The Writer's Life 11/30 - 12 &13

Here are eleven actors who turned down iconic roles, from a list at egokick.com. There were actually twelve but one somehow slipped past me, and I didn't want to through the hassle of finding it given the poor performance of my PC. It slows to a crawl on sites with loads of info:
1. John Travolta - Forrest Gump. Thank goodness. Never warmed up to him.
2. Hugh Jackman - James Bond. Committed to X-Men, he didn't want to get involved in another franchise.
3. Mark Wahlberg - Brokeback Mountain. Haven't seen it. Don't intend to.
4. Mel Gibson - Gladiator. Hard to imagine anyone but Russell Crowe in the part, but, had he been younger, Gibson would have been just as good.
5. Bill Murray - The Batman, a script floating around before the Michael Keaton film. Can't picture it.
6. David Boreanaz - Batman. Physically right, bur hard to imagine anyone better than Christian Bale in the role.
7. Jim Carrey - Pirates of the Caribbean. Would have been great, but tied up with Bruce Almighty.
8. Sean Connery - Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. Ian McKellen was fine.
9. Jack Nicholson - Michael in The Godfather. Thank you, Jack, for turning it down.
10. Will Smith - Django Unchained. Not surprising the part was offered to him first.
11. Tom Selleck - Indiana Jones. He was committed to Magnum P.I., opening the way for Harrison Ford.

Here are 13 actors who played college football. I believe all received a full scholarship, but many were not successful on the playing field:
1. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, DT at Miami, member of the 1991 National Champs.
2. Joel McHale of Community - walk on as a TE at Washington St..
3. Channing Tatum - full ride to Glenville St. College in west Va..
4. Burt Reynolds - excellent RB at Florida St..
5. Tommy Lee Jones - All Ivy at Harvard as an OG in 1968.
6. Marc Harmon - excellent QB at UCLA. Arm too weak for pro ball.
7. James Caan - Michigan St.. No other info, so he must not have played much.
8. Kevin James - Cortland St. (NY) RB. Would have thought he was a lineman.
9. Ed O'Neill - Just like his alter ego on Married with Children. Started at Ohio University, transferred to Youngstown St.. Cut by the Steelers.
10. Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed) - San Diego St. LB. Oakland Raiders, '70-'71.
11. Forest Whitaker - Cal Poly Pomona. Back injury ended his career.
12. Nick Nolte - Arizona St.. No other info.
13. Dean Cain - bypassed 17 offers to attend Princeton. Had 12 int's in one season as a DB!

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway.

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 11/29 - Scary Noel

What about kids who are naughty and not nice? What do they get on Christmas? There's an answer from across the pond, where Europeans have been keeping a new tradition, honoring Krampus, a mischievous incarnation, the anti-Christmas. It is celebrated on December 5th, the day before St. Nicholas Day. Towns erupt in antics similar to our Halloween. There are American films about him on the way, one starring Toni Collette opening on the 4th. Here’s one artist’s interpretation of the being -it's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas:

Mike Hessman, 37, is hanging up his spikes after a 20 year career in baseball, most of it below the radar. According to an article at Yahoo Sports, he holds the all-time USA-Canada minor league home run mark, 433. He also hit 14 over parts of five seasons in MLB that included a stint with the Mets, and seven in two seasons in Japan. Hector Espinosa of the Mexican League holds the all-time minor league record, 484 round-trippers. Kevin Costner/Crash Davis holds the fictional record in Bull Durham (1988).

Remember when Rodney Dangerfield fidgeted and complained: "Tough crowd, tough crowd." That applies to fans and administrators of select sports teams who gauge success strictly by championships. The University of Georgia is an example. Today it fired head football coach Mark Richt, whose record in his 15 years at the helm of the Bulldogs was 145-51. He had only one losing season, 6-7 in 2010. This season UG went 9-3. What did him in? He hasn't won an SEC championship since 2005, and he has gone 5-10 vs. arch-rival Florida. He'll have no trouble finding work. With his matinee idol looks, it wouldn't be surprising to see him land a TV gig.

My thanks to the elderly gentleman with the sweet brogue who purchased a thick work of non-fiction, In the Land of Invisible Women, Qanta Ahmed's take on Saudi Arabia; and the one who donated two thrillers and insisted on paying for Michael Connelly's The Reversal.

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 11/28 - Mystery

French cinema is as adept at crime films as the U.S.. Last night I watched The Blue Room (2014), courtesy of Netflix, an adaptation of a novel by the late Georges Simenon, one of the most prolific authors ever, who wrote more than 500 novels, many from the point of view of Inspector Maigret. More than 100 of his works have been adapted to the big and small screen. In Europe there have been four separate series featuring Maigret. Directed by its star, Mathieu Almaric, who co-wrote the screenplay with one of his co-stars, Stephanie Cleau, The Blue Room is a stylish, smart look at two murders that echoes Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train (1951) in terms of a pact that may have or may not have been made. I think it’s the latter, but the creators leave the issue open to interpretation and speculation. Amalric is in the midst of an impressive career. At Imdb he has 106 credits as an actor, 16 as a director, nine as a writer. He played James Bond's foe in The Quantum of Solace (2008). 1700+ users at IMDb have rated The Blue Room, forging to a consensus of 6.3 of ten. It runs only 76 minutes and travels back and forth in time. Although there is virtually no violence, it is sexually explicit, more so than most mainstream fare. The emphasis is on psychology, so action fans should pass. On a scale of five, I rate it three. It’s appeal is geared toward the most avid fans of the genre, and those interested in seeing an adaptation of a famous writer’s work.

Here are the final 11 of the 35 wry observations of comedian Steven Wright:
25 - If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
26 - A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
27 - Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
28 - The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
29 - To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
30 - The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
31 - The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
32 - The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.
33 - Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.
34 - If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
35 - If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

The floating book shop was curtailed by drizzle today, but not before I sold three popular paperbacks and a hardcover in Russian. My thanks to the kind folks who bought them.

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 11/27 - Indulgence

The Black Friday madness is underway. I won’t participate but don’t have a problem with those who do, although it seems utter foolishness. Despite the politicians who try to run people’s lives, Americans still enjoy more freedom than most of the people on this planet, and part of that is the freedom to be silly. In terms of spending, I sin on the side of sitting on my money, but I certainly have perpetrated foolishness in many other areas of my life, so who am I to tell people not to pursue deals? I wait until a week or two before Christmas to shop. The rest of my family doesn’t come up with a wish list until virtually the last minute. Where did my get-things-done-immediately  genes come from? Lite-FM in NYC has already begun playing music of the season 24/7, which puts it out of the rotation on my car stereo until the 24th. Why not every fourth song this week, then third next and so on? Come on.

I’m happy to report that all the construction on the Staten Island Expressway has finally been completed. It didn’t help on the way to my niece’s in South Jersey, when we were amidst the height of traffic at 11:30 AM (again, the rest of my family is almost always running late, while I'm anally prompt), but it did on the way home, surprisingly. Even with only two lanes open on the Verrazano Bridge traffic moved swiftly. I’m now recovering from overindulgence. There are leftovers in my fridge (no pastries, thank goodness), courtesy of my youngest niece, Sandra, which will make lunch and dinner special today. My great nephew Ronnie chose to stay at the University of Kentucky rather than make the 700 mile trip. He was missed. He called to ask advice for the meal he was cooking for friends at his apartment. My great niece Danielle has put the University of Tennessee at the top of her list. She’s now working two jobs, at McDonalds and a mall shoe store, where she was scheduled for the midnight to six AM shift on Black Friday. Come to think of it, I was the recipient of a great deal yesterday. Gasoline is down to one-eighty-something in Jersey. Three-quarters of a tank only cost me $14. We should all be grateful for the forces that have stymied, at least temporarily, the environmental zealots who would make fossil fuels so expensive people would drive less. There were at least two other reasons for which to be thankful: the glorious weather the Northeast has been enjoying and, most importantly, the fact that there was no terror attack.

It was a quiet session at the floating book shop, but one that produced a nice chuckle. Moments after Natalya, a regular buyer and donor, pointed a finger at the last four of the books in Russian on display, made a face, shook her head and said "No good," a woman bought all four. Spasibo, madam. And thanks also to the gentleman who purchased Richard Viguerie's America's Right Turn.

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 11/25 - Thanks

It's that time of year when we give thanks for all we have. When I'm thinking right I realize how lucky I am. I'm still in good health, the aches and pains of aging at a minimum. I have a tremendous support network of family and friends, many of whom I stay in contact electronically through the wonder of the internet. Complete strangers buy books from me on the street every day. Kind souls donate them all the time. Passersby constantly wish me well. The web continues to offer invaluable promotion opportunities. The world never ceases to fascinate. Great entertainment is always at our fingertips. Despite politicians and terrorists, life is good. Thank you all.

This is how Benny Avni concludes his op-ed piece in today's NY Post: "Obama treats the war in Syria as a side show, secondary to his war on Republicans, income inequality and the weather — I mean climate. Syria? Obama follows Mother Mary’s whispered words of wisdom: 'Let It Be.' Except it increasingly resembles another golden age of rock album, the Rolling Stones’ much darker 'Let It Bleed.' And that’s how world wars begin."

Correction: Yesterday I erroneously stated that the Eagles have a bye this week. They will meet the Lions in Detroit tomorrow. If they lose, I will be surprised if Chip Kelly is not fired by Friday.

Kudos to the world champion Golden State Warriors, who have begun the season 16-0, breaking an NBA record that stood since '48-'49.

Here are twelve more of Steven Wright's wonderful wry observations:
13 - How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?
14 - If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
15 - Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
16 - When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
17 - Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
18 - Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.
19 - I intend to live forever ... So far, so good.
20 - If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
21 - Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
22 - What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
23 - My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
24 - Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

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 11/24 - Talent

NFL: Given their QB situation, I don’t see how the Broncos can beat the Patriots, who seem a bit vulnerable at present, although they remain undefeated. I expect it to be close and New England pulling it out as usual… I’ll be surprised if the Jets make the playoffs. A hack in the NY Post predicted they’d win 23-3 last weekend -- on the road!… The Eagles seem in total collapse. I doubt Chip Kelly lasts the entire season. The bye couldn’t have come at a better time for them. Even if they rally and make the playoffs, I expect Kelly to return to college ball… I love the Cardinals' pluck. I don’t know if they can make it all the way to the Super Bowl, but they will give their opponents fits… The Chiefs and Colts seem to have righted their ships… Kudos to young QB’s Cam Newton and Jameis Winston, who had spectacular games Sunday… Even if the Giants lose in Washington, they will still be in the race for the NFC East crown. With Romo back, even the 3-7 Cowboys have a shot at it, although their margin for error is slim. 9-7 should clinch it, possibly even 8-8.

Adele’s new album, 25, has sold 2.3 million copies in three days, a record. It’s refreshing to see strict talent rewarded. I haven’t seen any gimmickry at all from her. She is all about artistry. There are many talented singers out there, but most seem to place image before substance.

I’ve never been a big fan of stand-up comedy, but Steven Wright’s wry observations have always amused me. Someone posted a list of 35 at Facebook. Here are the first twelve:
1 - I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
2 - Borrow money from pessimists -- they don't expect it back.
3 - Half the people you know are below average.
4 - 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
5 - 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
6 - A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
7 - A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
8 - If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.
9 - All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand.
10 - The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
11 - I almost had a psychic girlfriend, ..... But she left me before we met.
12 - OK, so what's the speed of dark?

My thanks to the elderly woman who purchased thrillers by Michael Connelly and Daniel Silva, her favorite writer; to Cabbie, who swapped a bag of 20 paperbacks for three; and Herbie, who donated two hardcover Iris Johansen mysteries.

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 11/23 - Chilly

Author of 18 novels and four works of non-fiction, Isabel Allende has received a ton of minor literary awards. Born in Peru, she is of Chilean descent. She is related to deposed Marxist president Salvador Allende. Her third novel, Of Love and Shadows, takes place in an unnamed Latin America country clearly based on Chile. Given her reputation, I looked forward to reading it. Alas, the danger of high expectations did me in. Of Love and Shadows is a political screed wrapped around a love story. It has two major faults: the powers that be inflict unforgivable atrocities, making the story black and white, empty of the grey that makes for great art; and all suspense is eroded when in the first third there is a line about the main characters looking back years later. The writing is sound but windy. There is an absence of the magic realism that characterizes much of the literature of the region, which is fine with me. 41 users at Amazon have rated the novel, forging to a consensus of four out of five stars. I say 2.5. Published in 1985, it is still selling fairly well. A film version starring Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Connelly was released to tepid reviews in 1994. Salvador Allende was ousted in a coup by General Agosto Pinochet's forces in 1973. It took more than a decade, but the regime's free market policies finally took off and Chile became a great success story. On the down side, it is estimated that 3000 citizens were either killed or went missing during Pinochet’s reign ('73-'90). He eventually took responsibility but never expressed regret. In his final speech, read by his wife, he professed his love for his country. He had the last laugh, dying at 93. The right, with reservations, loves him, the left despises him, and there‘s the rub regarding Of Love and Shadows, although the General‘s name is never mentioned. No work has universal appeal, but the best approach it. Dickens did not romanticize the revolutionaries, however just their cause, in A Tale of Two Cities. That’s the difference between a great and mediocre work.  

Occasionally, the Weird But True column in the NY Post has an item that is a gem such as this, paraphrased by yours truly: An Australian man of Vietnamese extraction has had his Facebook account closed three times because of his name -- Phuc Dat Bich, which he says should be pronounced Phoop Dook Bic.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway, especially an old work buddy, affectionately known as Joe Piss, who bought Exchanges, Fortunately, the bank blocked the wind, as it so often has done, and the sunny session was a snap. I'm reminded of an old elementary school joke: Did you hear the Mexican forecast? Chili today and hot tamale. Rimshot.
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 11/22 - Vanity

In today’s NY Post Larry Getlen writes about Carly Simon’s new memoir, Boys in the Trees. Of course, the question most fans want answered is who is You’re So Vain about? Simon admits that Warren Beatty is one of three subjects on whom the song is based, but does not mention the other two. Perhaps that is for her next book. Now 70, the songstress includes this interesting passage: “How does a person — me, or anyone else? — move ahead, push forward through life? The answer is that none of us does, not entirely. I have simply found a way of loving through whatever absences or dejection have fallen like tree branches in my path. I move forward by incorporating whoever or whatever is missing or vanished into my very being, my body, my breath. The psychologists call this introjection, but I call it surviving.” The article includes a lot of juicy nuggets about celebrities she has known intimately.

Leftists anxious for the collapse of Donald Trump's campaign have new hope. At a rally yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama, he asked that an obnoxious protester from Black Lives Matter be removed from the premises. The guy was beaten, which may be viscerally satisfying to many but may lead to even more intense actions from the group. The divides in our country are becoming alarming, and no candidate on either side of the aisle seems capable of uniting Americans. It may simply have become impossible, especially economically. If we suffer another major terrorists attack, I'm sure the greater majority of citizens would unite in the desire to eliminate ISIS.

It's November 22nd. The only reference to the JFK assassination I spotted in the paper was an author's favorite books on the Kennedy clan. I haven't even heard a brief mention of that monumental event on WINS, a NYC all-news station I listen to briefly a few times a day. Of course, baby boomers are frequently asked where we were when we heard the news. I was on a staircase in Lafayette H.S., a freshman at the time. It was chilling.

My thanks to the woman who bought a bio of Mary Queen of Scots, my only sale of the day. That's at least four straight weeks of only one customer in Park Slope.
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 11/21 - Low to High

The apocalypse is a common theme in cinema, be it due to nuclear blasts, climate, viruses or collision with an asteroid, the latter of which is believed to have done in the dinosaurs. The films are usually a grim, unflattering depiction of the human race. Such is the case with These Final Hours (2013), which I saw last night courtesy of Netflix. An asteroid has struck the North Atlantic, creating a gradual worldwide catastrophe. Australia has approximately 14 hours before it will be wiped out. The end of days is seen from the viewpoint of a young man leading a wayward life. He abandons a woman whom he has impregnated to attend a wild party where he hopes to become numb to the pain the holocaust will deliver. He is side-tracked when he witnesses the kidnapping of a pre-teenage girl by two deviants. He rescues her and it leads to a sort of personal redemption, but not before several missteps along their odyssey. The best aspect of the movie is its refusal to compromise. The world is coming to an end and that is that. Many behave despicably and the horrors are not whitewashed. It is hardcore, pulls no punches. The flick was written and directed by Zak Hilditch, who has twelve credits each in writing and directing, mostly of shorts. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with next. The two leads, Nathan Phillips and Angourie Rice, are excellent. 8900+ users at IMDb have rated These Final Hours, forging to a consensus of 6.6 of ten, a little low in my view. Another plus, it runs less than an hour and a half, much more economical than Lars Von Trier's similarly-themed although completely different, cerebral Melancholia (2011).  Anyone squeamish about violence, nudity, profanity and downbeat subject matter should pass. Fortunately, the DVD was close captioned. The accents weren't a deterrent.

Since the film was so short, it allowed me to catch the last half hour of a celebration of the music of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the team behind Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York and many other award winning musicals. It was an instant reminder of the very best of life, often personified in the work of great artists. My favorite song by that dynamic duo is the rousing, hilarious Cell Block Tango from Chicago. The program introduced me to one I'd never heard: The Apple Doesn't Fall Very Far from the Tree from The Rink, which was not very successful, running only 204 performances on Broadway. Ebb said of it: "...That show hurt me more than any show I've written.... I felt that I had let them down." He was referring to Liza Minelli, who was nominated, and Chita Rivera, who won a Tony for her performance. I was unable to find the clip from the tribute, done beautifully by two women with whom I am completely unfamiliar. Here's one featuring the aforementioned legendary divas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq4OMZi_GT8 There must be dozens of great numbers from failed shows. In fact, New York, New York is about the only worthwhile part of that misbegotten film, a rare failure from Martin Scorsese.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway.

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 11/20 - Gain & Loss

Amidst all the controversy on immigration, here is interesting news from an article in the NY Post: from 2009-2014 one million Mexicans left the USA and returned to their homeland. During that same period, 870,000 entered America, a net loss of 140,000 people, which is attributed to the faltering economy and tougher restrictions.

Also in the Post, an article about a new songwriting team that has had four Top 40 hits in 2015. Justin Tranter, 35, and Julia Michaels, 22, have provided songs for Gwen Stefani, Justin Bieber, Hailee Steinfeld and Selena Gomez. I haven’t heard any, but well done nonetheless.

Has there ever been a more preposterous TV tag than “Fall Finale”? I suppose the euphemism for rerun, “Encore Presentation” is right up there with it.

A few weeks ago I commented that the Jacksonville Jaguars were not improving despite years of high draft picks -- wrong! They have won three of their last four games to raise their record to 4-6, which places them in contention in the very weak AFC South. They’ve been embarrassed only once this season, at New England, where many teams have left red-faced. Winning ugly, perhaps, but progress.

When Johnny Carson ruled late night TV, he took shots at politicians in his opening monologue but always made sure he hit each side of the aisle equally so as not to alienate a huge part of his viewers. David Letterman followed that strategy until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, then became partisan and lost a sizable chunk of his audience to Jay Leno, who always slammed Democrats and Republicans equally. Stephen Colbert's show on cable specialized in ridiculing the right, and he has continued that tack as Letterman's replacement, and his ratings are disastrous.  

My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books, especially the woman who gave me 18 novels in Russian, seven of which sold.

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 11/19 - Getting By

I wouldn't say there isn't anything interesting going on in the world right now, but the arguments haven't changed much in the past day. The President has dubbed Republicans ISIS's greatest recruiting tool. I think it can be argued that the best thing that happened to ISIS was the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and, if I'm not mistaken, I believe responsibility for that lies elsewhere than with the GOP. Anyway, the most interesting item I read in today's paper is that the minimum salary for major league baseball players is remaining the same as last year, $507,500. I think they'll get by.

Since it had stopped drizzling when I returned from the recycling center at Stop n Shop, I decided to open the floating book shop. I was there an hour or so before the sprinkles returned, without making a sale. Something interesting did happen, though. A woman who wishes to make a book donation asked if I would be there tomorrow. "100%?" she asked. I replied that there's no such thing as 100%. "Ninety-nine," I said -- "how's that?" She smirked. Given our ages, I don't know how we could be completely sure about being anywhere tomorrow. She's an overweight smoker, for Pete's sake. Maybe she just hasn't reached the point of considering such a possibility. Some days I'm so grateful for the privilege of another chance, of making it out of bed.

Here's the Table of Contents for the short works collection I plan to publish after the start of the new year. All but a lucky 13 have been published, some in more than one publication. The title will be Billionths of a Lifetime:
Rude Awakening…………………………………………………………...5
Lessons Learned…………………………………………………………..12
The Bat……………………………………………....................................17
Change………………………………………………………………….....31
Distinctions……………………………………………………………......38
Actor-Activist………………………….......................................................52
Mysteries………………………………………………………………......58
The Best Revenge………………………………………………………....70
Up and Down……………………………………………………………...74
Bad Form……………………………………………………………….....85
Member’s Only…………………………………………………………....89
Murky Realm……………………………………………………………...90
Chaos in Alphabet City…………………………………………………....99
Symbiosis………………………………………………………………...102
What Might Have Been………………………………………………….106
Just a Joke………………………………………………………………..112
Wonder Wheel…………………………………………………………...119
Oblivious………………………………………………………………....131
Rain and Rhubarb………………………………………………………...134
Decisive…………………………………………………………………..138
Miller’s Time…………………………………………………………….142
Colors…………………………………………………………………….146
Panorama…………………………………………………………………149
Fear……………………………………………………………………….156
Hip Hop…………………………………………………………………..162
What Is Life?..............................................................................................164
Fall………………………………………………………………………..174
Real World………………………………………………………………..180
Psychology………………………………………………………………..184
Fairy Tale…………………………………………………………………192
One Billionth of a Lifetime……………………………………………….196
The Last Laugh, one-act play……………………………………………..201
All Hallows, screenplay…………………………………………………..212
A Truth Universally Acknowledged, screenplay…………………………262
Not So Black and White, teleplay………………………………………...340

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 11/18 - Follow the Money

“Follow the Money.” How many times has it been said in terms of crime and corruption? It seems to apply to apply to sex as well. Charlie Sheen has paid an estimated ten million bucks to blackmailers to keep his being HIV-positive a secret. Even a rich guy has limits. In addition to the two page spread on his antics, the NY Post ran a brief article on the rise of STD’s. Nothing in the piece suggests Sheen is responsible for the spike all by himself.

It looks like Phil Jackson was right in making Kristaps Porzingis the Knicks’ number one pick, and all those in the gallery who booed were wrong. Twelve games into his career he is averaging almost 13 points and eight rebounds per game, and the team is a surprising 6-6. Continued success, young man.

I know this is essentially meaningless, but how did Terry Collins finish third in the Manager of the Year voting behind Pat Matheny of the Cardinals, whose team was expected to finish first? I have no beef with the Cubs’ Joe Maddon being honored, but should Matheny have received even one first place vote?

My thanks to the gentleman who purchased George Washington, Gentleman Warrior by Stephen Brumwell, the only sale of the day. He was a bit concerned about a a warning in the upper right hand corner of the cover: "Unproofed Copy, Not for Sale." I've read several of those and did not spot any or no more than the usual errors. My thanks also to the Lady Eve, who donated a large pictorial on the baseball Hall of Fame. Although the spine is a bit damaged, it should sell.

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 11/17 - Get Back

NFL: The Giants again proved inept at clock management. Why didn’t OBJ pull the near-reception toward his body rather than sticking the ball out? Was he unsure of his location and reaching for the goal line, or was he showboating? Big Blue can win the division, possibly even at 8-8. How good can the Eagles, who lost to the Dolphins at home, be? Are the Redskins really improving?… The Jets have four consecutive games in which they should be favored. They may have to win them all to make the playoffs… It’s sad how Peyton Manning’s level of play has deteriorated. He is among the worst QB’s in the league… I guess it’s time to take the Vikings seriously… The Seahawks are a shadow of what they were, but the Cardinals victory in Seattle was still impressive… At one point Rams’ head coach Jeff Fisher was considered one of the best in the NFL. Although the team lacks a top QB, the rest of the roster seems loaded. If it doesn’t make the playoffs, I don’t see how Fisher keeps his job.

According to an article in the NY Post, European researchers have come up with a promising product in the battle vs. obesity -- a pill that once ingested produces a balloon the size of a grapefruit, lending a feeling of fullness. It is designed to be excreted after four months. 34 people involved in a trial lost an average of 22 pounds.

Gotham has once again become interesting. Still as violent a prime time TV show as there ever was, it is exploring an old theme --  the dark side all humans combat. Last night's episode had me recalling the famous quote from Beyond Good and Evil by Nietzsche: “He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.” This is Detective and future police commissioner Gordon’s epic struggle. Also, two psychopaths have bonded, the future Riddler, Ed Nygma, rescuing the Penguin. At work we’d all chuckle when someone cited that serial killers seem to have three names. The two actors who are so great in these parts are Corey Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor. Have they been type cast?

My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books on this glorious day, especially Yury, who purchased Rising Star. I had a visit from Ol' Smoky, who was wearing a headset, listening to music on his new phone. He was speaking loudly, as people wearing a headset are apt to do. He was practically shouting advice to an old timer who complained of back pain. I chuckled when later he started singing along to the Beatles' Get Back.

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 11/16 - Baffling

I don't get it. Authorities agree it's likely terrorists will sneak into America among Syrian refugees -- and we're still going to welcome them! Why not create, as some have suggested, a safe haven for them on foreign soil and use G.I.s to guard it? I know this would not solve the problem entirely. There are other ways the evil slime can slip into target countries, but why make it easier for them? As far as ISIS is concerned, I know our nation is too weary from the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to muster the will for ground operations, but air strikes alone, however intense, are not likely to damage the enemy severely enough. On his radio show this morning, Mark Simone remarked that we should level the oil fields ISIS has seized in Iraq in order to cut off their funding. It makes perfect sense. Instead we are bombing the delivery trucks coming out of the area. I have not heard anyone propose this, so I suppose it is not feasible, but I'm going to say it anyway. Would it be possible to put out a worldwide call and hire a mercenary force to do the dirty work the free world is obviously reluctant to do -- no Muslims allowed, of course? Every wealthy nation would chip in money and weaponry. Let the force be organized by experienced military leaders, mostly from the U.S.. The President is staying with a strategy of containment that feels like a passing of the problem to the next person in charge. He seems to be trying to run out the clock, hoping the homeland will not suffer a major attack while he's in office. How I hope I'm just too dumb to see the wisdom of his methods.

There were two huge trucks parked in front of the Chase bank at Bay Parkway and 85th and a crew at work when I pulled up just shy of eleven this morning. I wasn't surprised, as renovations have been underway for about two weeks. I took the show to 23rd Avenue just below 86th St., just outside the side entrance of the HSBC where I do my banking. It proved fortuitous, as the ever gregarious Carmine showed. Having recently undergone a major procedure, he picked out No More Heart Problems by Dr. Louis Ignarro and the Jonathan Kellerman thriller Therapy. He then noticed Rising Star, which I said he probably wouldn't like, since it contains all the modern elements people his age would never have dreamed would become common in artistic fare. He insisted, however. A half hour later he returned with a four-book donation which included Bill O'Reilly's best seller, Killing Jesus. He is a prince. Thank you, sir. Without his patronage, there would have been no sales today.
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 11/15 - 70's+

Phil Mushnick has been writing a column on sports media for years. Although he has defined himself as a liberal several times through the years, he does not adhere to political correctness and is frequently critical of leftist phonies. He makes the same points over and over, although excellent they become tedious. In his piece in today's NY Post, he broke new ground. Here's an excerpt: "I’ve been skeptical of college protesters beginning when I was one. By 1972, I was all in — long hair, pea coat, peace buttons. I wore the uniform, sang the songs. And knew I was right. Then, as per a history class, I researched the Korean War to find that there was big problem in the peace process: At least 100,000 North Korean and Red Chinese POWs didn’t want repatriation. All they knew of the rest of the world were internment camps, yet they knew they didn’t want to be returned to their Communist-ruled homelands." Awesome, sir.

Larry Getlen devotes an article to Burt Reynolds' new book, But Enough about Me. The former world top box office star five years running in the 70's dishes dirt on the celebrities with whom he has crossed paths, including ex-wife Loni Anderson. He apologizes to anyone who may have met him then, as he admits he was a jerk. Gossip lovers should eat it up. He co-wrote it with John Winokur. Available in hardcover, it lists at $27.95 at Amazon. The Kindle version is a disgraceful $13.99.

Kudos to Navy triple-option QB Keenan Reynolds, who scored four touchdowns yesterday in a rout of SMU. He broke the all-time NCAA division one record for rushing TDs, which was previously 77, set by Wisconsin's Monte Ball a few years ago. Reynolds now has 81, and will probably add to that total, as the team has three games remaining in the regular season, and a bowl game. Navy is 8-1, ranked 22nd in last week's poll. Anchors aweigh.

It looked like the floating book shop would be in for great luck when a parking spot was vacated as soon as I pulled up to John Jay H.S.. Alas, the session was a whole lot of nothing. My thanks to the gentleman who bought two large soft cover works of fiction. A paragon of patience, he took a long look at the books despite holding a pizza box and being pawed and pulled by his adolescent daughters. I was sure he would walk away without making a purchase... Barnes and Noble appeared to be having a great day. Less than two blocks away, scores of people passed carrying bags laden with wares.

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 11/14 - Circus

I unknowingly did a little bad planning at Netflix. Just two weeks after viewing Angelina Jolie's directorial debut, Unbroken (2014), the true story of the survivors of a plane shot down in WWII adrift at sea on a raft for 41 days and the subsequent internment of two of them in a prison camp, Against the Sun (2014) arrived. It too is based on actual events, a 34-day ordeal after a plane, out of fuel, had to be ditched at sea. There was even a book written about it way back in 1945, The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea by Robert Trumbull. The film is so similar to the first hour or so of Jolie's that it almost seemed a rerun. The three actors, Garrett Dillahunt, Tom Felton of the Harry Potter series, and Jake Abel acquit themselves well. Dillahunt seems to be very busy, having 71 credits listed at IMDb, not counting many multiple appearances on TV shows. The film was directed by Brian Falk, his first full length feature, solid if unspectacular work. He co-wrote the screenplay with Mark David Keegan, whose only credit it is. There is one disappointing aspect -- an obviously fake shark captured and killed for dinner. 2200+ users at IMDb have rated Against the Sun, forging to a consensus of 6.5 of ten. On a scale of five, I rate it 2.75. Anyone who has watched Jolie's film recently should wait a while before viewing this one. Here's the cover of the re-issued 1992 edition of the book:

Yesterday Donald Trump made despicable remarks about Dr. Ben Carson, describing his behavior as a youth as pathological as a child molester's and incurable. Many pundits predicted he would eventually say something off the wall from which he would be unable to recover. Was this it, or was it swallowed up by the Paris attacks? I guess Trump views Carson as a threat. Carson is the only GOP candidate who would likely be routed in a one on one debate by Hillary, as bad as she is at it. His lack of experience would be on full display. Still, Trump's attack was way out of line.

There was a circus outside the Chase bank at Bay Parkway and 85th today, as an army of workers prepared to do renovations. Two brand new ATMs were added, and the security system is being updated. The place closed at one. There were four heavy duty trucks and two vans parked in the immediate area. Despite this, the floating book shop had a decent day. My thanks to Mr. Conspiracy, who bought a medical dictionary, as heavy a book as I ever sold; and also to the elderly woman who bought two Jodi Picoult novels; and to Bill Brown, author Words and Guitar: A History of Lou Reed's Music, who bought two books in French and Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. Bill recently did a book signing at an independent book store in Manhattan. Of the six people who spoke to him, four bought the book. Kudos, sir.
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 11/13 - A Buck

This wide world never ceases to fascinate, as a look at any newspaper reveals. On page three in today's NY Post there is an article about doctors in Cleveland who are about to perform America’s first womb transplant. A Swedish group has already performed nine, producing five pregnancies and four live births… On the same page, there is a piece on the Hollywood’s most bankable actress whose screen presence and talent blow me away, 25-year-old Jennifer Lawrence. In a recent article in Vogue JLAW discusses her romantic disappointments: “I am lonely every Saturday night. Guys are so mean to me… I’m just a girl who wants you to be nice to me… I am straight as an arrow. I feel like I need a guy… who has been living in Baghdad for five years who has no idea who I am.” On showing her bedroom, she says: “Literally zero magic has happened here.” Unbelievable... Good news on P. 6, as the evidence in NYC political power broker Shelly Silver's corruption case seems damning… Better news on P. 7 -- Jihadi John, who beheaded Americans and Brits in online videos, may have been killed by a U.S. drone strike in Syria… Bad news on P. 6: NY Governor Cuomo has put the kibosh on a proposed natural gas transfer station to be built 19 miles off Long Island, citing environmental concerns. This, his $15 an hour minimum wage effort, and his anti-fracking stance make him one of the biggest job-killers in the country… On P. 27 there is a photo of President Obama bestowing the Medal of Honor on Captain Florent Groberg, who spotted a suicide bomber, finger on a button, struck him with the butt of his rifle and jumped on him, saving all but four of his men. It took him three years and 33 operations to recover from his injuries. He is an inspiration to all... On P. 33 there is an op-ed piece detailing a new strategy in the fight against infant mortality rates -- cardboard boxes as beds. They were first introduced in Finland, where the rate went from 10% to 0.3%. Kids outgrow them at three months… On P. 39 there is an unflattering review of the new Bard Pitt/Angelina Jolie flick, By the Sea… Right beside it are astonishing statistics on comedian Tyler Perry’s success. Films he has directed have grossed more than $743 million. His net worth is $430 million. I've never seen any of his work, but more power to him... On P. 41 there is an article on the difficulties facing George Takei’s Broadway musical, Allegiance, which is based on childhood memories of living in an internment camp during WWII. Reviews have been respectful but tepid… All that and only halfway through the paper -- and it’s only a buck!

My thanks to the woman who bought a book on controlling cholesterol and another on healthy cooking, my only sales on this blustery day. Fortunately, it wasn't cold, especially early when the sun was shining on my back. I was stiff as hell by the time I got home from a couple of post book shop chores. It will probably be like this most days from now until late spring, so it's time to toughen up buttercup.

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 11/12 - Crooks

A few months ago a handicapped woman who lives in my building had potentially cancerous growth removed from her nose. Today she had a follow up with the doctor who did the surgery. Her legs are just about completely shot, so any trip that requires a bit of walking is arduous. She should be in a wheelchair, but I guess pride won't let her get one. She's a danger to herself and drivers. She makes it only halfway across a double lane street before the light changes. Anyway, we made the trek through the maddening traffic and parking shortage of downtown Brooklyn, and navigated the steps leading down to the office. One would think of all businesses a doctor's would be handicap accessible, but noooo! as John Belushi would say during one of his SNL tirades. We waited a few minutes before she was called. The doctor looked at her schnoz, said it was fine, and said he'd see her in six months. She was pissed and is not going back. And another large bill has been sent to Medicare - what a racket! Recently, she received a summary of charges incurred on her behalf this year. She's the type who reads every detail. She noted that Medicare had been charged $800 for a visit she made to a doctor in Park Slope who merely referred her to the plastic surgeon who worked on the wound in her nose, something he could have easily arranged on the phone. He made a handicapped woman make a long trip -- to another office that is not handicap accessible. How expensive would it be to create a wooden ramp? These guys get rich soaking taxpayers and are notorious for being cheapskates. She called the Medicare office to report the guy, who, after an investigation, still cleared $150 on the deal for 30 seconds "work." Another of her doctors has disappeared without a trace and is probably laughing all the way to the bank on some island nation. It is staggering to think how much of this probably goes on across the country. I felt bad about taking the 20 bucks she gave me, even though I earned it. It was five hours door to door at a snail's pace. I don't have the nerve to give her an ultimatum of getting a wheelchair or else. Even on days of zero return, I'd rather be running the floating book shop.
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/