The Writer's Life 7/13 - Duh Nerve

Here's another example of the creative destruction of capitalism, as reported in an article in today's NY Post. It costs banks .65 cents to process each paper check. A company called Mitek has patented electronic technology that allows mobile phone users to deposit checks by clicking on an app. That process costs banks .03 cents per transaction. Since 2008, participating firms have saved $620 million. The down side? Thousands of tellers have been laid off and underused branches have been closed. Because of the savings, JP Morgan Chase has given a raise to all its employees.

In a discouraging op-ed piece, Betsy McCaughey reports that foreign freeloaders are taking advantage of flaws in the health care system. They are coming to the USA and going to hospitals for pacemakers, chemo, and other services that would cost them thousands in their home country. By law, no one can be refused service. For the cost of a plane ticket, these people have access to excellent care. One patient's pacemaker cost $96,000, picked up by the American taxpayer. Government insanity continues.

George Takei, openly gay liberal activist, has been critical of Hollywood's plan to out his iconic Star Trek alter ego, Mr. Sulu, deeming it a "twisting" of the original character. Social media exploded in his face. How dare he stray from orthodoxy?

I've ignored the Olympics, which seems like a three-week commercial, for decades. I applaud Rory McIlroy for not participating, for saying that golf is about winning Claret Jugs and Green Jackets, not gold medals. That said, there is an encouraging development in the Rio games -- a record number of women from Muslim countries will be participating. That's what the Olympics is supposed to be about, not only athletic excellence but unity through sports. Maybe there's hope these countries will eventually change.

Greece will be recruiting dogs to sniff out potential tax dodgers trying to take cash out of the crisis hit country. How dare these people protect their own money?

My thanks to the woman who for a third straight week lavished the floating book shop with a donation of marketable works, mostly non-fiction. Hollywood is well-represented, bios on Tony Curtis, Rita Hayworth, Barbra Streisand and Grace Kelly. My thanks also to the woman who purchased All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum and The Seven Spiritual Laws for Parents: Guiding Your Children to Success and Fulfillment by Deepak Chopra, both of which were part of that donation.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/