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Friday, January 19, 2018

The Writer's Life 1/19 - Crime Blotter


From Yahoo's Odd News, edited by yours truly: Tobacco smugglers are using ice-flows and GPS technology to transport goods into Lithuania, where an estimated one in every six cigarettes smoked in 2016 was imported illegally. They attach packs of cigarettes to the bottom of the ice and set them flowing downriver, where their partners in crime track them using GPS. They will now have to go back to the drawing board, as the ruse has been discovered. The Lithuanian government claims it lost 50 million euros in unpaid taxes in 2015 due to such smuggling. Although I hate smoking, I hate the tyranny of tobacco taxes more.

Also from YON, edited by yt: a former leader of the Montana House of Representatives, a Republican who once supported funding for an anti-drug campaign, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his central role in a methamphetamine trafficking ring. It is another case of a politician practicing the philosophy "Do as I say, not as I do." Is there any other kind?

NY Jets WR Robby Anderson has been arrested in Florida. The 24-year-old faces nine charges, including reckless driving, harming a public servant or family, resisting arrest and eluding an active siren. He drove as fast as 105 mph in a 45 mph zone, ran two red lights and eluded the officer in pursuit. Once stopped and arrested, he allegedly initially refused to get into the back of the police car. The report said he made vulgar sexual threats against the cop's wife: Last May he was arrested at a concert in Miami on charges of resisting arrest with violence and obstruction of justice. The arresting officer was later relieved of his duties for conduct unbecoming. Anderson’s trial for that incident is scheduled for March 19. The undrafted free agent out of Temple was one of the Jets' bright spots the past two seasons. In 2017 he had 63 catches, 941 yards and seven touchdowns. And what was his college major? You guessed it - Criminal Justice. He learned well.

My thanks to the young woman who purchased Elemental by Antony John and to the gentleman who bought a huge bio of Josef Stalin. I wonder if it contains the names of all those he had murdered... I meet a lot of interesting people while operating the floating book shop. Lou has become a frequent visitor. He just turned 65. He worked as a driver of cabs, trucks and school buses. Diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, he retired. He seems well. He does not buy books. He simply needs to talk. I don't mind except that he goes on for a long time, at least an hour today. Like many people our age, he talks about the past. The funniest story he related today was of a time his dad took him fishing. All the bait shops were closed, so he used a bit of a hot dog. No one around him was having any luck when suddenly he reeled in a little snapper. Everyone asked what he was using as bait. It sounds like a fish story, but it was fun - and harmless.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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