Articles written by V. Hughes

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About me - V. Hughes

Growing up a military brat provided me with amazing life experiences before I even knew they were important. Moving all over the world, living in places where I was the minority, and being exposed to diverse peoples and cultures had a profound effect on me.

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Computers & Technology > Internet Troubleshooting Search engines: Viable alternatives to Google: 4 of 25

"Google It" has become synonymous with executing a search on the computer. Started as an advertising gimmick, it has entered our common lexicon. Is it the only way to find information from the World Wide Web? Will its search engine comb through the millions of websites out there to retrieve the very web page that has the kno...
Home & Garden > Cleaning Products A guide to green cleaning products and where to find them: 2 of 12

Walking down the housecleaning aisles of your favorite store you pass enough toxins to put Mother Earth in to a coma. Hidden and remembered by your parents and grandparents are cleaning products friendly to the environment. They might take a little longer to work. You may have to spend a little more time preparing to clean. ...
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction Recommended historic science fiction: 2 of 9

Much of science fiction literature can be termed alternate history in the broadest sense. Authors take what is known, blend in what could be, and create worlds and situations we can both recognize and marvel over. The term 'alternate history' came to describe a sub-genre of science fiction in the last decade or so. It is you...
Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism The arts of Zen explained: 1 of 3

The art forms associated with the practice of Zen Buddhism are a way of approaching the artisan's role in the totality of their existence. To practice Zen is to achieve a quality of life that they radiate through their art. Walking the Zen path is being mindful of every thought and action; to be aware of the wonder of each s...
Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism Nichiren Buddhism and Soka Gakkai International: 1 of 3

Toda Josei and Makaguchi Tsunesaburo co-founded Soka Gakkai in the early 1920s. The teachings and values of a 13th century Buddhist monk, Nichiren were its foundation. It began as a way to engender community harmony through education of lay people. Toda Josei quickly realized that a religious component was missing. A joining...
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: What my garden taught me - the hard way: 26 of 68

Somebody stole my roses. I was stunned. Molly knew my love for roses so she gifted me a mix of twelve different bushes. In the front of our urban house was the perfect place to plant them. Ten bare cane plants came in three separate boxes. I was going to share their beautiful flowers and fragrances with the neighborhood. The...
Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism Who was Siddhartha Gautama?: 5 of 13

Siddhartha Gotama was born 2400 years ago (give or take a century) in the village of Lumbini in what is now Nepal. His father, Suddhodana was minor royalty of the Sakya clan and Queen Maya, his mother. You can read about the legend surrounding the circumstances of his birth in any of the books about the early life of the Bud...
Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism What it takes to be Buddhist: 4 of 8

Being a Buddhist is a life choice. It is respecting the many faiths of the world as important to those that hold them. It is not ridiculing a faith in one god or many gods. It is being tolerant of the many personalities that surround you everyday. It is not trying to change them. It is showing compassion to all living things...
Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism Last teaching of Lord Buddha in Korean and Japanese Buddhist scriptures: 1 of 2

Comparing the sayings and teachings of Siddhartha Guatama, the historical Buddha, and the historical Jesus; one would have to be blind not to see some similarities. After all they were both men who wanted better lives for the people of their respective times and places. Both should be remembered as great figures who put asid...
Arts & Humanities > Comic Books & Graphic Novels Graphic novel reviews: Guilty pleasures (Anita Blake, vampire hunter), by Laurell K. Hamilton: 1 of 2

Anita Blake finds Guilty Pleasures in the Marvel/Dabel Brothers graphic novel adaptation of Laurell K. Hamilton's Vampire Hunter book series. The characters and locales are stunningly illustrated by Brett Booth and colored by Imaginary Friends Studios. Together they bring life and unlife to Hamilton's work. Guilty Pleasures,...