Stock your trunk with these safety essentials

Whether you’re about to drive 5 miles or 500 miles, there’s always a risk you may end up stranded far from home and safety. From a dead battery to a flat tire, these unpleasant incidents are not just frustrating and inconvenient; they can be serious if you find yourself off the grid and unable to summon help, particularly during inclement weather.

That’s why it’s smart to equip your automobile with important accessories and practical products designed to make driving less stressful. Having a handful of "just-in-case" items in your car could improve a negative situation or, in the most extreme cases, quite literally save your life, say the experts.

Learn more by reading my newest article for The Costco Connection magazine, available here.

Speaking up about artificial intelligence

Speech technology has advanced seemingly at light speed over the past several years. But 2020 proved to be an especially pivotal 12-month period for speech tech, particularly the degree to which artificial intelligence (AI) further infiltrated and enhanced capabilities.

These capabilities have certainly been put to the test since the start of the coronavirus crisis, which has forced millions of people worldwide to work, shop, and play from home and increasingly rely on innovative apps, platforms, and online solutions powered by AI-driven speech technology.

Delve deeper into this topic by reading my latest article for Speech Technology magazine, available here.

Mortgage loans come in 40-year flavors, too

Mortgage loans with a term of 30 years or 15 years are most commonly chosen by borrowers. Fortunately, these aren’t your only options. You can also select a 40-year mortgage if you qualify.

Finding 40-year mortgage lenders probably won’t be easy, and 40-year mortgage rates today are higher than rates for 30-year mortgages. But especially for a first-time buyer, 40-year mortgage loans offer the potential benefit of lower monthly payments.

Take the time to learn how 40-year mortgages work, their pros and cons, and how to get a 40-year mortgage loan by reading my first article for new client NextAdvisor, Time Magazine’s new website featuring personal finance content and tips, available here.

30 years of lambs, Lecter, and liver with fava beans

In Cineversary podcast episode #32, host Erik Martin sends birthday wishes to The Silence of the Lambs, which was released 30 years ago on Valentine's Day, 1991. The film's co-producer, Ed Saxon, joins Erik to examine why this film is worth celebrating all these years later, its cultural impact and legacy, what we can learn from the movie today, how it has stood the test of time, and more. 

Ed Saxon

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download or subscribe to the Cineversary podcast using Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Pocket Casts, PodBean, RadioPublic, and Overcast.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at anchor.fm/cineversary and email show comments or suggestions to cineversegroup@gmail.com.

Bottom dollar battles

Bull market or bear market, upturn or downturn, dollar retailers have proven they can survive and thrive no matter the economic climate.

Even a lingering pandemic can’t keep the channel down, with a steady array of patrons turning to dollar stores for everyday essentials and non-perishables to keep their pantry stocked–especially with many restaurants going dark and long lines at the big box locations and neighborhood grocery stores.

Indeed, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar and other dollar discount rivals remain poised to capitalize on a growing base of customers seeking bargains, staples and a quick, expedient shopping experience. The fulfillment of that latter need state continues to be particularly worrisome to C-stores vying for many of the same consumers. All the greater reason to pay closer attention to the dollar channel and analyze recent and future strategies that may help to level the competitive landscape.

Check out my latest article for CSP Magazine on this topic by clicking here.

Warm real estate thoughts on a cold day

Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson famously wrote that in the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. But if he had written the book on real estate, Tennyson would have waxed poetically about how, in springtime, a home shopper’s fancy strongly turns to thoughts of purchasing.

That’s because, with the holidays long over and warmer weather eventually on the way, demand among purchaser prospects increases and more listings hit the market. All the more reason to beat this bunch to the punch and search for a domicile right now – while Jack Frost is busy keeping most homeowner hopefuls hibernating, the experts agree.

Learn how to get a leg up on home shoppers before spring hits by reading my newest article for CTW Features, available here.