Carl Pettit is a writer and editor with interests ranging from international relations and political humor to the arts and modern media.
Carl Pettit
Grilling Tips — 8 Ways to Master Your Summer Barbecue
As the weather heats up, it’s time to head outside, light up the grill - or throw some wood into your fire pit, if you have one - and start cooking some great food the old-fashioned way: over an open flame.
5 Creepy Urban Legends to Spook You This Halloween
Ah, Halloween: the one time of year when it’s completely appropriate to scare the fecal matter out of loved ones and friends. If your goal is to make sure children can’t sleep at night, a disturbing urban legend is just the ammunition you need.
The Spooky Origins of Halloween — 10 Strange, Fun Facts About Witches, Pumpkins, Bonfires & More
The roots of our spookiest holiday's traditions—from pumpkins to trick-or-treating—run deep, their origins reaching back thousands of years to pre-Christian pagan festivals and superstitions.
5 Innovative, Essential Beach Accessories — Coolers, Umbrellas, Chairs & More
Headed to the beach? Here's what to bring along.
5 Weirdly Flavored Brews You May Love or Hate — Chili Beer, Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout & More
As the old nursery rhyme goes, you have nothing to fear from oddly flavored beer. Well, you might have a little to fear, depending on how adventurous you and your taste buds happen to be.
Simple Ways to Lower Your Tax Bill — Part 1
Here’s a look at several simple things you can do to lower your taxes—and avoid getting into hot water with the IRS:
3 Reasons Why You Should Do Your Own Taxes
If you're comfortable with numbers and know your way around the tax code, there may be no need for you to pay someone else to do your taxes.
5 Ways to Lower Your Taxes You Might Not Know About
The next six weeks are known as Tax Season, and we've come up with a few ways to lower your bill that you might not know about.
5 Ways to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage
Nowadays, perhaps more than ever, maximizing your car's gas mileage is vital—practically, economically and environmentally.
5 Strange and Colorful Local Thanksgiving Traditions
The holidays can bring out people's stranger sides, and Thanksgiving is no exception.
5 Thanksgiving Myths Debunked — Pilgrims Didn’t Wear Buckles? (And More)
Thanksgiving, which we've been celebrating in America for centuries now, is a time of family, food and, especially, tradition. Even so, many of the stories we take as gospel about this wonderful holiday—wonderful if you’re not endlessly bickering with your relatives, that is—aren’t true at all. Myth, legend and wishful thinking play into a lot of the misconceptions surrounding Turkey Day.
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5 Simple Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas — Pinecones, Pumpkins, Dolls and More
Getting your family in the mood to eat gobs of delicious food on Thanksgiving may not be the toughest task, but you can always make things memorable by sprucing up the house a bit too. It'll enhance everyone's experience, you'll be able to reuse the decorations next year, and best of all, it's fun.