Articles written by Jim Bessey

What is Helium

About me - Jim Bessey

Helium is home, plain and simple. I've lived here now for more than two years, and cannot imagine a day without Helium. Over the months I've met a large and diverse group of talented writers. I'm proud to call many of them friends, and all them peers.

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Home & Garden > Home Interior Bathroom remodel: Practical tips and considerations: 1 of 20
Every bathroom remodel is different, but all share three things in common: a sink, toilet, and tub or shower. In addition, most bathroom makeovers will involve new flooring. Many homeowners hesitate to make wholesale changes to their bathrooms, fearing inconvenience and expense. Experienced bath remodelers are used to seeing ... More..
Relationships & Family > Couple Communication Understanding the male mind: 1 of 19
There's a popular myth which claims that the average male thinks about sex every 12.5 seconds, or some similar absurd number. Sounds real on the surface of it; but, like many urban legends and email forwards, it's nonsense.Men suffer at the hand of over-simplification in all areas of rational thought. Do you really believe th... More..
Pets & Animals > Dogs (Other) How did the dog become man's best friend?: 2 of 31
Perhaps it is a cliche to say that dogs are man's best friend. Dogs are just dumb animals, right? Of course dogs are much more than that. They are eyes for the blind, detectives for drug searches, scouts for missing persons, and devoted companions who are willing to sacrifice their lives as protectors. Ask a dog owner about h... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips 6 tips to cure writer's block: 1 of 13
There's only one valid excuse for you to let writer's block beat you: "coma." We've all found ourselves staring at that empty paper or monitor screen, waiting in frustration for inspiration to leap into our fingers. You can cure writer's block forever. All you have to do is walk away from that blank paper long enough to open ... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Coffee: 2 of 24
I'm addicted to coffee. There, I've admitted it right up front. Without my morning coffee, I would collapse to the floor, quivering and mumbling gibberish. Don't think for a minute that just one coffee would suffice, either. It's a two-drink minimum in my world, although the second coffee is always decaffeinated. Unfortunatel... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Golf: 1 of 12
Golf is not a sport for the faint of heart. Nor is it a pastime for the weak of wallet, or for the uncoordinated. There's a very good reason why golf is a four-letter word. Still, playing golf is a great opportunity to revel in the great outdoors, see some incredible scenery, and socialize with friends and business associates... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Tips for building your own home: 1 of 11
Build your own home? For most of us, that's the biggest construction project we might tackle in life. I've done it, with pleasant success, and can offer some tips for taking on this major challenge. If you decide to "do it yourself" you'll face a thousand questions, make a few hundred decisions, and spend no less than tens of... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: The dollhouse mystery: 4 of 36
MURDER, OVER A DOLLHOUSESuspects:Mr. Hanlyn, the husbandKerry Wood, the neighborA random burglar?The UPS driver, not named"Murder, over a dollhouse? You've got to be kidding me." That was Det. John Cowe, who had at least ten years seniority on me. I smiled."Yup, husband says it's the only thing missing. Desimore believes him.... More..
Home & Garden > Architecture Best garage design: Attached or detached?: 1 of 7
Not so long ago, all garages were detached. We called them carriage barns or stables. We kept them separate because the horses lived there, too. Times have changed, of course. The modern architectural marvel known as an attached garage is a fairly recent development, born of America's love affair with automobiles combined wit... More..
Home & Garden > Home Repair (Other) Pros and cons of cedar shingle siding: 1 of 7
Don't tell the folks on Cape Cod, but cedar shingle siding isn't for everyone. It's lovely, in the right circumstances, but often the drawbacks outweigh it's beauty. With all the choices offered today in a huge variety of vinyl sidings, fewer builders and even fewer remodelers are choosing natural cedar shingles for anything ... More..