Just a quick reminder that the voting for the SDS Challenge Envy Stories is underway.

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 Envy, 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’m offering more stylized painterly and framed versions of old photos, including some that previously appeared on this blog. As usual, you can find the full-size version on SmugMug HERE<<link. 

Those are grass seeds from my backyard. Electrified, they are.

This will go live shortly . . . in lieu of an opinion piece I was tempted to write. Ultimately, i know no one cares about my opinions, but I usually write them so that I can revisit them a few years down the line and either say “Wow! I sure called that one right!” or “Wow! I really missed the boat on that one!”

If you asked me to give an estimate of the frequency of each exclamation, I’d say the first one is more frequent, but only because I make safe predictions based on what I know of human nature.

Like, for instance, basing one’s strategy for re-election on aggravating race relations as opposed to focusing on the class differences between the wealthy and “regular folks”, well, that strategy is bound to backfire.

I think any idiot could make that call, but, apparently, the ‘woke brigade’ aren’t just any idiots. They are a special kind of idiots.

Hmm . . . perhaps I will put up a more detailed analysis of what I see as leading us toward a virtual — if not factual — civil war.

That’s one of them mud wasp nests on dried grass seeds on the table near where I sit when I’m outside enjoying the backyard bird population . . . There are now three similar mud-balls on those grasses.

I was planned on getting rid of them when the new grass flowers dry up, but now I don’t know . . . I might have to find a secure place for these, safe from the elements.

That’s a Magnolia fruit/seed treated to various effects. That tree produces lots of these and they litter the ground and the yard. The tree is probably not long for this world . . . as soon as we decide what to put in its place, it’s gone!

Next up, two versions of one of the fireworks photos I’ve previously shared. The first version is “regular” painterly, and the second is a “psychedelic fancy”.

I’m fairly sure, but not certain, that if I don’t tell you this next offering is also a fireworks photo, you might not guess it so. I could be wrong, of course, since it comes on the heels of another fireworks photo.

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

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

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