Articles written by Monty Cliff

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What is Helium

About me - Monty Cliff

Someone once asked me why I was broke all the time, I replied that i was a college student, guitar player and writer. Their next question was why any of this mattered. I explained that the only thing they have in common is starvation, and that not being

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Entertainment > Music Education Difficulty with learning guitar: 3 of 19
What makes learning to play guitar so hard? We forget why we wanted to play in the first place. Really, did you even think about the order of the modes and playing to the "CLICK-click-click-click" etc of a metronome when you picked up your first guitar? OF course you didn't; you wanted to have fun. Here a few tips that have ... More..
Entertainment > Movie Analysis Would the movie, Dark Knight, have been as successful if Heath Ledger hadn't died?: 1 of 6
As sad as it is, the best advertisement for a work of art is the death of someone involved. After they were both killed, Biggie and Tupac's records shot to the top of the charts. When John Lee Hooker died, he achieved the iconic status that had always eluded him during his decades long career. That isn't to say that none of ... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Mongol: 2 of 8
"Mongol", the 2007 movie chronicling the early life of Genghis Khan, when he was still known as Temudjin. The film starts off with a seven year old Temudjin and his father and his men going to another tribe so Temudjin can pick his bride. When Temudjin gets there, he meets Borte. Borte is the type of girl/woman that seems to... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Should credit card companies be targeting college students?: 11 of 40
What side you take on this debate depends on what's more important to you; good business or integrity. College students are the best possible market for credit card companies, they're broke, eager to live a life filled with commodeities and they have yet to learn how to stand up for themselves agaisnt a pushy salesmen. But i... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Burn after Reading: 3 of 10
The Coen brothers follow up thier Oscar Winning "No Country for Old Men" with "Burn After Reading", a spy spoof screwball comedy that will have you laughing and scratching your head in confusion. The plot gets started when gym employees Chad and Linda (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand) find a CD of recently fired CIA-analylst... More..
Entertainment > Album Reviews Album reviews: Appetite for Destruction, Guns 'n' Roses: 3 of 7
Appetite for Destruction may have just saved rock and roll future. The amazing debut album from Guns 'N' Roses came about at a time when hair-metal and synth-pop ruled the airwaves and was suffocating any true music to be released. What was to save the masses? The classic combo of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, thats what. Ri... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Video game reviews: Madden NFL 06 (PS2): 1 of 1
I've played a variety of madden games over the years, mostly on the Nintendo 64 and the Sony Dreamcast. With this new game comes new(and better) controls for defense, a new feature called "QB Vision" for offense and a new feature in franchise mode. First, the new defense controls. Is your corner back being beaten on the insi... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: 36 of 70
Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix id the fifth and best movie of the Harry Potter franchise, but alas it is not without its flaws. Here's the basic plot: Harry and Dumbledore are being pinned as liars by the Ministry of Magic for saying Voldemort has returned. Fudge sends Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts to be a ministry... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Death of a friend: 108 of 200
A Prayer For the Dead May Death be the final dignity of your life May Death give you a wondrous life eternal May Death's sorrow give way to Life's joy for us that miss you And if by some mistake Heaven does not let you in, May Hell deem you to pure for it's fires And may your final resting place be the hearts and souls Of th... More..
Entertainment > Album Reviews Album reviews: Abbey Road, by The Beatles: 3 of 5
After the fractured writing sessions that were Let It Be, the Beatles decided once again to work together as a unit. The result would become one of the Beatles finest works and quite possibly the greatest swan-song album of all time. The album opens up with "Come Together", a great boogie driven Lennon song with slide solo f... More..