Friday, April 1, 2016

A: 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.

Anise: used for flavoring and also for treating coughs.

Argon: an inert noble gas used in shielding for industry uses, fluorescent lights and document preservation.

Agathokakological: composed of good and evil, like most people.

Don't forget to visit the IWSG site where we'll be posting a writer's resource for every letter of the challenge.

"Comment is free, but facts are sacred." C.P. Scott


55 comments:

Nicola said...

I love the word Agathokakological!! Never heard of it and probably don't pronounce it correctly but it's a great word. Happy April days!!

Nilanjana Bose said...

Anise is part of every South Asian spice rack, even mine...loved your unusual word with such an everyday meaning, unusual doesn't begin to say half of it.

Great start to the A-Z, thanks.

Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse

Leanne said...

that was a short and sweet post - and I learnt a new word - what more could you ask for? Leanne from
cresting the hill

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That last one is a mouthful. I'm going to use it on someone today.

nashvillecats2 said...

Wonderful post though I must admit I can pronouce the last word. Excellent start to the Challenge.
Yvonne.

Ira said...

Interesting and informative post. well, the last word (the special) was like a tongue twister... eager to know more...

@w0rds4u from As Time Flies>

mshatch said...

Interesting; I'm going to have to investigate Argon further...

Mike said...

Neat!

M.J. Fifield said...

I love "Agathokakological"...What a cool word!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I've used anise in pies before - it's strong.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Hmm, how can I use that last word in a conversation...? :)

Aidyl Ewoh said...

Wow, that last word is crazy. It sounds like you're doing a lot of research for this challenge. Good for you!
Aidyl from Noveltea

betty said...

I like anise on carrots :)

betty

Christine Rains said...

Oh my, that last work is a big one! But I like it. :)

Robin said...

Anise sounded familiar so I looked it up online. Not sure where I've heard it... but wiki says it's taste is similar to licorice and some folks have used it to treat lice. Wowza.

I'm not even going to attempt to retype your word of the day. I will challenge you to say it three times fast.

Pat Hatt said...

Not even sure I can say the last one, but the cat shall try

Unknown said...

Very informative. There's actually a word like Agathokakological?? Must show off that one with friends :)

A Beer for the Shower said...

I love cooking with Anise. Goes perfectly in homemade pho. Also fun to say and annoy the wife with when I pronounce it incorrectly like a certain body part.

J E Oneil said...

Agathokakological...I really want to find a way to use that in a sentence. I might also have to look up the etymology because I want to see the origins of that!

Ella said...

Great A's! I love Anise, too~ I can't say that last word-either, but how fun~

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Agathokakological... bet you can't say that 3 times slow or fast! Great list, Susan. Agath ... ok ... a ... ko ... logical. Mind-twister.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

They teach how to pronounce it online. Go figure.

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Well, that's a mouthful... anise is also used in the Slovakian version of coca cola... it gives it quite the funny taste. :)
Happy A to Z!

@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog

cleemckenzie said...

I'd heard the first two, but I've never heard Agathokakological. New word! Thanks.

http://writegame.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Love number 3 - but never going to try to spell it. Good luck with the challenge!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - love the good and evil ... but anise is great for settling digestive strains too .. cheers - and I've withdrawn for this year .. needs must - Hilary

Unknown said...

That's a wonderful theme and just like today, I'm so looking forward to learning a new word(s) daily.
All the best for the A to Z Challenge.
Let's rock it!

My Era from The Era I Lived In

Misha Gerrick said...

Very cool idea for the Challenge!

Anise is an ingredient in one of my favorite foods, anise rusks.

Unknown said...

Anise has to be one of my favorite flavors. Argon, not so much.

Pat Garcia said...

I have heard of Anise being used to treat coughs but I have not tried it.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

Yolanda Renée said...

Love anise! Great information an easy quick learn!


Thank you for posting for the A to Z!
Ninga Minion @YolandaRenee from
Defending The Pen
Parallels
Murderous Imaginings

Jo said...

I love that last word. Not sure I could ever remember it mind you.

JO ON FOOD, LIFE AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

Amanda Fleet said...

Great post. Looking forward to the other letters!

Amanda from http://www.amandafleet.co.uk

C R Ward said...

I love big words and I cannot lie. ;-)

Great idea for the challenge!

Rhonda Albom said...

LOL - I read your intro, stopped to sneeze and then read how anise can help me. Looking forward to another AtoZ.

Donna McDine said...

Love your trio facts. Terrific concept!

Stephen Tremp said...

Cool theme! I recognized argon right away but that was it.

Unknown said...

It's amazing when you think about the research that a writer devotes to make his/ her work accurate. I can tell you are thorough. Happy A to Zing.
I'm A to Zing from: Fill the Cracks and Moondustwriter's Blog

Ann Bennett said...

In Canada, I had some sausage with anise. The licorice flavor was quite good. However, I cannot remember what nationality the sausage was representative of. You've picked an interesting theme.

Anne Young said...

Agathokakological - what a terrific word. Searching for its etymology (agathos = good and kakos = bad I learned) I found this blog post which actually included an example in written English :)

best wishes from a fellow A to Z blogger
Anne
at http://ayfamilyhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/b-is-for-barque-bloomer-arrived-1854.html

Sharon Himsl said...

This sounds fun to research!

Pioneer Women in Aviation A-Z

John Holton said...

Anise is one of my favorite flavors; it's the flavor of ouzo and Sambuca...

John Holton
Blogging from A to Z Challenge Co-Host
The Sound of One Hand Typing

Susan Kane said...

Gave up on pronouncing the last one! Good words.

messymimi said...

Anise is a favorite, but i've never looked into its possible medicinal use. Thanks for the new word today!

Elizabeth said...

Agathokakological, what a tongue twister! Interesting definition, but I can see why you may not want to use it in writing :)

Pearson Report said...

Hi Susan,

That was short but packed a punch. My daughter (you visited her site, Courtney Pearson) and I love our crystals. So I'm looking forward to what you will be sharing with us.

Great topic for the A to Z.

Cheers, Jenny
Pearson Report
On Twitter

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

I love to use star anise in dishes - it gives a lovely under note. Agathokakological is a new word on me :)
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

Michelle Wallace said...

Hi Susan.
I love your trio of quick facts.
Now I'm wondering about the pronunciation of agathokakological. I love the sound of words.
Happy A to Z'ing!!
Writer In Transit

Anonymous said...

How do you pronounce the last one? o.O

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

i b arora said...

as comments are free let me say i find it interesting, this last word

Ashmita from Chaoticsoulzzz said...

I am now hopping to Google after reading your 4 posts...! I am sure I have to listen to the pronunciation of the last one here...!

Ashmita Chatterjee
Chaoticsoulzzz.wordpress.com

James Williams said...

Very nice blog, Thanks for sharing great article.
You are providing wonderful information, it is very useful to us.
Keep posting like this informative articles.
Thank you.

From: Field Engineer
Get to know about A Switched Network Repairer.

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