Articles written by Richard Ford

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About me - Richard Ford

On Helium I aim to write nothing that cannot be used in a practical way. Carnival of Reaction is where I will give vent to my opinions- bit Helium is where I get to be useful.

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Food & Drink > Tea Tea and weight loss: Fact or fiction?: 1 of 17
Fiction I am afraid...Yes, it is true that tea is a mild stimulant, and stimulants burn up calories. It is also true that a stomach full of tea will prevent hunger pangs- but the same is also true of water.On the other hand tea can also carry calories- particularly if you like it sweet and milky. If you take sweet tea in this... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Credit card safety: How to check your statements: 2 of 17
The purpose of checking your statement is to prevent fraud. For this reason I will discuss various ways to prevent fraud. Checking your statement is only one of these measures.When you receive your statement, read it carefully. There is no need to have a list of every item you have bought that month. Very few people walk arou... More..
Education > Adult Education Improving literacy among adults: 3 of 20
As I child I was nearly diagnosed as dyslexic- my spelling is still bizarre in places but fortunately I can hide behind my spell checker when on Helium. I have spent some time wondering about this and have finally decided that it was because I was moved from school to school and had the misfortune of attending a 'modern' one ... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards When to pay cash and when to use a credit card: 12 of 55
Firstly, never use a credit card if you are going to pay interest on it. Pay your bill off at the end of the month to avoid doing so.WHEN TO USE A CARD.1) Whenever you can. If you are not paying interest why not pay next month?2) When you are buying an item worth fifty pounds or more. This will then be covered by the card in ... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Explaining the Card Security Code (CSC): 2 of 8
The purpose of the Card Security Code (depending on how cynical you are) is either to prevent on line fraud or to make sure that the card company will not be liable for the fraud that occurs!When ordering something on line simply read the code from the signature strip. In theory the fraudster should not have this number unles... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Racism Prejudices about Africa: Moving beyond black and white: 1 of 4
In my experience the average African can teach the Liberals a great deal about being African. Throughout black Africa, being black is neither a problem nor an issue. This is not surprising as everyone else is black too! If is the white man who is strange and remarkable- children will follow you wide eyed and wonder what stran... More..
Education > Adult Education Common myths about adult education: 2 of 7
The first myth is that education takes place in the classroom. Most education does not result in collecting bits of paper or formal qualification but in learning to do things directly.The second myth is that adult or higher education is only for women. Inly about a third of all higher education students are male in both the U... More..
Personal Finance > Banking Basics Protecting yourself from overdraft and bounced-check fees: 6 of 20
The situation in the UK is a little different than the USA because bank fees have become something of a political issue.Many people are refusing to pay their bank fees and taking the banks through the small claims court- approximately one million cases are in progress (from a country of just fifty two million!)so almost every... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Why can't I be rich?: 17 of 52
The most likely reason you cannot (seem) to be rich is that you do not really want to be!This may seem a strange thing to say when this is something we are all supposed to want more than anything- but do we really?Look at the facts. Even a fourteen year old crack addict can make money. All they have to do is put aside all mor... More..
Religion & Spirituality > New Age Groups Understanding the appeal of Scientology: 7 of 21
Well..Scientology is not nearly as appealing as it would have you believe! In total active membership the group is tiny, a few thousand worldwide. This does not stop them claiming a membership of millions based upon everyone who has ever had contact with the group- even those who now detest it like myself.So what is the apeal... More..