Random+Information

Welcome to our Random Information page! Here, you can read bits of random information dealing with subjects in //Skellig//!


 * Premature Babies:** In //Skellig//, Michael's baby sister (Joy) was born prematurely. She had to stay in the hospital so that they could treat her. Here are some interesting facts about premature babies.

-A premature baby is deemed premature if they were born about 37 weeks before they were due. Even by being a couple weeks early, a baby can still be premature, though. -A premature baby is a baby who's organs aren't fully developed. Premature babies may suffer handicaps or learning disabilities. -The lungs on a premature baby are particularly affected. -Prematurity kills about 500,000 babies per year. -Most twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc. are born prematurely. -Antibiotics can help a premature baby, as well as certain types of other medicinal drugs. -Poorer countries generally have a higher premature birth rate. -Europe and other rich countries have a 5-9% premature birth rate. -America has ris en to a a 12-13% premature birth rate. -Most premature babies are born with vision problems.



For even **more** about premature babies, please click [|here].

Angels were usually portrayed to dress in military-style clothing. (Not the modern military, the very old roman/greek military!) Especially the Archangel Michael. Joseph Smith, Jr. is the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. He described his first angel encounter thus. "While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
 * Angels:** An angel is thought of as a messenger of God. Some people think of angels as beautiful people with wings, but different religions have different ideas of angels. The earliest known Christian painting of an angel was painted without wings. As Saint John Chrysostom put it, "They manifest a nature's sublimity. That is why Gabriel is represented with wings. Not that angels have wings, but that you may know that they leave the heights and the most elevated dwelling to approach human nature. Accordingly, the wings attributed to these powers have no other meaning than to indicate the sublimity of their nature."

He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant.... Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me." In Christianity, different angels were used for different purposes. The angel Gabriel was in charge of performing acts of justice and power. [|Bahá'u'lláh], founder of the [|Bahá'í Faith] , a strict religion thought of angels as " [|people who through the love of God have consumed all human limitations and have been endowed with spiritual attributes.] " His son,  [|`Abdu'l-Bahá], said, "Ye are the angels, if your feet be firm, your spirits rejoiced, your secret thoughts pure, your eyes consoled, your ears opened, your breasts dilated with joy, and your souls gladdened, and if you arise to assist the Covenant, to resist dissension and to be attracted to the Effulgence!" 55% of Americans say that they think that they have been guarded by a guardian angel throughout their life. More Americans believe in angels than global warming! For more about contemporary belief in angels, please click [|here].


 * William Blake: **

**Skellig Islands:** Skellig and Michael's names were inspired by the [|Skellig Islands] off the coast of Count Kerry, Ireland. The islands are called Little Skellig and Skellig Michael. Skellig Michael is a UNESCO heritage site because of the ancient Christian monastery perched on top of it.  Skellig Islands <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">from http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/34/93/1349381_417d2ae4.jpg

Tim Roth, who portrayed Skellig in the movie from http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5210683421_c56ae5b429_z.jpg
 * More Skellig: ** There is a prequel to //Skellig// titled //[|My Name is Mina]//, which is Mina's journal before Michael moves in. David Almond also wrote the short story A //Journey to the Archaeopteryx// from Mina's point of view. The short story is available with the tenth anniversary edition of the book. Also, a //Skellig//[| TV film], stage play, radio play, and [|opera] have been produced. Additionally, if you are interested in stories similar to //Skellig//, try reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's short story, //[|A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings]//, which was a source of inspiration for David Almond.