Good Guys
RIP legendary radio DJ Harry Harrison, 89. Known as NY’s “Morning Mayor,” he was on the air for more than 50 years, the only jock to serve as a WMCA Good Guy, WABC All-American, and on the WCBS-FM line-up. He brought his listeners sunshine. Thank you, sir.
Here’s a story that should inspire the SMH meme popular on the web, from an article at foxnews.com, edited by yours truly: Approximately 20 children, ages 8–14 years old, were depicted holding rifles and carrying out military-style exercises in the town of Chilapa, 200 miles south of Mexico City. Why? Their fathers, all musicians, were killed last week in an attack blamed on a drug cartel. Here’s a sad picture:
Recently, Greg Banks of WheelMan Press, who published Exchanges in 2013, passed away. Whoever is now running the show stopped providing print copies of the novel. Amazon informed me that the problem was between the publisher and me, and that they couldn’t help. Months ago I sent a letter to WM’s P.O. Box. There was no reply. Since the letter wasn’t returned, I assume it was received. This morning I sent another, informing the company I would publish the book under another title if the situation isn’t resolved. I don’t believe I’d be risking a lawsuit. I’d guess I would first be told to take it down, even though the copyright is in my name. It’s almost a non-issue, as its sales’ potential has probably maxed out. I just hate that it’s not available to anyone who might be interested. The worst part is losing the title, which is perfect, as it covers not only the business aspect but the countless exchanges, work and family, in which the protagonist engages. I will also have to come up with a new cover, which isn’t nearly as disappointing as losing the title. The new title will be Open Outcries, plural because it covers a life, not just employment. To my surprise, the term “Open Outcry,” the method of trading in commodity pits, shows no results in a title search at Amazon.
I played the floating book shop wrong today. Influenced by the good fortune of the past two sessions, I set up shop at my usual nook despite the cold and wind. It was a perfect day for my alternate site, which sits in the sun most of the morning and the entire afternoon. As Mrs. Gump said: “Stupid is as stupid does.” And to paraphrase Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi: “No sales for you!” At one point things got really ridiculous, as a private electric crew working on phone wires parked its truck right beside the sidewalk display for about 15 minutes. Here’s what it looked like, shot from the front passenger seat of my car:
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