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Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Writer's Life 12/17 - Hall Monitor

What occupation suffers the most suicides? I would have guessed police officer or military. Here's a shocking excerpt from Salena Zito's op-ed piece in today's NY Post: "... 2016 study of approximately 40,000 suicides reported in the US in 2012 — the most recent year for which statistics are available — showed that the rate for agriculture workers is 84.5 per 100,000. The next occupation most at risk were construction, extraction, installation, maintenance and repair workers who had a suicide rate hovering around the 50 per 100,000. Meanwhile, the suicide rate among American male veterans is 37 per 100,000, according to a 2016 study by the Veterans Affairs department."

Here's another story about government's maddening ways, also from the Post, edited by yours truly: A CUNY administrator has instituted an eight million dollar lawsuit, claiming he has nothing to do. 72, his salary is $106,700. He sits at his desk in his cubicle from seven AM to three PM, listening to music, watching rugby or cricket matches. This begs the question: If the guy retired or passed away, would the city pay someone to take his place and just sit there? That would surprise no one.

Picture from the Houston Chronicle.

Facebook has a lot of critics. I am not one, despite the annoying political postings of my leftist friends and acquaintances. It is so much fun connecting with people one would otherwise have never heard from again. Yesterday someone posted something that touched me to the quick. I was a security guard at Loy Norrix H.S. in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1975, just before I was to return home to NYC permanently that June. The school had successful, track, swimming and baseball programs, but was woeful in football and basketball. I was a volunteer assistant for the former. Rick ran track. He now lives in Oregon and is constantly adding fishing photos to his FB page. I don't recall having signed his yearbook. Here's a picture of the inscription, which includes a lampoon of my position:


Thank you, Sir. You made my day.

My thanks to the young man who purchased a short story collection, the only sale of the day. It was a lot like being a hall monitor, standing around waiting for something to happen. At least it wasn't very cold.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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