A close-shaven history of the beard
The beard: It’s gone in and out of fashion over the millennia and alternately been associated with kings and commoners, criminals and scholars, soldiers…
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.
Sleeping single: Why some couples choose separate beds
He snores. She’s restless. He likes to fall asleep watching television. She likes complete quiet. People who love each other may often have completely…
June brides still follow ancient traditions
Wedding ceremonies are full of traditions that reach far into history. * The practice of keeping bride and groom apart until the ceremony was important…
What are solitary bees?
Not all bees live in a big community with a queen and workers. Some bees live alone and, although they do not produce honey or beeswax, they are important…
Egg, chicken prices rise
If you have noticed the shocking rise of egg and chicken prices lately, the problem is not merely inflation: Bird flu is back. Since start of the outbreak…
Best annuals to attract pollinators
Pollinators like bees usually prefer herbs and garden perennials to annuals, since most annuals have been bred for showy flowers instead of pollen and…
Protect your backyard birds
Bird flu is back — not among humans, thankfully — but our flying friends are passing it around, and one likely hot spot: backyard feeders. A nationwide…
Make a solitary bee house
They sound lonely, but they’re really not. Solitary bees are excellent pollinators and you can encourage them to set up shop in your backyard with a…
Quote: Dad debates
Dad debates “In debates, our father’s word on a topic was dispositive…He loved expounding on matters, and, given his broad erudition, we considered him…
Give that mower a new lease on life
If your lawn mower is a few years old and not running as it did when it was new, don’t give up on it yet. The average life span of a mower in the U.S. is…