Student loan debt varies widely
Here’s a number that seems huge. Americans collectively have more than $1.7 trillion in federal and private student loans. While 54 percent of Americans…
Author: Rick Good
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader's money, real estate, and business coverage.
The slick history of WD-40
As you probably already know, WD-40 is a pretty slick invention. But have you ever wondered where this wonder solvent came from? In 1953, a trio of…
How China fuels the fentanyl pandemic
In 2022, more than two-thirds of over 100,000 U.S. drug overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, most commonly illicit fentanyl. Much of the illegally…
The Fed aims for a soft landing
Set your TV to a financial news channel and you might catch a pundit warning that Fed rate hikes will surely result in a hard landing. Another pundit…
Ask the expert
We are taking our first mortgage and trying to decide between a 15-year and a 30-year. What are the advantages of each? The choice between a 15-year…
Healthy vision critical to children’s skills
Did you know that 80 percent of learning occurs through our eyes? Healthy vision is critical to classroom and homework success. Poor vision can lead to…
If it’s your first castle, don’t go for that soaring turret
It’s easy to get excited buying your first home. You’ve been busy cutting debt, building your credit score, and finally you have enough cash for a down…
Dive into fitness: Unlocking the benefits of water exercise
Amidst the sweltering summer heat, that swimming pool looks inviting, so dive in for fun and fitness. Water exercise, also known as aqua fitness, is…
How to succeed at pickup basketball
If you like casual basketball because it’s a nice, sociable way to exercise, then don’t try real pickup basketball. The casual kind is what you play at…
How to stretch at your computer
Ever wonder why sitting at your computer hurts? Could be lots of things, from the ergonomics of the chair itself to the length of time you spend poring…