Articles written by Lin Barrett

What is Helium

About me - Lin Barrett

By the time I was eight, I had begun to read science fiction: Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Roger Zelazny. Georgette Heyer and Josephine Tey followed: "Brat Farrar"! "Miss Pym Disposes"! I was in heaven. Charlotte Armstrong was the American equivalent. I

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Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: The rebel: 1 of 29
Enguerrand DeCoucy let the title of his family lie unclaimed for one day. In that day, the bodies of his father, his elder brother, his wife, and the infant who was possibly his son were put into hallowed ground. No one challenged him at his ascension, which he had half expected. Sheet-white with pain, Enguerrand deCoucy ... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Letter to Santa Claus: 2 of 29
Dear Santa,This year I have been as good as I can be. At staying out of trouble, I succeeded 79% of the time. At getting out of trouble, I also succeeded 79% of the time.This means that I was in trouble and stayed there only 4.41% of the time ... and that my math skills are pretty solid, too. Isn't this good enough?I mean, th... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Wicca & Witchcraft How different are witches from satanists?: 4 of 41
How different are Satanists and witches? That the two beliefs would be confused with one another at all is the result of a centuries-old smear campaign. Satanism became confused with witchcraft when, around the time of the Renaissance, the Catholic Church became convinced that it was losing out to the pagans. In the countrys... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Echoes: 2 of 17
Cherry blossoms fall Beneath their tree, To lie protected. Life begins anew. More..
Food & Drink > Cuisine & Food (Other) What are the top 10 foods that you like?: 7 of 56
10. Brown rice. I don't know why this grain is so perfectly perfect in so many ways. Sauteed in olive oil before cooking, it's just yummy. You can also bake it with the chicken for Sunday dinner and it turns out fluffy, tasty, savory, and good for you into the bargain. 9. Melted cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan with or ... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Heaven, Hell & Afterlife Explaining the human need to believe in life after death: 4 of 28
It is a rare and strong human being who can sustain belief that once the body stops working, the brain which it carries dies, the personality encoded in the brain vanishes in post-mortem decay, and that is the end of our story: once our bodies are disposed of, and the last person who remembers us dies, we are gone as if w... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Astrology & Prophecy Basic astrology 101: 1 of 6
Astrology is the very first of mankind's efforts at knowing his own mind. It was a mathematically-intensive art for many years, enough to frighten away all but the most number-minded; fortunately, computers have changed that for us. Now, with the acquisition of four separate sets of knowledge and a few "favorites" on our brow... More..
Sciences > Biology (Other) Are human beings still part of nature?: 3 of 16
Are human beings still a part of nature? The last time you were ill, your body answered that question for you. The inevitable chemical processes ran their course, and in a few days you were fine again: but while you were ill, your body was a chemical factory that did not work as it usually does. When you recovered, the che... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing (Other) Tips for developing your writing skills: 4 of 21
Once you begin to write, you're doomed. Hooked. You will stare mesmerized at the computer screen until the right words form up in your brain and make their way to your fingertips, or until drops of blood form on your forehead. There are definite strategies you can use to shorten the screen-staring time and minimize blood los... More..
Food & Drink > Baking How to make homemade bread: 8 of 40
Making homemade bread is simpler and easier than you might have thought. It's not fast - yeast bread takes three hours + bake time minimum. So if you need a speedier result than that, you may be better served by making a batch of quick bread or biscuits. You will need: A large bowl Two loaf pans, or a 13" x 8" (33 x 23 cm... More..