Articles written by Mel Bergen - Page 5

What is Helium

About me - Mel Bergen

I began writing for the web in January, 2007, although I have been writing for myself since I could hold a pencil. I've finally discovered the joys of not only getting my work read (and getting paid for my efforts) but receiving feedback from readers so that

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Computers & Technology > Phone Technologies & Issues At what age do you give a child a cell-phone?: 18 of 42
I think the decision to get your child a cellular phone depends on a few factors. In our case, our home is within a few blocks of all of the schools which our children will attend from kindergarten through graduation, which was a factor in our purchase. If we lived in a rural area or if I commuted to work (or worked in a situ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Helium Dos & Don'ts To flag or not to flag at Helium: Guidelines on using the flagging tool: 6 of 14
Flagging articles at Helium is an effective way to help staff remove the dregs of what has been posted to this site. How do you decide if you should flag an article or rate it down?The first thing to consider is whether the post was intended to be a response to the topic or if it was simply posted to take up space and perhaps... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) Tips for making pizza healthy: 13 of 30
You can make pizza healthier with a few simple changes. While your pie will never qualify as health food, homemade pizza will provide four food groups and amazing flavor. Start with the crust and reinvent your pizza into a tasty, healthy treat with these tips.Use a whole-wheat crust. If you make your own crust, substitute who... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Do children need educational toys?: 15 of 34
Childen do not "need" educational toys. Children don't need any particular kind of toy. They can take rocks and twigs from the yard and play quite happily! What they do need is you - to invest your time playing with them and to teach them the basics yourself. While there are hundreds of toys out there that purport to teach th... More..
Style & Beauty > Shoes Crash course in walking on high heels: 4 of 9
While I rarely wear high heels, I've had enough intermittent practice to offer a few tips. Generally the problem comes from trying to wear super-high spike heels (that look really sexy when you're standing still, but really kill your feet) instead of picking a height that won't make you take baby-steps everywhere you go or ch... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Conservation Why reducing consumption remains the most effective way to help the environment: 5 of 11
Conserving our resources is best done by not using them in the first place. There are obvious ways to reduce our dependence on oil, coal, and other non-renewable energy sources, such as switching to alternative fuels or wind and solar power. Ways to reduce our use of so-called renewable resources are less obvious.Save PaperPl... More..
Home & Garden > Home Interior Bedroom decor: How to design a Disney Cars theme bedroom: 8 of 17
If your child is a fan the movie Cars, he or she would love to have them all around the bedroom. You can design a theme based on the Cars movie and transform you child's room into a little piece of Radiator Springs without buying a bed shaped like a race car.What to Do with the WallsRather than covering the room in wallpaper ... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Tourist hotspots: Cheesecake and Crime (Las Vegas, Nevada): 3 of 6
If you're looking for something different to do on your next Las Vegas vacation, drive a few miles south and discover Cheesecake & Crime in Henderson, Nevada. You'll find a welcome break from dinging bells, flashing lights, and shuffling cards.With Cheesecake & Crime, Pamela Mains mixes a bookstore with a bakery and cooks up ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) Record collecting: How to repair a warped record: 1 of 2
One of the worst things for a record collector to find is that they have managed to leave an LP in the car and have warped it or that they have bought a warped album. Keep in mind that really valuable records and ones that play fine should probably be left alone as there is no guarantee that you won't make your problem worse.... More..
Home & Garden > Landscaping A look at brick patio weed control: 1 of 2
Nothing destroys the look of a beautiful brick patio like weeds pushing their way between the carefully laid pavers. You can treat existing weeds and take steps to prevent them from sprouting, both before you lay your brick patio or after years of enjoying it.Before the FactThe first line of defense against weeds marring your... More..