Articles written by Elaine Arthur - Page 5

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About me - Elaine Arthur

I am a native of Long Island, NY, where I came of age somewhere between Sputnik and the first Space Shuttle. After studying Marketing and Advertising at Hofstra University and the City U. of New York, I relocated to the South. I am a Unitarian Universalist

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Relationships & Family > Domestic Violence & Abuse Book reviews: The Gift of Fear, by Gavin De Becker: 1 of 1
Gavin De Becker's bestselling book The Gift of Fear was first published in 1997, and quickly set a new standard for the way we discuss and analyze crime. The book covers a wide range on the subject - everything from how we protect ourselves (and why we sometimes fail to do so), what to look for in encounters with new people,... More..
Health & Fitness > Alcoholism Alcohol abuse vs. alcoholics: what's the difference?: 10 of 17
It is only through personal experience that I can offer any insight into the distinction between an "alcoholic" and an "alcohol abuser" or "problem drinker." Both my parents drank heavily. My childhood would have been much better without having to witness the fighting, self-pity and irrational behavior. It became quite clear... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Churches & Organizations Christian evangelists: Helpful or hurtful: 13 of 22
A preacher, by definition, is not supposed to operate in a vacuum. S/he is expected to address a group of people to spread a message in accordance with the denomination s/he was ordained to. The size of the group varies tremendously. The preacher may be a part-timer, someone who has a full-time job in an unrelated field duri... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) Which is most beneficial to your child: A common name or a unique name?: 3 of 5
In the debate over whether children benefit more from a common name or an unusual one, it is necessary to examine what we mean by "common." With world population edging toward 7 billion souls, could there possibly be many names left that are entirely unique? There are surely other Baracks in the world, and plenty more people... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Your earliest memory: 191 of 309
I started walking late, and since this memory distinctly involves crawling, I had to have been less than 18 months old. I was still sleeping in a crib. My dad would leave for work early in the morning to avoid the worst of rush hour on the Long Island Expressway. One morning, the sound of his car starting woke me. I sat up, ... More..
Health & Fitness > Vitamins & Dietary Supplements Everything you need to know about nutritional supplements and vitamin pills: 5 of 8
In researching the top five health supplements today, one central question first needs to be answered: What is a health supplement? To narrow the field, we can ask what we wish to accomplish by using supplements. Five broad categories are: * Weight loss * Strength or bulk * Immunity from illness * Minimization of pain * Impr... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Astrology & Prophecy Astrology: Practical uses and scientific aspects: 5 of 7
I like astrology. Other than some brief periods when I was of a more religious bent and turned away from it on principle, I have studied it for over 35 years. The objections I've heard to the study come from groups with different agendas. Religious people say astrology is an occult science and therefore evil. Most religions ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > African-American Issues White flight's negative impact on the education of African-Americans: 5 of 7
In certain areas of the country (especially the south), the new trend is parents opting for private school. In many cases, the parents are middle, or lower-middle class, and the tuition necessitates taking out a second mortgage and making the kinds of financial adjustments that used to be reserved for putting your kid throug... More..
Arts & Humanities > Ethics The challenges of morality on the Internet: 27 of 37
When we are confronted by rude or bullying behavior in an internet community, questions arise: Would the rude bully be the same way in person? How does one deal with this type of behavior? How does one deal with cliques? I've recently had to grapple with just such a dilemma. My hometown has a number of thriving Internet mess... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Political Values Crime: Individual responsibility or social problems?: 7 of 9
First, the situation that prompted this article. A local store burned to the ground earlier this year, and it was reported in the news that the fire was started by a nine-year-old boy. The child was angry at his mother, and proceeded to find some matches and ignite some toilet paper. The fire was fast and furious. The mother... More..