Deliveries
Wow! Who’da thunk it? West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery plunged 305% to a record low, -$36.73 per barrel, the first time it has ever gone below zero. Those traders who sold the opening and rode it down may have become multimillionaires in a single day. As far as I know, trading takes place entirely in offices and from home computers these days, at least in the USA. A lot of the ex-brokers I knew on the NYMEX and COMEX trading floors must be dying on the inside in not having had the opportunity to be a part of that historic move. On the downside, how many oil companies will go under? And what about gas stations? Only environmental zealots will be happy about the collapse. Hopefully, this has been a gross overreaction that will be corrected quickly.
Another symptom, from a headline at foxnews.com: “… coronavirus patients have reported cases of unusual skin issues that they said resembles frostbite.”… Here’s another interesting headline: “… California car crashes decreased by over 50%, saving taxpayers $1B.” How many billioins has the state lost because people are not driving? There have also been reports of a decrease in air pollution. I’d rather have everybody working again. I can’t remember the last time I noticed persistent air pollution, and that’s going back decades… According to an article at FN: “The pandemic is crippling the illegal drug trade, as borders shut down and supply chains linking Mexico to China are severed.” Cartels import stuff from China to cook up a lot of what is then sold in the USA. The DEA has even reported a decrease in money laundering and online drug sales on the dark web. Not only has China given us a deadly virus, it supplies drugs that disrupt lives and sometimes kill… On a personal note, I’ve been lucky going to Stop n Shop, waiting no more than five minutes to get inside. This morning I waited 15, and since everyone was wearing a mask, I decided to put one on for the first time, although I waited until I was first in line. I hated it, especially when I needed to don my reading glasses and the lenses fogged. I took it off as soon as I was out the door… I heard a bit of good news from talk radio host Mark Simone, who said that Corona can’t be spread through food. Now I may not feel as squeamish buying from Waj’s food truck.
The mass murder in Nova Scotia tempts me to junk the thriller I’m writing. Unlike most of my work, the bulk of which includes violence, it has no redeeming value. I’d just wanted to take a shot at a genre I hadn’t explored outside a few short stories. I’m reminded of how I experienced a complete about face on the Criminal Minds TV series. One day I asked myself: Why am I watching this? As good as it is, each week it’s a hunt for a serial killer or killers. That was about one-third of the way through its 15-year run. I haven’t watched an episode since, although reruns air twice a week on ION TV.
I went out for some air at noon, leaning against my car, which was parked on Coney Island Avenue. Joan strolled by with her walker. Neither of us was wearing a mask. She’s bummed out, with good reason. She has been restricted to Skype visits with her two-year-old grandson. Her daughter in law won’t allow her an in house visit at present. I said it was best to err on the side of caution and she said she was surprised I felt that way but that it was good to hear a different opinion. A few minutes later Rob, one of the porters of the massive complex that stretches from East 12th to Homecrest Avenue said he had some books for me. Here he is making the delivery. Thank you, sir:
I took a bag of books Mike had donated a week earlier out of the old Hyundai, and put the latest in its place in the back seat. I’m hoping any germs that might have attached themselves to the surfaces of the first have died. The second will also sit there for a week. As I looked through the previous haul, I laughed at the inclusion of Stephen King’s Thinner, which he published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. I’d just mentioned in the novella that it was the only one of his books the co-protagonist had ever read.
My Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Fortezza/e/B002M4NLJE
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts
Read Vic’s Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza
