History and Significance of Juneteenth Day

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Juneteenth refers to the freedom day or emancipation day celebrated by African-Americans in the U.S., originally in Texas. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery and emancipation of slaves on June 19, 1865. This article tells you about the history and significance of this day and date.
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Significance of Juneteenth day
Lift Every Voice and Sing
This song, also known as the Black American National Anthem, is one of the many songs sung during Juneteenth celebrations.
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Juneteenth is a portmanteau, combining the words 'June' and the date 'nineteenth'. This day commemorates the announcement of the 'abolition of slavery' in Texas on June 19, 1865. It has been observed annually since the year 1866, more so as a large celebration almost till the early decades of the 20th century. It was declared a state holiday by the U.S. state of Texas in 1980.

Juneteenth Day Celebrations

Under the guidance from Freedmen's Bureau, Juneteenth was first celebrated in the state capital in 1867. It symbolizes the emancipation of African-American slaves living in the Confederacy, or the southern slave states. This festivity was, in the beginning, banished to the outskirts of the cities. Therefore, black groups arranged for collective funds and purchased vast spaces to celebrate their occasions, as segregation was nearly state sponsored then. 'Emancipation Park' was what these tracts of land were called. The Booker T. Washington Park or Comanche Crossing in Limestone County is a popular emancipation park. Also, the annual promenade held in Brenham is a memorable Juneteenth celebration.

Celebrations earlier meant a prayer service, inviting different speakers who would give inspirational messages, reading of the emancipation proclamation, listening to stories from erstwhile slaves, rodeos, street fairs, dramatic readings, pageants, family reunions, cookouts, parades, barbecues, and ball games. Singing of songs like 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' and 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' was a part of the tradition too. All these events were definitely accompanied with barbecue and a variety of delicacies, including 'strawberry soda-pop' that became popular due to Juneteenth celebrations. Much of this is also carried forward to this date.

History of Juneteenth Day

It was during the American Civil War that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation Order in 1862. It was effected from January 1, 1963. This important document had declared for all slaves to be freed in all the regions of the Confederate States of America. The Union had also begun to recruit former slaves for the military, in 1863.

Nonetheless, the proclamation itself did not assure freedom for the bonded, as it applied to the states that were rebelling against the Union, and also because many states simply ignored it. Besides, the state of Texas was not aggressively invaded by the Union, and few such attempts were thwarted by the Confederate troops. So, the news about the emancipation proclamation had not reached the state. It was two and a half years later that the emancipation of slaves was realized by the masses.

On June 18, in the year 1865, Union Major-General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. On June 19, from the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa, he issued General Order Number 3, which partly read,

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

Slaves, who were now to become 'former slaves', could express themselves―the ultimate happiness they felt―by coming out and rejoicing on the streets. It was quite some time though before the emancipation could actually come into reality for them, as they had to struggle against their masters. The news of freedom to slaves spread very slowly. Many plantation owners thought of not informing the slaves of this order, and thus waited until they could reap benefits from the ongoing harvest. Although at a slow pace, the message of emancipation reached the approximate 250,000 slaves in Texas a few months after the end of the war.

Juneteenth celebrations saw a decline during the 1960s, which was the period of the civil rights movement. However, its popularity was restored in the next decade, leading to Democratic Representative Al Edwards from Houston introducing a bill for declaring this day to be a state holiday. The formal Act was passed by the legislature in 1979, making the first state-sponsored Juneteenth celebration possible in 1980.

Significance of Juneteenth Day

◆ African-Americans take Juneteenth to be like the 4th of July. It is celebrated by everyone just like the national independence day.

◆ Juneteenth turned out to be a crucial way for the former slaves and African-Americans, largely, to utilize the celebrations to inculcate the later generations with some fundamental ideas about racial uplift and self-improvement. Intellectual readings that spread more awareness, celebrating traditions through spiritual songs, and typical food preparations aided this process.

◆ House Bill No.1016, passed in the Regular Session of the 66th Legislature, declared the date 'June 19' to be 'Emancipation Day' in Texas, a legal state holiday. This became effective from January 1, 1980.

◆ The day was observed as a holiday by almost half of the states in the United States, until 2008. More recently, over forty states have either declared Juneteenth to be a state holiday or a ceremonial holiday.
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◆ In 1996, the U.S. House of Representatives, for the first time, discussed a legislation to recognize 'Juneteenth Independence Day'. It was approved a year later in 1997 by Congress.

20 Strange Last Wills and Testaments You Should Read

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For most people, making a will or testament is all about sharing all the accumulated wealth with loved ones or giving back to the society. But some people make testaments that will make you literally question their sanity. These totally strange last wishes make for a rather interesting read. Have fun!
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Strange last wills and testament
Much Too Much!
You can't just make a funny testament for the sake of some laughs or to get back at someone. There are certain things that cannot be forced on any individual just for the sake of your will. Your will can be challenged in the court and canceled as well!
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Death is just a part of life, or should I say end of life. We may have collected immense wealth and property but you just gotta leave all that behind. Most choose to distribute everything amongst their children or donate to a charity.

Well, that is what normal people declare in their will or testament. But there are people who will be remembered because of their crazy last wills! After going through the list you might question the sanity of some of these.

The list is definitely an entertaining one, and if you are looking for quirky ways to make your own will, you'll get lots of inspiration! Read on.

Trouble has no trouble!

Leona Helmsley, who died at the age of 87, left a $12 million trust for her dog Trouble. The trust, which will be managed by her husband, will provide for a luxurious life for her Maltese. She wanted her husband to ensure that Trouble got the best and everything was very well taken care of. After all, why should the pampered pet suffer after his owner's death. We don't know how much the "caretaker" husband got!


My Funeral

Imagine attending your own funeral, creepy right? But that is exactly what 24-year-old Angel Pantoja wanted, and got too! With special embalming his body was preserved for 3 days, and was made to stand with some support. With the Yankees cap and sunglasses, it appeared as if Angel was happily welcoming guests at his own funeral. Imagine the very person, whose funeral you are attending, welcoming you. Preferable to give this one a miss, isn't it?


What a Revenge!

People can go to any extent to take revenge, Samuel Bratt's will just proves that. He left 330,000 pounds for his wife, but with the condition that she should smoke at least 5 cigars everyday! What? Yeah, apparently Bratt's wife did not allow him to smoke, so, to get back at her he included this clause in his will. Brutal, we say!


What a Misogynist!

T M Zink, an attorney who died in 1930, made a will that all his savings should be used to build a library. So far so good. But, he had one condition, it should be a "womanless library". He had such a strong dislike for womankind that he mentioned in his will, that the library will not have works by any woman, nor will any woman be allowed inside it. Every entrance was specifically supposed to have a sign that said "no women allowed". Fortunately, his daughter challenged the will, and this horrible library was never built.


Sweet Revenge

Heinrich Heine, a poet who died in 1856, left all his wealth to his wife Eugene. But he had one condition, she should remarry. You must be thinking what a noble man he was! But the reason was anything but noble! According to him the reason he put this clause in his will was, "Because then there will be at least one man, who will regret my death." Apparently his wife was uneducated and boring. And yes, she did get married and got all his estate. We don't know if her husband regretted Heine's death, he must have loved the money though!


Space Passion

Why be confined to earth when you can go beyond. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek wanted "to boldly go where no man has gone before". His ashes were scattered into space by a Spanish satellite in 1997, fulfilling his last wish. Even his wife joined him in space after her death.


Rocking Friend

All of you will want a friend like Janis Joplin after reading this. In her testament she declared that $2,500 should be given to her friends to splurge on a rocking party at her favorite bar. The reason was fairly simple, "so my friends can get blasted after I'm gone." What a thoughtful friend!


True Love

Now this is a truly touching and romantic last wish. Jack Benny, who died in 1974, paid a florist to send a single long-stemmed rose everyday to his wife. Although their marriage was far from perfect, his wife was lucky enough to get a reminder of his love for the next 9 years that she lived. Awww!


Noble Soul

Dorothea Edwards, who died at the age of 80, had just one last wish. She wanted her pacemaker to be donated to an animal. A person cannot donate his/her pacemaker to another person, but there are no restrictions about animals. Thus, a German Shepherd got a new lease of life. The poor dog had a congenital heart defect, and after the pacemaker was successfully implanted, she lived out a healthy life.


Waste of Dinner

This one tops the list of strange wishes by a huge margin. John Bowman, who died in 1891, believed that his wife and two daughters, who had already died, would reincarnate with him. So, basically the entire family will come back together to the house. He kept a trust fund of $50,000 to ensure that fresh meals were cooked in his mansion everyday, in case the Bowman's are hungry when they get back. A total waste of money and food. What a pity!


Extreme Love

It is good to love your pet or animals for that matter. But imagine building an entire house for cats, with amenities like dining hall, auditorium, special roof for playing, and even an exercise room! All this for cats! Looks like being a cat is not that bad after all! Jonathan Jackson, who died in 1880, believed that "It is man's duty as lord of animals to watch over and protect the lesser and feebler." Thus, this luxurious house. I hope the cats had a good time in this special palace.


Population Explosion

Imagine being paid to make babies. Yup, that is exactly what Charles Vance Miller did. This Toronto attorney stated in his will that the Toronto woman who will give birth to most children, in the 10 years after his death, will get $500,000. Yup, that much for procreating! The contest ended up in a tie as four ladies birthed nine children each. They were rewarded with $125,000 for their, umm...efforts!


Mustache Problem

Henry Budd died in 1862 and left £200,000 in his testament to his sons. But, he had one condition, his sons will get the money only if they don't grow a mustache. We don't know why the guy had such intense hatred for facial hair.


Hairy Affair

Napoleon Bonaparte wanted his head to be shaved and hair distributed to his friends as his last wish. I doubt if his friends were very happy to receive this special token.


Thoughtful Gesture

This lady deserves a lot of respect. Eleanor Ritchey left $14 million for 150 stray dogs in her testament. The dogs were very well taken care of, and after their death, the remaining money went to an institute which carried research on canine diseases.


Pringle Love

Fred Baur the founder and owner of Pringles wished that he should be cremated, and his ashes buried in a Pringles tube. His will was honored by his children.


Lucky Draw

Luis Carlos brought happiness in the lives of 70 random strangers by distributing all his wealth amongst total strangers. He just chose them randomly from a phone directory. We seriously need more people like this!


Second Best

William Shakespeare's last will stated that his "second best bed" should be given to his wife, Anne Hathaway. We don't know what he did with his best bed though! He even had a inscription on his grave that said, "Blessed be the man that spares these stones, / And cursed be he that moves my bones."


Dead or Undead?

Escape artist Harry Houdini wished to check if it was possible to contact the dead, so he asked his wife to hold spiritual sessions every Halloween after his death. She did respect his testament and held such seances for 10 years. Houdini had even given her a secret code to connect, but alas his wife never heard from him.


Comic Connect

Mark Gruenwald was the executive editor of the Iron Man and Captain America comics. He stated in his will that his ashes should be mixed with the ink used to print comic books. And yes, his last wish was fulfilled. He will always be connected to what he loved, even after death.
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So, what do you think? These sound better than the normal boring testaments, right? If you have any such strange ideas or have heard about more such bizarre wills, do let us know!

All You Need to Know About the Mesolithic Era

The end of the Ice Age and Paleolithic Age brought along with it the rise of a new age called the Mesolithic era. In this era, man was compelled to adapt to his new surroundings by changing his lifestyle and the tools and weapons he used. This post has some more information about the Mesolithic era.

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Fact about mesolithic era cave painting
Did You Know?
The Mesolithic era is also known as the transition time between the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras.
The Mesolithic era was a relatively short period which began after the recession of continental glaciers, at the end of the Ice Age. Most Mesolithic artifacts have perished over time, therefore making it relatively more difficult to understand the era.

In this era, Earth experienced rapid climatic changes that included earthquakes and abrupt cold and dry weather patterns. It also witnessed growth of forests, redistribution of animals, and extinctions of megafauna or large-bodied animals.

A couple of thousand years later, man found himself adapting to the new world around him. Here, he needed to learn new skills such as, fishing, hunting, food gathering, and domestication of animals and plants. Following are some facts about the Mesolithic Age.

Mesolithic Life
Mesolithic man mostly survived on hunting and gatherings. His hunting skills and tools had evolved to the point that it is believed that the man of that period had driven most of the world's megafauna to extinction. Their tools and weapons had evolved, and they had begun making weapons with microliths. It is believed that man had intentionally begun planting seeds in fertile soil.

Mesolithic Houses
Archeologists also believe that the Mesolithic man had started to stay in one place for a longer time. Archeological evidence found in Scotland prove that the Mesolithic man lived in hut-like houses. These houses had sunken floors and were built of wooden posts around the hearth.

Mesolithic Rituals

Mesolithic man took part in rituals and ceremonies. Evidence found at Star Carr in England, is the best known archaeological site for this era. Artifacts like elk antler mattocks, bone scrapers, masks, skull caps, and headdress made from red deer antlers were excavated here.

The Mesolithic man also left behind evidence of burying the dead in small cemeteries. Burials varied from inhumation to cremation and skull nests―this also indicates to large-scale violence. Some graves also had shells, jewelry, animal and human figurines, goods, and tools, which hinted towards social stratification.

Art
Mesolithic art work was dominated by red ochre. Following are some famous Mesolithic paintings found all over the world.

➤ Bhimbetka rock paintings (9,000 BCE) India.
➤ Pachmarhi Hills paintings (9,000 BCE), India.
➤ Pre-Estuarine X-Ray paintings (c.9,000 BCE) Ubirr, Arnhem Land, Australia.
➤ Tadrart Acacus paintings/petroglyphs (c.9,000 BCE), Libya.
➤ Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin (8,000 BCE).
➤ San or Bushmen rock paintings (c. 8,000 BCE) Waterberg area, South Africa.
➤ Tassili n'Ajjer rock art (c.8,000 BCE), Algerian Sahara.

Most of these artworks and engravings depicted animals and humans. Human portraits were depicted to be hunting, dancing, and performing everyday activities and other rituals. This also indicates that man had adopted painting tools like reeds and feathers.

Cave Paintings

The Argentinian Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands)

Mesolithic cave and rock paintings, petroglyphs have been dated back to 2 million years. Stenciled hand paintings in Kalimantan Caves and Gua Ham Masri II Caves in Indonesia date back to around 8,000 BCE. The Argentinian Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands) is the most famous example of Mesolithic rock shelter painting. This hand stencil painting has been carbon-dated to around 7,300 BCE. Cueva de las Manos also contains a wide variety of parietal art, which features hunting scenes containing humans, rheas, felines, other animals, abstract signs, geometric shapes, etc. Petroglyphs were also found on several sites. Rock engravings at Wonderwerk Caves South Africa date back to 8,200 BCE.

Sculptures and Carvings

Animal Reliefs found at Göbekli Tepe, Turkey

The Mesolithic man had a particular liking for Venus figurines, many such figurines were found in different parts of the world. Relief sculpture of animals were found in Göbekli Tepe, Turkey dating back to the eighth and ninth millennia BCE.

Evidence have also shown ivory and wood carvings. Once such famous wood carving is the Shigir Idol. It is known to be the world's oldest wood carving, which dates back to 7,500 BCE.

Architecture
Göbekli Tepe of Turkey is dated to be of the Mesolithic era. It is believed to have been a sanctuary or a religious center. A large number of megaliths were used to build this shrine around 9,500 BCE. Göbekli Tepe has the oldest stone structure that is filled with pictographs and petrograms numerous animal reliefs depicting animals like foxes, lions, bulls, wild boars, gazelles, reptiles, etc.

Another such stone sculpture is the Nevali Cori, which has a life-size human head carved in stone, along with a carved statue of a bird, and numerous other stone sculptures.
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Warfare
As the Mesolithic era came to an end and man started settling down and domesticating animals and plants, wars began to flare up. Skeletons were recovered from Mesolithic burial grounds proving the incidence of violence and war. It is believed that social pressure, competition, and rights of land fueled wars.
The onset of farming led to the Mesolithic era to end at around 5,000 BCE, and a new period called the Neolithic era began.

Print Is there any Correlation Between Brain Size and Intelligence?

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In a battle of wits, we find ourselves superior to animals. Also among humans, some demonstrate higher intelligence quotient test scores than others. It is said that intelligence is correlated with brain size. How far is this true? The following article explores this relationship between mental abilities and brain size.
Correlation between brain size and intelligence
Did You Know?
Our ancestors that include early primates, Hominids, Homo sapiens and finally the Neanderthals had a larger brain than what we have today.
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Is a larger brain an indication of more intelligence? Is the difference in cognitive abilities between humans, and between humans and animals, associated with brain size? Does the brain size that can be measured by volume or weight have anything to do with mental processing? Let us find the answers.

Brain Size in Humans and Animals
It is a fact that humans are far superior to animals, when it comes to intelligence. Our cognitive competence is way ahead of animals. However, is our advanced cognitive ability related to brain size?

When compared to the human brain, it is obvious that birds have smaller brains, whereas elephants and whales have larger brains. However, when body size is taken into consideration, it is observed that the human brain is 3 times larger relative to the body size. So if we take into account the brain/body size ratio we humans (1/40) are way ahead of elephants (1/560), lions (1/550), horses (1/600) and even sharks (1/2496).

Does that mean our brain size is the largest in proportion to body size, which is making us more intelligent than animals? Well, this reason falls flat when we compare brain-to-body ratio of humans with that of mice (1/40) and small birds (1/14).

Encephalization Quotient (EQ)
Considering that the brain-body size relationship has drawbacks, researchers have come up with another factor known as encephalization quotient (EQ) to measure intelligence. EQ is the ratio of the actual brain mass of an animal to the predicted brain mass of an animal of the same body weight. In such a case, the EQ score of humans is higher (7.5) than any other animal. The EQ score indicates that our brain is more than 7 times bigger than that of animals of the same body size.

However, the EQ measure assumes that larger the brain size, higher will be the neuron count. However, this assumption is incorrect since it does not consider neuron density, which if higher, reflects more neurons in the same area than others. To put it simply, if the neurons are tightly packed together, even a smaller brain can contain a greater number of neurons than a larger brain.

Neuron Density and Intelligence
Studies suggest that intelligence probably depends upon the number of neurons lying in a specific part of the brain. The study was carried out by a team of researchers headed by Suzana Herculano-Houzel, an associate neuroscientist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the study, it was observed that the brain of African elephants has 257 billion neurons, which is almost thrice the number of neurons found in the human brain (86 billion). Now, the cerebral cortex (part of the brain) is involved in advanced-level functions such as cognition, language, sensory perception, decision-making, language, and memory. Researchers observed that the cerebral cortex of humans has three times as many neurons as observed in the cerebral cortex of African elephants. This higher neuron density in the cerebral cortex is probably giving humans an edge over African elephants in cognitive skills.

The study also observed that even the brain of small birds like parrots had densely packed neural cell bodies, making the total neural count more or less the same as observed in the brain of large animals such as apes. So it is the neuron density that might be playing a role in influencing intelligence.

Brain Size and Human Intelligence
Is a genius' brain larger in size as compared to the brain of an individual showing average intellectual capacity? The answer to this question can be best addressed by studying the brain structure of famous scientists like Albert Einstein. The scientist who is regarded as the 'embodiment of pure intellect', surprisingly had an average brain size. There was nothing extraordinary about his overall brain size.

However, Einstein's brain showed a significantly larger prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain linked to execution of complex cognitive functions. Moreover, glial cells that ensure proper nutrient supply to the neurons, were also found to be significantly higher. His brain also showed unusually shaped inferior parietal lobes. All these neurological attributes (and not the overall brain size) might have been responsible for his extraordinary intellectual capacity.

Brain Size in Men and Women
After taking into account the body size, it is observed that brain size of men is larger than women. A study published in the journal Intelligence and conducted by a team of psychologists at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, observed that men tend to be more intelligent than women. In the study, scholastic aptitude test (SAT) scores of around 100,000 17- and 18-year old girls and boys, were taken into consideration. Each individual's SAT score was then used to calculate the general intelligence factor, commonly referred to as g factor. It was observed that the average IQ score of boys was greater than girls by 3.63 points.

However, Bruce Bracken, a psychologist at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, argues that there were 10,000 more girls than boys in the study, which may have impacted the score. He suggests that boys who knew that they could not score good marks in SAT, did not even attempt the test. This factor has not been taken into consideration while evaluating the results of the study.

Research
According to a 2005 study reported in the journal Intelligence, it has been concluded that people with a large-sized brain are more intelligent and have the ability to learn things faster than those with a smaller-sized brain. The study was conducted by Michael McDaniel, a psychologist at the Virginia Commonwealth University. The research has taken into account the results of over two dozen previous studies that used MRI scan to find a correlation between brain volume and intelligence.

The professor after extensively evaluating the results of the studies observed that as the brain volume increases, so does intelligence. In simple words, intelligence is directly proportional to the brain volume. In the study, individuals gave standardized individual tests and the results were compared to their brain volume.

According to McDaniel, these tests are an accurate way (critics don't agree) to evaluate an individual's capacity for reasoning, which can be the most crucial factor to assess his suitability for a designated job. McDaniel said that these intelligence tests are immensely helpful in predicting his performance at work.

The psychologist concluded that intelligence is related to brain volume and that it can be measured with these tests that reflect the individual's mental makeup. He said that evaluating job applicants by using these intelligence tests can be of use in hiring employees who will be faster at learning information, making significantly less number of errors and will be performance-oriented.

Critics argue that although the IQ score is helpful in giving a general idea about one's intelligence level, it certainly cannot define the cognitive processing ability of the person. This is because there have been many instances of people who had succeeded in professional life despite scoring low on IQ tests. On the other hand, some people with high IQs were surprisingly found to be underperformers.
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Some researchers suggest that a greater brain size may indicate more brain tissue, which might result in improved intellectual capacity. On the whole, the brain has a very complicated structure, hence one singe factor such as its size cannot be the only predictor of intelligence. Other factors such as neuron density, the extent of neural connections between different parts of the brain and of course nutritional support for brain development, also affect the brain function and subsequently the cognitive abilities.

Understanding the Sadistic Personality Disorder

People with a sadistic personality disorder or sadists may come across as people who gain pleasure from seeing others in pain. They may be manipulative and humiliating towards the people around them. What makes them behave this way? Sadistic personality disorder could be a reason. This Buzzle article tells you about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for this personality disorder.
Sadistic personality disorder trait
The word sadism or sadistic is derived from the French aristocrat, Marquis de Sade. He was a French philosopher and writer, who wrote a lot of erotica. He included a lot of violence in his writing and believed in unrestrained sexual freedom. He tortured many men and women, was subsequently arrested, and eventually declared insane.
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Just seeing a person, for that matter even an animal, in pain makes us feel bad. That's because of the sensitivity all humans have. But there is a personality disorder that affects one's behavior in such a way, that he starts deriving happiness from seeing others suffer. He may display violent and abusive behavior. This disorder is known as the sadistic personality disorder.

It was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R), but was removed in the later editions. The main reason for excluding it was its potential misuse. It also overlapped a little with existing disorders. Plus, this disorder is not very common and is mostly seen in males. But sexual sadism disorder is included in the current version, DSM-5, of the American Psychiatric Association. It is characterized by sexual arousal by inflicting pain on others.

Sadistic people appear brutal, are unpredictable, and often seen to go to any length to achieve what they want.

Causes

● The disorder is uncommon, and hence specific causes cannot be determined. Unresolved childhood issues, or severe abuse as a child could be a major factor, but there can be biological causes as well.

● Deep-seated feelings of insecurity can be another reason. If a person who is very close to a child is constantly abusing or torturing him, it may have a huge impact on his psych. The child may either become a sadist or a masochist (gets pleasure on receiving pain).

● However, it is also seen that children with a good upbringing and those who come from good families may also develop this disorder.


Symptoms

● The most prominent feature is their cruel and ruthless behavior. They derive pleasure by inflicting pain on those who they think are weaker or inferior.

● Seeing someone writhing in pain seems to amuse them. They will go to any extent to cause agony to people or even animals.

● They blatantly lie, deceive people, and commit crimes to make others suffer. They behave this way even with their loved ones.

● Violence, weapons, murders, and torture methods seem to fascinate them.

● They love to dominate people and impose restrictions on others. They tend to humiliate others.

● They have a strong urge to control people. They will purposely shout at their subordinates, or family members to intimidate them.

● They derive joy out of the psychological or physical pain of other people.

● Sexual sadists indulge in ruthless sexual acts and torture their partner for pleasure. They may even cheat or have multiple partners.


What do sadists believe?

● They always want to be in power. They may become violent and aggressive if things do not go their way.

● Be it at home or work, they like to establish strict rules, and ensure that everyone follows them.

● The need to dominate others comes from their intolerance and hatred towards those they consider weak.

● They believe they can validate their own importance by bringing others down or making others feel small.


Treatment

● Treatment is very extensive and may take years. Group therapy, family therapy, and counseling may be effective. Involvement of friends and family is very important.

● Most sadists don't really feel the need to get professional help, and this in turn makes it hard to help them.


It is important to understand that psychopaths and sadists do show some similar traits, but there is a major difference between the two. Most psychopaths don't realize that their actions or words are hurting someone, whereas sadists are aware of the pain they are inflicting.
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Those with a sadistic personality disorder should be given professional help. Staying away from them out of fright, or staying in their good books to be safe from their anger, is not the real solution. Their disorder needs to be treated.

5 Cool Gift Ideas For Guitar Players

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A thoughtful gift is often well-appreciated. If you want to get your guitar-playing buddy a gift that he'd love but don't know what he or she would like, here are some really cool gift ideas that you could choose from!
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Cool gift ideas for guitar players
Take Note
♬ Consider the level of expertise of the person, if the person is still learning, gift him a guitar learning book, advanced lessons, or may be a gTar.
♬ Know the kinda music he or she is into, before gifting band T-shirts, concert tickets, or books.
Music has the power to heal all wounds, big or small. It can express emotions when words fail and take you on a journey of self-discovery. The kind of music you listen to reveals more about you than you can ever admit. To be a good musician, it takes intense passion, dedication, undying love for music, and of course, a great deal of creativity.
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If you really admire the musical soul of a buddy who plays (actually eats, sleeps, and breathes) the guitar, getting him or her a gift that celebrates his or her talent or passion would be a great idea! We promise you, such a gift will always be well-appreciated.

We give you some thoughtful gift ideas so you don't have to fret over what to get your guitarist buddy on his/her birthday or Christmas.

♬ Cool Gift Ideas for Guitar Players ♬

♬ Guitar Accessories
What could be a better gift for a guitar player than to get that guitar he or she always wanted to buy? If that is out of budget, here are some other things that a guitar player would find useful.

guitar accessories

♪ Personalized picks
♪ Guitar strap
♪ Guitar strings
♪ Guitar tuner
♪ Guitar smartphone holder
♪ Guitar wall hanger
♪ Guitar case
♪ Wah-wah pedal
♪ Guitar Amp
♪ Gibson Memory Cable

♬ Guitar-themed Accessories
One-of-a-kind accessories that flaunt your guitar playing buddy's musical persona in a trendy and chic way may be a good idea. This way, he or she can carry a part of his or her musical self everywhere.

cool accessories

♪ Guitar cufflinks
♪ Guitar string bracelets
♪ Guitar-shaped pendants
♪ Slide rings (practical and fashionable)
♪ Pick shaped pendants
♪ Wallet with a slot for a pick

♬ Guitar-themed Home Decor
Your home decor always resonates your personal style. Likewise, you can always tell if the house belongs to a musician! Getting your guitarist buddy stuff that may echo with his or her melodious attributes for his or her home would enrich this music-centered decor.

home decor

♪ Guitar-shaped cushions
♪ Guitar-shaped wall clock
♪ Posters of the band your buddy loves
♪ Guitar-themed cushion covers, or you could get the cover of an album printed on a cushion
♪ A guitar-themed doorbell
♪ Guitar-themed candle stands or incense stands
♪ A stool with guitar stand
♪ A cool stand for his or her CD collection

♬ Phone Accessories
Give a musician some good music, and you won't hear him complain! Our smartphone tends to cater to all our music needs these days. Embellishing this beloved gadget with something he or she loves would be a befitting gift and not be a very big burden on the pocket too.

phone accessories

♪ Phone case that look like a guitar
♪ Phone case that has the cover of his or her favorite album
♪ Some really high quality earphones
♪ Phone guitar cable

♬ Other Guitar-themed Stuff
If none of these seem to do the trick, don't panic. There are many more things you could get him or her. Here are a few of them you could try.

stationery gifts

cool T-shirts

♪ T-shirt of his or her favorite band(s)
♪ T-shirt with a funny pick up line for a guitarist.
♪ Guitar-themed coffee mugs or may coffee mugs with hilarious pick up lines
♪ Different guitar-themed stationery like paper clips, pens, paperweights, etc.
♪ Concert tickets to his or her favorite band(s)
♪ Concert CDs of his or her favorite band(s)
♪ Books on his or her favorite bands, biographies of his or her favorite artists
♪ Pick maker
♪ Guitar-shaped USB drives
♪ iTunes gift card so that they can download guitar apps
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Honestly, even with all the options given above, we're still just scratching the mere surface of the unending gifting options. Try to add your personal touch to these gifts so that your gift is appreciated even more.

Similarities and Differences Between Baseball and Cricket

Apart from the fact that both cricket and baseball are bat-and-ball games, a lot more similarities as well as differences exist between the two. Here's a Buzzle post explaining most of these with reference to field dimensions, rules of play, and equipment. Take a look!

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Similarities and differences between baseball and cricket
Pitch Vs. Pitch
A pitch in cricket is the strip of ground between the two wickets, whereas a pitch in baseball is referred to the delivery of the ball by the pitcher.
An early form of cricket is believed to have been played in the early 16th century. It underwent several major developments and changes as it gained immense popularity, and also became the national game of England in the 18th century. The early form of cricket was played with a club (shaped like a hockey stick), wherein the ball was rolled (and not bowled) towards the batsman. However, the style of bowling and the design of the bat evolved somewhere around the 19th century. Cricket as we see it today is totally different from the one played in the past. Many changes in the rules have taken place to make cricket a safe and entertaining game.

On the other hand, the origins of baseball can be traced back to the 1700s, whereby it was played in a triangular field unlike a diamond one, and employed posts instead of bases. Although the game originated in England, it migrated to Northern America via some English immigrants. Unlike cricket, the early form of baseball had quite a lot in common to modern baseball, including bowling, batting, and running to score runs. However, the objective of the early form of baseball (called stoolball), which was played between two teams, was for one team to hit a target, while the other team was to defend it using a bat. If the ball hit the target, the batter was declared out. Baseball too underwent several modifications leading to the modern bat-ball game that we see today. Here we have tried to list out the several differences and similarities between cricket and baseball.

Baseball Vs. Cricket

Field

Cricket
A cricket field requires a minimum area of 17,556 square meters. The horizontal length between the two square boundaries shall be a minimum of 137.16 meters, with the shortest part from the center (of the pitch) being at least 59.43 meters. Likewise, the distance between the straight boundaries should be a minimum of 128 meters. No boundary should exceed a total of 82.29 meters from the center of the pitch. Also, a minimum 2.74 meters should be maintained between the boundary and the surrounding fencing (advertising signs); this is necessary to avoid injuries to a fielder when diving.

The pitch spans a total of 20.12 meters in length, and 3.05 meters in width. Both ends of the pitch have two horizontal crease lines, and two vertical ones. The vertical ones are referred to as 'return creases'. The innermost of the horizontal creases are called 'popping creases', whereas the outermost are called 'bowling/batting creases'. The length of the pitch is calculated from the bowling crease to the batting crease, both of which have the stumps placed in them. The distance between the bowling/batting crease and the popping crease should be a minimum of 1.22 meters.

A very interesting thing about a cricket field is that there are no restrictions on the shape of the field. It can be elliptical, oval, more of a rectangle, and the like, provided it meets the specified dimensions.

cricket-field-layout

Baseball
A baseball field bears a typical shape like that of a diamond. The infield is a 27.43 meter square, each corner of which has a base (home, first, second, and third in an anti-clockwise sequence). The home base (as shown in the illustration) is the one where the two foul lines converge. Any ball played past the foul lines is considered a foul. The home base plate is a pentagon, it's parallel sides are 8.5 inches, the base is 17 inches, and the remaining two sides measure 12 inches each and are set at an angle to meet at a single point. Both sides of the home plate have two batter boxes, one for a right-handed batsman, and the other for a left-handed one. Each batter's box is 1.8 meters long and 1.2 meters wide. Exactly behind the home plate is a catcher's box which measures 2.43 meters in length, and a width of 1.09 meters.

Right in front of the home base is the pitcher's mound, a circle of diameter 5.47 meters occupied by the pitcher when pitching the ball. This mound is equidistant from the first and the third base, whereas it is slightly closer to the home base by a few meters. The distance from the home base to the pitchers mound is 18.39 meters. The square including some portion in its vicinity is called the infield, the remaining portion is called the outfield. The bases and the infield vicinity does not contain grass or turf, while the outfield has grass or artificial turf laid on it.

baseball-field-layout

Format of Play

Cricket
Cricket is a team sport, essentially played among two teams, each consisting of 11 players. The batting team has 2 players (batsmen) at a time on the field, whereas the bowling team has 1 bowler, 1 wicket-keeper, and 9 fielders. Every team has players that specialize in either batting or bowling (or sometimes both - all rounder). A well-balanced team mostly has 5/6 batsmen, and a similar number of bowlers. This makes the team stronger in both dimensions of the game.

Three different formats of cricket exist: Test, one-day, and twenty-twenty (T-20) cricket. The rules vary according to the format of cricket being played. Test cricket is played over 5 consecutive days. Each team bowls twice and bats twice.

One-day cricket, as the name implies, is played for the duration of one day, and includes a single match of 50 overs per inning (for 2 innings).

The recent version T20, or Twenty-20, involves a single match of 20 overs per innings or team (for 2 innings). These matches are pretty short, and last for approximately 3 hours.

In cricket, the first team to bat/ball is decided by a toss. Also, the fielding arrangement can be changed by the bowler to suit his style of bowling. Also, there are only two umpires present on the field.

Baseball
Unlike cricket, baseball is played in 9 innings. Two teams of 9 players each compete to score more runs than the other team. On every inning, one team bats and the other one bowls. Of the batting team, a maximum of 4 players can be present on the field, whereas the team to bowl has to use a pitcher, a catcher, and 7 fielders - 4 on the infield and 3 on the outfield.

The 'away/visiting team' bats in the first half of every inning, whereas the 'home team' bats in the second half. In contrast, an inning in cricket itself refers to one half of the game. One half of the inning in baseball ends when 3 outs are recorded (no ball restrictions). So basically, a baseball tournament is a series of nine individual matches.

In baseball, fielders follow somewhat standard positions in the field. Of the four infielders, two are stationed at the first and third bases, whereas the remaining two are positioned on either side of the third base. Of the outfielders, one stands in the center, and the other two stand close to the sides. In baseball, a total of 4-5 umpires are present on the field.

Equipment

Cricket
The equipment used in cricket includes a ball, bats, wickets, and protective gear (for the batsmen). There are two types of balls that vary according to the format of cricket played. Test cricket employs a red ball for better visibility over the players' white jerseys. On the other hand, one-day and T20 cricket employ a white ball as the player jerseys are colored.

All cricket balls are made of a core of cork, that is layered with string and is covered by a leather casing. The covering of most balls is made out of two portions of leather stitched together. 6 rows of seams or stitching are present on either side of the central stitch; these enable players to grip the ball better. A standard cricket ball weighs or should weigh between 155.9 to 163.0 grams.

cricket-equipment

Bats are typically made of wood, mostly white willow. Cricket bats have two components, a cylindrical handle and a blade. The blade is flat at the hitting end and has a ridge on the back which concentrates most part of the wood in the center where the ball normally comes in contact. White willow is used as it is very tough and shock-resistant; it doesn't dent or chip on impact of a high-speed cricket ball. Cricket bats come in a wide range of sizes and are not restricted by any standard. However, the length of the bat should be no more than 38 inches, and the width not more than 4.25 inches. Bats on an average weigh somewhere between 1.2 to 1.4 kg (no restrictions).

There are two sets of wickets on a cricket field, each comprising 3 stumps and 2 bails. Stumps are made of wood, and are hammered into the ground. The 2 bails (also made of wood) rest on the 3 stumps. Each of the two batsmen guards a wicket. The batsman on strike tries to guard the wicket by his bat, if he fails and the ball hits the stump he's out. Also, a fielder or the wicket-keeper can throw the ball at the wicket in an attempt to dismiss the batsmen in case he's not inside the popping crease.

Modern cricket uses protective gear in order to prevent injuries and mishaps during play. Although not compulsory, it's seriously recommended. This is because, the cricket ball being very hard can cause serious injuries and even death in extreme cases if it hits a player at high speeds (especially the batsman). Therefore, both batsman are seen to wear a helmet, gloves, thigh pads, knee guards, elbow guards, chest guards, jockstraps, and several other protective equipment.

Baseball
A game of baseball requires a bat, a ball, bases, mitts and protective equipment. Balls in baseball are made of a cork core, and are tightly wound by string or yarn. The outer casing is made of leather, and is made of two portions that are stitched together. However, unlike cricket, the ball doesn't have any separately stitched seams. In baseball, balls are always white in color with red stitches.

Bats are either made from solid wood, or hollow aluminum. The wooden variants are made mostly from ash wood, but can also be made out of maple wood or bamboo. In professional leagues only wooden bats are permitted. However, composite bats that are cased with wood and contain an aluminum core are also accepted. Hollow aluminum is mostly used in amateur leagues.

baseball-equipment

The home base plate is made of rubber and painted white. The rest of the bases are canvas bags. These need to be touched by a runner in order to score a single, double, triple or a run.

Mitts is a type of glove used to catch the ball. These are worn by catchers and the first baseman. However, both are slightly different. In the catcher's mitt, the four fingers are connected, and it is better padded than the first baseman's mitt. However, the first baseman's mitt is longer and much wider than the standard fielders glove, and also has a bit more padding in comparison.

Fielders use gloves made of leather, which have long fingers and a webbed pocket between the thumb and the index finger that allows the fielder to catch the ball easily. Gloves are also worn by batters as it provides better grip and also cuts down the shock resulting on impact.

Likewise, both batter and catcher wear helmets to prevent head injuries. Batting helmets have ear protectors, but lack face masks. On the other hand, catcher's helmets do have a face mask as they are more vulnerable to facial injuries or the ball hitting their face.

Also, a jockstrap or pelvic protector is recommended for men and women, respectively in order to prevent grave injuries.

Baseball jerseys or uniforms could be of any color and include a shirt, pant, and a cap. Uniforms should be compulsorily worn by all players, coaches, and managers. Players also wear baseball specific shoes called baseball cleats meant for better traction; the cleats are made of either metal or rubber.

Similarities Between the Two

➔ Considering the above three aspects, there are some similarities between both sports apart from the fact that they are bat-and-ball games. We've tried to list most of them, take a look!

➔ The distance between the pitcher/bowler and batter/batsmen in both sports is somewhat similar. It is 18.39 meters in baseball, and 20.12 meters in cricket.

➔ In both sports, at any point of time, all players of only one of the two teams are present on the field.

➔ Also, the ultimate objective of both sports is to score more runs than the opponent. The concept of hitting the ball and taking a run is similar in both games.

➔ The role of players too has a lot in common among the two. There is a batsman/batter, a bowler/pitcher, wicket-keeper/catcher, fielders, and umpires.
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➔ Coming to the equipment, balls used in both sports are made out of a cork core, and are wrapped in portions of leather.

Things to Do When Stuck in a Traffic Jam

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Nobody likes being stuck in a traffic jam, and it can be extremely frustrating at times, especially if you've had a long, bad day at work, or if you need to
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get somewhere quickly. However, there's no point cribbing right in the middle of all the other cars, right? We, in this article, tell you what fun things you

can do and make the most of this wasteful time in a traffic jam.
Things to do when stuck in a traffic jam
Believe it or not!?
The world's longest traffic jam occurred in 2010 in Beijing, China, which lasted for about 11 days, and went on for about 60 miles. The locals sold food and

water to the drivers for more than 10 times the actual price!
How much time do you spend in traffic every day? A LOT of time, we bet! Of course, you aren't alone in this most dreaded part of daily routine. Do you also

end up thinking of ways and routes that will help you avoid the nightmare-like traffic? We totally get you! The situation gets even worse when it is pouring

heavily, and other people are trying to overtake your vehicle without even realizing that others too are struggling to make their way through the traffic.

Some even go to the point of honking again and again, even if they know that there are vehicles in front, and they also cannot move unless the vehicles in

front of them move. If only cars could fly like airplanes! You wish! Well, what you can do about it is nothing but find ways to keep yourself amused and

entertained, without losing your cool. In the following sections, we tell you different ways of converting this unproductive time into a productive one.

Here's what all you can do!

What to Do When Stuck in a Traffic Jam

Traffic jams are an inevitable part of our lives. While some prefer to keep struggling and budging in from here and there every now and then, others find it

interesting enough to observe the behavior of other people on the road. Of course, this is another way to pass your time while you are stuck in bad traffic.

So, to help you out with getting through the maddening traffic, we have come up with a list of some fun things that you can do. Take a look!

#1 Catch Up on Phone Calls
Utilize this time to catch up with your friends with whom you haven't spoken with for a long time. Thanks to the busy day at work, we miss answering some

calls. This is a good time to call them back. If you stay away from your family, what can be a better time to catch up with your pals back home. Talk to your

mother or your partner. But make sure that you use your hands-free to make those calls, so that you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands on wheel at

all times. Do not text! You don't want the cops catching you, do you?

#2 Listen to Music
Turn on that radio and keep yourself entertained by listening to music. If you have a good playlist, plug your phone in, sit back, relax, and enjoy your time

while you wait for the traffic to clear. Break the silence and commotion by singing the lyrics out loud. Yes, karaoke is what we're talking about here! You

can do this alone or with other people in the car too. It'll make for a good practice for your karaoke nights! And if you're lucky enough to get good people

in the cars around you, they can join in too!

#3 Read a Book or Newspaper
Looking at our erratic schedule these days, we hardly find time for catch up on the world news, or even read a book. If you are a voracious reader and always

carry a book along, then a traffic jam is the best time to read a few pages, especially when you know that you are not going to move ahead for the next 10 -

15 minutes. Or if you prefer reading on your smartphone or Kindle, you can do that too. But make sure you stay focused on the traffic too!

#4 Play Games and Solve Puzzles
With so much advancements in technology, you can now play 'n' number of games on your cell phone. They really come in handy when you are getting bored stuck

in traffic. You can keep your mind off the traffic by indulging in some games or solving puzzles. You can try playing Sudoku and crosswords. Aren't traffic

situations the best time to put your brains to use, rather than getting frustrated? Or if you have another person with you in the car, both of you can play

'Name the Tune' game. One person hums a tune and the other has to guess it. This is when you try and remember all those fun games that you used to play when

you were a kid. You can play even I Spy, Road Trivia, Charades, etc.

#5 Eat
Being stuck in traffic for long time can give you hunger pangs, especially when it is stagnant. It can leave you exhausted for the remaining part of the day,

adding to your frustration. Although studies say that eating while driving can be more dangerous than texting, many people think of it as an ideal time to

satisfy their hunger. So, make sure that you carry a snack with you always, so that you can grab a bite or two when the traffic stands still.

#6 Take Selfies
It's selfie time, baby! Clicking pictures, especially selfies, seem to be the most popular way of killing time when the traffic is literally crawling. Click

and upload! Flaunt your new hairstyle or tattoo, and let the whole world know about your new obsession. If you don't have any of these, then click a simple

selfie with a frustrated and funny face, and upload it, complaining about the traffic. You never know, it might just help other people avoid that particular

route and save them the pain.

#7 Make a To-do List or Plan a Trip
This is a good time to make a note of all the things that you have to finish of by the end of the day, or may be the week, or focus on the things that you

forgot to do. This will make your task easier, and ensure that you don't forget anything. If you have been longing to go on a vacation or even a short road

trip, now's the time to plan it. Make use of this time and get in touch with all the people who would want to go with you. Browse online and get know to

about the places that you would want to visit.

#8 Pamper Yourself
If you know that the traffic is not moving ahead anytime soon, then file your nails or give yourself a little manicure. If you are a girl, then you might

want to make touch-up your makeup. Women usually like to take this opportunity for touch-up before starting their day at work. It may also happen that you

were not completely ready, and left your place in a hurry because you were getting late; this traffic gives you the opportunity to correct that.

#9 Tidy Your Car Up
You haven't found the time to clean up the mess in your car? Well, being stuck in a traffic jam with nothing to do can be the best time to solve this

problem. Gather all the wrappers and other waste, and put it aside so that you can throw it out later. Rearrange the dashboard. And if you get the

opportunity, get out of the car and clean it from outside too; of course, only when the traffic is not moving at all! We're sure you wouldn't want to be the

cause of a bigger jam or accident, and experience curses flying towards you!

#10 Browse Online
This is one thing that everyone will end up doing anyway. In this Internet era, and with your social media accounts synced to your mobiles, you can check

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., from anywhere. You can even watch videos online. Catch up on your favorite TV show or the latest viral video going around

on social media. However, ensure that you don't distract the driver of your car, as it can be really dangerous.

#11 Be Patient
The most important thing and the key to survive a traffic jam ― be patient! Long lines, build-up of vehicles, and honking can lead to frustration and road

rage. However, control your anger and try to keep a cool mind. Think of some ways to amuse yourself, and if you can't think of anything, you have the above

list to yourself!

Some other things that you can do are:

Learn a new language by listening to an all-course audio CD of any language.
Indulge in interesting conversations if you have other people in your car.
Prepare yourself for the day at work, and think about the goals that you have to accomplish on that day.
Get out and do some stretches if you want to prevent yourself from getting cramps and a sleeping foot.
Strike up a conversation with the person in the car next to you. You never know, you might just stumble upon your soulmate, or get a friend for lifetime!
Observe the amusing behavior of other people around you. Observe, not stare! Staring is rude!

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So now you see, traffic jams are not that bad after all! All you need to know is how you can make the most of that time, and spend time with yourself. But

make sure that you do all this when the traffic is really bad and not moving. Be safe!

Meaning and Origin of the Phrase 'Jump the Shark'

'Jump the Shark' is an expression that is used usually when a TV show that was once really good, has now reached its creative peak, which also marks the decline in its quality and popularity, along with its storyline. In this Buzzle article, we will learn more about the meaning and origin of this phrase.
Meaning of the phrase 'jump the shark'

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The New 'Jump the Shark'?
'Jump the shark' is often used alternately with the phrase 'nuking the fridge' or 'nuke the fridge,', which was derived from a scene in the fourth Indiana Jones film, in which he saves himself from an atomic bomb detonation by hiding in a lead-lined refrigerator.
Just imagine how monotonous conversations will get if we only use simple sentences while conversing with people around. The English language consists of a number of colloquialisms, which are nothing but a way of spicing up our lives from the boring and usual way of conversing with each other. After all, variety is the spice of life! They have become an integral part of our daily lives. Some phrases and idioms simply leave us wondering about their meanings and context in which they were said. Some have quite literal meanings, while others, we just cannot understand easily. The phrase that we will be talking about here is quite a tricky one.

Imagine your favorite TV show; the one that you simply love watching every week or every day, and just cannot miss it for anything else in this world. Now, imagine a track where suddenly everything changes, and you start feeling a little distracted; so much so that you no longer mind missing a few episodes in between. This is the usual scenario when the show is long running, and the creators have to constantly come up with new ideas and plots to keep the audience hooked onto it and raise the viewership. Amidst all this commotion, the show goes downhill, and loses its quality and popularity. This is when we say that the show has 'jumped the shark'. We're sure you must have come across such situations at least once in your life. Let us venture deeper into the meaning and origin of this phrase.

Meaning
The usage of the phrase 'jump the shark' has mainly to do with TV shows, indicating its downhill descent. It was used to describe a moment of a TV show when it begins to decline in quality, popularity, and relevance after reaching the peak of its creativity, mainly in the attempt of keeping the audience interested. This usually happens when the main actor or actress leaves the show, and is replaced by another actor for playing the same character. Or it may also happen that the main character in the show dies, after which the plot completely deviates from the original path. Once the show 'jumps the shark', the viewers sense a great decline in quality, and feel that it has undergone too many changes to even return to its original track.

According to the Urban dictionary, 'jump the shark' is a term used to describe a moment when something that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.

For example,

The Flintstones 'jumped the shark' when a man from outer space came to visit them.
The story of Transformers 2 (movie) 'jumped the shark' even though it had good special effects.
Indiana Jones survived a nuclear blast by hiding in a fridge. This movie officially jumped the shark then!

Although this term originated in reel life, it can also be applied to many different scenarios in real life as well.

It can be used for musicians who no longer captivate their fans as they once did. It can even be used as a defining point in any business or relationship, in which a person behaves in way that questions his/her credibility, and eliminates the purpose of continuing the same task.

Origin
The term 'jump the shark' originated after an episode of the popular TV series Happy Days. You might as well thank this TV show for inspiring this catchy phrase. In this episode, it so happened that Arthur Fonzarelli, popularly known as The Fonz, literally took his water ski over a shark. It was this particular point that the viewers became disinterested, and the quality and popularity of the show started to decline rapidly. Although the show went on to be successful for seven more years, it never matched up to the quality of the first few seasons again.

This phrase was first used in December 1997, when Jon Hein created a website of the name 'jumptheshark.com,', which is now defunct. It was coined by Jon Hein's roommate Sean Connolly at the University of Michigan, when he first used it when the show ended in 1985. They were discussing their favorite shows that had lost their charm, in which similar 'jump the shark' moments had occurred. The website listed about 200 shows and his opinions on such moments in each of them. He explained the concept as follows,

"It's a moment. A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on... it's all downhill. Some call it the climax. We call it 'Jumping the Shark.' From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same."
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Thus, a 'jump the shark' moment can be anything that has turned mediocre and monotonous after a while. Now that you know what this phrase means, let us know about your 'jump the shark' moments as well, by dropping in a few lines in the comments section below.

Information About the Lotus-eaters in Greek Mythology

Odysseus's encounter with the lotus-eaters is one of the lesser-known, but interesting parts of the epic 'The Odyssey' written by the Greek poet Homer. In this article, we will find out exactly who the lotus-eaters were, and the facts about their role in Greek mythology.
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According to Herodotus...
The tribe of lotus-eaters was not just a myth, but a real group of people who existed in his day in the coastal areas of Libya. He said that the people of this area lived exclusively on the sweet intoxicating fruits of a tree, which produced lotus-like flowers.
Lotus-eaters, also known as lotophagi, are creatures that had their origins in Greek mythology in the epic 'The Odyssey', as a part of the ninth book. They were believed to be a race of people living on an island filled with lotus plants, somewhere near northern Africa. While these creatures were briefly encountered by Odysseus and his men while returning home from the Trojan war, the episode is quite memorable. These creatures get their name from their unique practice of eating a mysterious plant with lotus-like flowers, that had soporific properties which kept them in a perpetual state of languorous forgetfulness. Although these beings were completely friendly and showed no sign of hostility, they almost became the undoing of Odysseus and his men.

The Story of Odysseus and the Lotus-eaters
After sailing away from the island of the sorceress Circe, and taking heavy losses in men from their encounter with a monster named Scylla, a huge storm created by Zeus forced the fleet of Odysseus towards Cape Malea, the land of the lotus-eaters.

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After a brief period of rest on the shores of the new land, Odysseus sent three of his men to find the natives, and to find out if any sort of civilization existed there. The men set out on their expedition, and soon came across the lotus-eaters, whom they found to be completely peaceful. In fact, they even offered the men some honey-sweet lotus flowers and fruits to eat, but on eating this food, the men forgot any thought of their duties, and the past or future held no meaning for them.

Back on the shore, Odysseus waited and waited, and was getting impatient because the men he sent had not returned. When he sent more men after them, they disappeared too. Finally, Odysseus himself went to search for his men, and found them among the lotus-eaters in a state of lazy happiness, and no desire to ever return to the ships. Quickly sizing up the situation, Odysseus forcibly carried each of his men, kicking and screaming, back to the ship, tied them down, and sailed off to escape the land of the lotus-eaters forever.

The Lotus Plants
The Greeks called a large group of non-narcotic plants 'lotos', which could have been the source of the name of the mysterious plant eaten by the lotus-eaters. However, most historians believe that, in the case of Odysseus's adventure, the name refers to opium poppy, as the ripe seed pods closely resemble the unopened pods of a real lotus. Other alternatives include the nettle tree and the blue water lily found in the Nile river.

Let's now look at the physical and behavioral characteristics of the lotus-eaters mentioned in the Odyssey.

Appearance
Most lotus-eaters look like regular human beings. However, on closer observation, one would notice that they always had a very distant, dreamy look on their face, and their movements would be slow and lazy. Also, most of these beings would look intoxicated and frail. While naturally born lotus-eaters would have pale skin, white hair, and light-gray eyes, any person who would regularly eat the lotuses would gain this appearance over time. If and when the lotus-eaters would choose to wear clothes, they would dress up in loose-fitting tunics.

Behavior
Due to their constant diet of the intoxicating flowers, these beings would nearly always be in a daze of euphoria. They would always be daydreaming, fantasizing, and discussing far-fetched philosophies that had no practical bearing on the real world. Due to such a nature, they were always lazy, and did not care about outsiders and their affairs. In rare cases, where they did not eat the lotuses for a while, and came out of their stupor, they still remained very restless and easily distracted. The lotus flower made these creatures smell beautiful, and hence they hardly ever bathed. They were a fairly nomadic tribe, as they moved from one area to another, exhausting lotus flower supplies in an area, before moving to the next in the quest of feeding their addiction.

Supernatural Powers
Regularly eating these lotus flowers seemed to slow down the aging of these beings, and this constant diet also created an aura of dreaminess around them. Anyone who came near them would become confused and disoriented due to their mind becoming foggy, and psychics and telepathic people would find that their abilities would be hampered in these conditions. Touching or kissing the lotus-eaters was said to worsen the effects. The people of this tribe were said to able to control and share dreams, which would often contain visions of the past, present, and future.

References in Popular Culture
Lotus-eaters have captured the imagination of so many generations of readers that they have appeared in numerous works of art, such as paintings, poems, and modern popular culture. The passage about the lotus-eaters from The Odyssey, was the source of the poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson 'The Lotos-Eaters'. The theme has also been repeated in many novels and movies, such as 'The Age of Innocence' by Edith Wharton and 'Camp Half-Blood Chronicles' by Rick Riordan.
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Through these passages, Homer touches upon a very relevant topic - the attraction of oblivion through the use of narcotics/drugs. It is only through the decisive judgment of Odysseus that his men are able to escape the addiction which wiped out their memories and ambitions.

Rules to Play the Four Square Game

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If you thought four square blocks and a ball isn't enough to have fun, this game can prove you wrong. This article tells you the rules to play four square, as well as a few variations to make it more exciting.
Four square game rule
Did You Know?
In 2012, a group of 17 Needham high school students broke the world record by playing the Four Square game for 34 hours straight.
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Four Square can be played on an official court, or the squares can even be drawn on any hard surface using chalk. This is a game that's enjoyed by children and adults alike, using a minimum setup. In the following sections, we shall learn how to play the Four Square ball game, through its rules and some variations.

Requirements

Chalk
Four squares
Four or more players
8-inch diameter ball

Objective
To keep hitting the ball using only your hands, into the opponent's square, without letting it bounce twice or committing a foul, while defending your own.
The Court

The court should be square-shaped, which measures 16 square feet.
The court is divided into 4 quadrants, with 8 feet on each side.
There should be a clearance area of 6 feet around the court, or a distance of 12 feet between multiple courts.

Rules

The squares can be named after celebrities, movie stars, numbers, or anything else just to make it interesting. In this scenario, let's name them with numbers.
The numbers are marked clockwise, from 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest ranking number in the game. The square marked 4 should have a diagonal line across it to mark the server's position. The positions of 3 and 4 are reversed, so that the lowest and highest ranking numbers are diagonally opposite each other.
The person standing in square 4 is the captain, and he makes up the rules. It could vary from closing your eyes after you hit the ball, to spinning in the same spot after you hit the ball. The aim of every player is to be in the highest ranking square.
The person standing in the highest ranking square is the server, and serves the ball after letting it bounce once and hitting it into another player's square.
Players can use any part of their hand to hit the ball, including the wrist, tips of the hand, as well as the back of the hand. The ball can be hit with open or closed fists.
Spinning the ball is not allowed. As long as the ball is hit and it spins because of the force of the hit, it is fine.
The receiver can hit the ball into any of the remaining squares.
Players who strike the ball incorrectly are eliminated. When this occurs, the rest of the players move up one square, and the empty spot is filled by a new player. The play continues till only one player remains.

Fouls

Hitting the line between the squares with the ball.
Hitting the ball overhand or sidearm.
Stepping into another player's square to play the ball.
Catching or carrying the ball.
Letting the ball bounce in your own square twice.
Failing to hit the ball when it lands in your own square.

Variations
You can try these variations to bring the excitement and fun to a higher level in the game.

Upball: Players must hit the ball above their heads.
Underhanded: All the hits must be made underhanded, as suggested.
Out-of-pocket: Players must step outside their square after hitting the ball.
Airball: Players must jump a feet in the air before hitting the ball.
Jedi: Players must close their eyes after hitting the ball.
Flamingo: Players must choose a leg to stand on, and play the entire game on one foot.
Evening Dresses
Common injuries incurred in this sport are abrasions and bruises to the knees and elbows. So, it's advised to wear knee and elbow pads to prevent such injuries. The game is popular enough, that it has its own world championship, that takes place in Maine every winter.

Understanding the Sleeper Effect with Examples

The sleeper effect is a commonly observed psychological phenomenon that helps us understand and explain perception and change in attitudes of people with regards to other people, products, entities, etc. This article elaborates on this effect in order to make the topic easy to grasp.
Sleeper effect meaning

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Did You Know?
The sleeper effect was discovered by Carl Hovland, Arthur Lumsdaine, and Fred Sheffield in 1949, in the course of their study that examined the impact of a World War II propaganda movie on American soldiers.
During World War II, a series of documentary films were commissioned by the US government in order to explain to the American soldiers the reason behind the involvement of US forces in the war. Carl Hovland and his colleagues were curious to study the long-term effects of such propagandized messages. During the course of their study, they found that the soldiers initially dismissed the information in the films, as it was clearly part of a propaganda, and hence, was not a very reliable source of information. When reexamined after a substantial period of time, the researchers were astounded to find that, instead of an increase in the rejection of the information, the soldiers showed an increase in its acceptability. This led Hovland and his colleagues to posit that, the passage of time had caused the soldiers to forget the source of the information, and in turn lead to the acceptance it. This was the first documented instance of the sleeper effect.

Sleeper Effect
Normally, the persuasiveness of information gradually decreases over a period of time. Often, this information is associated with cues such as source credibility and morality. Some of these cues are positive, while some are negative. Messages accompanied by positive cues are usually readily accepted and believed by people, while those associated with negative cues (discounting cues) are viewed suspiciously and sometimes even dismissed. However, it has been observed in many studies that despite the initial rejection of the message, people tend to get persuaded over time, leading to an increase in the acceptance of that message. This phenomenon of delayed persuasion is called the sleeper effect.

However, for the sleeper effect to manifest, three basic conditions must be met. They are:

The message itself should be persuasive
The discounting cue must initially suppress attitude change
The discounting cue must become dissociated from the message over time

It must be noted that the effect is seen to disappear if the audience is reminded of the source.

How Does It Work?
There exist three hypotheses that try to explain the rationale behind this effect.
1. Forgetting
The sleeper effect caused Hovland and his colleagues to believe that acceptance was possible due to the non-remembrance of the discounting cue. To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted a series of experiments which were made up of two sets of people each. Each set was told the same message or information, but one was associated with a highly credible source, whereas the other was associated with an untrustworthy source. Following up on the two groups showed that, initially, the message from the credible source was readily accepted as compared to the message from the unreliable source. After a certain period of time, the subjects were again examined. This examination revealed that there was a significant increase in the acceptability of the message related to the discounting cue. This led to the hypothesis that the effect was observed due to the fact that the subjects had forgotten the unreliable nature of the source. However, later examinations revealed that, despite the increase in acceptability, most of the subjects still remembered the non-credible source of the message.
2. Dissociation
Due to the limitation of the above hypothesis, the researchers proposed a new theory, one which claimed that the subjects didn't forget the source entirely, but merely possessed a weakened association with the message, or in other words, the message and discounting cue were dissociated. Since the association of the source and message is weakened over time, so as to be dissociated, recall of the message would not cause the recall of the source as well, thereby causing a delayed acceptance/persuasion, which results in the sleeper effect.
3. Differential Decay
Hovland and his colleagues succeeded in elaborating many facets of this effect, but they managed to ignore one aspect, that is, why the discounting cue was readily forgotten or less accessible, but not the message itself. This query was investigated by Greenwald, Pratkanis, and their team, in a series of experiments designed to determine the specific parameters required for the occurrence of the sleeper effect. Their experimental results suggest that, the message and the cue decay at different rates. After exposure, the effect or memory of the cue degrades or decays much faster, as compared to the effect of the message. Also, interestingly, the sequence of the cue and message also played an important role in bringing about the sleeper effect. The effect was seen only in cases where the cue followed the message and reinforced the message content.

Real-life Examples
➠ During political election campaigns, often, the candidates of the opposing party are targeted via negative remarks, advertisements, or news. This largely affects the undecided voters, who initially dismiss these occurrences as being slanderous attempts, but later, due to the sleeper effect, retain only the memory of the message but not the source, causing them to vote against the defamed candidates.

➠ Young children of divorced parents, who show no signs of mental stress or trauma as a result of the divorce, often exhibit difficulties regarding relationships, trust, and intimacy during early adulthood.

➠ The prevalent idea that autism is caused by MMR vaccines is due to the sleeper effect caused by an unreliable source in the form of an incorrect scientific study.

➠ The sleeper effect is evident in the case of word of mouth marketing. Product reviews are often spread this way. It may either be a friend telling you about it, or a salesman. The same can occur on websites and forums as well.

➠ Reading about facts, statistics, or anecdotes from an unreliable source may also result in the presentation of this effect.

➠ Social media applications can act as platforms for the propagation of untruths or propaganda against or in support of an individual or entity.
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The only effective way to overcome any and all effects of the sleeper effect is to question and investigate the source of your knowledge. If a certain piece of information reaches you, you must determine the soundness of the source, and verify the validity of the information before applying it in any way.