kimlajevardi

Summer break! I’m done!

That’s all tonight, folks. See you in seven!

Wednesday’s here, and it’s a bright, shiny Wednesday. The second to last Wednesday of my school year. Summertime! I have exactly five more days of work, and then I spend the summer parked in my writing chair. Wait.

Even though my summer is largely spent indoors writing, I am rounding the corner on finishing my current WIP. This deserves music.

Fire-fighting goats. The large park near me similarly uses goats during the summer months. It’s a good solution.

https://torontosun.com/news/weird/odds-and-ends-firefighting-goats-and-other-offbeat-offerings

And in science this week, a badass spider. When food does not come to you, you evolve to launch yourself toward food.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/spider-turns-its-web-slingshot-flinging-itself-prey

That’ll do it for me this week. See you back here in seven.

Welcome back to my soggy corner of the world. I’m dripping wet and sliding into the end of the week, but closing in on the end of the school year. So, nothing can get me down. Summer break is close. Very, very close. Ah… Until then, news.

This first story demonstrates how simple solutions can sometimes solve complex problems. I heart Kwinana.

https://thewest.com.au/news/sound-southern-telegraph/city-of-kwinana-initiative-nets-impressive-results-ng-b88919325z

What’s that noise? It’s a … Roomba.

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711819433/oregon-man-called-police-about-a-burglar-armed-officers-found-a-rogue-roomba

Last, but definitely not least, learning pumped directly into your mind. We’ve all wished for it. Now, science has figured out how to do it. Is there potential for trouble or fiction-worthy problems? Sure. But, damn. This is cool.

https://www.physics-astronomy.org/2018/04/scientists-discover-how-to-upload_61.html?m=1

That’s all for me tonight. See you back here in seven.

It’s the beginning of May, and as such, it’s time for another posting of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). The fantastic co-hosts for this posting are Lee Lowery,Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin!

The optional question for this month is: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I don’t have a single incident about the specific power of language, but I do have an important experience with the power of books. In my elementary school they had a “publishing company.” It was a small office replete with thin cardboard, fabric swatches, and glue. I sent multiple books through that company–two of which I still have. The power to make my own books when I was a huge reader from a line of readers was immensely powerful. I owe a lot to whoever set that up.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-coffee/swiss-government-says-coffee-not-essential-stockpiling-to-end-idUSKCN1RM226

Oops.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-judge/texas-civil-court-judge-accidentally-resigns-idUSKCN1RE1M9

And in science news, an asteroid with water. Asteroids such as Itokawa could have been a source of water on early Earth. So cool!

That’ll do it for today. See you back here in seven.

Wednesday is back again, imagine that. The weather is good, and I’m almost done re-editing my second book. So close. Almost. Sigh. News, news will distract me. It’s an all-science story day because I can, and it makes me happy.

They asked whether any animals can actually breathe fire. Turns out no, at least not in the “real world.” Psst. This is why fiction is better. Dragons and fire are amazing.

https://www.livescience.com/65227-can-animals-breathe-fire-like-dragons.html

This next story makes me ridiculously happy. The imagery of my tongue smelling food before it eats is just amazing.

https://www.livescience.com/65308-your-tongue-smells-like-a-nose.html

This is a quantum gift for Avengers fans. Science just rocks.

https://www.livescience.com/65271-quantum-computer-sees-16-futures.html

That’s all for me tonight. See you back here in seven.

Welcome back, Wednesday! I’m happy to be back and posting this week. Sorry I missed last week. It was a bad week. It’s over, thank goodness. Time for some distracting news.

I chose this first story because I got a total inter-dimensional travel vibe when the people walked through the bubbles. Watch the whole thing. The vibe is strongest from the midpoint through the end.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steven-langley-bubble-guinness-world-records_n_5cab9a05e4b02e7a705c0380

I chose this next story because it gave me all the feels.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-rescued-gulf-of-thailand_n_5cb5f50ae4b082aab08cf947

In science news, a psychedelic seascape that has developed in the last decade.

https://www.livescience.com/65173-bizarre-hydrothermal-vent-discovered.html

That’s all for tonight. See you in seven!

It is time again for the monthly posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. If you haven’t already clicked on the image above and investigated the variety of writers who participate, what are you waiting for?

This month’s fantastic co-hosts are J.H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins and Chemist Ken!

I’m skipping the optional question to plug the anthology:

Our genre is Middle grade historical: adventure/fantasy and the opening date is May 1. The best brains are on the theme, and that will be announced on the opening date. So this is just to whet your appetite – you could use that time to brush up your knowledge of the genre if it’s not your usual bag, for example. We’re looking forward to more great entries!

Don’t forget the Masquerade anthology is hitting the shelves on April 30!

*******

Time for the news.

I’m at a loss on this next story. I just …. Read it and you’ll understand.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/australian-man-loses-bullying-by-breaking-wind-court-case_n_5c9e365ce4b0bc0daca76cf1

The rise of social media means we get a peek into the lives of people from our neighbors to action stars. It can sometimes be a very odd peek.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arnold-schwarzenegger-minipony-video_n_5c985bcde4b0a6329e1859c0

And in science news, neurogenesis happens way beyond adolescence. The idea that our brains could continue to make new brain cells is encouraging, and it can be an important avenue for research. I heart science!

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/new-neurons-life-old-people-can-still-make-fresh-brain-cells-study-finds

That’s all for tonight. I’ll see you back here in seven.

Happy Wednesday! Spring has sprung, and I’m on break. Good and good. I won’t bore you with my cheer or needlessly rub it in. 🙂 Instead, I’ll move straight to the news.

I learned today just how seriously some people take their bagels. I had no idea.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bagels-sliced-like-bread_n_5c9bbb79e4b08c450ccfe7d9

This is a funny sentence from the judge, but I don’t see how enforceable or pertinent it is.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/christopher-montilliano-jr-no-pepsi_n_5c993148e4b0f7bfa1b541a1

Until today, I had no idea how powerful a thundercloud could be. Now, because of science, I do. I heart big science brains!

https://www.livescience.com/65055-thundercloud-voltage-mapped-with-muons.html

That’s all for me tonight. See you back here in seven.

Happy Spring! This Wednesday is perfectly timed to the Spring Equinox this year. Sun–we’re going to start getting more sun every day. Longer days and a rapid slide toward summer. Yay!

A video about different ways to tie your shoes went viral. Watch it and you’ll understand why.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-tie-your-shoes_n_5c91c36fe4b07e05729f8a5d

The last Blockbuster store is hanging on in a little time-defying bubble in Oregon. Now I want to visit. It sounds like it’s exactly how I remember the store and my youth. Sigh.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/be-kind-please-rewind-oregon-blockbuster-is-last-on-earth_n_5c8fb7c9e4b071a25a84f9f5

Science has a new explanation for time flying as we age–physics. Specifically, the speed at which we process visual information makes us think time slows down because we do. It’s amazing how much of our understanding of the world truly results from aspects of our specific human perceptions. Understanding the mind is just another reason I heart science.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190320120547.htm

That’s all for tonight. See you back here in seven.

Wednesday is back, and it has brought a snowpocalypse with it. What is that you ask? Well, it’s basically a blizzard with some really cool satellite imagery of a cyclone spinning above my state. What it really amounts to is about a foot of snow and some intense winds for the day. It sounds way more scary on the news, and it probably feels way more intense if you get stuck driving in it. For those of us lucky enough to stay home? It’s basically a snow day. Enough of my own news, it’s time for the weirdness I found elsewhere.

This first story illustrates the best prank birthday gift I’ve ever heard.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-ferry-birthday-billboard-prank_n_5c8827f2e4b038892f485c6b

Next up, a story of surviving being trapped in the snow with hot sauce. Taco Bell’s annoying packets to the rescue.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/man-survived-off-taco-sauce_n_5c7c1925e4b0e5e313cbd6e0

Last, but definitely not least, farting stars. The headline was most definitely clickable, but the discovery of partner stars farting away their mass was the icing on the science cake. Delicious!

https://www.livescience.com/64858-star-farts-caused-by-secret-binary-partners.html

That’s all for Snowpocalypse 2019. I’ll see you again in seven–hopefully with a far less dramatic intro.