Only four days left. That’s right, mes chers lecteurs (I’m hoping that’s French for ‘my dear readers‘ and not ‘I like broccoli‘). Mind you, if you are one of the few, the proud, the ones who voted . . . well, perhaps you would like to visit this blog post: The Big Dump — 2012 Hummingbirds<<link.

If you want to know more about the SDS challenge, THIS Post <<link explains it.

If you want to read the Seven Deadly Sins stories submitted for the Sin of Lust, and then vote, your gateway is THIS POST <<link. There, you’ll find links to each of the three stories and a poll for you to vote after you finish them (if you be so moved).

On the last reminder post I waxed poetic about the difficulty of the chosen challenge. Specifically, how writing about sins is not my bag of cups.

Aside all the previously mentioned reasons, it’s the fact the sins are closely related; first cousins, if you will. If not all seven, certainly two groups of three.

For instance, the first three — Lust, Gluttony, Greed — all reference excess. The other three — Wrath, Envy, Pride — all reference emotional instability.

But, by golly, I’m going to try and make them fun.

For them who haven’t read my Lust story, I attempted levity by stretching the concept of Lust. For them who read my story, I came short in both the humor and the story . . . OR, I was so clever that it all flew well above most people’s ability to appreciate said cleverness.

Or so I tell myself . . .

We’ll see how I do on the next one.

But, let me get off that tall equine.

Italy is about to go up against England (or vice-versa) in the soccer finals . . . and, as one who follows none of that, that’s all I know about it, and I only know that much because a few other bloggers — bloggers I follow — mentioned it.

. . . but isn’t it interesting that something that will be a big deal to literally millions of people is not even on my radar? I played soccer in Italy and then briefly here before realizing Americans played to win at any cost as opposed to playing for the fun of the game. Yes, I condemn a whole society with a sweeping statement . . . a statement that (sadly) I still find accurate.

That’s not fair, of course. I’m sure there are many that play just for the fun of it, just as I’m sure there are many in Italy who have the same win-at-any-cost attitude. To be clear, I’m not talking professional sports, as those are businesses playing under a different motivational flag.

These days, I equate sports to religion; they both distract the masses from the business of life. Mind you, I’m in favor of entertainment, but not at the expense of being informed. Not that people don’t pay attention to stuff like politics, but they certainly don’t follow politics with the same focus as they do sports.

. . . and that’s even though there are a lot of similarities between following a sports team and following a political party. In both instances, one is willing to overlook a whole lot of crap because one has one’s identity tied up in the fortunes of their favorite team (be it a political party or actual sports team).

But, let me change the subject (again).

Since I have Hulu, I get constant reminders about The Handmaid’s Tale<<link TV series. A few people have told me the book is better (LINK).

A blog I follow has a post about it (HERE), and nothing I’m reading changes my mind about my decision to give it a pass.

The first two photos (and the photos in previous reminder posts) are from our 2014 visit to Navarre, Florida, and more specifically, the Air Force Armament Museum outside displays (LINK).

The last photo above and subsequent photos in this post are from the National Air and Space Museum (LINK).

The original size versions of these photos are in THIS<<link SmugMug Gallery, but you can still click on these photos to get a slightly larger version to open in a new tab or window.

Anyway, dystopian tales . . . I don’t mind them (even dabbled myself<<link — warning: I’ve yet to write an ending but I think it’s still a good read as is … but then, I would since I wrote it) but stories like The Handmaid’s Tale have no respite for the mind. Depressing (‘emotionally shredding‘ as described in the comments of the linked post) through and through.

OK, so these tales are offered as a warning of sorts, or they make us aware of problems by shining an especially bright light on them.

Given that I’m already aware of the problem(s) and I don’t personally see the benefit of getting into a pit and wallow in them.

The Broxson Twins have pushed very hard for me to read the works of Cormac McCarthy and, more recently, Adam-Troy Castro.

According to The Twins, Castro especially, offers some of the best well-written stories they have ever read. They were adamant that I should read them if for no other reason than to advance my writing craft.

The thing is, I looked into both of those author’s works . . . and I’ll never read them, no matter how great they are. Now, some people don’t understand why not, but think of it like this . . .

. . . let’s assume the Broxson Twins taste peanuts and think they are the best legume around. Because of it, they are passionate about having others try peanuts. Now imagine that I have a peanut allergy.

I don’t care how much they laud the peanuts, I ain’t going near them because I know they will do me harm.

It’s the same with dark stories, especially those where people have no agency over what happens to them and what happens to them is bad. If I could detach myself and just clinically admire the craft . . . I still wouldn’t do it. But, I get it; some people like — or can’t help — wallowing in the dark places.

P. S. I say I get it, but I don’t.

Warning: the Block Editor is still a pain to work with and can cause stress levels to spikes. Use with caution. Avoid if possible.

So, like, what else can I bore people with?

Oh, yeah . . . the Smithsonian has been scanning stuff . . . 3D stuff (LINK). That means that if you have a 3D printer (more affordable every day, or so I hear) you can download the file and reproduce what they scanned (limited by size and material, I presume).

I don’t have a 3D printer, but the other thing you can do is take virtual tours of the objects they scanned. That means you can rotate their image and zoom in and out to see details, like, for instance, these corals (LINK). The resolution is limited to the resolution of the scanner, but it’s still pretty neat stuff.

They have clothing, artifacts, fossils, Abraham Lincoln, coins . . . they even have the Apollo 11 Command Module (LINK to exterior, LINK to interior).

The biggest thing they digitized is the Space Shuttle Discovery (LINK). 

You can Explore what they have (LINK) like I did. I thought this LINK was neat.

Anyway, if at all interested in reading three tales about lust, you now know where to find them (and where to vote for the one you like best or hate least . . . you be got four days left).

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

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