The Writer's Life 10/16 - Fusion

Almost everyone has experienced nightmares dealing with government offices, which are not staffed by the brightest people in the work force. They're glorified paper pushers, many of whom would have a tough time keeping a private sector job. It's scary to think this may also apply to the CDC. They are not inspiring confidence right now. On his show on WOR-AM, Mark Simone quipped that even ISIS is afraid to get on flights to the U.S. right now.

Kudos to the Kurds who, with the aid of U.S. bombers, have made advances in vicious street fighting in Khobani. ISIS now holds only 30% of the city, down from 50%. If only the Iraqi army would fight so valiantly.

Lockheed Martin may succeed where so many other innovators have failed in converting nuclear fusion into energy in a cost efficient manner. They are making progress on a reactor that fits into the back of a truck. Fusion may produce three to four times the volume of energy of fission, and also produce less radioactive waste. A fusion reactor will shut down if things go wrong, a fission reactor risks meltdown. Fission involves the splitting of atoms. In fusion, as the term implies, atoms are fused together. An article at Yahoo News led me to diffen.com, which explained all this. Science was my worst school subject, although I enjoy science fiction. In this case, I believe the energy issue is so vital I couldn’t help but notice and be encouraged. I have no idea how environmentalists will react to this. Their negative opinion of the current delivery of nuclear energy is common knowledge.

Last season on Nashville its lead diva, Rayna James, barely survived an auto wreck. In last night's episode she was a passenger in a sports car speeding away from paparazzi, gleeful despite a near collision with a huge truck. If she made a comment about how grateful she was that the accident was in the past and no longer had an effect on her, I didn't hear it.

It was misty when I left the house this morning at ten-thirty. After I'd cashed in recyclables, I scanned the sky and saw no sign of clearing. I dreaded the thought of returning to the apartment, so I hopped into my car and drove to 20th Avenue just off 86th Street. I set up shop beneath the staircase leading to the elevated train station. I sold four books, about par for the course these days. My thanks to the buyers, and to Dennis and Neil for stopping to chat.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/