Some days the world looks much darker than others. When inhumanity rears its ugly in other parts of the world, I think: "God bless America." Here, our battles are usually fought with words and they are concentrated largely on the distribution of money. Today there are two instances that dismay: the callous badgering of Robin Williams' daughter by morons on Twitter, and the rioting in Missouri over the death of a young black man in police custody. The first makes one wonder if our society, or at least many in it, has become, as critics cite, desensitized by a bankrupt culture. The second arouses the fear that inner cities will burn, as several did in the 60's. Although the circumstances are sketchy, many are rushing to judgment. Sadly, the situation will be divisive, the outcome unsatisfying to at least one side and possibly to everyone. The officer must be given the benefit of the doubt until all the facts have been adjudicated. I wasn't there. I don't know what happened. But I do know this: it is stupid to resist even an unjust arrest. Several months ago a Facebook friend constantly used the abbreviation that baffled me -- "smh," short for "shaking my head." That's how I feel on this day when the human race looks hopeless.
One thing New Yorkers can't complain about today is the spectacular weather. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases today, especially the Russian woman who bought five mini-dictionaries, three of them not much longer than an inch. I assume they were designed specifically for travelers. Two were Polish-Russian, one German-Russian, and one Italian-Russian. The lady asked if I were Polish. When I said I was Italian, she replied she knew only one very important word in Italian: Mangiare, her pronunciation excellent. I laughed. One need only see all the posts of food on Facebook to know how much the word means to goombahs. I have one book in Russian left, a large pictorial on sex. I've been a little uncomfortable having it on display, although it is by no means pornographic, despite the nudity and salacious positions shot in shadowy black and white. Anything like it is bound to be offensive to someone, so I keep it near, ready to warn anyone interested in it of the content. I've established good will at my regular nook and don't want to blow it, pun intended. When a woman reached for it this afternoon, I asked if she knew what to expect, even though I was sure she did, as I've sold her many items. She pooh-poohed my leeriness. Unfortunately, she didn't buy it, so I will remain on guard.
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
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