The Writer's Life 10/17 - Company

There was an article in yesterday’s NY Post that rated the new network prime time programs, using ratings as its basis. I’ve watched five of the shows. The piece rated Gotham, The Flash, Scorpion, and How to Get Away with Murder as A. In terms of quality, I’d rate Gotham A-, The Flash B+, Scorpion B-, and How to Get Away with Murder F, although I’ve seen it only once and didn’t make it through the entire episode. Gracepoint has so far not attracted the number of viewers FOX had hoped. The article rated it C. I rate it B+. It is by far the most realistic and grounded show of the bunch. I hope it completes its twelve episode arc. I’ll be disappointed if it is axed and the murder goes unresolved.

NYC officials are baffled by a startling increase in violence in its jails. They've done what liberals always have -- throw money at the problem, with typical results. According to an article at Yahoo, the annual cost per inmate has increased more than 42% to $96,232 since 2007, while the average daily population has decreased to about 11,400 inmates this year, from nearly 14,000. Inmate assaults on staff has more than doubled. Guards using force on inmates has nearly tripled. The amount New York City spends per inmate was more than twice that spent by Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles last year. Much of the rising budget was due to increasing staff overtime costs.

Soon after I set up the floating book shop, a disheveled male placed his belongings at the curb and lit a cigarette, mumbling to himself. He stayed for two hours, smoking nearly half a pack of butts, pacing. I kept my distance, avoiding eye contact. I doubted I was in any danger, but I kept track of him. I was uncomfortable the entire time. I'd never seen him among the neighborhood's downtrodden, who gather at the entrance to the Sheepshead Bay Road train station. Several passersby commented on his presence. Eugene asked if I'd hired an assistant. My thanks to the kind folks who stopped and made purchases despite the company I kept this glorious day characterized by sadness. I found out a friend's husband, about my age, is terminally ill. Life does what it will, at times mercilessly. 

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/