Lexember Day 18-19

I'm doing Lexember this month. The idea is to make (or learn) a new word every day. This can be for a conlang or a natural language.


December 18
Qi ye -- Chinese for "wild energy" or "wild magic." Qi is the life force. It can be harnessed for helpful or harmful uses. Without control, it is unpredictable and often unsafe, although occasionally it flares into miracles instead of disasters. Like many superpowers, a sudden increase in qi does not necessarily come with immediate control over it, which can be alarming.

What does 气 (Qì) mean in Chinese?
vital energy noun
气
energy of life noun
气

野 adjective
Yě rough, undomesticated, uncultivated, rude, out of office
[Polychrome Heroics vocabulary]


December 19
Rummage buy -- a purchase of miscellaneous items in a lot, usually stolen or otherwise illicit goods. Sometimes they are sorted by rough categories, other times not. Especially when raiding a lab or lair, crooks sometimes grab everything that looks remotely valuable and shove it into boxes, then don't want to risk sorting through it personally. Zeteticists, Super-Intellects, Gizmologists, and Super-Gizmologists are most prone to buying things this way because they might get something very valuable as a bargain.
[Polychrome Heroics vocabulary]

Protecting Pando

This article talks about threats to Pando, a giant aspen stand that is by mass the world's largest organism.

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Cities Are Bad for Humans

Studies show that people living in cities suffer worse mental health.

Well, duh. Overcrowding is bad for 100% of organisms. Every species has a range of optimum density based on its needs and habits. Too few, and it's difficult to find a mate; too many, and competition for resources undermines survival. Social species can live more densely than solitary ones because they have skills to manage relationships. But there's always a maximum density beyond which it becomes harmful.

( Read more... )

Diversity Training

This article suggests ways to make diversity training more effective.

It seems like a good start.

( Read more... )

Natural Services

This article talks about natural services and humanity's poor ability to replace them.

( Read more... )

Video "The Christmas Can-Can"

 Fun holiday song.

Birdfeeding

Today is partly cloudy and cool.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a flock of sparrows and a fox squirrel. 

Today's Cooking

We're making the Spiced Root Cake (using carrots) from the Elder Scrolls Cookbook, for a birthday party tomorrow.  :D

Also, I looked up a reference, which said 2.75 carrots to make a cup of shredded carrot.  2 carrots made 3 cups of shreds.  0_o

EDIT 12/19/21 -- On previous occasions, the center didn't cook as well as the edges.  So this time we put it in a bundt pan.  It took 50 minutes instead of 30 because the cake was deeper,  but it will be interesting to see if this results in more even baking.  The plan is to ice it tomorrow before the party.

EDIT 12/19/21 -- I am gratified that the finished cake fell right out of the pan with no prying required.  \o/