kimlajevardi

The first Wednesday of the month has been flipped forward, either on your virtual calendar or literally for those of you still sporting old-school wall calendars. You have cats, don’t you? Admit it. Twelve months of cats tumbling, hanging, and just plain being cute. There’s a reason they’re are all over the internet.

Man, I’m easy to distract.

Anyway, it is that time once again, and whether you are inconsolable because you lost your cat calendar, or your writing has been zinging you with anxieties over character, plot, aliens, or the complexities of microscopic sword battles, come release it with us. We’ll be your cats. My thanks to our co-hosts for this month’s: Tamara Narayan,Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders!

What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

Hmm…

My first piece of writing as an aspiring writer was more of a character sketch than anything else. It was something that sprang to mind as I was walking around my neighborhood one day. This little girl popped into my head during that walk, replete with a simple storyline and background that wouldn’t shake loose. It was around seven summers ago, and the idea continued to follow me around as I went about my summer business, climbing onto a ladder with me as I painted the main level of my house. And it was during that painting session, while listening to an interview with J.K. Rowling, that I sought out the online writing support which would eventually lead me to the path I’m now following.

The story is still just a vignette, and I haven’t looked at it for years, but it is that character and tiny nugget of an idea which has been responsible for me having finished one novel (which is looking for an agent at the moment) and beginning the first book of a series. Quite a productive walk, huh?

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Time for some news.I promise to be good. I will not talk politics, will not…

It’s so hard. So many temptations. No. I will snap my mental rubber band around my wrist and resist. It would be so funny if I could, but I won’t. Snap. Snap. Snap.

The best part of this news tidbit is the video of New Zealand dogs completing a driver’s test. Better drivers than many people I’ve encountered.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dogs-car-crash-walmart_us_579f5ec8e4b08a8e8b5e95a4?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Bad weather. Too soon.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colorado-springs-july-hail-storm_us_579ecf68e4b0e2e15eb63f01?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

In science this week, another gift for my writer friends. I bet you guys can come up with all kinds of ideas about that pod. *Giggle*

http://www.livescience.com/55574-mysterious-purple-sea-orb-near-channel-islands.html

That’s all for me this week. Until next time, enjoy the news. 🙂

Welcome one and all. I’m feeling very optimistic this evening. I’m looking forward, and that is in no small part due to watching the political process unfold. I watched the Republican National Convention last week and this week I’ve been watching the Democratic National Convention, and regardless of which side you land on this election cycle, the process itself can be invigorating. Inspiring. And with that in mind, I’ll speak the only political point that I’ll share with people outside my small circles in the world. That word: Vote. Vote for what you believe in. Please use the right you have.

And now back to light and fluffy. I found some tasty news for you this evening. Enjoy!

This first one was just too cute to pass up. I want to hold them and squeeze them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/these-adorable-pets-prove-they-know-how-to-nap_us_57912eb5e4b00c9876ceb05d

This is wrong. Why would you make something as yummy and wonderful as a cupcake represent something so gross. Bad baker and very bad doctor.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pimple-popping-cupcakes_us_578e47cbe4b0fa896c401414

My science link tonight is a gift to my Sci Fi writer friends.

http://www.livescience.com/55474-sea-slug-biohybrid-robot.html

That’ll do it for me this evening. I hope the links this week appealed to you on some level, but I meant what I said about voting. Please exercise your rights and vote in November.

Hola all! I’m feeling spicy tonight, which means I need to jazz up my greeting. Hola was my first option, but I also have salam and wau for you. Wau is actually Australian, and on the page I found it, there were two additional hello options: ella and alla. That’s pretty cool, huh? Makes me think there’s some interesting things going on down there. Want to join me in checking it out? 😉

I was right. Can you imagine coming home to this little guy? He is so confused by the slick surface of that weird shiny tree.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pole-dancing-koala-australia_us_578e6f65e4b07c722ebc73ec?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Absolutely brilliant move to make the police station a Pokemon gym. Some people just don’t think.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pokemon-go-arrest_us_578d412fe4b0a0ae97c30bfb?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

This has so much potential, and I love that the scientists working on it are from my neck of the woods.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-07/csu-st071916.php

That’s all for yet another Wednesday evening. I’ll see you back here in seven.

Welcome back to my little news feature: The Weekly News. It’s full of fantastic information to enrich your minds, spark conversation and entertain. Mostly, the latter. I must admit to being thoroughly entertained this week.

You know that the Pokemon Go thing has gone too far when adults are wandering around work oblivious as cameras roll. The weather guy handled it with a lot of humor.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/weather-forecast-pokemon-go_us_5784fc24e4b0ed2111d7895d?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

It’s laudable that he wants to turn this into a learning experience for kids. But … it’s ten times bigger than the computers kids already have at home and does a fraction of what those machines can do. And on top of all of that, it cost $51,000.00. Um … I think the kids will want to teach him something instead.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/supercomputer-only-plays-tetris_us_577febe8e4b01edea78dcaf1?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

In science news this week, toilets reveal a wealth of artifacts. I just couldn’t resist, and it is a huge find. *Giggle*

http://www.livescience.com/55301-toilets-from-old-philadelphia.html

That’ll do it for me this evening. See you in seven.

It’s time once again for my monthly posting for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. If you haven’t clicked on the image and traveled to their site yet, do it. This group is a must for us shaking bundles of caffeine-driven writers who sit with one twittering eye trained on the screen and the other rolled somewhere in the back of our skulls. Consider it your monthly group. Your tribe of other weirdos in whom you can connect via this roller coaster journey we call writing.

Today’s co-hosts are  Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott! 

IWSG is trying something new beginning this month: a question. Consider it a focal point for the above-mentioned writers to train themselves on instead of going down the rabbit hole. Not a bad idea.

This month’s question is: What’s the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

Hmm…

I think the best thing someone ever said wasn’t focused on a particular aspect of technique or a story element. Instead, it was a complement from a beta read. One of my fabulous critique partners had offered to beta my manuscript, and in among the threads that she mentioned needed tweaking was an ego-stroking compliment. She said: The last quarter of this novel is brilliant.

Well, I can tell you that the birds sang. The clouds parted, and the rays of sunlight streamed forth, striking every available surface imaginable. It was the best thing I’ve heard regarding my writing, and it was from someone I respect which makes it even better. Anytime the word brilliant can make an appearance in any mention of my writing, I will do somersaults and back handsprings. Well… I would if I was still twelve. But I’ll definitely jump. High. Really, really high.

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Time for some news.

This first story is incredible. When I opened the link, I thought the two men would have faceless office jobs which could go unnoticed for upwards of fifteen years, but a gardener and a driver? Someone should have noticed that the car never moved and the grounds were in bad shape. Seriously. The topper is the mention of the guy at the end of the story getting an award for his contribution to the job after not showing up for six years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/spain-skipped-work-15-years_us_57760ea3e4b09b4c43bfdec7?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

I’m thinking that they need to change the title of this story to the state with the most drunk arrests. Who is happy when they’re arrested? And the people who actually spent any time analyzing mugshots even though the methodology is suspect, wow.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/happiest-saddest-mugshots-is_us_577585d7e4b0a629c1a951de?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Growing your own protective armor is beyond a cool adaptation. These little fleas are rock stars, and my writer brain is working on overdrive thinking how this could make its way into a story. Definitely coolest link of the day!

http://www.livescience.com/55297-how-water-fleas-grow-body-armor.html

That’s it for the first work in July. See you back here in seven.

Welcome back to my world of news. My weekly sampling of weird, interesting or cool snippets that caught my eye. I don’t have a song to start this post off like last week, but I do have the world’s coolest dog.

This just makes me happy to watch.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dog-pops-balloons-record_us_57737d84e4b0352fed3e6a3e?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

This is awesome! I usually complain about spending money on stupid programs or signs that enable stupidity, but this just calls it out for what it is. The only thing I would change is to go back to the title from the original: Dumb Ways to Die.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/metro-los-angeles-safetyville-ads_us_57721583e4b0dbb1bbbbcf04?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

In the world of science this week, an experiment I want to participate in. I teach about volcanoes, and each year I talk to students about the fact that we have to make models of volcanoes and eruptions because I can’t bring real magma/lava into the classroom. This teacher can. I’m jealous.

http://www.livescience.com/55217-photos-geologists-home-brew-lava.html

That’ll do it for the last Wednesday in June. The summer is going way too fast. By this time next week, it will be July. I’ll have to see if they invent a time-slower or a Hermione-type time turner before the summer ends. I will scour the news for it. I promise. Until then, see you in seven.

Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to news I go… With a giggle here and a frown there, hi ho, hi ho, hi ho… I don’t know where that came from. I seriously just had that song playing in my head. WEIRD. Well, what do you expect? Weird truly is my middle name.

So don’t be surprised by the sampling I found for you this week. 😉

This is awesome! Don’t shoot me with it, though. I want to play. Please. Just once.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mark-rober-worlds-largest-nerf-gun_us_5769a578e4b0c0252e778fc2?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

Holy crap! This guy is so talented, and here I am still only capable of stick figures.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/game-of-thrones-watermelon-carving_us_576aa83ee4b09926ce5d38cf?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-new

Science turns even sad problems into something to learn from. This is why thinking matters, people.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/roadkill-uses-science-forensics-animals/

That’s all, folks. *Giggle* This time it’s not Disney, but Looney Tunes running through my head.

Welcome back! I have to warn you, though. This has been my week so far:

Writing is never dull.

So that you don’t feel news deprived–here’s a taste of some science for you. The most important news for this particular writer. Give me more.

http://www.popsci.com/coffee-doesnt-cause-cancer-world-health-organization

That’ll do it for this roller coaster rider. Next week I hope to be whiling away some time on a nice quiet train ride. Round and round and round I’ll go… Who am I kidding? See you in seven.

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the news. I know you’ve been waiting to see what I’d find this week. Admit it. Admit it. 😉

Well, wait no longer.

This first little guy would scare the bejesus out of me. I don’t care that he’s smaller than a kitty. That’s one freaky adaptation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/frilled-neck-lizard-attack_us_5750c873e4b0c3752dcd2b03?ir=Weird+News&section=us_weird-news&utm_hp_ref=weird-news

So embarrassing. I feel for Paula and the girl.

http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/television/article/Excited-Dance-contestant-vomits-on-Paula-Abdul-7970806.php

It turns out inefficiency can be a boon in the right circumstances. Gotta love science.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/leaking-light-squid-hides-plain-sight

That’s a wrap on another Wednesday. See you next week.

Welcome back to another monthly posting for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. This fantastic group supports the collective neuroses of writers from around the world. Please join me in thanking this month’s co-hosts: Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner! Without these fine folks, and our individual stock piles of chocolate and coffee, we would be curled up in balls of twittering nerves and drool. No one wants that.

If you haven’t already clicked on the picture and taken the magical virtual ride to see what IWSG has to offer, take advantage now. It’s a wild and worthwhile ride.

On to my topic for the month: freedom. It’s June! I’m free! I’ll explain in a second, but first a celebratory round of fireworks.

firework display courtesy of creativecommons.org

Ah, that’s better. Okay, I’ll explain. I’m a teacher. It’s summer. Anyone who has ever waited for the ticking clock to signal the end of the school year should totally understand. But for those of you who’ve lived in a cave all your life, I’ll add this: I’m off for two and a half months! No further explanation should be necessary.

I made it through another year of angst-filled middle school science. No insecurity could dampen that, so I’ll end this month’s post with a gigantic exhale and a giggle.

I’m free. 🙂

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On to the news.

This first story deserves a facepalm, an eye roll and a search of how many ways we spend money supporting stupid. Seriously?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/council-installs-lights-ground-pedestrians-8081844

I know this contains a high yuck factor, but it’s actually a very good solution to our population growth. And, to be honest, once the bugs are cooked, they taste good. I actually had cricket stir fry at a science conference once, and it was good. Like any other stir fry.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/food-thats-high-protein-cheap-8070025

I don’t know how thrilled I’d actually be to swallow one of these buggers, but the idea is super cool. A robot that can repair you and then disintegrate without a trace is mind blowing.

http://www.livescience.com/54851-ingestible-robot-could-mend-stomachs.html

That’ll do it for my first full week of freedom. I hope you enjoy summer as much as I do. Back in seven.