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.
Operose: involving great labor or industrious. (like doing the A to Z!)
Oregano is used as a spice and food preservative and is an antioxidant. In ancient times it was thought to be a remedy for narcotic poisoning.
Origins of Life is a much debated subject that lends itself well to science fiction stories. Did the first life come to Earth from space, accidentally or on purpose, or did life start in some primordial soup in a process called bio-genesis? What it an act of God? Since there are so many questions about the origin of life, it leaves things wide open for writers of fiction.
What do you use oregano for? Not posing as something else, I hope. Do you find the A to Z challenge operose? Have you read any great stories about the origins of life?
"The cosmos are within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself." Carl Sagan
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.
Nimiety: excess, redundancy.
Nettle was used by Native Americans to ease child delivery. During the Bronze Age it was used in burial shrouds.
Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular level. More than one science fiction movie or show has used this invention and usually not as a good thing. All real science fiction fans remember the replicators on the TV show, Stargate. To get an idea how large a nanometer is, a sheet of newspaper is 100,000 nanometers thick.
I've heard of nettle in tea. Have you ever tried it? Do you find the idea of nanotechnology amazing? Of course, the nanobots haven't started replicating yet. Were you a Stargate fan in the day?
Tomorrow is Sunday, a day of rest for A to Z'ers. Do some catch up or go outside and get some sunlight. I haven't shared any wisdom from The Old Farmer's Almanac for a while so here's one as spring and the weddings associated with it arrive.
A pair of crows seen at a wedding brings good luck to the bride and groom.
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.
Mome: Stupid, doltish person, a blockhead, a fool.
Madder is an herb used to make red dye for cloth.
Mohs Scale is a scientific scale to rank mineral hardness. It goes from the hardest of 10, diamond, to 1, talc, the softest. Human fingernails have a hardness of 2.5 and window glass is 6.5.
What ranking of hardness do you think a mome's head is? Have you heard of madder being used as a natural dye? Have you ever tested a diamond on glass?
"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." Bruce Lee
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.
Lippitude: soreness of the eyes.
Lavender as a scent has a calming effect that might help with insomnia or ease migraines. It's commonly used in candles and oils.
Laser Weapons Systems (LAWS) is really interesting. It sounds futuristic but the US Navy ship, USS Ponce, is equipped with this direct energy weapon than can cripple or destroy the motors, weapons and sensors of the enemy. It's very accurate and has been very successful in testing. Compared to conventional naval weapons, it's really cheap and involves no transport or storage like regular ammunition would. Very cool. It sounds like something in science fiction but it's here today.
Do you enjoy the scent of lavender? Have you heard of LAWS? Doesn't it sound futuristic?
"He who commands the sea has command of everything." Themistocles
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.
Kakistocracy: government by the worst people. And that's all I have to say about that.
Kava is an herb that gives users a feeling of tranquility. They become sociable and euphoric and it is used to treat anxiety and depression.
Kevlar is a registered trademark synthetic material that is used in clothing, helmets and vests as well as more things than I realized. There are other similar products but most of us use the term Kevlar in everyday speech. When writing science fiction, I usually imagine something even more efficient, light and protective than the products we know today.
Are you exercising your right to vote so your country doesn't end up as a kakistocracy? Ever hear of kava? Can you afford anything on that Kevlar site? Pretty cool stuff.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Abraham Lincoln
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.
Jactation: boastful display or declaration. (like a football player's touchdown celebration)
Jojoba was used by the Apaches and other southwest tribes to treat external conditions like skin problems and to promote hair growth.
Thomas Jefferson loved science and technology. Some call him the father of science in our country. His interests included paleontology, archaeology and agriculture. Tomorrow is the birthday of our third president.
Does jactation in sports irritate or entertain you? Did you know Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virgina?
"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." Thomas Jefferson
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.
Impavid: Not afraid, fearless
Indigo is used to make a blue dye and has been known to man for hundreds of years. It is also an ancient Chinese medicine used to treat disease.
Interstellar travel is not something humanity has conquered despite the success of the book and film The Martian. When writing space opera or other science fiction taking place in space, the propulsion method needed to make such travel possible needs to be part of your world building. Another trope you could use is the 'ark' idea where generations of people live and die on their journey to the stars.
Are you facing the upcoming tax deadline as an impavid citizen? Do you like the color indigo? How many years do you think it will take before we figure out how to travel to Mars or outside the solar system?
"It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving." Robert Green Ingersoll
