tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post1268612770131785306..comments2024-03-10T05:18:37.521-04:00Comments on Stories From A Starry Sky: A to Z "E" is for ergot: A little science behind magic.Teresa Cypherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-35416314984752445782013-06-06T06:59:45.389-04:002013-06-06T06:59:45.389-04:00I don't even know how I ended up here, but I t...I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don't know who you are but certainly you're going to a famous blogger if you aren't already ;) Cheers!<br /><br /><br />My blog: <a href="http://Angelicaxcw.Wordpress.com/2013/04/29/ps3-jailbreak-updated-features-clarified-the-task-through-the-new-sony/" rel="nofollow">unknown</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-88642094856238812522012-04-06T13:35:07.421-04:002012-04-06T13:35:07.421-04:00Wow, I never before heard the story about the Fren...Wow, I never before heard the story about the French ergotine poisoning! Thanks for visiting, Ishta. :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-29002299049296978082012-04-06T11:10:58.234-04:002012-04-06T11:10:58.234-04:00So true, Lily! Glad that your friend was okay, lo...So true, Lily! Glad that your friend was okay, lol, yuck! Molds make some pretty bizarre volatiles. I almost made my whole A to Z about molds (it is my field of work). But thought no one would ever come back a second time ;-) There is an LSD connection to ergotamine. Some fungi do weird things--some do lethal things :-) Thanks for visiting! :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-74588256374762144332012-04-06T11:04:29.530-04:002012-04-06T11:04:29.530-04:00Nice to meet you, Karen. :-) I think it was Nietz...Nice to meet you, Karen. :-) I think it was Nietzsche who said "In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule." A witch hunt is an expression well-understood by most people. The Salem Witch trials were certainly an example of group insanity. :-) Thanks for visiting!Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-62692054022172271442012-04-06T10:51:52.234-04:002012-04-06T10:51:52.234-04:00Thank you Kristen. When a botanist friend shared ...Thank you Kristen. When a botanist friend shared this story with me, nearly 20 years ago, I was shocked and amazed. To think, all these years later...that someone came up with a theory like this, and it does seem plausible. Thanks for visiting. :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-76418503096922001002012-04-06T10:29:54.553-04:002012-04-06T10:29:54.553-04:00Thanks, nutschell. Me too. Superstition has been...Thanks, nutschell. Me too. Superstition has been at the root of many ill deeds. :-) Thanks for visiting and giving it a read. :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-81419249323547582942012-04-06T10:28:18.750-04:002012-04-06T10:28:18.750-04:00Thanks for visiting and giving it a read, Tara! Ha...Thanks for visiting and giving it a read, Tara! Happy A to Z-ing :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-68435553160659149162012-04-05T22:06:44.762-04:002012-04-05T22:06:44.762-04:00Thank you, dearie! Excellent insight into it all,...Thank you, dearie! Excellent insight into it all, Ziggoletto :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-77193749673897393272012-04-05T22:01:29.579-04:002012-04-05T22:01:29.579-04:00lol! Yes, I write something about fungus everyday...lol! Yes, I write something about fungus everyday. I work for a biotech company that produces green alternatives to herbicides and pesticides--and those are fungi--usually molds. My husband once told me that he fondly recalls a time when if I discovered a forgotten bowl in the back of the fridge and it contaminated mold, I said, "Yuck!", right before throwing it out. But now, I look closely and say, "Neat!" :-) Thank you for visiting.Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-30093807923024531182012-04-05T21:53:59.332-04:002012-04-05T21:53:59.332-04:00I agree, effervencia. I can't imagine a more t...I agree, effervencia. I can't imagine a more terrifying feeling than to be accused of something I didn't do--and be sentenced to die for it. Humans have done such horrible things to each other... <br /><br />Thanks for visiting. :-) !Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-47247725730347633262012-04-05T21:48:39.978-04:002012-04-05T21:48:39.978-04:00Thanks, Rainy. The sharing was my pleasure. :-) T...Thanks, Rainy. The sharing was my pleasure. :-) Thanks for visiting.Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-84775836954026951062012-04-05T17:35:06.815-04:002012-04-05T17:35:06.815-04:00Totally plausible! I've also heard a story abo...Totally plausible! I've also heard a story about a small town in rural Southern France in which almost the entire population was wiped out by ergotamine poisoning one year. Could be urban myth, but could also be true.<br /><br />Great post! I found you through the A-Z Challenge. :-)Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-86282657883527697452012-04-05T17:24:00.348-04:002012-04-05T17:24:00.348-04:00I saw a documentary about this- the evidence was v...I saw a documentary about this- the evidence was very compelling. I also had a school friend who ate lots of fuzzy green bread thinking he would get high from it- I don't think it worked for him- wrong mould! The school friend was a much more amusing tale than the hysterical community wreaking havoc- horrible for the livestock too :-(Lisa Southardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09711376747848601409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-46439539667321744372012-04-05T14:22:35.986-04:002012-04-05T14:22:35.986-04:00An excellant post! And a very plausible explanatio...An excellant post! And a very plausible explanation for some of the witch trials. There was such a panic about witches then that anyone who looked or acted different could be accused by their neighbors.<br />I'm visitng for the first time and will definietly come back. I write fantasy/sci-fi/romance also and have just started my new blog at the first of the year.<br />Am off to visit more in the A to Z Challenge!Karen Elizabeth Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17190485992966502931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-58424778797563018452012-04-05T14:10:11.201-04:002012-04-05T14:10:11.201-04:00LOVED this. I did not know about the Ergot Influen...LOVED this. I did not know about the Ergot Influence. Great post!Kristen Pelfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16597847659067142053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-25111788894295770712012-04-05T12:45:17.363-04:002012-04-05T12:45:17.363-04:00wow. Wish those folks had known about this before ...wow. Wish those folks had known about this before they started pointing fingers. Great A-Z post! loved it!<br />Nutschell<br />www.thewritingnut.comnutschellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967710710805174781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-77443644708007358022012-04-05T12:20:29.239-04:002012-04-05T12:20:29.239-04:00i loved that tale entwining science into the salem...i loved that tale entwining science into the salem witches! thanks for elucidating!Tara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-56432330688380774642012-04-05T08:54:42.838-04:002012-04-05T08:54:42.838-04:00Biology trumps Theology every time for me. That...Biology trumps Theology every time for me. That's not to say I have no faith. Also, if Scientists never took leaps of faith, we would have very little progress. Interesting read, Mom.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02712840054957646110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-41013090944504364282012-04-05T03:16:52.901-04:002012-04-05T03:16:52.901-04:00I love that you wrote about fungus! heheI love that you wrote about fungus! heheTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-19525973765514892882012-04-05T01:20:01.838-04:002012-04-05T01:20:01.838-04:00It's creepy to think of all these women being ...It's creepy to think of all these women being branded witches! I'm glad someone decided to look into it. I'm loving your writing Teresa.Udita Banerjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319922744252378061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-78288619442493101012012-04-05T00:04:00.155-04:002012-04-05T00:04:00.155-04:00Interesting! Thanks for sharing.Interesting! Thanks for sharing.Rainy Kayehttp://www.rainyofthedark.comnoreply@blogger.com