Friday, April 8, 2016

G: 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.

Gammer: An old woman.  Guess that means me!

Goldenseal was used by Native Americans to treat diseases, paint skin and dye clothing. The early settlers learned this from them and nearly harvested it into extinction.

Genetic Engineering is not science fiction. Hopefully, it will be used to fight diseases but the fear is always there that eventually it may be used to design desirable traits instead of letting it occur naturally. I used this trope in my Recon Marine Series of space opera novels.

Have you ever seen or grown goldenseal? Know any gammers? Do you think humanity will eventually go down the rabbit hole with genetic engineering?

"To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness." Carleton Mitchell


30 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Great post Susan, I too am a Gammer.
Yvonne.

Deepa from FictionPies said...

Interesting facts there! :) Good going, best wishes wth the rest of the challenge.

From a fellow gammer,
Cheers,
Deepa
Deepa’s Kaleidoscope

Leanne said...

I'm assuming Gammer might be short for grandma? That would explain the old woman definition. Leanne @ cresting the hill

Misha Gerrick said...

Never heard of goldenseal before. :-)

mshatch said...

I've used goldenseal in one of my novels and there's all kinds of genetic engineering going on in my scifi!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - I too fall into the Gammer category ... and Genetics - well too late for me .. but I certainly hope the study thereof help others in the future ... while Goldenseal - I was surprised to find is native to the States - I thought we had it here - but apparently not ..

Cheers Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Genetic engineering is a scary thing.
You are definitely not old!

Unknown said...

I definitely didn't know the word gammer!
Damyanti, AZ cohost 2016

Jo said...

I am certainly a gammer. Not that I like to admit it. Never seen goldenseal. Don't know what I think about genetic engineering it has it's good side but like so many things can be abused.

Maria Zannini said...

I see a gammer every time I look in the mirror. :)

Nicola said...

I love the word gammer! It's a new one to me. Have a great weekend.

M.J. Fifield said...

I know a few gammers (hard not to in Florida...). We have a weekly lunch where I help them with their iPads and other technology. They're great ladies.

betty said...

Gammer here myself :) Figures that the settlers would do that with the goldenseal. My letter N with Native American tells a story about settlers destroying something here in Arizona for the Native Americans. I can get a deep appreciation of why some Native Americans don't trust Caucasian people to this day.

betty

Christine Rains said...

I know lots of awesome gammers! :) Have a terrific weekend.

Victoria Marie Lees said...

I know only a few gammers and I've never seen grown goldenseal. I believe we may miss important traits if we design humans.

Robin said...

I've not heard of Goldenseal. It sounds like it may still be fairly rare...???

Whenever we tamper with genetics (for the purposes of anything other than fighting disease), I think we're missing out on the beauty God intended.

Pat Hatt said...

Yep, only a matter of time, if the rich aren't already, before humanity goes down that rabbit hole.

Unknown said...

Guess I'm a Gammer, too. And I didn't even know it!!!

Meet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge http://www.kathleenvalentineblog.com/

A Beer for the Shower said...

Gammer. What a word. With enough genetic engineering, maybe one day we'll be able to say wow, check out that gammer with the gams!

cleemckenzie said...

Is there a Gammer support group out there? Let me know. I'm in. I'll have to investigate Goldenseal. I love to experiment in the garden.

J E Oneil said...

Gammer? I wonder how that came to mean old lady. And as much as I think genetic engineering is a good way to fight diseases, I really hope that's as far as it goes.

messymimi said...

The idea of genetic engineering of humans is frightening. At least, to this gammer it is!

J Lenni Dorner said...

J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge - where I am part of Arlee Bird's A to Z Ambassador Team.
How has the first week of the challenge been for you so far? Are you meeting your goals of posting and hopping to other blogs?
My blog has a giveaway with bonus a to z challenges to encourage people to visit more stops.
http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com
Cool! I wonder if that's where Gammy and Gramma come from?

Sarah Foster said...

I'd never heard of the first two terms! Hopefully genetic engineering will only be used for good.

Rich C-K said...

This is a nice approach to the challenge. Alos, Nicee to see someone else who spells Kelley correctly.

XmasDolly said...

Oh my, guess I'm a gammer too! Oh yes, a gammer from way back ~ snicker~snicker ~ stopping by from the #atozchallenge too~ This is my second year! Have a great weekend! I'm now following you... nice to meet you! :)

Patrick Stahl said...

No. Many. Hopefully not.

Elizabeth said...

I know a lot of great gammers :) I hope scientists don't go too far with genetic engineering.

LuAnn @ BackPorchervations said...

Hope you are having a good weekend, Susan!

Heck, by this stage of the game, I AM a gammer! :p And about the genetic engineering? My answer would probably be, "...if they haven't already."

LuAnn (approx #369 on the list) @ Back Porchervations.
(and one of co-host AJ Lauer's #wHooligans)

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

I have never heard of Goldenseal, but that part about the settlers does not surprise me in the slightest. As for the rabbit hole - no, I don't think we will. I think a few places might try, but the rest are too wary to do it.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)