S.E. Smith

S.E. Smith

S.E. Smith is a writer, agitator, and commentator based in Northern California, with a journalistic focus on social issues, particularly gender, prison reform, disability rights, environmental justice, queerness, class, and the intersections thereof, with a special interest in rural subjects. International publication credits include work for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and AlterNet, among many other news outlets and magazines. Assisted by cats Loki and Leila, smith lives in Fort Bragg, California.

Pay them not mind. Your house is OK. (Photo: Figure8Photos/istockphoto.com)

Ashamed of Your House? How to Get Over House Shaming

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jul 10, 2013

Ever feel like your house is too small? Too cheap? Not made from the right materials? Not enough for the expectations of the people around you? Or perhaps you don’t have a house...

A contractor fixes a screen. Photo by Trigem777/istockphoto.com.

Tips for Repairing Window Screens

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jun 20, 2013

Kittens look cute hanging from screen doors, until you look closer and realize they’ve torn a set of holes with their infamously sharp claws. There are a couple of different options...

A man waits for the outhouse. Maybe he should have brought his mobile toilet. Photo: twilightproductions/istockphoto.com.

Eight Mobile Toilets for Convenience and Sanitation

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jun 17, 2013

Assuming you can fight your way through the seemingly endless line when you need one, I think we can all agree that there are few things in this world quite as disgusting as a portable...

This lady is struggling to open a jar. Too bad she didn't read this article. (Photo: JanMika/istockphoto.com.)

11 Ways to Open a Stuck Jar Lid

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jun 11, 2013

All you want is a kosher dill. You can see it, trapped within its glassy cave, taunting you with crisp, pickly goodness. And you can’t get the lid off. You’ve tried all...

A bear hunts for food in a yard. Photo by mazwebs/sxc.hu.

Tips for Living Near Bears

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jun 11, 2013

Bears are getting more and more comfortable these days when it comes to waltzing into your neighborhood and grabbing whatever they want. News of bear attacks is up, and densely populated...

Photo of a koi pond and garden by Sutsaiy/istockphoto.com.

Caring for Koi Ponds

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jun 09, 2013

Every thirty seconds, a koi pond is Pinned. Okay, I made that up, but seriously, does anyone else feel like koi ponds are the new "it" thing in landscaping and garden design? Obviously,...

Photo of kitchen tools/beer bottle openers by kthread/flickr.

16 Ways to Open a Beer Bottle Without a Bottle Opener

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jun 09, 2013

It’s summer. A nice cold one would go down awfully well, but where’s that bottle opener gotten to? You’ve searched the utensil drawer, rifled through the stack of...

How Much It Costs to Landscape

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

If you’re glancing out at your yard right now and wondering how much it costs to landscape, you’ve come to the right place. According to the pros (landscapers and real...

Water Drips from Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

Have you noticed lately that water drips from the bathroom exhaust fan or the joint around it? Don’t panic: there could be a lot of reasons, along with several easy fixes. For...

Termites Treatment Cost

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

The only thing worse than finding out you have termites is thinking about how much the treatment will cost. This common expense for homeowners can rocket into the thousands for a large...