The Writer's Life 6/30 - Players

Owen Pappoe, 14, who will enter high school in the fall, already has been offered a full scholarship by eleven major football programs, Boston College having been the first. For the past two seasons he has been the LT of junior high, terrorizing QB's from his position at outside LB. Six-one, 190 pounds, he is reminiscent of Lebron James at that level, a man among boys. Stay focused, kid.

Point Guard Luke Ridnour has been in the NBA 12 years, playing for five teams. Since the end of the 2014-15 campaign, he has been on a wild rollercoaster ride, having been traded four times in the past six days. He played 47 games with the Orlando Magic last season. They traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies, who sent him to the Charlotte Hornets, who passed him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who dispatched him to the Toronto Raptors. He has been a solid reserve, averaging 9.3 pts., 4.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game over the course of his career. There's no reason to feel sorry for him. The minimum salary for a player of his tenure is at least one million.

I almost committed a costly gaffe at the floating book shop today. When a gentleman entered his car, which was in the second spot from the corner, I hustled to mine, hoping to move up and save myself from lugging the crates a distance of 80 yards. Unfortunately, the guy wasn't leaving. It looked like he had plugged in a device he was reading. Of course, a vehicle had taken the spot I'd vacated, so I had no choice but to put the blinkers on and hope someone would pull out. Soon the same guy returned and started his SUV. I stepped toward my Hyundai and a meter maid asked if it were my car. She'd been a second from pulling out her electronic pad. Whew! And my luck didn't end there. A woman donated three pictorials and a paperback copy of Homer's The Iliad. The pictorials, two on renaissance art, the other on Brooklyn Catholics, sold immediately. A gentleman gave me four thrillers in Russian, one of which sold, as well as four of the holdover romances I had on display. Then I spotted Madeline approaching. I finally had one of those Chicken Soup for the Soul books she'd requested, which I was happy to give her as a thanks for all the books she has donated. She had about 30 more in her shopping cart. Thanks, folks. Sales were disappointing this month, but at least the last session was fun. On a positive note, I'm way ahead of my usual pace in selling my own books, which averages out to about one per week. I've already sold 38, thanks largely to the issue of Rising Star in February.
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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/29 - Sublime & Ridiculous

A while ago certain corporations were excoriated for not paying summer interns. Execs defended themselves by claiming the young men and women gain valuable on the job experience. Guess who else doesn’t pay his interns? NYC progressive Mayor Bill deBlasio. It always brightens my day when politicians are exposed as the charlatans they are. Their credo: “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Not another story about an amateur golfer’s incredible shot. Sorry, couldn’t resist, especially since the guy is an ex-Marine. Patrick Willis, 59, had a ridiculous run during a local tournament in Virginia, shooting 57 despite a three-putt at the 18th! The round featured three aces -- two on par fours! Are you kidding me? He made the first on a 278 yard hole, hitting three-wood. The next came at a 310 yard hole, on which he hit driver. The last was at a mere par three, where he hit five-iron. He claims to have shot numerous rounds of 59 and to have made 22 aces overall. His handicap is four. Semper fi. Here he is:

It’s all downhill from here. In case you haven’t heard, the Mets called up highly touted lefty Steven Matz, a Long Island native. He must have heard about the Amazin’s anemic offense and decided to take matters into his own hands. He went three-for-three and drove in four runs, the first time in MLB history a pitcher has driven in that many in his debut. Oh, and he went seven-and-two-thirds innings, giving up only two run on six hits. To top it, he’ll have to pitch a no-hitter in his next start or go four-for-four.

I was rooting around with the remote last night, searching for something to watch, and stumbled upon gold. The CUNY channel ran Elevator to the Gallows (1958), a French noir classic that made Jeanne Moreau an international star. It is haunting despite questionable plot points. Shot in black and white, it is the story of a perfect crime foiled by a simple forgotten detail. The sound track was done by Miles Davis, accompanied by several other jazz artists, American and French. There is a scene that runs about three minutes wherein Moreau is trying to track down her missing lover. Davis’ melancholy, fatalistic composition seems to reflect her subconscious, her quiet obsession, perfectly. It is the greatest use of music I’ve ever seen/heard in film.

Now that school is out, I plan to set up shop each Monday in front of John Jay H. S. in Park Slope, if parking permits. It didn't today, but I wound up nearby, 9th Street just below 7th Avenue -- after driving around like an idiot for a half hour. My thanks to the gentleman who bought Jose Saramago's Blindness, and the one who purchased The Last Don II on DVD.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/28 - Appearances

My thanks to the gentleman who bought 16 DVDs in Russian, to the woman who bought the Sex and the City bootleg, and to Lorraine, who purchased a Stuart Woods thriller and returned minutes later with a donation of four books.

Here’s an excerpt from a story I wrote about 35 years ago, when I was 30. It’s based on one of those rich, mysterious encounters that everyone experiences. I was riding the subway, on my way to an interview for a job tending bar. The title is Appearances, and at this point it’s about half way through. It’s less than 1000 words, a few minutes read:

   Two women boarded, one middle-aged, the other barely out of her teens. He surmised they were mother and daughter. They sat further up the car and across the aisle. He guessed they were Hasidic. The older was wearing a light blue dress emblazoned with flowers. Her hair seemed heavily frosted, unnatural, as if it were a wig. Many of the Hasidic women wore it that way. The younger woman's hair was natural, a soft honey brown cut short, styled simply yet beautifully. Her complexion was flawless. She gazed at him. He looked into her dark eyes and saw fire, although they had not changed expression. She was wearing a light blouse and long skirt. He was unable to distinguish her bosom, as she was hunched forward slightly, thighs pressed together firmly. Her skirt had rolled up a bit, revealing some leg. Although little more than her ankle was visible, there was no doubt in his mind that her long legs were well-defined. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen, and this without the advantages of cosmetics and liberal attire. He was sure she would earn millions as a model.
   She was holding a copy of the Torah bound in a black vinyl cover. She prayed fervently, eyes closed, lips moving silently. Her mother sat carefree, knitting. He was intrigued by the contrast. It seemed their activities should have been reversed. You have no real sins, he thought as the girl lifted her head and looked  his way. He sensed she was fighting her sexuality - and losing. He also sensed she was not one of them, at least not in nature. Indeed, she seemed to be fighting her soul, beseeching the Lord to save her from it, as if  it and not her environment was its enemy. He feared that it would perish, that she would do what was expected of her, live falsely, making her old before her time. He was certain he understood her thoughts -- why would God endow us with fierce desires that were to be ignored? He often asked himself the same.
  She said something to her mother, and they rose and came toward him. His heartbeat accelerated. Her bosom was proportionate to the rest of her figure. She seemed flawless physically. He had the urge to bolt. He guessed she'd told her mother that the sun shining through the window at her back had made reading difficult. She sat beside him at the edge of the bench, back turned to him slightly, and resumed praying. He sensed she was putting her sexuality to the test in hope of conquering it. He wondered if her mother knew this and approved. The poor girl was years from her peak and already suffering. Was she older than she looked? He doubted it. A marriage would have been arranged for her.
   More Hasidim boarded at ensuing stops. He did not understand their regimented way, their refusal to explore the vast possibilities of life. To his chagrin, he was uncomfortable in their presence. He
admonished himself, but it failed to change his feelings. He was saddened by the sight of little boys in traditional habit, curls at their temples. It was as if they went through Holy Communion or Confirmation every day of their  lives. Suddenly, being Catholic seemed easy.
   He marveled at the girl's classic profile. He wanted her. It would be a brief affair, he knew. Even if she broke from Orthodoxy, she would never marry a gentile. It might be enough to convert her to secular Judaism, however, to help her find her true self. You're not one of them, he wanted to say; I can see it; I can feel it; it's so obvious.
   He had his name and number written on slips of paper in his wallet, which he kept should he meet a woman to whom he was attracted. He'd yet to use any, fearful it was tacky. Do it, he urged himself,
studying her delicate neck, imagining the thrill it would be to deflower her. He was angered at the thought that she fall into the hands of a lout. Do it, he thought, calculating the consequences: the girl's outrage, feigned or not; her mother's indignation, her brethren's wrath. So what? he thought; she's worth it.
   His thoughts became explicit. He would bet all the money he had she was aroused. He fought the
temptation to drop something intentionally, squat and look for a moist stain. He chuckled as the train
penetrated the underground, at the hackneyed metaphor that, at the moment, seemed appropriate.
   The car was plunged into darkness a moment until the lights were illumined. You're just like me, he thought; dyin' to bust out. He imagined her shyness, her initial timidity in making love, her gradual acceptance of the naturalness and beauty of it.
   Stations passed and he did not make a move. At DeKalb Avenue the women rose. He was certain he would never see the girl again, and certain he would never forget her. He stared at her lovely back. She did not turn around, did not so much as peek. He watched her through the windows. Soon she was out of sight, gone from his life. He wondered if she would test herself with another male, another gentile, when she made her connection to another train. To his chagrin, it seemed she, despite overwhelming circumstances, had a greater chance of achieving her potential than he. He wondered if he would ever overcome whatever it was that kept him from being bold with women.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/27 - Undeterred

I caught up to The Maze Runner (2014) last night, courtesy of Netflix. Adapted from the novel by James Dashner, it melds elements from forerunners into a routine sci-fi/horror fest. It has elements of the Jurassic Park and Alien series, as well as William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies. The premise is simple: a large group of youths are placed in an isolated setting where they must learn to survive. None has any but fleeting memories of the past. They are enclosed in a large area surrounded by four high walls. Each day a part opens up to a maze. The slot closes before nightfall, and the runners must vacate to avoid ravenous nocturnal creatures. Will the maze lead them out of the predicament and back to the real world? Why were they put there? By film’s end, the questions are answered. I was unfamiliar with the young cast, which acquits itself adequately. The real star is the maze, the impressive set. I sense this is a case where those who have read the book will appreciate the flick more than those who haven’t. I wasn’t bored, but neither was I absorbed during the less than two-hour running time. The film was a winner financially. I’m surprised the budget was “only” 34 million. It brought in 102 million in the U. S. alone, which green-lighted a sequel, which I’ll probably skip. It was directed by Wes Ball, his first time at the helm of a full feature. Since it turned a tidy profit, he will get more work, which will reveal the extent of his talent. Rated PG-13, its violence is suggestive, cloaked in darkness, rather than explicit. 221,000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 6.9 of ten. On a scale of five, I say 2.5.

Despite an acute sense of futility, I've managed to continue to write and to promote my work. Some days that sense is more forbidding than others. Such was the case today, as the forecast all but guaranteed rain in the early afternoon. I forced myself to set up shop at the foot of the elevated train station at Bay Parkway, where I'm able to scramble to shelter immediately. I brought about a third of the wares I usually do and would not risk displaying my own books, knowing what moisture does to the covers. I simply wore my trusty sign around my neck, advertising my madness. While I didn't sell any of my books, I got lucky with other stuff. My thanks to the woman who bought three books and the gentleman who bought two DVDs, all in Russian. Not pressing my luck, I left at one PM.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/26 - Creativity

Hats off to Hondo, whose social and political commentary in his baseball betting column is often hilarious. Today he inspired me to track down an interesting story which is now among my favorites of 2015. Since Michele Obama's eating healthy edict has gone into effect, kids have fought back by bringing salt and sugar to school to eradicate the blandness of the food. In some cases they are selling packets to classmates. How I love the underground economy. These kids should all get an A in Economics, and I hope they have learned to be wary of government intrusion and over-reach. Kudos.

Blessed with the fourth pick in the NBA draft, the Knicks did what is called as a reach, a gamble, selecting 19-year-old Latvian Kristaps Porzingas, who played professionally in Spain. The fans in attendance booed. I have no idea how this will turn out, but it seems Phil Jackson is not in any hurry to win. He passed up a lot of talented black Americans for a white European. I wonder if any yahoos will attack him for it.

RIP Patrick Macnee, 93, the dapper star of The Avengers, who appeared in 161 episodes opposite his lovely sidekicks, Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson, as well as 27 of The New Avengers. To my surprise, he has 169 credits listed at IMDb, not including multiple appearances on many TV series in the UK. Quietly, he challenged James Brown as the "hardest working man in show biz."

It looked like it was going to be another disappointing session of the floating book shop for the first two-hours-and-twenty-nine minutes of operation, and then it turned around in a most unusual way. I'd sold only two books, one each in English and Russian to a gentleman. At the eleventh hour an Asian couple and their teenage son stopped and looked at the wares. I was hoping the dad would spot a book that has alternating pages of Chinese and English. Before he had a chance to walk away, I dug it out and showed it to him, although I worried that he might be Korean or Japanese and might take offense. He bought it and asked what I had in "Good writing." I wasn't sure if he meant popular stuff. Then he spotted Dickens' Oliver Twist and three of Shakespeare's plays in paperback. My thanks, sir, and to the other gentleman.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/25 - Men's Guide

Sometimes an idea seems a natural to attract a wide audience. Such is the case with Jo Barrett’s novel, Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom. The story is simple: a female attorney in her mid 30’s, post divorce, has left NYC and returned to her hometown of Austin, Texas, where she follows her dream of giving writing a shot. She finds a goldmine in the culture of the ladies’ room. The main topic of conversation, of course, is men, dating and mating in the post-modern, sexually liberated world. The prose is lively and witty, the dialog natural and smart, the protagonist eminently likable, not an embittered feminist. There are pop references galore, almost all of which I recognized at least fleetingly. The best friend is an omniscient gay male, which seems a requisite for chick-lit. Its 297 pages glide by, reading more like 250. Many of the chapters are but a page or two. Published in 2007, it was the author’s first novel. She has written two more but none since 2009. There is not much information about her on the web. According to her website, she has written for a Texas magazine and appeared on many TV shows. Perhaps she was done in by declining sales or is concentrating on developing screen adaptations for the two of her books that have been picked up by Hollywood. A ringing endorsement by Hugh Jackman is on the cover of Men‘s Guide. I was unable to find any but current sales information on it, so I guess it wasn't the natural best seller I assume it had been. Still, I’m sure many women would eat it up. By today’s standards, it is very mild. I doubt many would be offended by anything in it. I’m surprised only 12 users have rated it at Amazon, forging to a consensus of four stars out of five. As an old-fashioned male chauvinist pig, I say 3.5. The author shares the same name with a successful romance novelist.

There was a bit of fireworks at the floating book shop today. A guy parked at the end of the bus stop, in line with the box from which local postal deliverers pick up their haul. When the postal truck arrived, the driver gently tapped his horn twice, and the idiot ignored him. The driver, an unhappy camper who tosses mail bags as if he has contempt for them, then parked at an angle in front of the car, blocking its way. This led to angry words, the postman daring the guy to take a shot at him. A woman and a man railed at the idiot for having parked at the bus stop. Then Political Man returned from his trip to the newsstand. Minutes earlier he had approached, triumphant that the Supreme Court had upheld the challenge to Obamacare, 6-3, and then went on his usual Republicans are fascists rant, and also tossed in his contempt for Russian immigrants. He lit into the idiot viciously, using typical anti-immigrant language. Fortunately, nothing more than words were exchanged. I guess PM believes tolerance is a one-way street and, since liberals are on the side of the angels, everyone who disagrees with his views is evil and must give way.

Russian immigrants have been kind to me, and this was the case again today. A gentleman donated five volumes of Agatha Christie translations, and all five sold. The session would have been very disappointing if not for his generosity. Spasibo, sir. Thanks also to the young man who purchased Houdini's Box, The Art of Escape by Adam Phillips.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/24 - Trends

It’s okay to use the N word but not the Confederate flag. Recently, Ol’ Smoky, who is homeless and white, was greeted by a white person who said: “My n---a!” He took offense. I explained that the word was en vogue but he would have none of it, as he, a baby boomer, had grown up in a world where it was anathema. These days I hear white teenage girls use it. I’ll pass, although I confess to using it in thought in my worst moments. I don’t fly the Confederate flag, but I consider it part of the history of this great country. Anyone who thinks the banning of it will improve race relations is hopelessly naive. Yesterday a friend posted at Facebook that it and Old Glory are one and the same. I stuck to my current policy on political posts and did not respond. In his op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, Jonah Goldberg cites a poll wherein only 61% of blacks want the Confederate flag banned. This manifests the diversity of opinion in a healthy Democracy. From the 1940’s through the 1970’s, blacks migrated north in large numbers to get away from bigotry. According to Goldberg, the pattern has now reversed. They are moving back, away from the white northern elites who supposedly help them, to the south, which offers opportunity. Given the continued stereotyping of southerners by media know-it-alls, one would never suspect the change the area has undergone.

Outside of President Obama’s drone policy, which has taken out many terrorists, I’d been in 100% disagreement with his policies. This is no longer the case, as I support his free trade pact, although I worry that environmental mandates within it will negate all of the good it might do. Unionists are up in arms. Just wait until their health care exemptions expire and they have to share the pain Obamacare has inflicted on most Americans. Of course politicians, being spineless, may extend them.

The past two days proved that weather does not factor into selling books on the street. The humidity was stifling yesterday, and I sold a bunch of items in only an hour-and-fifteen minutes. This day the weather was as good as it gets -- brilliant sunshine, reasonable temperature, cool breeze -- and, in three-and-a-half hours, there were no sales for the third time in four sessions. It's officially a trend.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

 

The Writer's Life 6/23 - Short Stay

Yesterday, radio talk show host Mark Simone sat in for Sean Hannity. The topic was health care. He asked his guest, Betsy McCaughey, a question I was surprised no one had ever framed thusly: "I can book a room in the best hotel in the world and it'll cost $600. A one-night stay in a hospital is $6000. Why?" McCaughey replied that the cost of a hospital stay covers that of all those who get to stay for "free." This is keen insight into how government increases the cost of services, and in only one sector. Voters must determine if this is what they want, and it seems an increasing number do want it or haven't thought the issue through.

I dreamed I was walking with someone I was nuts about. If I'm not still, why do I keep dreaming about her? Anyway, she asked me never to say anything offensive to her publicly. I didn't know how to respond, unsure if I, anyone, could keep such a promise, especially given my frustrations as a writer. The scene then shifted. I was working a menial job, harassed by a supervisor, interviewed by the company psychologist. I called her over-educated and a megalomaniac, and pointed out that she'd written "should of" rather than "should have" on a form, a common error I assured her nitpickers would mercilessly criticize. I sensed she believed I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown and scoffed. The root of the dream is easy to analyze. The past three sessions of the floating book shop have been disappointing, demeaning even, and it is a struggle to keep bitterness in check. I have -- outwardly.

I sometimes receive humorous emails from friends. I chuckle at most and hit delete. I share the following, which I found well above average:
Confucius Say: Kiss is merely shopping upstairs, for merchandise downstairs.
Confucius Say: Better to lose a lover than love a loser.
Confucius Say: Sex is same as bank account. You put it in, you take it out, you lose interest.
Confucius Say: Viagra just like Disneyland -- one hour wait for five minute ride.
Confucius Say: Much better to want the mate you do not have than to have the mate you do not want.
Confucius Say: Joke is like sex. Neither any good if you don't get it.

Today's session of the floating book shop manifested its unpredictability. Since I accompanied a friend to the doctor, I opened, despite the stifling humidity, almost three hours later than usual and stayed only an hour-and-fifteen minutes. Somehow business was way better than it's been since Friday. My thanks to those who bought books and DVDs, and apologies to the potential donors to whom I said I wouldn't be there and who scolded me.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/22 - Second Leg

“You drive for show, putt for dough,” said Bobby Locke, winner of four British Opens, long ago. Never was that more obvious than in yesterday’s final round of the U.S. national championship. Dustin Johnson missed a bunch of routine putts down the stretch. His monumental drive on the 18th to set up an eagle try went to waste when he three-putted from 12 feet, handing the title to Jordan Spieth, who had eagled the hole after a double-bogey at 17. What drama. It negated all the bellyaching about the condition of the course, which indeed looked terrible on TV, and which proved irrelevant. Johnson has no one to blame but himself. Sadly, I don’t believe there’s much that can be done to improve putting, in contrast to all other aspects of the game. If there was, Sergio Garcia would have won several majors by now. But let’s not feel too sorry for Johnson, 31, whose second place tie was worth almost $900,000, and who has a beautiful wife and infant son. He’s making a great living playing a game. He will win other tournaments and no doubt contend in majors and perhaps even win one or more -- if his putting improves. There were other thrilling aspects of the round: Australia’s Adam Scott shot an incredible 64, which put him into a long shot position to win if the leaders faltered, which was a distinct possibility. And how about South African Louis Oosthuizen’s spectacular run on the back nine -- six birdies in the last seven holes to get to -4, a tie for second. My pick, Phil Mickelson, finished well out of the running. As for Chambers Bay, I’d be very surprised if the Open ever returned to it. It is a funky layout in a scenic setting, but too much of its surface is bleached. I don’t know why anyone would pay 100 bucks to play there, especially since it’s so difficult. I prefer a visit to a place with lush grass, a lot of trees and colorful flowers, a sort of five hour visit to the country. Kudos to Fox, which ran the last hour commercial-free. The day -- the golf world -- currently belongs to Jordan Spieth, who has captured the season’s first two majors and has fans and broadcasters salivating at the prospect of a feat yet to be accomplished -- the grand slam. Tiger Woods won four consecutive majors over two seasons, a great accomplishment but not a true slam. Spieth! Spieth! Spieth!

Decades TV aired a marathon of The Untouchables this weekend. I sneaked peeks while the Open was in commercial. I watched it regularly back in the day, but have forgotten almost all of it. Strangely, I remembered a bit of dialog exactly, outside of: "It's Ness -- get 'im!" Joseph Wiseman, of Dr. No (1962) fame, is holding a gun to the head of Madlyn Rhue. Robert Stack says Wiseman won’t shoot “…because if you do you’ll be standing there naked…”  Why I would remember that and nothing but fleeting visual images of the show is another of those mysteries of the mind that make life so fascinating. Rhue, a TV mainstay in the 60's and 70's, has 117 credits listed at IMDb, not counting appearances on several short-lived series. She passed away at 68 in 2003. Her most famous turn came on an episode of Star Trek (Space Seed, 1967) that featured Ricardo Montalban as Khan. Here’s how she looked in it:

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today and to the woman who donated four classics and a book on music by famed composer Leopold Stokowski.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/21 - Hitters

Now it’s more like a U.S. Open -- only eight players are under par going into the final round. Four are tied at -4, including Jason Day, who is battling not only the tough course but vertigo. It is reminiscent of when Ken Venturi fought dehydration in 1964 and Tiger Woods won playing on a bum knee in 2008. The stage is set for high drama -- and it’s in prime time!

In 1938 Johnny Van Der Meer did the impossible, firing consecutive no-hitters for the Cincinnati Reds. In Max Scherzer’s last two starts for the Washington Nationals, he has allowed no runs and only one hit. He pitched a no-hitter yesterday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, coming within one strike of a perfect game. He hit pinch-hitter Jose Tabata with a pitch with two-out in the ninth inning! Curiously, Vander Meer’s feat, measured against his entire career, seems indication of a failure to fulfill promise. He won 119 games and lost 121 in 13 seasons in the bigs. Scherzer, 30, in his eighth season, is 99-55. Should he stay healthy, he has a great shot at the Hall of Fame -- and other no-hitters! I'm using more exclamation points than Elaine Benes did in that famous episode of Seinfeld where it led to her breakup with her writer boyfriend!

For the second straight day passersby threw a no-hitter at the floating book shop. This has not happened in a long time. It's certainly not the selection. I have a nice variety of books in English and Russian, as well as a lot of DVDs in each language. I know people are using less of each due to the growing popularity of electronic alternatives, but I believe there's still a huge market for print and discs. What will tomorrow bring? Unlike golfers, I want to be above par.
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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/20 - Origins

Sci-fi is usually slam-bang, outrageous. I Origins (2014), which I viewed last night courtesy of Netflix, takes a different path. It tackles the science vs. faith issue much more seriously than any films of the genre do. The story is told from the point of view of a young molecular biologist, played by Michael Pitt, who did 24 episodes Boardwalk Empire. Since childhood, he has been fascinated by the eye and takes countless photos of them. According to the narrative, the eye’s sophistication is proof of intelligent design, a creator. The protagonist, an atheist, sets out to prove that it isn’t. The tables turn on him, and he is forced to investigate the possibility that he has been completely wrong. Throughout, the pace is measured and the tone is subdued, much like real life. Is a concrete conclusion reached? I suspect that would depend upon the viewer’s beliefs. I don’t know whether the science presented is sound, but that is the case with all sci-fi. I was absorbed despite the occasional technical jargon. An understanding of it isn’t necessary for enjoyment of this intelligent work. The young cast is fine. Britt Marling plays the brainy lab assistant, a sort of type-casting, as she has not only acted but directed, produced and wrote for the big and small screen. Steven Yuen of The Walking Dead plays a scientist, and Astrid Berges-Frisbey, a lovely Spaniard, plays the charming outsider, a believer in spirituality. It runs a tidy hour-and-forty-six minutes. It is Mike Cahill’s second feature film. He has also done a documentary. He wrote and directed. I look forward to his future work. 50,000+ users have rated I Origins at IMDb, forging to a consensus of 7.3 of ten. On a scale of five, I rate it four. Those who prefer Hollywood style sci-fi should probably pass.

The luck I had selling books despite the threat of rain the entire week came to an end today. My only potential customer was disappointed that all the Russian books I had on display were romances.
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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/19 - Moments

A fleeting moment -- how much significance does it have? I had one of those yesterday. I was walking along, minding my own business, when a female crossing Avenue Z caught my eye. I glanced toward her and she seemed to lower her umbrella to keep me out of her sight. Was that indeed what she had done or was it merely a movement designed to keep out the sparse raindrops? Was I somehow hideous to her? Had she seen me at my book nook and determined I was a loser unworthy of even casting a gaze her way? I’m not even sure how old she was, although I sense her age ranges from 17 to 25. I wouldn’t know her if she passed my way again, which is a good thing, as it eliminates a preconceived notion of her engendered by something that might not have been. Of course, such questions can never be answered and are best dismissed, but that is easier said than done. Just yesterday my most faithful customer, Marie, and I were discussing how we, humans, are our own worst enemies. Even if my perception of the young woman was correct, why would it bother me? So many people have been kind to me, so many wish me well as they pass the floating book shop. Some stop to chat every day. Why would all that positive reinforcement be negated, at least temporarily, by a moment of negativism? The mind works in mysterious ways. At least it didn’t cost me any sleep.

It's no surprise that creeps are politicizing the shooting in South Carolina. When Representative Gabby Giffords of Arizona, a Democrat, was shot by a lunatic, Fox News was blamed until it was found the shooter was a liberal. Rush Limbaugh was blamed for the bombing in Oklahoma City until the first-responders who rushed to the rescue revealed they listened to him every day at the firehouse. The only hope is to identify those who snap before they snap. Take away guns, and the evil will use fire or a homemade bomb or a machete.

Chambers Bay is a beautiful layout, but the condition of its greens, judging by how they look on TV, is unfortunate. The course is making fools of recent Masters champion Ricky Fowler and Tiger Woods, but at this moment 26 players are under par. Suck it up and play.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today. Four were in Russian, one in English.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/18 - Life Goes On

When an incident like the one in South Carolina occurs, it makes everything else seem irrelevant. However, life goes on in its cold, indifferent way.

The U.S. Open begins today and, since it’s being played in the state of Washington, will be in prime time for east-coasters. The event is shaping up as a real mystery, as the venue, Chambers Bay off Puget Sound, a public course, has not been open long and is unfamiliar to the field. Already there have been complaints by players who have never even been to it. Jack Nicklaus used to love hearing such whining, as it showed who he didn’t have to worry about, who were already defeated psychologically. The course is the same for everybody -- shut up! So a pro or two might look bad one week. They risk that at every tournament, all athletes do every day. There’s nothing more pathetic than the whining of the privileged. Anyway, instead of the usually narrow fairways and punishing rough common to the Open, the layout is more like those of the British Open. Experts believe long-hitters will have an advantage. Don’t they always? Before I learned about the course, I thought Tiger Woods would have no shot if he insisted on hitting driver off the tee at the par fours and fives. His driving has been miserable and, if it continued that way, the high grass would have ate him up. Now that seems a non-factor. My pick? Phil Mickelson, who has finished second an unbelievable six times in the only major he hasn't won. Rory McIlroy, who should be right at home on such a layout, is the favorite. For the first time, two of the holes, the first and 18th, will rotate between a par four and par five, depending on tee placement. They will be alternated so that par remains 70 for the pros, I believe. It's 72 for the general public. I’m hoping for high drama Sunday night.

Decades, channel 112 on Cablevision in NYC, is proving a solid addition. Except for a misguided two-day binge of That Girl, it has provided intelligent programming. As I’d hoped, it has aired Naked City, Combat! and The Untouchables. It’s only drawback is the cropped screen, an inch or two on the left side. Cozi-TV, 109, did the same thing its first year. Why? Was it forced? If so, by whom? It’s weird. Anyway, I think Decades should stick to the one-day binge. Why turn away viewers who don’t like a particular show for 48 hours?

Here's a link to a bit of madcap fun. It runs less than four minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIRmqMRSXAs

It was one of those days where the threat of rain was constant but nothing fell but sporadic drops. I went Russian only, setting out books and DVDs, keeping them under clear plastic. My thanks to the gentleman, my only customer, who bought two of the former and 18 of the latter.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

 

The Writer's Life 6/17 - Bites

Mike Lukovich is a syndicated cartoonist whose work often appears in the NY Post. I’ve chuckled at a lot of his stuff, but today’s entry had me laughing out loud. He combined two stories: Jeb Bush announcing his candidacy for president and Rachel Dolezal's outing as a white woman posing as a black. Unfortunately, there is a copy guard on the cartoon, so I have to describe it. It has Bush at a podium in black face, sporting a big Afro that has a pick in it, saying: “I want to be America’s second black president.” His older brother and dad are off to the side, with the senior saying: “Jeb’s distancing himself.” Kudos, sir. Here’s a direct link: http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=128512

Also on the political front, the Post highlighted sound bites from Donald Trump’s speech announcing his run for president. My favorite: “I will build a great wall on our southern border and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.” I doubt his candidacy is anything more but personal publicity, but Day One sure provided a lot of fun. If only most politicians spoke so frankly.

I’m not sure what to make of the allegation that the St. Louis Cardinals have hacked into the computers of the Houston Astros. Of course, hacking is a crime and the team, if found guilty, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I just don’t understand what value any of the information that is gleaned would have. I suppose the Cards would be able to run in front of any trade proposals and make a better offer. Today’s articles didn’t offer any specifics. Maybe future ones will.

I did not watch any of the NBA playoffs and only a few minutes of the Stanley Cup Finals. One thing that always impresses me about pro basketball is that the regular season is almost always an indicator of playoff success. While the other major sports post seasons seem like crap-shoots that reward less deserving teams, the NBA champ demonstrates excellence from the beginning of the campaign to its end. Congrats to the Warriors and Black Hawks.

The past two days, radio talk show host Mark Simone has touted one of George Carlin's routines. I'm not surprised I hadn't heard of it until now, as he has always been a darling of liberals. In this bit he tears environmentalists a new one, often in the language of sailors. I'ts seven minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjmtSkl53h4

My thanks to the the kind folks who bought books today, especially the gentleman who purchased four works of non-fiction.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/16 - Obsessions

Obsession -- I bet most people have suffered it at one time. I have. One lasted at least ten years and I still wonder almost every day about that woman. Anyway, I just finished Sundown, Yellow Moon by Larry Watson, which is narrated by a writer looking back at two obsessions that continue to influence his life 40 years later. One is a murder without apparent motive, the other his first love. The former dominates most of the narrative. Many residents of Bismarck, North Dakota, 1962, have a theory as to why a former law-abiding citizen shot a state senator in cold blood. The narrator, a high-schooler at the time of the crime, best friend of the shooter’s son, writes several short stories about it over the course of his life, and always comes up short in understanding it. Since it is obvious early in the novel that the mystery will not be solved, it carries a sort of built in dissatisfaction. And there is also the sense that the romance will not endure. The tone tends toward the downbeat, in contrast to the book jacket’s image, which promises light-hearted nostalgia ala Grease. This is not necessarily bad, especially when the characters are drawn with care, fleshed-out, real. There is no fakery, the prose and dialogue are exemplary, the time and place smack of authenticity. Still, the work never takes off. Watson, who grew up in Bismarck, has written nine novels and a poetry collection, and has received several minor literary awards and grants. Only nine people have rated the book at Amazon, forging to a consensus of 3.4 of five. I say three. It's always heartening to see that serious fiction is still being written. The title is taken not from the Gordon Lightfoot song, as I'd assumed, but from a line in Bob Dylan’s If You See Her, Say Hello. Here’s the cover:

Two women are dominating the news -- well, three counting Bruce Jenner. They prove the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. Rachel Dolezal, the Spokane chapter president of the NAACP, has been pretending to be black and has reported hate crimes incidents to police. Her parents have outed her. An article in today’s NY Post reveals that decades ago she filed discrimination charges against Howard University, claiming she was passed over for a position given to a black candidate. She is merely pathetic, unlike Joyce Mitchell, who is a monster. She carried on an affair with two prison inmates, murderers, and helped them escape. She may even have plotted to murder her second husband. I hope she is sent up for life.

For the second straight day the rain held off and the floating book shop was able to get in a full session. All sales were of Russian books and DVDs. Spasibo. And thanks also to Perry Terrell of Conceit magazine, who published The Bat, a short story, in one of her offshoots, The Enchanted File Cabinet. It had been years since I'd gotten one into print, as I've concentrated almost exclusively on novels.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

The Writer's Life 6/15 - Controversy?

The controversy over genetically modified organisms rages. Almost every day a Facebook friend will post a negative comment and caption about it, usually warning of the evils of Mansanto, the company leading the development. The detractors drown out the supporters considerably. In fact, I don't believe I've seen even one in support. Here are excerpts of a contrarian piece, edited by yours truly, that appears in today's op-ed section of the NY Post. It is written by Owen Patterson, a Conservative member of the British Parliament:
"GMOs can save millions of lives. It’s the environmentalists who are doing real harm. The best example of this is Golden Rice, a miracle grain enhanced with Vitamin A-producing beta-carotene. Developed 15 years ago, it was considered a breakthrough in bio-fortified technology. Today 6000 children will die from Vitamin A deficiency. Each year 500,000 people, mostly children, lose their sight; half of them die within a year of becoming blind. That’s over 2 million children every year, all victims of Vitamin A deficiency. Many of those lives could be saved if Golden Rice were in their diets. But the ongoing opposition of anti-GMO activist groups and their lavish scare campaign with its combined global war chest estimated to exceed $500 million a year have kept Golden Rice off the global market. Deploying highly sophisticated PR and un-scientific scaremongering, Greenpeace has led that opposition. But it hasn’t acted alone. Last year, to Greenpeace’s loud cheers, MASIPAG, a closely allied organization, violently attacked and destroyed a Golden Rice field trial in the Philippines. The group claimed to be a 'farmer-led network,' but local officials reported that its thugs had been bused in from a nearby city. MASIPAG’s list of supporters and partners reads like a directory of European church and government-sponsored social-justice and development groups. And MASIPAG is just one of a proliferating network of anti-GMO groups and assorted activists operating in the developing world, often with EU support. When did so many 'humanitarian' organizations become so disdainful about the lives of the desperately poor? Patrick Moore, one of the founders of Greenpeace in the 1970s, broke with his creation and now works to expose Greenpeace’s actions in the developing world. He’s joined with Golden Rice inventor Ingo Potrykus in calling for putting Greenpeace on trial for crimes against humanity. There are humanitarian and environmental groups that have come to recognize the important role biotech can play in alleviating human suffering and spurring development. Oxfam and the Nature Conservancy were initially opposed to GMOs. In light of overwhelming scientific confirmation of efficacy and safety, both have softened or ended their opposition. Isn’t it time for them to show leadership on this urgent humanitarian issue, starting with Golden Rice? Where also are the UN organizations WHO, FAO, UNICEF — all with nutritional improvement and development mandates? They’ve recognized the scourge of Vitamin A deficiency as a major and cheap-to-control problem for the last 25 years. But, cowed by activist polemic, these institutions have done little to advance the cause. Instead of bashing companies that are trying to save lives, Neil Young and his likes ought to use their star power to convince the NGO community to do the right thing and support giving the developing world the GMO tools it needs to feed its growing and tragically malnourished populations."
This brings to mind the damage the DDT ban has done to Africa, where millions die of malaria or suffer deformities brought by insects borne illnesses. If the right were leading these bans, they would be dubbed racists and haters of the poor. I don't believe these leftists organizations are racist, but their strict adherence to dogma, their all or nothing attitude, has a devastating effect on many.

Mother Nature provided a wide rainless window, which allowed the floating book shop to operate. My thanks to the man and woman who each purchased a novel in Russian, and the lovely young Lit major who bought Gertrude Stein's Tender Buttons and William Blake's Song's of Innocence and Experience.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/

 

The Writer's Life 6/14 - Humor

In her op-ed piece in today’s NY Post Peggy Noonan assesses Pope Francis’ first two years in office. She finds him a mystery, but there are two tasty nuggets inside the article that make it more than worthwhile. He recently made an off the cuff gaffe that sent a lot of flack his way. He quipped that faithful adherence to the church teachings on birth control doesn’t sanction breeding “like rabbits.” One woman wrote him a letter, stating: “I have many children and want you to know I wasn’t the rabbit -- it was my husband.” He roared. The other instance involves the Church’s support of climate change measures. A Cardinal said: “The Church got it wrong with Galileo and doesn’t want to get it wrong again.” I don’t know if the Church is on the correct side of the issue, but it’s nice to see two of its leaders have a keen sense of humor.

Also funny is NYC Mayor Bill deBlasio's panic about the expiration of rent regulation laws, claiming it may put thousands if not hundreds of thousands on the street. While he is living rent free in Gracie Mansion, he is renting his four-bedroom house in Park Slope for nearly $5000 per month. His defenders say it is the market rate or a bit less. Many landlords are denied the privilege of charging the market rate for their units. Why isn't Red Billy? Perhaps "fairness" applies only to others.

And this from AP, edited by yours truly: "An Austrian brothel is offering a summer special — free sex, the owner's way of protesting a tax squeeze. 'Effective immediately: Free Entrance! Free Drinks! Free Sex!' its website announces. Hermann Mueller says he will pay the women working for him to make up for the money they would normally earn. Prostitution is legal and regulated in Austria. Mueller, who runs other brothels in Germany and Austria, says he is pushing back against the unfair tax levy of nearly 4 million euros (over $5 million) the past decade."

The floating book shop was a joke today. My thanks to author Bill Brown who, when he noticed that members of Monty Python were among the commentators in a compilation of early British lit, purchased it. That was the only sale of the session. At least the weather was beautiful.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

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/