Articles written by Matt Bird - Page 5

Where Knowledge Rules

What is Helium

About me - Matt Bird

What's there to say, really? I'm a Canadian Journalism student who loves to write. I've done it since I was a child and I hope to continue writing 'til I'm in my grave. Prior to Journalism I went to the University of Toronto, St. George Campus for English

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Relationships & Family > Dating Commentary Great ways to annoy a guy: 1 of 14
Being a guy myself I'd like to think I know how to annoy my fellow mankind. I'm certainly aware of what annoys ME, and often what gets under my skin will also irk any fellas in the vicinity. This, then, is a guide (presumably for women - who else would annoy us?) on how to bug a guy. Be sure to put these tips to good use, la... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing When it's okay for the protagonist to die: 1 of 14
Most fiction, especially that geared towards younger audiences, strives for the happy ending. We want the characters we've come to love to end their day victorious, and, more important, together. Seeing them part from one another is just too painful, especially when parting comes from the death of one of the major protagonis... More..
Education > Education (Other) Study tips for students: 1 of 14
Ew, study time has rolled around again? No good, that. Stress levels rise, veins pop out on foreheads and everybody scrambles to jam as much information into their brains as possible. Relax, y'all. Studying isn't as difficult or annoying as it seems, as long as you follow a few general guidelines. And while some may seem irr... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) Unique and fun April Fools' Day pranks: 2 of 27
I have to admit that I seldom participate in April Fools' Day. I generally forget it's even come around, though given the events of the day I remember rather quickly can thus remain on my guard for the rest of the day. Yet despite my non-participation I wish I felt more enthusiasm for April Fools', as I always come up with l... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Video game reviews: Final Fantasy XII: 1 of 13
Final Fantasy games are known for being pretty expansive. Understandably so, too, considering how much money you always end up paying for them: players expect to get many, many hours of play out of their games, and with this series they won't be disappointed. Oddly enough, that's one of my problems with Final Fantasy XII. It... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Games (Other) Video games: To buy or to rent: 1 of 13
To buy or to rent? Good question. In the old days I would have said rent without hesitation. What's the point of buying a game you'll only play a few times anyway? The days of the NES generally had few games wherein you could save, so owning a copy wasn't that integral a thing. If you wanted to play a game, just go rent it f... More..
Relationships & Family > Humor & Laughter Today's most annoying popular catch phrases: 3 of 38
A good catch phrase can make a person's career. That said they tend to get stale over time, and overuse can make a catch phrase positively nauseating. We've all heard them, and we all hate them. Here are a bunch of catch phrases that drive me batty whenever I hear them, along with some extra commentary for flavor. - "Oh HELL... More..
Health & Fitness > Gym & Health Club Top mistakes people make in the gym: 2 of 25
Most people who walk into a gym for the first time have no idea what they're doing. The only thought that went through their head before paying admission was probably "need to lose weight". Consequently they end up doing things all wrong, and in some cases the "wrong thing" can make their situation even worse. Don't be one o... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Trends & Genres Are video game prices too high?: 2 of 25
In a world facing recession and peering at possible depression, it's easy to believe that video game prices are far too high. Who wants to pay $70 for a single game that might only take up a few hours of their time before being completed? Not me, of course. But then, not every game costs that much - and so there's no easy an... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literary Themes & Ideas Favorite literary characters: 1 of 12
Millions of stories to choose from, billions of characters between them. Not an easy list to make, this. Yet I will try. Here's a brief sample of some of my all-time favorite characters from works of fictional literature, be they bad, good, realistic, horrific or otherwise just plain weird. Note now that they won't be in any... More..