February's Post

Well, it's mid-February, and it appears that Europe has absconded with our winter.  Not that I'm complaining about the ease of getting around, or the reduced heating bill.  And I do have a great deal of sympathy for those poor people who aren't equipped to cope with winter conditions.  This seems a particularly nasty trick to play on those who've endured some blisteringly hot summers. 

Still, by this time of year, we've usually had several good weekends of cross-country skiing.  It's hard to do on dormant grass. 

It does, however, provide the fodder for my February installment of silly ways for the world to end, as inspired by the misinterpretation of the Mayan calendar.

Here's the writing prompt:

The deep freeze in Europe causes both huge economic losses and increased spending.  It's the straw that breaks the camel, spiraling the entire world into deep depression.  If your hero, one of the world's leading bankers, can't find a brilliant solution that will reverse the trend, the entire world will be plunged into another dark age.

Doom and Destruction

Here goes, the first scenario for the end of the world, as inspired by the popular misrepresentation of the Mayan calendar for 2012.

January's entry is courtesy of the "weird sounds heard around the world" videos on youtube. 

Some folk believe these strange sounds are courtesy of HAARP, or one of the similar programs.

Some don't.

So, here's January's silly end-of-the-world writing prompt:

A atmospheric sound test goes awry.  It creates a harmonic that sets off a series of earthquakes all around the world.  Continents are ripped apart.  Some sink, pushing oceanic levels up, and leaving only the highest altitudes habitable.  Your character must decide who will survive, and how. 

Just Another Pretty Picture?

Ok, it's confession time.  One silly way per month for the world to end is probably my limit.  In fact, it may be more than I can manage.  I haven't come up with even one, yet.

My first criterion is, I can't draw on any of the normal disaster-movie fodder.  And, it also has to be something that will happen fast enough to meet my Dec 21 deadline.  I still hope I'll come up with something for January.  Maybe the first will be the toughest.  (Though I suspect not.)

In the meantime, I thought I'd share another photo. 

It was taken on the east coast of Newfoundland.  This iceberg was reputed to be one of the last of the season that year.  Thanks to the assistance of some friendly locals, we found it in time to watch it break apart.  The picture was taken midway through the process. 

Small Blessings

I decided, if I was going to spend time imagining ways for the world to end (albeit not serious ways, I think I've used up all my serious ideas), I should balance it out, by recording some of the small blessings in my life.  

Here's the first - sunrise.  We all get one.  One of the advantages of living in a northern clime is that it arrives at a sensible hour, at least in winter. 

For this shot, I hastily donned my coat over pyjamas, pulled on my boots, and shoved my digital camera into my pocket, so it would stay warm enough to work.  It was worth it.

What Next?

It's a question I'm asking myself.  Completing the 12 days challenge was fun, and I learned a few things.

Now, it's a new year, and time for a new challenge.  Given the whole 2012 Mayan destruction thing, I'm tempted to try to come up with series of unique and interesting fictional ways for the world to self-destruct, perhaps culminating on the big day, Dec, 21, 2012. 

Yeah, I know it's not really predicting the end of the world.  It's the end of the 13th something-or-other on the Mayan calendar.  But even if it was, it's not all bad news.  We'd no longer have to worry about the state of our retirement portfolios, for one thing. 

But I digress ... 

One idea a day is a bit much, I think.  Maybe one a week. 

Twelve Drummers Drumming ...

Today's writing prompt:

The hooves of their mounts pound on the hard-packed surface of the ground.  This troupe of twelve has worked together for so long that even at a full gallop, their horses run in staccato rhythm, booming like the beat of a drum.  Now, they race against time, and they’ll face the ultimate test of their abilities.  They must …

For more writing prompts, check out:

www.thestarsarenotmadeoffire.blogspot.com

Eleven Pipers Piping ...

Today's writing prompt:

Your hero is part of a military company with a long, illustrious history.  Their tradition has always been that eleven of them, playing the bagpipes, will pipe in all events of note for each of their members, both professional and personal, happy and sad.  When a new piper fills a vacancy …

For more writing prompts, check out:

www.thestarsarenotmadeoffire.blogspot.com