Articles written by Jim Bessey - Page 3

What is Helium

About me - Jim Bessey

Helium is home, plain and simple. I've lived here now for more than two years, and cannot imagine a day without Helium. Over the months I've met a large and diverse group of talented writers. I'm proud to call many of them friends, and all them peers.

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Computers & Technology > Computers & Technology (Other) Assessing the effect of new technologies on our lifestyle: 11 of 37
We spent the afternoon today configuring our new wireless router. Can you think of anything more fun and entertaining than that? It certainly was a learning experience. My wife spent the previous night on hold with a revolving batch of tech-support people (for the cable provider) trying to troubleshoot our old router. None of... More..
Home & Garden > Home Repair (Other) How to build a shed: 1 of 3
Your closets are overflowing. The basement is a rec-room and office. You don't have an attic, and there's no room in the garage for your car. Sounds like you need a shed! Maybe you could build your own. Storage buildings aren't nearly as demanding as kitchen make-overs, and you won't have to suffer weeks of eating take-out if... More..
Sports & Recreation > Camping Which provides for a better camping experience: RVs or tent-camping?: 11 of 29
There are two distinct worlds of camping: tents and RV's. Each is as different from the other as Democrat and Republican. Emotions run strong in both camps, and proponents of one often disdain supporters of the other. "That's not camping!" the tenters say to the lazy, pampered residents of recreational vehicles. "But when it ... More..
Home & Garden > Plumbing Repairs Troubleshooting common toilet problems: 4 of 10
Not a single fixture or appliance in our homes is more crucial to our sanity than the lowly toilet. We expect our commodes to work every time, and we cringe with foul distaste when one fails in its humble mission. Yet a malfunctioning toilet must be fixed post-haste! If the kitchen sink is clogged, that can wait. Not so the p... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs My true garden story: 120 of 298
The trouble started when the rose bush dropped dead. I had just three, in a lovely triangle right in the center of our front garden. Losing one destroyed the symmetry and had me immediately concerned about the health of the remaining pair of roses. I didn't know it right away, but I had a lot more to worry about than a couple... More..
Sports & Recreation > Football Players Reflecting on the murder of Sean Taylor, NFL superstar: 7 of 17
Sean Taylor, stand-out safety for the Washington Redskins, died early on the morning of November 27, 2007 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. He was just twenty-four years old. Taylor was shot before dawn Monday the 26th, by an apparent intruder (who remains unidentified). Taylor's girlfriend and 1-year-old daughter were i... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Becoming a better writer: 14 of 31
If you Google the phrase "become better writer" you'll get just over 59 million results. About half of these will be freelance writing advice blogs . The rest will probably try to sell you a book or a newsletter subscription. Do you really want to become a better writer? Then follow the advice contained on one of the best of ... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: A math mystery: 6 of 12
TWO PLUS TWO IS FIVE?Suspects:Tanya Barden, bank tellerKenny Weld, mechanic, bank customerThomas Desmond, salesman, bank customerElizabeth Jung, self-employed, bank customerOR: Any one of the four felons, in custody"Since when does two plus two equal five, Phil?" That was the response from my supervisor, Det. John Cowe. He to... More..
Home & Garden > Home Repair (Other) Basement remodeling tips: 4 of 8
Remodeling your unfinished basement can be a cost-effective way to expand your living space, especially if you can do much of the work yourself. Create a cozy viewing lounge for a large-screen television and sound system. Design your dream office or crafts workspace. Fashion an impressive recreation area around a ping-pong or... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: True stories about shady real estate agents: 2 of 4
She was a cute and perky lady, but I still might label our realtor as "shady." I rhymed that line because it all worked out in the end, so I only have to laugh at our home buying experience now. It wasn't funny at the time. For a couple hours, there in our own agent's office well after dark, we feared our final offer on our m... More..