M.R. Cameo
Bio
M.R. Cameo generally writes horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and nonfiction, yet enjoys dabbling in different genres. She is currently doing freelance work for various publications.
Stories (59)
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For the Love of Mustard!
Origin Mustard is believed to be the very first condiment that humans ever put on food. Stretching back to ancient Egypt, mustard seeds were found in the tombs of many pharaohs. Romans would grind the spicy seeds into a spreadable paste that went with many meals. French monks would mix the ground seeds with a ‘must’ such as unfermented wine, inspiring the word mustard. Which stems from the Latin mustum ardens, roughly translating to ‘burning wine.’ King Louis XI refused to travel without mustard, keeping a pot with him at all times to ensure he would never have to face a meal without it.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in FYI
The Overlooked Pollinators. Top Story - March 2021.
While bees get most of the attention when it comes to pollinating our crops, there is an integral nighttime pollinator that shouldn’t be overlooked: bats. Bats are responsible for pollinating over 500 types of tropical plants and flowers across the globe, including dates, bananas, agave, cashews, eucalyptus, avocados, cacao, and durian. They are important in the medicinal world as well, with several remedies—such as treatments for epilepsy and night blindness—originating from plants that rely on bats for survival.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in FYI
Obscure Fruits from Around the World
While there are over 2,000 fruits in the world, most people have only tried around ten percent of them. Fruits are nutrient powerhouses that are vital to health and provide an abundance of flavor. These tropical and strange varieties are not only certain to bring vigor to your step but to rev your tastebuds in ways you’ve never experienced before.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in FYI
Strange Origins of the Jack-in-the-box
For many, the jack-in-the-box is known as an amusing and harmless children’s toy, but its origins often convey a much darker story. To the casual observer the object is usually regarded as consisting of a clown rigged to a coiled spring that pops out for an entertaining display. However original jack-in-the-boxes actually contained a very particular variety of joker, augustes. Whilst most clowns don a face of white makeup, often attired in pointy hats and ruffled collars, augustes have the large red noses and are clothed in oversized trousers, often with squirty flowers in their buttonholes. While the Jack character certainly looks like a comical figure, his purpose wasn’t always amusement.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in FYI
If V for Vendetta Stoked Your Fire You Should Check Out These Films
Captive State (2019) This vastly underrated dystopian sci-fi film starring John Goodman (Roseanne) and Ashton Sanders (The Equalizer 2) follows the lives of both collaborators and dissidents living in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after occupation by extraterrestrials. Society has become saturated with extensive surveillance and restrictions of individual rights. Members among the populace are determined to rise up against the authoritarian system at whatever cost, coming up with unique and valiant ways to triumph.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in Geeks
Replacing Freud
"Sigmund, what brings you to Prague on this fine day?" "I apologize, I think you have mistaken me for someone else." Dr. Bloch's brow furrowed as he watched the man continue down the cobblestone street, his gait identical to the Viennese doctor's familiar stride.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in Criminal
Free McAfee
I sat with a cigarette in my Belize cabana watching as the waves combed the beach. I knew my time as a free man was limited. I had been too optimistic, crossed lines that no man could get away with. Freedom of prosperity and individual rights were ideals that were no longer cherished by society. However, being a Libertarian, I couldn’t throw these values to the wind. I worked against the odds and risked everything to bring my sovereign creation to life.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in The Chain
The Goblin with the Super Bee
Ghouls and jack-o'-lanterns lingered in the yards, their glowing faces fading in the biting winds of November 3rd. It was 1971, and while the streets still held echoes of Halloween mischief, spindly limbs of skeletal trees swaying in the breeze, dried leaves scattered like whispers, I was preparing for my final masterpiece.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in Criminal
A Paranormal Bouquet of Inspiration
The X-Files has always held a special place in my heart. From staying up late anxiously awaiting a new episode as a child, to enthusiastically binge watching it as an adult, the show has always maintained its allure. It incorporates many mythos and urban legends, has excellent contrast between personalities, contains resilient characters, invites viewers to question constructs, and is chockfull of nineties nostalgia.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in Geeks
Underrated Horror Movies
The Barrens (2012) Stephen Moyer (True Blood) and Mia Kirshner (The Black Dahlia) star in this obscure flick that probes the mythos of The Jersey Devil. A father takes his strained family on a camping trip to the Pine Barrens, hoping it will bring them closer together, as well as rendering it a memorial trip dedicated to his father. After a campfire story about The Jersey Devil, the father begins acting strange and the trip quickly takes a turn for the worst. This crafty movie that utilizes the atmosphere of isolation and the lore surrounding the Pine Barrens is a twisty psychological ride.
By M.R. Cameo5 years ago in Horror
