The Writer's Life 2/15 - Fine Men

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There were items about fine men in today’s NY Post.

RIP Vince O’Connor, 85, legendary head football coach of St. Francis Prep, who had recently completed his 62th season at the helm. His teams won 335 games, 16 championships. I never heard anyone say a bad word about him. Well done. Off to heaven with you, lad.

In side by side articles, Brad Hamilton profiles two of the NYPD’s finest, both retired. Ralph Friedman, 66, is the most decorated detective in NYC history. He won 219 department awards and 36 from civilian organizations. He went toe to toe with evil, involved in 15 gun battles, shooting eight perpetrators, killing four. He made 2000 arrests -- 105 while off duty! He was stabbed, suffered two broken hands and a fractured skull in the line of duty. The most decorated officer is retired Lt. Robert DeMartini, who won a staggering 476 NYPD awards. Both men at one time worked out of Fort Apache in the Bronx. They communicate regularly. Imagine sitting in on one of their conversations. Why, you could write a book. Thank you doesn't say enough.

Last night the Movies! Channel, 113 on Cablevision, ran There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954). What a treat. It’s the type of innocuous fare the old Hollywood did so well, colorful, lively, positive. The story is simple -- the ups and downs of a show biz family of five. What an array of talent: Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey the parents, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and pop idol Johnny Ray the siblings. Marilyn Monroe, in her young glory, plays O’Connor’s love interest, Hugh O’Brian Gaynor’s. The words and music are supplied by the great Irving Berlin. I am always amazed by Monroe’s endearing ability to carry a tune, despite a small voice. The biggest surprise is Dailey’s excellence as a song and dance man. He is never mentioned in conversations about the greats, which begin and end with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. And one can argue that Merman’s vocal of the title tune is as famous as there ever was. Millions, including me, have imitated it.

Since there's no chance of selling books on the street in such brutal cold, I spent a lot of time today trying to track down the origin of the pop-up ads that have plagued me since I downloaded Microsoft Word. I discovered how to disable two sources, albeit only for a week. I thought I struck gold when I found a page that allows one to opt-out from several sources. Of course, the diabolical slimes blocked it with a template that claimed to be checking cookie status.
Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/