If you are new to the SDS Challenge, a little background.

Three writers will each write one story a month going down the list of deadly sins. The stories can be anywhere from 666 words to 6,666 words in length, although those numbers are not set in stone. If ambitious, the writers will provide accompanying graphics. These stories will not be anonymous because some writers may want to use the same characters for each story and write a series — or book — encompassing all seven sins. Finally, interpretation of the titular sin is up to the writer. Meaning, each ‘sin’ can take multiple forms.

Disclaimer: The writing challenge has no restrictions and the stories will likely span a wide gamut of genres. The majority of the stories fall in the PG-rating range with a few perhaps pushing into the soft R-rating. Some readers might find a few of the stories disturbing because of the topics, language, and/or plot points, and if so, stop reading and move on.

If you want to read the Seven Deadly Sins submissions for the Sin of Gluttony, 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).

I promised myself I would get the next story ready (about the Sin of Greed) well before the deadline. So far, I’ve not written anything. And, no, I don’t have an idea for a story . . . yet.

“I’ve already read the Gluttony stories . . . what am I supposed to do until next month?”

You might not know it, but there is a lot of other fiction on this blog. If interested, you can begin with the first four years<<link.

. . . this is where most people remember they left the iron plugged in, their stove on, the kitchen tap running, or all three.

There may be legitimate reasons for not wanting to read my fiction, but I sure wish someone would share them with me.

Maybe you don’t have a month to spend reading my stuff . . . here’s a post that requires less time to read (LINK). Literally, minutes.

Ah, I get it . . . you’re looking for non-Disperser things!

It just so happens I have a recommendation. This isn’t for everyone because it costs $15. For that money, you get to listen to Ricky Gervais and Sam Harris having informal conversations about a number of topics. The link is HERE. Once you pay, you get access to 11 episodes, each roughly twenty minutes in length.

Look, I don’t normally pay for podcasts. However, I had listened to three episodes for free (I’m a paying member of the Sam Harris “Making Sense” podcast, and — after hearing the first three — I took a chance on the $15 being well-spent).

So far, I’ve only listened to seven episodes and I believe the money was very well spent, even if the rest of the episodes turn out to be crap. I don’t often recommend stuff, but I recommend this limited series.

I say that, but there’s a caveat . . .

You have to have an interest in philosophical concepts, you have to have a good sense of humor, and you have to be somewhat on the ball with the whole thinking thing. These ain’t preachers telling you what to think . . . they present stuff that should make you think (again, provided you are capable of it).

And, look, I’m a little jealous. I would love to be involved in similar discussions. The last time I had this kind of exchange of ideas was probably in my thirties.

Literally, there’s no one that I know who wants to wade into the deep end of the various pools these guys swim in.

However, I realize I’m partially to blame for it. I don’t associate with people and I especially no longer engage people in “deep” conversations about anything. The chances of me finding a “discussion buddy” are nil.

In part, that’s because I see no evidence of any such individuals in the neck of the woods I currently travel.

The other part is that I believe it’s potentially dangerous these days to try and find such individuals by engaging random strangers. Unless one is in the kind of rarefied company Sam Harris and Ricky Gervais travel in, a free and open exchange of ideas is not a risk I’m willing to take, especially in these parts.

Mind you, there might be a sufficient number of people out there that are exactly like me . . . but because they are like me, they’re likely also keeping a low profile and avoiding conversations that might challenge non-thinkers.

I’m going to cut this short because once again, I’m a little tired.

In part, because of the heat; doing anything outside positively takes the will to live out of you, smack it around a bit, and then returns it as a pale semblance of what it once was.

But also because I’ve been drifting with my sleep pattern toward staying up later and later (currently, two in the morning). This isn’t normally a problem . . . unless I happen to have appointments or something planned early in the morning . . . which was the case this morning.

So, here’s a small gallery of the above photos along with artsified versions of them. As usual, you can find the full-size version on SmugMug HERE<<link. 

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

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

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Note 2: it’s perfectly OK to share a link that points back here.

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