Well, here I am in the home stretch, but with no inspiration to guide me. Drat.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of this blog, from my perspective, has been in the research I would otherwise not have done.
For October, I turned to New Scientist. It didn't let me down.
Here's the prompt:
In this month's silly disaster, organized crime has created a new initiative. Using sophisticated technology that dissolves in the body after use, they're killing public figures who refuse to play ball and replacing them with those who will. Your hero has only a limited window in which to figure out who's behind it, how they're doing it, and how to stop them.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
A phenomenal ride
I just had to share this.
This young woman is deaf and mute. According to the person who passed it on to me, she doesn't own the horse; she's been training it for a client, and has only had twenty days with it at the time of the ride. The ride itself is a tribute to her deceased father. Make sure your sound is on when you watch.
This young woman is deaf and mute. According to the person who passed it on to me, she doesn't own the horse; she's been training it for a client, and has only had twenty days with it at the time of the ride. The ride itself is a tribute to her deceased father. Make sure your sound is on when you watch.
Note that
she rides
without a
saddle or
halter and bit
and
(obviously)
without voice
commands. She
is using the
method used by
American
Indians. Even non-riders will recognize the difficulty level and the magnitude of her accomplishment. She truly is an inspiration.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
September's Silly Disaster
Okay, I'll soon be into the home stretch. After this month, I have only the last quarter to deal with--three more silly disasters to round out 2012's collection.
Am I running out of ideas, getting desperate, piggybacking off earlier stuff? Oh, yeah. That's old news--it happened months ago. Here, I'm using something similar to July's idea, with a slightly different twist.
Here's my inspiration:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095571/Natural-tilts-earths-axis-alter-temperature-cause-ice-ages-says-Harvard-scientist.html
And here's the prompt:
The earth's tilt is changing . Not only is it causing deglaciation, but a lot of other problems. This is a true disaster, with no hope of saving the majority. Your hero has to make a decision over who can be saved, and where that can best be accomplished.
Unlike a certain disaster movie, our hero realizes that, if his goal is to preserve humanity, concentrating his efforts on saving a bunch of old men is probably not his best option. And in practice, that means he can't count on the support of the politicians.
Am I running out of ideas, getting desperate, piggybacking off earlier stuff? Oh, yeah. That's old news--it happened months ago. Here, I'm using something similar to July's idea, with a slightly different twist.
Here's my inspiration:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095571/Natural-tilts-earths-axis-alter-temperature-cause-ice-ages-says-Harvard-scientist.html
And here's the prompt:
The earth's tilt is changing . Not only is it causing deglaciation, but a lot of other problems. This is a true disaster, with no hope of saving the majority. Your hero has to make a decision over who can be saved, and where that can best be accomplished.
Unlike a certain disaster movie, our hero realizes that, if his goal is to preserve humanity, concentrating his efforts on saving a bunch of old men is probably not his best option. And in practice, that means he can't count on the support of the politicians.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
August's Silly Disaster
For this month's material, I received a stroke of good fortune. I can't claim good planning or brilliance, just dumb luck. And I'll take it.
I was looking at another topic on Wired Science, and happened to notice this post:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/chicken-farm-vaccine-virus/
The gist of it is, it appears that two chicken vaccines, two benign entities that work to keep chickens healthy, have combined into something new, something that's killing chickens. It scary to think that it might not only be possible, it's real.
Well, for the purposes of my August silly disaster, it could hardly be more obvious, right? This is practically cheating. I didn't have to even come up with an idea. I just had to lift it from the pages of current science.
So, you already know what this month's prompt is:
Two vaccines have mutated and combined to produce a virus that's both deadly to humans and highly contagious. Our hero has to combat both the disease, and the ensuing panic.
I was looking at another topic on Wired Science, and happened to notice this post:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/chicken-farm-vaccine-virus/
The gist of it is, it appears that two chicken vaccines, two benign entities that work to keep chickens healthy, have combined into something new, something that's killing chickens. It scary to think that it might not only be possible, it's real.
Well, for the purposes of my August silly disaster, it could hardly be more obvious, right? This is practically cheating. I didn't have to even come up with an idea. I just had to lift it from the pages of current science.
So, you already know what this month's prompt is:
Two vaccines have mutated and combined to produce a virus that's both deadly to humans and highly contagious. Our hero has to combat both the disease, and the ensuing panic.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
July's Silly Disaster
Well, it's double-digit time in July, and I have to come up with another silly disaster idea. I tell myself, I've gotten through the first half of the year. Now, I'm in the home stretch. Right. Five more months to go.
One unforeseen consequence of this situation is that I have to recall what other silly disasters I've come up with, in order not to repeat myself.
Well, this one looks safe enough. The inspiration for it comes from the idea that the poles of the earth have reserved themselves in the past, and may do so again. What might the impact of something like that be? So many of the creatures in our world depend on the magnetic fields of the earth.
So that's my silly disaster for July. The poles are reversing, or have reserved. And somehow, to stave off disaster, your hero has to come up with a way to mitigate the effects.
One unforeseen consequence of this situation is that I have to recall what other silly disasters I've come up with, in order not to repeat myself.
Well, this one looks safe enough. The inspiration for it comes from the idea that the poles of the earth have reserved themselves in the past, and may do so again. What might the impact of something like that be? So many of the creatures in our world depend on the magnetic fields of the earth.
So that's my silly disaster for July. The poles are reversing, or have reserved. And somehow, to stave off disaster, your hero has to come up with a way to mitigate the effects.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
June's Writing Prompt and Make-Believe Disaster
Well, I don't mind admitting, I was getting a wee bit nervous about June. Mid-month was approaching, and I was still stuck for this month's way for the world to end.
Finally, I won't say fortunately, because this prompt is inspired by a sad news story, I have something.
Here's the prompt:
A mysterious rash of suicides assails a small town. It starts with teens, but soon spreads. Within weeks, another town is affected, and another. There is no pattern that anyone can discern, except this one. The spread follows a spiral, moving outward from the first town, the point of origin.
Our hero, a young police detective, must discern the cause and rally the resources to find a cure. And he faces an additional challenge. Despite their precautions, some of those doing the investigating are also affected.
Finally, I won't say fortunately, because this prompt is inspired by a sad news story, I have something.
Here's the prompt:
A mysterious rash of suicides assails a small town. It starts with teens, but soon spreads. Within weeks, another town is affected, and another. There is no pattern that anyone can discern, except this one. The spread follows a spiral, moving outward from the first town, the point of origin.
Our hero, a young police detective, must discern the cause and rally the resources to find a cure. And he faces an additional challenge. Despite their precautions, some of those doing the investigating are also affected.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
May's Silly Disaster
Well, here I am, trying to get back on track.
It's month five, with seven more to go in the annals of silly disasterdom, and the grand inspiration isn't coming. I'm still scrambling along, one month at a time, or at best, two.
Perhaps it's time for a little refresher. In honor of the supposed ending of the world, my personal challenge was/is to create a new way for the world to end for every month of 2012.
For inspiration, I checked out Youtube again. This time, I did a general search on disaster and prophecy.
There, I discovered that I am a rank amateur in the world of disaster silliness. I have to admit, though, I was impressed. There's no way I could have done even a minute of some of that stuff with a straight face. And several of those guys went on for hours. I'll admit I didn't watch more than a bit of any of them.
I did find my inspiration for May. Here's the writing prompt:
A charismatic cult leader has suffered a few embarrassments. He's been calling for the world to end, and it hasn't been cooperating. Now, he's planning to take matters into his own hands. Using his existing network of followers, he's been recruiting. The new members don't realize they're part of a cult. Using strong drugs to influence them, they're been shaped into tools. At a specific time, all around the world, they're going to poison water supplies.
Our hero gets wind of the plot. He has some resources to call upon, but he's going to need to mobilize more, and to coordinate a massive effort, if this is to be stopped.
It's month five, with seven more to go in the annals of silly disasterdom, and the grand inspiration isn't coming. I'm still scrambling along, one month at a time, or at best, two.
Perhaps it's time for a little refresher. In honor of the supposed ending of the world, my personal challenge was/is to create a new way for the world to end for every month of 2012.
For inspiration, I checked out Youtube again. This time, I did a general search on disaster and prophecy.
There, I discovered that I am a rank amateur in the world of disaster silliness. I have to admit, though, I was impressed. There's no way I could have done even a minute of some of that stuff with a straight face. And several of those guys went on for hours. I'll admit I didn't watch more than a bit of any of them.
I did find my inspiration for May. Here's the writing prompt:
A charismatic cult leader has suffered a few embarrassments. He's been calling for the world to end, and it hasn't been cooperating. Now, he's planning to take matters into his own hands. Using his existing network of followers, he's been recruiting. The new members don't realize they're part of a cult. Using strong drugs to influence them, they're been shaped into tools. At a specific time, all around the world, they're going to poison water supplies.
Our hero gets wind of the plot. He has some resources to call upon, but he's going to need to mobilize more, and to coordinate a massive effort, if this is to be stopped.
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