I have decided to mix in a new feature in our magazine subscriptions blog called “Magazine Histories” where I will showcase some magazines and describe where they entered the publishing scene. For my very first foray into the historical overview concept, I thought I would cover a magazine I actually read - Forbes Magazine.
It was actually launced 90 years ago in 1917 by B. C. Forbes. He was an immigrant from Scotland who was also a leading business columnist for the more noteworthy Hearst newspapers. When B.C. died in 1954 his son Bruce became the next president. he didn’t manage it too long by comparison because Bruce died about 10 years later in 1964. Malcolm Stevenson Forbes (1917–1990) a man who some say was larger than life became Editor-in-Chief and Publisher around that time.
When Malcolm finally took his final chariot ride and joined his forebears in the place that never wakes, his son Malcolm Stevenson “Steve” Forbes Jr. (also coincidentally his oldest son) became President and Chief Executive of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine. Currently, Forbes magazine includes a few more notable luminaries in its list of officers including Steve’s brother Timothy C. Forbes, Chief Operating Officer, Robert L. Forbes Vice President and President of ForbesLife and Christopher Forbes Vice Chairman.
As we’ve seen more recently with other publishers, the owner found an opportunity to cash out a bit and recently in 2006, the brothers in charge of Forbes seem to have sold something close to 40% of the company to Elevation Partners, a private equity firm. They then formed a new company, Forbes Media LLC, to publish Forbes magazine, Forbes.com and other media properties. Forbes also publishes American Heritage, American Heritage of Invention & Technology and American Legacy. Steve Forbes and his magazine’s writers offer investment advice on the weekly Fox TV show Forbes on Fox and on Forbes On Radio. Other company groups include Forbes Conference Group, Forbes Investment Advisory Group and Forbes Custom Media.
This is something I noticed this morning on the Fine Homebuilding website since I was very impressed with the improved competency training that is being given out to both the builders and sub-contractors!
“In response to a rash of construction litigation resulting from moisture leaks, Oregon’s legislature is considering competency training and certification for builders and subcontractors who work on any part of a building envelope (roof, walls, windows and doors, deck connections, etc.). Under the proposal, not only would builders and subs need to be certified, but their work also would have to be inspected by a certified envelope specialist. The envelope specialist would monitor progress several times during construction and also verify by checklist that envelope construction met code, which also would be upgraded. Envelope inspectors then would complete verification forms for the local building department before a certificate of occupancy would be issued.”
I think that the building envelope certification is a good step towards ridding the area of untrained builders that have messed up people’s homes in the Oregon area. I would consider giving them a gift subscription to this magazine or perhaps Architectural Record to make up for the problems that have occurred in the past! Either that or preparing a sort of tribute video for them on youtube! Anyone have any thoughts?
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Hey. you didn’t think i could do it, but there’s even more from Krysta Doerfler via Fine Homebuilding regarding her enthusiasm for building new homes:
We’ve been talking about this idea of subscribing to Fine Homebuilding and in order to build the case for why it makes sense, we have started this notion of reviewing different articles from the publisher’s web sites. I think there was even a video available on YouTube about this whole idea of replacing plywood. Here is what we found from a recent article (I can’t remember the author’s name –sorry!) in reference to foam replacing plywood and how good it is in surviving a hurricane:
“Does a house of foam stand up to flying projectiles better than a house of wood? Yes, but not as well as a house of laminated glass, according to recent research from Building Science Corporation in Westford, Mass. Foam sheathing can boost a house’s energy performance, but many builders worry about foam’s ability to resist projectiles during storms. A team of engineers tested the impact resistance of walls built with foam sheathing in place of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). To test a foam-sheathed wall’s impact resistance, the team from Building Science shot 2×4s out of an air cannon at different wall assemblies using the standard impact test for hurricane glass: the ability to withstand an 8-ft. 2×4 shot with a muzzle velocity of 34 mph, or 50 ft. per second (fps).”
I was visiting a friend that receives home magazines at his correctional facility he works at and he remembered how he had seen a similar article and was able to integrate some foam into the last house that he had helped build. He told me how he had replaced the original plywood with foam and that it would be possible for his house to withstand hurricane-force winds in the foreseeable future. You never know what people will do when they read magazines. Reading is fundamental I suppose.
Hey. you didn’t think i could do it, but there’s even more from Krysta Doerfler via Fine Homebuilding regarding her enthusiasm for building new homes:
“Recently, we were visited by a couple of builders from Habitat for Humanity and I asked how I could help. They were so glad to see my interest. I feel that getting involved is simply a win-for-all situation. It helps me to become better at my job, and I get to help a community build someone a new home. I think that’s a pretty fair deal.”
We had some builders come over to our company and we were quite impressed with their commitment in making sure that the building was up to code and ready to re-open. It’s also going to help improve our current relationship with other companies in the same area with regards to the upgraded building codes! Krista mentioned in her blog that getting involved with what the builders were doing was a positive outcome when it came to finishing up her new home. I am not sure if her magazine covers more topics like this but it sure is interesting to see how many ways you can skin the same cat.
Would you believe I still have more to learn from Krista Doerfler? I found another tidbit from a recent article in the newest issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine where she explains the sort of challenges that she faces as a graphic designer:
“One of my challenges as a graphic designer is to communicate a story through pictures and text and arrange these elements in a way that will be easily understood. I’m constantly researching as much as I can about the topics so I know what the heck it is that I’m trying lay out on a page. From my first day, I have never felt intimidated by my co-workers just because they are seasoned pros. Everyone is always willing to explain how a miter saw works or what a doubled 2×12 header means.”
Ah, yes indeed! I was sitting in a reception room of a local real estate agency thinking about a new home and I realized that they were missing the latest issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine. How is that possible? Maybe someone stole it? I would not have even thought about it much except that I had Krista on my mind. She talks about how she never gets intimidated by co-workers since she always seem to be analyzing everything that they do when it involves working with the miter saw that is mentioned above or making sure that the measurements on a header are completely correct before installing it! As you can tell from a segment of Krista’s blog above, she knew exactly what to do in regards to building thanks to this magazine! So I guess i would recommend it.
In the newest issue of Country Home Magazine, there are a lot of astonishing articles that are ready to tickle your fancy! These include an article on how a homeowner gave her newly built home a sense of character with something old, new and a touch of fun, too! Another article deals with how a world famous designer decided to turn her nondescript garage into a versatile backyard destination which turned out to be perfect for working, relaxing and entertaining guests!
There is a really great third article that deals with a family-owned Burntside Lounge in Northern Minnesota and how the food and drink at that location is top notch! Business has been booming there for quite a while due to the great write-ups at the Lounge! Along with the other great articles in this month’s issue, Country Home Magazine continues to amaze each and every new reader! This expali
Country Home Magazine will take you to charming cottages, farmhouses and havens that’ll inspire your own decorating -inside your home and out! And loads of fun, new ways you can bring warm, cozy charm to your rooms with the decorate-with-what-you-love secrets of the New Country look. We’ll even clue you in to our favorite outdoor antiques shows, the best Web sites and the best undiscovered antiques towns, where the hottest collectibles and passed-over antiques turn up at great prices and how you can use them to make any room intimate, friendly and fun.
Country Home Magazine also showcases all types of casual decorating styles from contemporary, eclectic to romantic and rustic to urban for readers who live a country lifestyle, or aspire to create one, in city lofts, farmhouses, suburban colonials, getaway cottages or wherever else they make their home. So, be prepared to order a one year subscription of ten issues for your happiness to be complete!
Krysta Doerfler’s article in the newest issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine explains how she received her building permit after doing lots of reading and showing up at past building sites to watch the work being done:
“Sometimes, they even trust that I share their same knowledge while they explain something with a lot of jargon that I have to say, “Timeout! Draw me a picture.” Hey, I’m a visual person, that’s how I roll. The best way to learn is by doing, so now I’m ready to get on a jobsite and get my hands dirty. I have read some good home building books, but just like when I was 16 and reading a driver’s manual for my permit, I could only read so much until I just needed to get in the car and step on the gas.”.
Let’s make sure that subscriptions for your business are available for Fine Homebuilding Magazine since it would most certainly help out your company in more ways than one! Just like the example above from Krista Doerfler in which the reading of a driver’s manual for her driver’s permit was enough for her to actually learn how to drive her vehicle properly and safely. Thanks to that statement, I decided that the magazine gives me substantial information as to how to build that extra bedroom that I had mentioned in an earlier article. If you can’t find a copy in your local public library or a reception room of an architecture company or home design company, drop by our online magazine subscription anytime and sign up for a discount on a cheaper priced subscription than retail at the newsstand.
here’s a brief little tidbit i found online today. Krysta Doerfler’s article in the newest issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine explains how she earned her home building badge:
”Now when I tell people where I work they look at me a little funny and ask: ‘So, are you into home building?’ I reply that while I’m not a builder by trade, I am interested in working with my hands and doing things myself. During my interview, I said that even though I may not fully understand all of the magazine’s content, I am eager to learn whatever I can.”
In Krysta Doerfler’s blog (above), she taught herself how to get her home together thanks to this magazine! I believe that I received a recent message from Krysta via her own Iphone, so she is definitely on top of it! Do you have a public library that is in need of Fine Homebuilding Magazine? Lots of subscribers are happy with this fine publication due to the fact that it has easy-to-use steps in working with your hands on different aspects of building or re-decorating your new home or classy old abode! It would be great if more people could learn from the examples of true builders like Krysta.
Here is part of an interesting article that was written by Michael De Biasse for Fine Homebuilding Magazine regarding the massive renovation that took place at his beautiful eighty year old home:
“Although architect Michael De Biasse and his wife had considered a kitchen renovation for their 80-year-old home, it wasn’t until they’d spent eight years thinking out loud that the project got under way. In addition to bumping out the back wall of their house to expand the size of the kitchen, De Biasse relocated a garage to improve the home’s backyard. A new window seat provides views from the kitchen/dining area to the new backyard patio. One portion of the project involved the removal of a powder room and the conversion of a butler’s pantry to a full bath with modern amenities and a style that makes it look original to the house.”
Mr. DeBiasse had done a powerful renovation job at his eighty year old home and this should especially please subscribers of Fine Homebuilding Magazine! Maybe there is a youtube video of what he did to renovate the home! Eight years of planning must have been enough time for him to figure out exactly what he wanted done. Maybe it’s time for me to give out cheap gift subscriptions of this magazine to my friends!
There is a really great article in the newest issue of Country Home Magazine that deals with antiques and how to use your old antiques to spiff up your new home and/or living arrangements! For example, The Laurens have been collecting museum-quality folk art for quite a while and they had recently decided to layer their walls with them at their Connecticut farmhouse. The Laurens had been shopping at flea markets, local country shows and auctions for many years to try to find the perfect antiques to decorate their newest home and it seems that they had completed their many endeavors by finding these rare folk art paintings.
There is also a fascinating article on the TOP 10 Collectibles of 2007 and how cheap it is to purchase some of them (some go for as low as $10). The best item that they found in their endeavors was spongeware due to its forever fresh blue and white color combination! Since it is unique, humble and substantial, spongeware looks great set against white walls, brick and wood! Their collection now includes over six hundred pieces of spongeware and their favorites are the ones that are painted in the darkest indigo blue!
Because the spongeware is so versatile, the Laurens displayed it in several rooms in their house along with other collections of cast-iron windmill weights, hitching posts, game boards, weather vanes, and old food choppers that cover a kitchen wall. For the twenty-five years that they had lived there, the Laurens love living at their beautiful country home because they can enter into a world of New England tradition and this makes them very happy! Just taking one whirlwind tour of their beautiful country home and you will be astonished at how amazing and wonderful their house looks! Don’t forget to check out our online magazine subscription discounts to save money on your next order.
