Finds
Born in Newark in 1947, Paul Auster is having a fantastic literary run, adept at non-fiction, poetry, essays and fiction, a recipient of many awards. He has also written several screenplays and directed four films. Among a recent donation to the floating book shop was Travels in the Scriptorium, which was published in 2007. It is a day in the life of an elderly man who awakens and has no idea who or where he is. Gradually the mystery is revealed. The work is geared toward writers and admirers of the author’s previous work. Only 145 pages, the prose and dialogue are first rate. Fortunately, it is only minimally political. There are existential overtones. A graduate of Columbia, Auster has been living in Brooklyn for many years. Several of his works are set in the borough. His work has been translated into 40 languages. 53 users at Amazon have rated Travels…, forging to a consensus of 3.2 on a scale of five, which is right about where I would place it.
For anyone who still believes the mainstream media is unbiased, here’s a story that should be troubling. A Reuters reporter sat on an unflattering story about Beto O’Rourke during his campaign to unseat Ted Cruz from the Senate. As a teen he was a member of hacker group Cult of the Dead Cow, which has been responsible for stealing credit card info, violating copyright laws, and hacking into computers. In a racket that attracts an abundance of phonies, this guy would fit right in.
This morning I found this beauty in the street, leaning against the curb at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Avenue Z, in front of Rite Aid:
Here’s the next part of President Trump’s accomplishments as listed at the WOR web page of Mark Simone, edited by yours truly:
Secured a record $73.1 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Signed the VA MISSION Act, revolutionizing the health-care system and reforming numerous services for our veterans. Eligible vets will have access to walk-in community clinics that offer immediate, local care.
Expanded access to tele-health services for vets, including through the “Anywhere to Anywhere” initiative.
Issued executive order requiring the VA to improve access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention resources for vets
Signed the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, making it easier to fire failing employees and protect whistle-blowers.
Under President Trump, the VA has removed, demoted or suspended more than 4300 employees for poor performance.
Signed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, streamlining the process of appealing benefits claims.
Created White House VA Hotline to provide vets with 24/7 support.
The VA is providing vets with online access to wait time and quality of care data.
Signed the Forever GI Bill, providing vets, service members and their families with enhanced education benefits.
Programs at the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have helped more than 51,000 vets find permanent housing and access supportive services.
It was another glorious late winter day. My thanks to the sweet elderly woman who donated two books in Russian, and to the couple who bought one of them; and to the gentleman with the heavy Russian accent who spent time in Japan, who purchased Reading Japanese, an instructional book; and to the young man who selected the handsomely illustrated Bible geared toward children, and Words to the Rescue: The sentiment guide for the tongue tied. 1000 thoughtful things to write on the card when you don’t have a clue — by Steve Fadie.
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