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Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/30 - Around the Horn

Apparently, North Korea has perfected its nuclear strike capability, aided by previous U.S. administrations whose bribe money only delayed the inevitable. What do world leaders do now? Will handing over more cash appease Dear Leader, have him behave for a few years? Or is abduction, assassination, war - regime change - the only option? The lives of thousands, if not millions, may be at stake.

There was more good news on the economy yesterday. Third quarter GDP growth was revised upward from three to 3.3%, despite the damage done by storms. It will be surprising if fourth quarter growth, which includes holiday spending, isn't solid. Unfortunately, the situation with North Korea diminishes the positive vibes the direction of the economy engenders.

Since I distrust anything broadcast by NPR, I avoid it, so I'm not familiar with Garrison Keillor's work, although I know it attracts a significant audience and high praise. The charge against him seems ridiculous - provided that's all there is. More women have come forward - five in all - regarding Al Franken's behavior, so it's probably wise to adopt a wait and see attitude about all this stuff. The mainstream media must be digging hard for dirt on conservatives in an effort to balance the scales on this issue, which are tilting way left right now.

RIP Jim Nabors, 87. He was "discovered" by Andy Griffith, who hired him to play Gomer Pyle. Surprisingly, he was in only 23 episodes of the The Andy Griffith Show, but the character was so popular it led to his own show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which ran 150 episodes from 1964-'69. Nabors was also a talented singer whose baritone was the antithesis of the southern drawl with which his iconic character spoke. He recorded at least 28 albums, many more according to various websites. His own site lists three as gold, one platinum. He also hosted two variety programs, The Jim Nabors Hour, which ran from 1969-'71, 51 shows, and The Jim Nabors Show in 1978, 50 shows. He also did numerous guest shots on TV series. Here's a quote attributed to him: "I never knifed anybody in the back. It was just not my nature at all and that is why I was so surprised that I made it in show business at all." I wonder how many millions uttered Gomer's catchphrase, "Surprise, surprise, surprise," at least once. I did many times. Well done, sir. Thank you.


Let's restore some sanity to this crazed world. Here's supermodel Bella Hadid rocking life in latex:



My thanks to Ira, who bought a large book on life management, and to the young man who purchased I Can't Sleep by Knock Knock and The Trouble with Reality: A Rumination on Moral Panic in Our Time by Brooke Gladstone; to the woman who picked up 61 Hours by Lee Child, which I had reserved for her; and to the gentleman who bought a Men's Health publication, Muscle by Ian King and Whose Song?: And Other Stories by Thomas Glave; and to the local home attendant who picked up another cook book, this one on working with tofu. The vinyl albums and books in Russian did not attract any buyers today.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/29 - Dust Thou Art

Born in Denver in 1909, John Fante became one of the first Italian-American writers to make a significant breakthrough. His novels and short stories garnered praise from critics and successful authors. He collaborated on screenplays to help cover expenses. I just finished his most famous novel, Ask the Dust, published in 1938. Set in L.A., only 165 pages, it is an episodic portrait of an artist as a young man, Fante's alter-ego Arturo Bandini, the protagonist of several of his novels. I found the writing uneven, at times beautiful, at times unpolished. The focus of much of the narrative is the young man's relationship with a Mexican-American waitress who loves a man who rejects her, as she spurns Bandini. Fante perfectly captures the frustration of a 20-year-old whose sexuality conflicts with his Catholic upbringing, with which I empathized, as I did with the unrequited love. Bandini frequently lashes out verbally, cruelly, but demonstrates compassion and kindness just as often. Again, I was there myself. The novel's best sequence is the description of a devastating earthquake that ravages Long Beach. There are several rich metaphors along the way. Here's one: "Her hair spilled over the pillow like a bottle of overturned ink." There are, of course, existential musings: "... The desert was always there, a patient white animal, waiting for men to die, for civilizations to flicker and pass into the darkness. Then men seemed brave to me, and I was proud to be numbered among them. All the evil of the world seemed not evil at all, but inevitable and good and part of that endless struggle to keep the desert down." Clearly, this is a work that would appeal largely to artists, especially writers. 246 readers at Amazon have rated Ask the Dust, forging to a consensus of 4.3 on a scale of five, too high in my opinion. Yet it continues to be read, ranked at last check among all fiction at 53,000+, remarkable given its original publication date and the fact that there are at least 13 million titles available at Jeff Bezos' behemoth. Three of Fante's novels have been adapted to the big and small screen. Acclaimed director Robert Towne wrote the screenplay and filmed Ask the Dust in 2006. It stars Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek. I've added it to my Netflix list. Towne has said it is the best novel ever written about L.A.. He was instrumental in getting the square outside the Central Library, which Fante frequented, named after the author. Fante passed away from complications of diabetes 1983 at 74. Italian-Americans seeking cultural references would be disappointed by the book. There are hardly any. Here's a pic of the author:


I was familiar with the use of Fauxchohantas to describe Elizabeth Warren. Talk radio's Mark Simone offered another gem yesterday - Lie- awatha. Speaking of liars, Jonathan Podhoretz devotes his op-ed piece in today's NY Post to Nancy Pelosi's misbegotten defense of Congressman John Conyers, claiming it inadvertently helps Roy Moore. Here's an excerpt: "... served a ridiculous 52 years in the House of Representatives, a record that suggests he is less a captain of the ship of state than he is a barnacle permanently attached to its hull." Kudos, sir. And in the same vein - down goes another liberal icon - Matt Lauer. Remember how pleased the left was by the lawsuits vs. Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly? It's been downhill for them ever since. Who's next?

Here's a disguise Star Wars icon Mark Hamill uses to avoid autographer seekers. The photo ran in today's Post:


My thanks to the sweet elderly woman who bought two books in Russian, and to the gentleman who did a three-for-three swap of them, and to the the guy who returned to purchase three more vinyl albums, two by Dean Martin and one by Dale Evans, the latter of which had never been opened.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc


 
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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/28 - Contact

From a blurb in today's NY Post, edited by yours truly: Akdeniz University in Turkey is offering a unique new course, anticipating contact with aliens: UFO-ology and Exopolitics. Two of its lessons will be: Galactic Diplomacy and the History of Cover-ups of Knowledge of Extraterrestrial Beings. No word yet if Fox Muldaur will be on the faculty.



Dictionary.com has chosen "complicit" as its word of the year. It has had a 300% rise in people looking up its meaning, spiked by its use in a Trump lampoon on SNL, and other uses in regard to the President.

From the Post's Page Six column, edited by YT: Jordan Peele, writer-director of the breakout film Get Out, insinuated that Tiger Woods was being brainwashed and exploited by Donald Trump. The two played golf the day after Thanksgiving in a foursome that included pros Dustin Johnson and Brad Faxon. The auteur tweeted a picture of the two, captioned: “Now you’re in the Sunken Place,” a reference to a state of mind in the movie - blacks hypnotized before being sold to whites in a secret, bizarre auction involving bingo cards. Hopefully it's clever free publicity and not more Hollywood paranoia. Meanwhile, here's a clever take off on Trump's campaign catchphrase:


Watching NFL week twelve highlights on youtube, three players stood out. The excellence of veteran WR's Antonio Brown of the Steelers and Julio Jones of the Falcons is familiar to fans. Rookie RB Alvin Kamara of the Saints was spectacular, rushing and receiving, in a loss to the Rams. He was taken in third round of this year's draft after having played collegiately at Tennessee. Wow! The Giants and Jets each had two cracks at acquiring him. Speaking of Big Blue, Coach Ben McAdoo has decided to bench Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith. I've always believed Manning, a class individual and good soldier, an average QB, despite two Super Bowl victories, but how is Smith, who failed miserably with the Jets, a better option? Manning's streak of 210 consecutive starts will end Sunday - unless McAdoo comes to his senses.

My thanks to the woman who bought a book in Russian, and to Ira, who purchased two pictorials; and to the gentleman who bought Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol; and to Marty, who bought a CCR compilation on vinyl; and to the gentleman who selected albums by Neil Diamond, Brook Benton, Dion, Elvis and Dean Martin. Lovin' the mild weather.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Monday, November 27, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/27 - This n That

In an op-ed piece in today's NY Post, F.H. Buckley offers a few telling though unsurprising stats. These days liberal college instructors outnumber conservatives by a margin of 12-1. In History it's 30-1. He believes the trend will continue even further, as the ratio among new hirers is 20-1.

Before the NFL season began, the NY press predicted the Jets would win no more than one or two games. Now the team is being bashed for its failure to stay in the playoff hunt. How typical of sportswriters.

Last night Movies!, 113 on Cablevision in NYC, continued its Sunday Night Noir series with Vicki (1953), a so-so murder mystery notable for Richard Boone's turn as a cop on the edge, and one of Aaron Spelling's appearances in front of the camera. He played an oddball hotel clerk. Of course, he went on to a fabulous career in TV, producing shows such as The Mod Squad, Dynasty, Charlie's Angels, Beverly Hills 90210, and a host of others, 229 titles in all. He had only 30 credits as an actor, 21 as a writer and, surprisingly, only one as a director. He passed away in 2006 at 83. The director of Vicki, Harry Horner, was unfamiliar to me. Born in what is now the Czech Republic, he worked in theater in Berlin, and fled Germany in 1933 as the Nazis came to power. He became a U.S. citizen in 1940 and worked both in theater and film. He won two Oscars for Art-Direction-Set-Decoration, for The Heiress (1950) and for one of my favorites, The Hustler (1962). He died in 1994 at 84. Here are the lovely stars of Vicki, Jeanne Crain, who passed away in 2003 at 78, and Jean Peters, who played the title role. She died in 2000 at 73:

 

With parking spaces scarce near my regular book nook, I took the show to Bay Parkway and had a decent day. My thanks to the woman who bought books on ADD and sports nutrition, to the gentleman who overpaid for a paperback that contained both The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, and Hannibal by Thomas Harris; and to the elderly woman who bought two books in Russian; and to the middle age one who purchased Intensity by Dean Koontz. Jack from Chase approached and asked if I wanted a box of books he had in his trunk. I felt guilty about having turned him down so many times that I agreed to take them. They are a mix of marketable fiction and non. Once I got back to the neighborhood I squeezed the old Hyundai into a spot behind a truck and horse trailer with Louisiana plates that has been parked at the corner of E. 13th for more than a week - to the consternation of many. I have only a few inches of space front and back to maneuver. It was as close as I could get to my regular nook. I'll have to work a little harder than usual tomorrow.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Sunday, November 26, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/26 - The Unusual

From Yahoo Sports, edited by yours truly: There was an unusual occurrence in college basketball yesterday in a game between Alabama and Minnesota at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn. The entire Crimson Tide bench was ejected after a fight broke out. Later, one of its five remaining players fouled out with 11:37 left in the second half. At the 10:41 mark, another player left with an injury. The team played with three men the rest of the way - and they didn’t fare too badly. In fact, the trio did better than when the whole team had been available, outscoring the Gophers 30-22 during the span. The lead was cut to three with 1:39 left before Minnesota pulled away for an 89-84 win... Also in college sports - the argument for expanding the FCS playoffs from four to eight teams will never be more solid after Alabama's loss yesterday. Unless Wisconsin runs the table, there will be no true champion this season.

Last night MeTV ran The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) on its Svengoolie program. Every time it's aired I'm drawn into it. Despite the outrageous premise, it was made plausible by the creative forces behind it. If there were ever a movie, pre-CGI, that had better special effects, I do not recall it. And the science is beautifully simple. A riveting story is told in only 81 minutes. It was directed by Jack Arnold, who had a long career, first on the silver screen, then TV. He did Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), as well as multiple episodes of The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, The Love Boat and other popular series. According to IMDb, the special effects were uncredited, done by Cleo Baker, Fred Knoth and Ardell Lytle. The wonderful visual effects were created by Everett Broussard and Roswell Hoffmann. Grant Williams, who died at 53, earned a place in cinema history for his portrayal of the unfortunate soul. The screenplay was written by Richard Matheson, based on his novel. Fans of The Twilight Zone will recognize him as a frequent contributor to the show. Richard Alan Simmons did some uncredited work on the script. The film ends with Williams doing a voice-over, which concludes with these beautiful lines: "... And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist!"



Given the floating book shop's almost zero returns the past two days on Bay Parkway, I decided to take the show to Park Slope. It was the right move. Although I had only two customers, both bought in bulk. My thanks to the couple who purchased the King Creole soundtrack on vinyl, a Christmas CD and The Idiot's Guide to Weight Training, and to the woman who snatched up the three remaining holiday discs and romance novelist Susan Wiggs' Candlelight Christmas.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc


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Saturday, November 25, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/25 - Head Games & More

The Drowning is a rare film that reveals clues but leaves it to the viewer to figure out what's what. I watched it last night courtesy of Netflix. Based on the novel by Pat Barker, set in New England, it is the story of a child psychologist who, ten years earlier, made a decision that sent an eleven-year-old murderer to a home for wayward children. Released, the now young man insinuates himself into the doctor's life. Is he a bad seed up to no good? It would be hard to classify the movie as a thriller, at least when compared to flicks that explode into thrills and violence. It features a psychological battle, which is why I found it more interesting than most viewers have. 1300+ users at IMDb rate it only 4.4 on a scale of ten. Is it a good film? I'm not sure. There is a lot to piece together, much unexplained. Avan Jogia is excellent as the young man. Only 25, he has compiled an impressive list of credits, mostly in TV, that includes writing and directing. Josh Charles plays the doctor. He starred in 108 episodes of The Good Wife, of which he directed three. Again Julia Stiles is in a role that does not challenge her impressive skills, that of the wife, a talented artist frequently away at gallery showings in NYC. This was Bette Gordon's fifth stint at the helm of a full length feature, none of which has been a breakout effort. On the faculty of the Columbia School of Arts, she has also done TV and shorts. Stephen Molton and Frank Pugliese adapted the screenplay. The film's appeal is probably restricted to those who read the book, and those who enjoy psychological head games. It runs only 95 minutes, a plus. I thought the ending made perfect sense. An online reviewer dubbed it "illogical." Those who prefer thrills and blood splatter should pass. Kudos to cast and crew for daring to be different. Here's a still, Josh Charles back to the camera:



How does a day of zero sales turn into a winner? When I spotted Mayor Mike, local Super, strolling toward me, I reached into my pocket and extracted an envelope that contained $85, the proceeds from the sale of the Elvis plus one Johnny Cash albums on vinyl he asked me to hawk. This was on top of the $25 I'd given him last week. Elated, he offered me a cut. I refused and asked if anyone who had moved away from his huge building had left behind a digital TV. He returned with a 24 inch Samsung Smart TV in a box that had been opened. I just looked up how much it goes for and found one listed at $197, another at $177. I've yet to take it out of the box. I'll look at the user's manual to see if it can be used strictly as a TV without connecting to the internet. That would enable me to dump my cable TV subscription, and enjoy a picture that isn't constantly breaking up. If I can't use it that way, I will either offer it for sale or save it for the day my laptop stops working. After he delivered the TV, Mike brought more vinyl - several more Elvis albums, four by Dean Martin, four by Peter, Paul and Mary, and compilations by Neil Diamond, Paul Anka, Brook Benton and others. My thanks, Miguelito, and also to Mr. Conspiracy, who donated eight works of non-fiction. As a thank you I offered him the Best of Pete Seeger, one of his fellow traveler's.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Friday, November 24, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/24 - Gifts

From bbc.com, edited by yours truly: In a bid to tackle world hunger, a Finnish bakery is offering bread made from crushed crickets. Each loaf will contain about 70 crickets, dried and ground, then mixed with flour, wheat and other seeds. In 2013 the U.N. estimated that at least two billion people worldwide eat insects, and that more than 1900 species are used for food. In the West, edible bugs are becoming more popular with those who want a gluten-free diet or to protect the environment. The farming of insects may use less resources than farming animals. Here's what it looks like:



I'll stick with good Italian bread or bagels.

From Yahoo's Odd News, edited by YT: More than 40 dispensaries in the Las Vegas area will offer discounts on marijuana flower products, edibles such as chocolates, and concentrates. An eighth of an ounce of weed will sell for $35, down from $53. One dispensary will gift shoppers a 10-pack of fruit chew edibles with any purchase, while another will have a buy-one-get-one-free special on edibles. Legal sales began in the state July 1st. Anyone 21 and older who provides a valid ID may buy up to an ounce. The drug may be used only in private homea, as it remains illegal to consume it in public, even along Sin City's Strip, in hotels and casinos.

Also from Yahoo's Odd News (YT): Last year a couple shared a long kiss at the end of a visit at the Oregon State Penitentiary. The woman passed seven tiny balloons filled with methamphetamine into her inmate boyriend's mouth. Two ruptured in his stomach a short time later, their toxicity killing him. The femme fatale has been sentenced to two years in prison.

What a glorious day. Too bad business was terrible, despite the addition of Christmas books and CD's to the inventory. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased a holiday compilation issued by NBC, and to the woman who bought Witch Blood by Anya Bast. Frustratingly, at least five people studied the box of books in Russian very carefully and passed, probably because most of it is sci-fi and fantasy. Boris donated another book: Gods and Generals: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Shaara. His mom died when he was very young and he is grateful to everyone who helped him along the way. It has inspired him to help others. He showed me a picture, taken 45 years ago, of himself in a Soviet Navy uniform, aboard ship. He's now 65. Something about me led him to believe I too was a military man. I repaid him by giving him a copy of Killing, and he seemed genuinely touched. He'd had no idea I'm a writer.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Wednesday, November 22, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/22 - Moore & More

Here's the last paragraph of an op-ed piece in today's NY Post by Ilya Shapiro. It sums up what grudging supporters of President Trump hope: "I still worry about the state of the rule of law, as well as damage being done to political norms. But that’s mostly a function of President Trump’s Twitter feed. When it comes to actual on-the-ground results, the administration’s judicial and regulatory agenda is nothing but #winning." Meanwhile - has the President erred in supporting Roy Moore? I have no idea. His instincts have proven far keener than those of his critics, and he needs a reliable Senator to cast votes in support of his agenda. Moore is 70. The overwhelming nationwide consensus seems to believe his accusers. Without actual proof, I withhold judgment. The alleged offenses date to when he was in his early 30's. Since then he has served the state of Alabama as a judge. He is the father of four. A Vietnam veteran, he achieved the rank of Captain in the U. S. Army. If there have been no incidents since those cited, should he be forgiven? After all, he has not been accused of rape. Of course, if he demonstrated such behavior through the ensuing decades, he should be vilified and damned.

In another op-ed piece, Betsy McCaughey reveals that there is a bi-partisan call in Congress for mandatory sexual harassment training, which seems to reinforce the notion that politicians are completely without common sense, out of touch. They need to be instructed not to grope or expose their privates? Gimme a break... A Post article on harassment includes findings of a Quinnipiac poll, in which one number shows how insane this issue might get. 69% of American women claim to have been hit on at work. Outside of advances on the married, or persistent nuisance - so what? How are people supposed to get together? How many have met a spouse while on the job? I despise smug know-it-all Al Franken and I'm happy to see him humiliated publicly, but his behavior was merely sophomoric, boorish, not criminal or grounds for removal.

RIP David Cassidy, 67, who succumbed to organ failure after years of struggling with alcohol. He was wildly popular as the lead singer of The Partridge Family. The show ran for four years,  1970-'74, 96 episodes. He then made tons of money doing concerts. According to his bio at IMDB, at his peak he was the world's highest paid live entertainer, and his official fan club was the largest in pop history - exceeding Elvis Presley's and The Beatles'. He was ranked #1 in TV Guide's 2005 list of  TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols. Unfortunately, his riches were lost, possibly due to crooked managers, and he was forced to continue working even in ill health. Here's a quote attributed to him: "I was one of the wealthiest young male entertainers in the world then, but 10 years later I had nothing to show for it. By the 1980's I was broke and had to rebuild my life." His music made a lot of people, especially kids, happy. Kudos.



I can't let 11/22 pass without noting that terrible day in Dallas:



I trusted the forecast, which called for clearing in the afternoon. It was still drizzling when I began setting up the floating book shop under the scaffold just before eleven. It proved to be the right move. My thanks to the gentleman who bought The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum and The Godfather's Revenge by Mark Winegardner, the latter of which continued Mario Puzo's story; and to the young man who wanted easy fare to help him improve his English, which led me to recommend four Star Wars booklets published by Scholastic, and Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn; and to the guy who bought two more Elvis vinyl records; and to the old-timer who bought Johnny Cash's Greatest Hits. He said: "I may not be able to see well enough to read but I can still hear." Special thanks to the young man with a Russian accent, who offered $40 for the final 20 or so Elvis albums. I love smart shoppers.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/21 - Rats & Stuff

Here's a great pic of people reacting to a rat in a subway car, from today's NY Post:



Liberals are having a horrendous year. Two more of their icons, talk-meister Charlie Rose and Congressman John Conyers, have been outed for sexual harassment. This morning, radio host Mark Simone said he's heard millions have been paid out in secret settlements to silence accusers - and it's probably being paid for with tax dollars. He also offered a hilarious tidbit about the former head of CBS, William Paley, who, when he got old, ordered a round desk to make it easier for him to chase his prey. Next!

Incredibly, the NY Daily News, once one of the most popular newspapers in America, has lost $90.4 million the past three years. I stopped buying it circa 1990, as its left wing bias turned me off. Still, in the most liberal city on the planet, this is shocking news, reported by its chief rival, the Post.

Kudos to the Vikings, who played like prime-time championship contenders and made the Rams look like pretenders. And kudos to perennial backup QB Case Keenum, who has played so well in relief of Sam Bradford... It's hard to believe, but the Cowboys seem done. They deserve the worst for having taken a hard line in Ezekiel Elliot's defense. The Eagles drubbed them in Dallas and, for the moment, look like the class of the NFC... Meanwhile, only the Steelers stand in the way of the Patriots' march to another Super Bowl... Again, an Andy Reid team seems to have flamed out after a great start. Once 5-0, the Chiefs are now 6-4. I don't see how a unit that lost to the reeling Giants can be a real threat to New England, especially in what would be a road playoff game. Kansas City's opening night win in Foxboro seems to matter less each week.

I received my bank statement in yesterday's mail, and it revealed payment from Amazon for the sale of six of my books on Kindle. That brings the grand total to an even one thousand, a goal I set long ago. Actually, that point was passed months back. Wheelman Press has not paid me for the sale of 30-40 copies of Exchanges. I count only books for which I receive payment, although I include those I've let go at a deep discount. At one time I refused to sell for less than ten bucks a pop. I've since decided that if there's a chance the buyer will read the book, it's wise to give it up for cheap. The sale of other books at my sidewalk shop more than makes up for any per-copy loss. The goal now till the day I shuffle off this mortal coil is the next sale. I'll still keep a tally, though.

My thanks to Ira, who bought Amazing True Stories by Don L. Wulffson; and to Janet and Stu, who bought two of the Twilight series and Ann Rice's Pandora; and to the gentleman who selected three Elvis vinyl albums; and to the young man who donated several useful pictorials on exercise and men's health.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Monday, November 20, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/20 - Kiss & Tell

Born in Austria in 1946, Elfriede Jelinek was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 2004. I just finished The Piano Teacher, which was published in 1983. The 35-year-old  protagonist, whose dream of a career as a concert pianist was dashed, is a bitter egoist and misanthrope. She and her mother, with whom she lives, look down on all of humanity except great artists, most of them dead. Their relationship is contentious, bizarre. They sleep in the same bed. The husband/father has been institutionalized. Erika is not a virgin, although her few sexual experiences were unsatisfying. She is consumed with longing. During the narrative she visits Vienna's dark corners, which include a peep show, and a park where coupling takes place at night. One of her students, ten years younger, views her as an "...overture to life." She writes him a letter detailing what she wants, and he is appalled by the kinkiness. How will the story end? In violence? Suicide? Promiscuity? Fringe sex? In an asylum?That is the only aspect that kept me reading. In real life, I wouldn't want to meet anyone like the three main characters, all completely full of themselves and contemptuous of others. The tale is told almost completely in prose, quotation marks rarely used. The thoughts are frequently contradictory, much more so than that of most of the human race. Some are indecipherable, although those might have been lost in translation. The actions and depictions are uncompromising, often vile and despicable. According to Wiki, Jelinek studied music, and her own father was institutionalized. She began writing as therapy for anxiety disorder, and has been prolific, producing not only novels but plays, poetry, translations and even an opera libretto. She is a staunch communist. So what is the point to The Piano Teacher? I don't see any correlation to communism or feminism. I see it as a look at the troubled mind of someone who will eventually be put away. That's the only thing that makes sense of the 280-page slog. Anyone who picks the book up expecting erotica will be very disappointed. 89 users at Amazon have rated it, forging to a consensus of 2.6, too high in my opinion. This is the only one of her works I've read, so the following may be an unfair assessment - I wonder if the Noble committee awarded her politics and not her art.

Understandably, there's a lot of partisan bickering concerning the proposed tax cuts. The Dems, of course, are claiming they favor the rich. Sean Hannity has accumulated great wealth as a conservative voice in the media. He lives in Nassau County, whose residents pay the highest taxes in the nation. He says his taxes, if the bill is passed, will be going up significantly. Still, he supports it, although he excoriates the GOP for not having the guts to fight for an across the board slash. He recognizes that relief for all would probably fail in the Senate. In any case, it will come down to the wire. The hope is that two or three Dems up for re-election in states that voted for Trump will support it, which would negate the Republicans who jump ship.

According to an editorial in today's NY Post, NYC paid out $214 million in housing subsidies in 2016. It seems a tale of two cities - those who feed at the government trough and the rest. Such money might might help cover that which will be lost if the state and city levies are no longer deductible on the federal form. Then again, most NYC pols believe taxes aren't high enough.

My thanks to Lou, who bought the season five DVD of Breaking Bad, to the gentleman who purchased a book in Russian that explains American colloquialisms, and to Jeannette, who bought two Elvis soundtracks on vinyl, Clambake and Kissin' Cousins. One included a large, beautiful color photo of Elvis and Priscilla on their wedding day. Jeanette said: "She stole my husband."


Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Sunday, November 19, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/19 - Thunderstruck

Oddly, President Trump has not yet ballyhooed what may be a major accomplishment. According to an op-ed piece by Salena Zito in today's NY Post, on his recent overseas trip the President brokered a deal with China, which will invest $83 billion in petro-chemical projects in West Virginia. It has not yet been approved by the state's government.

RIP Malcolm Young, 64, founding member and driving force behind Australia's AC/DC, one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all-time, selling 200 million albums worldwide, 71 million in the USA alone. As rhythm guitarist, his profile was lower than that of his younger brother, Angus, who plays lead and skips along the stage as he works. He co-wrote the songs and did backing vocals. He retired a couple of years ago when diagnosed with dementia. Despite this, he gave the band his blessing to rock on. I've always respected its unpretentious approach to the genre. Well done, sir. Thank you. Here's a clip of the group rocking Munich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3cCOFBOh8I 



This morning I found a wallet in the street during my morning walk in the rain. It must have fallen from the owner's pocket as he/she exited a car. Since it was about 6:30 AM, I decided to take it with me. A block or so later it occurred to me to look for an I.D. - duh! Naturally, there wasn't one. Why should things be easy? At home I extracted the contents, a bunch of credit-like cards used at entertainment venues, an expired Metrocard, a business card for a computer fix-it shop, and seven twenties, which were soaked. They have now dried out. I will leave a couple of notices on the block in question. I don't want to divulge my phone number or email address, so I will leave the location of my regular book nook and hours of operation. Problem is, if I don't get a favorable parking spot, I will go elsewhere. I wish I'd left it there. Why return it at all? I want to be a good person from here on out.

Given the dire forecast of high winds, I was lucky to have gotten in a session of the floating book shop today. In fact, there was only a benign breeze in front of the Chase bank, and it wasn't at all cold. My thanks to the man and woman who each bought a book in Russian. Two one dollar bills blew my way as I was waiting for customers.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Saturday, November 18, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/18 - Kill Switch

In 1947 actor/director Robert Montgomery tried something rare. I'm not sure he was the first, but in Lady in the Lake (1947) he shot the film from behind the lead character, Raymond Chandler's master sleuth Phillip Marlowe. If I recall correctly, his face was seen in reflected glass at least once. Last night, courtesy of Netflix, I watched Kill Switch (2017), which employed the same technique through approximately half its 91 minute running time. Why only half? It is an alternate universe story told in non-linear form. Set in the not too distant future, the plot involves a new energy source which requires drilling holes in space. When the plan proves a disaster, the main character is given a device that will restore order. One of the parallel universes will be destroyed in the process. He must navigate his way through antagonistic forces to complete the mission. Despite the fact that it was shot almost entirely in the Netherlands, it is in English. It is not easy to follow. The computer generated print seen through the hero's eyes is rather small for a standard size TV. Are there holes in the plot? Yes. There usually are in such fare. Despite its flaws and the familiar story line, I followed along without once hitting the pause button. The flick was directed by Tim Smit, his first time at the helm after years working in the visual effects aspect of film-making. As expected, the CGI is solid. Omid Nooshin, who has directed and written several shorts and one full length feature, and Charlie Kindinger, his first credit, collaborated on the screenplay. I was unfamiliar with the cast, although the main principals have impressive credits. The lead, Dan Stevens, is a veteran of 25 episodes of Downton Abbey, as well as many other big and small screen works. Berenice Marlowe is a Bond Girl (Skyfall {2012}). Charity Wakefield has done several BBC productions, including Wolf Hall, in which she played Anne Boleyn's sister. 5000+ users at IMDb have rated Kill Switch, forging to a consensus of 5.1 on a scale of ten, a little low perhaps but not far off. Its appeal is likely limited to fans of sci-fi. Here's a still from the movie:



It's no secret that politicians are phonies. The Democrats who are finally getting around to condemning Bill Clinton's behavior all these years later are as annoying and transparent as they are fake.

A Navy flight crew is in trouble for its skywriting. Here's a pic:



No luck selling books on the street today.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Friday, November 17, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/17 - To Err Is Human

This guy should have used Spell Check. A thief misspelled "robery" in notes in three separate bank heists in the Boston area. Once busted, he had no choice but to plead gilty. (From a NY Post blurb.)  Of course, spelling errors worry a self-published author such as myself. One should not shrug and dismiss them simply because they occur in the books of mainstream publishers as well. The goal is always zero mistakes, although it is darn near impossible to achieve. Here are examples of goofs in the first editions of famous works, gleaned from a list at mentalfloss.com:
An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser: "...like two small chips being tossed about on a rough but friendly sea.” Wise or Pringles?
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck: "... flees to a dog's back." A really big canine.
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller: "...“He listend to me incomplete bewilderment.” Ol' Hank may have been as excited as his readers by his content, so the errors are understandable.
1631 edition of the King James Bible: "Thou shalt commit adultery.” This has to be number one all-time.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: "...ripped a hole in the bottom of it with the was.” (Saw) "It was like this..."
Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon: "...wall temperature and Nusselt heart-transfer coefficients...” (Heat) Tough read, though not as much Joyce's Ulysses.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: “I ate breakfast cheerily, watching the dust moats stirring in the sunlight..." (Motes) Maybe she was conjuring Dracula's castle as she worked.

A 21-year-old Norwegian woman was fined the equivalent of $30,400 for drunk driving. The country bases its levies on a person's income. Her father gave her a 42% share in his company. Her net worth is estimated at $1.23 billion. She has also been banned from driving for 13 months. Sounds like a government of gangsters. Here's a pic of this hardcore criminal:



My thanks to Gina, who bought a Bible published by Good News, and to the woman who purchased Good in Bed and All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner, and to the gentleman who selected five books in Russian. The highlight of the session was the appearance of local Super, Mayor Mike, who was walking unsteadily. I was sorry to hear he'd spent the night in the hospital. He was seeing double and feared he'd suffered a stroke. As I suspected, it was due to diabetes. I handed him $25 the sale of Elvis vinyl albums had brought in thus far, and said: "I hope this makes you feel better." He smiled and replied: "I love you, man." I hope he doesn't spend it on those sugary treats he loves. 
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc


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Thursday, November 16, 2017

The Writer's Life 11/16 - General Accounting

In his business column in today's NY Post, John Crudele puts a damper on the proposed cut in the business tax, claiming the current rate, 35%, is fake or, at least, a phantom figure, which I've dubbed the debt ceiling. He cites stats issued by the federal government's General Accounting Office that claim corporations receive deductions that lower their rates significantly. In recent years IBM has paid 10%, Apple 12.5%, GE 2.3%. Crudele cites Microsoft as good corporate citizen, having paid 34.2%. He concludes that lowering the rate will be meaningless. I have no problem with companies doing all they can - legally - to reduce expenses. My concern in this situation is that lowering the rate will be a dead end, which is a real bummer, as it seems America will never escape the economic doldrums it has suffered for a decade. According to articles I've read, the GAO is often wrong, although that seems unlikely in this case of simple math. In past articles Crudele has suggested a plan to boost the economy that seems sensible - allowing people to borrow from retirement accounts tax-free, which would subsequently incite a spending spree that would increase tax revenue. In 1981 the cut to the corporate rate led to a boom, but back then the rate was an astronomical 70%, at first reduced to 50%, eventually to 28%. That was radical change. I almost wish I hadn't read the article.

That was this morning. I just heard the news that iconic liberal Senator Al Franken has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women. That made my day, although I'm sure there will be conservatives who will be outed before all this blows over.



At least a quarter of last night's episode of Seal Team was devoted to the training candidates undergo. If it's akin to reality - wow! I went to IMDb to see if the series' creator, Benjamin Clavell, is ex-military. There is no information on it anywhere on the web, at least that I could find, nor is there any in that regard about the author of the teleplay, Corinne Marrinan. I was surprised it was done by a woman. She has an impressive list of writing credits in TV, also in production. I would be surprised if there are no consultants on the set, as the show seems authentic, at least to this viewer, who has no military experience.

My thanks to the couple who bought five books in Russian, to the woman woman who purchased one; to the one who did a two-for-two swap of them; to the gentleman who selected John Sandford's Rough Country and Mario Puzo's Omerta; and to Marty, who returned to pick up three more Elvis Presley albums on vinyl. He hooked up his phonograph and played the other two he'd bought, and said the owner took good care of them. Coincidentally, today I gave my record player to Andy, one of the MTA's go-to electricians for major problems. It was just gathering dust in my apartment. Later, I had a good laugh when Mountain Man and Mark, retired postal employees, discussed idiotic managers they endured on the job. Mark said one employee, chronically late or absent, who claimed he was unable to get to work on a stormy day, was asked to submit proof. The next morning he showed up with the branch of a tree, and was let off the hook. Alas, he was eventually fired.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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