Articles written by Alex Cull - Page 2

What is Helium

About me - Alex Cull

A student, an English language teacher, a clerical worker, a volunteer counsellor, a husband, a reader of books, a player of computer games and a friend to cats.

I have been all these things, but at the same time I have always been a writer.

One of my first

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas Is regifting an acceptable practice or not?: 4 of 23
"Regifting" is an interesting word, but let's be honest, it's a euphemism; basically, regifting is the offloading of an unwanted present onto some other poor unwitting soul. It's similar to indulging in a modestly unsavoury personal habit; most of us have done it, but few will admit to the fact. Regifting is the mechanism whe... More..
Jobs & Careers > Getting Ahead Overcoming boredom of the workplace: 1 of 5
There are still plenty of dangerous jobs in the world, but chances are that if your day is spent sitting in front of a computer monitor or cash register, yours is not one of them. In prehistoric times, of course, things would have been very different - sabre-toothed tigers, cave bears and other unreasonably large and ferociou... More..
Jobs & Careers > Getting Ahead How to succeed in any job using psychic techniques: 1 of 5
Are there people who have genuine psychic abilities? I'm fascinated by this subject and would love to think so, although I'm really still a bit of a sceptic at heart. Scientific proof of extra-sensory perception is rather thin on the ground, it must be said; however, there are indeed a number of cases which continue to puzzle... More..
Jobs & Careers > Getting Ahead Saying thank you is a good network strategy: 1 of 5
Remember when you were about seven years old and it was your birthday, and you had presents - some from your Mummy and Daddy and others from remoter, more distant personages such as aunties and uncles, or even a great-aunt?And then perhaps your Mum made you sit down and write letters to each of your aunties and uncles to say ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Getting Ahead Listening skills: The key to effective work relationships: 5 of 17
Listening skills are crucial to successful relationships, both in life generally and in the workplace. If I was forced to choose a single skill set on which to focus, in order to attain success at work, this would be it.I will give you two good reasons why, and then I will give you five effective, easy-to-grasp techniques you... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics in the Middle & Near East Is Libya ready to lead the UN Security Council?: 1 of 3
On the question whether Libya was ready to become a temporary member of the 15-nation UN Security Council, I would say that on balance the answer is no. I have come to that conclusion reluctantly. I would very much have preferred the answer to have been yes.Often mentioned in the same breath as Iran, Syria and North Korea, Li... More..
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction Book reviews: Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton: 1 of 3
It's difficult these days to fully appreciate the impact of Jurassic Park, the novel. We've watched the movies, bought the merchandise, played the computer games and been exposed to over a decade and a half of advertising and media hype, so no wonder it's a little hard to recapture the freshness and audacity of Michael Cricht... More..
Jobs & Careers > Getting Ahead Path to success: Talent or hard work?: 10 of 29
Which is more important for success, talent or hard work? The answer is clear, as I will demonstrate, but first - what do we mean by success?If by success we mean the completion of a task, hard work is often the only thing that matters. If my goal is to dig a three-foot deep hole in the ground by lunchtime, I can achieve this... More..
Jobs & Careers > Getting Ahead How to get out of a rut in your career path: 2 of 5
It can happen to any of us. One moment you're working contentedly away, doing what you do every day to earn a wage and bring home the bacon (or the tofu, if your family have gone vegetarian.) The next moment - something has changed. Maybe it's the realisation that you've been in this job for eleven years without promotion. Or... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq Commentary: The ideal of freedom and the real war in Iraq: 27 of 63
On Friday 21st March 2003, just after the allied assault against Saddam Hussein's Iraq began, it was announced that the invasion (hitherto called "Operation Blue Spoon", then "Operation Just Cause") had been renamed "Operation Iraqi Freedom."This name was chosen with some care; it was an acknowledgement that among the reasons... More..