Gerlinda Grimes was a generalist writer who contributed more than 75 articles to HowStuffWorks between 2009 and 2015 on topics as wide-ranging as personal finance, pop culture and fitness.
Recent Contributions
With more than a thousand patents for inventions ranging from light bulbs to cement, Thomas Edison was one of the world's most prolific tinkerers. What did Edison dream up?
Whether you pay taxes on eBay sales depends on whether this is a casual hobby or a serious money-maker for you. But the rules may be changing.
Ever wonder about that eerie-sounding music in old sci-fi flicks? Those haunting strains may come from a theremin, an instrument you play without touching. How's that possible? Find out in this article.
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Ah, the charmed life of a TV actor: have one big hit TV show and then live like a king for years once all of those royalty checks start rolling in. Is that how royalties really work?
Whether you're debating the need for oil independence or discussing the environmental impacts of oil drilling, there's no doubt about it: Oil is a hot topic of conversation. However, do you know the proper way to recycle it?
Creating a website can be a pricey proposition for a small business. There are grants out there that can fund website development, but the competition is fierce — and the grants often come with strings attached.
From Disney and Mattel to Apple and Amazon, countless U.S. business staples have started in someone's home. The Internet only makes this feat easier. Could your home be the incubator for the next big online company?
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Is it true that online businesses have lower startup costs than traditional companies? Sometimes. Etsy shops are fairly cheap, but it'll be a different story if you're trying to launch the world's next great technology.
Licensing seems so arbitrary — why do you need a license to catch a fish, for example, but not to be a parent? Sometimes, though, you need to follow the rules and get one. Is selling things online one of those times?
You have a shop on Etsy, while your partner owns an online travel agency. Should you both have tax ID numbers?
Many companies that used to have dedicated business servers are now switching to cloud-based storage solutions. But cloud computing isn't for everyone, so take a few minutes to read this article before you shut down that server.
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The marriage of the Internet and the wedding industry has been a match made in heaven — you can plan your entire wedding without leaving your couch.
Ever wonder how those crazy folks you watch on reality TV land on those shows? Are they related to the show's director or something? Nope. Reality TV producers use several methods to cast their shows.
It always happens. You, your mom, your neighbor and everybody else you know gets wrapped up in a new TV show, only to have the TV network cancel it. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which TV shows survive on air. Or is there?
Ever wondered how reality TV shows really film all of that unscripted insanity? No need to wonder any longer. One of the HowStuffWorks writers tells what happened when reality TV came knocking on her door.
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Oh, reality TV: fights, scheming, double-crossing, tears and drama. All of this "unscripted" reality can't possibly be real. So what's real, and what's fake in reality TV?
Sure, we all feel like stars singing in the shower or into a hairbrush in the bedroom. But most of us don't feel confident enough in our vocal abilities to pursue our musical dreams. Is that why we live vicariously through singing competitions?
You've tried lots of ways to give your career a boost: becoming best friends with the boss, grabbing all the attention at meetings, taking credit for others' ideas. Have you thought about appearing on a reality competition? It couldn't hurt.
You can hear an awful lot of foul language when watching your favorite movies or shows — as long as they air on cable or the Internet. Who decides which words are too hot for broadcast TV?
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It's a clever premise and a play on words: You "pin" your "interest" (or rather, interests) to a virtual bulletin board. But how does it work? Stick with us, newbie.
Baseball has a pretty colorful history, especially its curses. From the goat-plagued Chicago Cubs to a Japanese team's strange encounter with Colonel Sanders, we'll take a look at 10 of the most famous (and bizarre).
Baseball players have all sorts of strange little warm-up rituals when they're getting ready to bat. We'll explore the science and the superstition behind the practice in this article.
Home remodels can range from the extensive (can you say money pit?) to the everyday (a new roof, perhaps?). When fixing up your digs, do you always need to pull a permit? We'll explain why getting approval is prudent in this article.
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Studies show that getting hitched can be good for your health -- and sometimes, your pocketbook. Find out how walking down the aisle can save you money (driving) down the road.
Car accidents are pretty standard fare, but occasionally, some really weird stuff lands on insurance adjusters' desks. From mattresses to minibuses, you won't believe it until you read it!