Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/31 - Out in the Cold

I haven't made many New Year's resolutions in my life. I don't see the point, really. One's goal should always be to do better, to become a better person every day not just once a year. At this stage my goal will probably remain the same until I "shuffle off this mortal call," to borrow the bard's fantastic phrase. I hope WheelMan Press publishes my fifth book, fourth novel, Exchanges. Right now it looks like a go, but one can never be sure when dealing with a small press firm, which might go under at any time. I've been padding my Paypal account with money I earn doing surveys. I'll use that to buy copies of the book to sell on the street and through the mail. I know this will probably rob me of some web sales - and it's only through those that a writer at the bottom of the heap can hope to rise - but I'm just not someone who is comfortable flooding social media with ad after ad. I'm self conscious about the little I do of it as it is. Besides, I enjoy meeting people on the street. I only wish I had more sales to show for it. If Exchanges does make it into print, I will concentrate on getting my near 200,000 word rock n roll epic, Rising Star, published. And I have several more manuscripts on file. Right now there are at least 650 of my books in circulation, counting Kindles. I hope to reach one thousand some day.

Seven NFL head coaches and several GMs have been fired today. The most surprising is Lovie Smith of the Bears, whose record is 81-63. He is only 3-3 in playoff games, and coaches are judged on championships. He guided Chicago to the Super Bowl in 2006, a loss to the Colts. Ken Whisenhunt of the Cardinals and Andy Reid of the Eagles, who led their teams to a Super Bowl loss, also were canned. Although Reid's record is impressive, 103-91, his 2012 team posted the worst mark of his tenure. It seems a change was necessary. He and Smith are the most likely of those fired today to become a head coach again. Pat Shurmur of the Browns, Chan Gailey of the Bills, Romeo Crennel of the Chiefs, and Norv Turner of the Chargers will have no trouble finding work as an assistant, if that's what they want. The most likely candidate for an NFL spot is Chip Kelly of Notre Dame, which not only sits at #1 right now, as it prepares for the national championship against Alabama - it also has the highest percentage of players graduated. Kudos.

The ideal parking space did not lead to a lot of book sales. Still, without it I wouldn't have lasted an hour in cold. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased the novel in Russian today, and to everyone who bought, sold, donated and traded books this year, and all those passersby who simply stop to chat or wish me well. Happy New Year.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
 

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/30 - Not!

Last night PBS in NYC ran Dark Victory (1939). Bette Davis starred as a young woman terminally ill. The role was perfect for someone of her great skill. I’m not sure Hollywood got the science right, as she remains unchanged physically, beautiful until the final scene, but movies were kinder and gentler, held to stricter standards of conduct, back then. The character is diagnosed with glioma. The words tumor or cancer are not used. Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, one of eleven she received in her fabulous career, which had ups and downs often attributed to her contentious temperament. She won two Academy Awards, but neither was for what I believe is her most enduring work: All About Eve (1950). Dark Victory is notable also because of the presence of Ronald Reagan and Humphrey Bogart. The future president’s character is drunk in all of his scenes but one. He was by no means a great actor, but his presence lit up the screen. Bogie is amusing in his role as an Irish horse trainer, mostly because of his faulty brogue. George Brent plays the doctor Davis falls in love with, who cannot save her. Geraldine Fitzgerald, smoking up a storm, is the best friend. Henry Travers plays the older doctor. The film was directed by Edmund Goulding, who did other notable work such as Grand Hotel (1932). My favorite among his canon is Nightmare Alley (1947), which stars Tyrone Power as a con man. On a scale of five, I rate Dark Victory three. It is rated 7.4 at IMDb.

The weather, gusts of 50 mph today, is turning me into a bum. For the second straight day and third in fourth, the floating book shop was closed. I may have my revenge tomorrow, as I lucked into the ideal parking spot as I returned home today. It will allow me not only to duck inside to warm up, but to demonstrate the CD’s I’ve been burning the past few days. Besides, the Ultimate Sinatra, Jazz and Oldies collections I carry occasionally, I added Modern Pop and Country. Here are the play lists for the latter:

Country:                                                         Pop:
Cheater - Joey & Rory                                    Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Loud - Big & Rich                                          Don’t Know Why - Norah Jones
Our Song - Taylor Swift                                  Somebody I Used to Know - Gotye
Take a Little Ride - Jason Aldean                     Dress You Up - Madonna
As Good As I Once Was - Toby Keith               Don’t Get Me Wrong - Pretenders
Home - Blake Shelton                                     Wicked Game - Chris Izaak
Highwaymen - Willie Nelson & Co.                  Passion - Rod Stewart
Wildflower - JaneDear Girls                            Under the Milky Way - Church
Red Solo Cup - T. Keith                                 Viva La Vida - Coldplay
That’s How a Cowgirl …. - T. Lawrence         Everything - Michael Buble
She’s Country - J. Aldean                                Crush - Jennifer Paige
Eight Second Ride - Jake Owen                      White Flag - Dido
Pickin’ Wildflowers - K. Anderson                  B’vard of Broken Dreams - Green Day 
I Hope You Dance - Leann Womack               Game of Love - Michelle Branch/Santana
I’ll Go on Lovin’ You - Alan Jackson              River of Dreams = Billy Joel
The Lucky One - Alison Krause & Union Sta.
Blue - Leann Rimes
My thanks to my buddy Bags, who provided almost all the Country tracks and several of the pop. He has a lot more patience in exploring the music scene than I do.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/29 - Avengers

I caught up to Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) last night, courtesy of Netflix. It is better than most super hero flicks. The story was simple, the pace fast, the effects as spectacular as expected in the CGI age. It incorporated the various characters very well. All were integral. The most surprising aspect was the wit. I chuckled aloud a few times. I really enjoyed the performance of Mark Ruffalo, one of the best modern character actors, as Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk. He brought a real down to earth humanity to the role. The most interesting scene for me was a brief exchange between Ruffalo and one of the all-time great character actors, Harry Dean Stanton, playing a security guard who discovers the naked Banner and provides him with clothing. The film is rated 8.4 at IMDb. I’m not as enthusiastic as that. There are just so many of these types of films that they all blend into one another. It was directed by Joss Whedon, who worked his way up the ranks, doing various jobs in movies and TV, including writing and acting. His earliest works include several scripts for the sitcom Roseanne. He wrote the screenplay for this film. He also directed a modern version of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (2012), which I did not know existed. On a scale of five, I rate The Avengers three-and-a-half. The only super-hero flick that stands apart in my mind is The Watchmen (2009). It was unusual, different. I will revisit it soon to see if that opinion holds.

The Journal News of White Plains, NY, has taken a stand on the gun issue, publishing the names and addresses of legal hand gun owners. Of course, now potential criminals know which houses to avoid. Fortunately for the newspaper, owners of shotguns and rifles do not have to register their arms, so thieves may still be vulnerable at the hand gun-free homes.

The floating book shop was sidelined by rain today, but I made a big score in the food department. My godmother called last night. Her daughter, Nancy, is bi-coastal, owing restaurants in San Francisco and Brooklyn. She often brings leftovers home, and it was my turn cash in. I had two delicious chicken wraps with home style potato chips for lunch and a tuna sandwich for dinner. I left the cupcakes at my sister’s, but had three chocolate chip mint Christmas tree cookies that were out of this world. Krescendo is located about four blocks from the Barclays Center. Its specialty is pizza, but it serves other dishes as well and there is a bar. It has a Facebook page. Kudos to Nancy, an old fashion American entrepreneur. And thank you, Padrozza.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/28 - Bears

RIP General Norman Schwarzkopf, 78, who succumbed to complications from pneumonia. He led the highly successful Desert Storm effort to oust Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait in 1991. He was dubbed Stormin’ Norman by the press, a moniker he did not like. His subordinates referred to him affectionately as The Bear. In Vietnam he was awarded three Silver Stars, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and three Distinguished Service Medals. He was a paragon of the human race, doing the dirtiest of work while most citizens begged off. Thank you, sir.

The issue of gun control is hot right now. The NRA’s Wayne LaPierre caught a lot of heat for suggesting there should be armed guards in schools, a position with which I agree. It was not until days after the most recent incident that I recalled that a police officer was assigned to Lafayette High School during my years there, 1963-67, and I’m sure he carried a service revolver - and no one questioned it. I doubt gun control will work any better than the War on Drugs has or Prohibition did before it was repealed, although I understand the outrage and call to action. Deaths related to drug (except in Mexico) and alcohol abuse occur gradually, often quietly, not explosively and in bunches like gun violence occasionally does. I’d guess the yearly numbers are at least comparable in total. As far as kids being spooked by the presence of a gun, aren't they used to it already? Police officers wear them openly on the street, and TV, films and video games feature them constantly.

Happy Birthday to my niece Luci.

There was plenty of sunshine today, but it was a bit windy, and I didn't get the ideal parking spot, so I put in only two hours at the floating book shop. I was wearing seven layers. Choose a metaphor: more layers than a polar bear has fat; as many as one of those colorful cookies, whose name no one I know knows, sold in Italian bakeries. My thanks to the the gentleman who purchased James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, and the woman who bought Jean Giono's The Horseman on the Roof, which we both agreed was a terrific movie (1995, France). I also got a New Year's hug and kiss from the female half of the elderly Russian hand-holding couple who have donated so many books, and best wishes from several passersby. Snow forecast for tomorrow. Looks like this winter is not going to be as benign as the previous.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/27 - Odyssey

Since the weather was not conducive to selling books on the street, I had a brainstorm on how to make up the lost revenue. A handicapped friend I accompany on her visits to doctors lost her car to the floods of Hurricane Sandy. She had yet to turn in her license plates and asked if I'd drive her to an agency that handles such matters for people who would rather not endure the hassle of the Department of Motor Vehicles. I told her I'd do it for half of whatever the guy charged, saving her money and a trip out into the foul weather. It'd been at least seven years since I'd been to the DMV in Coney Island. I've done all transactions since then on my PC. It's about a half-hour walk from our building. On the way I passed a McDonalds that is closed due to storm damage. Uh-oh, I thought. Sure enough, the DMV is closed until further notice. It's only a few blocks from the ocean. I walked to the nearby station and boarded a Q train to downtown Brooklyn. For many years, before I moved to Sheepshead Bay, I used the DMV on Schemerhorn Street, pronounced Skimmer.... It was a bureaucratic nightmare out of a Franz Kafka novel. Fortunately, the system has been improved through the years, so I wasn't intimidated. I was happy to have something to do. 30 minutes later, when the train pulled into DeKalb Avenue, something possessed me to go out the back way. I guess I was hoping I'd luck into a shortcut. Dumb move. I didn't recognize a thing. I started walking along Willoughby Street, thinking of The Twilight Zone episode where the protagonist's commuter train takes him into the past, a simpler time: "Willoughby, next stop Willoughby." Along the way, I asked a hardhat, security guard and Fedex guy if they knew where the place was, without luck. Finally, I approached a government services building, where a woman was outside on a smoke break. "It's on the other side of the mall," she said, pointing. Had it been moved from Schemerhorn? Indeed it had. It is right across the street from the new Barclay Center arena, where the Nets play. In fact, there is a second floor tunnel that connects the buildings. On my first look at it in person, I was unimpressed. Its design seems to be that of a huge ocean liner, perhaps Noah's Ark. The thousands of brown, decorative designer plates on its sides seem rusted. Maybe it will look better to me in the future, as things tend to do once one gets used to them. Anyway, I was in the DMV for no more than a half hour. My friend had given me several pages of documentation. I am anal. She is super anal. The clerk wanted nothing but the plates. I picked up the forms she will need once she has her next car, and I was on my way. I earned more than I likely would have on the street, although I hate not being out there, as this might have been a day when someone was interested in one of my books. Maybe tomorrow. Later, during my nap, I dreamed of a station named Biffen Avenue. There is none in NYC. Nor is there a Biffen Street. I wonder what that was all about.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/26 - ESP

Another Christmas has come and gone. My eldest niece, Isabella, did great work cooking both meals. While the rest of us were watching TV, she was dozing off at the dining room table while reading the newspaper. This morning I was humming the jingle to that old Alka Seltzer commercial: “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.” I also recalled a quote from another: “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” Fortunately, I had only one pastry last evening, after two on the Eve. To my surprise and delight, my great nephew Ronnie has begun to play golf. When I see him in January for his birthday, I’ll give him a set of old clubs and bag I have stashed in a closet. He received cash gifts yesterday and now has enough to purchase an Iphone. His sister Danielle got a ton of clothing. I was given items that will come in handy running the floating book shop: a warm winter jacket, NB sneakers, and jeans. It was a great day.

I had a nice chuckle while on my morning walk. I passed a three-family house where a Tarot card reader lives. The door was open and I noticed three tall letters printed, one on each mailbox: E S P. The only future I’d like to know is which stocks will do well. Businesses continue to return in Sheepshead Bay. El Greco Diner and Joe’s Clam Bar, directly across the street from the waterline, re-opened this past week. Unfortunately, the one that means most to me, Delmar Pizzeria, won’t be ready until February.

RIP veteran character actor Charles Durning, 89, who is listed as having 207 credits in film and television by IMDb. He received two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor, nine Emmy nominations, and won a Tony for his performance as Big Daddy in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. But all that great work is dwarfed by his experiences in WWII, which he would not talk about for 50 years. He received three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. He survived a bayonet wound to the belly, an explosion, and machine gun fire, and carried a bullet fragment in his hip until the day he died. He participated in the D-Day invasion in the blood bath that was Omaha Beach, and the Battle of the Bulge. Taken prisoner, he escaped and avoided the Malmedy Massacre, wherein 100 Americans were executed by the Nazis. Incredible. His was a life to be celebrated. Thank you, sir.

With the forecast for precipitation for the next two days, I decided to give selling books a shot, despite the rawness. I put in an hour-and-a-half. A few people stopped, but no one bought. As I was putting the crates back into the trunk of my car, Michael approached with a plastic bag filled with books in Russian. Spasibo, sir. The day wasn't a total loss, especially with leftover seafood salad on tap for dinner.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/25 - "Unknowns"

There’s a new channel, Cozi (109), on Cablevision in NY. Like Antenna TV (114), it airs old TV shows. One is Petticoat Junction, memorable only for its bevy of young females beauties. I caught a few minutes of it the other night. Veteran character actress Bea Benederet popped up. I got to wondering how many credits she amassed. IMDb has her listed for 111, which is a significant total but not even close to those some actors amassed. So far in my unofficial derby, Irving Bacon is lapping the field at 524. George Chandler is a distant second at 446. What is not included in an artist like Benederet’s figures is the number of TV episodes in which she appeared. IMDb counts a series as one. Well, she did 291 episodes of Burns and Allen, 175 of Petticoat Junction, 23 of The Beverly Hillbillies, and was the voice of Betty Rubble in 113 episodes of The Flintstones! That’s 600, not counting her numerous appearances in other shows. She also worked extensively in radio and appeared in dozens of B movies, none of which stand out. And she only lived to 62, dying of cancer in 1968. What a stalwart. Here are pictures of the three actors in question. I’m sure Benaderet and Chandler will be familiar to many, but Bacon simply blended in so naturally as to be almost indistinguishable from the background.

RIP Jack Klugman, 90, another of Hollywood’s great character actors. Of course, viewers know him best as Oscar in The Odd Couple (114 episodes) and as Quincy ME (148), but he also played significant parts in memorable films such as 12 Angry Men (1957) and The Days of Wine and Roses (1962). Thank you, sir.

Kudos to my eldest niece Isabel, who cooked the traditional seafood Christmas Eve dinner. She is slaving over the stove right now to produce part two, which features meat. Her youngest sister, Sandra, will be in from Jersey with her family. I will catch up with the doings of her kids, Ronnie Jr. and Danielle, both now in high school. I haven't eaten breakfast, and I hope to skip a snack. My colon is not yet clear. My niece Luci, Dani's godmother, is with us, as always, but we miss my niece Tanya, who lives in Colorado. We look forward to her call. Merry Christmas.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/24 - Lovecraft

When I first began searching for publications to submit my Twilight Zone-type stories to, many editors cited the style of H.P. Lovecraft as a guide. I'd never heard him. Since at that time I was interested only in the work of "serious" writers, I did not hunt down any of Lovecraft's work. Recently, among the many donations I've received, there was a 1967 Lancer paperback - The Colour Out of Space, a seven-story collection of that master of the macabre. It's print is tiny, unlike the reader-friendly settings of today. It is falling apart, which is almost appropriate, as most of the tales feature much decrepitude. The title piece, the first, the story of the effects of of a meteorite on a farm, is phenomenal. I was not as enthusiastic about the others. All but one approach novella length. All but one is in the first person, the narrator recounting events that have already occurred. They lacked the immediacy of unfolding events and had a non-fiction, reportorial feel. Of course, these are only a handful of Lovecraft's canon, so it wouldn't be fair to draw a conclusion about his overall worth. He has influenced many artists: Clive Barker, Stephen King, John Carpenter, Black Sabbath, Metallica. Although he also wrote many poems and pieces on science and philosophy, it is his horror that endures. His vocabulary is vast. He died in 1937 at 47, so his style, use of language, may be odd to the modern ear. It is the opposite of minimalism, highly descriptive. (Facts culled at Wiki)

Yesterday, at the checkout counter at CVS, I asked the girl at the register the price of a flu shot. I was shocked that they were currently free due to an epidemic in our area. I immediately took advantage, as the shot had cost me $75 two years ago at the doctor's office. So if the bug isn't already in my system, I should be fine. It takes two weeks to kick in. I can't believe how lucky I've been lately, and it continued on the street today. I had to help my sister and nieces with some chores in the AM, and finished far sooner than I'd expected, so I had time to open the floating book shop. I didn't expect much business, given the holiday and the cold, but I immediately sold a large print novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford to a guy looking for something for his elderly mom. Later, a young woman noticed a hard cover edition of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy. I couldn't help but notice her nose ring, which compelled me suggested Charles Bukowski's beat novel, Post Office, which she hadn't spotted. She was thrilled. I also had the chance to exchange season's greetings with several of my regular customers, well-wishiers and donors. And now it's back to my sister's for the traditional Christmas Eve seafood fest. Isabel, my oldest niece, says she bought a lot. Can't wait to dig in. Merry Christmas.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/23 - Viva!

Last night I was introduced to an obscure piece of Mexican history, courtesy of Netflix. For Greater Glory (2012) is the story of a Catholic uprising against the government of President Calles, an atheist who tried to eradicate religion, dubbing it superstition and fanaticism. So embarrassed were Mexican officials by this that it was never taught in schools and was virtually forgotten. The film was bashed by many critics, who did not like the heavy Catholic bias. I wonder if their real objection is that some people are actually willing to give their lives for their faith. I enjoyed the film, with reservations. I sat through the entire 2:20 without interruption. Andy Garcia stars. Many familiar faces are in supporting roles: Eva Longoria, Bruce Greenwood, Bruce, McGill, Ruben Blades as Calles. The oddest bit of casting is Peter O’Toole, a former hell-raiser, as an old priest. Great artist that he is, he carries it off wonderfully. I was shocked at his uncanny resemblance to an elderly female acquaintance of mine. The Cristeros Revolt, at first political, erupted in violence from 1926-29, and ended with a diplomatic truce, although Calles subsequently executed 5500 of the rebels. He remained in power until the mid 30’s and was exiled in ‘36. Apparently, he won. The film makes it seem the rebels did. Two of its stalwarts were portrayed as modern action heroes are, killing machines. I have no idea how accurate the story is historically, but I’m glad I was made aware of this heinous chapter in history. The film is not merely pro-Catholic, it’s pro-freedom. It’s hard to believe a President would try such a thing in a country dominated by Catholics. Then again, why would any oppression be a surprise, given the arrogance of human monsters through the ages? Dean Wright, who previously specialized in visual effects, sat in the director’s chair for the first time. Michael Love wrote the screenplay. I thank them and the producers for bringing the story to light. On a scale of five, three. It is rated six of ten at IMDb. Devout Catholics likely will love it. Viva Cristo Rey!

My thanks to Bad News Billy, who visited the floating book shop today and bought a bunch of chick lit for his rebellious grand-daughter - and overpaid. Actor-singer extraordinaire Johnny Feets also made an appearance. He will be heading home to upstate New York tomorrow for dinner with his siblings, four brothers and three sisters. Imagine the stampede in that household on past Christmas mornings! John, the baby of the family, turned 42 yesterday. Happy Birthday, buddy.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/22 - 4 Stars

High winds derailed the floating book shop today. Meanwhile, here’s a four star review of Killing, posted at Amazon, from Bill Brown, aka Nick.

Unless I mistake my guess, Vic Fortezza wasn't trained be a writer. That is to say, he didn't study writing at school, didn't get a degree in literature, and didn't teach composition or literature in a school or college. He only took up writing full time after retiring, and has written diligently since then (he has written 50 short stories and at least three novels). But Vic is a real writer: he has an excellent ear for how people speak and is able to render dialogue into written words; he knows what to write about it, and he writes about it well.
In this case, he writes about killing - not a particular killing or someone who specializes in killing - but killing in all its forms (killing in general): warfare, abortion, suicide and murders that are committed for any number of reasons (hatred, jealousy, revenge, etc.). As the reader might have guessed from my inclusion of "abortion" among the various forms of murder, Vic is a moralist: he is against killing, and that means, due to his desire to be consistent (and thus be truly moral), he is against all killings, all forms of killing. But he is also a realist, and so he realizes that, at certain times and in certain conditions, killing can be justified. Thus, though a moralist, he is not moralizing. He asks difficult questions but does not claim to have definitive answers to them. In fact, the very last line of this novel is a question and an invitation to intelligent discussion: "Wanna talk?"
Set in Bensonhurst (a neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY) during the first year or two of the 1990s, "Killing" is the strictly chronological narrative of the life of Dante Gentile, a Vietnam veteran who currently works as a carpenter. Dante is surrounded by family members, all of whom are well drawn, true to life: his wife and their two children, plus Dante's mother and father (all of whom live in the same house) and friends from his job (they ran the gamut from the intelligent, well-read Jew Benny to the uneducated boor Sandy). A good man trying to do right, Dante does his best to help each one through the difficulties that they face and stay true to himself, despite the wrongs that they might inadvertently or intentionally inflict upon him: unplanned pregnancies, extramarital affairs, tours of duty in Iraq, difficulty with a mobbed-up construction firm, etc. etc.
My only criticism of this excellent book concerns its structure. The omniscient narrator never breaks away from Dante himself and remains focused on him exclusively. Though suitable for a short work, this technique (or, rather, Vic's reluctance to experiment with his narrative technique) becomes tedious over the course of a longer work. The same lack of willingness to experiment affects the novel's climatic scene: instead of loading the entire thing on to the book's ending, as Vic does, it might have been broken in half, with the first half of this episode placed at the novel's beginning and its second half placed at its end. This would have created enough suspense to last the entire book and provided for an exciting ending. Without such a split construction, the episode in question seems tacked on, almost unnecessary (it concerns a planned assassination that is not carried out), and possibly worthy of outright deletion.
I make one final point with some hesitation. This book comes with a "Glossary" of the "Brooklyn Sicilian" slang that is used in it. A good number of these words are denigrating terms for Jews, gays, blacks and women who engage in extra-marital sexual intercourse. Having met Vic, I know that he is not a bigot. But those who haven't met him may well think so when they read that the meaning of the offensive slurs "moolinyon" and "tootsoon" is "darkie," which of course is an offensive slur in its own right.
Thanks, Bill.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/21 - Gold -

I had another of my vivid dreams last night. I was back at the Exchange, on my lunch break, and forgot all about time. I was away an hour and 15 minutes instead of a half-hour. When I got back to the Copper trading pit, everyone was mad at me, especially the Supervisor, Victor T., who passed away long ago, and his assistant, Mike, my good friend. I’d missed a Fast Market. I suppose the dream was triggered by anxiety regarding my latest publishing possibility, the novel Exchanges, which is set at 4 World Trade Center, where we were situated until July 1997. The oddest thing about the dream is that I worked in the Gold market the last 15 years of my employment there, and the novel focuses on my five or so years in the Silver pit, which preceded my short stay in Copper. I have no idea why the time factor was so clear. Do the numbers relate to something specific in my life? Do I feel guilty about not incorporating any of my experiences in Copper in the book? I added several from my years in gold. The mind works in mysterious ways.

The incomparable Hondo, one of the NY Post’s football handicappers, whose column focuses on satire on current events rather than gridiron analysis, has done it again, scoring with a hilarious acerbic comment. He mentions that Martin Scorsese, who will be doing a documentary on Bill Clinton, will omit the Lewinsky scandal. He is baffled as to how the saga of “the crusty blue love dress” can be left out of a film about one of the "semenal figures in American politics."

I expected the rain to last the entire day. I was so surprised when I opened the venetian blinds to throw some light on my guitar strings, and found the sun shining. After lunch I asked myself if I should set up the floating book shop or if it were a stupid idea. Of course I opted to do it, thinking "Give it a shot," "What've you got to lose?" The only deterrent was the wind. Again I was surprised. It wasn't that bad. Although the sun had disappeared behind dark clouds, the temperature was in the upper 40's. What the hell? I thought. As I was about to set up, a handsome young man approached. Jake had purchased books from me before. He prefers sci-fi, and I plucked out three books. He also spotted Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I'd expected to draw a blank this day. I thanked him and he returned to his SUV. Then it occurred to me - Duh! - to mention A Hitch in Twilight to him, and he bought it! I was beside myself. I have to be the luckiest SOB going. Thank you, sir, and also to the 85-year-old veteran, Simon, who donated four paperbacks. I was surprised he showed on such a day.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/20 - Bang

There were a lot of juicy items in today's NY Post. As everyone knows by now, the Mayans have predicted the world will end tomorrow. Well, Niki Ghazian, a model based in the Big Apple, featured on the front page, is hoping to have a lot of sex just in case the prediction proves correct. In fact, she has advertised for it, saying: "I don't want to die on a dry spell." In another of its memorable headlines, the tabloid blares: "Out With A Bang." The first line of the accompanying article by Amber Southerland and Natalie O'Neill is just as clever: "Stop the world - I wanna get off." If this was a marketing ploy, well done. Here's a picture of the lovely lass in question:

Another woman, Michelle Celarier, devoted an article to an oddity that is stunning. Nationwide, teachers' pension funds have approximately 100 million invested in four gun companies. Should they follow liberal orthodoxy and divest, or should they stay with firms that have provided good returns? I love the complexities of life.

Our next President, Hillary Clinton, is already in campaign mode. She skipped testimony at the congressional hearings on the Benghazi debacle, citing a concussion suffered in a fall. Of course, whenever the Clintons are involved, there is always suspicion of chicanery. If the election were held today, I believe she'd win in a landslide. The only way she'll lose is if the economy gets even worse and moderates move right. Many credit her husband for the prosperity of the 90's. Republicans attribute it to their domination of Congress. I say the internet boom, a private sector phenomenon, took away all the sins of politicians.

RIP Robert Bork, 85, the most qualified candidate never to have been appointed to the Supreme Court, derailed by the slander of intellectual midgets Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy and the like. The process gave rise to the term "borking," personal political attacks. Sometimes there's no justice.

It was a day of surprises for the floating book shop. A customer I expected to show didn't, the weather report was completely wrong about gusty winds, and I sold one of my own books, breaking a three-week dry spell. My thanks to Marty, who purchased Adjustments, and to the other kind folks who bought, donated and swapped.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/19 - Mint

One of the many great things about this wonderful country is its size and population, which guarantees that something interesting will take place every day somewhere within its vast borders. Take South Carolina, for example. Its governor, Nikki Haley, is of Indian (Eastern) descent. She has appointed Congressman Tim Scott to replace retiring Senator Jim DeMint. Scott will be the only black senator in the chamber. What makes it even more unique is that he is a conservative Republican. Imagine that - in the state where Strom Thurmond fought long and hard against civil rights. In fact, Scott won his seat by defeating Thurmond’s son. Radio talk show host Mike Gallagher was gleeful about the heartache the appointment must cause liberals. And one of the first things Scott did was thank Jesus! Amazing. DeMint is leaving for a place in the conservative Heritage Foundation, which he alleges will be a better forum than Congress to broaden the appeal of conservatism. I hope he’s right. Right now a plurality of Americans is with the left, and it seems Republicans will continue to get the blame for any faltering in the economy. Best of luck to both Scott and DeMint.

With talk of even more stringent gun control, and with a near majority now behind stricter laws, gun sales are booming, and the most popular are assault weapons. Someone called for confiscation. Would owners surrender them? Would some fire on those assigned to take them? Like all of the most controversial issues, solutions won’t be easy and certainly will be unsatisfying to many. The President has appointed VP Joe Biden to oversee the issue. Does anyone have confidence in that move?

I've submitted all the fixings of my fifth book, Exchanges, to WheelMan Press. I await the next step. My only worry is that I may not receive a proof copy to read. It might go straight to Amazon and the site's shop. For some reason, the remaining errors are easier to spot in print than in a PC file.

It was another lucky day for the floating book shop. Mrs. Eclectic, who usually shows only once a month, visited for the second week in a row and bought a broad assortment of classics and contemporary novels. Herbie, another regular who has found nothing to his taste lately, marveled at her selection. Thank you, madam, and the two other women who made purchases. Those successes allowed me to pack it in early rather than test my endurance to the cold wind blowing at my back. I am so stiff after these sessions. Although I look like I'm in excellent shape, the old bones ain't what they used to be.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/18 - Rebound

Things are brighter after a brief stretch of disappointments. I received a letter from my health care provider. Assuming it was a bill, I pulled out my check book. To my delight, it was reimbursement for overpayment, which made up for revenue the floating book shop lost to bad weather the past two weeks. And I got an email from WheelMan Press, asking me to provide a bio, pic, dedication and blurb for my latest novel, Exchanges. I’m not as excited as I was about my previous books. The reality of paltry sales has dampened my enthusiasm. I have not had a single web sale this month, a period which should be better than most, given the holiday. I have no idea why the fledgling company is taking a chance on my work, although I am grateful. I hope its production costs will be recouped when I buy copies to sell on the street. The novel’s basis is my experiences working data entry in commodity trading. The events will be shocking to the uninitiated, appalling to the easily offended, amusing to alumni. Here’s the blurb I prepared:

Charley LaRocca is ringmaster of two circuses, his family and the Silver Futures pit at his job in the wacky world of commodity trading. Witness a year in his life as he copes with a rebellious teenage daughter, the dog eat dog philosophy at his place of employment, and an obsession with the New York Mets. The year is 1988. “Open Outcry” is the way at the Exchange. The electronic trading that eventually would supplant it is but a pipe dream at which many scoff. What's all the yelling and screaming about? Come inside and see. None of the incidents is exaggerated. Caution: aggressive men under intense pressure do and say regrettable things. Political correctness is out the window. The trading floor was one of the last outposts of speech that was truly free. The novel concentrates on personalities, not trading technique or strategy. It is another chapter in the human comedy. 

The other night I watched a Norwegian thriller, Headhunters, courtesy of Netflix. It seems they’re catching up to their neighbors, the Swedes, who have given the world the cinema of Ingmar Bergman and the Stieg Laarsen crime trilogy. The film is based on a novel by Jo Nesbo. It is engrossing and exciting, and the backdrop is fresh. My only quibble is with how neatly everything was tied up at the end. On a scale of five, three-and-one-quarter. It is rated 7.5 of ten at IMDb.

My thanks to the folks who made purchases on this gorgeous day. The illustrated Bible pamphlets are almost all gone.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/17 - Mafia Arts

I had a morning chore that robbed me of a good parking spot, which prevented me from taking a shot with the floating book shop on this dreary day. Get 'em tomorrow. In the meantime, here's an article I wrote a decade ago. A more appropriate title would have been Mafia Arts. It's a 10-15 minute read.

"Mafia Fiction and Its Detractors"
by Vic Fortezza

   There is animus among many in the Italian-American community regarding the popularity of the mafia in film and television. Although I feel the theme has been over-done, I do not believe the works reflect bigotry. If prejudice against Italian-Americans still exists, it has little to do with the portrayal of organized crime. In fact, I've always sensed a misguided respect for the mob in non-Italians, even though most know we are now in all walks of American life. No one is more admired at present than Rudolph Giuliani. Alas, there will always be that small percentage of humans of all nationalities that fails to see beyond prejudice. I'm more miffed at the Italian-American politicians who helped drive New York to the brink of financial and social disaster before Rudy and the dot.com entrepreneurs came to the rescue.
   I've watched only one entire episode of The Sopranos, one in which a friend, John Billeci, had a small role as a manager of a mob run Wall Street firm. He and Michael Rispoli, another actor, jokingly refer to the pigeon-holing to which they're subjected as something like: "Guineas on call."
   It's not that I don't think The Sopranos isn't good - I just don't see anything new there. I find it extremely difficult to devote hours to creeps, especially week after week. Of course, one may argue that all art recycles the same few themes again and again, and that only spin makes it fresh. Mayor Giuliani is a fan of the show, as are many of my friends. I wonder if I'm merely ticked at its popularity, as my fictional portrayals of every-day Italian-Americans continue to languish in obscurity.
   America's fascination with the Cosa Nostra is more a reflection of its long love affair with the outlaw than bigotry. Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Butch and Sundance, Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, the films of Bogart, Cagney and Raft, enthralled Americans long before the Mafia became a staple of screenwriters. Like porn stars, gangsters connect with a longing for freedom, a shunning of convention, a doing what please whenever it pleases. Of course, these rebels may be no more free than the rest of us, but the mythology that builds around them makes it appear they are.
   While I do not think The Godfather is a literary masterpiece, it is highly entertaining, and it spawned a great film trilogy. Mario Puzo, who also collaborated on the screenplays, deserves the utmost credit and respect. The Godfather Part II is as good as any film ever made, and The Godfather is as entertaining as any. Should Italian-Americans shun these works because of a perceived insult to them? That is a turning of the back on high art. The Mafia is a fact of life, not an invention of Hollywood, which has always loved those who live on society's margins. Of course every-day Italian-Americans are under-represented in film - all people of decency are. Decency, the struggle for it, does not sell many tickets.
   The only criticism of the Godfather series that I find irrefutable is its sanitization, especially in the original, of the mob. Unlike "Goodfellas," whose characters bludgeon an audience with unrelenting thuggery, the Godfather has good mafiosi and bad mafiosi. Puzo cast Vito and Michael Corleone in a heroic light. I don't know if he really believed certain mafiosi were heroic or if he was merely storytelling. It doesn't matter. It's still great. While I admire Martin Scorsese's uncompromising passion in presenting the truth, I prefer the fiction of The Godfather. It is better art. The story of Michael Corleone, a potential renaissance man who shelves his dreams to come to his family's rescue, resonates with anyone who has forgone a dream. The fact that the family business is crime makes the tale all the more compelling. The evolution of Michael from war hero/scholar to cold autocrat, the antithesis of the renaissance man, is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportion.
   I am one of the few who like The Godfather Part III, although it pales in comparison to its predecessors. Even Francis Ford Coppola believes the film fails, citing Michael's frailty as the reason. I see this weakness as inevitable devolution. Michael's sins, especially the murder of his doltish brother, have beaten him down. Despite his wealth, power and intelligence, he is unable to save his family. It may even be argued that he contributed to its demise. In the end he loses that which he loves most, his daughter, who unwittingly takes a bullet meant for him. It is his death blow. Shakespeare would have loved it, Dostoevsky too. I've always believed The Godfather was influenced by The Brothers Karamazov. The tyrannical father was transformed into the benevolent Don; the hot-tempered Dmitri became Sonny; the saintly Alyosha became Michael; the adopted, sickly Smerdyakov became Fredo; the intellectual Ivan became the family lawyer/consigliere, the adopted Tom Hagen. The parallels end there, however, at least as far as I can see.
   There has never been a more appropriate, more ironic opening quote than that of the original: "I believe in America," says the undertaker, who has come to the Don for justice. Of course, the Mafia is a perversion of the American dream. Italians have prospered in this great land as far back as the Revolution - legally. Still, this work about a minority within a minority hits home. How many lines of dialogue from part one and two remain in the memory? Too many to mention. "Take the gun. Leave the connolis."
    Although the Mafia is an infinitesimal portion of the Italian-American community, it accounts for seemingly 99% of its presence on screen. It is no wonder, then, that the most genuine portrayal of an Italian-American is contained in the Godfather series. Michael V. Gazzo's depiction of Frankie "Five Angels" Pentangeli rings so true. He reminds me of many of my family's friends, although none were mafiosi. His genuineness allows him to steal each scene in which he appears. On the other hand, James Caan, widely praised in the original, was not genuine, at least to me. I always have to remind myself to cut him some slack. After all, it is acting, and he is not Italian-American. No doubt the general public thought he was excellent, too. Brando, an incredible talent, was almost genuine as the Don.
   And just when I thought I'd had my fill of gangster fare, along came "Donnie Brasco," and the great performance of Al Pacino, and a surprising one, at least to me, by Johnny Depp. Pacino is awesome when he underplays, when he avoids the bizarre tangents he takes in so many roles. I'll never forget the look on his face in The Godfather Part II when Kay tells him she aborted their child to put an end to the "Sicilian thing" going on for a thousand years. Although not a single drop of blood is shed, it is the most violent scene in the trilogy, a riveting psychological maiming, one of the all-time great moments in cinema. Kudos to Coppola and Puzo.
   Who knows - maybe in ten or 20 years the Russian mob will be the object of the public's fascination, and not its scorn. Gangster movies are not likely to go away, and one group or another must fill the void, unless a multicultural mob develops. And even that would likely offend someone.  
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/16 - Pairs

Last night PBS in NYC ran Soldier in the Rain (1963), a film starring Steve McQueen, of which he had complete creative control. It is mediocre, perhaps less, hurt most by the broad caricature McQueen invests in the protagonist. Always one of my favorites, this may be the only bad performance of his great career. He had a naturalism for which many actors would sell their soul. I think the movie would have worked better with less comedy and more drama. It is based on a novel by William Goldman, who later wrote the screenplays for significant works such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Marathon Man (1976) and All the President's Men (1976). Soldier in the Rain does have one fascinating element: the offbeat pairing of Jackie Gleason and Tuesday Weld. "The Great One" is in understated mode here, as he was for his great performances in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) and The Hustler (1963), work in complete contrast to his portrayal of the beloved Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners. Weld, an under-rated actress, was her gorgeous, vivacious self in Soldier...., sunshine personified. Unfortunately, she was rarely called on by Hollywood to be much more than a sex kitten. She played Ricky Nelson’s girl in some episodes of Ozzie and Harriet, and the object of desire, Thalia Meninger, on Dobie Gillis. She brightens every frame of film in which she appears.

Later, I turned to Antenna TV and encountered another great pairing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Dick Van Dyke and Stella Stevens, another great beauty cast almost exclusively by producers as a blond bombshell, although she was very talented, especially in comic roles. Her story is inspiring: married at 15, a mom at 16 (actor Andrew Stevens), divorced at 17. She would not be held back. She is one of the most popular Playboy centerfolds of all-time, has amassed 140 screen credits, and is still working.

Kudos to these amazing women. Here are pictures of them in their youth:

Facts culled at IMDb.
The floating book shop was rained out today, which allowed me to get some Christmas shopping done. I bought books. I belong to a family of readers. I was the only one stupid enough to become a writer.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/15 - Tripping

Last night Fringe, in its final season, finally aired an episode that was above average, worthy of its history. Walter was tripping on Black Blotter acid the entire time. Elements of Disney’s Tinker Bell and Terry Gilliam-style animation from Monty Python’s Flying Circus were incorporated. Sometimes I feel the show is pro drug experimentation, although Walter is clearly guilt-ridden about his past tests on children. I'm sure anyone watching who isn't "experienced," to borrow Jimi Hendrix's phrase, is now intrigued by LSD.

Every morning I wake up to a tapping inside the wall near my bed. Since it occurs only during the cold months, I assume it is from a radiator pipe. I reported it long ago, but the staff was unable to locate the source. Maybe it was decided it would be too expensive to tear apart plaster to try and find it. Sound is often deceptive. What seems to be right beside my bed my be further up, perhaps in the apartment above mine. Anyway, this morning there was a second tapping - a leak dropping onto my kitchen tiles. I immediately put a wooden salad bowl on the floor to catch the droplets. At six-thirty I put a note on the bulletin board outside the Super’s apartment, although I know it is his day off. He passed the message on to the Super of another building in the complex, and the leak was stopped by 8:30. Thanks, boys. I doubt they'll be able to avoid tearing down a wall this time.

A day that had a shaky start ended well. The floating book shop was again blessed with great weather. My thanks to Jack of Chase Bank, who bought eight thrillers, and to the lovely young mom who bought two illustrated Bible booklets for her beautiful daughter. That kid should be in magazines and on billboards and TV. She seems a blend of the best of Asian and Caucasian.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/14 - Music

At the moment everything seems insignificant in comparison to the horrific events in Connecticut. All words seem empty. Cruelly, life goes on.
 
Here's a review of Bill Brown's You Should've Heard Just What I Seen, which I posted to Amazon. I rated it four stars out of five:

From 1980-1984 Bill Brown wrote hundreds of articles on music, film and literature from his base in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has compiled them all into this valuable book. His writing is clear and concise. Errors are few and far between, no more than those in books by big literary houses. Each piece takes no longer than five or so minutes to read. His knowledge of the historical, business and technical aspects of music is most impressive. The content is both informative and fun. He covers all genres, including jazz and classical, and sub-genres, several of which were unfamiliar to me. The period in question coincided with the death of punk and rise of new wave. I was won over by the second review, which profiled synth-pop band Our Daughter's Wedding, whose Lawn Chairs was a popular track in Manhattan dance venues. I visited youtube many times to see if the artists mentioned in the book have songs posted there. Even the most obscure do. It was so enjoyable. Of course, the reader is likely to disagree with Brown's opinions, but it was interesting to see how right or wrong he was, which artists endure, which faded, which only scratched the surface.
The first half of the book is devoted to the national scene, the next quarter to the local, and the last to books and film. There are articles on Prince, Iggy Pop, the Bush Tetras, Talking Heads, Haircut 100, Gang of Four, Laurie Anderson and many, many more. The pieces on the local scene may try the reader's patience, but there are valuable nuggets in them. There is one aspect that could have been improved, although it would have involved a lot of work. Since the articles are completely intact, all contain ticket prices, show times and venues where the artists performed. The work would have been even more concise had most been eliminated. Still, this is a wonderful compilation fans of any era, particularly the one in question, would savor. I downloaded several of the songs mentioned.

There wasn't much action today at the floating book shop, despite the beautiful weather. I thank the two women who made purchases.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/13 - Mixed Bag

The Sporting News, in print for 126 years, is going entirely digital. Newsweek, almost 80 years in print, will follow suit at the start of 2013. I haven’t looked at a copy of either in decades and it is unlikely I will visit either website. There are just so many fine alternatives on the miracle that is the internet. Here is TSN’s last hard copy cover:

Former NYC comptroller Alan Hevesi has been released from prison after 20 months. He was convicted of “pay for play” schemes. Proving that crime pays, especially for the political class, he retains his pension, $105,000 per year.

The other night I watched a powerful independent film, Shuffle (2011), courtesy of Netflix. It is the story of a 30-year-old man who finds himself at a different stage of his life each time he wakes. It begins as a Twilight Zone-type mystery and evolves to family drama. TJ Thyne, a regular on the Fox TV series Bones, stars, but the film is stolen by the radiant Paula Rhodes, with whom I was completely unfamiliar. She is so charming as the girl next door. Kurt Kuenne served as director, co-producer, writer, composer and editor. I was disappointed to see he has no future works lined up. He deserves a chance. On a scale of five, three-and-half. Those at IMDb were not as enthusiastic, rating it 6.1 out of ten.

Connor McDavid, 15, a Canadian junior hockey phenom, has been signed to a “massive promotional contract” by Reebok/CCM. He is being compared to the Pittsburgh Penguin’s all-star Sidney Crosby, who signed a similar deal at 17. Damn snot-nosed kids. Good luck, Connor.

I knew it would be a good day at the floating book shop when Mrs. Eclectic showed. She bought six books, heeding my recommendations on Isabel Wolff's Making Minty Moore and James Hilton's Random Harvest. Mikhail, whose family's 33rd anniversary in America was yesterday, purchased the last of the Russian books I was carrying. Another Russian gentleman bought Vietnam: A History by Stanley Karnow, a huge tome. The biggest coup of the day was the donation of a sack full of books by a woman who lives in a second floor apartment of the building I set up in front of. She is frequently on her terrace, smoking. Sometimes wafts of marijuana drift past me and I wonder if she's the one toking. Respecting her privacy, I don't turn and search. Among the 40 or so books she gave me were classics, popular fiction, chick lit, and illustrated magazine-sized pamphlets designed to teach children about the Bible. Thanks, folks.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/12 - Rights

I’m puzzled by two political occurrences in Midwestern states the President won. Just when conservatives thought all hope was lost, they have earned surprise victories. Michigan has become a “Right To Work” state, the 23rd, where union membership and dues payment is now voluntary rather than mandatory. According to an op-ed piece by Mark Mix in the NY Post, studies show that workers in states that have adopted the law see an increase of $4300 in purchasing power on average. Of course, unionists staged mass protests and Obama condemned the move. Wisconsin saw a large decline in union membership after the law was adopted.

In Ohio the legislature approved a new “Conceal and Carry” measure by a vote of 57-22, largely along party lines. Studies show there is less gun violence in areas where the law exists, the theory being that a criminal will think twice about preying on someone who may be armed. Of course, this good news was tempered by the nut who opened fire in a mall in Oregon, killing two before doing everyone a favor and turning the gun on himself. In these matters I always tilt to the side of freedom, despite the gun violence that plagues us. Understandably, the police are angry, but they are armed, able to protect themselves. Why shouldn’t private citizens have that privilege? A victim may be dead, and usually is, by the time authorities arrive.

Smugglers along the Mexican border have found another creative way of getting drugs into the U.S.. 33 cans of marijuana have been discovered, believed to have been shot from cannons. Each weighs 85 pounds and has a street value of $42,500. If only these people would use their ingenuity in legitimate businesses. Of course, the point may soon be moot, as pot has been legalized in several areas of the country. Whether that will be a plus or a minus for society is anyone’s guess. I think it will certainly be more cost effective to regulate, but I wonder about the unintended consequences, the push of the cultural envelope further left. Freedom is both wonderful and dangerous, as is life itself.

There wasn't much sunshine out there today, so I limited the floating book shop to less than two hours, leaving before I started shivering. I thank the six people who bought books, and the two ladies who donated a few.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/11 - Pet Peeve

My thanks to the folks who bought books today, and to Madeline, who made a three-for-one trade in my favor. The local library is closed indefinitely due to flooding during Hurricane Sandy.

Here's an article I wrote about a decade ago. It's about a ten-minute read:
   Short Riff on a Pet Peeve
   Whatever happened to art, subtlety in film? Do you believe, as I do, that nudity in cinema is gratuitous? The French (of course) are the latest to expand the boundary, allowing penetration in a mainstream project. It's not surprising. Where else could filmmakers have gone to shock? It was inevitable. I now understand what those opposed to Elvis' gyrations were fighting, although I doubt they feared things would go as far as they have. In retrospect, Elvis seems so tame. However, he pushed the boundary, one that Madonna seemed to have maximized. Not so. The worst fears of the prescient have been realized - no, surpassed.
   I cannot recall a single instance wherein nudity was essential to a scene. I enjoyed it when I was younger. It was more easily rationalized than looking at a girlie magazine, as it was in the name of "art." I now view it as immaturity. In fact, I see little art, the subtlety that makes art, in films. They are a bludgeoning by the overt, mostly in language, too often in sexuality. Profanity is common. Are screenwriters so condescending as to think an audience needs the aid of expletives to understand emotional context? Are actors so insecure as to need the crutch of profanity to convey feeling? I don't believe either is the case. There is nothing wrong with the talent pool. Largely, it is an effort to be real, true. Viewed cynically, it is merely the enticement of the dollars of the cherished young demographic. Given the conversations I overhear and the words that occasionally escape my own lips, it is real. Art, however, is not real. Even in Goodfellas, whose real-life counterparts undoubtedly employ such language, the cursing becomes irksome. So much of it could have been eliminated, without substituting "damn" or "hell." It would not have detracted from the realism of the film. Acting is pretending. A preponderance of profanity is grating. Nudity is distracting. Penetration belongs in pornography, which is not pretending but actualization. What is needed is artful storytelling.
   In Presumed Innocent, was it necessary to show Harrison Ford fondling Greta Scacchi's beautiful bare breast? Wouldn't their lust have been ascertained without that shot? I find infinitely more sexuality in the way Jean Arthur looks at Alan Ladd in Shane. It's barely perceptible. One must pay attention. Such nuance engages, invites speculation. During the unforgettable final sequence, Little Joe cries out: "...And mother wants you. I know she does...." The words echo against the mountains hauntingly, although the child does not understand the nature of his mother's attraction to the gunfighter. My eyes glaze whenever I think of it. It is the echo of the unfulfilled passion common to the human experience. Because the characters are so honorable as to never consider an affair other than in the furthest reaches of the mind, the situation is especially compelling.
   The teeming sensuality of "The Dance at the Gym" in West Side Story is a perfect example of the elevation of sexuality to art. Admittedly, there is some bumping and grinding, but the action smolders despite the fact that the participants are clothed fully and elegantly, the men in suits and ties. Imagine - a dance sequence without crotch-grabbing!
   This is not a plea for censorship but for artistry. There is a place for vulgarity, but it seldom works as art. I never laughed harder than during the scene in Kingpin wherein Woody Harrelson, in order to meet his rent, services his skanky landlady, and then is haunted by her image periodically throughout the rest of the film.
   I understand the profanity in Tool's Aenema. It captures the futility of that dark feeling when everything seems false. I wonder if it will be the last hard rock piece I respect. I've turned to standards, an antidote to the ugliness prevalent in our culture and the news. I am stunned by what Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin,  Johnny Mercer and the like manage to convey within the confinement of song. I got the shakes the first few times I heard Diana Kraal's quiet take on I've Got You under My Skin, a young woman demonstrating a wisdom beyond her years.
   I hope this reflects wisdom on my part. Maybe it's just the surrender of middle age. This is an era wherein testosterone is exalted. I've come to think more clearly, to appreciate beauty, since mine has diminished. Or maybe that's just the rationale of someone resentful of the passing of his youth. Maybe modern artists are imbued with clarity, unencumbered by the restraints of a false decency forced upon society by the narrow minded. I argue otherwise. And you may find, upon reading some of my fiction (most yet to be published) that this reflects hypocrisy. I would counter that sexuality in literature is different than that in film. For one, the imagination must be engaged to conjure a scene. It is not detailed in living color on a large screen - and it does not require actors to strip. In revision, I find myself eliminating practically all profanity or finding artful (hopefully) alternatives. I'm almost glad that my work has taken so long to find daylight.
   Art must engage, elevate. In To Have and Have Not, Lauren Bacall asks Humphrey Bogart if he knows how to whistle. "You just put your lips together and blow," she says, and exits, leaving Bogie to ponder just what she meant. It's corny and, essentially, meaningless - except for all that is conjured. The imagination runs wild. Interpretation is left to the individual. It is a perfect example of the art of sexuality.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/10 - Songs

This week I’ll be burning CDs of 12 songs I downloaded yesterday. One of the gifts I give my four nieces each year is music. I also burn a disc to play in my car. I have almost 40 that I rotate, keeping them fresh. I usually listen to one while driving during the weekend. It’s getting harder to find songs I consider “download-worthy,” to paraphrase Elaine’s hilarious “sponge-worthy” phrase from Seinfeld. Here's the list. I've checked it twice:
1. Rolling in the Deep - Adele. Fantastic vocal, impossible to quell the urge to sing along with her on the chorus.
2. My One and Only Love - Chris Botti/Paula Cole. Botti sounds like Miles Davis, in understated mode, on this track, and Cole matches him with a touching vocal.
3. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak's haunting big hit from the ‘90’s.
4. Somebody I Used To Know - Gotye’s brilliant, eerie look at a failed relationship, with Kimba expertly providing the female counterpoint.
5. Favourite Shirt - Haircut 100 jazzing it up, a track usually referred to as “Boy Meets Girl.”
6. Guilt - Marianne Faithfull. Her sandpaper voice is completely different from the one that sang As Tears Go By way back when, but it is more compelling, and her lyrics are interesting.
7. Quando, Quando, Quando - Michael Buble’s smoothness and Nelly Furtado’s sweetness blend perfectly.
8. Don’t Know Why - Norah Jones’ irresistible hit.
9. Dead Man’s Party - Oingo Boingo. Great dance record featured in Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School (1986). The band’s leader, Danny Elfman, has gone on to score Hollywood blockbusters like Tim Burton's Batman (1989).
10. Messages - Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (OMD). I think it was playing the first time I entered Hurrah, circa 1980, my favorite Manhattan club, which was like a no-frills basement. The main keyboard part has remained with me for more than three decades.
11. Wrapped Around Your Finger - the Police. I’ve always loved their references to literature, in this case The Odyssey: “…Caught between Scylla and Charybdis.”
12. Pleasure and Pain - Steve Jones’ beautiful ballad, the version from the soundtrack of Sid and Nancy (1986), the antithesis of his lead guitar work with the Sex Pistols.

Everyone knows Division One NCAA football is a big business that usually puts winning, which attracts alumni donations, ahead of ethics. Western Kentucky University is the latest to descend onto the path of darkness, hiring Bobby Petrino. While head coach at Louisville, he constantly went on secret interviews with representatives of the likes of Auburn and Notre Dame, and denied it. Five months after signing a ten-year contract with Louisville, he left them for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, where he quit after just 13 games, without having the decency to meet with his players. He was hired by the University of Arkansas and was immediately successful. He lost that job after a motorcycle crash and subsequent cover up of the fact that his lover, whom he'd hired to his office staff, was riding on the back. I imagine office pools will begin at WKU on how long it will be before Petrino jilts the school for a more prestigious program.

I spent a couple of fruitless hours at the rear of the Sheepshead Bay train station, out of the rain, expecting to be shooed away by police, as I was a year-and -half ago. A patrol car did stop at the curb, causing my sphincter to contract, but neither officer got out. A few people asked about the books, but there were no takers. 
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 12/9 - LOL

Most nights I tune to Channel 11 in New York just before Seinfeld begins at 11PM. The news telecast usually ends with the host, Jodi Applegate, reading tweets from viewers. She recently signed off with a comment on how Twitter has brutalized punctuation. I mostly refrain from the short cuts in vogue. I do use LOL occasionally, even though I may be only amused, not laughing out loud. I've become familiar with a lot of the abbreviations. I recently encountered one that baffled me: it was something like this :). I was too embarrassed to ask the sender what it meant. Lower case letters have become the norm for many. The only place I use them entirely is during survey commentary, in order to speed up a process that is often tedious. Michael Goodwin chimed in on the topic in a blurb in his column in today’s NY Post, sharing a comment made by one of his readers, Herb Eichen: it’s “...the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse.” I wasn’t LOL. I was GFETE - grinning from ear to ear. Touche, sir.

Asia does not have as much violent crime as the U.S. does, although you'd never know it from its films. Japan and China have given the world many entertaining over the top action movies. Now Indonesia has one: The Raid - Redemption (2011). Oddly, it is directed by a Welshman, Gareth Evans. The story is simple: a corrupt police captain stages an unauthorized siege of an apartment building used by organized crime. The pace is frenzied, the stunt work phenomenal. If this had been an American film, I probably would have dismissed it. I can’t explain why the content doesn’t bother me when it’s in the hands of Asians. Perhaps it is because all the actors are completely unknown to me and the setting is fresh. This flick is rousing, despite its brutality. Its stuntmen must be as loony as western professional wrestlers. On a scale of five, three-and-a-half. It is rated 7.7 out of ten at IMDb. 




The floating book shop was rained out today and, if the forecast is correct, will be again tomorrow when I guess I'll be writing Christmas cards and burning CDs to keep from climbing the walls. Today it was recycling and downloading music.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3