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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 8/7 - Symbols

Sometimes one of my Facebook friends leaves a symbol rather than words in response to one of my posts. I do not question it, as I guess I’m reluctant to reveal my ignorance. It finally occurred to me to run a search on two in particular. : ) translates to smiley face. QQ is more troubling. Its origin stems from a video game and is meant to convey: Quit, you stink. One of my FB friends leaves this constantly. I also see him regularly on the street. Given the meaning, it seems in direct contrast to everything else he says to me. He is a positive presence, so I’m sure it must mean something else to him. The symbol is also meant to represent crying eyes, which doesn’t make sense, either, at least as to how it pertains to me. Is he feeling my frustration regarding the literary life? He is a poet. I hope I remember to ask him about it next time I see him. Here's a perfect symbol for politicians, especially those in NYC: 0.

Remember when JFK appeared on The Tonight Show to announce his quarantine of Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis? Of course not, he announced it, scaring the bejesus out of Americans, on a simultaneous broadcast on all networks. Last night President Obama discussed the worldwide terror alert with Jay Leno. I guess John Stewart was booked this time. The Commander in Chief did not do a single news conference about it. On The Rita Cosby Show on WOR-AM a caller just referred to the President as the Celebrity in Chief. What symbol would be appropriate to represent that? Let's start with this one: ?

When I left the apartment at 10:30, I hoped the rain would hold off for a couple of hours. It did so and then some. The sun appeared at 1:00 and it was glorious the rest of today's session of the floating book shop. It looked like it was going to be a decent haul financially, and then wacky Joanne showed up. She has the ebullience of Edith Bunker. She has been intrigued by Killing for a long time but was unable to pull the trigger on a purchase, choosing other books instead. She is Italian-American and familiar with the area, Bensonhurst, in which the novel takes place. To my surprise, she bought it, and that set off a beautiful run of business during the last half hour of operation. A gentleman bought three thrillers by J.D. Robb, the pseudonym of the prolific Nora Roberts; Mikhail purchase a fantasy in Russian; and a woman purchased a series of six romances, of which the fourth was missing, in that tongue. Thanks, folks, and also to Michael, who donated five crime novels in Russian, and to Ol' Simon, who donated five in English. :)
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://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/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

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