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A WOMAN OUTSTANDING IN HER FIELD

3/25/2022

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​​MARCH IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
In March the world celebrates International Women's History Month, created to honor the many, many great women who have made innumerable  contributions to society.

Image Credit:  Paul Thompson/Getty Images
Image Source: mentalfloss.com/womens-history-month-facts
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​National Women's Day started in New York in 1909, spearheaded by Theresa Malkiel, an activist who served on the women's committee of the Socialist Party of America. The idea was soon adopted in Europe, and until 1987 we celebrated International Women’s Week and Day not only to honor women but create an open forum to discuss anti-sexism, anti-discrimination, and other women’s issues.                   Theresa Malkiel ►
                                                                                   
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/Theresa_Malkiel.

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In 1980, President Jimmy Carter, the first president to recognized Women’s History Week, officially set aside the first week of March to honor women and their accomplishments. Six years later, Congress passed PL 100-9 [PDF], officially designating Women’s History Month as a permanent event every March.

◄ ​President Jimmy Carter signs document on Feb. 28, 1980,  proclaiming March 2-8 "National Women's History Week."
​​Image Credit: Barry Thumma—AP
Image Source: time.com/womens-history-month-history/

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A WOMAN OUT STANDING IN HER FIELD
Every March I try to write a blog on a woman who has made significant contributions to her field of interest or society in general, focusing on those women who haven’t made entries in the history books. Most of us know the famous names, such as Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, or Helen Keller, but I’m interested in those women who accomplished great things -- but not necessarily huge things -- and have been somewhat     ▲Image Credit: Thinkstock                               overlooked. 
   
Image Source: grainews.ca/women-advancing-in-agriculture/

Doing my due diligence, I “googled” well-known and not-so-well-known women in history, along with articles on women honored for great achievements. In reading the many lists of names, I realized that all of the women, famous or rich or infamous, low-key or in the public eye, are there because their names are well known, not so much because of their outstanding accomplishments. 
Please understand, I don’t intend to criticize or denigrate anything these remarkable women have done – all achievements in any field are important and deserve to be honored -- but I can’t help trying to put a comparative value on the good works or impact on society in general.
I know that’s not fair, and it is naive to try, but I still can’t help wondering if Madonna’s kudos for being “best selling female vocal artist of all time”, Marilyn Monroe “Actress and model”, or Rihanna “Barbados singer, actress and fashion designer” hold up in comparison to Mother Teresa “Nun and charity worker who dedicated her life to serving poor and disadvantaged”, Angela Merkel, “chancellor of Germany since 2005 and the de facto leader of the European Union during financial crisis”, or Marie Curie “Polish physicist, chemist, and first person to win the Nobel Prize in both Chemistry and Physics.”
[https://www.biographyonline.net/people/famous/100-women.html#]


All these high-achieving women approached greatness from one of three situations:

● Women throughout the spectrum of society going about their business but making impacts through their example, teaching, mentoring, being exceptionally good at what they do, and influencing decisions that count, if only in a small way -- and sometimes in a huge way. Sometimes they “fall into” opportunities by chance or background) and have the wisdom and passion to commit.

● Women born or married into positions in society which allowed them to be educated, to excel in the arts and sciences, to become noted philanthropists or activists on behalf of some cause or, in the case of being a queen, to mandate laws for the betterment of her subjects in general and women in particular.


● Women born into any position in life who purposely sets out to achieve great goals and are willing to put their hearts, souls, and hard work into its achievement. Some have to work harder at it than others, and the degree of success is varies.

One thing the women the lists of great women a have in common: Each woman learned from whatever and whomever was around them, recognized doors opening to them and took advantage. They may not have started out with the desire to be great or to make great changes in society, but developed their passions and commitment through learning, seeing, and hearing with compassion.

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING “GOOD” AND BEING “GREAT”
All achievements are important, but what makes one great and others good, successful, helpful, rewarding, recognized, etc. but not “great?” What makes the difference? I looked up that question with regard to a number of professions. I found they only address what makes an individual better than “good”, not so much the accomplishment itself. [Please note that I’m talking about outstanding performance as “good”, not “average, adequate or good enough”.]

The value of the achievements is something future history will determine. Sometimes it takes many years before the true value of the achievement can be seen or even debated.

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Evaluating what makes an individual better than just “good/ outstanding” and recognizing that most great achievements are not accomplished alone or in a vacuum, most professions identified the following factors for achieving personal “greatness.”

● The Physical Work
First, most of us recognize you have to go the extra step, put in the extra hours, pay attention to the smallest detail, etc. to make your work better than good. Great requires that much more.

● The Mental Work

Second, mental work means that no matter what adversities and roadblocks occur, the great players don’t ever give up. They believe in themselves and their work; they stay focused and reach the goal, no matter what. They make the sacrifices necessary to push through the painful and impossible times.

● Constant Learning
A great performer learns from everything and everyone, from every situation, good and bad. They observe and learn and then ask the right questions. Then they apply what they learn to improve their own work and performance.


● Put Yourself First
Focus on your own role, your own problems and weaknesses, and on getting your work done. Expanding efforts beyond a person’s own “controllables” (attitude, effort, thoughts), usually causes frustration and exhaustion. This doesn’t preclude making suggestions to others as appropriate, but basically do your own work. Be humble.


● Frequency and Nature Of Response To Neurological And Stress
Studies indicate the difference between “good” and “great” performers is how frequently they get emotionally triggered and emotionally react to situations versus thoughtfully responding to them. Stated differently, the difference between “good” and “great” performance is not necessarily a difference in their knowledge, skills, and competencies, it is a difference in the quality of their neurological and stress-response system.


● Self-awareness
“Self-awareness is the capacity to know what we know, and what we don’t know. It’s also the particular skill of realizing that unknown unknowns are lurking in the shadows.”
https://medium.com/the-mission/the-difference-between-good-and-great

A self-aware person is highly sensitive go where the edge of their awareness is. They seek out coaching, feedback loops and mentorship to illuminate the dark spots of their experience. Self-awareness is built on a growth mindset seeking to learn from whatever happens; adapting, changing and improving from any result, be it good or bad.

● Work Smart
This refers to the Pareto Principle, an aphorism which asserts that 80% of outcomes (or outputs) result from 20% of all causes (or inputs) for any given event. The goal of the 80-20 rule is to identify inputs that are potentially the most productive and make them the priority. Performers who rise above “good/ outstanding” put their attention and work on those tasks that produce the best results in terms of reaching the goal.

To excel, one must have energy, flexibility, focus, intuition, commitment, purpose / passion, perseverance, ability to fail and try again, support of others, and optimism. Two things to remember: First, you only have to be “great” at one thing. Second, you have to be good before you can be great.

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CASE IN POINT: MALALA YOUSAFZAI
Malala Yousafzai is a contemporary “great woman”. Some articles characterize her as being someone who didn’t start out as hoping to set the world on fire but just an eleven-year-old Pakistani girl wanted to learn to read.

​​In a sense, that is true, but like life itself, it’s complicated.


◄ Malala Yousafzai, now 24
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai
 

BIRTH OF AN ACTIVIST
Malala-Yousafzai was born July 12, 1997, into the lower middle-class family of Ziauddin Yousafzai and his wife, Toor Pekai Yousafzai, in the Swat District of Pakistan, northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Malala was the first of three children, and her family is Sunni Muslim of Pashtun ethnicity. 


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Image Source: geology.com/world/pakistan

Her father, a teacher and educational activist himself, ran a chain of schools in the region, and he insisted his daughter receive the same education as any boy.
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        Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,
        Pakistan - 
Image Source: swatvalley.pk/2019/04/34886
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She sat is his classroom as a toddler and became passionate about knowledge from a very young age.

Then Taliban extremists began to take control of the Swat Valley, among other things banned, girls were not allowed to attend school, families could not own televisions, play music or dance. The extremists destroyed over 400 schools.


THE BLOGGER
According to Women’s History.org, “In late 2008, Aamer Ahmed Khan of the BBC Urdu website and his colleagues came up with a novel way of covering the Pakistani Taliban's growing influence in the Swat Valley. They decided to ask a schoolgirl to blog anonymously about her life there.“  
womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/malala-yousafzai

After older girls had to turn down the opportunity for fear of the Taliban, Malala Yousafzai finally asked for the job. During the time she was eleven- and twelve-years-old, Yousafzai wrote a blog using a different name for BBC Urdu explaining her life during the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s occupation of the Swat region. At the time, she declared, she was scared and had nightmares, but that didn’t stop her for advocating education for girls.

After her blogging career ended, Malala and her father continued to campaign for girl’s education rights. She began appearing on television to publicly advocate for female education. From 2009 to 2010 she was the chair of the District Child Assembly of the Khpal Kor Foundation. In 2011, Yousafzai trained with local girls' empowerment organization, Aware Girls.
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​In 2011, Yousafzai was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize because of her advocacy. She didn’t win, but the same year she was awarded Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize. The Prime Minister of Pakistan later renamed the award the National Malala Peace Prize in her honor.      Image Source: islamicrop.blogspot.com/2012/

​​THE TARGET
Of course, this award and public focus did not endear her to the Taliban. She became a target. One day in October 2012, fifteen-year-old Yousafzai was on the school bus returning home, when two Taliban members stopped the bus. They singled Yousafzai out from the others and shot her in the head and wounded two others.

This made massive worldwide news. Fortunately, she was airlifted to a Pakistani military hospital and then taken to an intensive care unit in Birmingham, England. The doctors induced a coma, and after ten days she woke up in the hospital.

By some miracle, she had not suffered any major brain damage, but was required to undergo many reparative surgeries and rehabilitation for other damages. After many months, she came home to her family now living in England, and in 2013 returned to school there.

THRUST INTO GREATNESS
In a way, Malala Yousafzai was just an eleven-year-old Pakistani girl who wanted an education. And she achieved her goal… the hard way. But there was more behind that which gave her the character and passion to go beyond and keep on fighting for the rights of all girls to get an education. Without carrying on, she might accomplished an amazing goal, her fifteen minutes of fame, and that was that.

Instead, even though she was now in England and fulfilling her dream to get an education, at a very young age decided to keep on fighting on behalf of all girls. With her father, she established the Malala Fund, a charity devoted to bringing equal education opportunities to girls around the world. Within its first year of operation, the Malala Fund raised over $7 million and opened up multiple schools in Malala’s native Pakistan.

On her sixteenth birthday, Yousafzai spoke at the United Nations in New York. That same year she published her autobiography entitled, “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.” She was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament for her activism.

She was a co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. After sharing her story, Malala catapulted to international fame. She received an outpouring of support from around the world as her story spread. In honor of her efforts, she became the youngest ever Nobel laureate at the age of 17.

Accepted by Oxford in 2017, and continuing with her activist work, Yousafzai completed her degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford and graduated with honors in 2020.
Somewhere in all this, Malala found time to get married.
That is "greatness."

JUST SAYIN.
□
Sources
https://www.expandinglight.org/free/yoga-teacher/articles/general/good-vs-great.php
https://medium.com/the-mission/you-dont-need-to-be-good-at-many-things-you-need-to-be-great-at-one-a18ed01d0ffc
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Theresa_Malkiel.jpg
https://geology.com/world/pakistan-satellite-image.shtml

https://medium.com/the-mission/the-difference-between-good-and-great-is-massive-343d80f6d990#:~:text=%20The%20Difference%20Between%20Good%20and%20Great%20Is,put%20in%20the%20work%2C%20you%20might...%20More%20

https://girlssoccernetwork.com/tdifference-between-good-and-great-soccer-player/#:~:text=The%20Difference%20Between%20Good%20and%20Great%201%20First%2C,Lastly%2C%20the%20GREAT%20player%20puts%20themself%20first.%20


https://budtoboss.com/leadership/the-difference-between-a-good-manger-and-a-great-manger/#:~:text=%20The%20difference%20between%20%E2%80%9Cgood%E2%80%9D%20and%20%E2%80%9Cgreat%E2%80%9D%20managers,navigate%20challenging%20situations%20in%20a%20healthy...%20


ttps://www.entrepreneur.com/article/309638#:~:text=%208%20Traits%20of%20Outstanding%20People%20%201,people%20don%E2%80%99t%20lament%20about%20his%20fact%2C...%20More%20


https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/80-20-rule.asp#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways%201%20The%2080-20%20rule%20maintains%20that,efficiently%20to%20create%20maximum%20value.%20More%20items...%20


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/malala-yousafzai
https://borgenproject.org/facts-about-malala-yousafzai/
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2014/yousafzai/biographical/
 
 
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World Building

3/18/2022

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​WORLD BUILDING

During an interview, I was asked how I went about building the world in the time travel novella A Timeless Melody. The answer is that the primary setting of the novel is the California Mojave Desert in 1979-1980.

     The interviewer looked disappointed. "But this is a time travel, isn't it?" she asks.
     "Well, yes. But it takes place—"
     "No world building? That's too bad."
     "Wait, wait. You don't understand..." I cry as the interviewer walks away.
Darn!

BUILDING A BRAVE NEW WORLD
Most people define “world building” as the construction of an imaginary world but, in fact, all writers deal with world building. It's a necessity if a writer hopes to produce a novel, in any genre, that is consistent, real, and believable.

Creating the setting of a novel is a type of world building. Novels set in contemporary times and in familiar places don't require as much time, research, or as many words. A writer often sets the stage in a few words or sentences. That's all the reader needs to understand where and when the novel takes place, how people dress and act, and the laws of physics that apply. The reader can rely on what he/she knows of that time and place and the planet we live on.

Despite the advancements in communication, the world is still a big place. Even though we all have many things in common, such as cell phones and automobiles, there are still differences -- accents, language, customs, dress, food, climate, housing -- just to name a few. Even if your novel is contemporary, you need to pinpoint those things that are different about the particular setting. But there won't be any big surprises.

Isn't writing a historical about rebuilding the world that existed in a specific time and place on earth? More differences will exist, and you can't have a Roman soldier wearing a wrist watch or using modern slang; but still, no big surprises.

So, contemporary and historical require some world building, but you can always count on one moon in the sky, gravity, rotation of the earth around the sun, ocean tides, and human nature. The laws of physics are the laws of physics, even in a time when they weren't un
derstood.

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WHEN ALL BETS ARE OFF
When a writer takes on science fiction, fantasy, or time travel (depending on where the traveling is to or from) all bets are off. These genres take more time, research, and words to create a world which the reader understands.
     "Why do I need research? This is fantasy. I can make up what I want."
     Right … but not totally right.

The key to world building is making your story believable. Even though the author is writing the rules of this new world, there still have to be rules … and the author has to follow them. As the author, you have to know, at least generally, those rules that exist in our universe in order to decide which of them you're going to break when you create the new one.
​

"CONSTRUCTION MANUAL"
Although there are no "construction manuals" on how to build a new world, many authors offer sound advice on the approach. Author Holly Lisle suggests there are three varieties of writers in relation to world building for fantasy and science fiction genres.

●   "Those who really have no idea what world building is or why they should bother with it."
●   "Those who do know, but figure they'll wing the details as they go." and
●   "Those obsessive folks who secretly believe that they can't start a book until the whole
      planet is in place."

My preference, and the general recommendation of most of the writers on this subject, is:
     Don't do too much at the beginning.

Focus on putting the big ticket items (the core principles, as Victoria Strauss puts it) in place and develop a solid concept, then deal with the more detailed issues when they come up. Deal only with the parts of the world you need for the plot of your story.

● Develop a well-thought-out concept of your world.
In order for readers to visualize the world, it has to come alive in the writer's mind. It has to feel tangible and real to the writer before it can be tangible and real to the reader. There are tricks to do that, including drawing maps of the world and figuring out the geography.

● Develop the Core Principles.

● Anchor the world with humanity and things human that the reader knows.
Even if this is a Star Wars type world not based on humanity or our universe, your readers are human. Where is doesn't matter to the storyline, ground the story in earth, humanity or things that readers are familiar with, like an equivalent for coffee, booz, or expected human reactions.
​
An example given by A. Wrighton is that in the movie Star Wars, which is not related to earth in history or development, still has a senate. People know what a senate is. You could call it a derfloppengut, but senate works just fine. Don't make the world any more complicated than necessary.

● Don't overwhelm the reader with too much
Don't explain everything up front in the first chapter. And, of course, the author should show the reader, rather than explain.

● Establish the basic rules and make the limitations seem real
Because fantasy and science fiction ask readers to suspend disbelief, the work needs to be consistent internally or the reader loses faith in the author. Like any novel, something can change … but only if there is a credible reason. Most readers will spot the inconsistencies and be jarred out of the story.

● Know history, ours and that of the imaginary world
Is any part of the story based on real history, or is this an alternate world? A fantasy with magic in it could easily be set on the earth and be subject to real history … or it could be on earth, but with a completely different history. If you are using real historical events, they better be correct within the rules of the new world. And, of course, the rules need to be clear.

You don't have to overdo it at the beginning and know everything about the world, but do your prep work. Without it, you can paint yourself into a corner with no way out that doesn't break the rules of your new world.
Rebecca Zanetti lists the following five blunders in world building:

● "Making the world faaar too complex right at the beginning
Avoid trying to explain everything up front in an information dump."

● "Forgetting to look ahead to possible sequels and giving all the rules in book one, leaving no wiggle room in the next book."

● "Forgetting even the characters may be new to the world and should react believably to the strange new world."

● "Forgetting to relate the world to the one the readers live in.
Even paranormal creatures need humanistic flaws, goals, weaknesses. Give the readers something to hold on to that they understand."

● "Holding ourselves back and not putting bizarre ideas out there."
Rebecca says she writes every scene like she's the only person who is ever going to read it.


A FEW WORDS ABOUT WORDS
Not only can you create your own species, strange sentient life forms, and wild beasts that fly, you can also create a language or languages to be spoken in this new universe. But be careful. The people who read your work speak English (or another earth language). They won't want to learn a whole new one — which most of us aren't capable of creating anyway — just to read your fantasy novel.

Tip the reader off that the characters are speaking another language, but use made-up, new-universe words sparingly, just as you would to give the flavor of a foreign language or an accent without making the dialogue unreadable. Here's a line from my sci-fi romance All In The Game. "The voice sounded familiar. So did the language, but not the English Shauna knew. A strange, stilted dialect. Yet, she understood perfectly."

An A. Wrighton example of the same thing. "Dref rubbed his antennae and sighed. He looked at his mother and spoke to her in their native Huvlovian tongue, the only way he knew how – while whining."

I would suggest limiting the number of words in your new or futuristic language, and explaining them (preferably, showing the reader what they refer to) the first time used. After that, the reader has to remember. Or you can put in a glossary of words at the back.

PUT THIS ISSUE ON YOUR RADAR SCREEN.

JUST SAYIN.

Sources
http://awrighton.com/2013/03/14/world-building-for-fantasy-sci-fi-writers/
http://rebeccazanetti.com/writing-craft/five-blunders-authors-make-in-world-building/
http://www.stormthecastle.com/mainpages/for_writers/worldbuilding.htm
http://www.victoriastrauss.com/advice/world-building/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldbuilding
http://hollylisle.com/how-much-of-my-world-do-i-build/
http://www.stormthecastle.com/mainpages/for_writers/how-to-write-an-epic-fantasy-novel.htm
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions/
http://www.lsswritingschool.com/WorldBuilding.html
http://www.cjbrightley.com/on-writing-and-publishing/world-building-for-fantasy-authors/
http://www.lisahartjes.com/tips-for-world-building-when-writing-fantasy-and-science-fiction/
http://www.blackholly.com/writingresources.html
http://sffworlds.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/world-building-for-writers-build-more-than-you-need/
http://worldsoftheimagination.wordpress.com/tag/world-building-for-writers/
http://referenceforwriters.tumblr.com/post/47088714715/worldbuilding
http://www.writersdigest.com/tip-of-the-day/discover-the-basic-elements-of-setting-in-a-story
https://blog.reedsy.com/worldbuilding-guide/



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WILL THE REAL SAINT PATRICK PLEASE STAND UP?

3/11/2022

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ÓCH! SAINT PATRICK WASN'T IRISH!
For lo these many years, the world has had to live with the knowledge that Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, was not born in Ireland, but in Scotland. Humbled but never daunted, the Irish learned to accept that and have worshiped Saint P. nonetheless. At minimum, for driving the snakes out Ireland.
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Imag​e source: ▲blog1.hawaiianislandweddings.com/          Image Source: ▲youtube.com/watch?       Image Source:▲.redbubble.com//Saint-Patrick  

​The snakes miracle story has always been in question since there have never beren snakes in Ireland. What is now Ireland separated from the continental mainland at the end of the ice age, and snakes never managed to make the swim, although parts of Scotland were within about eighteen miles from Ireland and most snakes are good swimmers.
​
Was that not enough? Apparently not.
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THEORY OF THE TWO PATRICKS
Adding insult to injury, on March 20, 1942, Thomas Francis O'Rahilly (Irish: Tomás Ó Rathile) cast more doubts regarding Saint Patrick by announcing his scholarly “Theory of the Two Patricks.”


O'Rahilly, an Irish scholar of Celtic languages from the University College in Dublin, wrote extensively on early
   
Image source: sacredhearthook.org/st-patrick                    Irish history and mythology.

His most important contribution to Celtic linguistics is Irish Dialects Past and Present (1932, Dublin: Browne and Nolan) which remains in use to this day. O’Rahilly was latter appointed senior professor at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.                    Thomas Francis O'Rahilly
                                                                                                                                                                                  Image Source: uni-due.de/DI/DI_Portraits.htm

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Thomas O’Rahilly was no slouch in his field of research, so he rocked the boat, so to speak, by proposing that there were two missionaries to Ireland, both of whom went by many names including Patricius (Patrick) whose individual 30 years of service overlapped but encompassed about sixty years in the 5th century.

He claimed both Patricks were Roman citizens and both had been sent to Ireland by different Popes, but only one of the Patricks wrote an autobiography… “Patrick the Britton” whom we now honor on March 17. The timing, combined with difficulties keeping accurate records of dates and events; led eventually to a medieval scribe who either implied or believed that there was only one missionary to Ireland named Patrick who died somewhere between 461 and 493 AD.

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Ultimately, O’Rahilly professed, this range became accepted as the possible death dates of “Patrick the Britton,” who was the better known of the two, and who received credit for all that was achieved by both him and the first missionary who was Palladius.
​

SAINT PALLADIUS (PATRICK), THE FIRST BISHOP OF IRELAND
Palladius (the first Patrick) was born in the Roman province of Gaul (modern-day France) in approximately 390 AD, the son of Exuperantius of Poitiers, a member of the one of the prominent families in Gaul.

There are records that he was married and had one daughter. Around 408/409 AD, he went to Sicily, put his daughter in a convent there, and lived as an ascetic. (Nowhere did I find a reference to his wife). It appears that he was ordained as a priest around 415. He lived in Rome between 418–429 and appears to be the "Deacon Palladius", responsible for urging Pope Celestine I to send the bishop Germanus to Britain to guide the Britons back to the Catholic faith.

Pope Celestine sent him to Britain with the mission of bringing some heretics back to Christianity. Then he was sent to Ireland as the first bishop of the Christians of Ireland and is recorded as arriving there about 432. He established his church in southern Ireland and proceeded to convert heretics throughout the provinces of Leinster and Munster.

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But Ireland was not the end of the line for Palladius. Irish writers of the lives of the Saints Patrick indicate that it didn’t take long before Palladius was banished by the king of Leinster.

From Ireland he returned the part of Britain known now as Scotland and was recognized as the first bishop of Scotland. Then he was sent to the northern part shown as Albann on the map, the land of the Picts. The Picts were known as being a wild and fierce people. They went into battle (frequently), their entire bodies painted blue and wearing no clothes.

  • Sixth Century Britain & Ireland - Image Source: Source:  members.tripod.com/~Hal_MacGregor/ 
He remained in Scotland until his death, and some sources say he met a martyr’s death, others claim he died outside of Aberdeen in about 450.

According to the authors of an article on 
https://www.electricscotland.com/, Palladius is buried in the village of Fordun  which is situated on a spur of the Grampians, looking sweetly down on the well cultivated plains of the Mearns. The church of Fordun is claimed to hold records corroborating this.

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St. Patrick depicted with shamrock in detail of stained glass window in St. Benin’s Church, Kilbennan, County Galway, Ireland.
​Image Source: Wickipedia


SAINT PATRICK, THE SECOND BISHOP OF IRELAND
“Patrick the Briton” is better documented than Palladius. Patrick was born in Roman Britain, near Dumbarton, Scotland, in the year 387. His father, Calphurnius was a deacon from a Roman family of high standing, and his mother, Conchessa, was a close relative of St. Martin of Tours. Patrick's grandfather, Pontius, was also a member of the clergy (one source said his grandfather was a priest (possibly a reference to the first Patrick.). But in his aristocratic youth Patrick was not an active believer in Christianity.

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He beat Palladius to Ireland, but not as a missionary. He was captured at the age of 16 by Irish raiders pillaging the west coast of Britain, by then a land no longer protected by the rapidly dissolving Roman Empire.                              ​Slemsh County today – the sheep at still there
​                                                                                                                    Image Source: travel.sygic.com/slemish

He was taken to Ireland where he was enslaved for six years near Slemish, County Antrim. (Other scholars claim he was taken to County Mayo near Killala.) Where ever he was held, he worked as a shepherd. Alone and afraid, he turned to his religion for comfort and direction. It was then he became a deeply devoted Christian.
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Apparently Patrick had visions and, in one, he saw the children of pagan Ireland reaching out their hands to him. This led him to the determination that he should free them from Druidism and convert them to Christianity. In around 408, he dreamed a voice told him he would soon go home; then, in a later vision, the voices said his ship was ready. Apparently it was, and he eventually escaped but vowed to return to Ireland and bring the gospel of Christ to the people he had come to love.

Patrick began studying for the priesthood in Auxerre, France, and was ordained four years later. Later in life, he was ordained a bishop and still held on to the desire to bring Christianity to Ireland. Around 461, at the same time that Palladius’s days either had drawn, or were shortly drawing to a close, Pope St. Celestine I consecrated St. Patrick as Bishop of the Irish, and sent him to Ireland to spread the faith.
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The latter Patrick’s mission concentrated on the north and west of Ireland, in Ulster and Connacht, places Palladius had not touched. He died in 493, according to no less of an authority than St. Colmcille, and is buried in Downpatrick, in Ulster. 

Image Source: 
millefiorifavoriti.blogspot.com/2012/03/saint-patricks

SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THEORY?
Professor O'Rahilly became known for his theory which was characterized as the person we knew and loved called Saint Patrick was actually an amalgam of a number of holy men who live more or less contemporaneously. This resulted in both consternation and amusement among scholars and holy men concerned with the subject.                     
Flann O’Brien    
                                                                                                   
  Image Source: writerswrite.co.za/flann-obrien/
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​Writer Flann O’brien saw the amusing side of the controversy and wrote in his Irish Times column jesting that O’Rahilly had “so far proved that there was no God and two St. Patricks.” O’Rahilly didn’t think that was funny, and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies sued for libel. The Institute prevailed and was awarded damages in the sum of 20 British pounds, half of which was never paid.
https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-two-st-patricks,“The Two Saint  Patricks” by Frank O'Shea

Regardless, the publication of the theory started an academic civil war, which still rages. “If the careers of the two Patricks, through scholarly bungling, had become inextricably entangled, who did what? And worse still-which of them was the patron saint? If you addressed a prayer to one, might it not be delivered by mistake to the other? There was a feeling abroad that any concession to the two Patricks theory would lead unfailingly to a theory of no Patrick.”  https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-solution-to-the-two-st-patricks-theory/

No Saint Patrick!? That would be the final blow.


CONCLUSION
To the extent that there is a conclusion, the first is “There is no hard and fast answer.” The historical evidence and documentation available is quite limited. What exists has been so dissected and re-dissected in genuine attempts to find the truth that it has become extremely inter-woven and confused. It is generally accepted now by historians that Palladius was the first Bishop of Ireland.

The second conclusion is that Saint Patrick and his status a Patron Saint of Ireland is extremely important to the Irish and, in general, the beliefs and celebrations of the Irish at home and abroad, remain unchanged by academia and theories.

THEY GO TO CHURCH 

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   Saint Patrick’s Cathedral – Dublin -    Source of Imagers: fiveminutehistory.com/the-top-3-cathedro

  THEY GO TO PARADES
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      Image Source: thrillist.com/philadelphia/st-patricks-day                                                   image source: dailyhive.com/montreal/st-patrick

   THEY GO TO BARS AND DRINK
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                 Image Source: thelistlove.com/st-patricks-day-facts                                   Image source: gateshotelkeywest.com/st-patricks-day

JUST SAYIN.
ABÚ (Hurrah for) SAINT PATRICK and HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.
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Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick
http://st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.html
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/legend-of-Saint-Patrick.html
http://www.biography.com/people/st-patrick-9434729
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/shamrock-plant.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladius_(bishop_of_Ireland)
https://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/religious-studies-and-philosophy/critically-assess-the-view-that-the-two-patrick-theory-solves-the-puzzle-of-patrick.html#:~:text=Critically%20assess%20the%20view%20that%20the%20two%20Patrick,contained%20to%2
https://www.theexaminernews.com/a-tale-of-two-patricks-but-who-was-first/
https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-two-st-patricks
https://www.academia.edu/11900877/THE_TWO_PATRICKS
https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-solution-to-the-two-st-patricks-theory/
https://www.edmaps.com/html/british_isles.html
https://www.uni-due.de/DI/DI_Portraits.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFlZcAkqn9E
https://members.tripod.com/~Hal_MacGregor/gregor/Chronicles.html
https://travel.sygic.com/en/poi/slemish-poi:3652586
https://fiveminutehistory.com/the-top-3-most-beautiful-cathedrals-built-in-honor-of-st-patrick/
https://www.writerswrite.co.za/literary-birthday-5-october-flann-obrien/
https://www.lane1photos.com/Archives/2015/St-Patricks-Day-Parade/i-mBGJhgn/
https://www.thrillist.com/events/philadelphia/st-patricks-day-parade-in-philadelphia
https://dailyhive.com/montreal/st-patrick-day-parade-return
http://thelistlove.com/10-amazing-st-patricks-day-facts
tps://www.sacredhearthook.org/st-patrick
https://blog1.hawaiianislandweddings.com/2015/03/why-you-are-wrong-about-st-patricks-day.html
https://www.yourirish.com/history/christianity/palladius#:~:text=After%20a%20short%20while%2C%20Palladius%20was%20banished%20from,Scotland%20where%20he%20landed%20at%20the%20Orkney%20Islands.
https://www.electricscotland.com/history/wylie/vol2ch8.htm#:~:text=History%20Of%20The%20Scottish%20Nation%20Vol%202%2C%20Chapter,in%20Ireland.%20Dies%20and%20is%20buried%20at%20Fordun
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WEDDING TRENDS IN 2022

3/4/2022

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Weddings didn’t go away during the pandemic, but many of them were put off or down scaled. But the masks are off and the marriage business is booming in 2022.  A recent invitation tickled my interest in what kinds of changes have come about during and, as the result of, the almost two year shut down. In my humble opinion, having nothing at all to do with the industry, things don’t look all that different, but no one asked me.

WHAT’S IN
1. Putting Guests First
The Knot, experts in weddings, have some predictions based on being in the wedding planning business, the most all-encompassing is the trend to be more casual and to make the guests more comfortable… putting guests first. A more thoughtful, modern etiquette is replacing traditional pomp and circumstance, but often without loss of luxury.

2. The Ultra Formal Takes A Hit
“Formality of even the most lavish weddings will be slightly pared down in the year ahead.” Amy Shey Jacobs, owner and creative director of Chandelier Events in New York tells The Knots writers, “While the classic black-tie wedding will still be around, we will see more and more of a relaxed vibe coming into play at weddings. This means there's less fuss about the traditions and more fun."

3. The More Local Destination Wedding
Planners say couples have found the many out-of-this-world destinations in the US where the travel isn’t so far or as costly, and travel requirements are less. Some are still going on longer trips, but passport problems and Covid regulations make keep that off the table for a while.

4. The Multi-Generational and Multi-Day Wedding
Taking added measures to tailor multi-generational experiences for their loved ones is appreciated  by guests after the events of separation during the pandemic. Often the events in a multiple-day wedding are planned for different sets of guests. Whether it's a pool party or a Sunday family brunch, there's an event for the grandparents all the way to the nieces and nephews.

5. The Outdoor Wedding
Outdoor weddings have always been around but the green sustainability movement is showing up full force in outdoor venues. Tents and no-walls locations may be left overs from not gathering so closely together, and hanging florals are in great demand.

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Source of images: New Wedding Dresses, Simple Lace Wedding Dresses On Sale & Come Buy (firstdresss.com)
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​6. Themed Weddings and big blowouts
Themed weddings are more popular than usual. That, also, might be the result of people proceeding with very small or city hall weddings during the shutdown who now, a couple of years later, want a big blowout party for the friends they couldn’t invite for the actual nuptials.

7. Breaking Tradition
“With the forced changes to events these past two years (e.g. micro weddings followed by bigger parties), I have seen more couples decide to do things in a more nontraditional way, and I welcome the change," shares Tzo Ai Ang of Ang Weddings and Events. From reception-only celebrations to elopements to bold design, weddings are much more individualized to the couple.

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Planner Tory Smith of Smith + James Events adds, “We love the ‘anti-trend’ trend. The whole industry is moving away from cookie-cutter weddings and we’re here for it. Out-of-the-box destinations, culinary surprises, and crescendo moments really do it for us.”


Image source: brides.com/wedding-trends-2022-:




​WHAT’S OUT
Vogue also fills us in on what kinds of wedding events and traditions are out this year. This is what prominent wedding planners told their writers not to do anymore. https://www.vogue.com/article/the-wedding-trends-that-are-in-and-out-for-2022

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1. Family Style Meals
“Goodbye, family-style dinner service. Leave this casual supper for summer BBQs. Our clients want formality, ritual and elegance...and lots of room on the table for flowers.” -Rebecca Gardner 

While some may be doing blowout events, others have come to embrace the intimacy of a micro-wedding. It doesn't have to be with a home cooked meal.
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Image Source: brides.com/wedding-trends-in-2022

2. Twinkle Light Ceilings
“They were beautiful in time, but rather than drawing design upward, we’re metaphorically in the moment, drawing attention to the tables and dance floors—to the present!” -Mindy Weiss

3. Multiple Toasts at the Reception
“Toasting is happening the night before or for the smaller group at the rehearsal dinner. At receptions, brides are saying, ‘Let’s dance!’ and dispensing with long, formal dinners. Getting the speeches done the night before (except for the groom, best man, and father of the bride’s) turns the reception into a dinner party, letting the guests get onto the dance floor much earlier in the night.” -Bronson van Wyck

4. Monogrammed Dance Floors
“We’ll always love a monogram, but the statement dance floor monogram we can leave with the trends of the 2010s. If branding the dance floor is for you, think further with artistic touches and graphics to create a statement, pattern, or color that represents your overall wedding style and personality.” -Mindy Weiss

5. Muted Color Schemes
“We're seeing less white/ivory/green this upcoming year as couples gear up for a vibrant 2022.” -Stefanie Cove
​
“As lovely as white is, couples want to pick a color and go for it. As the saying goes, go big or go home!” -Tara Fay

6. Overly Packed Welcome Bags
“As we all try to be more sustainably conscious, couples are now offering a simple yet thoughtful treat or gift for guests to enjoy, perhaps a nod to the wedding location. This also means less 'stuff' for guests to travel home with.” -Stefanie Cove
 
WHAT’S ON [THE BRIDES]
Every year you can find wedding all styles of wedding gowns, and plenty of variations among each style. Nothing is ever new, but the way the elements of gowns are put together can be fresh and innovative… and, in some cases, terrifying. I’ll leave those out this year.
I read that the trends are the following:


1.Short Dresses
These looks are short on hemline but big on personality. They make it possible to show off you killer shoes. If you want a long dress for the ceremony, how about short for the reception?

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     Courtesy of Oscar De La Renta                 Courtesy of PatBO                                  Courtesy of Houghton
     Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
2. Ruffles
The first example brings on the maximalist gown with plenty of ruffles and unapologetically extra detail. A ruffled skirt adds airy dimension to a streamlined silhouette, while a full skirt of cascading ruffles is perfect for the bride looking to make a serious fashion statement. They can go from frothy to understated sophistication.
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        Courtesy of Elie Saab                             Courtesy of Theia                          Courtesy of Kim Kassas Couture
        
Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
​3. Colorful Florals
While florals are always in the mix for wedding dresses, this year be prepared for gowns with bold blooms everywhere. Colorful prints and splashy embroidery give this established trend a gorgeous refresh. To pull off this fashion-forward look in real life, keep your accessories simple and let your gown do all the talking.

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                                             Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier           Courtesy of Romona Keveza
                                            Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
4. Puff Sleeves
The idea of puff sleeves may awake visions of outdated '80s dresses, but today’s more subtle versions are all about tasteful romance. This detail can be adapted to almost any wedding gown silhouette, and may show up combined with some different styles. They always make a regal statement.
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       Courtesy of Lazaro                             Courtesy of Romona Keveza              Courtesy of Hermione d Paula
       Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
5. Pants
With more and more non-traditional couples, pants are always in demand. No problem. These sleek dress alternatives are comfortable, figure flattering and totally of the moment. For the 2022 bridal trends, crop tops, one shoulder necklines and shorts gave the classic wedding pantsuit and jumpsuit a fun and festive vibe.
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             Courtesy of Retrofete           Courtesy of Ines di Santo 
                 Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
6. Square Necklines
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The sharply angled flatters the decollete and is a true throwback. Popular in the Renaissance and then Regency eras, square necklines have since made a major comeback. Again, this detail also works with almost every wedding gown style. Go classic with heavy satin, romantic with floral lace or boho with crepe.
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         Courtesy of Sareh Nouri                    Courtesy of Alison Webb                                 Courtesy of Theia
            Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
7. High Slits
High slits brought the sex appeal to Bridal Fashion Week. If you're looking to show some skin, and you’ve got the legs for it, you can go full femme fatale with a curve-skimming silhouette that shows lots of leg or go timeless with a twist and opt for a formal ball gown with a thigh high slit.
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                            Courtesy of Retrofete                                        Courtesy of Ines di Santo 
                            Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022
8. Corsets
Similar to square necklines, lingerie-inspired bodices are about as old world as you can get. Invented in the 1500s, this structured bodice supports the bust and cinches the waist. And while this style is nothing new, restyled bustier tops and corsets with exposed boning, sheer panels and cutouts are easy to find in the new 2022 collections, with a silhouette that's equal parts functional and sultry.

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       Courtesy of Galia Lahav                Courtesy of Alyne by Rita Vinieris       Courtesy of La Premiere Ibal Dror
         Source of Images: brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-2022


CONCLUSIONS
First, from the Wedding ceremony, venue, and party to the gowns, nothing is new. What is new every year is how the designers put it all together. One gown could meet all the requirements of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

Second, I am so grateful I don’t personally have anyone getting married in the family.

JUST SAYIN.
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Sources:
https://www.theknot.com/content/new-wedding-trends#:~:text=The%20Top%20Wedding%20Trends%20of%202022%201%20Relaxed,...%2010%20Weekday%20Weddings.%20...%20More%20items...%20

https://www.vogue.com/article/the-wedding-trends-that-are-in-and-out-for-2022https://www.brides.com/wedding-trends-to-expect-in-2022-5094228

https://theunion.kay.com/post/wedding-trends-in-2022-61ce15f0454b211254219bdc?cid=SEM-bing-DYNAMIC+SEARCH+ADS-NB+-+DSAs&gclid=177e8c1404ab1c2587d1ee350d6bdc55&gclsrc=3p.ds&

https://welcome.zola.com/weddingplanning_paidsearch_desktop_5reasons_bragbar1/?pkey=wed_bingsem_desktop_researchexact_np_&orderkey=wed_bingsem_desktop_researchexact_np_&msclkid=df5d8fde66bd182b60dfedfc05b3b5d9&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=We

https://www.brides.com/fall-2022-bridal-fashion-week-wedding-dress-trends-5205222
https://www.hebeos.com/new-wedding-dresses?ref=googleads&msclkid=555ec1e203211098fa24a3c2fa62691a

https://www.brides.com/bridal-fashion-trends-to-expect-in-2022-5213864

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    Author R. Ann Siracusa

    Novelist, retired architect and urban planner, world traveler, quilter, owl collector, devoted wife-mother-grandmother, great-grandmother, and, according to some, wild-assed liberal.

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