A new body for the new year

Like most merrymakers this time of year, you probably overindulged in many a guilty edible pleasure over the holiday season and gave priority to couch potato pursuits that were bound to catch up with you. Now, it's time to consider that oh-so-predictable New Year's resolution and aim to get in shape.

But is it worth the investment to join a fitness club? That's the question I examine in my latest write-up for The Costco Connection magazine. Learn more about what I discovered by clicking here.

Presents for every person on your list

'Tis the season for some serious holiday gift shopping. I try to make that process easier by rounding up 7 new products that fit the bill for 7 different types of recipients, including foodies, music lovers, techies, and kids.

Check out my recommendations, presented in a user-friendly slideshow byAARP The Magazine, by clicking here.

Turn your TV into a stream machine

Many consumers are intimidated by the prospect of setting up Netflix and other streaming choices on their television. But many high-tech options today aren't as highly complex as you'd think.

Click here to read my newest article for Costco Connection magazine and learn how you can quickly and affordably stream online content to your set.

LLC or Inc.?

If you're ready to launch a small business of your own, you need to pay close attention to how your company is structured for tax purposes. Should you form an LLC, C Corp, S Corp, or sole proprietorship?

In my newest story for AARP The Magazine, I examine the pros and cons of each of these choices. Click here for the full read.

Gobble-gobble, click-click...

Instead of pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving, consider putting mouse on the dessert menu—a computer mouse, that is. Because the tastiest treat you can give yourself after the turkey’s been eaten and the relatives head home is to score a sweet deal on swell swag by shopping online from the comforts of home.

Eager to follow a recipe for successful online shopping this Black Friday and beyond? Read my article on this topic, just published by AARP The Magazine online, by clicking here.

A new feline breed worth howling about

Curious what would happen if you could mate a housecat with a werewolf? Meet the Lykoi, a new cat breed that is making feline aficionados sit up and take notice.

In my newest piece for Cat Fancy magazine, I examine the interesting facets and facts surrounding this spooky new species. Click here for the full read.

Convenience store stocking stuffers

You wouldn't necessarily think of convenience stores as the go-to destination for Christmas gift shopping, but many consumers actually do turn to the 7-Elevens of the world for stocking stuffers.

That's the topic I tackle in my latest piece for CSP Magazine, which you can read here.

Ditching the dish and curbing the coaxial

Consider that the average monthly bill for expanded basic cable is currently about $64, roughly triple what consumers paid in 1995, per the FCC. And the average pay-TV tab is expected to climb to $200 a month by 2020. That’s a lot of money to fork over for programming that most consumers will never watch. And it’s a big reason why Americans are increasingly eliminating traditional pay-TV and replacing it with a simple antenna and beefed-up Internet service.

Are you considering cutting the cord on cable and/or satellite? Read my take on this topic--which also happens to be my first article published in AARP The Magazine--for facts and tips that can help guide your decision. Click here to read the story.

Cyber-suction power

An era when high-tech robots make dinner, do the dishes and walk the dog may not quite have arrived. But we do live in a time when robotic vacuum cleaners can make cleanup easier.

To learn more about how to select the right robovac, read my newest article, published in the October Costco Connection magazine, by clicking here.

Limbo rock real estate

It's a question that may not sound like music to the ears of home sellers, but the matter of "How low can you go?" needs to be considered carefully before making a price reduction on a property listed for sale.

Learn what the experts recommend by reading my newest real estate article, found here.

How to get branded content to the masses

When a radio station wants to broadcast a program that reaches as many ears as possible—even remote listeners in the hinterlands—it amps up the signal. But when content marketers with branded content to promote seek to swell their audience, it’s not as simple as cranking up a dial. Wider distribution of content that’s created to grow affinity and brand consideration—and not necessarily hawk a product or service—requires careful research, planning, and execution to overcome the significant challenges today.

That's the topic of my most recent article for EContent Magazine, which you can view by clicking here.

Letting the cat out of the bag

Own a cat that stares out the window longingly? Before you even think about letting your indoor feline outdoors, there are plenty of safety factors to consider.

Read my newest article, this time for Cats USA magazine, that covers this topic like a fat Burmese sitting atop a trapped mouse. Click here to read the fur--I mean fine--print.

See Sin City in style

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas--except when it's revealed in a tell-all tourist guide!

Check out my latest piece for CSP Magazine, which details recommended attractions to visit while in Las Vegas.

Grammar matters in real estate

Typos, truncations and errors can run rampant in a home for sale listing and lead to a longer time unsold on the market.

Good grammar, punctuation and syntax matters in real estate communications more than you'd think. That's the topic I examine in my latest article for CTW Features, which you can access by clicking here.

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and pet products

An increasing array of manufacturers, retailers and consumers prefer merchandise made in the USA--and that holds true for puppy chow as much as it does for automobiles and smartphone apps.

In my latest piece for Pet Age magazine, I explore the topic of pet products manufactured in America; you can read it by clicking here.

Safeguarding the susceptible

During a community disaster, hospitals have to be prepared to protect vulnerable occupants like children, disabled patients, and the elderly--a challenging task that can tax a health care organization's resources to the max.

Read more about this absorbing topic in my latest piece for The Joint Commission's EC News newsletter by clicking here.

Cash concerns at convenience stores

CSP Magazine recently published my third annual recap story on cash handling and management concerns among convenience store retailers, per the results of a 2014 study conducted by Corporate Safe Specialists/FireKing Security Group.

Read the article by clicking here.

Big pan on campus

 Tablets don’t appear to be the tech learning tool of choice among college students, per the latest data. Check out my most recent story for EContent Magazine on this topic by clicking here.

Seed read

In my role as a versatile freelance writer, I wear many hats, the newest of which has a feather in it. In addition to penning a monthly column on reptiles for Pet Age magazine, I now write a column on birds for each issue. My debut column, on the topic of foods for wild birds, is featured in the May issue, which can be accessed here.

Best bang for your remodeling buck

Wondering which remodeling projects offer the best return on your investment dollars? Read my latest story on this topic, published in various papers across the country by clicking here.

Getting the garage in gear

Peek behind the doors in most American homes and you'll see that the most cluttered area is off to the side--in the garage.

Tidying up the garage and choosing products to help organize that space is my latest topic for The Costco Connection, which you can read by clicking here.

Smoke signals

By day, I'm a mild mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper (actually, several of them, plus a few magazines). But by night, I don my mask and cape and hit the e-cigarette news beat, aiming for the latest scoop on the vapor trail.

My latest news piece on e-cigs, published at CSPnet.com, spotlights the latest national sales numbers, ranks the top-selling manufacturers and explores what's needed for future growth. Click here to read the article.

Home movies

A picture may tell a thousand words, but a well-produced, marketed video of a home for sale can lead to a faster sale worth thousands more. That’s the belief among many real estate professionals who continue to urge their clients to use the power of video to help buy or sell a property.

This is the topic I explore in my latest real estate article, which you can read here.

Taking stock of social media

We've certainly come a long way from the days of MySpace and Friendster, as evidenced by the proliferation of social networking sites and platforms available today. In my newest article for EContent Magazine, I summarize the current state of social media, with a look back at the progress made and a look ahead to what may be coming next.

Read the piece by clicking here.

Bright ideas for little critters

If you've ever owned a small pet, you know that it's important to equip its cage with the necessaries for proper health. This is especially true with terrarium-bound lizards and snakes, who require adequate heating elements and (depending on the species) UVB and UVA light sources, In my newest column for Pet Age magazine, I explore the latest lighting and heating products available to reptile pet owners.

Click here to access the article.

In the tweet of the moment

Social media can do more than keep you and your friends connected and share selfies. It can also help save lives and comfort families of disaster victims, as evidenced in my latest article for the Joint Commission's EC News newsletter, which documents how two West, Texas hospitals effectively responded via social media following a fertilizer plant explosion.

Read the full article here.