Articles written by Michael Collins - Page 2

What is Helium

About me - Michael Collins

Michael Collins had no idea what he was going to do with his life until he was dragged, kicking and screaming and at the behest of his educators, until the wild and wooly lifestyle of the freelance writer. Cocktail parties followed; fountains of champagne

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Entertainment > Entertainment (Other) Batman versus Spiderman: Who would win: 1 of 8
So, I'm hanging out at the Silver Snail (a Canadian comic book store) the other day - because I am a nerd - and the topic comes up - that puzzling subject that has tried mens' minds for more than a generation of great thinkers - who would win in a fight, Batman or Spiderman?Hm, now that is an interesting question. Naturally, ... More..
Entertainment > TV Show Reviews TV show reviews: Torchwood: 2 of 10
Way back in 2005, fans of that grand old British institution, the sci-fi series "Doctor Who" couldn't have been more excited: their favorite show had not only returned, but did so with a bang. The combination of a producer who loved the show, Christopher Eccleston as the eponymous Doctor, and a special effects budget that sig... More..
Entertainment > TV Show Reviews TV show reviews: Chuck: 1 of 5
Tonight I review a preview of the new sci-fi/comedy/drama, Chuck, starring: * Zachary Levi - as Chuck Bartowski * Yvonne Strzechowski - as Sarah Walker * Joshua Gomez - as Morgan Pace * Sarah Lancaster - as Ellie Bartowski * Adam Baldwin - as John CaseyDid you say Alec Baldwin!? * Adam Baldwin - as John CaseyOh. You didn't. W... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) Should books have ratings like movies to warn parents about inappropriate content?: 16 of 74
The question has been raised: movies have a rating system and music albums have the "parental advisory" sticker, so why shouldn't books have a "rating" system that allows people to see exactly what kind of content is within a book?At first, while skeptical, I was supportive of the idea, if only on "full disclosure" grounds: I... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Are Bratz dolls appropriate for young girls?: 10 of 44
The trends in toy making and marketing can tell us a lot about the generalities of our society at any given point in time: what's successful can tell us a lot about what one generation values, and even, if we're willing to ascribe a few attributes to it, the attitude that the previous generation (the generation of the parents... More..
Politics, News & Issues > People in the News Reflections: Why I support the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) strike: 1 of 4
Some of you who follow entertainment news (or some of you who are actually in the entertainment industry) may have heard about this little strike that the unionists in the Writer's Guild of America have gotten into.Now, I would normally pigeon-hole myself as being anti-union. And if this were concerning any other group of wor... More..
Business > Entrepreneurship (Other) Business: The pros and cons of being an owner/manager: 1 of 4
You've read all the books on self-employment, got yourself a million-dollar idea, and you've cleaned out your retirement fund, and now you think you're ready to start your own business. Not so fast there, tiger! Did you sit down and really think about this? Is this really a good idea? What are the risks associated with this k... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Game website reviews: Popcap.com: 2 of 7
Popcap.com is a beautiful gaming site, which attests to the quality of their games. Unlike other game sites, Popcap's games are all produced by them - they don't just sell another company's products. While this may mean that you don't exactly have a cornucopia of games to choose from, the games are ensured for quality and sup... More..
Computers & Technology > Business & Office Software Software reviews: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 9 Box: 2 of 7
Great for Busy NewbiesIf you're new to speech recognition software, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 is a great place to start.Dragon NaturallySpeaking is already known for its high-accuracy when it comes to transcribing, and version 9 is no exception: after trying it out myself, I only had to correct a few errors, and the approxim... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Downloadable game reviews: Flower Stand Tycoon: 6 of 20
Flower Stand Tycoon, by Big Fish Games, is a simulation business strategy game along the lines of the more professional "Railroad Tycoon" and "Roller Coaster Tycoon" games of the past. The player takes on the role of business manager for "Uncle Potts," whose business savvy is decidedly lacking when compared to his scientific ... More..