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COLOR ME BLUE: What color is your personality?

7/29/2022

1 Comment

 
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Perhaps it is human nature that compels us to constantly endeavor to classify something as complex and fluid as human personality. The exercise is probably pointless and  even impossible — but that doesn't stop us from trying.

​As TV’s brainyac Sheldon Cooper would say, “It’s all poppycock.” Or is it?

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Image Source: color-meanings.com/meanings-of-favorite-colors/
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PICK A COLOR, ANY COLOR
Among the many “personality tests”, there are those which test the colors you are drawn to, claiming those colors say a lot about your personality.Sure, colors are all around us ‒ even those we can’t see with our eyes ‒ but do they influence our decisions? Some of them, yes, such as the clothing we select or the paint for the outside of the house. Undoubtedly many others. Does it influence our outlook on life or the big ticket, life-altering decisions?

​I shake my head. “I rather doubt it!” 
​

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Of course, I’m making allowances for color affecting an expensive purchase ‒ a yellow Lamborghini, maybe ‒ and then not being able to pay for it, having to file bankruptcy thus losing the car as well as your spouse and family, becoming homeless and having to live on the street where you start drinking and taking drugs and… but I digress. I guess it’s possible.

In fact, there are several seriously-scientific systems of personality profiling by color, including: “True Colors” ‒ created by Don Lowery in 1978 to categorize at-risk-youth ‒ “Strong Interest Inventory” (SII), and the Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS). All are about the same in accuracy. Although no solid scientific evidence validates the relationship between color and personality, there are some globally-accepted principles and phenomena in the field of psychology. For example, there’s a certain consensus when it comes to affirming that the colors a person prefers reflect, to some extent, their psychophysical and cognitive state.

WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS, ANYWAY?
Little is written about where the idea of connecting colors to personality came from. Mulling over what is available, it suggested to me that since ancient Greece and Rome, their scientists and philosophers were aware of what we know now is a very low level of electricity ‒ i.e. an electromagnetic field – generated by human beings.

We also know now that it is a very weak field and can’t be seen by the naked eye. Most of the source claim in cannot be photographed either. Currently, for biomedical purposes, scientists are working on a  technique for conducting measurements of these fields inside the human body by applying a weak electric field at a radio frequency (RF).​

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Many ancient systems of medicine and philosophies throughout the world believe that this field is an “aura” made up of various layers of energy (which influence overall health), and there have always been those people who claim they can see these electric fields as colors.

​Interestingly, in Latin and Ancient Greek “aura" means wind, breeze, or breath. It was used in Middle English to mean "gentle breeze". Perhaps it was perceived as a disturbance in the "Force"?

I’m sticking my neck out (being substantially ignorant in the fields of electromagnetic forces and metaphysics) and suggesting that perhaps some of these people are true “synesthetes” with Grapheme or some other form of Color Synesthesia, which I understand is scientifically confirmed as the most one of the most common forms of synesthesia.

For a person with this form of synesthesia, exposure to metaphysical ideas, 
philosophies, medial practices, and religions which believe in auras could easily convince such an individual they are seeing just that.

I have to mention that the concept of auras was popularized in the early 1900s by Charles Webster Leadbeater (great name for a fictitious character), a former priest of the Church of England and a member of the mystic Theosophical Society. He had studied theosophy in India, and believed he had the capacity to use his clairvoyant powers to make scientific investigations.

COMPARISONS
How the colors of auras and chakras got translated into personality characteristics is still a little fuzzy. However, there are many believers, scientists, researchers, and educators who pursue this line of thinking. I made a comparison chart of several published analyses. Some are very close, some not so much.
​

COLORS          exploringyourmind.com/                  powerofpositivity.com/                learning-mind.com/personality-color 
RED                  Willpower, ambition, energy     Dominant, fiery, passionate     Optimistic, live life to fullest,                                                                                        ambitious, confident, goals      ambitious, intense, strong willed  
BLUE                Fixed principles & values          Romantic, kind, idealist             Tradition, order, stability, organ-                                                                                 sincere, sympathetic                  ized, principled, conservative
YELLOW           Dreamy, perfectionist               Bubbly, chipper, optimistic,       Warm, critical thinker, problem
                                                                              positive, happy                            solver, good communicator
GREEN             Security,  Recognition              Sensitive, grounded, drawn        Love nature, friends, family
                                                                              to nature, curious, introvert       loyal, balanced, need space
ORANGE          Interrelate, be with others         Playful, childlike, hi energy,        Gregarious, free spirit, not too
                                                                              active, giver, like spotlight           responsible, non-judgmental 
BROWN            Simple life, strong bonds          NA                                                 Dependable, supportive, like
                                                                                                                                    simplicity, not extravagant
BLACK             Willpower, independence          NA                                                   A rebel, sophistocated
WHITE              Simplicity, openness, purity      NA                                                 Confident, Organized, high
​                                                                                                                                    standards, no compromise
PURPLE           NA                                               Sensitive, psychic, creative        Unconventional, creative, 
​                                                                              emotional, artist, dreamer          spiritual, dance to own beat   
GREY               NA                                               NA                                                  Practical, hard-working, can
                                                                                                                                    lack confidence & energy
​

color-meanings.com/find-symbolic-meanings-of-your-favorite-colors/
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TAKE AWAYS
● Science has proved that certain colors are soothing or agitating to people, particularly in terms of room color. Some colors can make items seem more appealing than other colors.

● Most people have a favorite color, or colors.

● Colors can affect certain decisions humans make, particularly when it comes to buyIng things.

● Science has proved human bodies do generate low intensity magnetic fields, but they can’t been seen or photographed.

● Current statistics show that only four percent of the population has synesthesia, but most of those are color-related forms.

For me, that’s not enough to convince me that personalities have “colors” or even that favorite colors can show a lot about your personality. I have a different “favorite color” depending on what I’m looking at. I love red and wear red in clothing often. I might even buy a red car if it were one of those on the lot.  I would never paint a room or the outside of my house red. Does that make me ambitious and passionate? Maybe when I wear red.


JUST SAYIN’ !

Sources:https://www.powerofpositivity.com/what-is-your-personality-color/#:~:text=1%20Yellow.%20If%20you%20have%20a%20yellow%20personality,time%20alone.%204%20Green.%20...%205%20Blue.%20
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Colors_(personality)
ttps://www.exponenthr.com/blog/the-four-colors-of-personality/
https://thecolorofmypersonality.com/
http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/heres-personality-test-actual-scientific-basis
https://www.learning-mind.com/personality-color-favorite-color/
https://chipolo.net/en/blogs/the-importance-of-colors-in-our-life
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3743993/
https://exploringyourmind.com/how-do-color-and-personality-relate-to-each-other/
https://www.higgypop.com/news/seeing-auras/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-causes-auras-brainstorms/
https://www.learning-mind.com/do-auras-exist-science-human-aura/
https://emfharmonized.com/do-humans-have-electromagnetic-fields/
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is-the-human-a-electromagnetic-field
https://www.color-meanings.com/find-symbolic-meanings-of-your-favorite-colors/
https://www.davidvinuales.com/2020/06/12/personalities-and-colors-knowing-better-the-people-around-you/#:~:text=Each%20personality%20is%20represented%20by%20a%20color%3A%20red%2C,Red%20are%20extrovert%20thinkers.%20Yellow%20are%20extrovert%20feelers.https://www.davidvinuales.com/2020/06/12/personalities-and-colors-knowing-better-the-people-around-you/#:~:text=Each%20personality%20is%20represented%20by%20a%20color%3A%20red%2C,Red%20are%20extrovert%20thinkers.%20Yellow%20are%20extrovert%20feelers.http://www.biofieldglobal.org/what-is-human-aura.html#:~:text=In%20scientific%20research%20we%20have%20found%20that%20the,to%20the%20level%20of%20health%20of%20the%20person.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/can-modern-science-explain-the-aura-around-people.597338/#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientific%20evidence%20that%20aura%27s%20exist.,plausible%20explanation%20for%20their%20mechanism%20ever%20been%20proposed.
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YOUR NAME SOUNDS LIKE GREEN: Synesthesia

7/22/2022

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So there I was, minding my own business and watching old reruns of Jeopardy on TV. Alex Trebek was talking to a perfectly normal looking young contestant, when the woman says … she's a Synesthete.

OMG!

No, wait! I mentally ask myself, as does most of the audience, "What's a Synesthete?" While the woman explains that she hears colors … wham! A story idea is born.

Writers are always on the alert for different situations, and this one has plenty of potential as an intriguing setup for a novel. Author Judy Reeves says that the job of the writer is to observe the details of everyday life and record them for the world. A big part of that is paying attention to how these details are perceived. But what if…?


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SO, WHAT IS SYNESTHESIA?
Synesthesia (or synaesthesia), which comes from ancient Greek words meaning "together" and "sensation", is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. It occurs because of increased communication between sensory regions of the brain and is involuntary, automatic, and stable over time.

In other words, synesthetes are people who's brains link two or more of the five senses i.e. see a sound or smell, hear or taste a color, and so on. It is a consistent perception of reality to that person.

And while it may be called a neurological condition, the term "neurological" only refers to the brain as the basis of the perceptual difference. It's not a medical condition and rarely interferes with normal daily functioning. It is what it is -- like being color blind. That's just the way those individuals perceive things, and it takes synesthetes a while to learn that not everyone perceives the world in the same manner.

While most synesthetes discover as children that they perceive things differently, it is generally reported to be a neutral or pleasant experience. Most don't consider it a handicap, but a gift or "sixth sense." However, some fear ridicule for their unusual perception, and may end up living in isolation and alone in their experiences. I see the potential for considerable miscommunication in school, too.

​Scientists have identified nineteen different types of synesthesia, but many of them are quite rare. Two or more of any of the five senses can be linked, but several types are more common.

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GRAPHEME: COLOR SYNESTHESIA
In this most common form of synesthesia, individual letters, numbers, or days of the week are perceived as having colors. While not all individuals see the same color for the same letter or number, there are some commonalities. Several sources indicated that the letter A is mostly likely to been seen as red; the letter O, white or black; S is usually yellow.

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SPATIAL SEQUENCE SYNESTHESIA
Spatial sequence synesthesia consists of visualizing certain sequences in physical space. The synesthete perceives the months, dates, numbers, letters or other elements in a sequence in the physical space around them or in front of them. Apart from spatial position, these elements may also have their own color, texture and shape.

People with this form of synesthesia see numerical sequences as points in space. For example, the number 1 may appear as further away and the number 2 closer. Synesthetes with SSS tend to have extraordinary memories and are able to recall past events and memories in greater detail and more accurately.

There are different types, and a particular synesthete may have just one type or several at the same time. The types are:
● Calendar Synesthesia (time-space synesthesia) = most common
● Number form synesthesia
● Letter form (or alphabet form) synesthesia
● Spatial visualisation of other sequences (school subjects, books of the Bible and signs of the zodiac are a few examples) = least common.

Major researchers estimate that 29% of synesthetes have one or more of the first three types, making spatial sequence synesthesia one of the most common types of synesthesia that exist.

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SOUND: COLOR SYNESTHESIA
Sometimes called chromesthesia, this is the form where voices, background sounds, music and other auditory stimulus triggers a phenomenon described as fireworks of color which fade when the sound ends. It can be a single sound like a single musical note or a wide variety of sounds that trigger the experience.

The sound can alter the perceived brightness, intensity, directional movement and other aspects of the color display, which is described as seeing it on a screen in front of one's face rather than in the mind's eye.
​

While the same sound doesn't produce the same results with all synesthetes, loud tones are generally brighter, softer tones paler, and lower tones darker than high ones.
The paintings shown below are by 26-year-old Melissa McCracken. They are what she see when she hears the indicated music.

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             Song: David Bowie, "Life On Mars."                                          Song: Prince, "Joy In Repetition”
            Source of Images: vice.com/en/article/artist-with-synesthesia
​

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NUMBER FORM SYNESTHESIA
Whenever a synesthete with NFS thinks of numbers, a mental map of numbers appears automatically and involuntarily. Cross activation between regions of the parietal lobe that control numerical recognition and spatial cognition may be the cause.
This one was hard for me to understand.

Image Source: pinterest.com/1579075                                                      The Galton Number Form - Wikipedia

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​Eric Johnson, software developer, writes on his blog that he see numbers differently. "I see them on a path—one that is and always has been the same. What shocked me about the image above is that it's nearly identical to how I see numbers, although mine tends to take a slight horseshoe shape. The only real difference is that my path keep rising up to the left (the 200s are higher than the 300s). If I'm counting, I sort of zoom-in on the particular number I'm on (each number on the path is written in a space like a board game), with my point of view, or camera angle, changes based on where I'm at on the number path."
​
I've always wondered if programmers see numbers differently. I guess some of them do.

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ORDINAL LINGUISTIC PERSONIFICATION
OLP is where ordered sequences such as days, month, letters, or numbers are associated with personality types, such as the Wikipedia example where one individual said, "T's are generally crabbed, ungenerous creatures. U is a soulless sort of thing. 4 is honest, but… 3 I cannot trust."   Yikes!

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​LEXICAL:  GUSTATORY SYNESTHESIA
This is rare. Here, individual words and the phonemes of spoken language create a taste sensation in the mouth. To some, three senses are combines, and the tastes have colors.

Well, maybe this one isn't as rare as the researchers think. Doesn't the word chocolate cause the writer's mouth to water with that delicious, comforting taste? I certainly don't get the same reaction with the technical name theobroma cacao. ​
In some people, words evoke taste of food no longer made or on the market

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​MIRROR TOUCH SYNESTHESIA
This form is also rare, but when the individual with MTS sees another person being touched, the synesthete feels the touch as well. They can also feel the pain of another when that person is hurt. Perhaps there are real empaths.

A FEW WORDS OF HISTORY
The ancient Greeks philosophers seemed to be aware of the condition when they asked "Is the color (what we now call timbre) of music quantifiable?" Both Isaac Newton and Goethe suggested that musical tones and colors shared frequencies (which, actually, is incorrect but they were getting the idea).

The first medical description of colored hearing was written in 1812 by German Gustav Fechner. His thesis stirred up interest, but testing proved difficult, and the research "faded into science oblivion." Medical interest waned until the cognitive revolution in the 1980s.

In the early studies, the estimated frequency varied widely, as high as 1 in 20 to 1 in 20,000. Since then, with more studies, it is estimated that 1 in 23 individuals has some kind of synesthesia, and 1 in 90 have colored graphemes.

Recent studies show that the condition runs in families, which suggests a genetic origin. There is an almost equal sex ratio, 1.1:1.
 
It's a complicated subject with links to other areas of study. If you're interest, I've listed several references to start with.

JUST SAYIN' !
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Sources

https://www.deviantart.com/eychanchan/art/Synesthesia-273485854
https://www.sickchirpse.com/index.php
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36169603236849219/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyxq73/this-artist-with-synesthesia-sees-colours-in-music-and-paints-your-favorite-songs
https://synesthesiaforsynesthetes.weebly.com/spatial-sequence.html
https://www.thesynesthesiatree.com/2021/03/spatial-sequence-synesthesia.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/157907530674883939/
http://cornfedinseattle.blogspot.com/2010/04/synesthesia-experimental-type.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/bizarre-brain-disorders-2015-8?utm_content=buffer475f7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia
http://www.livescience.com/169-rare-real-people-feel-taste-hear-color.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/92698.php
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001205
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/syne.html
http://web.mit.edu/synesthesia/www/
http://synesthete.org/
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/22/how-synesthesia-works/

http://voices.yahoo.com/synaesthesia-rare-condition-causes-people-to-7439522.html?cat=5
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/science/when-people-see-a-sound-and-hear-a-color.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

http://www.thejohnsonblog.com/2011/10/28/number-form-synesthesia/http://www.thejohnsonblog.com/2011/10/28/number-form-synesthesia/
http://personalitycafe.com/general-psychology/1606-synesthesia.html
 
 
 
 
 

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YOU NAMED ME WHAT? Naming Fictitious Characters

7/15/2022

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Image Source: kidnurse.org/whats-name
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WHICH FICTITIOUS CHARACTERS STAND OUT IN YOUR MEMORY?
Think about it! There will be certain ones from movies, TV, books, video games, etc. you always remember. What makes that character come to your mind.

       Image Source: ​vagabomb.com/Scarlett-OHara/
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Now think about the names of these characters. Is the name part of the reason you remember the character? Does the name fit the personality of the character? Would Scarlet O'Hara be as memorable if her name had been Judy Smith?
My apologies to all the Judy Smiths out there. It’s a perfectly fine name.

CHARACTER NAMES DO MATTER
There is a plethora of advice wandering about on the internet and in teachers’ notes on the art of naming fictitious characters. Most of the experts agree that choosing names for characters is an important part of structuring a novel; they don’t necessarily agree on how to do it. The name is an important part of the fictional person's personality just as your name is part of who you are.

In a work of fiction, character names do matter, and bestowing them can be as stressful as naming your baby. In fact, in a way you are naming your baby. You are breathing life into your character and creating a new being.
​

Some perfectly good names can be poor choices for your novel, or they may be fine but not as fitting as they could be. The author really doesn't know all the ins- and-outs until the character starts to speak, take actions, and make decisions during the course of the first several chapters. Ultimately, the author wants the best and most effective name for the character.

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WHO REALLY NAMES YOUR CHARACTERS?
Jennifer Moss, author and journalist, writes that authors often make the mistake of thinking they are responsible for naming the characters in their novel. But in the fictional world, just as it is in the real world, it is the character's parents who choose the name. Take that into consideration, as well as the location and timing of the novel.

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​​​​​​​​WHERE TO GET IDEAS FOR NAMES
Be observant, listen, and write ideas down. Inspiration for names is all around us. I keep a list of interesting names I've run across. Often they are the names of real people, sometimes inanimate objects, places or landmarks. Eventually, a character and circumstance will show up that is appropriate for the name.

Author Dan Schmidt suggests starting with people you know either because of their interesting names and/or characteristics. Get a map and look at names of towns, cities, rivers, streets, and so on. One of my favorites is the name of a town in Arkansas: Smackover. Weedpatch is another one I like.

He also suggests authors pay attention to movie credits and products. When he wrote "Playa Perdida" he named one of the characters Charlotte Pipe after a length of PVC tubing he saw in a lumberyard in North Carolina.

His approach is to write first names and last names on separate index cards, so later you want match them up for a specific fictional character. Many authors keep lists of one sort or another. One author suggest looking at SPAM for unique names. Also check out the people on facebook who want to friend you.

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RULES OF THUMB FOR CHOOSING CHARACTER NAMES
Most of the many articles and books I reviewed suggest basic "Rules of Thumb" for naming characters, and from one to the next they are substantially the same. Do's and Do Not’s are essentially two sides of the same coin; it all depends on how you word the sentence. BTW, no one is telling an author that they “must” do or not do. This is only advice.
​

The best Rule of Thumb for writers is the author can do anything, as long as it works.


HOW TO GET STARED
As you go through your thinking process to begin a new novel, you usually have seceral characters in mind, and possibly some potential names for them. Don’t just go with that. Do your homework, research the names, and get them right.

● Check out the root meaning of the name.
Readers may not know the meaning of the name Fredrick is “rich, powerful ruler” but some may. If that is not the impression you want the reader to get about the character, Fred is probably not the best choice. Or you could set up a contradiction if that works for the novel. That’s okay if you do it on purpose and for a reason.

● Google the names you are interested in.
Maybe the murderer in your mystery novel will turns out to be a real person who won’t like being cast as a blood thirsty serial killer. Note that the bad guy in a mystery usually doesn’t have a middle initial to avoid at least one pitfall if the name turns out to be real. Or it could be the name you want for your sweet innocent heroine turns out to be the name of popular porn star.

● Don’t try to fake foreign and historical names.
Remember, most babies are named by their parents, who probably know how to spell and put the name in proper form. First, determine if name is in the correct language. This is a pitfall if you have characters with foreign names. If your character is Chinese, be sure you're using a Chinese name, not Japanese. Second, be sure you spell it correctly.

Third, be sure of the proper format for that country's language. Not every culture puts the given name first and the surname at the end. In Asian languages, the surname comes first, followed by the first or given name.

On the other hand, Russian names are made up of three parts: first name, patronymic, and surname. As a rule, Russian male names end in a consonant, and female names end in an ‘a’ or ‘ya’. The middle name, or patronymic, is created by taking their father’s name and adding the ending -ovich/-evich for boys, or -ovna/-evna for girls, the particular ending determined by the last letter of the father’s name.

Hispanic countries hyphenate the mother’s maiden name and father’s surname. The ancient Romans didn't often use first names. Check and double check.

● Get the Era Right.
Make the name appropriate for the year and location when the character would have been named. Take into account the names used at the time in history when this character would have been named. Look at your choices in the context of the location and social station. Take into account the character's ethnicity and national origin. Again, double check it.
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THUMBS UP: "DO"
● Keep names short and pronounceable, even in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Historicals.
Avoid character and place names that are awkward to read or pronounce. Even if readers don't say the names out loud, they still pronounce them in
                            their heads.


Some awkward names cannot be avoided if you use them in a historical context. Sometimes scenes are set in one-of-a-kind locations that are vital to the story but happen to have clunky names. Give them nicknames or shortened versions, but only if it works.

● Think about your character's physical appearance, ethnicity, personality, profession, interests, social status, and backstory.
Names should suit the character. Unlike Parents naming a new baby, authors have the advantage of making the character's features and personality whatever they want to fit the story. You do not want to set up false expectations, unless that is a plot twist. For example, someone's brother is nicknamed "Shorty", but he turns out to be six feet seven inches when the heroine finally meet him.

● Speak the name out loud.

● Give siblings the same style of names.

An example would be all biblical names. Another, is naming sisters all after flowers.  You also can begin each name with the same letter or sound, but that's risky and can cause confusion for the reader.
 

● Names should suit the character’s personality
If the character is to be quite strong-willed and stubborn, strong sounds like "k" and "p" will pick up well here. On the other hand, if your character is pretty and a bit shy, soft sounds like "f" and "s" work much better.
.

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THUMBS DOWN: "WATCH OUT FOR"
In my opinion, there are no specific Do Nots. In fiction you will see everything in print and much of it could be characterized as "Don't" or "Never Use". Therefore, I characterize these rules of thumb as "Watch-Out-For".

● Watch out for a character with too many names.
Because the author knows the characters, he can read the manuscript many times without seeing any problem with multiple names. In reality, we often use different names for the same person under different circumstances, or different people refer to the same person by another name or nickname.

In real life, a man named Manfred Carlyle McDonald, who is a lieutenant in the military and is also a medical doctor, could be referred to as Mr. McDonald, Doctor MacDonald, Lieutenant McDonald, McDonald, Manny, Mac, Fred, or all of those, including Dad from a child.

In fiction, the reader tends to associate the character with the name used to introduce him/her. When that same character shows up again, sometimes many pages later, and is referred to or addressed by another name, it can be very confusing.  I can't stick to one name throughout a novel, but can usually limit the names to two or three.

● Watch out for many characters with similar names.
Authors are smart enough to figure out that two characters shouldn't have the same name. The only exception I can think of would be a child named after a parent, but that would have to be necessary for the storyline.

A more frequent problem occurs when two or more characters have names that begin with the same letter [Sam and Sydney] or same sound [Craig and Greg]. This is particularly annoying to the reader if the two characters spend a lot of time together in the story.


● Avoid famous names
Unless your novel is the fictionalized version of a real event that involves a famous person, famous names are distracting and focus the reader's attention on the famous character – and not the fictitious character -- which pulls the reader out of the story. Also, using a real name may have legal consequences. It can work as a plot device, or if the parents had a reason for naming their child after someone famous, but be careful.

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    Image Source: hellogiggles.com/princess-diana                                                  Image Source: ​thefamouspeople.com/arnold-schwarzenegger
While Princess Diana may be a perfectly fine name for a character in a fantasy, using it will evoke images of the Princess Diana of our world and distract the reader. A body builder named Arnold? I don't think so.

● Avoid trends, overly strange names, and androgynous names.
Sometimes names are trendy, particularly those of characters in current movies, TV, video games, etc. Those become overused.

You want names readers accept and feel comfortable with, even though "cute" spellings exist, particularly today. Watch out for names that could be either gender, unless there is a specific reason which is explained near the beginning, or at least at the same time as the second character is introduced.

● Watch out for the man or woman with no name.
Not every character needs a name. Giving a name to a secondary character or "walk on" usually implies that this person will show up again in the novel, and play a role in the story. However, the main character's wife cannot be repeatedly referred to as "his wife" nor can an important character be referred to only as "the man." There might be some exceptions in the mystery genre where the author doesn't want the readers to know who the "bad guy" is.
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● Science Fiction and Fantasy
Some potential problems with names in SciFi and fantasy don't occur as often in other genres. When writers have more freedom to create character names, they also have more potential for making mistakes. The biggest Watch-Out-For is long and/or unpronounceable names.

The other trend in Sci Fi and Fantasy that annoys readers is the use of t'oo m'any ap'ostrph'es. [Author Ann Marble calls these "The Ap'ostrph'e of D'oom."]


NAMES CAN BE CHANGED
Computers make changing a character's name somewhat easy, but once an author starts using a name, it's often hard to get rid of it. If the name doesn't work, or has some unforeseen connotation you don't want, don’t be afraid to ditch it. You are not really killing your children.

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The caution I would add is to use "find and replace" for all references, including nicknames. Remember our guy, Manfred Carlyle McDonald, who might be referred to as Mr. McDonald, Doctor MacDonald, Lieutenant McDonald, McDonald, Manny, Mac, or Fred. You have to catch all of them. Don't be afraid to change the name if it is not working, just be careful when you do it to get them all.

JUST SAYIN’ !

■
Sources:
2022

https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/fiction/naming-fictional-characters/
https://annerallen.com/2021/04/naming-fictional-characters/
https://thenovelsmithy.com/naming-fictional-characters/
https://themobilewallpaper.com/beautiful-japanese-girl-innocent-looks-nice-mobile-wallpaper
https://carnewschina.com/2014/01/10/pretty-chinese-girl-is-very-happy-with-bmw-320li/
https://www.babynamespedia.com/etymology/m
https://hellogiggles.com/celebrity/princess-diana-finally-getting-holiday-name-perfect/
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/arnold-alois-schwarzenegger-757.php
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/454089574925625276/
https://kidnurse.org/whats-name-everything/
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/the-7-rules-of-picking-names-for-fictional-characters#:~:text=The%207%20Rules%20of%20Picking%20Names%20for%20Fictional,appropriately.%205%205.%20Use%20alliterative%20initi
2017
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/the-7-rules-of-picking-names-for-fictional-characters
http://onceuponaword1.blogspot.com/
http://thewritepractice.com/8-tips-for-naming-characters/
http://www.wikihow.com/Name-Your-Fictional-Character
http://www.obsidianbookshelf.com/html/fantasycharacternames.html
ttp://www.theweeklings.com/golear/2013/10/08/the-50-greatest-literary-character-names-of-all-time/
http://www.writing-world.com/romance/names.shtml
http://www.writing-world.com/romance/lindo.shtml
http://www.writing-world.com/sf/crafting28.shtml
http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/namegame.shtml
http://www.namenerds.com/uucn/listofweek/nobility.html
http://characternames.com/
http://www.babynames.com/lists/character-names.php
http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/character-name-generator.html
http://www.whoisjaylamm.com/2015/06/11/stop-naming-your-kids-after-fictional-characters/
http://www.writersdigestshop.com/the-writers-idea-thesaurus-group?utm_source=writersdigestshop.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wd-bak-fb-150827-ideathesaurus

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MEET THE NEW 6 O’CLOCK NEWS ANCHORS

7/8/2022

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Throughout history, humans have imbued inanimate objects, other people, and imaginary beings with the power to become what they were not, at least in beliefs and folklore. Such is the fodder of myths and legends.

However, ever since Czech playwright Karel Čapek coined the term "robot“ in 1920, humanity has been fascinated by the idea of human-constructed, humanoid beings which can emulate their makers; i.e. androids. Since then, literature, film, and science have glommed on to the challenge. Fictional androids are often depicted as mentally and physically equal or superior to humans ‒ moving, thinking and speaking as fluidly as humans ‒ thanks to advanced artificial intelligence.

In the 21st century, the scientific aspects, including artificial intelligence, are beginning to take the baby steps needed to catching up with the imagination which, of course, fuels technological advances.  Take China, for example.

CHINA
China’s leaders have made it clear that they intend China to be the world-wide leader in artificial intelligence, from androids to surveillance equipment to self-driving cars. In spite of what I’ve read written by Americans and other westerners, denying that Chinese  technology is more advanced, it would appear to the novice that they are, in fact, ahead of us.

What any country is working on in the realm of artificial intelligence is probably either classified or so low key to the general public that we know nothing about it, but it’s a little scary to think about. Much of the publicly-visible work is being done by China’s state news agency, Xinhua, teaming up with various Chinese hi-tech companies.
​
You’re probably familiar with most of the TV news anchors for the 6 o’clock news in your area, I thought you might like to meet some of the recent news anchors from China
.

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      Xinhua’s first English AI                                Xin Xiaowei is modeled after                          Zhang Zhao, the English speak-
      speaking anchor – Name ?                          human reporter Zhao Wanwei,                        ing anchor is modeled after 
       link:
youtu.be/Cjn_ZJQ-e0Y                     videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/                         reporter Qiu Hao 
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   Xin Xiaomeng is modeled                        Jia Jia, another Chinese news anchor in “street clothes” and in
   after human reporter Qu Meng                 Han traditional dress.

   link: youtu.be/tgaOf5BGnOc
The first virtual news anchor released by Xinhua in 2018 (the nameless one) wasn’t bad for a first attempt but the poor guy took a lot of criticism, particularly from other western TV news reporters, who mocked his performance as… well, as robotic. Maybe having a name helps, but the more recent anchors seem smoother and more polished. The literature leads me to believe these are full figure androids, but the terminology is complicated and tricky. I’ll address that later.
​
In 2017, before the news anchors were introduced, a robot journalist (Robot HRP-4C, now named Xiao Nan) wrote a 900 character article which was published in the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily. But she isn’t stopping there. The Daily Mail.com reported she was being “trained” for modeling in a fashion show but noted “her walk was not quite ready….partly because she must keep her knees bent the whole time”. She has sensors in her feet but lacked the balance of a human.
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  • Xiao Nan
​          Image Source: dailymail.co.uk/cyber-sensation ▲
         ◄ Image Source: dailymail.co.uk/cyber- sensation
According to Kai-Fu Lee, former President of Google China and author of Artificial Intelligence Superpowers, “Chinese product quality has improved dramatically due to intense competition. Silicon Valley competition resembles the old wars where each side takes its turn to fire.” China’s expanding markets and the willingness of the Chinese people to accept these new technologies forces the Chinese to focus on product more than extensive research. It’s technological execution is built on an incredible work ethic. Job first.

JAPAN
Not to be left behind, other Asian countries are also in the mix. Japan has been one of the leaders in design of humanoid robots. Waseda University started its WABOT project in 1967 and in 1972 completed WABOT 1, the first full-scale humanoid intelligent with limb control allowing it to walk, grip and carry objects with its hands. as well as a vision system, ears, and mobile mouth that spoke Japanese
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WABOT 2 had ten fingers and two feet, was capable of playing the organ, and was able to read a score of music. It was also able to accompany a person singing. That model was followed by even more advanced robots such as DER-01 and DER-02.
​

◄ Japanese Robot DER 01                                             
Image Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android


In 2014, they introduced their first life-like news reader called a Kodomoroid – a combination of the Japanese word “kodomo”' meaning child and android. In her debut demo she is said to have spoken smoothly and moved her lips in time to a voice-over.

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Kodomoroid news reader ►
Source of Images: mirror.co.uk/news/meet-worlds-first-robot

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In 2015, Japan announced the upcoming opening of a new hotel, Henn na Hotel, completely staffed by robots. The hotel is part of an amusement park. The ‘staff’ includes two dinosaur-shaped receptionist-robots that speaks in English, and the one that speaks Japanese, shaped like a woman with blinking lashes.         
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      Source of Images: thepointsguy.co.uk/2017/

A highly advanced robot named Erica was introduced in 2018 by the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Osaka University. She has the most advanced artificial speech systems in the world and can hold a conversation with humans thanks to speech generation algorithms, facial recognition technology and infrared sensors that track faces across a room. She even likes to tell jokes. She is currently a news reader but bigger things are planned for her.
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Erica Aoi                                                                                               Erica and her creator, Hiroshi Ishiguro
Source of images: importantinnovations.com/2018/tv-news-anchor
​
Video: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/5050946/erica-robot-lifelike-soul-jokes/
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​
A final word on Japanese technology is the 2015 film Sayonara,
 starring Geminoid F. This was the first movie to feature an android performing opposite a human actor.

The robot Geminoid F’s looks were called “uncannily realistic” in reviews but “beyond her human voice, there’s no trace of emotion in her delivery, nor any intelligible design to the character’s eerie pre-programmed eye blinks.”
​variety.com/2015/sayonara
​
Geminoid F - Image Source: robots.ieee.org/robots/geminoidf/

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SOUTH KOREA
MBN, a South Korean news channel, has its own news anchor robot with artificial intelligence. The news channel partnered with MoneyBrain for this project and the anchor has been named Kim Joha. MBN channel says that this way the news can be broadcast faster and it will save time and resources.
               
            Kim Joha – Image Source: healthandfashion.us/robot-news-ancho ►

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​Unveiled in 2014, EveR-1, an South Korean android interpersonal communications model was developed with the capability of emulating human emotional expression via facial "musculature" and able to make rudimentary conversation, having a vocabulary of around 400 words. Physically, she matches the height, weight, and figure of a Korean woman in her twenties.

  EveR-2,  ▲ So.Korean News Anchor - Image Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(robot)

The EveR series was developed with the ambitious plan of putting an inter-personal communications robot in every household by 2020. I don’t think the South Korea realized that goal, but EveR-2 is much more advanced. She is claimed to be the first android who can sing.

Note: Everyone seems to claim the title of being first. There is such a variety that anyone reading this should take all such claims with a grain of salt.

Part of South Korea’s long range plan is to build several robot cities. South Korea has a new Robotics Ethics Charter which sets the ground rules and laws for human interaction with robots in the future.

​RUSSIA
The first, nameless Chinese news anchor wasn’t the only one to get bad reviews. Around 2015, Rossiya 24 aired Russia’s own robot reporter, Alex, on Moscow TV. Although he spoke in a monotone, Alex can hold a basic conversation using data uploaded into its brain. With 29 motors in its silicon face, the robot can make expressions, though most are stiff compared to a human face. 

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None the less, Alex got bad reviews. A couple from the many posted on Twitter said,

“Meet Rossiya 24's new anchor, robot Alex. Artificial intelligence, a talent for propaganda and an integrated fake news generator is available right in your box."
 
"Alex, if they are holding you hostage and force you to drink alcohol, wink three times when you go on the air!"

Promobot co-founder Alexei Yuzhakov 
(left) shows off Alex the robot (right)
Image Source:
bbc.com/news/technology


Alex was criticized for his rough appearance and clothes, his unfocused gaze and awkward facial expressions. The website for Afisha Daily, a Russian entertainment and lifestyle magazine, posted the comment that, “It looks terrifying.” Viewers said “nyet” to the robot as a replacement for a human. No recent news about Alex was available.

In 2015, the Russian military demonstrated a robot-like military cyborg that drove a four-wheeler in a circle. Also they have a tank-like robot with treads and machine guns, but it doesn’t look even vaguely like a humanoid.


EVERYONE ELSE HAS ONE! WHY CAN’T WE?
Relax! We have Sophia. Not only is she an humanoid android with artificial intelligence, she is getting famous and has been made an honorary citizen of Saudi Arabia.

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​David Hanson, Sophia’s creator, used to be a Disney “Imagineer”. His work as a sculptor and filmmaker helps him envision robots as four-dimensional interactive sculptures. He founded Hanson Robotics was founded in 2005, and its first robot was Albert Einstein HUBO. Other humanoid Hanson robots are Jules, Zeno(2006), Alice(2008), and Philip K. Dick.

Sophia, and her creator, David Hanson
Image Source:
​ yovizag.com/humanoid-robot-sophia/
You can’t miss recognizing Sophia. Unlike the other robots, who attempt to emulate humans as much as possible so we can relate, this android goes bald most
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of the time with a silver back to her head and an animated expression. Modeled after Audrey Hepburn, she has porcelain-colored skin, a slender nose, and high cheekbones. Her expressive eyes seem to change color in accordance with light.

She smiles, she blinks, she walks, she talks, she sings, and her favorite actor is Shahrukh Khan. How they know that is anyone’s guess. I’m clueless.

Sophia is accumulating credits for being on TV shows and made a guest appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’. She attends conferences around the world, including the World Economic Forum and the ‘Artificial Intelligence For Good’ Global Summit. She also sang a song, ‘All is made of love’ at GIMC 2016, Beijing.  She has even posed for the cover of Elle Magazine.

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image Source:                                                                                    Image Source:                 
latestly.com/social-viral/jimmy-fallon-sings-with-robot                 
yovizag.com/humanoid-robot-sophia/

Tonight Show Link: youtu.be/G-zyTlZQYpE
Tonight show link: youtu.be/6RyF3DwdAak
One of the amazing things about Sophia, she is designed so that she will learn and adapt daily via conversations with humans and other robots, will keep getting smarter over time, and eventually may become self-aware. Currently, she is reported as having interests in business and has met industry leaders from banking, insurance, auto manufacturing, property development, media, and entertainment industries.

I wish they would put a wig on her.

A ROBOT IS AN ANDROID IS A CYBORG IS A ROBOT… ?
Just a word or two about definitions. I seriously doubt that we are all on the same page when it comes to mutually understanding what the other guy is talking about. This is an emerging field of study, and definitions are going to get in the way more often than not. We have had machines that do work for us and operate on a certain level of artificial intelligence for a while now. Are they robots? Yes, they are.

I am sure that people working in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence know what certain words and technical terms mean, but to date most people probably don’t. When I first saw the videos of the Chinese news anchors, I thought they were simply digital. Well, they are digital, but not “simply” and not in the sense I thought. They are fully bodied humanoid robots who look and move around sort of like people.

Just as there is a range of terminology ‒ androids, robots, cyborgs, replicants, machines, humanoids ‒ there is a range of artificial intelligence. I suppose this range of terminology can explain how every achievement “is the first.”

I have no answers. Just be cautious, and question what you read. The reporter who wrote the article may not understand, either.

Today’s androids look somewhat authentic but they are still recognizable as humanoid robots. However, it’s a marvelous world we are live in, and this is just the beginning.

JUST SAYIN’!
□
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8343441/Chinese-state-news-agency-unveils-worlds-3D-AI-anchor.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(robot)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots_in_literature
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/sophia-android/
https://www.racked.com/2017/12/6/16717004/robot-fashion-android-sophia-erica-jiajia
https://www.yovizag.com/10-facts-humanoid-robot-sophia/
https://robots.net/ai/who-is-sophia-the-robot-everything-you-need-to-know-about-her/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/meet-worlds-first-robot-tv-3762130
https://www.techshout.com/chinese-blond-female-humanoid-robot-unveiled/
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47981274
https://hackernoon.com/meet-norn-the-ai-powered-robot-who-can-paint-masterpieces-3m483t54
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8343441/Chinese-state-news-agency-unveils-worlds-3D-AI-anchor.html
https://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/tonight-showbotics-snakebot-sophia-emotion-butterflies/3508594
https://robots.net/ai/who-is-sophia-the-robot-everything-you-need-to-know-about-her/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050933/reviews
https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/sayonara-film-review-1201625975/
https://robots.ieee.org/robots/geminoidf/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1875092/Video-Chinas-Xinhua-presents-news-using-robot-news-anchor.html
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/robot-reporter-in-china-gets-its-first-news-article-published-4481510/
https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/preview/mol/2018/11/08/3778073658996051539/636x382_MP4_3778073658996051539.mp4https:/videos.dailymail.co.uk/preview/mol/2018/11/08/3778073658996051539/636x382_MP4_3778073658996051539.mp4
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/10/04/how-does-the-artificial-intelligence-scene-in-china-compare-to-the-united-states/?sh=2c9514fd7a6f
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Chinesed+robot+news+casters&&view=detail&mid=95002C997CDC11A15E5895002C997CDC11A15E58&rvsmid=071ED78B786F64832E6E071ED78B786F64832E6E&FORM=VDQVAP
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=020&aid=0000371339, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4362293
https://thepointsguy.co.uk/2017/11/henn-na-japan-robot-hotel-review/https:/thepointsguy.co.uk/2017/11/henn-na-japan-robot-hotel-review/
https://www.latestly.com/social-viral/jimmy-fallon-sings-say-something-with-robot-sophia-on-the-tonight-show-watch-video-503548.html
YouTube
youtu.be/Cjn_ZJQ-e0Y
videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/
youtu.be/tgaOf5BGnOc
youtu.be/G-zyTlZQYpE
youtu.be/6RyF3DwdAak
0 Comments

Things You'll Never Need To Know About the 4th of July

7/1/2022

1 Comment

 
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Since next Monday is the Fourth of July, I wanted to blog on the topic of US Independence Day. But alas, after I did some preliminary research, I realized there isn’t much to write about the important history and relevance of the Fourth of July that everyone doesn’t already know. Bummer! That makes for a very short blog, which might be good. 

Image Source: nashvillelife.com/4th-of-July-Parades

Instead of keeping silent on the issue, I looked up articles entitled “Interesting [or fun] Facts” about the holiday. Alas², none of them were particularly “fun,” although I did learn a few thing I never knew or didn’t remember after a hiatus of sixty years plus… and it’s kind of fun to see how many “known facts” on the internet disagree with each other.

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​IN A NUTSHELL
Just like today, it was all about taxes. "Taxation without representation!"
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War [April 1775], not many of the colonists wanted complete separation from Great Britain, but gradually the population began to favor complete independence. You all remember that, right?

Of course you do. And you remember, when Richard Henry Lee introduced his motion to the Continental Congress for independence, it was tabled and a five-man committee appointed [Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York] to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. Maybe you recall hearing that, too.

On July 2nd, 1775, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote [NY delegation abstained] and on July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson.

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“Declaration of Independence” painting by John Trumbull 1818
 https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/

​THINGS YOU WILL NEVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FOURTH OF JULY
I found these facts interesting although not significant in terms of the history of the United States. They are in no particular order and, as you can see, are not memorable nor would I call them particularly “fun" facts.
 
▼ Image Source: acei-global.blog/20-fun-facts-4th-of-july
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● John Adams believed July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest.
​
● John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later became presidents, both died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence​.


● According to the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, “Jefferson’s inveterate shyness prevented him from playing a significant role in the debate within Congress. John Adams, a leader in those debates, remembers that Jefferson was silent even in committee meetings, though consistently staunch in his support of independence…” 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Independence

That was news to me. I never thought of Jefferson as being shy.

● “Only two Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The majority of signers penned their signatures on August 2, 1776.”
http://www.rfdtv.com/story/32328872/4th-of-july-fun-facts#.WwhI_0gvzcc

Or was it only one?
● “Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the others signed later.”
https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/

● The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies. Of those 56, eight were born in Great Britain.

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● Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence [70], proposed the turkey as the national bird but was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who recommended the bald eagle.

​Image Source: acei-global.blog/20-fun-facts-about-4th-of-july

● The youngest signer was Thomas Lynch, Jr. [27] of South Carolina.
acei-global.blog/20-fun-facts-about-4th-of-july
Or was he?
● “…Edward Rutledge was the youngest at age 26.”
thepioneerwoman.com/fun-and-learning/

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● The original draft of the Declaration of Independence was lost.
rfdtv.com/story/4th-of-july-fun-facts

Oh, well. I’m sure they have a copy of the one that was adopted and signed.


     Image Source:  loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/ ►​

● Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. It didn’t become a federal paid holiday until 1938.

● The first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. This was also the day that the Declaration of Independence was first read in public after people were summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

The Liberty Bell was cast at London’s Whitechapel Bell Foundry. It arrived in Philadelphia in August, 1752. The metal was too brittle and it cracked during the test strike. It was recast twice by local workmen. In its early years the bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens about public meetings and proclamations.
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● Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped [not actually rung] thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.

●  The tune of the National Anthem was originally an English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The words have nothing to do with consumption of alcohol but the “melody that Francis Key had in mind when he wrote those words did originate decades earlier as the melody for a song praise of wine.”  
http://www.colonialmusic.org/Resource/Anacreon.htm

LAST BUT NOT LEAST
On June 29, 2013, Parade Magazine ran an article by Ken Jennings entitled “America 101: Take Our Fourth of July Quiz”. The following photos, which I blatantly borrowed from Parade, with the following caption was part of that article.


Picture
We had some fun with John Trumbull's classic painting 'Declaration of Independence.' Now it's our turn. ParadeMagazine - (1818 / Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull / Image by © PoodlesRock/Corbis)
JUST SAYIN’!
Sources:
https://parade.com/24863/kenjennings/america-101-take-our-fourth-of-july-quiz/
https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th
http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/history-independence-day/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/fireworks-american-history_n_5552960.html
https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/fun-and-learning/twenty-interesting-things-about4th-of-july/
http://www.rfdtv.com/story/32328872/4th-of-july-fun-facts#.WwhI_0gvzcc

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