Allusions to Greek Mythology in the Modern World

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Many things in the modern world trace their roots to ancient cultures and mythology. Take the names of companies, products, and even movie and book characters, for example. Many interesting ones have been derived from mythology. This article enlists some allusions to Greek mythology. It covers names of products, companies, characters, sports teams, cities, etc.
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Allusion to Greek mythology in 'The Little Mermaid'
Elmer is believed to be the Greek God of glue. Interestingly, Elmer's Products Inc. is a private company that manufactures adhesives, as also stationery, craft, and hardware.
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To honor a particular Greek God, as a symbol of a certain Greek mythical character, or simply because the name sounds different, many companies, products, and even cities have been given names that are directly linked to Greek mythology. Due to books, movies, and other sources telling us about the ancient Greeks and the interesting traits and unusual powers that Greek mythical figures had, many are tempted to allude to Greek mythology in naming products or characters in the modern world.

Greek mythology had plethora of gods and goddess and their names have been adapted for many things. They are held in high regard for the powers they had. But they are also remembered because their names are still in use. They have been given to popular brands, and other things like cities and teams have also been given their names. This makes people of the modern world, associate these companies or their products with those Greek figures. Here, we look at references that the modern world has made to Greek mythology.

Company Names

Ares
This car name is derived from the Greek god of war with the same name.
Buick Electra
Buick Electra is a full-size premium automobile made by the Buick division of General Motors. The name is derived from Electra, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and princess of Argos.

Odyssey
This minivan produced by Honda derives its name from Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca. Homer's poem Odyssey portrays him to be a hero.
Starbucks
The logo of Starbucks is a Siren. In Greek mythology, Sirens were considered to be dangerous yet beautiful creatures who would enchant the sailors with their voices, thereby causing a shipwreck.

Midas
He was a king with a golden touch, meaning whatever he touched turned into gold. In the modern world, Midas is an automotive company that specializes in producing brakes and mufflers.
Nike
In Greek mythology, Nike was a winged goddess of victory who could run and fly at a great speed. Nike is a popular sports brand, famous for selling sports shoes.

Amazon
It is one of the largest online stores in the world. In Greek mythology, a group of strong women warriors who were trained in combat and archery were known as the Amazons.
Pandora
She was the first woman in Greek mythology, her name meant all-gifted. Pandora, in the modern world, is a jewelry company founded in Denmark. Pandora Media Inc. is an Internet radio service.

Ajax
Ajax was a Greek warrior in the Trojan war who was a man of great valor. In the modern world, AJAX may refer to a group of web development techniques. There is a brand of cleaning products by the same name.
Versace
The logo for Versace actually represented Medusa in Greek mythology.

Olympus
It is where the Greek gods resided. It is a popular camera company. The company Olympic airlines also derives its name from Olympus.
Argos
Argus Panoptes was an all-seeing giant with hundred eyes. In the modern world, Argos Data Collection System looks after global satellite coverage.

Trident
Trident was one of the symbols of Poseidon, it was a three-pronged spear. Trident in the modern world, is a famous gum brand and its name translates to three-toothed.
Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen Phaeton is a luxury sedan by Volkswagen. In Greek mythology, Phaeton was the son of Oceanid Clymene and the solar deity Apollo.

Asus
The company derives its name from Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology. The company has incorporated only the last four letters of Pegasus in its name.
Oracle
In classical antiquity, Oracle refers to a person who could predict the future and give wise advice. In the modern world, Oracle refers to a famous computer hardware company.

Hermès
He was the messenger of Greek gods. In the modern world, Hermès is the name of a company that specializes in luxury goods, lifestyle accessories, perfumes, etc.
Dove
In Greek mythology, Dove was a symbol of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. Unilever owns a personal care brand by the same name.

Titan
In Greek mythology, Titans were the elderly gods who ruled the earth before they were overthrown by the Olympians. Titan, a famous Indian watch company and the football team Tennessee Titans are modern-day allusions to Greek mythology.
Eos
Eos was the Greek goddess of Dawn. In the modern world, Eos is a line of cameras produced by Canon. Additionally, Eos is a company that specializes in personal care products.


Characters

Fluffy, the dog
Fluffy was the three-headed dog in Harry Potter. The character was derived from the Greek mythological creature Cerberus who was also a three-headed dog that guarded the underworld.
Hermione
Hermione in Greek mythology was the daughter of Menelaus and Helen.

Pan
Among many other references to this name in literature, a famous allusion is that of Peter Pan. The name of this character is derived from the Greek deity Pan.
King Triton
The character King Triton from 'The Little Mermaid' is derived from the Greek sea god Poseidon.

Ares
A strip in Planet Comics, called Mars God of War featured a character based on Ares. He was shown to be taking over people's bodies to cause war.
Pluto
Pluto, the dog from Mickey Mouse, derives its name from Pluto, the ruler of the underworld in Greek mythology.


Sports Teams

Toronto Argonauts
It is the name of a Canadian football team. In Greek mythology, Argonauts refer to a band of heroes who joined Jason in finding Golden Fleece.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix refers to a bird that was reborn from the ashes. This basketball team derives its name from this mythical creature.


Places

Athens
The capital city of Greece is named after the goddess Athena. Athena and Poseidon competed with each other to give their name to the city. Poseidon with his trident created a spring, which was salty water. Athena, on the other hand produced an olive tree, which the population felt was useful to them. Hence the city got the name Athens.
Apollo
He was an Olympian, god of music, light, art, and beauty. Places like Apollo Pennsylvania and Apollo Beach Florida have been named after him.

Daphne
She was the daughter of the river god Peneus. Greek god Apollo was behind her. To escape from him, she turned herself into a Laurel tree. Daphne is the name of a city in Alabama.
Marathon
The name Marathon is derived from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. Marathon is a city in Florida. It is also the term used for a long-distance running event.

Cassandra
She was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. It is also the name of a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Phoenix
It is the state capital and the largest city in Arizona. Lord Darrell Duppa is said to be behind the name of this city. According to him, before this city was developed, ancient Americans' ruins were discovered here. Just like the mythical bird Phoenix rose from the ashes, Phoenix was also reborn from the ruins.
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This was our list of allusions to Greek mythology. You might also like to go through this list of movies based on Greek mythology. Also, many constellations derive their names from it. Due to the contribution of Greeks to various fields and because of the interesting stories that surround Greek mythical figures, their names have been alluded to, in the modern-world business and popular culture. Does one of these or any other Greek name inspire you?

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.