Carl Pettit is a writer and editor with interests ranging from international relations and political humor to the arts and modern media.
Carl Pettit
3 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Accountant to Do Your Taxes
As tax season grinds on, here are some important reasons for you to consider hiring a professional to prepare your 2013 return.
IRS ‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams for 2014, Part 1 — Phishing, Identity Theft & More
Doing your taxes is unpleasant enough already, but there are also some shifty characters out there who want to make the pain even worse.
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 Fun Facts About Turkeys — Yes, They Can Fly (and Change Color)
Thanksgiving is almost here, which means we start seeing turkeys everywhere—on TV, in our children's school drawings, running through our dreams every single night while we sleep ... you get the idea. And eventually these poor turkeys will be inside many of our overstuffed stomachs as well.
Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas for Vegetarians — Main Courses
Vegetarians have it rough on Thanksgiving. Meals throughout the holiday season tend to focus pretty heavily on the meat side, none more so than Thanksgiving dinner. Sure, tons of meatless side dishes come with a standard Turkey Day meal, but that’s not the same thing as a main course.
5 Clever Ways to Decorate Your Haunted House
With Halloween fast approaching, it's time to get your home into the swing of things. Don’t worry—you still have plenty of time to convert your domicile into a spooky haunted house (or just a scary home that kids will think twice about approaching during their quest for candy). Here are five fairly simple, but clever ways to get your apartment or house in ghoulish shape for Halloween, and any one
A Brief History of Witches, From Wicked to Sexy
The season of the witch is upon us. Time to brush up on your history—these evil green-skinned sorcerers aren't necessarily what you think. For example, they aren't evil, green-skinned or sorcerers. (Well, maybe some are, but not usually.)
Halloween’s Strange Origins — 5 More Things You Might Not Know
If you still haven’t had your fill of Halloween trivia, we have a few more fun and eyebrow-raising spooky holiday facts for you. October 31 is a day—and especially a night—full of spine-tingling surprises. With a bit of Halloween knowledge under your belt, you can impress your friends, as well as the ghost and ghouls wandering around your neighborhood, with your detailed knowledge of jack-o'-lante
10 Awesomely Geeky Watches
Telling time is something we all do, usually everyday. How you go about telling time is a different matter. Some folks opt for a clock on their cell phone or a simple watch, while other spend thousands of dollars on an expensive Rolex.
10 Fictional Bars You Can Actually Visit
If you’re a TV and cinema buff, as well as a barfly, you just might be able to combine your passions together. The characters inhabiting our film and television fantasy worlds need places to hang out, just like we do.
5 Tips for Keeping a Great Rooftop Garden
Rooftop and terrace gardens are a wonderful way to get a bit of green into an urban setting. Who says you have to live in the country or have a big house in suburbia to grow tons of plants and tasty vegetables? While it’s true that there’s nothing new under the sun, if you haven’t set up a rooftop garden before, there will be a few things that are new to you.