What to buy (and avoid) at the Christmas tree lot
Have you ever brought home a beautiful pine tree, decorated it, and then watched with horror as it lost all of its pine needles within two weeks? If you…
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.
Make your artificial tree smell real
There’s nothing quite like the crisp and clean scent of a fresh-cut pine tree at Christmas — but there’s nothing quite like the mess that a real tree can…
Nasal spray flu vaccines now available
Nasal spray flu vaccines are an alternative to traditional injectable flu shots. As of October 21, 2025, they are approved for use in healthy,…
Pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs directly to patients
Several drug manufacturers will sell certain prescription medicines directly to American patients and discount other high-priced drugs. According to…
Chinese surgeons perform pig-to-human liver transplant
Chinese surgeons successfully transplanted a section of liver from a genetically modified pig into a human cancer patient in a groundbreaking procedure at…
Are you taking your reflux meds the right way?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can relieve the heartburn and discomfort of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as heal damage done to the…
How to keep those happy feet
If your feet are happy, you are going to be happy — and walking, too. But if you are feeling pain or tingling, it could be a symptom of a bigger problem….
You can still roast chestnuts on an open fire
In The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole waxed nostalgic about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Do you think of it today as just an quaint memory of an…
Avoid holiday safety hazards
Christmas is a time to celebrate, spend time with family and friends, and to relax. But, it’s also a time when safety should be on your mind because the…
Stay snowmobile smart
Crispy winter breezes and a sunny day make you eager to get out there and start an invigorating snowmobile ride. But, like all vehicles, snowmobiles can…