Articles written by W Thomas Payne

What is Helium

About me - W Thomas Payne

Freelance writer, photographer, and general handyman with words, I roam the back roads of America looking for the slightly different, the bizarre, and the fun that can be found in those 'off the highway' locales.

Over the last 25 years, I have been a landlord

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Food & Drink > Dining & Restaurants (Other) Why the restaurant industry needs web-based marketing and ordering systems: 2 of 30
The world turns to the internet for information on virtually every topic today, from finding a restaurant to buying a car. Any company ignoring the web to fulfill customer orders, or that does not incorporate the internet into their marketing efforts, is losing customers to their competitors. Restaurant owners and the restaur... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Religious Concepts (Other) Should children be taught religion: 2 of 27
Children should be taught about religion, no matter which culture they live in. But not the way it is being taught today, and not forced upon them with fear tactics.First, let's define "religion." If you mean religion as a set of belief structures and moral codes that should be applied to everyone within a society, religion i... More..
Food & Drink > Candy & Desserts Guide to traditional Southern desserts: 2 of 20
Traditional Southern desserts bring back reminders of church socials, family picnics, and town gatherings. Memories of picking up pecans from the yard, pulling a few sweet potatoes from the root cellar, or running to the market for a couple of bottles of food coloring for that special occasion.One of the things that pulls tog... More..
Personal Finance > Life Insurance How to find a life insurance agent: 2 of 18
Finding a life insurance agent may be as simple as looking in your local phone book and picking one at random, or taking advice from your trusted family and friends. Whatever method you choose for finding an agent for life insurance, be sure to ask the following key questions of the agents during your selection process.1. How... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Basketball Should college drop-out basketball players not picked in the NBA draft be allowed to return to college play?: 1 of 8
If an athlete accepts a college scholarship, the goal of that scholarship should be to achieve an education not become the next player in the National Basketball Association. If they drop out of school to be put in the lottery for a shot at turning from semi-pro to professional athlete, that is obviously their call. But to re... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Elections (Other) Is campaign fund-raising an indication of voter support?: 3 of 20
Politics in the United States grows ever-more disconnected from the people as the level of political contributions continues to rise. Politicians, the media, and pundits alike are constantly reminding us of the amount of money that has been raised by political campaigns as an indicator of the success of those campaigns. The r... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Does Rev. Jesse Jackson truly represent the needs of African-Americans?: 2 of 13
There is no denying that Jesse Jackson represents a segment of the African-American (this will be the one and only time I use this phrase) community, but to say he represents the "needs" of all Americans of African lineage is like saying "Weird" Al Yankovic represents the "needs" of the polka community. Mr. Jackson has straye... More..
Creative Writing > Satire Satire: Technology: 5 of 30
So, you're 'over the hill' (that's 40 in youthspeak), and you've bought your new computer. After 20 minutes, you located the manual, ever so conveniently packed on the end marked "THIS SIDE DOWN." Despite the manufacturer's best efforts, you have deciphered the Japanese-to-Dutch-to-English translation buried behind the Spanis... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) The best fiction books about the future: 2 of 11
Two authors come to mind when thinking of great novels of the future, Isaac Asmiov and Larry Niven. While many novels exploring the concepts of a dystopian future are hailed by literary critics, these two authors refused to believe that the worst potentials of mankind would overtake us, and instead, we would reach out to the ... More..
Food & Drink > Cookware & Cutlery Christmas 2007: Hottest cookware gift ideas: 1 of 5
A budding chef in your life? Are you totally stuck on what to give them this Christmas? Why guess what gift to give the cook in your life! Take a quick look at the top selling kitchen gadgets and tools this year, according to Amazon.com. From this assortment, there is something to fit nearly any budget, and some will even fit... More..