Ask the Expert
I want to buy a house, but there is a good chance I will be transferred in the next five years. What kind of mortgage is good for me? You could try an…
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.
Sellers still getting big prices; demand dips
Nationwide, the red-hot real estate market is losing a bit of its blush as the pressure of inflation and higher interest rates mean fewer buyers are…
How to give and receive a compliment
Basics first: Be sincere and don’t make the compliment too big or too small. Be specific. Don’t say you’re good at your job, say it was a great report….
Can you teach your dog to speak?
Bunny and Stella are stars — just two of the many social media dogs who seem to talk. Using floor sound button kits, owners can train their dogs to tell…
Fitness trackers: Your coach or your evil taskmaster?
Is your fitness tracker your happy coach? Does it make you feel better? More motivated? Or is it … a parasite? After all, a device maker somewhere is…
The surprisingly messy history of flag cake
When you picture a Fourth of July cake, there’s only one that comes to mind for most people — a rectangular cake with white whipped cream icing, red…
Love horses? What it takes to buy one
According to the old joke, buying a horse is the cheapest thing you’ll ever do. It’s the part that comes after that will cost you. There’s a reason why…
Why owning a horse can be a joy
Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it…
News from home: One easy way to get mosquitoes gone
The mosquito is probably the most reviled pest in the world, spreading disease and leaving itchy bites, but here is a cheap idea for getting them out of…
Keep kids reading with these summer challenges
School’s out, but that doesn’t mean a break from learning. Books are the perfect screen-free activity when it’s rainy or too hot to play outside, and with…