The Writer's Life 9/9 - Percentages

Rain at last! For a while it looked like it was again going to be just sprinkles. I pulled the plug on the PC for about 20 minutes when the thunder and lightning got intense. I can't remember the last time I lost a session of the floating book shop to the weather. I'd guess June. I haven't heard or read anything about this being a drought, so I assume the reservoirs have seen precipitation. Neglected grass in Brooklyn has finally found relief. Sheepshead Bay Road will not stink for a few days. Cars have been washed by the downpour. Now the sun is shining again. Has the heat been quashed or will we have to wait until tomorrow? Rain doesn't always drive away the heat. A new front has to push it out. But temporary relief is also good.

A few months ago my buddy Bags and I were discussing long-term contracts in sports, how they seem to be detrimental rather than beneficial. One of the players we cited was Cincinnati Reds' first baseman Joey Votto, who was limited by injury to only 62 games in 2014, and whose first half production in 2015 did not even come close to justifying his great salary. In the second half he has resembled his old self. His on-base-percentage is 575%. That would be astonishing in any softball league. Now 31 and in his ninth big league season, the Canadian-born slugger has a lifetime BA of .311 and OB% of .433. He's more than half way to the Hall of Fame. Way to go, goombah.

What percentage of the immigrants flooding into Europe will assimilate? Hopefully, most will realize how foolish it is to follow Muslim rule and embrace western values. Predictions of the collapse of Europe have been made for years. The naysayers will point to the influx as another step on the road to ruin. Even if one of the stipulations of entry were assimilation, what would stop any immigrant from lying to get in?

I have one last step to complete in the file of the collection of short works I plan to publish after the start of the new year -- page numbers. I worked on it for a half hour this morning without success. I want the numbering to begin on page five and don't remember how I did for Rising Star and the re-working of Close to the Edge. It's frustrating!

My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases today despite the heat. A couple of late sales made the session worthwhile.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/