Articles written by John Sarkis

What is Helium

About me - John Sarkis

I'm a musician by hobby, and a medical biller by profession. I went to city college for two years, and then to UCLA for one. I studied film scoring at UCLA, and medical insurance billing. I've been a medical biller for over 20 years now; I never thought I'd

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: How I became passionate about music: 1 of 17

I was introduced to Classical music when I was 14 years old. It started with my interest in learning to play the Piano. I took a voice class in School for extra credits, and couldn't take my eyes of the "baby grand" that sat in the middle of the room.In the beginning my parents didn't have the money to pay for lessons, so I i... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Atheism & Agnosticism Has religion become obsolete?: 2 of 30
When it comes to religion, few have said better than Dostoevsky did: "Sometimes atheists believe more than religious people do at times." (paraphrasing what he said, since I don't remember the exact quote). Know this though, believing in mankind is also a religion, and a futile one at that, however: many people have traded th... More..
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes The Internet & music: How the Internet is restoring the relationship between the composer, the musician and the audience: 1 of 15
I was a teenager; classical music has been my favorite. I remember anxiously waiting for Friday nights: "KFAC," as it was known back then; would broadcast a "Boston Pops" concert at 10:00PM (re-broadcast anyway). I use to look forward to Friday nights all week long. Not only for the weekend, but for the "Boston Pops" concert ... More..
Entertainment > Music Education How to develop an appreciation for classical music: 2 of 21
To paraphrase/quote Arthur Fiddler: "No one really likes classical music." (even if this is an incorrect nomenclature for describing this type of music) He came to this conclusion while living, and having been the director of the famous Boston Pops, I'd like to say he knew a thing or two about the topic of "classical music."... More..
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Falling in love: 7 of 73
Quadroons and Octoroons CHAPTER I It's the turn of the 20th century; the year was 1905 to be exact. My story takes place in Havana, Cuba. Maria Estevez had just returned from a little market just two blocks from her home. She bought black beans and rice. It was Saturday, and they were going to make Ox-tail that evening, Arroz... More..
Autos > Car Reviews Great cars to drive and own: 3 of 30

Even though I no longer own my Infiniti G20, during the 6 years of ownership, I can safely say it was the best vehicle I owned. I was skeptical about the car, especially when I sat signing the loan docs for it (I purchased it brand new), and was told that a regular oil change would cost $161.00 at the dealership. Never before... More..
Autos > Driving & Safety Driver safety: The dangers of speeding: 1 of 10
TIPS ON SAFE DRIVING:If you don't ever remember anything at all, remember this when it comes to automobiles: what am I driving? Not how expensive, how hot looking, or any other adjectives you could think of; but simple one: what am I driving.Your ship has come in, and you go all out: you purchase a $80,000 Land Rover and deci... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Cult horror movies: 1 of 10

Black Christmas. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Plan 9 from Outer Space...and so many more, it's hard to keep up, but regardless of how good/bad famous/infamous these movies are , there's a lot more to it than just that in order for it to qualify as a "cult film...." What causes a film to be ref... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Humor: 8 of 70
The Rich Man and The Poor Man Once upon a time, there lived a rich prince (vice president) in the wealthiest suburb of Rome (Beverly Hills, CA). He was always taken around in the most expensive carriages (he only drove Porsches' and Ferraris') money can buy. His friends were amongst the most important men in all of Rome (... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Immigration Should illegal immigrants be entitled to receive benefits?: 7 of 60
If you were an average American citizen, and you get ill and can't work anymore. Let us say you've been working for twenty-years, you've been paying into Social Security for all that time. and you decide to walk into a Social Security office and claim your benefits-wrong! You have to hire an attorney to get your benefits/mon... More..