Articles written by Laureen Manera

What is Helium

About me - Laureen Manera

I have lived my entire life in the Pacific Northwest. I'm 37 years old (2008) and currently live with my disabled mother, who I take care of.

I don't have many recreational opportunities anymore, but used to enjoy horseback riding, shopping trips, and seeing

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Entertainment > Movie Characters & Performances Johnny Depp or Gene Wilder's version of Willy Wonka: 1 of 59
Which is better- Johnny Depp's or Gene Wilder's Wonka? This is a bit of a tough one. I absolutely adore both movies, but for different reasons. The new one's special effects are dazzling compared to the original. I also like how the new one goes into alot more detail, explaining Wonka's past and the problems he had in his rel... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Success & sleaze: Celebrities of today are not role models for our children: 1 of 35
It is a travesty that so many of today's so-called role models are just celebrities and little more. A role model is supposed to be someone you look up to and want to be like. Someone who's a real hero. How many of these movie stars and singers, not to mention sports stars, are really the type of people we want kids to look u... More..
Pets & Animals > Animal Rights & Issues Is it morally OK to wear fur?: 2 of 50
I do not consider myself to be an "animal rights activist" in the strict sense of the word. I love animals, but most of these activists rub me the wrong way and go way too far in many cases.However, when it comes to wearing fur, I tend to lean toward their side of thinking. While I would never dump a can of red paint to symbo... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: My favorite cat: 1 of 24
My favorite cat wasn't even mine.About a decade or so ago, I was heading out to the alley to take a bag of garbage to the big can that was shared with the other tenants in my apartment building. As I was about to unload my burden, suddenly something flew out of the can and streaked past me. When it got to a safe distance, it ... More..
Other Great pranks to play on people: 3 of 62
When I was growing up, my family ate out often. This was mainly because Mom hated cooking, and avoided it whenever the budget would allow. We didn't go to fancy places or anything, but usually a few days a week found us having dinner in some local restaurant.Two that we frequently went to were Denny's and Skipper's. My dad, a... More..
Health & Fitness > Health Risks Obesity in children: Addressing the problem: 1 of 16
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in our society today. So much so that hardly a week goes by that you don't hear some reference to it in the media. We are finally starting to understand the real-world dangers awaiting these kids, and it's high time we did something about it.It used to be funny to make fun of fat kids. I don't... More..
Health & Fitness > General Health (Other) What is gout?: 2 of 27
Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by a buildup of crystals of sodium urate in joints. It primarily affects middle-aged men between 40 and 50 years of age, but can occur in younger people as well, though this is rare. When younger people are afflicted, it tends to be more severe for some reason. Women can also have it... More..
Health & Fitness > Diet Tips So-called healthy foods that aren't healthy: 1 of 13
Many of us look for ways to reduce or even eliminate unhealthy foods from our diet. In our world of pre-packaged, highly processed food choices, this can be a real challenge. Especially when companies use various gimmicks and marketing tactics that border on fraud; making their products sound like a healthy alternative when r... More..
Education > Education (Other) Should students be allowed to read their Bible during reading time at school: 2 of 21
I can see no reason whatsoever why, as long as there is no distraction nor disruption, a student shouldn't be allowed to read the Bible at school. I'm not talking about teaching from it, which would obviously create a firestorm of controversy, however misguided. But to simply read from it, why not?Public schools have for year... More..
Pets & Animals > Animal Rights & Issues Have 'Animal Rights' gone too far?: 5 of 50
I distinctly remember the shock and disbelief I felt as I watched something on TV a few years ago. A man was arrested for animal cruelty for killing a dog. Apparently he shot it, and it later died. Now before you judge the man and think he was a terrible person and got what he deserved, let me tell you why he killed the dog.T... More..