Carl Pettit is a writer and editor with interests ranging from international relations and political humor to the arts and modern media.
Carl Pettit
10 Real Life ‘Harry Potter’ Destinations You Can Visit
If you love 'Harry Potter,' you just might be happier than a Muggle with a new wand after you go through this list.
5 Outside-the-Bottle Gifts for the Drinker(s) in Your Family
For the drinker in your family — or if you’re simply buying presents for yourself (such a generous human being) — we’ve complied a list of five great boozy gifts for people who like to take a nip or two (or three or four) now and again.
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 Vehicles We Wanted So Bad as Kids — And We’d Love Just as Much Today
A look back at five rides we wanted so bad as kids, and we would love just as much right now.
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.
Basic Tire Maintenance — 3 Important Things to Check This Spring
As winter gradually becomes spring, it’s vital that you check your car's tires. Here are three vital things to examine.
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.
IRS ‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams for 2014, Part 2 — False Income, Fake Charities & More
Here's round two of the 12 nastiest tax scams out there. Be aware of what the crooks will try to pull over on you!
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 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
5 Stunning, Futuristic Concept Cars You Might Be Able to Buy Someday
Car designers are hard at work coming up with some incredible, futuristic-looking automotive designs, some of which may be racing down your street in the years ahead.
5 Strange Federal Tax Deductions You Might Not Know About
Tax season comes and goes every year, to the dread and relief of many a taxpayer. Even if you’ve taken care of your taxes this year, that doesn’t mean you shouldn't be mindful of potential tax deductions you can claim for your next round with the government in the year to come.
5 Highly Unusual Restaurant Experiences You Won’t Forget
There are all kinds of strange eateries out there, ranging from opera-themed bistros to cafes swarming with cats, as well as diners built inside of the fuselages of old airplanes. While we understand that some people just want a simple, peaceful meal when they head out, others like a little something extra special.
5 Unusual Animals That Make Great Pets
Cats and dogs, while extremely lovable, are not the only choices out there when it comes to selecting a household pet. There are quite a few unusual animals in existence that actually make good, even great companions for their human owners. We’re not talking man-eating tigers or wild boars here—there are some limits to just how exotic you should go.
5 Foods You Thought Were Healthy, but Actually Aren’t
For a country as obsessed with weight and food production as ours is, there tends to be a lot of conflicting information, health-food fads and dietary gimmicks circulating about what and how we should eat.