Articles written by Kevin Schwendeman

What is Helium

About me - Kevin Schwendeman

Making my home in the suburbs of Chicago along with my wife, Jill, most free time is spent updating our first house-an enjoyable, but neverending task.

After writing many humorous short stories in grade school, I focused on other activities while in high school.

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Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Why people always want what they cannot have: 1 of 39
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. In today's materialistic world this classic saying rings as true as ever. As a whole, we do not look at what we have, but at what we don't. Instead of counting our own blessings, we count those of our neighbors. What causes this very human phenomenon? How are we cond... More..
Health & Fitness > Sleep Disorders How to cure insomnia: 3 of 26
I can't sleep. I just can't get comfortable. What is that noise? If I fall asleep right now I'll get just enough.Do you find these thoughts running through your mind as you toss, turn, rotate, flip and repeat? Insomnia, namely chronic insomnia, should not be taken lightly and could be a signal for a larger issue. Not only thi... More..
Creative Writing > Drama Drama: Ice skating on the pond: 1 of 8
(Lights up. A bus stop. There is a bench of the sort at a bus stop. JONATHAN is sitting on the bench, staring forward, deeply intrigued. ANNE enters in a flurry of motion balancing all the things typical morning commuters do i.e. messenger bag, gym bag, the paper, ipod, and of course coffee which she promptly drops.) ANNE: Ah... More..
Jobs & Careers > Online Jobs (Other) Can you really make money online?: 23 of 82
Job got you down? Looking for an easier way? Want to be master of your own schedule? These are only some of the questions you may be asking yourself. And when you look for an answer you always come back to making money online. This is the curse of the IT generation. With the world a click away even making money should be so e... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics 10 things one should know when working in the cubicle world: 8 of 25
Embrace the cubicle. To fight against it, to struggle as if in prison, will only take you down a path to environmental distress at the workplace. The three walls will begin to press down on you; the flickering energy efficient fluorescent lights will slowly pulse individuality out of your body. Blandness will follow and soon ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Culture & Community Growing older and still playing video games: 19 of 49
I'm not getting any younger, but I don't care. I love video games. From the Intellivision gaming system to my current XBOX 360, I have loved video games. Through the years I have witnessed such dramatic change in the technology of gaming systems. It always makes me laugh when I think about the little square-like man in Intell... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Thanksgiving Thanksgiving facts: Food of the first Thanksgiving: 6 of 12
No stuffing? No Pumpkin pie? No cranberry sauce? No mashed potatoes? What are you crazy? What kind of Thanksgiving dinner is this? The first kind. For those weak of heart a word of caution: the Pilgrims did not have a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal. Though this may take your breath away, given some perspective, it can help u... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Learning to appreciate anew what America stands for and sharing with our children: 10 of 19
With what could be argued the most important election of our lifetimes looming in November, now is the time many Americans begin to redefine what America means to them. There are some that define America along political party lines and some who view America in a more philosophical way. However you slice it, Americans do have ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics How to tell if you're a flaky employee: 9 of 15
Flakiness is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately, you are not the beholder. The flaky mentality can be defined numerous ways, but the result is the same: flakiness in the workplace is annoying. If you are reading this, there is a high possibility that you are worried about your own flakiness. That's ok! Being empowered ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Traits that define lazy people: 20 of 29
For many years laziness has invaded society more and more with each generation. How often have those from older generations launched into stories beginning with "Back in my day"? Laziness has become so much the norm, in fact, that many people don't even realize they are part of the issue. The age of the couch potato has repla... More..