The Friday Variety Plate 10|8|10

Someone asked “why do you do a Variety Plate column?” Easy. I’m a writer. Every life experience contributes to my writing. Many of the things excite my imagination and spark something. Just three days ago, reading about artificial intelligence, I gained a new idea for a short story. It’s that simple. So, why not share these things with you, as fellow writers, illustrators or whatever walk of life you come from.

Challenges have abounded this week, but the variety plate is still brimming over with items for you this week. On another note, as this is a long weekend for Americans, they’ll be no blog posts until Oct. 13. That said, let’s dish:

• This video by Rob Bryanton about the Tenth Dimension is fantastic. Some call it stoner talk, but it’s right my alley as a writer. I’m enamoured of string theory anyway.
• Wingsuit flying has got me thinking about what special forces and paratroopers could do wth stuff like this. ESPN America aired a lengthy segment about Jeb Corliss. The guy has a death wish and he’s not afraid to advertise it. But he makes for good television. This video is incredible.
• Just got this t-shirt from the Van Halen store. For an extra large, it’s a tad small (I’m not that fat). But, the design rocks. I’ll just have to keep it away from the dryer. Want one? You can buy it here.
• Bradley W. Schenck, you, sir, are doing things in my creative wheelhouse. And his website is filled with all sorts of goodies that capture a retro future that include airships and rockets. Great stuff.
• The bank may foreclose on Nexus artist Steve Rude and his family. If you buy an original piece of his art, it may help stave off the grey suits.
• I really dig the Hipstamatic app for my iPhone. I also am playing a lot of Conquist on my iPad
• I bumped into this photoblog via people I follow at Twitter. Good stuff.

My Prediction for the Raiders Game

The Raiders have come dangerous close to winning, and I’ve stayed the course. There have been a pair of close games that came within a field goal of being victories. Still, the Raiders have problems on the offensive line, at wide receiver and elsewhere. The shining change made at quarterback has paid dividends. However, opposing teams are exploiting other flaws, especially a last-in-the-NFL ranked run defense. I’ve tried not to Pollyana my way through these predictions. And I certainly won’t with the Chargers on the horizon, who are starting to get their defensive swagger. They will also have the full services of Ryan Mathews this weekend. Antonio Gates is uncoverable. You get the idea. What’s fortunate for Raiders fans is Darren McFadden running like a champion. There’s still trouble in Oak Town. I don’t think this will be close. Raiders 13 Chargers 37.

The Last Bits Written in My Manuscript

From Galactic Milk:

“You’re just scaring us.”

“I’m not really.” Chain explained what he knew. The radiation advanced the Emteeveens evolutionary process. However, it also meant that the speed the evolution progressed continued. “You are the disposable fast food of humanoid species.”

“So the planet is going to go away,” Larry said.

“No. The planet stays,” Chain said, pointing toward everyone around himself and Larry, “Just them, and everyone like them.”

“So, when?” Sajvetna said, returning to the table where everyone sat.

“Well, I mean, this is an accelerated process and there are things to consider when …”

“When!?”

(Image (c) Bradley W. Schenck, used from his website www.webomator.com)

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