Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/30 - Rock Quiz 2

It’s time for Rock Quiz 2. The following snippets from songs precede chapters in my as yet unpublished, near 200,000 word rock n roll epic, Rising Star. Degree of difficulty in parenthesis, geared to the average rock fan. Name the artist and song. Answers at the end of the blog.
11. "...Happiness I cannot feel/And love to me is so unreal...."* (8)
12. "...Gettin' crazy anticiptin'...."* (8)
13. "...Show must go on...."* (2)
14. "...In ever thing I do I take complete control...."* (10)
15. "...Whip it good...."* (1)
16. "...Been a long time crossing...."* (8)
17. "...Rush, rush, rush to the ye yo."* (6)
18. "...Out there is a fortune waiting to be had/If you think I'll let it go you're mad...."* (7)
19. "...Love is a banquet from which we feed....* (9)
20. "...Nothing changes on New Year's Day...."* (1)



Even though I sold only one book today, it was a lucky session. Since there wasn't any wind, the lack of sunshine made no difference in the temperature, so I was comfortable the entire time. And just as I'd finished packing up, Bad News Billy rolled up in his car and helped me haul the crates, perfect timing on a day when my back was not 100%. Fortunately, it feels a lot better than it did yesterday. Thanks, my friend, and to the gentleman who grossly overpaid for the hardcover thriller.
 
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx


And the answers are:
11. Black, Sabbath, Paranoid.
12. Boston, Rock n Roll Band.
13. Queen.
14. Lene Lovitch, Lucky Number.
15. Devo.
16. Robin Trower, Bridge of Sighs.
17. Blondie, Rush, Rush.
18. Judas Priest, You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.
19. Bruce Springsteen/Patti Smith, Because the Night.
20. U2, New Year’s Day.
To anyone who got all ten, I'm impressed. #14 would sink most folks.

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/29 - Gray

Although the late Alistair Maclean’s first language was Gaelic Scottish, he went on to become a prolific and best-selling author in English. He injected his WWII naval experiences into his work, which focuses largely on adventure. 17 of his novels were adapted to the silver screen, most notably The Guns of Navarone (1961). I’ve just finished his 18th novel, Breakheart Pass, set, surprisingly, in the post civil war American northwest. Although I found the prose clunky, I enjoyed the story, which had a neat twist two-thirds of the way through its 178 pages. The setting and information about the train seem authentic, at least to my limited knowledge of them. I assume the author spent significant time in the States. There is a significant body count to keep action fans interested. The book was adapted to the screen in 1975, at the height of Charles Bronson’s popularity. Maclean did the screenplay, so I imagine the flick is faithful to the novel. Curious about that, I added it to my list at Netflix. If it has been changed, so what. It is sheer entertainment, not high art. I thought I’d seen the movie, but nothing in the novel fired my memory, so I must be confusing it with another Bronson vehicle. Time may have dismissed it from my thoughts, as it a simple, common story. On a scale of five, 2.5.

I had a nice time with family yesterday, ate sensibly until dessert, when I had a delicious strawberry tart and then succumbed to the temptation of a connoli, which I didn’t even enjoy. My great nephew Ronnie has had his first college acceptance, from East Tennessee St., which offers a course in what he’s interested in -- pharmaceuticals. He has his heart set on the University of North Carolina, and I’m confident he will be accepted. He is a good student and a good kid. Inevitably, the dinner conversation turned to Grey Thursday eight PM store openings. I have no objection to it, although I think the consumers who patronize such events are screwy. After all, I was happy Stop n Shop, the bakery, the newsstand and the gas station were all open on the holiday, as were movie and Broadway theaters. College and professional athletes played games. Radio and television people worked. No one is forced to attend events. This is still a free society. The only objection I would have is forcing an employee to work, threatening dismissal. When the topic turned to ObamaCare, I left the table. I filled up in Jersey, where gas yesterday was 50 cents cheaper than the BP I use in Brooklyn.

Here’s a fascinating sports fact: Only nine players in NFL history have earned 100 million dollars playing the game. On the 2013 NY Yankees alone there were ten. 

My thanks to Benedict and Natalia, who purchased four books in Russian.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/28 - Thanks

Today Americans give thanks for the great abundance with which we are blessed. We are fortunate to live in a land where virtually the only poverty is that of the soul. We have myriad opportunity and, if we work hard and are lucky, the ability to create wealth. Even those whose dreams fail have employment to fall back on. Those who have fallen on hard times have a generous safety net to aid them. And those who are lazy and crooked have the means to game the system. Anyone and everyone has access to the abundance. I thank those who create it. I thank our armed forces for doing the dirty work many of us are loathe to do, and providing the freedom that enables wealth. I thank those engaged in the clandestine war on terror. I thank our first responders, who constantly put themselves in harm's way. I thank the thousands of entertainers who make our lives brighter. There are genres to please everybody in this great society. I thank the geniuses who gave us the internet, the greatest exponent of democracy ever, which enriches anyone who uses it judiciously. No longer is publishing the domain of a select few. Anyone can produce a book and market it, even a hack like me. I thank the kind folks who have donated and bought items from me on the street, and who stop to chat and allow me a glimpse into their lives and fodder for my blog. I thank those who have provided positive feedback for my work, especially those who have taken the time to rate my books at Amazon. I thank my friends and family for their support. I thank Facebook for allowing me to re-connect with old friends I may have never heard from again, and gain new ones. And I thank anyone I may have overlooked. Now 63, I'm thankful that I suffer only minor aches and pains most of the time. Every day is a gift.

Enjoy the day.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/27 - Showstoppers

I had another of my vivid dreams last night. A female Army soldier approached and asked that I return a VHS of the JAG TV series, which ran on CBS for ten seasons. Later, a male soldier rode up on a bike and asked the same thing. I’ve never seen the show, despite its long run. Now that I think of it, it must have something to do with selling tapes and DVDs at the floating book shop. Freud believed dreams are wish fulfillment. If that’s the case here, it probably means I hope I come across more movies and TV shows to sell. Dream interpreted.

What to do on a rainy day after the dusting and vacuuming are done, and you've finished the book you've been reading? Today was music download day. Each Christmas I burn CDs as secondary gifts for my four nieces, stocking stuffers, if you will. This year's is titled Showstoppers, culled from Broadway musicals, in a few cases the movie version. Here are the twelve I chose:
From Oklahoma: the rousing title track and Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, which actually came from a revival by England's Royal National Theater. It was broadcast on PBS and I scoffed when I saw Hugh Jackman in the lead, thinking: "Okay, pretty boy, let's see what you can do." The dude is unbelievably talented.
From Bye, Bye, Birdie: the infectious Telephone Hour and irresistible A Lot of Livin' To Do, from the film version, featuring Bobby Rydell, Ann Margaret and Jesse Pierson. Whatever happened to Pierson? He was great as the Elvis knockoff.
From Guys and Dolls: the title track and Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat, both of which feature Stubby Kaye, also from the celluloid take, which starred Marlon Brando, whose vocals left a lot to be desired, although he gets an A for having had the pits to put himself in such a position on the big screen. It was a box office hit, but in retrospect it was a crime that Frank Sinatra, who played Nathan Detroit, wasn't the lead and Dean Martin in the latter role.
From the Rocky Horror Picture Show: Time Warp -- rollicking great fun.
From On the Town: New York, New York -- "...the Bronx is up and the Battery is down. The people ride in a hole in the ground... It's a wonderful town!"
From Sweet Charity: Hey, Big Spender -- sleazy, saucy fun. "I don't pop my cork just for any guy."
From Hair: The Flesh Failures, better known as Let the Sunshine In. The hippies day in the sun.
From Kiss Me Kate: Too Darn Hot -- Smokin'! "...According to the Kinsey report ev'ry average man you know much prefers to court his lovey-dovey when the temperature is low..."
From Fiddler on the Roof: Tradition -- "I have five daughters!" To my delight, the track begins with that unforgettable violin riff.
I can't wait to listen to it in the car.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/26 - Gas

I found the following headline at Google News:  "Cow flatulence, gas emissions much worse than thought - new study." Make up your own joke. Methane is more potent than CO2s, which environmentalists believe cause global warming. Now that they've found this out, what exactly do they propose to do about it -- kill all cows? Am I next? I've had more gas the past few years than in all the years prior. Make up your own headline.

I turned on the radio to hopefully hear some interesting conversation during dinner, and who is Rita Cosby's guest host talking about - Alec Baldwin! Help!

This morning Mark Simone asked listeners whom they'd like to share a meal with. One guy picked baseball lifer Don Zimmer, another Halle Berry -- I applaud his common sense. I've always been fascinated by Elle McPherson, who seems to have never had an unhappy moment in her life, which is, of course, absurd, as she's been divorced. I've always been reluctant to speak to any celebrity I've encountered in passing for fear of catching the person at his/her worst and it creating a lasting impression. I crossed paths with Sid Caesar at LAX in the mid 70's. I wanted to tell him how much my father and I enjoyed his madcap Your Show of Shows, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Having later read of his problem with alcohol, I'm glad I didn't. And I've always been fascinated that female porn stars are able to do what they do, but self analysis is probably something that doesn't interest any of them. Martin Scorsese might be fun, as it seems it wouldn't take much to get him to wax passionately about movies. I would have loved to spend time with the late Freddie Blassie and Lou Albano, and hear stories about pro wrestling. I sense that Jack Nicklaus is as genuine as his image. Aside from politicians, the only celebrity I would want no part of is AROD. 

It was a brief session for the floating book shop today, as snow flurries interrupted business. My thanks to the two ladies who purchased books in Russian. I finally broke down and hit the ATM for the first time since 9/7. With no income the next two days, I'd have been cutting it too close.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/25 - Now Playing

My rom-com screenplay, A Truth Universally Acknowledged, is now live at Amazon, Kindle only, $1. I purchased a copy and scanned it. As expected, the formatting is not perfect. Stray sentences do not fill the margin, but it is still eminently readable. I assume the errors occur because I work from the 1997 version of Word, although I’ve heard other writers air their frustration about the uploading process. I went back and checked the file to make sure it hadn’t skewed on its own, which for some bizarre reason happens occasionally, and it was fine, so I doubt re-submitting would change anything. If you’re looking for a fun read, check it out:  http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp One does not need a Kindle to read it. The program can be downloaded to any PC.

In last night’s episode of The Mentalist, Patrick Jane appeared to have finally gotten his revenge against serial killer Red John, who murdered his wife and child. I suspect it’s a red herring. That, or the series is coming to an end, although I've heard nothing about it being axed. How many episodes can they glean from Jane on the run? And I still suspect one of the regular detective crew will turn out to be a traitor. I sense it’s Rigsby, although it has been disguised well, that is, if it turns out to be the case at all. This season's episodes have all concentrated on the main story line. They are grim but compelling, unlike the others, which are cheerful fun.

It was about 30 degrees when I opened the floating book shop. Fortunately, the wind was negligible and the sun was unblocked. I sold eight books, six in Russian. Thanks, folks, and also to lovely Maddy, who works for a local lawyer and who bought me a hot chocolate today. I felt compelled to get out there, given the gloomy forecast and the holiday Thursday. I've been keeping one or two steps ahead of the ATM the past two weeks. I haven't made a withdrawal since 9/7. I am blessed.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/24 - Positive Step

With the temperature in the 20's and the wind howling, I did not operate the floating book shop today. That left a lot of hours to fill after I picked up the laundry at my sister's. Since I watch TV from eight until midnight, I did not want to do that, and since I spend considerable time on the internet in the AM and after supper, that too was out. I'd planned this winter to offer a screenplay I wrote in the mid 90's, a romantic comedy about a GED gold futures trader and a highly educated magazine writer, as a Kindle book. A Truth Universally Acknowledged is influenced by the films of Tracy and Hepburn, and by Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Today I flushed out a bunch of errors and hope that it is now close to error free. I just finished the submission process at Amazon and the book should be ready by tomorrow morning. The main worry is whether the formatting will remain cohesive. In scanning the test edition, I noticed that it wasn't but that the work is eminently readable. My guess is that most readers would finish it in three sittings. It's a little more than 100 pages, but many sentences have only one or two words. The story is very unlike most of my work. It is light-hearted, upbeat. I was trying to write commercially. Unfortunately, I never had luck in getting anyone to read it. A friend, John, a former actor, suggested I send it to Tony Danza's house. Danza was perfect for the part, the type of Italian-American I grew up with, and John would have been perfect as his brother. If it ever got to Danza, I'll never know. At this point I'm just happy it wasn't stolen. It is under copyright. I'd heard too many tales of Hollywood chicanery to leave it unprotected. A couple of aspects date it. The action takes place a few years before 9/11, so there is a sadness in that for me. And Open Outcry, for decades the system used to trade commodities, is now largely passe, as 80% of futures trading occurs electronically. That aside, Truth... is a fun piece. I enjoyed reading it and there's always a chance others will too. What have I got to lose? I have a tiny hardcore base of fans that will probably buy it.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
 

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/23 - Players

The Player, directed by Robert Altman, debuted in 1992 to critical acclaim. I resisted it until last night. I wasn’t interested in a satire of Hollywood types. Other than a killing, which surprised me, the story was exactly what I’d expected. I much prefer tinsel town’s finished products than stories about the process of getting movies into production. I did enjoy the against type casting of movie tough guy Brion James as an exec, and the performance of the always interesting Vincent D’Onofrio as a struggling eccentric writer. In reading the contributor’s comments at IMDb, where the film is rated 7.6 of ten, several list it as their all-time favorite. Only two thought it was bad. Michael Tolkin adapted the screenplay from his own novel. He has done others I enjoyed more: the under-rated Deep Cover (1992), Deep Impact (1998) and Changing Lanes (2002). The Player is smart, clever, but many of the characters are superficial, as intended, I know, but I like to care about those I invest two hours in watching. Several contributors said the film must be watched several times to be fully appreciated. One aspect that bolsters this argument is the many cameos. In reviewing the cast in the Special Features section, I saw that I failed to spot several celebrities. On the basis of one viewing, I rate The Player three on a scale of five. Another factor that may be prejudicing my opinion is my low regard for the politics of the opinionated Tim Robbins, the star, although he is a fine actor.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. More government insanity: a Wyoming wind farm has pleaded guilty to killing 14 eagles and 149 other birds, and been assessed a one million dollar settlement. I don’t know of any action that doesn’t have some kind of negative impact. The key is always if the positives outweigh the negatives. Clearly, in government they do not. The spendthrifts continue to shake down businesses. The most shameful of these acts was the recent theft of billions of JP Morgan’s money. The company acquiesced to Washington’s request that it acquire firms that were threatened with extinction during the financial crisis, and was rewarded with a lawsuit when mortgages they acquired in the deal were deemed fraudulent. In The Magnificent Seven (1960), the bandit Calvera, played so memorably by Eli Wallach, says: "It goes to show you -- sooner or later you must answer for every good deed."

My thanks to the folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/22 - Jokers

Today the question on the mind of many, especially baby boomers, is: “Where were you when you heard the President was shot?” I, a freshman, was on a stairwell in Lafayette High School. What I remember feeling was shock. I don’t remember if I was scared. Probably so, as it was the height of the cold war and nuclear war seemed a distinct possibility. We were in Mrs. Lewis English class when our Principal, Dr. Leo Weitz, imparted the news of the President's death over the P.A. system. Phil Grigioni, seated in front of me, cheered when we learned school would be dismissed early. I punched him in the back, appalled by his disrespect, although I was happy about the early dismissal too. The most shocking aspect of the next few days was how life went on, despite the momentousness of the event. We played two-hand touch in the street. I’m not sure if I’d realized it before then, but life stops for no one, big or small. Naively, I was happy when Oswald was murdered. My brother in law, 20 years older than me, pointed out that it wasn’t good, that we would never really know the true circumstances of the case. Was there a plot to kill JFK? After all these years, I have not seen any evidence that convinces me there was a conspiracy. Recent advances in forensics have strengthened the single, magic bullet theory. Just weeks before the assassination, Oswald used the same rifle to try and kill a retired general, a right-winger. He shot into the man’s home, the bullet lodging in a wall. Jack Ruby made a routine purchase just four minutes before he killed Oswald. Am I completely convinced that Oswald acted alone? No. Was there a second gunman? The forensic evidence refutes it, although the Zapruder film seems to indicate that the fatal third shot came from the front. Doctors explain the movement of the President from back and to the left as a product of his nervous system. Jackie is said to be trying to retrieve her husband’s brains as she moves so desperately toward the trunk. How could a shot from the rear have projected it backwards? Was there any splatter on or in the front seat? I do not recall hearing anything about that. Unless a participant has stashed a written or audio account somewhere, the event will retain its mystery. 61% of Americans believe there was a conspiracy. How many of them are versed enough on the subject to render an opinion? I’ve watched many programs on the subject, and I don’t feel qualified to say yes or no, although I lean toward no. I see oddities, not evidence proving a conspiracy. More documents will be released in 2017. Why not now? What's the hold up? 50 years have passed.

Having heard the weatherman say it would sprinkle all day, I headed to the viaduct at Avenue Z and East 15th with a limited edition of the floating book shop, hoping to sell some books in Russian. When I saw small patches of blue in the sky, I packed up and headed for my usual nook, set up the full monty, and had terrific luck. I sold a bunch of books, including  A Hitch in Twilight, which Alen, a 22-year-old college man, bought. I also had a long movie conversation with Marie, and was regaled with a joke fest by two old-timers. I was amused more by their character than by the jokes. One, whom I refer to as Captain Spaulding because of his safari-like garb, was dropping loads of f-bombs. 70 and about 50 pounds overweight, Joe, his real name, was having a bad day with arthritic pain. He exhibited a mean side I hadn't seen previously, bragging about beatdowns he administered, one recently. The other gentleman recently spent a night in the hospital, having mixed alcohol and his shingles meds, falling and striking his head, which had a small cut in its brow. Having heard about the attacks young blacks have been perpetrating, he hadn't left his apartment in a week. Life, people never cease to fascinate.
Thanks, folks.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/21 - Layover

Lisa Zeidner has had five novels and two collections of poetry published. I just finished her fourth novel, Layover, an intimate portrayal of a woman coping with a parent’s worst nightmare, the ensuing grief, and then betrayal. The protagonist is 41, a successful saleswoman married to a surgeon. During a business trip, she begins to unravel and drops out of her life for a month. The best aspect of the book is the depiction of the woman’s mindset, made more impressive in that Zeidner apparently has not suffered what the character has, at least not that I was able to find in web searches. It is a work of great imagination and extensive research. She uses many medical terms, but also a slew of pop references. I found the prose challenging. It is frequently fragmented, stream of conscious, but this may indicate a lack of concentration on my part rather than a fault of the author. Still, I was glad the edition I read was only 269 pages. I suspect Zeidner has a high IQ, a lot higher than mine. I think women would relate to the novel more than men, although it exhibits the existential angst all humans share. The characterizations are grounded in reality. This is a novel about life. Although few parents suffer what the main character has, all have imagined and been terrified by the thought of it. Zeidner has also had numerous stories, essays and reviews published in magazines of note. She teaches creative writing at Rutgers University. On a scale of five, I rate Layover 3.25.

Golfer Henrik Stenson had such a great year, his caddie, who earned 10% of the pro's take, bought a Ferrari. Nice work if you can get it.

I set up the floating book shop earlier than usual, 10:30, as I had a chore to attend to at 12:30, and I was rewarded for my effort. My thanks to the folks who bought books, eight of the nine in Russian. The weather was so pleasant I hated to leave. Thanks also to Toluna surveys, which added $20 to my paypal account.

As we were driving to my friend's doctor's appointment, she told me she'd had a job offer. Before the accident that led to her condition, she was a crackerjack accountant. Last night a limousine was sent to pick her up and drive her all the way to West Patterson, New Jersey and back, about an hour each way. Someone recommended her to a 37-year-old female entrepreneur who lives in a mansion high on a hill. The home includes extensive security and a panic room. My friend would live in the guest house. She is blown away by the offer but is afraid her condition wouldn't allow her to put in the time such a position requires. Some days she suffers crippling pain. She is close to 70.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/20 - Feedback

Here I go again on an obscure movie jag. Last night This-TV, channel 111 on Cablevision in NYC, ran A Professional Gun (1968), a spaghetti western starring the ubiquitous Franco Nero, still going strong all these years later. The film does not take itself seriously. It is light-hearted even when the players are gleefully killing scores of adversaries. The soundtrack features the whistling prevalent in the oaters shot in Europe, and had me chuckling aloud. It is rated a surprising 7.1 of ten at IMDb. It was directed by Sergio Corbucci, who did the original Django (1966), also starring Nero, who appeared in Quentin Tarantino's recent take on the character. Corbucci directed more than 50 films, many of which he also wrote. The most interesting aspect of the flick, billed under its U.S. title, The Mercenary, is the supporting cast. Jack Palance, flashing his trademark weird smile, is the main villain, Curly. I had a devil of a time figuring out who plays the young revolutionary. The name Toma popped into my head. I later realized that was not his name but the character the actor played in 23 episodes of a 1973-74 cop series. Finally it came to me - Tony Musante, who is still working, having participated in a short recently. The most interesting member of the cast is Giovanna Ralli, who I mistook for Luciana Paluzzi, the bodacious assassin in Thunderball (1965), the fourth film in the James Bond series. Ralli’s career began all the way back in 1942, when she was seven, in La Maestrina, her character billed as La Bambina. She too is still working, lately in Italian TV. Here is a pic from her youth:

It was quite a day at the floating book shop. It looked like it was going to be a flop when late in the session Jeff, former exchange employee, pulled up to the curb in his SUV and told me how much he is enjoying Exchanges. "I can't put it down." Then Ol' Smokey, who I hadn't seen in weeks, showed. "How you doin'?" I asked. Typically, he replied: "Why - you care?" He was carrying a bag of groceries St. Mark's had donated to him. He left 90% of the canned goods behind on the sidewalk. I turned away, laughing, and there was my most faithful customer, Marie, who I also hadn't see in a while. Her cat, Simba, needed veterinary attention. She is the equivalent of 80 in feline years. She's fine for now. Marie said she loves Close to the Edge, which she is three-quarters of the way through. Minutes after she left, another of my favorites appeared, Laura, a young Romanian trying to make it into med school. It was great to see her beaming, and not overwhelmed for a change. She gave me a big hug before leaving. I was standing in what remained of the sunlight on the corner of East 13th when Crazy Joe pulled his car into a spot across the street. He'd gotten two minutes on Dennis Miller's radio talk show this morning. Miller called him a racist. Joe says he is not and won't back down from calling blacks to task. All I know is he's been good to me. He purchased Killing, even though he reads non-fiction almost exclusively. Thank you, sir, and thanks also to the woman who bought three books in Russian.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/19 - Polar Bear Hunting

There is an article by Thomas Sowell in today’s NY Post that is disturbing on two fronts. In several states black youths are perpetrating random violent attacks, targeting Jews, Asians and whites in general. At least one thug will attack while another films for a youtube clip. This ugly phenomenon has just begun in NYC. Colin Flaherty has written a book on the subject and the media’s failure to report it or, when reporting it, doing so in politically correct terms that fail to inform the public of the danger. The title is White Girl Bleed a Lot, a phrase used during a particular crime. Some creeps refer to the practice as "Polar Bear Hunting." It is always difficult to write about such a subject. I question whether I’m being an alarmist, unintentionally prejudiced, and whether I may stoke the anger of white bigots looking for an excuse to attack minorities. These days anyone who disagrees with the President risks being dubbed a racist. Sowell, a rare black conservative, suggests that the media’s failure to report the incidents is more likely to provoke racial strife. Whites will eventually find out about it and, if  authorities don’t do enough to stop it, will act in their own defense. It’s sad to say, but whenever a group of young black men approaches the floating book shop, my antenna goes up, this despite the fact that many young black men have purchased books from me. Sometimes the truth is ugly, and most of the media is too cowardly to report it, at least in this regard. It's not hard to imagine the hate mail Sowell must receive.

What to do at four AM when sleep fails? I solved that problem this morning by submitting short stories online. I sent five to separate publications, all of which have a circulation of 1000 or less. I’d become lax in this aspect of my literary life, concentrating almost exclusively on book promotion and sales. I found the venues listed at the Poets & Writers website. What do I do if I’m up that early again tomorrow? Read, I guess. These days I can’t sleep longer than five hours, so I try to stay awake until midnight. Last night I fell out during Castle, which airs at ten. Even an afternoon nap often doesn’t help. I'm actually thinking of watching TV while standing up between ten and eleven to prevent myself from falling asleep. Getting older sucks. 

The sunshine was brilliant today but the wind was harsh. I managed to put in two-and-a-half hours at the floating book shop. My thanks to Vinnie, who purchased four DVDs, and to the young man who bought the college guide. The cold even deterred the Russians from buying books, although Natalia and Benedict donated three.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/18 - World Premiere

Fanfare. Here is the world premiere of a flash fiction piece, Members Only. It came in at exactly 100 words. I’m pleased with it. The idea is so simple I hope I haven’t subconsciously stolen it from another writer, particularly Sal Buttaci, who specializes in such work, and has had two collections, Flashing My Shorts and 200 Shorts, published by All Things That Matter Press. He has posted a few 55-word pieces online as well. I’m pretty sure he was my inspiration. Thank you, sir.

“Do you have any last words?”
“I’m sorry for my sins,” said the dark-featured man strapped to the gurney.
Behind the partition, a middle age woman, tears streaming down her face, cried: “Monster!”
After the execution, outside the prison, a young reporter’s hands shook as he lit a cigarette.
“First time?” said an older gentleman.
The younger nodded, throat tight. “Yeah.”
“It’s never easy, even when they deserve it.”
“Would God forgive someone like that?”
“I doubt it. He was probably covering his bases or, more likely, dishing out pain for the last time.”
“I’m confused.”
“Welcome to the club.”

I love indian summer. Everyone is in such a good mood today. My thanks to the woman who purchased four books in Russian as I was setting up shop, and especially to Jeff, a former commodities gypsy, who bought Exchanges. He was one of those trading floor clerks who seemed to change jobs every few months, and might have done so at all four exchanges, searching for the golden grail. He's lived in the Atlantic Towers complex even longer than I have. I also had a visit from Steve, the poet laureate of Sheepshead Bay, who just returned from a month long vacation in India. He says the Taj Mahal is beautiful but not quite as it is in photographs. And Crazy Joe showed up. I told him about the recent Nova program on PBS that supported the JFK single bullet theory. He didn't see it, but assumes it's a continuation of the lies of the cover up.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/17 - Around the World

I don’t recall what prompted me to add Come and See (1985) to my list at Netflix, but I’m glad I did. Although the story is familiar, it is set in a region I recognize by name only, Byelorussia, now Belarus, in the northwestern corner of the former Soviet Union. It is another WWII tale of Nazi atrocities, different in that they are perpetrated against farmers. The monsters burned many villages and executed the people. This is seen through the eyes of a teenager who leaves home to join partisan forces in the fight against the invaders. In the beginning he has a youthful, goofy look. By the end he looks like an old man. Who wouldn’t after witnessing such madness? One of the aspects I love about films like this is seeing a completely foreign cast. It brings a freshness to the work. There are no preconceptions. The film is not perfect. It takes leaps in story line, several scenes go on too long, and some of the acting is over the top, but, overall, it is powerful, gut-wrenching. It runs 140 minutes, requiring patience to sit through. It pulls no punches, offers no happiness. Toward the end there is an extended sequence of old Third Reich film clips running backwards. If only it had been that easy to reverse the evil that Hitler and his minions brought to the world. The film is rated an impressive 8.2 of ten at IMDb. On a scale of five, I rate it four. Belarus gained its independence in 1991. Its population is ten million.

Football players have been getting bigger and faster each decade. Here’s someone who is off the charts. Tony Picard is a 6’ 4” 400 pound running back/nose tackle. He led his Washington high school to a 9-1 record. Somehow the team lost in the first round of the statewide playoffs. His size brings to mind a teaching point Brooklyn’s James Madison High School coach Al Caruso used regarding tackling, which I include in my second novel, Adjustments: “From the ankles down, we’re all created equal.” Or maybe that’s not the case here. Here’s a picture of the behemoth:

RIP Doris Lessing, 94, British author, whose The Golden Notebook  has been embraced by feminists, to the chagrin of the author, whose opinions were often controversial. I read that novel in the 70's. I have only a vague recollection of it, but I've never forgotten a quote from it, a pearl of wisdom: "If what we feel is pain, we must feel it, acknowledging that the only alternative is death."

The floating book shop had another lucky session. I forced myself to set up despite sprinkles in the air. Fortunately, I had a couple of quick sales and ended up making twice as much as yesterday, when the weather was beautiful. But the best part was seeing Old Carmine, who said he liked Close to the Edge, and asked if it were autobiographical. One third of Part One certainly is. I also had a visit from a young mom who I hadn't seen in a while. She was unaware that Stephen King wrote several books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. She bought The Regulators. She mentioned that she now has a Kindle and I suggested she check out my books at Amazon. She committed my name to memory, spelling it aloud as she was leaving. 
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/16 - Legion

In July I read William Peter Blatty’s Legion, a follow-up to the wildly popular The Exorcist, set 12 years later. I enjoyed the novel and decided to add its film adaption, billed as The Exorcist 3, to my list at Netflix. Despite some good moments, it isn’t up to snuff, although the author wrote the screenplay and directed the movie. The best aspect of the novel is Lt. Kinderman, the detective who frequently spouts Yiddish. He is portrayed by George C. Scott, who fails miserably, a rare glitch in an otherwise distinguished career. Blatty did not give him any Yiddish dialogue, which was probably wise. The novel is existential mystery. The film begins that way but veers toward the same horror as the original. One key character, a doctor, is eliminated entirely, another, an exorcist, is added to dreadful effect. Nicol Williamson is entirely wasted in the part, as is Scott Wilson in his. Reading the contributors’ comments at IMDb, one states that Blatty was forced by the studio to go the way of the first film. That would explain its failure. How amazing is it that someone of the stature of Blatty was not allowed to make the work he wanted? My favorite part of the film is a dream sequence in which former NY Knicks’ center Patrick Ewing and male model Fabio appear as angels. Other than that, all I can say in the film's favor is that there are a few scares that made me jump. On a scale of five, two. It is rated six of ten at IMDb, although one contributor rated it ten and insists it's infinitely superior to the original. I see it as vastly inferior.

After yesterday's banner day, there was very little action at the floating book shop this afternoon. My thanks to Jack of Chase bank, who purchased a couple of spy novels, and to the Russian gentleman who bought two books in his native language.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/15 - Miller Time

I was out of bed at 4:30, an idea for a piece of flash fiction in my head. The first draft is 91 words. My shortest story before this, Hip Hop, is 715 words. My longest is 6000+. I’m in the midst of a mini renaissance. After averaging only one story per year the past few years, I’ve banged out three since late July. Below is the first third of a 1200 word piece. Unable to come up with a satisfactory title, I simply used the main character’s last name. I thought about using Miller Time, but that may be under copyright by the beer company. The story came together faster than any I've ever done, which has me questioning its worth. I'd say it's 98% done. I'll tweak it until it gets to 99%. As I've said many times, no work is ever 100% finished:

He turned left from the elevator and immediately spotted a note taped to the door of his apartment just below the large UFT decal. He scanned the message, crumpled and threw it to the floor.
“I will not be bought,” he muttered indignantly.
His bushy beard and what remained of the hair on his head were largely gray. He was of average height, about 30 pounds overweight. He wore wire-rimmed glasses.
“Mr. Miller! Mr. Miller!” someone called.
Miller recognized the voice and sneered as he let go of the doorknob and turned to the middle age man in a suit. “I’ve got nothing to say to you, Costas.”
“Have you seen our latest offer?”
“I’m not joining the plot to rid Manhattan of the middle class, to make it a playground of the rich.”
“We’ll give you a studio right here in the building.”
“The maintenance fee would be a lot more than my current rent. What kind of deal is that?”
“But you’d own the apartment and you’d be able to sell whenever you want. You have a nice pension and great benefits. You’d have no trouble keeping up.”
Miller eyed him with suspicion, seething. “How’d you find out about my finances?” No doubt the banks were in cahoots with real estate agents and building owners.
“Please. You’re alone. You don’t need four rooms.”
“What if my wife comes back? Take a hike. I’d never trust someone like you.”
He entered the apartment and locked the door. The interior was in the middle stages of disarray. Ashtrays filled to the brim were everywhere. His wife had always seen to the upkeep. He hadn’t the time or patience for it. It’d been a year since she walked out and moved to Florida. He was surprised she was able to live outside of Manhattan. Both had been born and always lived in the borough. They’d spent their entire married life, raised their children in this rent-controlled flat. He’d expected they would die here. He felt betrayed.
He lit a cigarette and sat at his cluttered desk, on which there were several books, a few open. He scanned a paragraph in one, closed it and returned it to its proper place on the top shelf of the case, which held books on the Kennedy assassination. The second was devoted to 9/11, the third to the McCarthy era. All were alphabetized.



The floating book shop was almost like a regular business today. My thanks to all the buyers and donors, especially Frances, who purchased A Hitch in Twilight a couple of years ago and now has taken a chance on Killing. And best of luck to Barry, 65, a teacher at John Jay College, whose first book will soon be published by a division of McMillan. It's a non-fiction academic piece on heroin and music.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/14 - Single Bullet

Last night, on its Nova series, PBS in NYC ran a fascinating new take on the Kennedy assassination. Unlike other programs on the subject, it did not raise more questions than it answered. Given the incredible advances in forensic science, a crew was able to recreate the scene, at a remote location, that occurred in Dallas 50 years ago. Using at first wood and then a gel to simulate the human body, it corroborated the single bullet theory. The key was the tumbling, called a "yaw," the bullet did upon exiting the wound in the President’s neck before it struck Governor Connally in several places. In all, that bullet, which remained largely undamaged, hit seven spots in the two men. In the simulation, the bullet showed the same minimal damage. Using super slow motion, it is seen tumbling as it exits the gel. One end of the bullet was open and leaked lead, traces of which were found in Connally. Next, the creators went on to the possibility that the second, fatal shot came from the grassy knoll. The first shot missed and the bullet has never been found. Using computer simulation to justify the possible angles, it was proved that it was indeed possible to strike the President from that position. But this too was debunked by doctors who examined JFK’s skull fragments. The striations went from the back of the head to the front, which means the shot could have come only from the rear. The movement of the President’s body of back and to the left, which convinced many of the presence of a second gunman, was explained by the reaction of his nervous system. Every nerve in his body was ignited upon impact, causing the movement. The piece also tackled the sounds the gathering heard. Gunshots echo in urban areas. Even seasoned combat veterans have a hard time establishing their direction. Film was shown of soldiers in Iraq trying to figure where bullets were coming from. The only major aspect that remains unexplained is Jack Ruby. My friend Bob Rubenstein, author of The White Bridge, in which the former strip club owner is a character, believes he’s a relative of Ruby. He facetiously refers to his stock as “a family of psychopaths.” Maybe Ruby’s action is explained as easily as that. Of course, the events of Dealy Plaza will continue to be debated. Unless a participant has stashed away a written confession proving a conspiracy, the story will always have elements of mystery. As for me, I have not been convinced that anyone other than that mousy commie, Lee Harvey Oswald, killed the President of the United States using an odd Italian rifle.

It was good to have the floating book shop up and running again after two days on the shelf. My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books. I'm way overstocked.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/13 - Leviathan

Although Paul Auster has written 18 novels, non-fiction and screenplays, I was completely unfamiliar with his work. He’s won more than 20 awards, none major, at least to my knowledge. I just finished his ninth novel, Leviathan, an absorbing account of male friends, both writers. One is as normal as an author can be, the other eccentric. It is the first person account of the former, detailing the life of the latter, who experiences several extraordinary events. Except for one incidence of extreme coincidence, the narrative is grounded, believable. In fact, the overall realistic take makes the coincidence seem even more stark, although such occurrences do happen in life. The characters, even the minor, are all interesting. They exhibit the mystery that characterizes humanity. We do not understand them entirely, nor do they understand themselves entirely. The dialogue and prose are first rate except for a writerly quibble: the author frequently uses “Neither of them” instead of just “Neither.” Of course, it may have been intentional, but, since the narrator is a writer who should know better, it bothered me, although it does not detract from the worthiness of the book. It is a smooth, fast read at 275 pages. On a scale of five, 3.75. According to his profile at Wiki, Auster is more popular in Europe than America. Leviathan has much more substance than popular fiction. Auster is a writer of serious matter, and that is always refreshing.

I moved into my co-op apartment in August 1988. That winter, when the heat first started to come up, I was surprised at its force. It was so hot I chose to turn the radiator off. The heat from the pipe in the bathroom was more than enough for me back in those days when I was young and strong. Last year, stretched out on the rug in front of the TV, I’d fall asleep and sometimes wake up shaking, but I toughed it out. This year I finally caved. Now when I enter the studio it’s as if I’m going into the furnace room at my old house. I have to open the window a crack to tolerate the heat. I’m sweating more now than in summer. Then again, it’s a good problem to have. Some poor souls have no heat at all. 

I was going to open the floating book shop briefly today, despite the wind and cold, but not a single parking spot opened up. I did manage one sale, however. A lady upstairs made me promise to hold a copy of E L James' 50 Shades of Gray, if I ever came across one. I quashed the temptation to tease her in the way my contemporaries did when an erotic novel was passed around the dorm. "Are the pages stuck together?" That's going back to the cusp of the sexual revolution. Since then I imagine college kids haven't needed erotica to quell the beast, at least not on the scale we did.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

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

I watched Antiques Roadshow last night and a gentleman brought in this painting of General Eisenhower. Guess who the artist was. Answer at the end of the blog.

I just heard on Rita Cosby's radio show on WOR-AM in NYC that the death toll in the Philippines has been revised down to 2500. It seems every time there is a disaster the media uses 10,000. Why not say "thousands feared dead"?
Also on Cosby's show: political hack Ron Stone claims there is new evidence implicating LBJ in JFK's assassination. I'm no fan of Lyndon Johnson, but I don't believe it.

I used to kid a broker at work who always tried to get my goat that he, as the indians used to say about white men in westerns: "Speaks with fork tongue." This is what went through my mind today when I heard that Bill Clinton has urged the President to delay ObamaCare and reverse the lies he told the American people. His real motivation is to distance Hillary from the legislation. If it remains a debacle, she will seem clean. If it goes on to become a wash or a better deal for many, the majority will love Democrats again and disregard or forget what he said.

The nasty weather put the kibosh on the floating book shop today. Fortunately, I've had an idea for a short story floating in my head for several weeks. Lately, I've heard conspiracy theories on Benghazi, 9/11, the death of two authors and now on LBJ. I did a portrait of a man who has bought into it all. I've already finished the first draft, which is less than four hand-written pages. It was so easy I'm skeptical about its worth, but it's best to get it out of the way and out of the head. At least I'll have something to fill the hours tomorrow if I punk out and don't open the shop.

The artist is: Ike himself. Like Churchill, the President dabbled. The highest auction value one of his paintings have fetched is $7500. I'm surprised it is not a lot more.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/11 - Salute

On the day we honor our veterans, no words are more appropriate than these from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Thank you to all who have served, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. May the rest of us be deserving of the fruits of your staggering accomplishments.




Tom Cruise recently said his work in films is as difficult as that of those who serve in the armed forces. Note to Mr. Cruise: I love your work and will continue to watch it if you apologize for this egregious, disgraceful error in judgment.

Although the floating book shop did not do well today, I enjoyed beautiful day and the chats with passersby. I thank the woman who purchased John Grisham's Playing for Pizza, and also the EPOLL and EDU survey sites, which added funds to my paypal coffers. My Russian regulars passed on the books I had on display. And I still haven't had a sale of the terrific DVDs I'm offering, although a woman looked carefully through the batch. Some things can't be explained.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/10 - Bluster

Fortunately it wasn't cold or conditions would have been brutal for the floating book shop. The wind was strong and swirling, the fallen leaves shaken and stirred. My thanks to Lorraine, who bought Stephen King's From a Buick 8. For the second straight day the DVDs of modern film classics were ignored.

Here's an excerpt from my as yet unpublished rock n roll epic, Rising Star. This one eventually leads to a concert at the alma mater of four of the band members. Each chapter begins with a quote from a song. Guess the artist. Degree of difficulty: two out of ten. Answer follows the clip:

38                                                                 "...School's been blown to pieces...."*

   Mike spent six weeks in rehabilitation. He was released in mid August, clean cut and more physically fit than he'd been in years. By then all the work on the album except Mitchell's had been completed. He was disappointed. Paul was glad, chiefly because he believed Mike needed gradual readjustment to civilian life. He failed to summon the resolve to ask Mitchell to allow Mike to move into the house permanently, especially as he would be moving out himself. He sensed that Mike wanted to be asked, wanted a haven, constant support. Paul handled him gently, fearful any stress would have him fleeing to the shelter of drugs. He helped him find a new apartment and move his things from the old one. Teresa tried to make peace with him. He kept looking to Paul for guidance.
   "Stay away from her. She's trouble. We'll be on the road soon. You'll have all the babes you want."
   He foresaw doom. He did not believe a six-week program could cure someone of an addiction accumulated over two years, at least not someone as weak as Mike.
   Mike visited the studio every day, listening to tapes of the new songs, accompanying with his bass. He insisted he was ready to tour. His counselors believed it would be unwise of him to go on the road.
   "We're playin' the Garden," he pleaded. "Ya gonna make me miss that, Paulie? It's a dream come true. It's all I got left. What'm I supposta do -- go back to drivin' a truck? I'm a musician. That's what I do. I stay home, I might wind up back wit' Teresa."
   He feared he would be replaced permanently, especially given the superiority of his substitute. He suspected the others preferred Charles, despite the color of his skin. He had difficulty grasping Charles' technique and sophisticated bass lines, feared he would be left behind if he were unable to master them. He was terrified of the prospect of staying home. He believed he would have a greater chance of staying out of trouble on the road, where there would be the diversion of travel, performance, and groupies. He planned to make orgasm his addiction, and knew he would have none of it were he not part of the band.
*School's Out, Alice Cooper.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/9 - Hope

The day started with a bang when I checked my rankings at Amazon and saw that there'd been a sale of both the print and Kindle versions of Exchanges. I'm hoping it achieves enough web sales so that the publisher asks me to do another book. Next up would be my near 200,000 word rock n roll epic, Rising Star. When I first began it in the late 80's, I imagined it as a mass market paperback, my stab at a best seller type novel. I had no idea that fiction based on rock n roll has not been commercially successful, whereas the lurid memoirs of band members sell like ice cream and candy. I'm getting ahead of myself, as I doubt more than 20 copies of Exchanges have sold online. It would probably take a lot more than that to do the trick. Out of curiosity, I checked the rankings of all of WheelMan Press' books, and mine was ranked higher than all but one, including the latest by the publisher himself. Of course, this may be only a temporary bump. The book isn't even listed at the website. He must not have updated it in months. I doubt he's embarrassed by the content, otherwise he wouldn't have published it. I haven't heard from him since I purchased 60 copies in May. My hope right now is that exchange personnel will give the book as a Christmas gift.

It looked like it was going to be a complete shutout for the floating book shop until the last half hour. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased the book in Russian and the ladies who bought the John Grishams. And thanks also to Bob, who donated a bag full of quality DVDs that includes Gladiator and The Silence of the Lambs. I'm very surprised not one sold during the session. I'm always nervous when Bob shows because he suffers shortness of breath and seems on the verge of cardiac arrest. He's at least 65 and probably 50 pounds overweight. He is the bizarro Political Man, Jeff that is, a frequent visitor to my usual nook in Sheepshead Bay. Bob is his exact opposite in that he excoriates liberals rather than conservatives. Both are Jewish. Bob refers to his liberal brethren as Yidiots. He is waiting for a friend to undergo an operation and recover so that they can head to Hollywood and pitch their screenplay about an Orthodox Jew hiding out in a European monastery during WWII. The plot sounds radically different than the one he related a few weeks ago that had brothers keeping a camera trained on an alley in a seedy neighborhood, and capturing a murder on film. Either the refugee is another element of it or Bob is, as I've suspected from the beginning, a B.S. artist. I hope I'm wrong and he gets the millions the millions he believes the work deserves.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/8 - Words

I had another of my vivid dreams. I was in centerfield, in front of Keith Hernandez, who made a running, one-handed, game-saving catch. As we were jogging toward the dugout, I asked if I’d blocked his view. I have no clue as to the meaning. Hernandez, of course, was a brilliant first baseman, not an outfielder.

Sticking with sports, the incomparable Hondo came up with another witty gem in his satiric football picks column. He referred to Governor Chris Christie not as a RINO, Republican in name only, but as a Rhino.

As an ex-football coach, I suppose I should comment on the controversy surrounding the Miami Dolphins, who cut offensive lineman Rich Incognito, who may have been encouraged by the staff, for bullying fellow lineman Jonathan Martin. From the articles I’ve scanned, insiders seem to back Incognito, who has been in a lot of trouble as far back as college, which makes him a perfect fall guy. Pro sports is the ultimate meritocracy, so far untouched by government hacks eager to level playing fields. Football is violent. The NFL is brutal. In this instance, I’m not sure Incognito was anything more than boorish. From this outsider’s perspective, he isn’t the type of guy I’d like to have as a friend or a teammate or player under my tutelage. Hip Hop artists are idolized despite the language they use. I’ve never respected an athlete or anyone who berates others, but such behavior is not uncommon and must be endured, as I did back in the day. Athletes are particularly aggressive, perhaps so juiced at higher levels as to suffer warped minds. This should not excuse behavior, especially the physical, that exceeds boundaries. Punish the perpetrators. But when it’s a matter of words, common sense should prevail, especially among men. Is Incognito a bigot? I don’t know, but it seems he was on friendly terms with Martin until recently. Have other blacks on the Dolphins complained about mistreatment? I haven't heard others complain. Maybe this is simply a case of misguided motivational ploys. Coaches on the college and pro level are under enormous pressure to win and have scant patience for those who they believe will not help them keep their jobs. Heck, it isn't much different at a lot of high schools. The highest level of sports are cold, cruel businesses, Darwinian in nature. Artists and entertainers frequently use the vilest language. Should we be surprised when an athlete does?

What a lucky session for the floating book shop. Gusts were blowing up to 30 MPH, yet several people made purchases and two women donated a few books each. My thanks to all, especially Crazy Joe, the scourge of NYC talk radio hosts. He overpaid for the books he selected and enthralled me with his personal history. His dad, a communist, worked as a clerk on Wall Street and even owned a few stocks. Like many of us, Joe was a liberal during his early adulthood, then took a sharp turn right. For 35+ years he taught high school math. He was forced out of teaching when someone found some of his writings on the web, copied and sent them to the Board of Education. He was accused of racism, sexism and pedophilia, the latter because he believes the age of consent should be lowered. He had never received a rating below satisfactory until his final one. He spent the last six months of his tenure at the infamous rubber room. He decided not to fight, fearful of retaliation. He signed a consent form which banned him from ever again teaching in the state. He now spends a lot of his time attacking liberals in the media and on the web. He is no longer able to get through to several stations, which must have caller ID. He is a self-professed misogynist. From all this one might assume he is miserable and unpleasant. He isn't in the least. He's actually fun. He reads extensively and is well-versed on the Kennedy assassination and OJ Simpson. His next project is the Amanda Knox case.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/7 - Souls & Holes

6 Souls (2010) arrived from Netflix yesterday, another unfamiliar flick that had me scratching my head, wondering why I’d added it to my queue. It’s alternate title is Shelter. I suspect the film flopped so badly the DVD distributors decided to rename it, hoping no one would realize it. It stars Julianne Moore and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, currently serving as Dracula in the NBC series, which I haven’t seen. He was excellent in this, playing multiple parts, housing lost souls. Moore portrays a by the book doctor who testifies against defendants whose lawyers use a multiple personality defense, which she believes is bogus. That captured my interest, then the movie turned to the theme of demonic possession and became routine horror. It lost focus and had holes in the script, as if the film-makers were unsure of themselves. Several times I asked myself: Why didn’t she…? I will say that I was not bored. I did not pause the DVD once during its 112 minute running time, but when it ended I felt unsatisfied. The acting is by far its best aspect. On a scale of five, 2.5. It is rated six of ten at IMDb.

A hole in one is a rare feat individually, although I’d bet at least one occurs every day across America. Recently, there was one that qualifies as Herculean. At a pro-am event at the Seaside Course in Sea Island, Georgia, PGA tour pro Jason Kokrak, six-four, 225 pounds, had an ace on the 5th hole, which was playing 409 yards that day. The odds of making a hole in one are in the millions. What are they on a hole more than 400 yards long - billions? And it's not the first time it ever happened. A similar event occurred years ago in a tour event at TPC Scottsdale. Andrew Magee drove the green and his ball struck Tom Byrum’s putter and caromed into the hole! I’m sure wind and a downhill slope had something to do with the length of the two shots, but still…. Unbelievable. Kudos, guys. 

The initial price of the Twitter IPO was pegged at $26. I doubted I'd get for less than $30, so I did what I should have when buying Facebook. I put in a Good Until Cancelled order at $20. That means I will own the stock if the price retreats to that level. Trouble is, at last look it was $45, and it traded as high as $50 during the session. It would have to drop more than 50%. I don't think that's likely. Now that I've missed out I'm sure those who dove in will get rich.

The floating book shop was rained-out today. It will return tomorrow.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/6 - Winners & Losers

I had about as much luck at the ballot box yesterday as I’ve had with my NFL picks this season. Each candidate I voted for was defeated, many soundly. I protested on the race for Brooklyn DA, where Charles Hynes, a lifelong Democratic, ran on the Republican and Conservative lines. His opponent, Kenneth Thompson, has proven corrupt even before taking office. I wrote in Rudy Giuliani. I was on the winning side of at least one proposal, defeating the move to raise the retirement age of judges to 80. 70 is old enough. Step aside and allow others to move up. If a judge wants to continue working, he/she should try to enter the private sector. I don’t object to gambling, but I did vote against the measure to allow casinos in New York. This is the same lazy intellectual measure as lotteries. I read several articles on the history of the subject, and each claimed the ensuing revenue failed to meet expectations and is offset by the social blight engendered. How lame is it that gambling and not fracking, one of the few businesses keeping the economy afloat, was on the ballot? What a great example of free market economics it is, and hardly anyone is articulating it. I suppose New Yorkers would have voted it down, but it would have been nice to have an opportunity to vote for it. As for national trends, this is what I see -- the march toward socialism has continued. Tea Party influence seems to be waning. I gauge this on the results of the gubernatorial race in Virginia, where Clinton crone Terry MacAuliffe won a squeaker. The other telling sign, although it wasn’t surprising, was New Jerseyians approving the raising of the minimum wage to $8.25. Governor Chris Christie is much ballyhooed in the press, which will turn viciously against him if he runs against Hillary. Question: if he is such a great leader, why has he utterly failed to change the political culture of New Jersey, which recently elected one of the biggest phonies, Cory Booker, to the Senate? The Republic Party is divided among those who favor the go along to get along status quo and conservatives. Its only hope for ascension is if ObamaCare continues to be a debacle, and if the press doesn’t manage to pin its failure on them, which is not out of the question. In NYC the GOP always faces long odds. Mike Bloomberg was a RINO -- Republican in name only. Two eminently qualified candidates, Joe Lhota for Mayor and John Burnett for Comptroller, were trounced by liberal hacks. I think Bloomberg fatigue and backlash against the government shutdown doomed the former, as well as the fact that Democrats outnumber Republicans by 6-1 in the city. Will the city return to the gloom of the Dinkins era under Bill de Blazio? Time will tell. On his radio show on WOR-AM, Mark Simone has pointed out that 40% of the current population was not present for the pre-Giuliani years. They have no idea what it was like. As a fiscal conservative, I’m disappointed. I hope the majority of Americans is imbued with a wisdom my apparently meager faculties lack. When the President was re-elected, I considered selling many of my stocks. I'm glad I didn't, as the FED has continued it policy of Quantitative Easing, which has failed miserably to stimulate the economy but which has driven the DOW to an all-time high. Investors have few options other than the stock market to make money. I'm thinking about selling again, wondering how long before the bubble bursts and how long it would take for a rebound under present economic conditions. With that in mind, I've decided to bid no more than $20 for Twitter.

Congratulations to the lady from Belize, who yesterday passed both her citizenship and GED exams, and my thanks for buying the Spanish-English dictionary. And thanks also to all those who bought and donated books today. A woman gave me a bag o' John Grisham paperbacks. He, along with Danielle Steel and James Patterson, are the authors people ask me for most.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/5 - Pioneer

Last night PBS in NYC ran a one hour profile of the late Lou Reed on its American Masters series. It refreshed my memory of what made him such an influential artist. He never compromised to try to reach a wider audience. Much of his work covered subjects most folks would rather not consider. The program featured comments from the likes of David Bowie, Suzanne Vega and David Byrne, who remarked how odd it was to hear Walk on the Wild Side in a fancy restaurant and wondering if the people realized what that mellow track is about: "... Plucked her eyebrows on the way/Shaved her legs and then he was a she..." Reed focused on the alternative lifestyle long before the term became fashionable. He also lived it as a bisexual and drug addict, of which he commented: "As bad as it gets." His addiction spawned at least four terrific songs: Waiting for the Man (his pusher), Heroin "...it's my life and it's my wife..."; White Light, White Heat, inspired by cocaine: "...it's gonna make me go blind..."; and Sweet Jane, an ode to marijuana: "Standin' on the corner, suitcase in my hand...." Although I've always been pretty much of a square and have always been uncomfortable in the presence of those using drugs, or those of a different sexual orientation, I enjoy these tracks. I find tales of Andy Warhol's factory fascinating, but the thought of hanging out there gives me the creeps. Reed eventually cleaned up his act and remained sober the rest of his life, reaching the age of 71, which probably exceeds the life expectancy of rockers of his stripe. He married performance artist Laurie Anderson, with whom he collaborated occasionally. The most famous work of his sober years is probably Dirty Boulevard, a song strident leftists must love: "...Give me your hungry, your tired your poor I'll piss on 'em/that's what the Statue of Bigotry says..." It was his response to cutbacks in government assistance, which I believe is misguided and naive. No country does more for its poor or provides opportunity for advancement than America. I did hear him play an interesting cut during this period on David Letterman's show, the key lyric being: "...This is the age of video violence..." I never got around to listening to it closely, and doubt I ever will now that I'm in my 60's. At one point in the program Reed bitterly referred to his detractors as something like "Puritan prigs immersed in misery." He sounded every bit as bigoted as those who excoriated him. But who among us hasn't uttered the regrettable? I'm glad others cannot hear or read the thoughts of my worst moments. I owned only one Reed album -- Rock n Roll Animal, a live, five-song, 40 minute piece that features soaring guitar work by Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter. Rock n Roll runs 9:55. It features a lyric millions of baby boomers and everyone born later can relate to: "...One fine mornin', she puts on a New York station/and she couldn't believe what she heard at all/She started dancin' to that fine-fine-fine-fine music/ooohhh, her life was saved by rock 'n' roll..." To my surprise, it was not written by Reed but by Benjamin Griffey, Marten Laciny and Thomas Kuechler. Of course, it will always be Reed's.

PBS in NYC will air a Hendrix doc at nine this evening.

I was on assignment today and didn't get to the book shop. Back at 'em tomorrow.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 11/4 - Decisions

Kudos to anyone who has been successful predicting NFL games this season. This is a rare year where I am clueless. This week I was correct on only two of the point spreads. I picked most of the winners and was less than 50-50 on the over-under. Will the real Jets please stand up. They kill me every week, as the Chargers have for years. I admire what the Chiefs are accomplishing but doubt they are as good as their record indicates. Teams look terrific one week, horrible the next. Did anyone start Nick Foles in their fantasy league yesterday? Seven touchdown passes? You’ve got to be kidding me. One thing that’s obvious nowadays -- a team doesn’t have to demonstrate excellence the entire 16 game schedule in order to win a championship. The Giants and Ravens have proven that. Only New England has been consistent the past decade, since Tom Brady’s rise to prominence. All coaches dubbed geniuses seem to slip. Some wash out completely, others make comebacks ala Andy Reid. Only Bill Belichick seems worthy of the tag, although I wonder if he would struggle as much without his star QB as Mike Strahan has without John Elway. Maybe he’ll retire when Gisele Bundchen’s husband does. I may go to the dartboard method.

I tried to put in an order for 100 shares of Twitter (TWTR) yesterday and a message came up that orders will not be accepted until 11/7 at 7AM. The initial price is said to be in the range of 17-20, a lot cheaper than Facebook was. Do I put in a market order and accept the consequences if it rockets out of the gate? I should. I haven’t taken enough financial risks in my lifetime. Google, Snapple, Netflix are only a few of the products I've used and loved long before they went public -- and I didn’t have the balls to invest in them. I don’t love Twitter. My participation is strictly shameless promotion, but I think it has enormous potential. Used correctly, one must tweet constantly throughout the day and have something amusing or illuminating to say. There are a few who have mastered it, but most of the posts seem advertisements for self or drivel. The reason I love Facebook is because I’ve reconnected with old friends and acquaintances I may have never heard from again. It has also helped me sell dozens of books. I feel I should drop my Twitter account, as I don’t use it properly. Still, I think it’s potentially a great investment.

I broke out the winter coat today. With daylight savings time ended, the corner of East 13th and Avenue Z is bathed in sunlight by the time I arrive at about 11AM. It is needed to mitigate the cold and wind. Conditions were fairly easy, as the wind diminished and there was no cloud cover. I just kept moving in line with the rays as the sun made its way across the azure sky and eventually disappeared behind the apartment building across the street. There is a sharp difference once the area is in shadow. My thanks to the four ladies who made purchases during the session. I sold all but one of the books in Russian I had on display. Spasibo, ladies.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx