Chapin Presbyterian Church will host a free community seminar, Planning for Tomorrow . . . Today: Retiring and Dying Successfully, August 23 from 5 – 7 pm at the church, 600 Old Lexington Highway, Chapin. Life is full of transitions, difficult decisions and unexpected events. Planning ahead can reduce uncertaintyContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose Food is one of the largest family expenses. Rising food prices and busy schedules while providing economical meals are challenging In our earlier article, we examined the four largest South Carolina food chains (Kroger, Food Lion, Publix, and Walmart). We compared onsite prices using 21 of theContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose The US Bureau of Labor documented food prices have increased 30% since 2020! Contrary to what politicians promised and with few exceptions, the November 2025 Wall Street Journal reported that food prices aren’t coming down! The USDA reported families spend more than 15% of their income on food (Singles $300-$600, CouplesContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, unwanted phone calls, texts, and emails have become more than just nuisances — they’re serious threats. From relentless telemarketers to cunning scammers, cyber thieves, robot callers, and criminals are constantly devising skillful ways to invade our privacy, steal money, and exploit personalContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose I read a good bit and often come across interesting facts that might be helpful: Top Tier 1 high-quality gasoline contains detergents which extend a car engine’s life, increases miles-per-gallon, and improves performance. Suppliers include Costco (exceptionally low prices), Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. Check tire pressures everyContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose In preparation for this series of articles, we examined the latest findings from the leading universities and medical schools studying this essential biological function. For most of my life, I was fortunate to sleep soundly. That changed following open-heart surgery for an aneurysm 15 years ago. AfterContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose Archaeologists determined human music originated 40,000 years ago when they discovered bone flutes, clay drums, rattles, and shell trumpets across the globe. Music plays an important role in all human cultures and worship services, dating back to Genesis 4:21 where Jubal played string instruments and pipes inContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose I’ve spent a lot of time trying to comprehend what really happened the night that I saw Ole Saint Nick. When I share my experience with friends and psychologist colleagues, they provide all types of explanations for how I “perceived” that I saw him. Santa Claus, whileContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose with Dermatologist Allison Cashman, MD During our interviews, a heartbroken mother described how her 40-year-old daughter, with young teenagers, was dying from melanoma. The disease originated with an innocent-looking mole, until the colors changed from an even-toned tan to a concoction of tan, black, red, and white.Continue Reading
By Mike DuBose with Surb Guram, MD Back pain is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and affects people of all ages and backgrounds. The Global Burden of Disease Study reported 65% of adults experience back pain during their lifetimes which is a leading cause of disabilities. Older individuals are moreContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose Consumers are plagued by soaring prices, empty shelves, and hard-to-find items since the Covid Pandemic interrupted supply chains. Families, with limited income, experienced the fiercest struggles, often depleting savings, borrowing money, or tapping retirement funds. Many are penny-pinching, even dangerously reducing vital medicines and food toContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose with Surb Guram, MD Olive oil is part of the formula for healthier lives, especially when combined with regular exercise and consuming foods found in the Mediterranean Diet. Its use was documented in Greece and Italy dating back 6,000 years. While beneficial for cooking, salads, and dips,Continue Reading
By Mike DuBose We recently discussed inferior products and services inflamed by poor customer service. Now, we outline successful complaining techniques. Park emotions: After experiencing frustrating, dreadful avenues to resolve problems, it’s often difficult to calm down. Before launching full-scale, feel-good attacks towards people or organizations, carefully develop complaint strategies.Continue Reading
Part 2 Why do people complain? After all, it’s a natural part of human behavior. People complain about anything from the weather, dangerous drivers, slow WI-FI, waiting in line, and leaving toilet seats up! Simply stated, if something doesn’t meet our expectations, we’re going to let someone know! This spillsContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose Everyone has experienced rude or bad customer service, defective products, long telephone-wait-times, and staff or contractors who “overpromise and underdeliver!” When you call for help, some astonishing examples of customer-service frustrations are: Contacting the DMV and hearing 50+ times, from recorded, unenthusiastic tones, “It’s a great dayContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose Sleep is one of the most fascinating events I have studied over the last decade. The greatest question persists: “Why do most individuals ‘sleep like babies’ while one-third of the population experiences insomnia, frequent awakenings, and unpredictable early risings?” In order to achieve a peaceful night’s rest,Continue Reading