I know we’re struggling when the number of votes doesn’t change even after a reminder. But, try, I must, to bring eyes and votes to these stories, even as I wonder of the cause of our current lack of participation.

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 Greed, 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).

We are two weeks away from the end of the voting, and my gut tells me this voting round will have a poor showing. I mean, sure, family and a few friends (the Twins’ family and friends, not mine) likely will add a few votes, but I’m not seeing any participation outside our circle of acquaintances. But, so be it.

Here’s a photo . . .

On a side note, I don’t follow much of the news, but what little I follow has me thinking that Republicans — and especially Republicans in Texas — have lost their minds along with any shred of honor they might have had.

Look, abortion is a difficult topic for even rational people to discuss, let alone delusional Christians . . . but this isn’t about abortion per see. I mean, it is, but there’s a larger concern that I have. For them not familiar with the dishonorable path Texan Republicans have chosen to follow, they essentially took the concept of Cancel Culture (you know, the thing they say they hate) and weaponized by encouraging it with financial incentives.

Essentially, the law circumvents established rule of law by legalizing — indeed, encouraging — anyone to bringing lawsuits against anyone peripherally involved in what they deem an “illegal” abortion.

Again, we could argue the details of what determines if an abortion is “illegal”, but the greater concern is that Texas is basically paying people to harass others as a way to stop abortions.

What?

OK, let me explain it. They don’t like abortions, so they passed a law that makes it illegal to have an abortion after the sixth week of a pregnancy (when most women don’t even know they are pregnant) . . . illegal for any reason, which technically includes procedures related to dealing with a miscarriage, and, of course, pregnancies resulting from rape.

Of course, this goes against current established federal law. BUT, they — the State of Texas — are prohibited from enforcing the law (which would be unconstitutional). Instead, they will provide $10K to anyone who will bring suit against anyone associated with any illegal abortion; doctors, nurses, someone who drives the woman to or from a clinic, anyone working at a clinic, and basically anyone who helps the woman in any way — except the woman getting the abortion, which, again, would be unconstitutional.

And, for good measure, if the person bringing suit loses the case, the people getting sued are not entitled to recouping the cost of defending themselves (and here I thought Republicans were big on tort reform. HA!)

This, of course, has had the desired effect . . . faced with the possibility of multiple lawsuits by zealots, abortions in Texas have virtually stopped not because women don’t want the abortions, but because anyone providing the service faces serious risks. This was after the SCOTUS decided not to rule on the Law, thereby letting it stand.

Florida already has a similar law in the works, and you can bet other mouth-breathing Republican-controlled states legislatures will follow suit.

He who has lost honor can lose nothing more. Publilius Syrus

As much as I’m not political in the sense that I hold both parties in high contempt, Republicans are taking their failed religious ideology to a new level.

I could almost understand conservatives clinging to Trump’s flaccid ass given the insane Left Wing of the Democratic party, but this is a blatant attempt to circumvent judicial procedures and established law by the party that bills itself the Law and Order party. And, it’s incredibly stupid and subversive of our judicial system.

Just for kicks, imagine a Democrat Legislature making it illegal to own guns (which is unconstitutional) but they make it legal for anyone to sue any gun owner, AND they provide $10K seed money to anyone willing to sue. Heck, pick any controversial issue, and you can see how this would bog down the courts, but most of all, how this subverts the intent of the Second Amendment. Doube heck; why stop at the Second Amendment? You can use the same strategy to target all of our supposed liberties and rights.

From where I stand, these guys (to be clear, you can say Christians instead of Republicans as they are practically one and the same) have nothing on the Taliban. Both groups are religious fanatics. Both groups have something against women, especially independent women and women with agency. And both groups are the harbingers of misery onto others. They revel in it, and the more misery they can inflict on others, the more pious and righteous they feel.

Honest to FSM, just when I think it can’t get any worse, when I think the world must be close to reaching a breaking point of insanity and we’ll have to try rationality, I’m hit with stuff that makes me wonder exactly what is too much to even consider, and I fearfully whisper . . . “nothing“.

. . . because religion poisons everything.

Well, at least we’re making progress on the pandemic front, no?

No.

NO?

No; people are resisting getting vaccines that work.

But … but they risk hospitalization and death? Are they nuts?

No, of course they’re not nuts! . . . they’re taking a horse dewormer.

!?!

I have no words left . . . I mean, I’m aware of confirmation bias, but the amount of evidence for the benefit of vaccines is overwhelming. . . and it don’t matter none.

I mean, being an anti-vaxer is as crazy as believing the Earth is flat and ignoring all the evidence otherwise.

Just in case some flat-earthers are reading this here are some suggestions you can ignore . . . suggestions about proving to yourself that the Earth is, indeed, round.

Here’s the thing . . . I could spend all my time going on about stupid things I read or hear about every day, and that’s sad . . . but what’s sadder — and maddening — is that we stand on the shoulders of countless generations that started a long journey of discovery by picking up a stick and using it as a tool, and that journey now offers us access to so much knowledge that ten lifetimes are not enough to take it all in . . . but we squander the lives we have by latching on to the stupidest ideas we can find on Facebook, or Twitter, or cable news, and by taking horse dewormers. Enough said … for now.

Wait! . . . one more video about this Texas Law . . . from Beau.

Here’s a quick gallery and we’ll call this done. As usual, you can find the full-size version on SmugMug HERE<<link. 

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

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

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