The Writer's Life 4/18

Congratulations to Jamie Moyer of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who at 49 years, 150 days has become the oldest winning pitcher of a major league baseball game. The previous mark was set in 1932 by Jack Quinn of the Brooklyn Dodgers at 49/70. It was Moyer's 268th victory, which ties him with Orioles' Hall of Famer Jim Palmer for 34th place on the all-time wins list. It's doubtful that Moyer will ever be elected to the HOF, as it has taken him almost 25 seasons to amass his totals, but it is still amazing that he is able to pitch at the highest level at his age, even though MLB has been watered down by expansion. I had trouble playing softball as I approached 40.

Also on the sports front: the entire starting five, two sophomores, three freshmen, of Kentucky's national champion basketball team has declared for the NBA draft, more proof of the ridiculousness of college athletics.

According to an article at Yahoo, last year a record 1800 Americans living abroad renounced their citizenship. Most cite onerous tax policy. They are forced to report the income and investments of foreign husbands, as well as their own. They pay taxes in two countries. Rapacious politicians seem to forget this country came into existence because of a tax revolt.

Kim Kardashian has expressed interest in becoming the mayor of Glendale, California, one-quarter of whose population is of Armenian descent. Maybe there will be a President Kardashian some day. Of course, the comment was probably just another thing a reality star will say to draw attention to herself. I have to constantly remind myself not to draw conclusions from the worst of American society.

RIP Dick Clark, 82, the eternal teenager, who succumbed to a heart attack. It is estimated that he is responsible for 7500 hours of TV, including 30 series, 250 specials and 20 movies. Thank you, sir.

I witnessed a sad event today while operating the floating bookshop. I saw a man who runs a nearby convenience store led away in cuffs by two plainclothesmen. He lives in a house directly across the street from the building in which I live. I'd guess he's about 50 and of eastern descent. He has a family. I hope the infraction was something as minor as selling untaxed smokes. The officers were dressed as casually as could be, T-shirts and jeans. I would never have made them as cops. They looked like truckers or moving men.

Only four people bought books today. Mr. Almost was one. He was concerned at not having seen me in a while. He said: "At our age, you never know." Yikes!

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