink was more orange.  So not only was the layout and the message nearly the same but the colour was really close as well. Both were very interesting issues with Scientific American devoting the whole magazine to the end of things; such as "Good Riddance" ( Some human inventions deserve to go) or "Dust to Dust"  (The brief, eventful afterlife of a human corpse). Wired had one long article ( I ran out of time to read it!) discussing how peoples appetite for the immediate has put "apps" at their fingertips rather than The Web, particularily as more and more of us go mobile.

Wired ended up selling out very quickly and we only have 4 copies of Scientific American left.

Has nothing to do with magazines!

My brother, Chef Michael Howell of Tempest Restaurant (Wolfville) recently participated in The Chefs Challenge in Toronto for The Grate Canadian Grilled Cheese Event. Up against three other chefs from across the country he went on to grill up the winning sandwich. Have a read of Wed's Toronto Star . Way to go brother, I can't wait to have you make me one!

 Our Sun hours will be changing as of Sept 1. We will now be open from 9-9.

It was our pleasure recently to be able to provide The Queen with her morning papers! Some time ago we were contacted and asked if we would be able to get four British newspapers for the duration of Her Majesty's visit. I love the fact that with the technonlogy of Newspaper Direct (our digital newspaper supplier) we were able to print off the papers. I am always amused though when we print our European papers because we receive tomorrows paper today! Bit of a time warp.

 Tea, toast and a newspaper anyone?

Are pulled together in Toronto.

For the last four years, the first four days in June are all about magazines. The MagNet conference in Toronto brings writers, designers, circulators, publishers, retailers, marketers and all others together. I have always attended and come away with a big picture view of the health of our industry. This year I was asked to be a panelist for a session regarding optimism on the newsstand. I had no problem doing so ( well, okay, I had no problem with the idea of doing it but I certainly was nervous) as it was easy to talk about the passion our customers have for magazines. The experience a magazine provides us is like no other. Funnily enough it is really hard to describe that "experience", as we all get something different from a magazine. We choose our favourite title as it fufills a want, an interest and a desire in each of us. Maybe that is the joy of magazines in a nutshell for there really is a magazine for everyone.

 Let me know why you like a printed magazine. What is your description of experience?

How about $175.00!

I have previously been asked what is our most expensive magazine. It used to be $125.00 but about three weeks ago, Bloom arrived ( we have 2 of only 6000 published) and it was $169.00! Yesterday though, Box arrived and it is $175.00. So there you have it, our most expensive magazine.

Our staff are great! And interesting and doing their own thing. Recently Ryan was invited to submit a film of his for the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Anarchist FilmFestival. Not only was  'Danger Dead End 5' accepted but it will be the opening film of the festival's Friday evening theme of "unembedded" films. This means the filmmakers have not been officially sanctioned by the governments involved. "Embedded" journalists are attached to invading or occupying armies. Their purpose is of course to reflect the official line. The scheduled films are activist documentaries or comments on heavy handed government activity that has not been properly covered by the popular media.  

 Congrats Ryan.

Plus one surprise...

Over 70% of our magazines come from our supplier The News Group who distribute mostly North American titles. People have often asked me "What is your best selling magazine?", so a number of years ago I checked and found that one year #1 was The New Yorker and #2 was People. The following year the numbers were reversed. I love what that says about our customers: we get everyone in here. I think the diversity of our customers is perhaps the most interesting parts of our business. I am not sure how I forgot to get 2008 numbers (see below)!   The Surprise best seller though comes in all by itself and it is Frank Magazine. It outsells New Yorker by almost 2 to 1. But then again maybe the local "news" isn't really such a surprise seller! 

And the euophoria lingers!

From the first customer in the door who I swear was walking on air to the seventy year old woman we just served plus others who have had tears welling up in their eyes, the only discussion is last nights Gold Medal game. The heart stopping moment at 24sec in the 3rd period  to Iginla & Crosby's winning goal left us elated. This morning that thrill continues, as everyone has a smiling face and loves to talk about the game. I am sure people are talkng about it at their workplace but there is something uniquely community building when strangers (mind you, lots have been our wonderful regulars) share in a common experience particularily when they can revel in it. Staff member Ryan was just saying that he wanted to watch the Hockey anyway but last night it occured to him that he didn't want miss out on the conversations that he knew would happen here at the store. Plus he didn't want peoples surprised look of disbelief that he didn't watch!

Who knows, maybe these Olympics will lead to a little nation building as so many Canadians shared this moment and so many of the other Canadian Olympians triumphs.

In Vancouver right now!

Our staff member Angela, will be at the opening of Endlessly Traversed Lanscapes this evening. Angela was one the artists from across the country to have her photographs displayed on billboards and bus shelters as part of the Vancouver Winter Games 2010 Cultural Olympiad. How very exciting to see your work displayed in such a public forum. Congrats Angela

Stephen is anyway!

It is hard to believe that nearly two years has passed since Stephen left Atlantic News to work as a Stonemason. Mind you he still has paperwork that he does for the business. For the last year he has been working for Damon Parachnowitsch of Ravenrock Stoneworks. On days like this when it is -8 degrees they really are out in the cold.  Thank goodness the spring and summer always come around. Those 300 pound steps were once window ledges! (ps. the landscaping still needs to get done)

What do they have to do with us? Everything!

Yesterday, one of our regular customers told our staff member Karla, that a month or so ago he was hiking in a remote part of Malta wearing his Atlantic News T-shirt. While on that adventure he came across another hiker who noticed the T-Shirt and said to him" I've been there, great shop isn't it!" in an Australian accent.

 I think that is a fun story.