Articles written by Les Jacobs - Page 4

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About me - Les Jacobs

An experienced reporter and editor who has worked for the Economist Intelligence Unit, Foreign Trade magazine, ChinaOnline.com and several trade publications - including CompuTrade International - I have been freelancing for the past several years, providing

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Arts & Humanities > Writing at Helium (Other) An overview of Helium from a member's perspective: 17 of 52
There are many things I like about Helium - the friendly staff and great community among them - and when I first joined I burned with the enthusiasm that most newbies have. But something happened to income in April 2007 that really put a damper on things. I never expected to get rich writing for this site, but I never though... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Economic News The housing bubble and credit crisis not caused by "the poor": 19 of 57
A common misperception regarding the housing bubble and credit crisis is that they were caused by "the poor." Low-income people bought homes they couldn't afford, the explanation goes, using "zero-down," negative-amortization or similar subprime mortgages. Once the monthly payments were reset, these homeowners couldn't affor... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies Are American soldiers in Iraq dying in vain?: 8 of 24
American soldiers are absolutely not dying in vain in Iraq. They were sent there to complete a mission - to overthrow a tyrannical, murderous dictator - a mission they completed brilliantly, and they are currently instrumental in keeping the country from sliding into bloody chaos. Whether you backed the U.S. invasion or not,... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Babies (Other) Evolving parents: How a man's understanding of his wife changes after a baby arrives: 4 of 12
My feelings for my wife underwent a whole series of changes after our triplet boys were born, everything from resentment and anger to pity and sorrow. I understand now that my reactions were completely normal - it's hard for a loved one to respond differently when put in an impossible situation - but at the time I was bewild... More..
Personal Finance > Stock Market Profiting from current stock market turmoil: 3 of 9
Stock prices have been fluctuating wildly, oil prices are skyrocketing, and while the U.S. Dollar tumbles, gold has been rising in value. All this financial turmoil may have you on edge, worrying about your retirement account and other investments, but don't just sit back and fret, grab the bull by the horns and profit from ... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Places to visit in South Korea: 2 of 6
For cultural tourists, I recommend visiting the Summer Palace in Seoul, the Silla-era burial mounds in Gyeongju, Dalseong Park in Daegu, the Tongdosa Buddhist temple in Pusan (Busan) and, for those pressed for time (and who can't travel far outside the capital), the Korean Folk Village. Before I go into detail about these, I... More..
Personal Finance > Investing (Other) How to use ETFs to bet against the stock market: 1 of 3
If the falling stock market has got you down, don't despair. You can profit from this trend by buying "bear market" ETFs, investment vehicles that bet against the stock market. The value of these rise as share prices fall, and a number of them have been doing very well this year. Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are funds tha... More..
Computers & Technology > Computer Buying Tips How to clean up your old PC's hard disk drive: 1 of 3
Afraid of identity theft? One way criminals can learn all about you is by mining personal data off your old computer's hard drive. Remember: Just because you delete something doesn't mean it's no longer there. A few years ago, a pair of M.I.T. graduate students bought 158 used hard drives off of the Internet just to see how ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Hobbies & Games (Other) Used books on the internet: A buyer's guide: 1 of 3
When it comes to buying used books online, you need to consider three things: the safety of your credit/debit card number, the price of the book and the cost of shipping and handling. Big, established merchants tend to be more trustworthy, but it's the little guy that usually offers the best prices. The good news is, you can... More..
Arts & Humanities > Asian Languages Chinese concepts that do not translate well into English: 1 of 3
Concepts dealing with "face" are probably the most difficult to translate. "Bu yao lian," which means, literally, "don't want face," is a case in point. To understand this phrase, you need to understand that in Chinese culture "face," or how other people view you, is very very important. It's important in non-Chinese culture... More..