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News Stories that contain "SCOTT CROSBY" in AUTHOR

Headline: Finance – Profit Is of Life-or-Death Importance

Date: September 10, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Is Profit Bad? Some people will tell you so. What are they telling you about your life? Imagine you – or you and your family or a group of people – are in a forest.  Whether the time is the present, or in some distant past thousands of years ago, does not matter.  Imagine, to make matters worse, you have nothing – no c...

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Headline: Investors Column Why the Fed Raises and Lowers Interest Rates

Date: September 10, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If you read the news even occasionally, particularly since President Biden’s election, mentions of “the Fed” have crossed your path. What is the Fed?  In 1913, Congress created the Federal Reserve System to be the central banking system of the U.S.  That organization is often referred to as the Fed.   Financ...

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Headline: Keeping Southern Courtesy Alive

Date: September 10, 2024 by Scott Crosby

“Hi,” I said.   When you do your grocery shopping at 7:00 in the morning, there are only a half-dozen other customers in the store.  I happened to pass one as I walked down an aisle.   She jumped.  From her expression, I could read her mind:  “A weirdo?”   Had she moved to Sout...

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Headline: Rotie by Stella’s.. Finally, an Upscale Restaurant in Mauldin

Date: September 10, 2024 by Scott Crosby

BridgeWay Station and Mauldin finally have an upscale restaurant – “Rotie by Stella’s”. Do you enjoy going to dinner in an upscale restaurant?  If so, you no longer have to travel out of Mauldin to reach one. Once a hostess has seated you at your table, take a look at the menu.  The first thing you notice is the ...

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Headline: Political thinking from City Hall to President Biden and Beyond

Date: September 10, 2024 by Scott Crosby

“I am not a politician,” insists the newly-elected City Councilman.   If it Looks Like a Duck . . . To get elected to an office requires registering to have your name placed on the ballot.  To win enough votes on Election Day requires campaigning:  designing, printing, and posting campaign signs, meeting voters, ex...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes - Casserole Barbequed Chicken

Date: September 9, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Another favorite from the Officers Wives’ Cookbook. I like the fact that you get the flavor of barbeque with chicken that is moister than that done on a grill. I have prepared it with corn and without and prefer serving corn as a side dish instead of in the casserole. 6 serving sized pieces o...

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Headline: Finance – Profit Is of Life-or-Death Importance

Date: September 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

...

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Headline: Baby Boomers – Makers of Your World

Date: August 10, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Baby Boomers were not always old Baby Boomers were born between 1945 and 1963.  Those not already retired will soon be doing so.   Prior to the Millennials, the Baby Boomers were the most numerous generation ever.  The Boomers have dominated the workplace for decades, and their retirement is resulting in a smaller, less experi...

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Headline: Finance – A Million in Your IRA?

Date: August 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

When is a million in your 401k or IRA not a million? When you start withdrawing money from your 401k or IRA.  Then you must pay taxes on that money. You saved your whole life. You took advantage of your employer’s 401k plan.  You did everything right. What happens now that you are retiring? Know the Rules First and foremost, un...

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Headline: Investors Column Bellwethers

Date: August 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Peering into the future Where is the stock market headed?  Will it improve or decline?   The larger question, of course, is:  in what direction is the U.S. economy trending? AMRMX Mutual Fund The AMRMX mutual fund is presently a good indicator of where the best strength of the economy may be found. AMRMX is a mutual fu...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: August 9, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Traditionally on Easter Sunday I would serve a large ham garnished with pineapple rings.  As my family Easter dinner became smaller, a whole ham was less and less practical.  When I discovered this recipe online for Pineapple Sauce, I thought what a wonderful way to get that pineapple and ham combination I have always loved with no leftov...

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Headline: Biden’s War On the Economy

Date: July 12, 2024 by Scott Crosby

COVID is behind us.  Business is over that bump in the road.  The S&P 500 Index and the Dow have recovered. Their all-time highs were in late March, barely a month ago, and the indexes remain near those highs.   And yet, nobody would say the economy is doing great.  Nobody would say the outlook for the economy for the ...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: July 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If you have been reading Investors Column for a while, you probably are beginning to make some sense of what stocks are, how to buy and sell them.  You also are beginning to understand what mutual funds are. But there is another category of investment choices available:  “Exchange Traded Funds”, or “ETFs”.  E...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: July 11, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Breakfast Pizza (but I serve it for dinner!) Another Powderhorn Cookbook special.  As mentioned in the headline, I like it so much that I serve it for dinner.  It may spill over slightly so it is best to place a piece of aluminum foil on the rack below to catch any spills.  1 pound bulk pork sausage Pillsbury Crescent rolls ...

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Headline: America’s Spirit of Liberty Celebrate Independence Day!

Date: July 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Independence Day is on July 4th, this year and Independence Day is held on July 4th, every year. Why? Our Heritage – How We Got Freedom America was once colonies belonging to Britain.  Back in Britain, the people lived according to the dictates of the King, the noblemen who were the actual owners of most of the land, and P...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: June 7, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Many years ago, I lost a very close family member.  In true southern tradition, friends started arriving with food to express their sympathy.  In fact, their generosity fed my entire family, including several members visiting from out-of-state, for several days!  A dear friend brought a delicious pound cake.  Over the years I mi...

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Headline: Finance – The Destructiveness of Tyranny

Date: June 7, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If you lived in a tyranny – where the threat or possibility of the seizure of your wealth is a fact of life – would you buy all the things you have now, or would you hide your money, stashing it someplace where you hoped it was safe from being taken? What happens to money? When you spend your money, or use it to buy stocks and mu...

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Headline: Investors Column A Great Company’s Downhill Slide

Date: June 7, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Companies should not have life-spans.  There is no rational reason why a company should become physically or mentally less capable, like an animal or plant.  A business cannot suffer organ failures. And yet, companies can seem to become archaic, out-of-date, antiques of a bygone age. As an investor, of course, owning stock in such compa...

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Headline: A Blue Ridge Day Trip

Date: June 7, 2024 by Scott Crosby

The remarkable scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains always makes a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway a great day trip really worth doing.     The Pisgah Inn Overnight Accomodations atThe Pisgah Inn Before you go, make reservations for lunch at the Pisgah Inn.  If you live in the Golden Strip, schedule about two hours ...

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Headline: A Blue Ridge Day Trip

Date: June 7, 2024 by Scott Crosby

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: May 9, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Rhoda has invited her husband Scott to be the Guest Chef for this month’s Recipe. Like March’s Smashed Potatoes, Pork Stir-fry is another meal Scott has prepared for Rhoda on occasion.   Pork stir-fry has only 5 main ingredients: 2 large boneless pork chops 8 ounces of whole fresh mushrooms one bundle of green onions one...

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Headline: Will 45 Years of Working Pay for Your Life?

Date: May 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If you work from about the age of 20 until about the age of 65, that gives you about 45 years to earn the money to support yourself for your entire life. Your entire life?  What about those years as a child, when you were supported by your parents?   In essence, you are paying for an entire lifetime, from birth to death.  If y...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: May 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Your experience as an investor is likely to include three different avenues for investing. The first and easiest is through your employer’s 401k plan.  The money that gets added from your account comes from two sources:  the amount you agree to have taken from your paycheck each month and your employer’s matching amount. You...

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Headline: New Mauldin Fire Department HQ Grand Opening

Date: May 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If you have travelled on West Butler Road at all in the last several months, you have surely noticed the new Fire Station being built on the corner of West Butler and Plant Street. Mauldin Fire Department’sNew Building On West Butler Road The building is the new Headquarters for the Mauldin Fire Department. The old Headquarters buildin...

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Headline: BridgeWay Station celebrates Grand Opening

Date: May 9, 2024 by Scott Crosby

On Saturday, April 27th, BridgeWay Station celebrated its Grand Opening. The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Included Speeches By S.C.. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, State Sen. Ross Turner, State Rep. Bruce Bannister, Greenville County Council Chair Dan Tripp, Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt, And Bridgeway Station Developer Phil Hughes BridgeWay Stati...

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Headline: Generation Z-ers On the Job?

Date: April 8, 2024 by Scott Crosby

It often seems like Generation Z-ers – people born since 1997 who are now looking for jobs –are too often unprepared for living in the real world.   People who are so unprepared at such an overarching level cannot be blamed for that kind of problem.   Parents are responsible for teaching their children to grow up w...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: April 8, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Are there type of companies to avoid investing in?  Are there whole categories to skip when looking for stocks to buy?  Military Stocks The easiest group of companies to evaluate is those that depend on sales to the military.   While support of our military is essential to preserving our freedom, whether that translates into ...

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Headline: Growing a Workshop – and Skills

Date: April 8, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If a young boy or girl shows any inclination or skills at all in things mechanical, electrical, or in woodworking, such skills should definitely be encouraged.   But every parent wonders:  How? Where a Workshop Begins A Lionel train set for Christmas is a great start.  Both mechanical and electrical skills are introduced in a...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes

Date: April 8, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This is a new favorite from the Officers’ Wives Cookbook.  I tried using brown sugar the first time I prepared this dish.  The second time I tried using molasses.  My husband and I enjoyed both variations but preferred it with molasses.  4-6 pork chops Salt Pepper Dash of ground sage Oil 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup ho...

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Headline: Carry a Gun?

Date: March 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

A shooting made the news on January 18th:   “Mauldin Police Department Charges Two in Connection with Road Rage Shooting” Two men were involved, with incidents that occurred while driving from Piedmont to Mauldin.   When police arrived on the scene, they found one man holding a gun.  The other had a single gu...

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Headline: Live in Mauldin? These are the people serving on your City Council

Date: March 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

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Headline: Live in Mauldin? These are the people serving on your City Council

Date: March 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

The Sentinel is proud to recognize the elected City Council members and Mayors of Fountain Inn, Simpsonville and Mauldin. We will profile the Simpsonville officials in April and Fountain Inn elect-eds in May. These are the people who manage the City’s resources, set the level and quality of its services to residents, determine the budge...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: March 11, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Shortly after we started dating, Scott invited me to come for dinner after I got off of work.  I arrived at 10 pm hungry and ready to eat.  When I mentioned I would like his Smashed Potatoes, he said it would be an hour.  My reply was “Don’t you have a microwave?”  He said he would never use one if he had one.&...

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Headline: Finance – Market Collapse for EV Companies

Date: March 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

The darlings of politicians like Joe Biden have shown their true viability, and even politicians cannot stop them from driving off a cliff.   Not even politicians wearing rose-colored glasses can deny that any longer.  EVs are not the solution to any problem – real or imagined.   The EV debacle will be remembered ...

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Headline: Investors Column P/E Ratios

Date: March 11, 2024 by Scott Crosby

If you own stock in Tesla (TSLA), you have watched its slow, disheartening decline since early 2022. That should come as no real surprise, if you have been watching the stock’s P/E Ratio. The February 2022 Simpsonville Sentinel issue’s Investors Column noted at that time that Tesla’s P/E Ratio “was at an astronomical 188.4...

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Headline: Investors Column As goes January, version 2024

Date: February 19, 2024 by Scott Crosby

What has January shown us so far?   The market had reached a peak on December 28th, and then began a decline that continued through the end of 2023 and into January, finally bottoming out on the 5th.  On Monday the 8th, the market rebounded a bit, rising again through Thursday the 11th, before falling back through Monday the 17...

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Headline: Finance – Be a Millionaire

Date: February 19, 2024 by Scott Crosby

The average wage-earner has saved less than $300,000 by the time he retires. That is a small sum when it has to last you and your spouse for the rest of your lives. Social Security will be providing you a small income, of course.  But when you retire, you will have to economize – sell your home and buy a smaller one, buy a smaller, mor...

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Headline: Electric Vehicles – Running Out Of Steam?

Date: February 14, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Electric Vehicles – EVs – were supposed to be the transportation juggernaut that was going to mean the end of gasoline-powered cars and diesel trucks.   It has not quite turned out that way.   The sales of EVs got off to a pretty good start.  But then people began to discover the EVs’ limitations. Those...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: February 14, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

I love the added flavor the toasted almonds add to this recipe.  My favorite way of preparing these is to cook them in the microwave in melted butter at high in 30 second increments until you get the toasted effect you want.  My husband tells me that I am eating pieces of wood when I use toasted almonds as a garnish.  Therefore, you...

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Headline: Speaker of the House speaks out

Date: February 14, 2024 by Scott Crosby

S.C. House Speaker Murrell Smith chats withGreenville County Republican Party Chair Yvonne Julian S.C. House Speaker Murrell Smith made his annual trip to Greenville on January 8th to speak at the First Monday luncheon at the Poinsett Club.  His presentation could reasonably be considered a “State of the State” speech and,...

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Headline: Native Americans – the Story of America

Date: January 13, 2024 by Scott Crosby

Is there such a thing as “Native Americans”?  Are the people we call “Indians” native to America?  What does it mean to be a native American? A Fascinating Story When the peoples who would one day be referred to as “Indians” first came into the Western Hemisphere – North America, Central America...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: January 13, 2024 by Scott Crosby

The stock market is steadily going up.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average is not only up, but setting new records.  The S&P 500 Index is not quite reaching new records, but it is definitely growing. That is good news for investors.  The prices of most stocks keeps going up.   You do not have to scrutinize, analyze, and...

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Headline: Finance - A Big Crash?

Date: January 13, 2024 by Scott Crosby

In a recent article on the Fox Business website, famed economist Harry Dent predicts that 2024 will bring the 'biggest crash of our lifetime'. Are we due for a crash? It might be good to start with the basics:  what is “the economy”?   The economy is a composite overview of the combined efforts every individual pe...

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Headline: Pat Pomeroy Retiring from Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce

Date: January 12, 2024 by Scott Crosby

After twenty-three years running the Mauldin Chamber of Commerce, Pat Pomeroy is retiring. “If I can’t be in charge, I don’t want the job.” That was Pat’s reply when a Board member called, offering her the job of Administrative Assistant at the Mauldin Chamber of Commerce. The year was 2000. Pat, a former small-busi...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes - Beefy Mostaccioli Stew

Date: January 12, 2024 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

On a cold winter’s night, this is a great dish to warm you up.  Although the stew looks like it has too much liquid when done, adding mozzarella thickens it up nicely. 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut in 1 inch pieces Vegetable oil 16 ounce can tomatoes, cut up (do not drain) 1 cup sliced onion 1/2 cup chopped carrots 1/2 cup slice...

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Headline: The Future Is Coming! The Future Is Coming!

Date: December 5, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Back in the 1980s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) published an annual brochure, called “Spinoff”.  The brochure’s purpose was to showcase the technical improvements that had come into the lives of individual Americans as a result of NASA’s various programs.   In the 199...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: December 5, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Good news for investors:  the economy seems to be recovering from Biden’s recession.   The Fed is beginning to think it has raised interest rates enough to stop inflation – or, at least, they have stopped increasing rates for now.  Employment rates, while not down, seem to be shaky – some companies are hiring,...

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Headline: Finance

Date: December 5, 2023 by Scott Crosby

The GOP-controlled 2023-2024 House of Representatives is unprecedentedly on its third Speaker of the House. Theoretically, the House may be controlled by the GOP, but in a very unusual twist, some bills have been passed by moderate Republicans in league with the Democrat minority. The fly in the GOP’s ointment is a large bloc of ultra-conse...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes - Pork Marengo

Date: December 4, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Many years ago, my parents were visiting and I served the following dish.  My father told me a story about Napoleon’s chef preparing it for him for an impromptu meal using several ingredients together that he happened to have on hand.  When I looked up information about this story, I found out it was Chicken Marengo that was prepare...

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Headline: Hamas – Muslims Denounce It but US Students Support It?

Date: November 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

On October 7th, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip.  The attack clearly involved extensive planning and coordination, and was extremely vicious.  It included deliberate mass killings of entire families and individuals of all ages, torture, rape, and the kidnapping of people who were taken back into t...

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Headline: Finance – Biden Equality: Making Us All Poorer

Date: November 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Years ago, a social worker visited the Soviet Union – that is, Russia, when it was Communist.  Communism, for those too young to know, is a form of Socialism (the same is true of Nazism – i.e., “National Socialism”). That social worker’s assessment of life under Socialism made the conditions pretty clear: “...

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Headline: Investors Column – The S&P 500 vs. the Dow

Date: November 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

When people say, “The Dow”, they are referring to one of the gauges of how the stock market is doing:  the Dow Jones Industrial Average – DJIA or “Dow”, for short. Each of these companies has a different product-sales focus; that is not a coincidence.  In the estimation of the people who calculate the Dow ...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes

Date: November 1, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

I had never tasted Shepherds’ Pie before meeting my husband.  As it was one of his favorites, I tried a few different recipes before coming across this one in an old cookbook.   Even though this was the easiest, we also felt it tasted the best.  Using already prepared mashed potatoes makes it the fastest one to make as wel...

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Headline: Another Step Towards Freedom: Anti-CCP Signs Come Down!

Date: October 2, 2023 by Scott Crosby

“SECTION 23-31-510. […]  No governing body of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision in the State may enact or promulgate any regulation or ordinance that regulates or attempts to regulate the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any comb...

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Headline: Biden and the EPA vs. You and Your Family

Date: October 2, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Your cost of living is about to go up – big time.  And it is not inflation causing it, this time.  This pain will come directly from President Biden himself. Fox News reported (in https://www.foxnews.com/media/trucker-warns-bidens-epa-regulations-catastrophic-american-food-supply) that “Biden's EPA regulations would be 'catas...

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Headline: Investors Column – 2023 and the Stock Market

Date: October 2, 2023 by Scott Crosby

The year 2023 has been a rocky one for investors.  The compounded impact of politics, inflation, and the steadily increasing of interest rates by the Fed has certainly been felt by America’s stockholders – which, given the prevalence of 401ks and IRAs among employees and retirees, means the stock market’s ups and downs are ca...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes - Spinach Dip

Date: October 2, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This recipe was given to me by a friend but appears on the back of the Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix box.  It makes a large amount of dip (over 3 cups) but often disappears quickly if you are serving it at a party.  I always hope I have some left to bring home to snack on later! 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed 1 cup mayonnais...

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Headline: Over 30,000 people moving into Greenville County every year

Date: September 4, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Where are all the new houses going to be for them to live in?   Pick a location with ready access to all three Interstate highways:  I-85, I-385, and I-185.  And preferably, pick a location with easy access via local roads, like US-276, US-25, and Mauldin Road. Pick a location where your kids will be going to the best schools....

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: September 4, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Another easy to fix recipe that takes just a few minutes of prep time and then just relax as it cooks in the oven. The recipe calls for cooking sherry but I prefer the taste of the real thing with a bit of added salt.  Either way I think is delicious. 6 medium chicken breasts or thighs (skin on) 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup 4 to 4...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: September 4, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Shares of stock for many companies are available for sale.  For other companies, shares of stock cannot be purchased.  Why?  What is the difference?   You see companies around you all the time.  Those include businesses such as a local restaurant, a local repair garage, an attorney’s office, a golf course, and m...

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Headline: Finance

Date: September 4, 2023 by Scott Crosby

As has been noted in past Finance articles, politics trump economics.  What the President and Congress do affects your well-being.   If you were a new President, what would you do?  Democrat or Republican, the answer is often the same.  As soon as a new President is sworn in, he begins working with his Party’s Congr...

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Headline: Ever Think About Running for City Council?

Date: July 29, 2023 by Scott Crosby

If you live within the City limits of Mauldin, Simpsonville, or Fountain Inn, and have ever considered running for City Council, now through noon on Tuesday, August 15th is the time to sign up and have your name put on the ballot for the election.   Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th. In Mauldin, City Council Seats 2, 4, 6, and ...

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Headline: Hey Kids, Let’s Have Dinosaurs for Dinner

Date: July 29, 2023 by Scott Crosby

As many youngsters enthralled by dinosaurs know, 66 million years ago a big meteor hit the Earth and killed all the dinosaurs.   Much to those kids’ regret, Tyrannosaurs, Brontosaurs, Triceratops, and all the rest are all gone forever.   But that is not quite the whole story.   Not all the dinosaurs are g...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: July 29, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This is another Officers’ Cookbook recipe.  About half way through the cooking process, I cut the bones away from the meat and continue cooking.  You can skip this step if you wish.  I often serve freshly baked bread along with the meal.  I cheat by defrosting and baking Bridgford Frozen White Ready-Dough.  (Short cut...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: July 29, 2023 by Scott Crosby

If you are new to investing, or even new to having a job and preparing for the future, what do you do?  There is a lot to learn.   As a new employee, you may have already been briefed about the 401k plan your company offers. A 401k helps you prepare for your retirement.  It may seem far too soon to think about that, especially...

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Headline: Finance – Bidenomics

Date: July 29, 2023 by Scott Crosby

By any measure, the American economy peaked in 2021 in late November to early December.   “By any measure” includes the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and each individual’s own investment portfolios – whether 401ks, IRAs, or after-tax. The decline after 2021 reached its bottom in October o...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes - Seven Layer Salad

Date: July 1, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law in the early seventies.  It may be an oldie but I think it is still a goodie.  It has a lot of ingredients so makes a fair-sized salad.  I usually make it the evening prior to the day I am serving it to allow the flavors to blend somewhat.  I will deviate from my usual habit of lis...

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Headline: This Land Is My Land, This Land Is Your Land

Date: July 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Editor’s Note: As We celebrate our countries 247th birthday, we thought it would be interesting to present a unique overview of what the founding fathers provided for us in the Declaration of Independence.  Happy 4th of July to all! “This land is your land and this land is my land”  Independence Day &nd...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: July 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Certain large investment firms are using their leverage to force companies to enact policies that are “woke”-oriented and “ESG”-oriented.  “ESG” stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Woke initially meant being aware of racial prejudice and discrimination.  But it has been expanded to includ...

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Headline: Finance

Date: July 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Traditionally, Congress finds enough votes to pass a budget by offering incentives to opposing Representatives by including spending on some special project that will benefit the Congressman’s home District.   Budget bloat grows and grows year after year.  It has been a hundred years since Congress last passed a balanced budge...

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Headline: Finance – In Debt? Cut Expenses!

Date: June 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Anybody who has a job knows that to stay out of debt, they must spend no more than they bring home in their paychecks. That is called a “balanced budget”. If your income were to be reduced, you would have to cut expenses as well. Everyone knows that. It is simple ari...

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Headline: Investors Column –Politics Trumps Economics

Date: June 1, 2023 by Scott Crosby

What is meant by the statement, “Politics Trumps Economics”? The answer is very simple: the political environment we all live in – “politics” – affects everything we do. Political policies set by the President, Congress, the state’s Governor, the stat...

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Headline: Coptic? What does that mean?

Date: May 31, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Seven years ago, Sandra Ghatas’ family emigrated from Egypt to the United States. She is one of two daughters: both are smart well-educated girls. But prospects for a college education in Egypt were minimal. Living in the United States, most Americans have little or no knowledge of the restrictio...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Egyptian Golash

Date: May 31, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Sandra Ghatas’ mother cooked a wonderful meal with many Egyptian dishes for Scott and me when we went to her family’s home to interview Sandra. While they were all delicious, the following was my favorite. 1 tablespoon butter 2 onions, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional) 1 1/2 pounds ...

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Headline: Be Glad We Do Not Live in a Democracy!

Date: May 2, 2023 by Scott Crosby

In the U.S., we elect our leaders democratically – by popular vote.  But that is not what being a democracy is all about. Want to live in a democracy?  Visit Great Britain, or Canada, or Australia, or New Zealand.  Visit the European Union countries.  Those countries have living standards somewhat similar to ours in the U...

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Headline: Finance – Is the Recession On, or Not?

Date: May 2, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Every pundit, investor, banker, and financial expert seems to have his own answer to the question:  are we in a recession, or is the economy making a comeback, or will the current recession become worse? Bank of America’s CEO has become the latest to jump into the fray.  You might consider what he has to say (at least according to ...

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Headline: Investors Column –Protecting Your Wealth

Date: May 2, 2023 by Scott Crosby

“Dear Investors Column,  I work for a company that has a 401k, but deposits my contributions and those of the company in shares of the company’s stock. Several years ago, the company declared bankruptcy.  Luckily, I kept my job.  But I lost the $60,000 in my 401k. Is there any way to recover any of that money?&rdq...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: May 2, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This recipe calls for cubed ham.  For me the easiest way to accomplish this is to get a ham steak and cut it into cubes.  Make sure the steak is thick enough to get the de-sired effect.  Also, most of the time pineapple tidbits come in a can that is larger than need-ed.  If it is large enough and is packed in its own juice, just...

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Headline: Anti-Gun Laws Fail – But Guns Work

Date: April 6, 2023 by Scott Crosby

About 21,000 times each year, someone is killed by someone with a gun.   But well over 2,000,000 times each year, someone uses a gun defensively to prevent a criminal from carrying out his intentions. In 1993, a research study measured the prevalence of “defensive gun uses” (DGUs).  The result:  between 2.2 million...

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Headline: Finance – Putting Two and Two Together

Date: March 30, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Two seemingly unrelated articles appeared on the Fox Business webpage on March 9th:   “Stock market will crash in 60 days, best-selling author on Lehman collapse warns” (https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/stock-market-crash-60-days-best-selling-author-lehman-collapse) and “Biden to propose major tax hikes as part of ...

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Headline: Investors Column –The President’s Money-Losers

Date: March 30, 2023 by Scott Crosby

“This isn’t the invisible hand of the ‘free market.’  It’s the invisible fist of government.”  President Biden, through the Labor Department, wants your mutual funds to consider environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues when making their investments. Mutual funds are supposed to make...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Cream Cheese Brownie Bars

Date: March 30, 2023 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

This dessert can be somewhat gooey but is delicious.  If you decide after fixing this dessert that the bars in the center are a bit too gooey, consider baking in two separate 8 x 8 inch pans the next time. 1 package German Chocolate Cake Mix 1 stick butter or margarine melted 1 Egg 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 16 ounces (1 box) Confect...

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Headline: Kill a Dozen People?

Date: March 11, 2023 by Scott Crosby

WARNING:  This sign may be the death of you. Criminals, of course, readily ignore these kinds of signs. The law-abiding, just as obviously, do not.   Think like a criminal:  if you were intent on committing a robbery or a killing, would you be likely to do so where somebody with a legal concealed-carry permit...

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Headline: Finance – It’s All Up to Management

Date: March 11, 2023 by Scott Crosby

It is incredible how true it is that a good or bad executive team can make all the difference in a company’s success. Here is one story that shows what a difference the resourcefulness of the executive team of one business has made for two businesses. You see the results of that difference every time you visit Greenville’s Haywood Mal...

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Headline: Investors Column –Why Be an Investor?

Date: March 11, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Do you want to have a better-than-average life, with more money than most people earn in their regular jobs?   Do you want to get away from just earning an hourly wage, or a salary?  Do you have what it takes to achieve, to be more successful than is possible by just working for someone else?   One way to do that is to be...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Baked Pork Chops with Gravy

Date: March 11, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

I often find that recipes I try for pork chops result in chops that are on the tough side.  This one produces chops that are nice and tender.  The gravy adds a lot of additional flavor, making this my very favorite pork chops recipe. 6 center cut pork chops, trimmed 1 tablespoon margarine or butter, melted 1 large onion, chopped 3 tab...

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Headline: Finance – What’s Driving the Market?

Date: February 20, 2023 by Scott Crosby

It has been a rocky road, but there can be no doubt that the S&P 500 trend-line has been gradually rising since its low-point in October (see graph). All the experts said the market would not recover for another nine months to a year – or more.  And that may yet be the case. But a number of stocks are definitely going up in value.&...

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Headline: Investors Column – Is the Market Going Up?

Date: February 20, 2023 by Scott Crosby

The S&P 500 has been trending up since its low-point in October – albeit in a series of fits and starts.  How can an investor make the right investing choices? Certainly there is money to be made.  While many experts and pundits warn of a deeper recession in late 2023, others are saying they have made plenty of successful inves...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: February 20, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This is one of my very favorite pasta recipes.  I discovered this recipe on the back of a box of pasta many, many years ago.  I prefer using mild Italian sausage but if you like a bit more kick, use the hot.  If you have a problem finding mostaccioli, you can substitute penne pasta.   1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage, casin...

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Headline: What’s going on in South Carolina politics?

Date: February 20, 2023 by Scott Crosby

What’s going on in South Carolina politics? Every January, attendees to the monthly First Monday luncheon at the Poinsett Club get the full scoop on South Carolina’s government. January’s presentation is always reserved for a talk by the Speaker of the South Carolina House.  This year marked the first visit to the First Mon...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: January 24, 2023 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

I got the recipe for the salad from one source and the dressing from another.  The dressing is delicious and makes quite a bit so you will probably have left over salad dressing.  Many packages of spinach are now pre-washed saving you a lot of time.  I don’t like the texture of the stems so I remove them.  When preparing t...

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Headline: Banned! Censored!

Date: January 23, 2023 by Scott Crosby

Like many movies, it was adapted from a book. The year was 1942.  Europe – and the world – was embroiled in the Second World War.  Germany, Italy, Japan, and their allies (the “Axis”) had started the war, but by 1942 were mostly on the defensive.  Britain, the Soviet Union (Russia), the United States, and the...

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Headline: Finance – The Federal Reserve and the Economy

Date: January 23, 2023 by Scott Crosby

The Federal Reserve is the central banking authority of the United States.  Its role is to monitor the economy and to take actions to assure, as much as possible, a healthy economy, where people generally can live their lives confident that their financial standing is on solid ground.   A healthy economy includes low inflation. ...

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Headline: Investors Column – Should You Buy Into IPOs?

Date: January 23, 2023 by Scott Crosby

IPOs – Initial Public Offerings – should you jump on the bandwagon?   What is an IPO? Companies can be privately owned, or publicly owned.  By far, privately owned companies are the most numerous.  When you open a new restaurant of your own, or a new store, or start your own business, you are starting a...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Ham and Chicken Superb

Date: December 20, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Once when my parents were visiting from out of town, I served the following dish.  My father called me a Casserole Queen.  At that point I realized how often I served casseroles, especially when having company.  I enjoy having almost all the work done so there is very little to do prior to sitting down to enjoy a meal. 2 cups spaghe...

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Headline: Greenville Is Building F-16s!

Date: December 20, 2022 by Scott Crosby

If you live in Greenville County south of I-85, and you hear a fast-moving roar in the sky, it may be an F 16 fighter jet!   Up until 2017, F-16s were assembled in Fort Worth, Texas. But Lockheed-Martin needed more room in their plant to build the new, state-of-the-art fighter jet, the F-35. So Lockheed Martin’s maintenance and s...

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Headline: Banned! Censored!

Date: December 20, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Like many movies, it was adapted from a book. The year was 1942.  Europe – and the world – was embroiled in the Second World War.  Germany, Italy, Japan, and their allies (the “Axis”) had started the war, but by 1942 were mostly on the defensive.  Britain, the Soviet Union (Russia), the United States, and the...

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Headline: Investors Column – Is Any Stock Worth Buying?

Date: December 20, 2022 by Scott Crosby

We are clearly in the midst of a recession. In 2022, the S&P 500 peaked in April, again in August, and a third time in November. But its all-time high was in November of 2021.  Each of the peaks in April, August, and November of 2022 was lower than the prior peaks.  Whether you look at the valleys or the peaks, or any other kind of ...

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Headline: Finance – The World’s Biggest Ponzi Scheme

Date: December 20, 2022 by Scott Crosby

When you work in the life insurance industry, more than likely one of your first assignments is to take the “10-course professional development program that provides an industry-specific business education in the context of the insurance and financial services industry.”  That program is offered by the Life Office Management Associ...

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Headline: Best Music Around!

Date: November 14, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Greenville may be a comparatively smaller city, but it has something usually found only in the very biggest and most cosmopolitan of the world’s cities:  a world-class symphony orchestra. The Greenville Symphony Orchestra (GSO) is celebrating its 75th year.  If you have not heard their playing, if you have not attended one of their...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: November 14, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

I always love it when I sample a recipe prepared by a close friend.  It attaches a special memory to that dish whenever I prepare it for myself in the future.  Obviously, this is not a traditional eclair but the taste is very similar.  I have found when I try to cut it as soon as it chills properly in the refrigerator the graham crac...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: November 14, 2022 by Scott Crosby

The Fed has been raising interest rates, trying to slow inflation by “tightening” the money supply – i.e., making it more expensive to borrow money.  That lowers the value of companies generally.  So stock prices will fall. Nonetheless, November’s first reports on manufacturing and job openings indicate the econom...

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Headline: Finance

Date: November 14, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Should you have his-and-hers checking accounts, a joint account, or both? A new marriage needs to be built on trust.  You and your spouse need to feel that you can trust each other.  Before you start to have kids, that feeling needs to be reinforced by working together on the family finances, making what was yours and mine into ours. Pa...

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Headline: Finance – For You and Your Family

Date: October 17, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Sometimes it seems like young adults just out of college try to buy a house as big as that of their middle-class parents.   The fact is:  coming out of college, you are at the poverty level, not middle-class.  You may have a good job and a decent starting-salary, but you have no savings, and not much of substantial value.&...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: October 17, 2022 by Scott Crosby

If you follow stock prices, one “stock” symbol you may not have seen is “VIX”.  It is actually an “index” symbol, like that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA or Dow), the S&P 500, or NASDAQ.  Those three indexes tell you something about a particular segment of the stock market as a whole. ...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: October 17, 2022 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

Another goody from the Powderhorn cookbook.  One of the reasons I like this particular recipe for Swiss Steak is, once you do the initial prep work, the meal is done when you take it out of the oven.  Because it is wrapped in aluminum foil, there is no clean up if you are careful about removing it from the foil.  Because it includes ...

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Headline: Travelogue

Date: October 17, 2022 by Scott Crosby

In Part One of our Travelogue, which appeared in the August issue of the Sentinel, we traveled through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and into Yellowstone Park.   In Part Two, in the September issue, we traveled through the Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, an...

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Headline: You Only Get One Chance to Make a First Impression

Date: September 19, 2022 by Scott Crosby

This was a bit of a conversation while waiting for a meeting to begin, with a mother of two teenage girls: “It has been nice to see young girls dressing nicely, this summer.  They really seem to care about their appearance.  The grunge look is finally behind us,” I said.  “Now if only the young boys would figure th...

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Headline: Finance – When Government Disrupts the Economy

Date: September 19, 2022 by Scott Crosby

History is littered with the unlearned lessons that governments should keep their fingers out of the economy. Economic disruption and decline, including depressions and recessions, are among the worst examples of governments that do not serve their citizens, but instead act as their subjects’ masters. California’s numerous impositions...

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Headline: Investors Column – Take Control of Your Retirement

Date: September 19, 2022 by Scott Crosby

The steps to taking control of your retirement begin with your first job after graduating from school:  take a job that offers a 401k.  At some point, also create an IRA.  For the knowledgeable investor, that IRA should be with a discount brokerage, such as Charles Schwab. From the beginning, deduct at least 6% of your paycheck in t...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Apple Dumplings

Date: September 19, 2022 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

A few years ago, I was taking a jewelry making class.  One morning one of my classmates walked in carrying a dessert to share that smelled and tasted absolutely wonderful.  When she mentioned what the secret ingredient was, I was amazed.  I don’t even like Mountain Dew!  It shows that if you put the right ingredients toget...

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Headline: Travelogue – Finding America Part Two

Date: September 19, 2022 by Scott Crosby

...

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Headline: Travelogue – Finding America Part Two

Date: September 19, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Part One of our Travelogue, in the August issue of the Sentinel, took us through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and into Yellowstone Park.   From there, we headed south. Leaving Yellowstone, our first destination was the Grand Teton mountains.  You cannot take a wr...

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Headline: Finance – Politics: Impacting the Economy

Date: August 15, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Politics trumps Economics Senate Democrats have agreed on the contents of a spending bill labelled the “Inflation Reduction Act”.   FIRST LIE: The bill will reduce inflation.   According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan group at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, the bill would ha...

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Headline: Investors Column – Bear Bubble or Bull Recovery?

Date: August 15, 2022 by Scott Crosby

If you have seen your investments sink to a low in mid-June, but then climbing out of their depressed state ever since, you are surely asking, “Is the recession over?  Can I start buying stocks again?” The answer is, “Probably not.” It is always difficult for anyone – even experts – to define a low-po...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: August 15, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This recipe calls for shredded cooked chicken.  You can either use approximately 3 cooked chicken breast fillets or do what I do and take the easy way out.  Buy Tyson (or another brand) oven roasted diced chicken breasts.  You may need to shred them a bit more before measuring. 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tablespoons butter or margar...

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Headline: Travelogue – Finding America Part One

Date: August 15, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Our trip began with two goals in mind:  to see my sister get married in Illinois, and to visit Rhoda’s brother and sisters in Arizona.   Being retired, time was not an issue.  We had the time to go anywhere we wanted.  Why not make it a single trip, adding in sights we would like to see along the way?  If it tak...

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Headline: Independence Day!

Date: July 12, 2022 by Scott Crosby

They were British subjects, but they were living thousands of miles from Britain, in colonies carved out of the wilderness with their own hands, by their own efforts. In Britain, the noblemen owned the land.  Farmer or merchant, commoners had to pay rent, their whole lives long.  But in America, colonists were landowners themselves, and ...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: July 12, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This is another one from my recipe box.  I think I found it in a magazine longer ago than I would care to admit.  I love the smooth creamy texture and it makes for an elegant dessert.  While the photo shows it with whipped topping and nuts, I prefer it without both.  1/3 cup very hot coffee 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips...

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Headline: Investors Column – Recession! What Do I Do?

Date: July 12, 2022 by Scott Crosby

It is unmistakable:  we are in a recession.  Investors – you and me – are losing money, and it hurts.   What do we do?   This recession seems to have a way to go before it bottoms out. Pundits or businesses or the Fed, nobody expects a recovery anytime soon.  As one person put it, “a couple mor...

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Headline: Finance – The Pursuit of Happiness

Date: July 12, 2022 by Scott Crosby

July fourth is Independence Day  In 1776, America’s Declaration of Independence was signed by delegates from the thirteen American colonies, announcing to the world their severance with British rule; but more importantly, their declaration of the Natural Rights of Man. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are cr...

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Headline: Rocket Attacks and Bursting Bombs

Date: June 6, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Thirty years earlier, they had won their independence from the greatest empire on Earth.   Now, that vengeful tyranny had returned, intent on humiliating the population which had so embarrassed them, and possibly even re-assimilate them into that empire. Depending on accounts, between nineteen and thirty warships made their way up the B...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: June 6, 2022 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

This is another goodie from the Powderhorn Favorite Recipes cookbook.  Each Bacon Roll is one serving which makes this recipe especially nice when serving company.  I find the easiest way to partially cook the bacon since you are cooking 12 slices is to use a broiler pan and cook it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes.&nb...

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Headline: Investors Column

Date: June 6, 2022 by Scott Crosby

People of different ages make investments for different reasons. During your working years, your goals are to build up your 401k or IRA account and your after-tax account, as has been described in previous Investors Columns (available online). To best accomplish that, any time you leave a company, transfer your money from their 401k to an IRA.&nb...

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Headline: Finance

Date: June 6, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Is the U.S. economy in a recession, or isn’t it?  The S&P 500 is down over 16% from its high in late 2021.  That puts it at roughly the same level as it was back in March or April of 2021.  The losses in some segments could put you back to the level of the Fall of 2020 – a year and a half of investing wiped out. What...

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Headline: Like Mother, Like Son

Date: May 9, 2022 by Scott Crosby

When she was 19 years old, my mother learned how to fly.  Her first flying lesson was on the 9th of April, 1946.  It was the first Spring after World War II, and flying still had a reputation of being something best left to daring and adventurous young men. Forty-one years later, on an April evening in 1987, I called her up on the phone....

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- – French Quarter Cheese Spread

Date: May 9, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

At the yearly Christmas dinner at my husband’s cousin’s home, she often includes French Quarter Cheese Spread among the appetizers served.  Even though she and other family members provide quite a variety of delicious dishes, this has always been my favorite.  The photo shows it served with Ritz crackers.  Unfortunately, ...

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Headline: Investors Column – Review of the Basics

Date: May 9, 2022 by Scott Crosby

For those who are new to Investors Column, it is intended for people who are not very knowledgeable about investing, and who are perhaps unsure of where to begin.  This month the review getting started as an investor. 401k and IRA  Accounts For most people, the first encounter with investing is a 401k plan offered by the company wh...

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Headline: Finance – What Is Profit?

Date: May 9, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Profit – much maligned by Democrats, Leftists generally, Marxists of every ilk as something evil – what is “profit”? Imagine living in a primitive wilderness – alone, or with a small group of people.  Why small?  Because you have to find enough food to eat for the next meal, and there is not enough food to b...

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Headline: New Lobby for the Mauldin Cultural Center

Date: May 9, 2022 by Scott Crosby

The Mauldin Cultural Center’s theater has an exciting new addition – a new lobby.   The Cultural Center’s biggest in-door attraction for the past several years has been the many terrific plays and musical shows put on in its beautiful new theater.  Now that venue has been expanded. The theater now features a bri...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Shrimp Creole with Cheese Rice

Date: April 11, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Shrimp Creole with Cheese Rice 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar Dash Cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 small bay leaf 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper 13 ounce can tomatoes, undrained 1 pound cooked shrimp (tails removed) Melt butter in large fry pan.  Add onion, celery, and garlic and cook slowly until tender but not brown.&nb...

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Headline: Investors Column – Everyone Is Doing It

Date: April 11, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Until the 1980s, your everyday working-man was only distantly aware of the fluctuations of the stock market.  Fluctuations did not have an impact on his financial situation. For those who could find a way to put a little money aside, a savings account was where it was kept.   A great many people had been buying and selling stocks i...

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Headline: Finance – How to Cause Inflation

Date: April 11, 2022 by Scott Crosby

When Donald Trump was President, he reduced taxes and reduced regulations.  He increased the level of economic freedom in America.  The extent of his successes was limited by an uncooperative Congress, but in every way possible (with the exception of tariffs, which predictably had negative consequences), Trump made it easier to do busines...

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Headline: Why CRT and Woke Are Bad for You

Date: April 11, 2022 by Scott Crosby

“Oh!  The Utter Agony of My Privilege!”  – Said nobody, ever. No matter who you are, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Woke are bad for you.  Skin color, gender, economic level, schooling, religion, where you live, the car you drive, or in any other way you can be sliced, diced, and categorized, CRT and Woke are inten...

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Headline: Finance – Lies, Worse Lies, and Statistics

Date: March 21, 2022 by Scott Crosby

You have heard it a thousand times:  “Statistics show ...” – fill in the end of that sentence: that we are due for a recession, or due for an economic boom; that global climate change is occurring; that this group of people is richer than that group; that the President’s latest political program is successful; weather f...

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Headline: Investors Column – Recessions and You

Date: March 21, 2022 by Scott Crosby

A recession is a “downturn”, “market correction”, or a “bear market” of significant magnitude and duration.  All of these terms refer to a situation where most companies (and thus their stock price) are expected to significantly drop in value. The stock market has its normal ups and downs just as a matter o...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Macaroni and Cheese

Date: March 21, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

I used to serve this recipe as a main course.  When I did this for my husband Scott, he said, ”Where’s the meat?”.  Your decision to serve this as a main course or as a side dish depends on your family’s preferences of course.  The recipe called for topping the dish with bread crumbs but I prefer bread cubes. ...

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Headline: Day Trips

Date: March 21, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Looking for places to go?  Places to see?  Things to do?  Are you new to the area, and just learning your way around?  Want to get out for a while?  See the sights? The Upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northern Georgia include enough places worth visiting to keep you busy for a long time.  Every ...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes- Chicken Puff

Date: February 23, 2022 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

When growing up, I always loved it when my mother would make popovers.  Years later when I tried the recipe for Chicken Puff from my Officer’s Wives cookbook, I was delighted to find the puff tasted so much like popovers.  My daughter is now a vegetarian and tried it with fake chicken.  Much to her dismay, it didn’t work ...

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Headline: Finance – Politics Trumps Economics, Again

Date: February 22, 2022 by Scott Crosby

The hidden card in the economic deck is the Russian build-up of troops along the Ukraine border. News outlets report that Russia has 83 battalion tactical groups, with 750 men each – more than 62,000 troops – stationed and ready for an assault.  That number is up from 30 two weeks ago.  With additional personal to supply air ...

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Headline: Investors Column – Recession … and P/E

Date: February 22, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Are we in a recession? The S&P 500 peaked at 4818 in late December – early January.  As this is written, it is at 4470.  That is a decline of 7 1/4 percent. Most people consider a recession to be when the market drops ten percent or more.  Ten percent would put the S&P below 4336.  So by that light, we are not in...

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Headline: Driving 201 – Beyond Getting a Driver’s License

Date: February 22, 2022 by Scott Crosby

“Yeah, I’m a good driver.  I’ve never gotten a ticket.  I even took driving lessons.” Your driver’s license only shows that you have the minimum basic skills to be allowed to drive a car on the road. Driving lessons – “Driving 101” – are important, but their primary goal is to help y...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes – Chocolate Delight

Date: January 25, 2022 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

This is another recipe that was given to me years ago by a square dance friend.  One year when I brought it to a Christmas celebration, two of the ladies said that they called the dessert “Robert Redford”.  When asked why they replied, “Because it is yummy like Robert Redford”.  Unfortunately, Robert Redford i...

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Headline: Finance – What’s In Store For 2022?

Date: January 25, 2022 by Scott Crosby

2021 is behind us.  Biden’s big multi-trillion-dollar spending bill is defeated – for now.  With the passage of the Democrats’ other spending bills, however, inflation has become a minor pandemic of its own, as predicted.  If that big bill had passed, inflation would be much worse. Nonetheless, inflation is now the...

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Headline: Investors Column – Don’t Take Anyone’s Word for It

Date: January 25, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Advice, as the old saying goes, is worth what you pay for it.   That is especially true for investors.  Especially when you are just starting out, you will hear a flood of advice.  That advice usually falls into one of three categories. First, if you have a 401k, your employer will probably have a financial advisor meet with y...

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Headline: Valentine’s Day Is Just Around the Corner

Date: January 25, 2022 by Scott Crosby

Valentine’s Day will soon be here.   Have you made a dinner reservation for you and that special someone?  If you are not married, have you asked her to go out with you?  Even if you are married, have you asked her to go out to dinner that night?  Now is the time. Have you stopped by a card shop somewhere to get tha...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes

Date: December 20, 2021 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

Chile con Carne When I was growing up the only things that I was an expert at cooking were chocolate chip cookies and brownies.  One of my first meals I tried as an adult was chili.  It required soaking the beans overnight.  I followed the recipe exactly.  The result was chili that was hardly edible due to the beans being too h...

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Headline: How Badly Can the Government Screw up?

Date: December 20, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Many types of government are inherently corrupt:  Socialist, Communist, Fascist, National Socialist (“Nazi”), monarchies, tyrannies, dictatorships – the list is as long as all the variants of top-down forms of government.   People – every person – has limited knowledge, and by nature does not always mak...

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Headline: Investors Column – Brokers’ Stock Ratings

Date: December 20, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Investment Brokers and Financial Advisors usually have a rating system for each publicly traded stock.  That rating is supposed to provide an indicator for you as an investor regarding which stocks to buy, which stocks to hold, and which stocks to avoid. One common range is “buy”, “hold”, and “sell”.  ...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes

Date: November 22, 2021 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

Back when I was a Navy wife, the wife of the ship’s captain had all the officers’ wives over to dinner.  I loved her Bourbon Sweet Potatoes and it has since become a family favorite to be served every Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I prefer the marshmallows on top to become caramelized.  If you prefer just browned marshmall...

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Headline: Finance – On a roll for now!

Date: November 22, 2021 by Scott Crosby

October is behind us, and the month has been an unusual one in a number of ways.    Typically, October has had its share of “Black Mondays” – a Monday trading session which turns into a panic-selling major dip.  Some are the result of legitimate fears, but others seem to be instigated simply by fear:  “I...

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Headline: America Through a Refugee’s Eyes

Date: November 22, 2021 by Scott Crosby

“This land – this house and this farm – is not yours.  We are giving it to the people from whom you stole it.” “But this is our property.  My grandfather purchased it.  My grandfather built the house.  We till the fields.” “Not any more.  Go back where you came from.” &ldqu...

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Headline: Finance – Fleeing Hong Kong

Date: October 11, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Those who pervert the economy of any country, disrupt and destroy that economy, and with it, disrupt and destroy peoples’ lives.   After all, what is “the economy”?  It is not some amorphous detached cloud, into which we all have to somehow fit ourselves.  The “economy” is simply the composite acti...

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Headline: Investors Column – Is the Bloom Off the Rose?

Date: October 11, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Have stocks reached their peak for the year 2021?  How can we expect our stocks to perform for the rest of 2021?   Note what history shows us in the chart of S&P 500 stock market changes:  two or three years of positive change, followed by a year with a slight pullback. Note:  the exception to this pattern is a major ...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes – Chicken Roll-Ups

Date: October 11, 2021 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

When my girls were growing they were required to help me prepare dinner or help with the dishes.  You can probably guess which of the two was their preferred task.  My youngest, Cindy, enjoyed cooking so much that she bought her very own cookbook when the ladies of the Powderhorn subdivision produced a cookbook with their favorite recipes...

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Headline: City Council Elections scheduled for Nov. 2

Date: October 11, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Every two years half of the seats on the Fountain Inn City Council are up for election.  In 2019, voters chose the Mayor and those who would take Council seats for Wards 2, 4, and 6.  On November 2nd, Fountain Inn voters will be determining who represents Wards 1, 3, and 5.   Fountain Inn City Council Seats – like those f...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes – Carrot Cake

Date: September 24, 2021 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

A couple of years ago my daughter and her spouse were visiting us.  One of Karen’s favorite desserts is carrot cake so I planned to make one for our Thanksgiving dinner.  I had recently tasted a friend’s recipe and she graciously gave me the following recipe.  When I prepared the recipe, all went well until I started clea...

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Headline: Mauldin City Council Candidates

Date: September 24, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Election Day is November 2nd For Mauldin residents, candidates will be on the ballot for three of the seven seats on the Mauldin City Council. Mauldin is growing!  The city is at the center of economic development and population growth in the Upstate.  That growth is happening with or without Mauldin’s cooperation.  To i...

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Headline: Wings of the City

Date: August 19, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Greenville’s Falls Park area is renowned for its shops, dining, and for its fabulous Liberty Bridge. But now through October, it is also the setting for a beautiful group of nine sculptures by the Mexican artist Jose Marin.  The group is titled The Wings of the City – and they are not to be missed.Two of the sculptures can be foun...

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Headline: Rhoda’s Recipes - Hawaiian Beef Loaves

Date: August 19, 2021 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

This is a recipe from my recipe box that I have had so long that I am unsure where I first saw the recipe but it has always been one of my favorite meatloaf recipes. The addition of soy sauce to the beef loaf mixture creates a slightly different taste than a standard meatloaf but the real standout is the glaze. The recipe for the apricot glaze is ...

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Headline: Finance - How Much? For How Long?

Date: August 19, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Inflation keeps finding its way into the news.  Nobody denies it is happening. The Democratic President and Congress insist that the inflation we are  experiencing is just a part of the recovery from the COVID pandemic, and is temporary.   Republican opponents point to the huge Federal debt and Biden’s 2.3 trillion-dolla...

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Headline: Let's Go Flying - On Mars!

Date: August 9, 2021 by Scott Crosby

It has been an exciting few months on Mars!   NASA’s latest Mars rover, Perseverance, landed on February 15th.   For those not keeping track, Perseverance is NASA’s fifth Mars rover.  The first, Sojourner, landed in 1997.  It was about the size of a microwave oven.   The twin rovers Spirit and Opp...

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Headline: Finance - Taxes Destroy

Date: July 23, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Taxes destroy.  Want to really hurt the segment of the population just above the poverty line – the people who have the most difficult time keeping a job, making ends meet, keeping the car running, and keeping a roof over their heads?  Raise taxes.  Works every time. So why do we have taxes?  What is the benefit? &n...

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Headline: Investors Column - Company Takeover

Date: July 23, 2021 by Scott Crosby

At some point, most investors experience owning stock in a company that is taken over by another company.  How does a company takeover affect you as an investor? Simply put, a company takeover is when one company purchases all the shares of stock of another company. The reality tends to be more complex.  The company being taken over may...

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Headline: Lives don’t matter to Marxists

Date: July 23, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Marxism has a growing presence in our lives.  Kids are being inculcated with Marxist ideology that is taught in schools.  Adults are castigated for opposing Marxist ideas.  Marxist ideas have even been openly advocated by some members of Congress.   What is Marxism? Marxism, according to Wordnik ( https://www.wordnik.com/word...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes - Best Ever Cheese Cake

Date: June 18, 2021 by Rhoda & Scott Crosby

When I attended college, the food served in the cafeteria was marginal at best.  The one exception (and a constant temptation) was their delicious baked goods.  With this in mind, I decided to try cheesecake for the first time in my life.  It was a mistake.  It stuck to the roof of my mouth like straight peanut butter and the fl...

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Headline: Finance - Teach Your Kids Finance

Date: May 21, 2021 by Scott Crosby

A couple of ten-year-old girls up the street offered to wash our cars.  When asked why, they just shrugged their shoulders.  One said she wanted to make more money than her father did, when he was a teenager. Think about it:  if they keep at it, by the time they graduate from college, they will have more than ten years’ experi...

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Headline: Investors' Column - Investment Strategies and Goals

Date: May 21, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Jokester’s question:  “What is the easiest way to make a small fortune?”  Jokester’s reply:  “Start with a large fortune.” Of course, how do you make a large fortune in the first place?  The answer is:  “Start small, think smarter, and work harder.” Learning how to be succes...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes - Ritz Chicken

Date: May 21, 2021 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

Growing up as an Army brat and living in many locations both in America and abroad, I was exposed to a wonderful diversity of foods.  Later I became a Navy wife and enjoyed not only the comradery of fellow Navy wives but also the delicious recipes they shared with me.  I was delighted when I was made aware of a series of cookbooks availab...

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Headline: Mauldin Goals and Budget for 2021-22

Date: May 21, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Each year at this time, Mauldin’s City government prepares a budget for the coming fiscal year – that is, the period from this year’s July first until next year’s June 30th, which is termed “Fiscal Year 2022” (FY-2022).   South Carolina state law requires each City and County to assemble a balanced bud...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes - Layered Taco Dip

Date: April 27, 2021 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

Years ago, I attended my brother’s 50th birthday party.  Several of his friends helped by bringing their favorite appetizers to the party and one of those soon became one of my favorites as well.   For many years I belonged to the Simpsonville Pioneers Square Dance Club and often brought the following recipe for Taco Dip for the re...

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Headline: Finance...What Is Wealth?

Date: April 27, 2021 by Scott Crosby

History gives us a confusing answer:  the wealth of ancient Egypt, ancient Persia, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Muslim empires, the empires of China, the empires of the Mayans, Incas, Aztecs, and the other tribes in the Americas prior to the arrival Columbus in 1492, Spain’s American empire, the empires of India, (exemplifi...

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Headline: Investors' Column... Politics Trumps Economics

Date: April 27, 2021 by Scott Crosby

On average, the stock market gains in value about ten percent per year.  But as we all know, each year is different.  Some years the market does better than that; some years it does less well.  Some years the stock market actually declines.   What causes that variability?   The most fundamental change is th...

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Headline: The Play's the Thing! - Strike Up the Band!

Date: April 27, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Whether you like barbecue, festivals, music, plays, sculpture, or would like to take an art classes, the Mauldin Cultural Center is the place for you!   Whether you want to watch a play or be in one, eat some barbecue or show off your own special recipe, watch some music or play your own – whether you want to participate, learn, sp...

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Headline: Finance - Solving Too Much Debt

Date: March 26, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Politics aside, what is $2,000,000,000,000?  There are about 332,000,000 people living in the U.S.  That means Congress will spend $6,024 per person living in the U.S., child or adult.   That is on top of $28 trillion of existing debt, or more than $84,000 per person.   Do you have $90,000 to pay off that debt, plus...

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Headline: Investors' Column... Taxes and other things

Date: March 26, 2021 by Scott Crosby

If you are like most people, you do your income taxes sometime about March, and send your tax returns off to the IRS by April 15th. As you begin investing in stocks, it gets more complicated.  And the IRS gets more demanding in what it requires you to do, as well. A 401k account or a standard IRA account is in many ways simple to manage.&nbs...

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Headline: Rhoda's Recipes: Mom Crosby's Butter Cookies

Date: March 26, 2021 by Rhoda and Scott Crosby

For a certain little boy, a nice big cookie sheet full of still-warm butter cookies was one of life’s best delights!  At any age – as a teenager, as a young man, or even on the far side of fifty years old – the arrival of a package of his mother’s butter cookies brought with it an anticipation that any little boy of any...

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Headline: Welcome to the Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church!

Date: February 23, 2021 by Scott Crosby

The distinctive church that rests along West Butler Road in the crook of the turnoff to Conestee projects an aura of calm and peace – a welcoming House of Worship.   Indeed, as Deacon Chairman Algie Dial is happy to point out, that is central to the Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church’s theme:  “Love, Peace, and ...

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Headline: Investors' Column... What Stocks Should I Buy?

Date: February 21, 2021 by Scott Crosby

When buying stocks, use your knowledge and experience.  What are your interests?  Your hobbies?  Your knowledge is your edge.  What interests you?  Automobiles?  Railroads?  Retail stores?  Home products?  High tech?  Banking?   Whatever your interests, start by researching companies in a...

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Headline: Finance - As Goes January

Date: February 4, 2021 by Scott Crosby

What kind of year will 2021 be, economically?   One historic portent has always been:  “As goes January, so goes the year.”   Forecasting the future is difficult at best.  Nonetheless, investors large and small naturally search for any indication of what the future will bring.   Over ...

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Headline: Presidents' Day

Date: February 4, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Baby Boomers – more numerous than any generation prior to the Millennials – were born in the 1940s and ‘50s, after the end of World War II.  Baby Boomers have lived through fourteen Presidents.  Half of them are Democrats, and half are Republicans.   The Boomers’ first President was Harry Truman, a Democ...

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Headline: Investing - Getting Started

Date: January 22, 2021 by Scott Crosby

Are you new to the world of investing? Not sure if investing is for you? Not sure what questions to ask? Welcome to the Investors’ Column; it is intended for you. Get to know the basics – how to get started, and how to make money to supplement a steady paycheck. Investing is a way for you to make money by getting involved in the count...

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