The Daily Teaser — 29-6-2014: Ramadan

I … am … FUMING!

Again … !

You’ll remember that, recently, I’d been put off the Government’s Mandatory Work Programme.

From — I believe — no fault of my own.

Well, I got a letter, yesterday.   Basildon’s Benefit office have decided to suspend my benefit payments for three months.

I was and am extremely angry.   I feel I made my best effort whilst on the programme, was put off it despite my best efforts, and — again, despite my best efforts — have been sanctioned unnecessarily.

I can understand why some commit crime, frankly: if it means paying the bills, in these circumstances.

And can only hop folk start hitting that ‘Donate’ button: I could REALLY need the help.

Understandably, however … ?

I’m appealing.

After all, and as far as I know, my benefit payment — including the payments that cover my rent — are all tied to my Job Seekers Allowance.

I’d rather not get evicted through no fault of my own.

~≈Â≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?

Yesteday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring ten out of ten.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s rather spiritual questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video …

Q1) 29th June, 2014, is the start of Ramadan.   What are Muslims obliged to do, during Ramadan … ?

Q2) It also marks the time the Prophet Muhammed received what … ?

Q3) The period of Ramadan marks one of the Five Pillars of Islam: the major practices of the Faith.   Name one of the others.

Q4) At the end of Ramadan, the Prophet’s supposed to have eaten three what … ?

Q5) Finally … what’s the name of the festival at the end of Ramadan?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 28th June marks the start of Gay Rights movement: with the Stonewall Riots.   In which year of the 1960s?

A1) 1969.

Q2) The Riots were triggered by a police raid on The Stonewall: was The Stonewall a bar, restaurant or bath-house?

A2) A bar.

Q3) The Stonewall was and is in which US city … ?

A3) New York.   (It’s in Greenwich Village.)

Q4) The riots are considered the turning point in the Gay Rights movement.   The first Gay Pride Marches took place in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago: on 28th June of which year of the 1970s?

A4) 1970.

Q5) These days, the Gay Pride movement is usually referred to as the LGBT rights movement.   What does LGBT stand for … ?

A5) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.

Q6) Which country was the first to decriminalize homosexuality?

A6) France.   (If I’ve read things correctly, it was first formalized in 1791: and finally made law in 1810.)

Q7) 1917 saw homosexuality decriminalized in Russia: as a result of what … ?

A7) The various Russian Revolutions.

Q8) Noted English social reformer, Jeremy Bentham, was an early advocate of decriminalizing homosexuality.   His ideas stemmed from his philosophy: which was called what … ?

A8) Utilitarianism.   (I don’t know much about Bentham: but DO know his pickled remains at on display at University College, London.)

Q9) When was same-sex marriage legalised in the UK … ?

A9) Different dates, actually.   It was passed in England and Wales in 2013, and came into force in 2014: it also was passed, And came into force in Scotland, in 2014.   The Northern Irish Assembly won’t be legalizing it: treating same sex marriages from other jurisdictions as civil partnerships.

Q10) Finally … Britain’s four biggest Gay Pride events are held in four English cities: name one of them.

A10) London, Liverpool, Manchester and Brighton.

I’ll leave you with this music … 

And this thought …

“Ramadan is, in its essence, a month of humanist spirituality.”

Tariq Ramadan.

Have a good day.





*        Can I make a confession, Debbi … ?   I’m having a BAD start to the week!