The Maker’s Mark I can’t remember who I signed the first book for but I’ll hazard a guess it was a woman. Not many men turn out for book signings. For sure I remember where I was. At Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. Thus began signings for thirty-six yearsContinue Reading
July 4, 2025, marked the 249th anniversary of our nation. I have always celebrated Independence Day with fireworks, cookouts, and time with family. As an educator, I try to find a teaching moment in every interaction, so this Independence Day, I quizzed my children about the Declaration of Independence. TheyContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose Seventy-million Americans struggle with sleep problems, a crisis with serious health implications (depression, cardiovascular disease, memory issues, obesity, diabetes, weakened immune function, diseases, and persistent physical or mental fatigue). Fortunately, there are many proven techniques to help you sleep more effectively and awaken feeling refreshed. Let’s exploreContinue Reading
By Eileen Renders Sometimes, we are unsure whether we are overweight or our weight is in the right range for our sex, height, and body weight. We all have learned that being overweight, and especially obese, we are at a higher risk for certain types of cancer, heart disease, hypertension,Continue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard More school districts across South Carolina are changing to year-round modified school calendars. This summer, start dates range across the state from July 21 to August 18, with ending dates May 21 through June 4. The name “year-round modified school schedule” is sort of a misnomer –Continue Reading
By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net A blade-like katydid poses by a bison cuff of bronze. Nature blessed my boyhood summers with music. Cicadas’ rising-falling singsong gave days rhythm. Katydids chimed in evenings with a nightshift song backed by cricket twitter. The call of a whip-poor-will drifted through the night.Continue Reading
By Eileen Renders Can Stress Cause Cancer? According to City of Hope, and their medical and editorial guidelines, and I quote, “Studies suggest that chemical changes within the body due to stress increase the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes and the growth and spread of cancer.” ForContinue Reading
By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net There was a time carriers arrived like clockwork, were friendly, and lost mail was never a problem. Today’s USPS is unionized, bloated, arrogant, and inefficient. It even steals your checks. U.S. law, specifically the Private Express Statutes, grants the USPS a legal monopoly overContinue Reading
By Dee Anne Griffin With the recent South Carolina scorching summer, there is an increased risk of heat related injuries such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. As our temperatures soar past 95 and the humidity levels rise above 80%, safety becomes a priority. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, coolContinue Reading
Eating for Healing By Jennifer Tardy With the summer heat in full swing, I wanted to share a few helpful tips — plus a quick and balanced recipe that’s become a weekly favorite in my own kitchen. But first… a personal update on my health journey. Lately, I’ve seen aContinue Reading
By Tom Poland: A Southern WriterTomPoland.net My June 15 post, The Kerosene Lamp, received reader comments that deserve sharing. Who in this era of ultra-dark-defying lighting would take the time to comment on the old kerosene lamp? Well, several did. Their responses made me glad I chose such an obscureContinue Reading