Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/30 - Ulysses

My thanks to the folks who bought books in Park Slope today.

Here’s an excerpt from one of my six unpublished novels, American Ulysses, a day inside my head at the age of 39, 25 years ago, 1989. It was inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses, of which I understood about ten percent, or less. I think most readers would understand 99% of AU, which was written by a more pedestrian mind than the author of the classic. In this instance, Vito has just left his apartment in Brooklyn, on his way to work. It should be about a three-minute read:

   The sun stood a bit above the tracks of the elevated train, a glowing orange ember fighting to burn through what remained of the mist. It had gained considerable height since the end of Day light Savings Time. The sight was breathtaking, transcending the bleakness of the area about the station. Vito experienced a brief, exhilarating flash of the joy of being, one so powerful he felt as if he were about to ascend to the heavens, a moment where the psy che was unfocused, unconcerned with its pains and anxieties, with the anticipation of new ills. Tears of joy welled in his eyes.
Easy, come back down.
He chuckled inwardly, puzzled, as he crossed, a two-lane
street.
Why "easy"? Why not let it take you? Why such fear of happiness, of losin’ focus? More painful to fall from a greater height. Got ta fall, come down eventually. Inevitable. And if it was more than a brief flash you might get bored with it. Then what? That what it feels like after death, soul unburdened of the body? Afraid, then, ‘cause it's not time to go yet? Don’t wanna go prematurely. Watch the grating.
He stepped around it.
Not too conscious of your mortality, are you? Where’s that lead to, anyway? Hades? No subway ‘round here. Must be gas line. Why was that flash so scary? Strange how you can deny happiness when you hardly have any in your life. Mistrust it, when you should jump at it. Too satisfied with just bein’ alive. Enough for now, least ‘til you get things goin’. When’s that gonna be? If you’re not happy at thirty-nine, chances are you’re not ever gonna be happy. Can't let yourself be negative, though, spoil things for other people. Keep sorrows and prejudices to yourself. Still fascinating, no matter what your outlook is. Think of all the great things you might see today, thoughts that might come to you. Gotta be more positive, even though it’s not your nature. Not exactly negative, either. In between. Balanced, prepared for any eventuality What’d you tell “Miss Piggy” it was –- “realistic”?.... Actually happy Daylight Saving Time ended, a first. Lot easier to get up in the daylight, face the day, ev en if it costs some light at night. Home before dark, anyway. Re lief not to pine for it any more. Actually used to lose sleep worryin’ ‘bout rain-outs. Still get pissed when the Mets’re rained-out. Getting’ tied up in a pro team like that shows how empty your life really is. They don’t even know you’re alive.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/29 - College Bound

Yesterday I drove my sister and three of my nieces to the house of my youngest niece in Jersey. There was a big party in the backyard celebrating the high school graduation of her son Ronnie, who was wearing a University of Kentucky Wildcats T-shirt. He will begin classes there in late August. He has done so well academically the past two years that he may pursue a pre-med degree, figuring, if it proved too tough, he could fall back to the pharmaceutical option he'd originally planned. Although he has received about eight grand in scholarships, he took out a loan for $36,000 for his first year, which shows there are just as many crooks running colleges as there are in the industries that don't elude scrutiny. He worked 65 hours last week in the deli of the local Walmart, which the left believes is the most evil institution in America, perhaps because their prices are reasonable. The party was a lot of fun. The food, of course, was excellent. Robbin and Kerry brought huge hot dogs from a German deli. "Real meat, no fillers," said Kerry. They were awesome, better than the $20 frank I had at the Old Homestead about a decade ago. As usual, instruments were broken out and an impromptu bluegrass jamboree took place. Ronnie has been playing guitar only three years and is already quite accomplished. He should be right at home in the bluegrass state. It seems he has inherited the gene for musical understanding from his dad, Ron Sr., a crackerjack banjo player. I had my nieces record a couple of songs and they've been posted on Facebook, along with a picture of the cake:

Good luck, Ronnie. We're proud of you.

After the 71 mile drive home, I found the perfect vehicle to unwind. This-TV, channel 111 on Cablevision in NYC, was running an Elvis marathon, and Kid Galahad, wherein the King played a boxer, was up. I'd seen it the theater way back in 1962. It's one of the better Elvis vehicles, fun despite its predictability. Its cast is a film buff's dream: Gig Young, Charles Bronson, Ned Glass, Richard Devon and his beady eyes, Ed Asner, Bert Remsen, the Jordanaires and, of course, the requisite beauties, Lola Albright and Joan Blackman. It was directed by Phil Karlsen, who was at the helm of 66 movies, the most notable Walking Tall (1973), Hell to Eternity (1961), and two Matt Helms. At IMDb I noticed that Devon, who was ubiquitous as a villain on 60's TV, had a writing credit. He co-scripted Scorching Fury (1952), a western cited as one of the worst of the 40's. Although whoever made the comment got the decade wrong, the flick must not be very good. It has disappeared.

My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases on Bay Parkway today, and to the gentleman who donated about 50 books, most of them geared to children and young adults, a few classics as well.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/27 - Tomato

Tomato Red is the sixth of Daniel Woodrell’s ten novels. Published in 1998, it is set in the Ozarks, the mountainous area of Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where he grew up. 235 pages, it is a swift read, despite the occasional difficulty of the language, a first person account of the main character, a drifter. He falls in with a pair of teenagers, a girl, 19, and her brother, 17, whose mother is a prostitute who runs her business out of her little home. The overall tone is of despair and anger. These people have been dealt a bad hand by life and suffer a defeatist attitude. Although I had a hard time relating to that, I do remember how overwhelmed I was by the enormity of life as a young man, so I did experience a bit of empathy. Fortunately, I did not allow futility to cripple me as it does them. The prose and dialogue are genuine and clever, the characters well-drawn. I worried about the fate of the young players, as it was clear violence was in the future. The words “redneck” and “white trash” are frequently employed by them and others. This dire quote from Theodor Reik precedes the narrative: "Anybody possessing analytical knowledge recognizes the fact that the world is full of actions performed by people exclusively to their detriment and without perceptible advantage, although their eyes were wide open." If I'm interpreting it correctly, it was called "self-defeating behavior" in one of my college courses. The novel is bleak and sad. I suspect Faulker was a major influence on the author. The title refers to the color of the girl’s hair. It is hard to warm up to such a story, where hope is virtually absent. On a scale of five, I rate it three, and that is due more to the fact that Woodrell has had ten works published by major publishers, so there may be a lot I’ve missed. 61 contributors at Amazon forge to a consensus of four of five. Woodrell also has had two of his books adapted to the screen: Woe to Live On, which became Ride with the Devil (1999), the only Ang Lee movie I've hated; and Winter’s Bone (2010), which I added to my list at Netflix because it stars Jennifer Lawrence, whose talent is so impressive.

There was an odd occurrence at the floating book shop today. An elderly gentleman approached with his walker and addressed me in Russian, as he had yesterday. Instead of shrugging, I held up four fingers, assuming he'd asked how many books I'd sold. When he left I wondered if he'd interpreted that I was staying until four o'clock. I felt like an ass. Fortunately, he returned about a half-hour later and offered to sell me books in his native language at a buck apiece. Feeling like an idiot, and a bit guilty, I bought three, certain I'd disappointed him. He returned a while later and gave me the rest of his haul, about 15 in all. I don't know if he was telling me to pay him later or what. One is a beautiful, illustrated Bible in English. I sold a couple of the others and gave one to a nice lady who drops off a book at a time and whom I hadn't paid back in a long time. I'll give the guy five bucks, which I may be able to get for the Bible alone, when I've sold a few more. Spasibo, sir, and thanks also to the elderly woman with the lovely Irish brogue, who donated six excellent works, including bios of Rita Moreno and Patti Lupone, which Herbie bought, as I anticipated he would.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/26 - Wolves

The last three films I’ve viewed courtesy of Netflix have been 2013 Oscar nominees. I went into American Hustle with high expectations and was disappointed. I went into Gravity with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The Wolf of Wall Street is exactly what I expected, a perfect vehicle for Martin Scorsese’s cynical world view. It is based on the book by Jordan Belfort, who is played with brio by Leonardo DiCaprio. The entire cast is first-rate. There are welcomed appearances by veterans Rob Reiner and Joanna Lumley, as well as by former cop Bo Dietl. Unfortunately, I found the film to be one-note, pretty much as I did Goodfellas (1990) when I first saw it, and which improved on each viewing as the shock value wore off. I’m not sure that will be the case with Wolf, which didn't shock me. Is it an indictment of Wall Street? Some will see it that way, but I didn't. I see it as a portrait of the corrupt individuals of a single firm. Are there similar excesses at other companies? Of course, just as there are in Hollywood and other industries, but they are likely few and far between. The film’s major fault is its failure to divulge if any of the customers profited from their investments, especially after Stratton-Oakmont moves from touting dubious penny stocks to legitimate ones. It appears everyone was fleeced. I doubt that. The unscrupulousness of such players is deplorable, but the customers must share the burden of responsibility somewhat. I worked in the commodity trading business for almost 25 years, and the brokers desperately wanted their customers to make money so that they would continue to provide business. Did the customers always get the best price? No, it often went to a nearby trader as a sort of favor which would be returned in tough times, but the customer still made money -- if he was on the right side of the market. I explain this in my fourth novel, Exchanges. I think 99% of people put in such a situation would act the same way. I didn’t know any brokers who were as openly, gleefully rapacious as those in the film. I liked many, hated a few, and had mixed feelings about some. I am a better person as a result of my experiences in the world of high finance. I learned a lot, especially about the human experience, although it was at times ugly. I didn’t learn much, if anything, from The Wolf of Wall Street. On a scale of five, I rate it 2.5. Contributors at IMDb disagree. Almost 378,000 forge to a consensus of 8.3 of ten. The film received five Oscar nominations, winning none. Anyone interested in a more realistic take on Wall Street, minus the flash and debauchery, should try Margin Call (2011), by far the best film I’ve seen on the subject.

There is an interesting op-ed piece in today’s NY Post by Thomas Sowell, who cites that the President is not a lame duck, given his disdain for the constitution and penchant for bypassing congress. He hilariously states that Biden was chosen VP to make Obama "impeachment-proof." He closes with this statement: “Far from being a lame duck President, Obama can make this a lame duck democracy.”



My thanks to the buyers and donors who visited the floating book shop today.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/25 - Tuco

RIP Eli Wallach, one of greatest character actors of all time, Brooklyn born. He has 167 credits listed at IMDb. Here are the most notable: The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Misfits (1961), the final film of both Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable; The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966); The Hunter (1980), Steve McQueen’s final film; and The Godfather III (1990), in which he did a very credible job as an Italian. He was married to actress Anne Jackson since 1948. The most surprising fact about him is that he is a graduate of the University of Texas, class of 1936. I wonder how many New York Jews attended a southern college back then. Astonishingly, he was never nominated for an Oscar, although he received an honorary citation from the Academy in 2011. He won both a Tony and an Emmy, and other awards. He served as a medic during WWII. The recollection of his verbal exchange, its existential overtones, with members of the seven always brings a smile to my face: "If God did not want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep." So does his lively banter with Clint Eastwood in what is the best of all the spaghetti westerns: “…you're the son of a thousand fathers, all bastards like you.” He frequently played villains, although he said of himself: “I always end up being the evil one, and I wouldn't hurt a fly.” Well done, sir. Thank you.
The only surviving member of the seven is Robert Vaughn. (Facts culled form Wiki and IMDb) Here is a pic of Wallach as the treacherous Tuco in GBU:

The revised GDP numbers for the first quarter of 2014 have been been issued. The economy contracted at a rate of -2.9%. For a change, the dismal showing was not blamed on George Bush but on bad weather. Let's hope the slide was indeed temporary. Analysts are predicting growth to be 4% in the second quarter.

I found a cache of VHS tapes, mostly Disney classics, during my morning walk. I sold two, as well as three books during today's session of the floating book shop. My thanks, especially to the woman who bought the humongous Russian dictionary.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/24 - 20's

24 has not disappointed in its half season format. Last night in episode nine viewers had the visceral pleasure of seeing a monster dispatched and her diabolical plan foiled. As so frequently happens in modern TV fare, the focus abruptly shifted to other miscreants. My hunch is that Chloe will not survive, that her lover will kill her or cause her death. This show is better than 99% of Hollywood thrillers. It’s obvious that Jack Bauer will prevail. The pulsating suspense is concentrated on the fate of the supporting players, and in the extent of the damage the creeps will inflict. While the storylines at times defy credulity, the overall scenarios are, unfortunately, all too plausible. Hopefully, there are real Jack Bauers out there ready to take down the world’s fiends. It's been odd seeing Benjamin Bratt, who played straight arrow detective Rey Curtis on 95 episodes of Law & Order, play a traitor.

Government environmental panels have been tweaking data to support global warming theories. What a surprise! I also found an article on the web stating that this past May was the warmest of all-time planet-wide. The comedy on this issue will continue, and it’s becoming a great bore to all but the zealots and those who wish to use it as a ploy to redistribute wealth.

My thanks to AW, who sent me the following in an email:
A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean."
"Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!"
"So, tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?"
The one dollar bill replies, "I've been to the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church."
The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

It was another quiet session for the floating book shop, although one of the three sales was particularly gratifying. It was due to dumb luck. Elizabeth Warnock Fernea's A Street in Marrakech was the last in line in my fiction section, its cover unobscured. It was spotted by a young woman from Morocco, who said Marrakech is her favorite city. Thanks, madam, and to the other two women who purchased books.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/23 - In Brief

Here’s the Middle East in a nutshell: Syrian terrorists cross the border, kill a 14-year -old year old Israeli, who happens to be Muslim. Israel retaliates, despite the fact it wasn’t a Jew who was killed. Those who believe Israel and the Palestinian question are responsible for the violence that characterizes the region see something I do not. If Israel ceased to exist, would the brutality stop? I think not.

Congratulations to Michelle Wie, 24, who won the Women’s U.S. Open yesterday, her first major title. She burst onto the scene at 13, wowing observers with her 300 yard drives, humbling males. Many believed she would eventually play on the men’s tour. For some reason, her game faltered, and she languished in the middle of the pack for several years. She now seems poised for the domination that was expected of her. 

We should see many similar pictures of her in the future.
Also in pro golf: Kevin Streelman had missed his last four cuts, going home without any prize money. Yesterday he birdied the last seven holes on his way to winning this week’s stop on the PGA tour. He took home a million plus. He is an example to us all, no matter what we are doing -- Keep Hacking!

I worked too hard for too little return today in Park Slope. I lugged two crates, which weigh at least 30 pounds each, a long block and a half. I hoped the weight would be much less on the dreaded return up the gradient. It changed by only a few ounces. My thanks to the young man who purchased two paperbacks. If not for him, I might still be there, determined to have something to show for my effort.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/22 - Wax On

Seeing old friends from Lafayette H. S. yesterday has me waxing nostalgic. Here’s an excerpt from , wherein the main character relates an experience to his wife, as he does throughout the novel. It’s a couple of minutes read:
“Was that the game your team scored the touchdown?”
“No, the one before it. We dominated the second half but couldn’t score. Toward the end of the game Joe Pascarella, our co-captain, got behind the secondary on the far sideline and caught a bomb. He limped toward the goal line with everything he had. He’d sprained his ankle a few weeks back. His ankles were so thin you could fit your hand around them.” Rick made a small circle with his fingers. “He was caught at about the ten, and their defense held. I ran off the field at the end of the game ahead of everybody else. As I was taking off my shoulder pads in the locker room, Joe came storming in, wailing as if he’d just lost his only child. He was raving, pounding his helmet against a locker. I felt so distant, so detached. It was one of the strangest feelings I ever had. I felt no remorse at all at having lost, at having been shut out again—and there was poor Joe Pasc’, devastated that he hadn’t scored, as if it would’ve erased our shame as a team. I didn’t know what to say to him, so I kept my mouth shut, even though his eyes met mine with
such sorrow.”
“Wow,” said Kelly sadly.
“I don’t think I ever saw anybody in such pain. On the bus ride home he had his head buried in his arms the whole way.”
“I doubt anything anyone would’ve said would’ve appeased him.”
“I’d always liked him before that, but from then on I looked at him as a kid would an adult. We had some great battles our senior year. I was a pulling guard and he was a defensive end. In drills I had to do what’s called a ‘kick-out’ block on him. Christ, he hit hard. I don’t know where he got his power from. He was skin and bones, always moaning about not being able to gain weight. He ignited every nerve in my
body the way he uncoiled into a hit. I always wondered if he hated me for that moment in the locker room when I’d caught him at his most vulnerable. I must’ve seemed so pride-less to him. But it wasn’t only that. Maybe he had troubles at home. He might’ve been angrier inside than I was.”

Here are some pics from yesterday's old-timer's game at Lafayette H. S.. The first is of legendary coach Joe Gambuzza:

Here's one of yours truly and two of his former charges, Andrew left, Roger right. I hadn't seen Rog in about 30 years:

Here's one of yt and Joe Spinelli. Our paths have intersected through Lafayette, the Exchange, and on the softball diamond as teammates and opponents:

This is fleet-footed CF, Bob (Tuna), a ballhawk not only at LHS but for our neighborhood Redmen softball team. He and Anthony (Diz) supplied the pics. My thanks:

My thanks also to the kind folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/21 - Strong Bond

I went into American Hustle with high expectations and was disappointed. I went into Gravity with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Both received multiple Oscar nominations in 2013. The former won zero, the latter seven, mostly in technical aspects. Gravity is a simple tale of survival set in outer space. It comes in at an economical 91 minutes, even less minus the closing credits. Its budget was 100 million, most of which probably went to its two stars, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Would the film have been as successful at the box office without them? Who knows? But the casting paid off enormously, as the film brought in more than 274 million in the U.S. alone. The performances are solid. I would expect nothing less from two such gifted actors. The real show is the spectacular visuals and the tension, which is thick despite the fact that one always expects the protagonist to prevail in such fare. Is the science sound? I have no idea. It was my worst subject. I’m sure most laymen wouldn’t care, and this is manifested in its high rating at IMDb, where 338,000+ contributors forge to a consensus of 8.1 of ten. The commentary there is interesting. There are several nitpickers on the science, and some who bash Bullock, which is ludicrous. Their reasoning seems to be that a big Hollywood star has no right to play a scientist, as if any glamor is injected into the role. Brothers Alfonso and Jonas Cuaron, Mexicans, co-wrote the screenplay. I wonder how many times they’ve watched 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), particularly the too long rescue segment. Gravity outdoes that part theatrically and cinematically, but does not approach the latter in substance, nor does it try. It is sheer entertainment. Alfonso Cuaron directed. His other notable work is Children of Men (2006). On a scale of five, I rate Gravity 3.8. What I liked best is its celebration of the courage of mankind. I could not help thinking how brave astronauts are. Human beings are microscopic measured against the vastness of the universe, yet several have boldly gone where few would dare even dream to go. As a writer, I also appreciate the duality of the meaning of the title.

I had a great afternoon at the Lafayette High School athletic complex, where a group of alumni played an old-timers baseball game in honor of legendary Coach Joe Gambuzza. There was a lot of love on display, and no coach deserves it more than Buzza, who was as successful as he is revered. There was a lot of hugging and kissing, and ragging by both the Coach and his players. As for the game, it was slow pitch, station to station. Fortunately, no one was hurt. It was a special thrill for me, as I got to see Roger, Andrew, Joe, and Bob. I hadn't seen Rog in at least 30 years. He and Andrew are the best football players I ever coached. Each played both ways, and to see them go at it in practice was both a privilege and scary. I frequently held my breath, fearful one or both would be injured. Roger has done very well in banking and Andy owns five Dolphin gyms. I'm proud of them. Joe is still trading gold options at the Exchange, where I worked for nearly 25 years. Bob, a former softball teammate, is a marathon runner who during his 50th year completed 50 of them. It was his post at Facebook that alerted me to the event. My thanks, and to Roger, who purchased Killing, and to Joe, who bought, naturally, Exchanges. He will recognize many of the characters. The title of our school song is Our Strong Bond. I certainly felt it today.

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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/20 - Success

There's an excellent op-ed piece in today's NY Post by William McGurn, who profiles Jason Riley, author of Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed. Here are highlights, edited by yours truly:
 It’s not only Park Slope progressives such as Mayor DeBlasio that Riley has in mind: “One lesson of the Obama presidency — maybe the most important one for blacks — is that having a black man in the Oval Office is less important than having one in the home.” His fundamental question is this: “At what point does helping start hurting?” And it comes at a timely moment in our history, 50 years after the War on Poverty and with our first black president now in his second term. And it has a special urgency for New York City, where our new mayor sees himself in the vanguard of a resurgent progressivism that Riley regards as deadly to the aspirations of blacks. “Up to the 1930s,” he says, “black Americans had a lower unemployment rate than white Americans. Up to the 1950s, the unemployment rates were roughly the same. But for the last five decades, black unemployment has been roughly double the white rate. And the turning point was in the 1930s, when Congress passed minimum-wage laws.” He disputes those who tout the minimum wage as an antidote to poverty: “For most black households, the problem isn’t a worker not earning enough. The problem is no one in the household has a job.” In the end, his book isn’t about numbers. It’s about the high human toll good intentions have inflicted on people least able to afford them. “The left’s sentimental support,” writes Riley, “has turned underprivileged blacks into playthings for liberal intellectuals and politicians who care more about clearing their conscience or winning votes than advocating behaviors and attitudes that have allowed other groups to get ahead.”
I'm sure he will get a lot of flack from the usual suspects. It brings to mind a quote from John Milton: “Truth never comes into the world but like a bastard, to the ignominy of him that brought her birth.” The book is in both the top 100 in hardcover and Kindle sales at Amazon. Good luck, sir.

RIP Gerry Goffin, one of the most successful songwriters of the rock n roll era. At 20 he married Carole King, who was 17. Eventually, they split. Their relationship is the basis of King's Broadway hit show, Beautiful. Here's a list of their Top 40 hits:
Will You Love Me Tomorrow     
Take Good Care of My Baby     
Some Kind of Wonderful     
Halfway to Paradise    
Chains     
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby     
The Loco-Motion
He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)     
Go Away Little Girl     
Point Of No Return              
It Might As Well Rain Until September     
Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)         
I Can't Stay Mad at You         
Hey Girl     
One Fine Day     
Up on the Roof     
I'm into Something Good     
Oh No Not My Baby 
Don't Bring Me Down     
Pleasant Valley Sunday     
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman     
Smackwater Jack
These were written by Goffin with others:
Who Put the Bomp 
Just Once in My Life         
I'll Meet You Halfway         
I've Got to Use My Imagination         
Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)         
Someone That I Used to Love         
Tonight, I Celebrate My Love         
Miss You Like Crazy

The weather was a ten and business was an eight for the floating book shop today. My thanks to all the buyers and donors.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/19 - Samurais

When recently I searched the donations to the floating book shop for something to read, I had a hard time making a selection. Those that seemed the most interesting approach 500 pages, and I don’t want to invest that much time in an unknown entity these days. When I glanced toward The Samurai’s Tale, I smirked, as the author, the late Erik C. Haugaard, was obviously not Asian. I immediately felt foolish. It was narrow-minded prejudice. There’s no reason a westerner wouldn’t be able to write an entertaining novel set in a foreign land and in the distant past. With research, the work could even have substance. The author, who received several literary awards, emigrated to the United States at age 17 when the Nazis overran Denmark in 1940. The Samurai’s Tale was published in 1984, geared to the young adult market. Within that parameter, it is successful. The hero of the story who, at the start, is a five-year-old orphan, sees his entire royal family wiped out by another. He is spared and sent to work as a kitchen aid. His intelligence and instincts lead to a gradual rise to the rank of samurai. Surprisingly, there isn’t much action in the narrative. Most of the battles happen off stage. The post-conflict carnage -- beheading, crucifixion -- is detailed, but I doubt it would disturb modern teens, who see horrors just as bad and more graphically depicted on TV and in film. It is a work of uncommon decency in this day and age, no sex or profanity, a story about an unconventional education. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommended it to anyone older than ten. It is an easy read, its 234 pages more like 200. It doesn’t have the substance I prefer, but that’s irrelevant, as it is geared toward the youngest teenagers. 20 years after its publication, it is still selling modestly at Amazon, ranked 45000+ at last check. The 70 users who have rated it forge to a consensus of four stars out of five. As an adult (stop snickering), I rate it three.

I accompanied a handicapped friend to a doctor's appointment today. She had a new CD playing in her car -- the 50 best tracks of Luciano Pavarotti, remastered. When Finiculi, Finicula came up I asked myself: What the heck does that mean, anyway? I hoped my friend wouldn't ask, as I was embarrassed I didn't know. Fans of Seinfeld will remember Elaine and the Maestro singing it merrily while riding in his car. I just looked it up at mamalisa.com. The song was originally written in a Neapolitan dialect in 1880. Luigi Denza wrote the music, Peppino Turco the lyrics. It was composed for the opening of the first funicular on Mount Vesuvius. A funicular is an inclined railway that goes up a steep slope. One tram goes up while another one goes down on a cable, hence "finiculi, finicula." The device the song celebrates was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1944. I would've never guessed. Pop culture is frequently fascinating.

Here's the picture of the day. Note what's in the left hand:

She is eleven-year-old Lucy Li, interviewed after shooting an eight-over par 78 in the opening round of the Women's U. S. Open, for which she qualified by winning a regional tournament. She is the new samurai of the lady's tour. You go, girl.

The trip to the doctor's went so smoothly I was only a half hour late opening up the floating book shop. My thanks to the gentleman who drives the Jewish Meals on Wheels of Coney Island, who donated five books, one of which Herbie bought. Unfortunately, it started drizzling at about 12:30 and I didn't have the patience or energy to battle it, so that was the only sale of the day.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/18 - Productive

Kudos to Special Forces and the FBI, who combined to capture one of the leaders of the Benghazi attack. Unfortunately, he will be brought to trail in a U.S. court rather than incarcerated at Gitmo, which will raise hackles from terrorists.

The old college try: Guards at a prison in Michigan caught a guy throwing a football over the wall. It was filled with marijuana, heroin, tobacco and three cell phones. (From Weird But True in the NY Post)

Yesterday I did a brief profile on Harry Morgan, who appeared as Elvis’ sidekick in Frankie and Johnny (1966). The flick was directed by the late Frederick DeCordova, who had a remarkable career in television. His film credits are distinguished only by Bedtime for Bonzo (1951), and only because it starred Ronald Reagan and a chimp. His work on the small screen is impressive, however, especially in volume. Born in NYC and educated at Northwestern, he directed 120 episodes of The George Burns and Grace Allen Show, 71 of The Jack Benny Program and 108 of My Three Sons. He also served as producer on many episodes of those series and others. He appeared on camera occasionally and briefly during his long stint, 1852 episodes, on The Tonight Show, on which he served as producer or executive producer for both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. A lapse in judgment caused a rift with Carson. While the legendary host was paying tribute to his oldest son, who had died in an accident, Cordova signaled that time was running short, infuriating his boss. Although Cordova remained with the show, Carson never forgave him. Still, Cordova’s accomplishments are to be applauded, and he did it all while having parents he described as con artists, who lived well and skipped town without paying bills. He was married to the same woman from 1963 until his death in 2001. (Facts culled from Wiki & IMDb)

A nice breeze and the shade of the apartment building negated the 90 degree heat, which made for a pleasant session of the floating book shop. My thanks to the four kind folks who made purchases, especially the young man who showed just before closing and scrutinized carefully before selecting two novels, a short story collection and a work of non-fiction.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/17 - Folly

There were three particularly interesting items in today’s NY Post, two domestic, one international. I’ll start with the most infuriating:
In a recent address, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchione asked consumers to not buy his company’s 500e electric car. He said: “…every time I sell one it costs me $14000.” The firm must offer the models to satisfy zero-emissions rules in certain states. It plans to sell the minimum number required, not one more. Marchione warns that auto manufacturers who must endure losses to satisfy politicians are likely to ask for a bailout if bankruptcy occurs.

The State University of NY owned Long Island College Hospital, located in Brooklyn, which hemorrhaged money for years. Studies determined that it wasn’t needed, that its demise would not diminish services in the borough, as there are plenty of venues to pick up the slack. It tried to sell the place and was blocked by activists. On the campaign trail, Mayor DeBlasio managed to get himself arrested in protest. The fight went on for a year at a cost to taxpayers of 130 million. Now, basically the same exact deal that had been proposed has taken place. Cynics would say it was the mayor’s way of paying back the lawyers who backed his candidacy.

Everybody’s favorite oppressor, Kim Jong-un, recently sailed on North Korea’s top submarine. The prototype was deemed obsolete by the Soviets in 1961.

Maybe fiction really is dead. No writer could make up stuff like this.

Last night This-TV ran Frankie and Johnny (1966), starring Elvis and Donna Douglas (Ellie May on The Beverly Hillbillies). I switched to it each time 24 went to commercial. The late Harry Morgan played the sidekick, as he did so genuinely in film and TV throughout his amazing career. He has 162 titles listed at IMDb, but that doesn’t tell the full story. He did 155 episodes of December Bride, 72 of Pete and Gladys, 99 of Dragnet, 180 of MASH, and 29 of After Mash. Wow. 


As they have so often, my Russian customers put the floating book shop back on the right track after four days of derailment. All the sales and donations today were in Russian. Spasibo. And my thanks to the Lady Eve, who revealed it was she who recently purchased Exchanges on Kindle. I also surprised Sue-Ellen, a young history teacher at Kingsborough CC. I signaled her to pull her Smart car over and, when she rolled down the window, I broke into a bar Happy Birthday. She'd told me last Friday. I was tempted to lean in and give her a kiss, but I was afraid I'd never stop.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/16 - Kudos

RIP Tony Gwynn, just 54, who lost his battle with cancer. Here are some incredible facts about No. 19, Mr. Padre, from an article in Yahoo Sports by Jeff Passan:

His rookie season, in which he played 54 games, is the only one he didn't hit .300. He hit .289. His 16 consecutive .300 seasons are second to only Ty Cobb, who had 23.

His career .338 batting average is of a different era. Every other hitter with an average of .338 or above started before 1940.

From 1995, the year he turned 35, to 2001, the final year of his career, he hit .350.

For his career batting average to slip below .300, Gwynn would have needed to add 1,183 hitless at-bats to his total — roughly the equivalent of two full seasons. 

Of the 12 top batting seasons since the expansion era began in 1961, he owns four of them:368 in 1995, .370 in 1987, .372 in 1997 and .394 in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

In 1994 Jeff Bagwell hit .368, the 13th best season since 1961, but didn't win the NL batting title because Gwynn was nearly 30 points better. 

Gwynn had nine five-hit games in his career. Only Pete Rose had more, with 10. Gwynn also had 45 games with at least four hits, 10th on the all-time list.

In 2,440 career games, he had only 34 multi-strikeout games. The odds were better he would get four hits than striking out twice.

He struck out only 434 in 10,232 career plate appearances. Paul Waner is the only member of the 3,000 hit club to do better, 376 in 10,766 

In 1995 Gwynn struck out only 15 times in 535 at-bats. 27 current MLB players have already struck out than more than 15 times in June.

Eleven times in his career he managed to not strikeout in 20 straight games, his longest streak 34 games.

Only once in his career did he have a three-stikeout game. It came against Bob Welch, who died last week at 57.

Neither Pedro Martinez nor Greg Maddux ever struck him out. Maddux faced Gwynn 107 times, hitting .407.

He had 323 career at-bats against Maddux, Martinez, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz and struck out only three times! Glavine got him twice. Curt Schilling managed to strike out Gwynn twice in 43 at-bats.

Gwynn never hit .400. In the strike-shortened 1994 season, he finished at .394 through 110 games. He was hitting .423 in the second half.

He topped .400 for a 179-game span between July 3, 1993 and May 9, 1995, hitting .403 in 600+ at bats.

In two-strike counts, he hit .302, a stat measured only since 1988. Wade Boggs is next on the list at .260.

Kudos, sir.

 

 Two of this year’s golf majors are in the books and the high drama that usually characterizes the biggest tournaments has been absent. Germany’s Martin Kaymer has established himself as one of the world’s best players, going wire to wire to win the U.S. Open, never less than four shots ahead in the final two rounds. It is an extraordinary accomplishment, but a bore for those who like nail biting tension, rapid swings of joy and despair. A couple of pundits attribute the lack of pizzazz to the absence of Tiger Woods. While the ratings validate what a powerful draw Woods is, it means nothing in potential drama. The poor play of Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy had more to do with the lack of excitement than Woods’ absence. Kudos, Herr Kaymer.

Congrats to the aging San Antonio Spurs, who dispatched the great Miami Heat with extreme prejudice, its four wins coming in routs. The opposite of what I anticipated occurred. I thought the Heat might sweep. I’m glad I was wrong. The Spurs seem like a classy bunch. This, their fifth championship in the Tim Duncan era, may have been their last hurrah. And the Heat may be broken up by free agency next season, opening the door for other franchises. Unfortunately, the Knicks are again rebuilding and the Nets need better, younger, more durable players. Kudos to coach Popovich and his crew, who suffered that gut-wrenching defeat in last year's showcase.

My thanks to the young man who purchased Not Another Feckin' Book about the Irish by Colin Murphy Donal O'Dea, my lone sale today in Park Slope, the fourth straight putrid session for the floating shop.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/15 - Hustle

Knowing that American Hustle (2013) received critical accolades and was also a box office hit, I had high expectations. I watched it last night, courtesy of Netflix. I was disappointed. I gazed at the clock several times, checking what was left of its 2:15 running time. It was a great showcase for its cast but bloated storytelling. Although I did not warm up to any of the characters, the performances were excellent. Having forgotten who many of the principals were, it was awhile before I realized Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Robert DeNiro were involved. Sexist pig that I am, I remembered only that Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence were players. I did not spot Elizabeth Rohm at all. I saw her name in the closing credits. Like Bale and DeNiro, she was heavily made up. And the role was so unlike the low-key ADA, Serena Southerlyn, she played on 85 episodes of Law & Order. This is by no means a bad film. The screenplay, co-written by Eric Warren Singer and director David O. Russell, is intelligent and requires thinking, so unlike many Hollywood vehicles. I suppose my lack of enthusiasm can be traced to my conservative nature. I’m not a fan of 70’s culture, particularly the overall tone and look of the movies produced back then, which AH captures perfectly. Like many of those works, the anti-heroes come off best and figures of authority worst. If there has ever been an FBI agent like the one Bradley Cooper depicts with manic energy, I’m not aware of it. The most sympathetic character is a liberal politician, who, against his instincts, is enticed into illegality because it will be a boon to his beloved constituency. There is a clever tie-in with the infamous Abscam scandal that undid several congressmen. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was conning whom. I thought Jennifer Lawrence’s character was fascinating. I understood why her estranged husband could not break from her entirely. I just couldn’t accept the prevailing philosophy of the film. The main promotional tagline was “Everyone hustles to survive,” which is true in terms of effort but false in terms of con. Although we all have sinned, few of us have bilked others out of a large sum of money. Popular culture has been defining deviancy down, to coin the phrase of Senator Patrick Moynihan, for decades. 215,000+ users have rated American Hustle at IMDb. They forge to a consensus of 7.4 of ten. On a scale of five, I say 3.25. My enjoyment was diminished by the lack of closed captioning, and the wide, narrow screen, no fault of the film itself. Russell has become a hot commodity, having done the equally successful Silver Linings Playbook in 2012. My favorite among his canon remains Three Kings (1999). Jennifer Lawrence’s talent blows me away. 

RIP Kasey Kasem, legendary host of America's Top 40 radio program. Is there anyone of age in the United States who never listened to at least a portion of it? Surprisingly, he has 112 credits, mostly voice-overs, in TV and movies listed at IMDb. He is a member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He closed each show saying: "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars." Kudos, sir.

My thanks to the gentleman who purchased a book in Russian. Suddenly business has ground to a halt.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/14 - Flag Day

It's Flag Day. Stand and salute:

Condolences to Rangers fans. Kudos to the L.A. Kings for their incredible playoff run. They played the most games ever by a Cup winner, 26. They won three game-sevens on the road! They were the first team that needed 21 games to get to the finals. They faced elimination seven times! Four of their wins came after trailing by two goals. In round one vs. the San Jose Sharks, they became only the fourth team in NHL history to win a series after losing the first three games. Man, they must be tired, but not too bushed to raise the championship banner.

RIP Chuck Noll, 82, the coach who guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in six seasons, winning numbers IX, X, XIII, XIV. He is the only coach to have won four. The first two were characterized by a reliance on the famous Steel Curtain defense and running game featuring Franco Harris. The latter two relied more on the talents of QB Terry Bradshaw and his WR’s Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Noll’s overall record is 209-156. He is, of course, a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. He played seven seasons for the Cleveland Brown as a Safety. He was considered a players’ coach, very lenient in terms of discipline. He built the team by drafting wisely. Here is a quote attributed to him: “A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.” And that is true at any level. I'm sure flags in the Steel City will be at half mast.

Red flag: for the second straight day the floating book shop had no sales. I've run out of "can't miss" items. I have plenty of good books. They simply don't have wide appeal. My thanks to whomever purchased the Kindle version of Exchanges this week.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/13 - Black Friday

Friday the 13th has always been fun to speculate about. Unfortunately, this year it coincides with the events unfolding in Iraq, which, though they're not surprising, are sad to most Americans and must be infuriating to those who lost loved ones there. When the U.S. abandoned South Vietnam, its fall was almost immediate. It has taken several years for Iraq to fall. Although it was beset by violence, there seemed a glimmer of hope. Many of the soldiers trained by Americans are leaving their posts. The Kurds have not. They may finally get the homeland they have long sought and they will prove they deserve it by fighting fiercely. Hopefully they have enough men and resources to repel the enemy. If only they had enough to rule the entire country. How ironic is it that Iranian troops are on the ground in Iraqi cities, fighting al Qaeda, desperately trying to preserve the democracy U.S. forces created? Of course, that democracy is probably doomed even if the present government pulls off a miracle rally and wins the day. And once we leave Afghanistan, what's to prevent it from suffering the same fate? Islamist fanatics must feel rejuvenated. In what will be hundreds of years of this war, this round goes to them. It is doubtful Iraqis other than Kurds will fight to the death, despite a call to arms by influential clerics. I wonder if the one U.S. forces called Mookie now regrets having pushed for the exodus of our troops. I'm sure our most ardent leftists are gleeful. Those with common sense will recognize this as a bitter defeat that may result in dire consequences. The price of crude oil will likely be the first we experience. I suppose that will make the environmental lobby happy.  

On another continent, the World Cup soccer tournament is underway. When I told Barry Spunt, author of Heroin and Music in New York City, I have no interest in it, he sniffed. The crew in Delmar pizzeria are excited about it. It was playing on the TV. Miguel, who makes the pies, is thrilled that Mexico won its first game. I know it is a great event to most inhabitants of the planet and I wouldn't spoil their fun, so I just keep quiet about it, although I won't lie if someone asks my opinion. If only it created the good will its organizers claim it does. Too bad the most contentious issues aren't solved by who wins an athletic contest. Such is man.

The floating book shop was lucky in terms of weather, as the skies cleared for several hours, but unlucky in terms of sales. My thanks to the lady and gentleman who donated books in Russian.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/12 - Little Man, Big Man

 From Yahoo News, edited and with additions by me: A 10-year-old home-schooled California boy, who at age 4 became one of the youngest Americans admitted to the high-IQ society Mensa, has received his high school diploma. Tanishq Abraham got his sheepskin on Sunday in a ceremony at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. The boy, who left his local public school at age 7, actually completed his early exit high school exam in March, but was too busy taking courses at a local community college to have the ceremony earlier. "He was pretty much self-taught," his mother said, adding that she focused on teaching him biology and chemistry, while her husband, who works for a robotics firm, helped him with calculus and trigonometry. For now, he is working on obtaining his associate degree from American River College before advancing next year to the University of California at Davis, which the family has chosen because it is close to home. “My ultimate goal would be science, like scientist or doctor, but I also want to be president too,” Tanishq said in an interview. Let's not hold the latter part against him. He has a lot of time to realize he's much too valuable to waste on politics. His mom said that when Tanishq was seven she took an astronomy class with him at American River College, and that he helped teach her the subject. "I'm probably one of the luckiest mothers, to have a 7-year-old as my classmate,” she said. I wonder if he threw spitballs at her.

From Yahoo Sports, also amended by yours truly: Jason Millard, 24, manifests why golf is called "the great game of honor." In a sectional qualifying tournament last week in Memphis, he may have touched the sand ever so slightly with his club before hitting a plugged shot out of a bunker. It didn't really affect the shot, but "grounding" a club is against the rules and requires a two-shot penalty. No one else saw it. There's no video of the shot. And Millard just isn't sure. "Right about the time I was taking my swing is when I saw what I think was an indentation in the sand," he said. "That little image keeps popping up in my head right now. But it happened so fast. I really don't know." Millard signed for scores of 68-68, without a penalty, and wound up earning a spot in the U.S. Open. He wanted to celebrate but couldn't. Not with that shot playing over and over in his mind.

 

Did he ground the club? Was that tiny crevice in the sand really there? Was he just imagining the whole thing? Last Saturday Millard and his caddie, who wasn't at the sectional qualifier, headed out from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the nearly eight-hour drive to Pinehurst. They made it about 90 minutes before Millard pulled into a convenience store and began searching for a number to the U.S. Golf Association. He had decided to turn himself in. "There was something in my heart," he said, "telling me this didn't feel right." Kudos, young man.

I had an hour-and-a-half to kill before an afternoon chore, so I set up shop, despite the threat of rain. My thanks to Herbie, who bought a novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/11 - Inside

Set in 1961, Inside LLewyn Davis (2013) covers a few days in the life of an aspiring folk musician. It is another solid entry in the impressive canon of Ethan and Joel Coen. Oscar Isaac, with whose work I was largely unfamiliar, stars as the complex, uncompromising artist who is so broke he sleeps on the couches of acquaintances and friends. The majority of the action is set in Greenwich Village, just before Bob Dylan is about to break big. The music, most of which was under the care of T Bone Burnett, continues the great trend of genuineness now seen and heard in fictional fare, imparting authenticity to the scenario. Despite a number of songs, I hesitate to call ILD a musical. The tone, despite instances of humor typical to the work of the Coens, is downbeat. The protagonist is not easy to like. Just ask one of his lovers, who excoriates him in vile terms. She is played by Carrie Mulligan, a Brit who does Yanks as well as her native born contemporaries. The supporting cast is outstanding, another constant of the films of the Coens, whose dialogue is always intelligent and engaging. John Goodman adds another eccentric to his list of credits. F. Murray Abraham is outstanding in a brief role as the brutally frank owner of a Chicago night club. The film's most amusing segment features Justin Timberlake, whose song, Please, Mr. Kennedy, is recorded in a session that includes LLewyn. The lyrics and background vocal are a howl. The film received only two Oscar nominations, sound mixing and cinematography. I was not taken by the latter, although I suppose its bleakness fit the tone. The film won the grand jury prize at Cannes, which makes sense, as it has more in common with European cinema, although it shares traits with Hollywood fare of the 70's. 49,000+ users at IMDb forge to a consensus of 7.6 of ten on it. I rate it four of five. I suspect I'll like it even better next time I see it. There is so much to the films of the Coens that a lot is missed on first viewing.

RIP Bob Welch, 57, who had a 17-year career as a starting pitcher with the Dodgers and A's. He was a two-time all-star and member of World Series winners in '81 and '89. His best season, 1990, was phenomenal. He went 27-6 with an ERA of 2.95, and won the AL Cy Young award. It was the only time he won 20 or more games. His overall record was an impressive 211-146, despite struggles with alcohol addiction. Kudos, sir.

It was another day when effort was rewarded at the floating book shop. The gloomy weather continues its hold on the northeast, with rain possible at any time. I had to cover up the wares for about 15 minutes, as a light shower passed. It was during this time that a woman who purchased 18 books in Russian passed and asked if I had any more. As she held an umbrella above our heads, I showed her a set of 14 translations of an obscure French author, and she made a call to a friend, who said: "Buy 'em!" She also took a translation of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Spasibo, madam, and also to Mikhail, who bought a book on Tsar Peter, and to the gentleman who donated three books in Russian.   
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/10 - Eclectus

Yesterday I placed an order to buy 100 shares of Apple at 100. Good news: I paid less than 94, which means I'll lose about $600 less should the stock tank. Look out below. Good news that may be bad news: it looks like the FED will continue its low interest rate and quantitative easing policies to try to boost the economy, which should help the stock market but which may be disastrous for the country in the long run.

With the forecast calling for rain and the sky completely overcast at eleven AM, I decided to set up shop just outside my car, about 70 yards from my usual nook. Fortunately, three of my semi-regulars and one newbie made purchases. I was right in front of a large apartment building. Two female retirees brightened the day. Joan, whose son will soon marry into the family of an actress, stopped by as promised to tell me what Jill Hennessey, whom she met at the bridal shower, is like. "A lovely woman," she said. I'm so glad. I really liked her work as ADA Claire Kincaid in 68 episodes of the original Law & Order. To my surprise, she filmed almost twice as many, 117, as the title character of Crossing Jordan, in which she played an M.E.. She has a twin who has a Master's in French lit. She speaks Italian, German, French and Spanish, and plays guitar, a true renaissance woman. Here's a pic:

   Later, Barbara exited the building kissing her parrot, Angel. She said it is an Eclectus. Its head and neck are a vivid green, but the rest of its body is rather colorless, which may be due to the environment or diet, Barb speculated. Its origins, of course, are tropical. It speaks. It was a trip seeing the heads of passersby turn when Angel said "Hello." Most laughed. Some stopped to talk to the bird. Angel also said "All right" several times and whistled repeatedly. Here's what the bird is supposed to look like:

 Thanks, folks.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/9 - Risk/Reward

We all have regrets, actions taken or not taken, errors of omission or commission. My biggest financial blunder involves Apple. In the early 90’s I bought 25 shares at $66. I don’t know if Steve Jobs had left the company at the time, but he soon did, and the stock gradually tumbled all the way to $10. It rallied back to $30, then fell to $25. Assuming it wouldn’t go much higher, I sold. Jobs returned to the company and a year or so later the IPOD was introduced, and the climb was steady and spectacular, fueled by products the public embraced, including the IPHONE and the IPAD. I lost about a grand on the trade, not a big deal measured against a lifetime, but I missed out on the opportunity to make a significant amount, ten thou, I’d guess, still chickenfeed compared to a lot of folks, even amateur traders, but not to me. The odd thing is I’ve been a buy and hold trader. There are several other stocks I could have unloaded and did not. Why did I choose to sell Apple? Dumbbell, I say to myself whenever I spot the famous logo. On Friday the stock split seven to one, and I faced a new quandary: Do I buy? Is there some kind of karma that would keep an association with this great company from being a success for me? I’m sure that sounds silly. Also to be considered -- Jobs' passing. Will the innovations keep coming or will they disappear as they did the previous time he wasn’t involved? This time the risk is greater. I decided to place a buy order for 100 shares at 100, even though I expect the overall market to make a huge correction on the downside in the near future. But I’ve been anticipating that for a few years and it has not come to pass and may not come as long as interest rates remain so low. Where else in this sluggish economy can people score large returns other than in stock and real estate investments? How I long for the days when interest on a bank account was 4%, and 7-10% on long term CDs. When young people ask me for advice, I always say: “No risk, no reward.” At least I’m practicing what I preach. Attention short players -- this may signal a potential killing.

Artists also must take chances. Fortunately, the consequences aren't dire. A writer on the bottom rung of the literary ladder must risk making a fool of himself each day he takes to the street to promote his work. When I left the house today at eleven, it was drizzling. By the time I completed a few chores, the rain had stopped. The sky was ominous, however. I had a choice to make: go home and read all afternoon or take a limited edition of the floating book shop to the viaduct. I fought off the sense of futility, which was even greater than usual, and set out. The task seem even more foolish when I arrived and heard the drilling of two jackhammers. A crew was at work on East 15th, tearing up the cement along the Bank of America. As expected, no one stopped for the first hour and a half. Then a young woman, perhaps 20, gazed over her shoulder as she waited for the light to change. Fortunately, I was wearing a sign around my neck, figuring I needed all the help I could get to attract attention this day. Katia approached and asked about my books. She said she preferred sci-fi-type fare, and I recommended A Hitch in Twilight, telling her the first story is set in Brighton Beach and the last in Sheepshead Bay, and I had her. When I asked if she wanted it signed, her bright blue eyes widened and a sunny smile broke out on her beautiful face. Concentrating intently, I somehow heard her spell out her name above the noise. The experience was at once thrilling and humbling. I don't know why I'm so lucky. I guess applying oneself continuously simply yields an occasional positive result. That sense of futility must always be fought. Thank you, young lady.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/8 - Three

My thanks to the lovely young woman who purchased the only Russian book I had on display today -- my lone sale.

Here's an excerpt from Threes, a story from the A Hitch in Twilight collection, available at Amazon & B&N, print, Kindle, Nook, link below:

   Tabloid, umbrella and shopping bags in tow, Rebecca Starr entered her cozy midtown penthouse and opened the sliding glass door that led to the terrace, letting in the summer breeze she loved. She went to her answering machine. All messages were business-related -- agent, producer of her current project, publicist, personal secretary -- except one, her ex-roommate.
   "Hi, Becky. I just called to see how you were and to remind you that the twins' birthday is in two weeks and that we really want you to be there. It's been too long. We miss you. Call me."
   Although Jennifer was one of the few people in the world she loved, Rebecca cringed at the thought of attending a party for ten-year-olds. She did not understand how anyone could be happy with domestic life. She suffered a chill at the thought that Jennifer had nearly died giving birth to her girls. She did not understand why Jennifer and her husband, Steve, were not embittered by their failure to crack the profession. She would rather be dead than not working steadily, earning a living as an actress. And yet they were happy. She was happy only when the cameras were rolling. She had no idea why the public had taken to her and not to Jennifer or Steve, who were every bit as talented and attractive as she. She'd known them since Circle in the Square, when they were students committed to art, to serious works of the stage: Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen.  They were founding members of an off-off-Broadway troupe that did several plays a year and attracted the attention of even the Times. It'd been a springboard for several members of the company, she the first and by far the most successful. A few others were still involved. The rest, like Jennifer and Steve, had entered the mainstream of life. She didn't know what she would do if roles stopped coming her way. Hemlock, she supposed. She was 35, an age when most actresses went into precipitous decline.
   She poured herself a drink, sat at the kitchen table and gazed at the front page of the Post. She trembled, as she had upon seeing it at the newsstand. A rock star had leaped to his death from a hotel room in Asia. They would have been lovers had not his girlfriend walked in on them as they were tearing the clothes from each other in the bathroom at a gala years ago. She slapped him - not only because he was cheating but because he had a girlfriend at all. Why had he needed one when beautiful women were throwing themselves at him? One positive thing she could say about herself - she never cheated, unlike the men she'd dated in her '20's. And when she hit the height of her sexuality, she wouldn't even dream of a relationship, as she bedded several men and an occasional woman a week. Her career was her mate. And now that her hormones were no longer at full tilt, she turned to a vast collection of toys whenever desire called. They were infinitely more reliable than men.
   She scanned Page Six. It'd been months since she'd been mentioned, months since her picture had appeared. For a time it seemed she was there every day, dubbed “our favorite wild girl.” She was thrilled even when the gossip was erroneous. She believed the only bad publicity was no publicity. She feared her star was falling and was filled with dread. She knocked back the rest of her scotch, poured another and lit a cigarette.
   In the obituary section she learned that one of her favorite actresses, 90, had died a few days ago in a nursing home. She tensed. Everyone knew celebrities died in threes. Who would be next? She felt her tic return. Fortunately, it disappeared whenever she reached a set. She was afraid one day soon it would not. She rose and paced, keeping her distance from the sliding glass door, afraid she would be sucked out, pulled 20 stories to her death by some mysterious force.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/7 - Eunuch

When I needed a book to read recently, I had difficulty finding one to my liking among all those donated to the floating shop. The most interesting seemed One for Sorrow, billed as A John the Eunuch Mystery. I’d simply put it aside if it wasn’t up to par. I was pleasantly surprised. It is a polished, fun read, the brainchild of husband and wife team Mary Read and Eric Mayer. It is set in Constantinople during the reign of Justinian (527-565 AD). Rome has fallen. The Empire is centered in what is now Istanbul, Turkey. John works closely with the emperor, who appears briefly in the novel. He is charged with the investigation of the murder of an officer of the court, a friend. There is a tie in with the quest for the Holy Grail. The narrative has authenticity of place and time. The characters are interesting. The authors, who at first used the hero in short stories published in magazines, have since written nine other installments. I noted that they have changed the subtitle to: A John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery. I doubt I’d have chosen it had not the word “eunuch” appeared on the cover. The change has not seemed to hurt sales. 15 years after its publication, the book is ranked 700,000+ in print sales, and 62,000+ in Kindle. There are at least nine million books listed at Amazon. The 17 contributors who have rated the novel forge to a consensus of 3.7 of five. I rate it 3.25.

Last night This-TV, 111 on Cablevision in NYC, ran Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. As someone never enamored with the original crew of the Enterprise, the flick was exactly what I'd expected, distinguished only by an unlikely participant. When I saw Christopher Plummer’s name in the opening credits, I assumed he’d be playing a Star Fleet big shot, as he is almost always cast as upper class. He played a Klingon, and went at it with pizzazz, gleefully quoting Shakespeare, at times in the “original” Klingon. Shakespeare was an alien - who knew? Well, it would explain why he is the most influential author of all time. In an episode of the The X-Files, Mulder opines that several great athletes were aliens, a rather dim view of earthlings. Isn't it more likely that politicians are the aliens?

One of my regulars, cane in hand, approached the floating book shop sporting a pair of shades. They were hiding a black eye suffered at the hands of a police officer. According to the young man, who seems about 30, he was hanging out in Coney Island, chewing tobacco, minding his business. The cop assumed he was attempting to swallow drugs, clamped his fingers in his throat and punched him several times. He was arrested and released. His sunglasses and book were not returned. He is talking law suit. I wasn't there, but most of the time I see him he seems loaded. That doesn't mean he was when he was busted, or that he was in possession. My advice? Lose the cane. It's a bit much.

My thanks to four other regulars who bought books today, and to whomever bought Exchanges at Amazon this week. To illustrate how meaningless the rankings can be for most authors, my overall standing zoomed to just below 100,000 in May, when I had a couple of Kindle sales. Its has dropped to 360,000th or so.
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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx