Thursday, April 7, 2016

F: A to Z Blogging Challenge

For my 2016 A to Z Challenge, I’m sharing three facts for each letter. The genres I write and love to read are mostly science fiction and high or epic fantasy. In fantasy, there is often magic associated with crystals or metals. They also used herbs both for medicine and for magical spells. Each day I will post a short description of an herb or a mineral you might find in medieval or fantasy writings. For the record, most of the herbal remedies I’ve investigated are not recommended by the FDA. Many are actually poisonous and dangerous. As tribute to my second love, I will post a scientific fact that may deal with physics, biology or health science. And because another name for a writer is wordsmith, each day I’ll share a strange word that I would probably never use in my writing, but that amuse me in some way. So enjoy my trio of quick facts. And don’t forget to visit the IWSG site where we’ll share a writer’s resource for every day of the challenge.

Furibund: Frenzied, raging

Feverfew is used by herbalists to treat asthma, fever (of course) and insect bites.

Ferrous metals are those that contain iron. Iron is important in metals because it makes them stronger. The discovery of copper around 5000 BC ended the Stone Age. When iron was discovered in 1200 BC, that ushered in the Iron Age. Since iron makes metal stronger, why use anything else? Non-ferrous metals don't rust like iron-alloyed metals and they're also not magnetic.

Did anyone make you furibund today? Have you seen feverfew as an ingredient in teas? How brilliant were those ancients who thought to alloy metals? Or was it an accident?

"Luck is an art." George Roy Hill

19 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Wonderful to read Susan, my almost a week gone by already with the challenge.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Furibund - I'm going to use that today on some poor, unsuspecting soul. The word, not the raging part.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Furibund...good slant rhyme possibilities with moribund? Thanks. one out of three today, knew about ferrous metals from chem class.


betty said...

I think some days with this challenge we can work ourselves up to be furibund if we aren't careful :)

betty

Pat Hatt said...

Can't say I've ha to go all furibund on anyone today, yet

M.J. Fifield said...

No, I don't think anyone has made me furibund today. Yesterday, though, that was a different story...

Unknown said...

I love the word Furibund--I have to find a way to use it. I have seen recipes with feverfew in them but don't recall ever trying one.

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Anonymous said...

Furibund sounds like it'd be talking about a furry's butt or something. XD

~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

kjmckendry said...

Luckily not many people can make me furibund! Great word! I wonder if it comes from "fury bound"

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

Great words. love feverfew...such a fun word

J E Oneil said...

Furibund is fun to say. It really doesn't sound like it means raging.

cleemckenzie said...

I'm collecting these gems for my next party. I should be able to stop a lot of conversation with words like furibund. "I was so furibund that I stormed out."

mshatch said...

I've heard of feverfew but never had the occasion to use it in a story - yet :)

Patrick Stahl said...

No, no, and very.

Robin said...

Furibund is the perfect word for A to Zers. It's about now that we all start to Frazzle and Fizzle out.

Emma said...

Wow, a good way to increase one's vocabulary. Great post.

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

I have never heard the word furibund before - it feels like a good word :) I suspect alloys were the result of someone going 'I wonder what happens if...' one day :) That's how science usually progresses, that or pure accident...
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

messymimi said...

The only thing likely to make me furibund is the traffic around here!

Unknown said...

I am super impressed with your extremely informative blogging challenge theme Susan! Cant wait to see more! Much love...