In 1980 PBS broadcast Milton Friedman's landmark 10-part defense of capitalism, Free to Choose. Last night I caught a one-hour follow up, Free or Equal: A Personal View, examining the ideas to see if they are still relevant 30 years later. It was hosted by a Swede, Johan Norberg. It was great. Then again, it is reaffirmation of my beliefs. How wonderful that someone from a bastion of Socialism would create such a program. The original series can be viewed online. Run a search to see when the new one will air. The most compelling point was in reference to the cell phone, a product of the free market, which has done more to reduce global poverty than all the government programs in history combined.

RFK Jr. has continued the character assassination of his dead ex-wife, claiming she beat him. Why do I get the feeling he deserved it?

Just when the Mets seemed to have righted the ship, they have lost four of five, including a three-game sweep to the Skanks. All this has occurred since the introduction of their newest part-owner. Is it the curse of Bill Maher? Fans hope it will not last as long as the Curse of the Bambino, which plagued the Red Sox for 80-odd years after their owner sold Babe Ruth to finance a production of No, No Nanette, or the Curse of Billy the Goat, which Cub fans have been suffering since 1945 when a man who brought his pet to the game was ejected because others were offended by the animal's odor.

Finally - a Monday without rain, although the sunshine that was forecast was largely absent. Nonetheless, the weather was good enough for golf. For the first time in five weeks, Cuz and I hit the links, and our rustiness manifested itself. We both shot 96. I did have a birdie, though, sneaking a four-footer through the side door, my only one-putt of the day. I must have had five three putts and an equal number of bad chips. My ball-striking was good, surprisingly. I hope the weather on Mondays cooperates so we can get some sort of rhythm going. The floating book shop will reopen tomorrow, weather permitting. The dreariness is stubborn.

Visit Vic’s sites:
Vic’s Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic’s Website: http://membershttp://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic’s Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic’s 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic’s 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic’s Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f