Clicks not Bricks
December 29, 2014
By Jerry Smith The largest funds raised by a public offering of stock in 2014 was an e-commerce company. By now, most people have heard of this company, Alibaba, and…
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They’re Resolutions – Not Revolutions
December 29, 2014
By Brian Maynor With the dropping of the ball and the bright, shining potential of a new year, it is only natural to look at making sweeping changes across…
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The best stats of 2014
December 29, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson This is the time when we make lists. The best movies of 2014. The best books. The funniest cartoons. The greatest photos. The most amazing sports…
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Inglorious hackers
December 29, 2014By Kathleen Parker If I were a cartoonist, a phrase cartoonists are loath to hear, I’d sketch a chubby imp donned in a diaper, sporting a chia mohawk…
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How To Increase Online Sales: Using Trust Seals In Marketing And Customer Acquisition Strategy
December 29, 2014By Alex Hillsburg Do you recall dropping a shopping cart on a Thursday while you’re thinking of buying something online? If yes, you’re one of the many shoppers that…
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Post Holiday Etiquette
December 29, 2014
By Deborah O’Connor The holiday meal was wonderful, the presents have been unwrapped, the relatives are going home and it was another successful and wonderful holiday. Now what? Let’s…
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On choosing happiness. What’s your choice?
December 22, 2014By Jeffrey Gitomer Sales Advice [row] [col col=8] Happy New Year! Or…is it? People wish it to you, to me – all the time. So how happy are you…
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South Carolina’s Employment Situation: November 2014
December 22, 2014
Number of Employed South Carolinians Hits Record High Labor Force Expands for Fifth Consecutive Month SOUTH CAROLINA – The number of South Carolinians working reached a record high of…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines, on-the-move
Innovation in South Carolina. Are we at base camp yet?
December 22, 2014
By Alan Cooper (Based on my radio interview with Mike Switzer, December 22, 2014 ) Productivity and innovation drive prosperity. Five years ago, the Medical University of South Carolina…
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Sony’s ominous lesson
December 22, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson ”In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film ‘The Interview,’ we have decided not to move forward…
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Talk about a wildfire
December 22, 2014By Kathleen Parker First there’s the spark, then the conflagration, followed by the litigation and then, surely, the movie. Call it “Moonlight Fire,” and prepare to suspend disbelief. The…
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Relaxed Looks That Are Anything But Sloppy
December 17, 2014
By Brian Maynor During this time of year a lot of people are using their vacation days, but some of us are still roaming the office halls. Luckily with…
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A statistical feast!
December 15, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson The Stat Abstract is dead. Long live the Stat Abstract. As regular readers of this column know, I’ve been a fanatical booster of the Statistical…
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South Carolina REALTORS® Release November Market Numbers
December 15, 2014CoOLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) released its November 2014 statewide housing market reports. With virtually no inflation, interest rates will likely remain low for most of 2015. Construction…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, on-the-move, residential-real-estate
Graham Pleased with SRS Funding in Year-End Spending Bill
December 11, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today said he was pleased with the funding provided for Savannah River Site (SRS) in the year-end spending bill, also termed…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: energy, government, headlines, on-the-move
Feeling Fat Just Got A Whole New Meaning
December 10, 2014
By Brian Maynor We all have fat days when we feel less attractive, pulled-together and polished than normal, but earlier this week I was clued into an entirely new…
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Robert Samuelson: The key to stronger economic recoveries?
December 7, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson “The nation of which [Warren G.] Harding became president was not happy, and forces were underway which seemed likely, unless arrested, to bring more…
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The media circus around Ferguson
December 7, 2014By Kathleen Parker As the curtain closes on the latest episode of “Ferguson,” the media series, it is fair to wonder whether events might not have spiraled out of…
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Festive Business Attire – Celebrating The Holiday Season In Style
December 3, 2014
By Brian Maynor Wearing a tacky Christmas sweater to the office may be an obvious faux pas, but where do you draw the line for professional festive holiday attire?…
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Climate realities in light of the U.S.-China agreement
November 30, 2014
By Robert Samuelson The United States-China agreement on climate change is a huge political triumph, possibly “historic,” as its supporters say. Whether it much alters the world’s climate is a more…
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From Bill Cosby to Ferguson, a reminder of our rule of law
November 30, 2014By Kathleen Parker By now, most Americans probably have formed an opinion about what comedian Bill Cosby did or didn’t do sexually to or with at least 16…
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Cultivating Great Teams
November 19, 2014
By Mike DuBose with Blake DuBose At some point in our lives, we all take part in activities that necessitate teamwork. These situations crop up within professions, spiritual organizations,…
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Pope calls for family resurrection
November 19, 2014By Kathleen Parker News that Pope Francis will visit the United States next year for the triennial World Meeting of Families brings elation to Catholics, excitement to pope-watchers — and perhaps a little…
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Independent Contractors: The NLRB Refines its Standards
November 19, 2014By James A. Byars and David S. Robinson Whether an individual is classified as an independent contractor or an employee has significant legal implications,…
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Stock bubble? Don’t blame the Fed’s bond-buying program.
November 16, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson Without QE, will the stock market tank? Count me a skeptic. QE refers to “quantitative easing,” the Federal Reserve’s multitrillion-dollar program of bond buying that…
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National Defense Briefs – November 13, 2014
November 13, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
3 Reasons You Need to Plan for Your Long-Term Care
November 5, 2014By Barbara Franklin So much of our life is built around planning. We plan for big events like weddings, careers and the birth of a child. We plan…
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How will Europe’s economy escape the doldrums?
November 5, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson Can Mario Draghi save Europe? Draghi heads the European Central Bank, the continental equivalent of the Federal Reserve. The fact that the question is being asked…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
How will Europe’s economy escape the doldrums?
November 5, 2014By Robert J. Samuelson Can Mario Draghi save Europe? Draghi heads the European Central Bank, the continental equivalent of the Federal Reserve. The fact that the question is being asked…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
The “magic” of a few good men
November 3, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Decades ago I spent 13 long weeks living within the closest thing to a monastery I will ever know. It was a Spartan all-male…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military, on-the-move
The “magic” of a few good men
November 3, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Decades ago I spent 13 long weeks living within the closest thing to a monastery I will ever know. It was a Spartan all-male…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military, on-the-move
Reaching peak performance – How to achieve your dreams
November 2, 2014
By Jerry Bellune Know anyone who wants to be a low-performer? Of course not. You don’t associate with those people. I personally avoid people like that. They’re losers. Business owners…
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Be Kind and Respectful to Your Fellow Travelers
November 2, 2014
By Deborah O’Connor Kids kicking your seat from behind, the person in front of you reclining his seat into your lap, an infant seat falling out of the overhead bin…
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A Vote for Education is Critical in South Carolina
November 2, 2014
By Kara Kerwin In a state where just 31 percent of eighth graders are proficient in math and 29 percent are proficient in reading according to national assessments, education…
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A Vote for Education is Critical in South Carolina
November 2, 2014
By Kara Kerwin In a state where just 31 percent of eighth graders are proficient in math and 29 percent are proficient in reading according to national assessments, education…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
The family deficit
October 27, 2014By Robert J. Samuelson We Americans believe in progress, and yet progress is often a double-edged sword. The benefits and adventures of change often vie with the shortcomings and…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
The family deficit
October 27, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson We Americans believe in progress, and yet progress is often a double-edged sword. The benefits and adventures of change often vie with the shortcomings and…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
The millionaire’s club expands
October 27, 2014By Robert J. Samuelson The millionaire’s club isn’t what it used to be. Time was that “being a millionaire” was a mark of unimaginable success. You’d joined the financial elite.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
The millionaire’s club expands
October 27, 2014
By Robert J. Samuelson The millionaire’s club isn’t what it used to be. Time was that “being a millionaire” was a mark of unimaginable success. You’d joined the financial elite.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
Wind Energy Symposium to be held at Coastal Carolina University
October 26, 2014
Wed., Oct. 29, 2014, 11:30 a.m. | Forum to educate and determine public receptivity to wind energy in S.C. The Coastal Carolina University (CCU) Marine Systems Department will host…
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Stock market turmoil and the global debt trap
October 22, 2014By Robert J. Samuelson Six years after the onset of the financial crisis, the world still has too much debt. The total in 2013, according to the McKinsey Global Institute,…
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Bears and wolves find a voice in the wilderness
October 22, 2014By Kathleen Parker If politicians preying upon your attentions this season fail to inspire, you might seek common cause with the beasts — the four-legged variety rather than those…
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Finding ways to fix our roads, five years after the stimulus
October 12, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller You’ve probably heard much discussion lately about the condition of South Carolina’s roads and bridges, and how to fund their repairs and maintenance. Policy-makers agree…
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Finding ways to fix our roads, five years after the stimulus
October 12, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller You’ve probably heard much discussion lately about the condition of South Carolina’s roads and bridges, and how to fund their repairs and maintenance. Policy-makers agree…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
National Defense Briefs – October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
National Defense Briefs – October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Beer & Wine: Comparison Of Popular Brands
October 2, 2014
By Alex Hillsberg “If you can’t drink it, don’t cook with it,” so said the late celebrity chef, Keith Floyd, about using wines to flavor food. If the guy…
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Our shared battle against mental illness
October 1, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom SC Comptroller Some of my earliest public service was serving on the board of the Greenville County Mental Health Center — including as its chairman…
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National Defense Briefs – September 30
October 1, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Doing Business the Eleanor Roosevelt Way
September 25, 2014
By Jen Lawrence Eleanor Roosevelt wrote “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” While she was encouraging personal boldness, the message is also applicable to corporate life. In 2010,…
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