December 27, 2013

Hang time

Did you get a new high-def TV for Christmas? Better think about mounting it securely to the wall for added safety, improved viewing angles and other reasons I detail in my latest story for The Costco Connection, published in the January 2014 issue.

Click here to learn more.

December 3, 2013

Debunking the myths about home inspections

Vetting a home properly is important prior to purchasing, which is why it makes sense to hire a professional home inspector. But many home buyers suffer from misconceptions about these pros and what they do. I try to demystify things in my newest piece for Philly.com.

Click here to read the story.

November 19, 2013

Realtors who go the extra mile

With the housing market tightening in many areas of the country, real estate agents are going above and beyond the call of duty to compete for clients. That's the subject I explore in my latest story, published at Philly.com. Check it out by clicking here.

November 10, 2013

This is not your father's grocery store

My newest write-up required me to visit a Mariano's Fresh Market grocery store, which left me with a positive impression for more reasons than simply the free samples.

Click here to read the story, published in the current issue of CSP Magazine, which explores how the upstart chain is poised to expand and thrive in the Chicagoland market--especially considering that rival Dominick's is preparing to depart.

November 4, 2013

Score the basket

With the holiday season soon to begin, now's the time to start thinking about gift buying for friends and loved ones. A popular choice for many shoppers is a gift basket, which allows you to customize a package of goods based on the recipient's tastes and personality. Choosing the perfect gift basket is the topic I tackle in my newest story for The Costco Connection magazine. Read it by clicking here.

November 1, 2013

Warming up to cold-blooded critters

In my newest column for Pet Age Magazine, I examine the benefits of socializing snakes, lizards, turtles and other reptiles for easier handling and better pet-owner interaction. Click here for the story.

October 25, 2013

How HuffPost Live is a game changer

The Huffington Post's new HuffPost Live site presents an innovative webcasting model in a journalistic context that offers social media interactivity, news and entertainment for its audience. I write about the way HuffPost Live is changing the social video landscape in my newest piece for EContent Magazine, which you can access here.

October 18, 2013

Can Bezos benefit from bundling?

Jeff Bezos, who recently acquired the Washington Post, thinks bundling of news for tablets may be a viable revenue generator for his paper going forward. Is this strategy doomed to fail, or is Bezos exhibiting brilliance here? That's the topic I explore in my latest article for EContent Magazine, which you can read here.

September 20, 2013

Are you prepared for the worst?

From tornadoes to extended power outages, disasters can strike at any time. How ready are you for worst-case scenarios? That's the question I pose in my newest piece for The Costco Connection magazine.

Learn what survival supplies you need to stock up on and more by clicking here.

September 4, 2013

Protecting patients and hospital workers alike

Safeguarding medical staff from harm, as well as the patients they care for, should be a top priority at hospitals. Read my latest article for The Joint Commission's EC News newsletter on this topic by clicking here.

August 30, 2013

Take a bite of "The Big Peach"

Never visited Atlanta? Or maybe it's been a while? Check out all the worthwhile attractions and hotspots you'll want to hit on your next sojourn to this southern city via my handy Atlanta visitor's guide, newly published in CSP Magazine.

Click here to read the article.

August 24, 2013

The $300k club

Wonder how much home $300,000 can buy you today? That's the question I explore in my newest article that recently published in the Chicago Tribune.

Give it a read by clicking here.

August 16, 2013

Generation Y delaying home purchases

A new study sheds light on why Millennials are postponing home purchases, which is the interesting topic of my latest article, published by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Read the piece by clicking here.

July 31, 2013

Dorm room ready mode

In my newest write-up, this time for the Costco Connection magazine's August issue, I provide tips on how to plan the perfect dorm room, apartment or other on/off-campus domicile.

Click here for the 411 on creating the ideal college crib.

July 15, 2013

Project green pet

Earth-friendly and sustainable practices are being adopted by many businesses today--including pet supply stores and manufacturers. In my latest cover story for Pet Age magazine, I detail how pet industry suppliers and retailers are finding that small changes can make a big difference in improving the environment.

Click here to read the article.

June 28, 2013

Sink or swim


In the summertime, nothing beats a cool dip in the pool on a hot day. But owning your own pool doesn't have to be expensive--if you learn how to do the maintenance and upkeep yourself. That's the topic I tackle in my latest story for The Costco Connection in its July issue.

Click here to read the full splash.

June 22, 2013

Native ads vs. banner ads

In my latest article for EContent Magazine, I explore how native ads are preferred over traditional banner ads by many consumers, per a recent study.

Click here to view the story.

May 29, 2013

Underwriting Rover

Is pet insurance worth it? That's the question I attempt to answer in my newest write-up, this time for The Costco Connection magazine, as featured in the June issue.

Click here to read the story.

May 10, 2013

Pedal perks


It's springtime in Chicago--a time for gardening, a time for love, a time for...biking! And many new home communities across the city and suburbs are catering to cyclists by offering bike-friendly amenities.

That's the  topic I explore in my latest piece for the Chicago Tribune, which you can access here.

April 26, 2013

Rise of the better burger joint

I had a hard time keeping my stomach from growling and mouth from drooling while writing my latest piece for CSP Magazine on the growth of gourmet burger franchises.

See if you can resist the urge to salivate while reading the article, found here.

April 6, 2013

Heat of the moment

On August 6, 2012, workers at a Chevron refinery in Richmond, California, noticed a small hydrocarbon leak in the piping system and attempted to fix it. But a flash fire suddenly erupted and eventually ignited into a major blaze, sending a massive plume of smoke and soot into the air high above the plant.

In my newest article, published in the Joint Commission's EC News newsletter, I detail how one area hospital responded to the sudden influx of fire-related patients seeking treatment.

Click here to read the story.

March 28, 2013

Erik now on the reptile beat

I'm now the monthly reptile products and trends writer for Pet Age magazine, read by pet supply retailers nationwide. My son has a bearded dragon lizard, so this regular beat will help me better bond with my son and his pet.

You can read the first installment of my monthly column here.

March 8, 2013

How much home can $200,000 buy?

What kind of new home can you expect to get for $200k today? That's the question I examine in my newest write-up, published in the Chicago Tribune.

Read the full article here.

February 27, 2013

IPO FYI


In my newest piece, I explore the risks and rewards of digital content companies taking the IPO route and going public, as published in the March issue of EContent Magazine.

Click here to view the story.

February 15, 2013

Playing cat & house

The March issue of Cat Fancy magazine features a colorful write-up I did on ways to turn your home into a meow mansion fun zone for cats.

Click here to get the feline 411.

February 1, 2013

Plug-in pinch hitters

If Hurricane Sandy taught us anything, it's that having an adequate backup power solution on hand can be a smart idea. In the February issue of Costco Connection, I investigate the benefits of backup generators, power inverters and other options to keep the juice flowing during an outage.

Click here to access the article.

January 24, 2013

Chewing on politics

In Erik's newest story, published in the Academy of General Dentistry's AGD Impact magazine, he examines how Obama's re-election and the survival of the Affordable Care Act will impact the dental profession.

Click here to read the article.

January 14, 2013

When disaster strikes

Erik's latest article, for the Joint Commission's Environment of Care newsletter, explores the lessons hospitals can learn from Hurricane Sandy and includes an interview with NYU Langone, one of the medical centers that was forced to evacuate patients and experienced a power failure.

Click here to read the story.

January 4, 2013

Open source opportunities

In his latest story, published in the January/February 2013 print edition of EContent Magazine, Erik delves into the pros and cons of open source software and how it can be a viable technology solution for digital content companies. Click here to read the article.