What Makes People Tick?

Source : Getty Images Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The world's three main monotheistic religions. First came monotheistic Judaism in a polytheistic world. Then came the Jewish Jesus whose teachings inspired Christianity. Then came Islam which accepts all the Jewish prophets and Jesus' virgin birth and teachings. These three religions are connected not only through acceptance of the same prophets and basic teachings but also through locations that matter to them and many very similar rituals, prayers and aspirations. When one examines the similarities between these three religious groups, the differences between them somehow seem to fade away into nothing. The Jewish Torah consists of the Biblical books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Together with several other books by or about prophets and some containing wisdom or songs or teachings, these books together make up the Tanakh - the full "Jewish Bible". Christians rearrange the books and ...

Source : BBC News   Only minutes after writing about how the #YesAllWomen hash-tag is sweeping the world, I came across an article from Al Jazeera. According to the article, two teenage girls were found hanging from a tree after being GANG-RAPED BY FIVE MEN in India's Uttar Pradesh state. A quote from the article: "Records show a rape is committed every 22 minutes across the country of 1.2 billion people, though activists say that number is low because many victims are reluctant to come forward." Source : Indian girls found hanging after gang-rape , Al Jazeera English EVERY 22 MINUTES. How? Why? In what twisted, ridiculous world are numbers like that even reality? In what world are human beings treated as nothing but objects by other human beings? Rape is one of the most vile, inhuman things that one human being can do to another. I can't begin to find the words to express my utter disgust when I read this, when I try to think of the incredible unfairness of ...

Twitter 29-05-2014, 14:24 CET While I try to stay (reasonably) up-to-date with current affairs in order to write about developments I find interesting, sometimes Life Intrudes and reading the newspaper or watching the news really is the last thing on your mind. Often when Life Intrudes in this way, developments surprise me. This is exactly what happened with the #YesAllWomen (Yes All Women) hash-tag action currently sweeping Social Media. The screen capture on the right was taken only a few minutes ago. New Tweets keep appearing fast and it seems like the #YesAllWomen hash-tag is shaking up the world. And rightly so, because the way some men continue to objectify and mistreat women is simply unacceptable. The Guardian explains how #YesAllWomen came to be: "In the days since Elliot Rodger murdered six people in Isla Vista, California, citing hatred of women and sexual rejection as the reason for his rampage, women across the world have come out en masse to share their st...

This awesome image comes from the "I Fucking Love Science" Facebook page . I'm sharing it because I agree! "I don't want to protect the environment, I want to create a world where the environment doesn't need protecting."

Many years have passed since 1948 and whether one likes it or not (I'm looking at you, Hamas!), the State of Israel is an established fact. The only way to remove the State of Israel is to wipe every last bit of it off the map entirely, which would equate to the mass genocide of millions of innocent people. Seeing the world already tried that 'solution' some seventy-odd years ago, let's try building bridges this time instead of fences. Just as the State of Israel is an established fact, so are the Palestinian people in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank and their aspirations for a united Palestinian state. Just as the horrors of the Holocaust must always be remembered so that we will never repeat such crimes against humanity, so too must the Palestinian people find a way to live without feeling like refugees, safe and secure, in a place they can call their own, in a land that they call their own. It is time that Israelis and Palestinians realise that they can keep fight...

"One Day" Sometimes I lay Under the moon And thank God I'm breathing Then I pray Don't take me soon 'Cause I am here for a reason Sometimes in my tears I drown But I never let it get me down So when negativity surrounds I know some day it'll all turn around because... All my life I've been waiting for I've been praying for For the people to say That we don't wanna fight no more There will be no more wars And our children will play One day [x6] It's not about Win or lose Because we all lose When they feed on the souls of the innocent Blood-drenched pavement Keep on moving though the waters stay raging In this maze you can lose your way (your way) It might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you no way (no way) Sometimes in my tears I drown (I drown) But I never let it get me down (get me down) So when negativity surrounds (surrounds) I know some day it'll all turn around because... All my life I...

Source :  The Happy Nomads -  Rainy Day Hikes and Emily the Cow “War is over ... If you want it.” ― John Lennon Dreaming of peace is easy. Working towards achieving peace -- true and lasting global peace based on respect for all of humanity and all living things, mutual understanding between peoples and common goals the world over -- is a lot harder than just dreaming of it. Yet peace is something worth dreaming of and also worth fighting for, or rather - It is something worth struggling for, worth working towards and worth supporting unconditionally. “If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace.” ― John Lennon True . Sad but true. Perhaps more true today than it was when John Lennon lived, over thirty years ago. Imagine if, instead of demanding things like television sets, mobile phones and music players we start demanding justice, equality, understanding, cooperation, liberty, religious freedom and peace for a...

The Guardian reported yesterday (25 May 2014) that the head of the worldwide Catholic Church, Pope Francis, visited the security barrier separating Israel from Palestine at Bethlehem to speak and pray there. "It is an image that will define Pope Francis's first official visit to the Holy Land. Head bowed in prayer, the leader of the Catholic church pressed his palm against the graffiti-covered concrete of Israel's imposing "separation wall", a Palestinian girl holding a flag by his side. It was, as his aides conceded later, a silent statement against a symbol of division and conflict." Source :  Pope Francis offers prayers at Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem The Guardian

Study Provides ‘Formula’ for Predicting Effects of Autism-linked Genes As the Autism Speaks website reported yesterday (25 May 2014), a new study provides insight into possible genetic reasons for autism. The study, published by Nature Genetics , "provides new insights into the unique ways genetic risk factors for autism are expressed in the brain,” according to Autism Speak's chief science officer Robert Ring. “This knowledge helps to lay the foundation for turning genetic discoveries into diagnostic tests that will detect autism earlier, and opens the door to the future personalization of medical or behavioral interventions in autism.” Source : Study Provides ‘Formula’ for Predicting Effects of Autism-linked Genes , Autism Speaks

An interesting article from The Algemeiner looking at the Israeli - Palestinian conflict and how the (fight for the) establishment of a Palestinian state is viewed by Arab nations. A quote from the article to give you an idea of why I find it interesting: "Ignoring reality, Western policy makers consider the Palestinian issue the crown jewel of Arab policy-making, the core cause of Middle Eastern developments and the crux of the Arab-Israeli conflict. An erroneous underlying, Palestinian-driven assumption has produced an erroneous policy, radicalizing Arab and Palestinian expectations, fueling terrorism and inherent Middle Eastern instability, distancing the parties from peace and bringing them closer to war, and undermining Western national security and vital economic interests." A Palestinian State - Not a Priority , The Algemeiner Writer: Yoram Ettinger; Dated 23 May 2014. Article originally published by Israel Hayom

Source : John Finnemore Blog Drawing in December While looking for some information online regarding how to draw buildings, I came across two very amazing painting and drawing blogs that I want to gush about and share with others. The first 'gush and share' is a blog called Forget What Did by John Finnemore who - according to what I've seen of his blog - enjoys drawing in his spare time. He did a series of drawings in the days leading up to Christmas in December 2011 which I really enjoyed which is why I'm linking to them. As John explains himself, "I write and perform comedy and drama for TV, radio and the stage. For instance, I write the BBC Radio 4 sitcom 'Cabin Pressure', and play the part of Arthur." Well there you go - one talented man who can draw to boot! Do make sure to check out the drawings for the 10th, the 15th and the 20th of December as I love those the best.The artist explains the technique: "I''ve ve only dra...

Yes - you read that right. Gay Penguins Adopt an Abandoned Chick The UK's Daily Mail yesterday headlined that "Gay penguins adopt an abandoned chick - and the wildlife park claims they are the 'best parents' it's ever had." As penguins are cute, gay rights are a hot topic and we're very interested in education & child-rearing, this article is perfect for What Makes People Tick? !!! I like it that in the world of penguins, it doesn't matter who you choose as your mate - you're not shunned by the group and there are no objections to you parenting a baby! The article explains that it's not just humans and penguins who've shown homosexual behaviour - homosexuality has also been observed in domestic rams and male dolphins. How amazing!

“Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness.”  ~ Kahlil Gibran “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”  ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt “Jaime had never realised that trees made a sound when they grew, and no-one else had realised it either, because the sound is made over hundreds of years in waves of twenty-four hours from peak to peak. Speed it up, and the sound a tree makes is vrooom.”  ~ Terry Pratchett, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”  ~ Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky “The winds of change are alway...

Source : Screencap from Adopt a Coin , Corinium Museum website How cool is this! You can adopt a Roman coin from the Tetbury Coin Hoard - discovered in 2010 - for just £10 and help preserve Roman-British history at the same time! Cirencester is a town in east Gloucestershire, England, to the north-west of London. The Roman name for the town was Corinium and the town's Corinium Museum is well-known for its extensive Roman collection. Coins from the Tetbury Coin Hoard are to be displayed by the Museum. The hoard consists of approximately 1500 coins dating from AD 260s – 280s. "Adopt a Roman Coin from Corinium Museum to help raise £15,000 to conserve and display the Tetbury Coin Hoard! The Tetbury Hoard was discovered in 2010 and excavated in the days following its discovery. The coins, and the vessel they were found in, were declared Treasure and initially sent to the British Museum for analysis. They have now been generously donated to the Museum by the landowner and...

The Netherlands was occupied by the Nazis during World War Two. The country lost over 102,000 people to the War. Unlike in many other countries, there is no monument where the names of all those who died and were murdered are listed. An initiative is in the works now to build just such a monument in Amsterdam. It is possible to 'adopt' or 'sponsor' the name of family members, friends, loved ones, people who once lived in your street before being deported or going into hiding... Or even total strangers. By giving a small donation, someone who did not deserve to die will be remembered, their name will be known and their memory will be honoured. We at What Makes People Tick? very much applaud this initiative. A short explanation, from the website: "102.000 Nederlandse slachtoffers van de Holocaust verdienen een plek om hen te gedenken. In Amsterdam komt een monument met de namen van 102.000 mensen die nooit een graf kregen. Eindelijk een plek waar nabestaanden...

Source : Pew Research Center Sometimes you need to read the numbers and see the statistics to understand just how often something happens. Take harassment or discrimination based on one's religion, for example. Pew Research reports that in Europe, 51% of Christians, 69% of Jews and 71% of Muslims face harassment. In other parts of the world, the numbers are just as shocking. Take the Middle East and North Africa where 65% of Christians, 70% of Jews and 75% of Muslims face religious harassment. "In nearly three out of every four countries of the world, religious groups experience harassment by individuals or groups in society. The harassment and intimidation take many forms, including physical or verbal assaults; desecration of holy sites; and discrimination against religious groups in employment, education and housing." Source : Social Harassment of Religious Groups , Pew Research Center

Headscarves, hijabs, chadors, niqabs, burkas, you name it - In the West they're a hot topic representing freedom and faith to some while they're seen as a sign of oppression by others. In the Middle East they're everywhere, it seems. Covering the body in proper Islamic fashion is mandatory in countries like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iran. Interpretations vary across the board, however roughly speaking this means that women wear loose-fitting non-see through clothing with only hands and face showing (some include feet, some don't) and the neck, head and hair covered. Some Iranian women have recently turned to Facebook to express their dissatisfaction with the mandatory head- and hair covering. A Facebook post by Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad started the movement, as reported by Vocativ (found through George Takei 's Facebook page ) which has attracted quite a following and a lot of talk since. Iranian women are posting photos of themselves with uncovered h...

Buzzfeed reports that Vagenda Magazine recently asked their Twitter followers to edit headlines featuring famous women in an effort to 'normalise' the scene and provide comments of a less 'snarky' nature. Check out all 13 Snarky News Headlines by following the link. Here's my favourite to give you a preview of the wonderful job Vagenda Magazine 's Twitter followers did! Source : 13 Snarky News Headlines , Buzzfeed Isn't it amazing to see how much of a difference a few words make!

Source: Countries with Sharia Rule Intellectual Takeout The Sultanate of Brunei is a tiny oil-rich country in East Asia with a population of about 440,000 people. Roughly seventy percent of it's inhabitants are Muslim. Brunei's ruler announced in 2013 that the country would be gradually adopting Sharia law. Sharia is the Islamic code of law based on the social and religious rules as laid out in the Muslim holy book, the Koran (Qur'an). CNN reports that during a ceremony last week "the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanel Bolkiah, announced the commencement of the first phase of the sharia-based penal code, according to the government's official website."

Source : The Economist Known as Barbie to the world, her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She was patented in 1958 by Mattel and introduced to the world in 1959. Her creator Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel) named Barbie and Barbie's boyfriend Ken after her and husband Elliot Handler's own children Barbie and Ken. Read more about the history of Barbie and Mattel at the Barbie Media website. She is one of the world's best-known children's toys, a fashion icon, a family-loving, friendly, free woman and ultimately - a plastic doll. Yet this plastic doll has inspired millions of girls and women and is the cornerstone of a global brand with worldwide appeal.

I am autistic. To be precise, I have Asperger's Syndrome. Autism comes in many varieties, shapes and sizes. You can't always see on the outside what someone is like on the inside, which is often quite true for autism. This means that many people think of me as someone who is reserved, shy or quiet while that's not the case at all. This BBC - My Autism and Me YouTube video explains autism in a simple way and shows several different autistic children. It looks at different gradations of autism and how people cope with being autistic, feeling different and living in a non-autistic world.  Source : The "AustismAssociationS" channel on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejpWWP1HNGQ Rosie who presents the video has Asperger's Syndrome just as I do. As she explains, having Asperger's "means that my brain works a bit differently."  Yes, it does indeed.  I very much recommend this video as (for the most part) Rosie explains her own au...

In The Netherlands, the fourth and the fifth of May are special national days.  The fourth of May is Liberation Day while the fifth is Remembrance Day. "People experienced the Second World War in very different ways, depending on who they were, what they stood for, what they did or where they lived. All those different experiences are reflected in the different commemoration ceremonies throughout the years. During the national commemoration of Remembrance Day on 4 May, those various experiences come together and the dead are jointly remembered." (1) "On the 5th of May we celebrate that we in The Netherlands live in freedom. We celebrate that we were liberated in 1945 from German occupation in Europe and Japanese occupation in Asia and that since then we've been free from war and repression in the Kingdom of The Netherlands." (2)

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I say that is equally true about trends and fashion. What serves as inspiration for one person is sacred religious imagery to another... Fashion designer Roberto Cavalli has used religious imagery in the past and it appears he is now doing so again. The logo for his Just Cavalli brand looks an awful lot like a Sufi religious symbol, as Chris Dickman reports. "In 2004 Roberto Cavalli was taken to task for a line of underwear and swimwear ... based on representations of Hindu goddesses. This shocked the Hindu community to the extent that the line had to be withdrawn...  Ten years later and Roberto Cavalli [does it] again, this time in the form of a logo for its Just Cavalli brand. The design [bears a] marked resemblance to the registered logo employed by the MTO Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism . Sufism is a branch of Islam, with the school having more than 500,000 students in centers worldwide. ... The school's emblem ....

Love this idea! Getting children to do their chores, tidy up after themselves and help out around the house can be a real challenge. This way you can ground the kids and then make them earn points by doing chores to get ungrounded. How many points one gets per chore is clearly labelled which gives children the opportunity to decide for themselves what chores to do and how quickly to get ungrounded. Teaches responsibility, helps with planning skills, lets children have a say in their 'punishment' and if you're really, really lucky they might even enjoy themselves just a little... Source: Crafty Parents , Facebook