Battle Lines

Here’s an amusing headline: “CNN Center in Atlanta erects fence to ward off protesters.” Is it any different than the border wall the network was so adamant about portraying as evil?

What an interesting twist in the epic political battle underway, from an article at foxnews.com: “… the Trump campaign had been scammed by teenage activists who allegedly reserved scores of tickets for the Tulsa event online — then failed to show up, thus preventing others from being able to attend.” Brilliant tactic, robots. Sometimes you have to give the devil his due.

Trump is usually way ahead of everyone on issues, again manifested by this excerpt from an FN article: “… warned in 2017 that statues of U.S. Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson might someday be removed — three years ahead of attacks on such statues this month.”

RIP RB Jim Kiick, 73, who succumbed to complications from Alzheimer's. Drafted by Miami in the fifth round out of Wyoming in 1968, he became a starter as a rookie and led the AFL in rushing TDs in 1969 with nine. He was part of the formidable backfield of the back-to-back Dolphins Super Bowl champions of ‘72-’73. He and Hall of Fame FB Larry Csonka were referred to as Butch and Sundance. He scored two touchdowns in the ’72 AFC championship game, and also scored in the Super Bowl victory that capped Miami’s 17–0 season. A fine receiver, he caught 238 passes, and had a total of 29 TDs. Well done, sir.

Born in New Jersey in 1910, Sam Merwin Jr. had a nice literary run in the genres of sci-fi and mystery. Like so many writers, he began in journalism, switched to editing, then began writing novels, using several pseudonyms as well as his actual name. His Wiki profile lists 13 of his titles. As I was cleaning out the basement of our old home, I came upon a copy of The Sex War, copyright 1953. It’s the story of a young Boston biologist whose doctoral thesis on hemophilia is immediately rejected. He decides to take it to New York for a second opinion. His life takes a wild swing. It seems Merwyn was ahead of the game in term of artificial insemination and telekinesis, elements of the plot. The title is not a reference to the battle of the sexes in the standard sense. It is much darker, although the chief players go about it lightheartedly. The cover art, as skillful as it, is a tad misleading, as the woman does not hit the floor in the incident portrayed. The prose and dialogue are uneven. It could have used another draft or more careful editing. Although the plot is outlandish, it is interesting. Only 160 pages, it is a quick read. The book is listed at Amazon. Mine will be the first review. Since Merwyn passed away at 85 in 1996, I don’t think he’d mind a rating of two on a scale of five. If there’s another side and those there are interested in what goes on here, I hope he will be pleased that someone took the time to read one of his books.

The first proof copy of the novella I will publish shortly has arrived — three days late. I already know there will be a second, as there is a missing comma, a missing word, and six line breaks in the first 85 pages. This will allow me to make a couple of brief additions I thought of during the wait. I’d be surprised if I don’t resubmit in the morning.

The floating book shop returned to Bay Parkway today. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased the leather bag of umpteen compartments, and to the young woman who bought Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress; and to the one who opted for a book in Russian; and to the one who selected a collection of verse and a four-in-one of Reader’s Digest condensed fiction.

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