Articles written by Gary Allen

Advanced Search

What is Helium

About me - Gary Allen

I live in the Colorado Rocky Mountains with my wife, daughter and two dogs; Max and Bear.

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies What do you think the Obama administration's priorities for transparent government should be?: 1 of 27
In the spring of 2006, two natural enemies, one a conservative, the other a liberal, came together to co- sponsor the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. The bill was signed into law by President Bush in the Fall of 2006.The priorities of a government that thinks transparency is a good thing: Citizen involvem... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Conservation Cut the junk mail: 3 of 31
There was a time in our history when the phrase: cut the junk mail, had only one connotation, stop filling my mailbox. Unfortunately, we now have multiple mailboxes. The physical mail boxes outside our homes, and the cyberspace boxes inside them. As if that were not enough, marketers are now learning how to access our mobile ... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas How to keep a poinsettia going after Christmas: 2 of 19
Christmas, without a poinsettia displaying its colorful Burmese ruby red leaves, would be like having a pitcher of iced tea in the summer but no family to share it with. Something would be missing. Given a little care, your poinsettia can even be kept alive after the holidays.At the end of the holiday season this festive plan... More..
Food & Drink > Candy & Desserts What is a cookie exchange?: 1 of 7
Cookie exchanges are a way for close friends or casual acquaintances to get together for a purpose, and have a sweet time doing it. The group can be made up of as little as half a dozen people. If you like to do things on a larger scale, invite a full dozen. The cookie exchange will help you prepare your pantry for all the ho... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: My Dachshund: 2 of 10
Max arrived at our home five years ago on Christmas eve. Santa himself delivered our brown and red dappled, long hair dachshund. He jumped from Santa's arms and tumbled his way across the floor to our daughter's arms. Max and Shelby played chase the ball and tug-of-war while another stack of presents sat unnoticed under the ... More..
Pets & Animals > Animal Facts & Resources Arachnid facts: Brown recluse spiders: 1 of 5
Loxosceles (Lox-sos-a-leez) reclusa lives in many homes in the United States. She has thrived on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, and then hitched a ride up to the southern region of Indiana. The brown recluse can survive in Texas, or all the way to central Alabama.As the brown recluse spider wanders around human habitation, s... More..
Health & Fitness > Alzheimer's and Dementia Causes of Alzheimer's disease: 1 of 5
Even though the cause of Alzheimer's disease is still a secret. Researchers continue to focus their attention on three possible causes of the disease, age, genetics, and the impact of lifestyles.Age:By itself, age is not a cause of the disease. But if a person is living with some type of gene mutation linked to Alzheimer's, t... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies What kind of official government information should be available online, and what do you consider to be off limits?: 4 of 15
One Fall evening, during the war of 1812, Francis Scott Key stood on the deck of the HMS Surprise. Key was being held a prisoner because he and his associate had overheard details about the pending attack on the city of Baltimore.As Francis kept his vigil that rainy night in September, the British maintained their steady bomb... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards The credit card trap: 7 of 26
An effective trap will be loaded with the right bait. Unfortunately, humans sniff the bait and consume it. The thought of having something now, covers the odor of a later payment.Have you carefully watched the credit card commercials? They have a solution for your torment. If your day has been terrible, go buy something.If yo... More..
Home & Garden > Trees & Shrubs Great reasons to plant trees around your home: 6 of 15
Trees are planted every day by humans and animals. Humans generally plant trees for a purpose, as was the case for villagers in Tamil Nabu state. 60,000 trees had been planted for the rain gods, in hopes of ending a drought. Instead of receiving rain, the villagers of Naluvedathy were saved from a crushing tsunami that was to... More..