The Writer's Life: The Writer's Life 8/18

Last evening a Facebook friend posted comments Pittsburgh Steelers LB James Harrison has made. In today's NY Post, Rich Lowry's op-ed piece is devoted to the issue. Here are highlights, pared and edited by yours truly: “'I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!' He swiftly returned the offending tokens and explained himself on Instagram: 'These trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best.' He was signed by the Steelers at the outset of his career as an undrafted rookie, got cut multiple times and considered quitting and becoming a truck driver like his dad, until he finally caught on in the NFL, where they don’t honor you for participating. Most people are still with Harrison, if a Reason-Rupe poll from last year is to be believed. It found that 57 percent of people think only winning players should get trophies, putting a clear majority on the side of the atavistic impulse to reward only victory. Participation — and effort — should be its own reward. No one gave us trophies when my Little League team scuffled to a pathetic losing season on the dusty neighborhood ballfield. We participated, we got humiliated, and we moved on, having indubitably established what James Harrison said of his sons’ unearned trophies: 'Sometimes your best is not enough.'” Kudos, gentlemen.

There is a hilarious caption among the Post's editorials: "Hillary Rodham Nixon." The accompanying piece reveals that Bob Woodward, who with Carl Bernstein broke the Watergate scandal, sees parallels between the former Secretary of State and Tricky Dick.

And in the Weird But True column, a new craze in Russia has been reported -- Selfie with the Deceased. People are offered from $15 to $75 for the most amusing shot. One stipulation: the picture taker must be smiling, as the dead person has gone to a better place. What a world.

The day featured a noticeable drop in heat. My thanks to the woman who handed me a hardcover copy of Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising from the passenger seat of a car, and to the young man who donated four copies of the Kama Sutra, two in paperback, two in Russian that have nudity on the cover; to the woman who bought four romance novels, and to Barry Spunt, author of Heroin and Music in New York City. He's always on the lookout for stuff about Hollywood and overpaid for one. I happened to read the blurb of Ace Adkins' Devil's Garden and found that it is a novelization of the death that occurred at one of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle's infamous parties. Arbuckle was a giant, literally and figuratively, of the silent era. The incident occurred in 1921 and resulted in three trials. He was acquitted, but his career suffered. Only 10 of his 164 acting credits came after that. He did, however, work extensively as a writer/director under the name William Goodrich. He is credited with launching Buster Keaton to fame and fortune. The bulk of his work was in one and two-reel shorts. He died in his sleep at 46 in 1933.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/