'Tis the season for fire safety

Warm summer temperatures are long behind us, but that doesn’t mean the heat is off homeowners to follow fire safety rules. In fact, per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires happen more in the winter than in any other season, accounting for 30 percent of all fire deaths. Yet less than one in three homeowners practice fire safety prevention activities, according to a study by fire safety equipment maker First Alert, which also found that many are misinformed about and underprepared for home fires.

There’s no better time like the present to reduce fire risks and protect your family. Learn how by reading my latest syndicated article for CTW Features, found here.

No rust on this bike

In episode six of my Cineversary podcast, I put the pedal to the metal and ramp up my affection for "Bicycle Thieves,” Vittorio De Sica’s masterpiece of Italian neorealism, originally released 70 years ago in 1948. For this installment, I interview Jacqueline Reich, professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University and a renowned scholar of Italian cinema. Together, we explore why "Bicycle Thieves" is worth celebrating all these years later, its cultural impact and legacy, what we can learn from the picture today, how it has stood the test of time, and more. To listen to this episode, click the play button below.


You can stream, download or subscribe to the Cineversary podcast using Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Anchor, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Google Play Music, Overcast, Pocket Casts, PodBean, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.tinyurl.com/cineversarypodcast, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cineversarypodcast, and email show comments or suggestions to cineversegroup@gmail.com.

Songbird sayonara

Parrots are precious. And budgies are beautiful. But finches and canaries hold a special place in the hearts and homes of many bird lovers. That’s because that special place conveniently takes up less physical space, and the sounds these compact pets sing are soothing—unlike the harsh squawks associated with hookbills.

Learn more about why bird lovers gravitate toward songbirds like canaries and finches by reading my final column for Pet Age magazine, available here.

Sound and vision

Smart speakers are pleasing to the ears and mouth. And tablets provide plenty of eye candy and fun at your fingertips. But what if a device could combine the best elements of both and serve as the digital heart of your home—a personal assistant capable of sound and vision that’s responsive to both voice and touch?

These gadgets have finally arrived in the form of a compact smart display with voice assistant built in. They essentially add a touchscreen to a smart speaker to offer even greater functionality and control of connected devices within the home. Learn more about these devices, including the Google Home Hub, by reading my latest article for The Costco Connection, available here.