The mysterious history of ambergris
Pretend that you’re a fisherman of modest means, scraping by on a boat in the Indian Ocean. One day, as you empty the anchovies and barramundi from your…
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 brief history of the telephone conversation
Odds are pretty good that when you answer the phone, “hello” is the first thing out of your mouth. But have you considered taking “ahoy” for a spin…
The lion’s roar and other cat facts
House cats can’t roar. They can be plenty loud when they feel like it, but they can’t actually roar. On the other hand, their cousin the lion can’t purr….
Wacky fruits that might tickle your taste buds (or put you in a coma)
Apples. Oranges. Bananas. In any given year, about 65 percent of Americans will eat at least one banana. Sixty-three percent will have had apples and 51…
Shoplifting goes online
Google shoplifting, then read past the first page of results. You’ll see stories about shoplifting gangs targeting stores all over the country, and nobody…
Choose the perfect area rug
If your living room or bedroom are looking a little tired these days, don’t start planning to redecorate just yet — an area rug might be a quick and much…
Bread in a bag: An edible at-home science experiment
If you’re looking for a fun, educational, kid-friendly activity to absorb the kids on a dreary winter afternoon, bread might be the answer. With just a…
Ice dams can damage walls in the attic and living space in the house
Step outside the day after it snows and see how your roof looks. If you see that snow has melted on one or more parts of the roof, watch out! You could…
Winter is a great time to get a jump on spring gardening
January is the off-season for most gardens, but the work still continues, with plenty of tasks to be accomplished before the heavy lifting begins in the…
The once-a-year to-do
What should you try to accomplish in 2022? Goals don’t have to all be mountains, but when we plan the little, necessary things, it can make our lives…