The Writer's Life: Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 9/26

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 9/26 - Prosper

There is controversy in the NYC subway system about an advertisement. When I first heard about it I thought I thought it was foolishly provocative. Now that I've actually seen it I don't object to it at all. Here it is:

Of course, this upsets those who believe there is a moral equivalence between Israel and Jihadists. A few years ago there was debate over what Jihad actually meant, some claiming it meant any type of struggle. I sensed that was a con. Regardless, there's no debate over what type of Jihad the ad condemns - the type that brings suicide bombers onto buses and into restaurants and one day may detonate a nuclear bomb in Israel.

Not many of the new shows in the network’s fall prime time schedule has aroused my interest. Vegas is one. I watched its debut last night and found it routine. Its strongest element is its cast, although Dennis Quaid’s character seems more cliché than human right now. The full-figured Carrie-Anne Moss of the Matrix films is the female lead. Stalwart TV tough guy Michael Chiklis brings appropriate menace to the Mafioso who has just hit town. Jason O’Mara (Band of Brothers, Life on Mars) is one of the many UK actors who portray Americans genuinely. The series is set in the early days of Sin City, although I didn’t catch what year exactly. Judging by the cars, I’d say the 60’s, post Bugsy Siegel. The casinos are already in place. I assume the characters are fictional. I hope the show improves. It will be interesting to see if Quaid adds depth to the hero’s characterization.

Since there is a large Jewish presence where I usually set up the floating shop, I decided to venture to Park Slope today, and it was all good. The traffic along Coney Island Avenue was smooth each way, as many businesses were closed. The trip was 15 minutes less than usual. I found a parking spot immediately. And I sold several books, including A Hitch in Twilight, purchased by Paula, whose hand was in a fresh cast. A middle age Asian woman bought a couple of books on plants and returned a half hour later and gave me a small bottle of water and a banana. I jotted my name down for a couple of people interested in looking me up on the web. And an exchange of greetings with a boy of eight or so capped the great day. He was wearing a Star Trek type shirt that had that communications swoosh above the right breast. For a change I was able to react immediately, not after the fact. I lifted my hand and said: "Live long and prosper." and the little guy flashed Spock's greeting in return. His mom got a big kick out of it.