Nimavenl - Nicole's Random Ramblings

Watched the news earlier and saw the report on the bombings in the Moscow subway. Or well, bombings - suicide missions actually. Thirty-eight people killed and many wounded because two women felt the need to make a point. And what was the point about? It seems about the exact same thing so many bombings and attacks around the world have been about: terrorists trying to what, prove a point, scare the world, get support for their cause? The one thing I just really don't get here is WHY people, human beings just like you and I, feel the need to kill other human beings, innocent ones at that, to help further their cause. From what I've read on newspaper websites so far no-one has claimed responsibility for this latest attack yet, however apparently Russian authorities believe there is evidence that these attacks were commited by people from the North Caucasus region. According to CNN.com, "Our preliminary assessment is that this act of terror was committed by a terroris...

While checking some information online that had been going through my head for most of the morning, I came across a reference to the TV programme "The Big Bang Theory". I'd seen a few episodes of it now and then, however never really got into watching it regularly. I'd been thinking about a friend of a friend of a friend who has a child with hearing problems. I'd never met the child and only ever met his mother twice, however we talked about the hearing problems when we met due to my background in (studying) Early Childhood Education. We talked about possible causes both physical and psychological and she then went on with her life and I with mine. It's a while ago by now, however something I read recently reminded me of this woman and her child. Not knowing much about either the mother or the son and having no idea as to whether the hearing problems were physical or psychological, we only discussed general options. I decided that to satisfy my curiosi...

I'm interested in what makes people tick. What moves people to do what they do, why they act a certain way, what the reasons are behind certain behaviours. I study and learn about things like sociology, anthropology, psychology, psychiatry, counselling and religions to help me further my understanding and learn more about these topics. This is organised study, going out to learn about a specific topic at a certain time - deciding to go out and learn about something that interests me. Last night I ended up watching a program on TV about teenage girls who are anorexic, so thin that their bodies can become permanently damaged. While in no way something I aspire to, it was very interesting to watch and fits right in with many other things that I find interesting and enjoy learning about. The program featured girls as young as fourteen or even eleven with a personal target weight of under 30 kilos wearing clothes suited for children much younger than they are. Girls whose periods ha...

So, having decided to start writing a new blog, I need to figure out what to write about. Back in Uni I learnt this technique called "Mind Mapping". Basically you get one central idea or topic and you just write down everything to do with it that comes into your head. So, my topic today is My Interests. I'm going to write some of them down and hopefully from there figure out stuff to actually write about. Some of my Interests in no particular order: Psychology, Psychiatry, Anthropology, Sociology, Photography, Gaming, Religions, Languages, History, Geography, Politics, Ecology, Horses, Horse Riding, Sport, Fitness, Kickboxing, Self Defense, Self Development, Cultures, Music, Bowling, Soccer/Football, Rugby, Biking, Walking, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Israel, Writing, Reading, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Star Trek, Grey´s Anatomy, NCIS, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Fringe, Lost, Heroes, X-Men, Laurell K. Hamilton, Traci Harding, Anne Bishop, Kathy Reichs, Linda Fai...

I've been thinking about starting a new blog. I have all these ideas about what kinds of posts I want on that blog. Posts that share my view of life and of the world, posts that explore things that interest me - people, places, history, religion, psychology, ecology, photography... And then I got thinking - why a new blog? Why not just this one? I've written posts on here and deleted them, started over a few times. And I keep coming back to wondering how much information to share, what to write about, whether to write about stuff happening to me or out there in the world, about my hopes and dreams or about the hopes and dreams of others. So, I figured the other day - this is MY blog, right?! It's my opportunity to share MY views on MY interests. So, not 10 or 20 new blogs where I write about one specific topic. Just this blog that covers all the topics that I care about, find interesting, want to learn more about. People may read my views, opinions, jokes (not that...

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed this book but did find it a little hard to read at times. I found the story very interesting, and was fascinated with the descriptions of how a Jewish state could have been, had it not been for the country of Israel. Definitely a good read, and worth the time it took me to finish the book. View all my reviews

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama My rating: 5 of 5 stars Reading this book, there was one thought that kept spinning through my head: "I like this guy!" Seeing Mr Obama on TV and reading about him in different newspapers in the time before his election to President, he amazed me. The way he talked  drew me in and his charisma and vision fascinated me. But, I wondered, did he have the experience to know what he was talking about? How well would his words translate into action? Reading about Mr Obama's life and experiences in Hawaii, Indonesia, Chicago and Kenya was extremely interesting. To have access to diverse environments such as these is one thing, but to be an insider there (instead of a visitor or a tourist) is something else entirely. It gives one unique insights that aren't available to others, and I feel that this is definitely true in his case. I wanted to read this book as I wanted to find out more about Mr O...

So ok, it's a random thing, sure, but it annoyed me and I want to write about it. Watching the Italy - The Netherlands soccer world cup qualifying match (well, we've already qualified. Still... that's what the match was for...), I was royally pissed off at the Italian team. Not only do they take out one of our star players by tearing into his ankle, they also try for a Maradona-ish "hand of God" moment by trying to push the ball into the goal... using a hand, not a foot as would be expected of a FOOTball player! I get that it's nice to score a goal, I totally do.  I get that any normal person would try and catch something that's thrown at them, or at least stick their hand out to try to get it away from them. I do. HOWEVER - A professional soccer player - someone who gets paid megabucks for how good he is at running around a field, running after a ball and kicking that ball WITH HIS FEET - that person definitely should not use his hand to get...

Tommyland by Tommy Lee My rating: 3 of 5 stars I quite enjoyed this book, and absolutely loved the humour Mr Lee brought to this story. Also, his sincerity and fortrightness appealed to me. Mr Lee seems the type to tell a story the way it is (as far as possible and allowed in a book like this), no matter the rough bits, no matter how bad it makes him look. The way he explains being in jail and how hard it was, the birth of his children and his separation from his second wife - these explanations sound so real and sincere that they really shook me. Yes, I knew already that Tommy Lee is a real person with a real life, not just a drummer or a party person or a face on a cd cover. But now I feel I've had an actual glimpse of who that person is, and he's someone I'm happy to respect and read more of. For sure! View all my reviews

Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander My rating: 5 of 5 stars I'd heard of this book and had one of those "I should read it... one day" feelings about it, but when it came across my desk at work, I decided that 'one day' had arrived. Reading the first few pages in my lunch break, I decided I was going to enjoy this book. Reading a bit more at home - I knew I was already loving it. And now, having finished it - I want to read MORE MORE MORE !!!!! View all my reviews

Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks My rating: 5 of 5 stars Interesting and haunting. Familiar in parts and yet also so alien. Amazing how young this girl was, which made the story even more scary and surreal. View all my reviews

As I'm writing this I'm 25 years old. I'm in New Zealand. It's Saturday evening. Normally, I'd be spending quality time with friends - it being the weekend and all! Today, and for the last few days, I've been sick. And so I've stayed home. I've spent a large part of the time I’ve been sick in front of my laptop. I checked out the trailer for Twilight : New Moon, and I have to say - I can't wait !!!!! Really should re-read the books though before the new movie comes out in November. I read them one after the other - before work, during my lunch breaks, after work, while having dinner - I loved the story and couldn't get enough of it. I’ve slept in. Watched dvds. Friends have come by. I’ve had dinner with my mother. I also received a letter in the mail from work. My last pay-slip and an official letter saying I'd worked there for the past 2,5 years. You see, last week was my last week there. I'm leaving the city I've lived in fo...

I've started and deleted lots of blogs. Have even had them for a few weeks or months sometimes. I've also always ended up deleting them. I always end up wondering if I'm putting too much personal information online. I want to write about stuff that matters to me, but how to do that without giving potential stalkers or whatevers too much information is something I haven't quite figured out. Do I mention what I do for a job? The country I live in? The city? My friends? My family? Where I'm from? What's going on in my life? How much information is too much? I want people who take the time to read this to enjoy reading what I write. I want to put enough of myself in my writing that I can give people an insight into my mind, into my life. I want to be able to share my thoughts and feelings, to be able to vent when I need to, to let off some steam so to speak.  I enjoy writing, enjoy sharing stories, enjoy giving my opinion - and yes, I'm an opinion...

Seven Blessings by Ruchama King Feuerman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Interesting read, and a respectful glimpse into a fascinating world. I enjoyed this book, found it easy to get through, enjoyed the variety of the stories, and feel that it will help me gain a better insight into the world of the Orthodox in Me'a Shearim. View all my reviews