5 Things on a Friday:

It's been a busy week, and we've got the Air Force Falcons coming to town for a crucial Commander-in-Chief's Trophy rivalry game this weekend. 

Let's get into it!

1. Cover sneak peek, early reviewer copies, and a huge favor!

I sent out a new Stratford City Press mailer yesterday. But I actually need you guys to read this thing, so I'm going to reprint it here.

Do me a favor and read this thing!

Follow the link, or just scroll through to the next article after you finish with this one. If you're wondering, I'm trying to set up the launch for my book, I happen to know I'm going to need your help. That starts with this week's mailer.

Thanks!

2. New York, I Love You, but You’re Bringing Me Down (The Stranger)

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York opens to the strains of LCD Soundsystem’s plaintive lament “New York, I Love You, but You’re Bringing Me Down” before introducing Turturro’s Harry Lehman, a full-time pickpocket of long standing.

Each day, Harry, whose name appears to be a nod to James Coburn’s thief in yet another crime caper, Harry in Your Pocket, looks after his wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave), who is largely catatonic, and fills the pockets of his long, tweedy coat with wallets and watches to bring to Ben (Steve Buscemi), a pawn shop owner and former running buddy, with whom he splits the proceeds. They’re analog guys in a digital world who profit off the misfortune of others, but they aren’t dangerous like the mobbed-up Dylan (Will Price), who becomes Harry’s latest mark.

You know how I love a good crime-fiction story. This one looks amazing.

3. Remembering Jaynie

My friend Rob surprised me this week with an entire soundtrack he created from The Return of Dr. Necropolis. I don't know that I'm going to use any of it, but it was very flattering to receive it. A lot of it is this really moody jazz, at least in the early going. Later, it transitions into this weird techno vibe that reminds me a lot of the 1990s.

Here's a clip from one "chapter". Take a listen if you dare. Also, peep that crazy cover art.

4. How Cleta Mitchell Turned Trump’s “Big Lie” Into a Movement (Propublica)

After Joe Biden took office, when others abandoned the fight or scoffed as Trump clung to conspiracy theories, Mitchell doubled down, founding a grassroots organization devoted to rewriting election laws and rules to be more restrictive. Members of her group, the Election Integrity Network, were named to vital election-related positions in swing states and, later, in the second Trump administration.

We're very lucky that this past election was not particularly close, or else these guys would be all up in arms in every state in the union. They had that strategy all ready to go but didn't get the results they needed to make it work.

5. Midterm Elections Live Updates: Democrats Eye Mississippi and Alaska in Hopes of Adding to Senate Majority (NY Times) 

Control of the U.S. Senate has already been determined, with 33 of the 35 contests being called within hours of polls closing. In Alaska and Mississippi, however, no race calls have been made for the Senate and it could be quite some time until either contest is decided, even as some additional vote totals trickle out in the coming days.

In both cases, the Democratic nominee is clinging to a slim lead...

It's legit shocking to consider Democrats winning in Mississippi. 

I will say, though, that generally speaking, most people just want to live their lives. They don't really give a shit about any of this. They just want to do what they do, have enough money to do it, and live with at least some confidence that their kids will be okay. We can argue about what that looks like because, as my father always used to say, "What you see depends on where you sit." But still, that basic reality will almost always hold true. 

If one party loses the plot on that, well, you get what we have here.

Have a good weekend, friends!

Go Army! BEAT AIR FORCE!!!