X, Y and Z...Are For Strange Words

Here are some words that start with X...

Xylophone-a musical instrument consisting of a graduated series of wooden bars, usually sounded by striking with small wooden hammers.

Xylotomy-the preparation of transverse, tangential, or radial sections of wood for examination under a microscope.

Xeroxing-a copy made on a xerographic copying machine.
Xylitol-a naturally occurring pentose sugar alcohol, C ₅ H ₁₂ O ₅ , used as a sugar substitute.

Here are some words that start with Y...

Yabbered- Australian simple past or past participle for, to talk or jabber. 
Yardbird- A military recruit who is assigned menial tasks.
Yeshivas- An academy for the advanced study of Jewish texts.
Yodeller- A singer who changes register rapidly.


Here are some words that start with Z...

Zodiacal- Relating to or included in the zodiac.
Zootiest or Zooty- Characteristic of a zoot suiter; extreme or flamboyant in style or appearance.
Zemstvo- one of a system of elected local assemblies established in 1864 by Alexander II to replace the authority of the nobles in administering local affairs after the abolition of serfdom: became the core of the liberal movement from 1905 to 1917.

This is a Zoot Suit

I have enjoyed being in the A to Z Challenge as well as reading your informative, educational and entertaining posts and although I have not been able to comment on a lot of them, I have tried to read some in whatever spare time I've had lately. 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read and comment on what I've shared this month...blessings and Godspeed.

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

W...Is For Why?

Why...Great question, isn't it?  

Why does a platypus have a duck bill, a beaver tail, and otter feet? 

Why is it when you are looking for something, that thing just cannot be found, but when you are not looking for it, it suddenly appears out of nowhere?

Why is the sky blue? Oh yeah, never mind, the whole molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light....but I digress.


Why do doctors leave the room when you change? I mean, they are going to see you naked anyway.


Why is there a disclaimer on the Allstate Auto Insurance commercials that says "Not available in all states"?


Why is the Lone Ranger called "Lone" when he always has his friend Tonto with him?


Why is vanilla ice-cream white when vanilla extract is brown?


Inquiring minds want to know!

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

V...Is For Vendetta

My son G

G loves V for Vendetta...don't know why, but he does.  I've never seen the movie because it just doesn't seem like my kind of film.  The books he is holding are not related to the movie but are books he wanted for his 18th Birthday.

Maybe I should just watch it and see what all the hype is about.  It is about a shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" who uses terrorist tactics to fight against the totalitarian society.  When "V" rescues a girl from the secret police, he finds his best chance at having an ally. "V" is rated R and is 132 minutes in length, stars Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, and Rupert Graves. Enjoy!

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

U...Is For Ursa Major

Ursa Major is also know as The Great Bear (Latin: larger bear)

It is a constellation visible in the Northern Hemisphere, throughout the year, and is best seen in April.

Ursa Major, The Great Bear

Ursa Major is the third largest constellation in our sky. What you may be more familiar with however, are the seven stars which make up the rump and tail of this animal. We know them as the Big Dipper, in the United Kingdom, they are known as the Plough.  Who knew that the big dipper is not a constellation? It is an asterism, which is a small easily recognizable formation that is usually part of a larger constellation? I sure didn't.

Mythology

One Greek myth tells that the nymph Callisto, a servant of the hunter Artemis was made to bear a child by Zeus. Artemis banished Callisto for impurity. Artemis gave birth to the child named Arcas. 

This made Zeus' wife Hera very jealous and in revenge, Hera turned Callisto into a bear which ran away into the forest. Arcas grew up to become a hunter. One day while he was hunting, the bear Callisto heard Arcas' voice and rushed to greet her son. 

Arcas, not knowing the bear was his mother was about to kill her when Zeus intervened and sent both mother and son into the sky as the Greater and Lesser Bears. The way Zeus got the bears into the sky explains why their tails are so long, apparently Zeus grabbed them by their tails and swung them around over his head and finally flung them into the sky, and that is why these two bears have long tails!

Have you ever gazed into the sky and wondered how our constellations got their names?  Or better yet, have you made up your own stories about how they got their names?

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

T...Is For Tree of Life

Disney's Tree of Life

Different View

Up Close

Chimpanzee

Galapagos Tortoise

The Tree of Life is a massive 145-foot masterpiece sculpted by more than a dozen artists. It is 14 stories high, just to give you some perspective.

With 325 animal carvings on the outside, the 50-foot wide artificial tree is the centerpiece of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

A theater is housed in the Tree Of Life root system where It's tough to be a bug! show is performed.  Paths known as Discovery Island Trails weave around and through this homage to nature. 

As you stroll the trails you will see a whirling tapestry of 325 animals carved into the bark of the massive attraction. You will see creatures such as Galapagos tortoises, lemurs and cotton-top tamarins.  

I would love to go to Florida, even if it was just to see this tree! 

Has anyone seen this tree up close and personal? If so, how was your experience?

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.