Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

Hotel companies say loyalty programmes are now driving meaningful demand. As branded hotel occupancy in India nears decade highs, hotel chains are shifting focus from acquiring new guests to ‘farming’ ...

"Emily the Criminal" filmmaker John Patton Ford loosely adapts "Kind Hearts and Coronets" for a star-packed outing hobbled by an oddly dull script and a tone that (unfortunately) matches it. There are ...

Seattle has tough decisions to make about some key players, but there's plenty of money and talent to work with. The good news for Seattle is that this team doesn't figure to be going anywhere any ...

At the height of his powers, and perhaps his amphetamine habit, legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick cranked out around thirty novels in two decades, along with what was probably several hundred ...

Mesha Griffith is a children's book author based in Ohio. She considers herself a minimalist and has challenged herself over the years to ditch the clutter. She posted her yearly challenge online in ...

We focus on how things will eventually pan out one day somewhere in the distant future. We fantasize and dream of what tomorrow will bring. I used to do that myself in my youth. I dreamed of a ...

Ephias Mugari is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Global Change at the University of Limpopo. The recent flooding was unusual in its severity and impact. However, it wasn’t unexpected, ...

In the wake of holiday-induced shopping fatigue, you might well have sworn off impulse purchases in 2026. But it takes more than a slapdash resolution to permanently right the ship. Carla Holden, a ...

Bake ribs low and slow (250 to 350°F) and wrapped in foil for tender, juicy meat. Check doneness with by using one or more of these methods: the flex test, bone exposure, and tenderness with a fork.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — WLTX, the Salvation Army, and the COMET bus system, are once again partnering for Stuff-A-Bus to provide holiday gifts for families in need through the Salvation Army's Angel Tree ...