The Writer's Life 12/31 - Oil's Well

John Crudele contributes a financial column to the NY Post several times a week. He had interesting numbers in today's. Since 1938 the S&P 500 has risen an average of 6.5% annually. Now that we are in the computer age, research has been done and it found that the index has risen an average of 8.6% during a period that covers the final four days of a month and the first three of the next. If only a mutual fund could be established to take advantage of that.

President Obama is probably the first and biggest enemy of fossil fuels to occupy the White House. Fortunately, he does not have absolute power in regulating the market for crude oil. The Brent product hit an eleven year low yesterday, as inventories continue to rise, which means gasoline prices will remain low for quite a while. Also, Conoco Phillips will ship the first supply of U.S. shale since a 40-year ban was lifted. If Obama had anything to do with this, kudos. I doubt he did, though. Had he absolute power, I believe he would fix gasoline prices at $5 a gallon -- at least, hoping that Americans enmasse would finally switch to alternative means. One may argue that the low costs of gasoline and natural gas have done a great deal to offset the staggering bill for Obamacare. Liberal friends on Facebook have posted photos of gasoline prices now and when Bush was in office as proof that Obama is a better and special-interest-free economic steward. I resist the temptation to reply, to get into a political argument that will change no one's opinion. I'm just happy that enough checks and balances exist so that liberals don't get their way completely, although it seems they do no matter who's in charge. Who would have thought a few years ago, given environmental trends, that the USA would be the world's largest producer of oil? Yay!

For the first time ever a Broadway show, Daddy Long Legs, was streamed live, and it was free. The broadcast went out to 35 countries. Ticket sales have since increased. Expect more productions to follow suit. Eventually a fee will be charged. The computer age continues to be a marvel.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books in Russian and English today, especially the gentleman who purchased bios of Ingrid Bergman, Mary Martin and Helen Morgan, satisfying his penchant for celebrity tell-alls. The highlight of the session was a visit from my most faithful customer, Marie. She's bought all my books not only for herself but for friends as well. She's been blue lately, saying it's been "one thing after another," elaborating no further. She dabbles in art and has tried to sell her work, without success, through a Manhattan gallery. I knew she would be attracted to the version of Arabian Nights illustrated by Marc Chagall I had prominently displayed. "Merry Christmas," I said, handing it to her and giving her a hug and kiss. Here eyes filled with tears.

Happy New Year. Please don't drink and drive.

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/30 - Who & Why

Last night DecadesTV, channel 112 on Cablevision in NYC, ran Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971), a film so typical of the 70's. Believe it or not, it's not in the top 20 of longest movie title ever. It stars Dustin Hoffman as a successful pop star going through a mid-life crisis. It is told in non-linear form and features, almost exclusively, fanciful scenes, many of falling, which must have had those of a Freudian bent rushing into interpretation. The best thing that can be said about the flick is that it's different, experimental, for lack of a better word. Jack Warden plays a shrink with, I presume, an intentionally laughable Viennese accent. Dom DeLuise is along for the ride, as well as Barbara Harris, whose performance was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Does the scenario make any profound points? Not really. It's appeal is limited to those who appreciate the weird and outrageous. I am not a fan of '70's cinema, but there's no doubt that the artists of the era took far more risks than those of today, and that is to their credit. The film was directed by Ulu Grosbard, who was at the helm of only seven films, as he worked mostly in theater, ditto for the screenwriter, Herb Gardner, the author of the critically acclaimed A Thousand Clowns, and I'm Not Rappaport, which won a Tony. And the longest movie title ever is:

I find politics exasperating and disappointing, but it produces truly memorable moments, many of them unflattering. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ended his vacation abruptly as his town, whose murder rate is tragic, has suffered another scandal involving a police shooting. And where was he vacationing? Cuba... In Iowa, only one person attended an appearance by presidential candidate Martin O'Malley, who must be clinging to the hope that Hillary will be indicted and arrested. As a writer I wish I'd come up with these stranger than fiction occurrences.

RIP Frank Malzone, long time Red Sox third-baseman. The six-time all-star hit 183 HR's, the most ever by a Boston second-baseman. Well done, goombah.

My thanks to the kind folks who purchased books today, especially to professor/author Barry Spunt, who overpaid for works focusing on Alan Ginsberg and Yoko Ono. Thanks also to Herbie, who donated a Lisa Scottoline mystery in hardcover. It was cold, but still not Decemberish. I was able to put in three hours, mainly because of the lack of wind.
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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/29 - Motors

Navy QB Keenan Reynolds ended his fabulous career brilliantly yesterday in his team's Military Bowl victory over Pitt. He scored three TD's, bringing his total to 88, which now stands as the all-time major college record. He also broke the all-time rushing record for QB's. Anchors aweigh, young man.

I've just checked my standing in the ESPN bowl pool. So far I'm 12-9. Three touts are tied at the top at 20-1, and there are a lot of players between them and me. Even if I correctly pick the rest of the games I doubt I'd qualify for a prize. C'est la vie.

I've read 118 of the 352 pages of the proof copy of my next book, and I've found 21 errors. Three involve the lack of italics, two the lack of indentation. I was shocked to find that the entire last page of a story was missing. Since it rained today I filled time by making the necessary changes. The layout seems perfect. At present I'm not sure if I'll order another proof copy. I'll see what the Create Space online book preview looks like. My biggest worry originally was whether the page numbers in the Table of Contents would match up correctly with the works, as my previous book, Rising Star, came out a page shorter than expected. The page citations are perfect in this proof. Will they be so in the next? I had to change numbers to at least half the works. I've really enjoyed reading those stories I hadn't looked at in a long time.

RIP Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, bassist and front man for the heavy metal band Motorhead. He was a true rock n roll rebel, smoking and drinking, despite cancer, until the day he died. Here's a quote attributed to him: "In your twenties, you think you are immortal. In your thirties, you hope you are immortal. In your forties, you just pray it doesn’t hurt too much, and by the time you reach my age, you become convinced that, well, it could be just around the corner. Do I think about death a lot? It’s difficult not to when you’re 65, son."

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/28 - Fecundity

In today's NY Post George Will devotes another of his op-ed pieces to the superiority of the private sector over government control of an economy. He cites a new book, The Evolution of Everything: How New Ideas Emerge by Matt Ridley. Here are excerpts plucked by yours truly: "...Leonard E. Read’s famous 1958 essay, I, Pencil. In it a pencil explains that 'I am a mystery' because not a single person knows how to make me. The seemingly simple pencil is wood harvested by loggers using saws and ropes made elsewhere, wood transported by trucks and trains made by many thousands of people, to mills where machines — the products of ore mined by thousands and steel mills staffed by thousands more — prepare the wood to receive graphite mined abroad and the eraser from foreign rubber, held in place by aluminum mined somewhere and smelted somewhere else, before lacquer (castor beans and other ingredients) is applied, and... This is why worshipers in the church of government disparage a free society’s genius for spontaneous order: It limits the importance of government and other supposed possessors of the expertise that supposedly is essential for imposing order from above. No one, writes Ridley, anticipated that when Gutenberg made printed books affordable, increased literacy would create a market for spectacles, which would lead to improved lenses and the invention of telescopes, which would produce the discovery that the Earth orbits the sun. No one planned that one particular book’s argument for the fecundity of freedom would bolster the case for limited government the way Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations did when published in 1776." Once again, kudos, sir.

MLB lost two former players yesterday. Jim O'Toole, 78, a left-handed pitcher, had a ten-year career, nine with the Cincinnati Reds. He went 98-84 and had a 3.57 ERA. He will probably be remembered most for his two losses, although he pitched well, to Whitey Ford in the 1961 World Series, which the Yankees won in five games. Dave Henderson, 57, was the center-fielder on the Oakland team that featured Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Rickey Henderson, and played in three straight World Series, winning one. He hit 198 HR's in 14 seasons for five teams. He was also a member of the Red Sox in 1986 and hit .400 in the Series vs. the Mets. "Hendu" succumbed to complications from a kidney ailment. RIP, gentlemen, and also to basketball legend Meadowlark Lemon, 83, who played for the Harlem Globetrotters during the team's heyday from the mid 1950's to the late 1970's, delighting fans with his skills with a ball and a joke. Traveling by car, bus, train or plane nearly every night, Lemon covered nearly four million miles to play in over 100 countries and in front of popes and presidents, kings and queens. Known as the ''Clown Prince of Basketball,'' he averaged 325 games per year during his prime. When the legendary Wilt Chamberlain was asked who he believed was the greatest player of all-time, he said: "Believe it or not, Meadowlark Lemon." (Facts gleaned from articles at Yahoo Sports)

It was an abbreviated session of the floating book shop today, as the lack of sun and stiff breeze had me packing up after a little more than an hour. My thanks to the young man who purchased Jack Kerouac's On the Road and The Dharma Burns, and to the elderly gentleman who donated two Vince Flynn thrillers.

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/27 - Abundance

There are interesting stats in today's NY Post. Smokers have revolted impressively against NY's onerous taxes on tobacco products. Revenue has dropped by $400 million in the past five years, and the state has lost an estimated $1.3 billion to alternative sales. As much as I hate smoking, I'm always happy to see people defeat government greed... Health care costs are projected to rise 7.5% in 2016. Since the inception of Obamacare, the promised $2400 annual savings for a family of four has not materialized. It has not even been a dollar. And, since 2010, the average deductible has gone from $900 to $1300... On a positive note, 2015 has been a record year for shipping companies... Since 1971, the American middle class has shrunk from 61% of the population to 50%... As a fiscal conservative, none of this surprises me. I don't know if it can be said that government meddling always increases overall costs, but I'd bet it's pretty close to always.

Last night Movies!, channel 113 on Cablevision in NYC, ran Let's Make Love (1960), a musical starring Marilyn Monroe and French matinee idol Yves Montand. Aside from Marilyn performing My Heart Belongs to Daddy, it is fairly routine, pleasant but forgettable. Two of the supporting players roused my interest. The late Joe Besser is familiar to baby boomers for his role as Stinky on The Abbott and Costello Show, and for his stint as part of The Three Stooges shorts. In the film he played a joke writer. He has 105 credits listed under his name at IMDb, not counting multiple appearances on many popular TV shows, including 92 on The Joey Bishop Show and, surprisingly, just twelve on A & C. The late Frankie Vaughan, a British pop star who had a couple of top ten hits, including Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, played the star of the show in which MM was performing. According to a blurb at IMDb, his experiences making the film convinced him Hollywood was not for him.

The only thing I hate about operating the floating book shop is the feeling I get that some people assume I must be destitute to be doing such a thing. Today an acquaintance from the Exchange seemingly came out of nowhere and asked how I was. Kevin's trading badge read KVAN. He was all business at work, neither friendly nor abusive toward our data reporting staff. Although I entered thousands of trades for him, I hardly knew him. I had no idea he lived in Brooklyn. Maybe he was visiting family. He said he'd seen me many times driving by but was unable to stop. He handed me money, $50, as he'd done each Christmas on the trading floor, saying: "I know life sucks..." I didn't want it, as it felt like stealing, especially since he wouldn't take any books, not even Exchanges, in return, saying he wasn't a reader. From the sound of it, he may need the money more than I do. I certainly don't believe life sucks. He's about ten years younger and no doubt has a family to support. Anyway, my thanks. With that money in my pocket I would have offered any of my books for a buck to anyone who showed an interest. Alas, no one did. Thanks also to the woman who donated about 30 books, a blend of hardcover and paperback. I'd been expecting a donation for someone else and I wound up hoping she wouldn't show, as my inventory is now ridiculous, so much so that I had to haul a bag full of books to the apartment, the trunk of my car filled to capacity. Thanks also to Viktor, who donated five books in Russian and a beautiful edition of Arabian Nights illustrated by Marc Chagall, and to the two woman who bought books. I also chatted with an old friend, Nick, who was using the Chase ATM. He is frustrated at having to take care of his dad, now 91. Fortunately, the elder still has his wits about him. The two of them live in a huge house, and dad wants to die there and nowhere else. It is no picnic dealing with an old parent. Nick and his dad were the models for two minor characters in Killing. If he had showed after and not before KVAN, I would have given him a copy.

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/26 - Life Is Good

My 65th Christmas has been entered into the Big Log. It was a good one. As usual, my family was very generous. They've been spoiling me since the day I was born. I wore my new sneakers and fancy shades today. I wanted to wear the black Addidas jacket my great-niece/goddaughter, Danielle, gave me, but it was a bit too cold for it. The navy blue quilt is on my bed. It's part of the changes I wanted to make to my large studio, and the best idea I could come up with was dark colors in contrast with the white walls. A black desk is on the way from Ebay, bought with funds I earned doing online surveys. This morning I used a gift card to pay for groceries at Stop n Shop. Life has been and continues to be good to me. Fortunately, I've become wise enough not to overeat, although not wise enough to shun pastries. I consumed five minis the past two days. One, red velvet cake, was to die for. Yesterday we watched  A Christmas Story (1983) while digesting. Danielle, 17, was stretched out on the couch, snoring, catching up on the sleep she's lost working two jobs this holiday season. Her brother, Ronnie, texted from the University of Kentucky that he was making pasta for dinner. My eldest niece, Isabella, a nurse at Mt. Sinai Hospital, had to work both days. I picked her up at eleven on the Eve, so she had plenty of time to eat before we exchanged presents at midnight. As I was driving I was surprised at how many shops were open for business along Kings Highway, which shows how many non-Christians now live in Brooklyn. And what is one of the best aspects of the season? Leftovers. I polished off the remainder of the fish salad at lunch. And I have two Tupperware containers filled with meat and veggies in the fridge. Life is good.

My thanks to the four kind folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway. I had a visit from author Bill Brown, who is thrilled that about 220 of his books sold this year. My total won't be half that, but so what? It is what it is, as the hackneyed phrase goes There was a bit of action while I was awaiting customers. I heard a large bang and turned to see two black cars stuck together. An SUV carrying a family of four was traveling in the left lane of the four-lane street when it was broadsided by a sporty car that had been parked at the curb and tried either to make a U-turn or to jump two lanes at once. The driver of the SUV was pissed, understandably, and hollered at the other guy. Fortunately, no blows were struck and, even better than that, no one was hurt. Soon there were two fire trucks, two police cars and an ambulance on the scene, and traffic on the busy stretch was blocked off. It was at least an hour-and-a-half before the matter was settled and two flatbeds hauled the damaged cars away. Everyone involved stepped into the ambulance at one point. I guess it's standard procedure to check for injuries. I wonder if the SUV driver's insurance will go up. It would be a pity if it did, as he clearly wasn't at fault. I suppose he has the option to take legal action. What a hassle.
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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

 

The Writer's Life 12/25 - Tangerines

I've viewed my first film from Georgia/Estonia, courtesy of Netflix. Tangerines (2013) takes place in a region of Georgia undergoing civil war. Two men have stayed behind to pick the crop and get it to market. The peaceful pair get caught between the factions. The insanity of the human condition at its worst is on display, and it has nothing to do with color. Everyone is white. It makes the viewer ask himself/herself what is it about certain individuals that propels them to such madness. Of course, all the actors are unfamiliar to western audiences, so their authenticity in their roles rings true. The theme has often been tackled, but rarely from such an unbiased perspective. All the combatants are guilty of ignorance and bigotry, in direct contrast to the farmers, especially the elderly one whose quiet dignity and humanity are the centerpiece of the narrative. The film was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar. 16,000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 8.4 of ten. I agree. I was pissed when the DVD began, as the subtitles were microscopic. I had to sit within five feet of my TV. It was worth it. Kudos to writer/director Zasa Urushadze, whom I hope will receive financing to create more works of this caliber. This is not an action film. It is a portrait of an unfortunate aspect of the human condition. Although ravaged, decency triumphs in the end. The last three films I've watched have been foreign. I still wouldn't call myself a cine-file.

There were some interesting stats in a short article in today's NY Post. A survey reveals that the percentage of Americans who declare no religious affiliation has risen to 19.6. It was 14.6% in 2008. The number of Christians has declined to 75.2%, down from 80.1% in '08. The percentages among people over 50 have held steady. The change is reflected in folks under that mark. I'm not surprised and I think the trend will continue. It's not necessarily a negative, as most people will retain a firm sense of right and wrong.

Here's a shout out to my alma mater, Western Michigan U., which won its first bowl game yesterday. The Broncos defeated Middle Tennessee, 45-31, in the Bahamas Bowl, finishing the season 8-5. WMU had lost its previous six appearances.

I'm still digesting the seven fishes, and I'm about to leave for my sister's, where meat is the main staple of today's menu. I bet I find room for post-meal pastries.

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/24 - Surprises

When Justin, a local porter, dropped off a bunch of books the other day, one immediately stood out: Apartment 4B, Like in Brooklyn by Evan Ginzburg. The author grew up in East Flatbush during the '60's as the neighbor was evolving from a mostly Jewish enclave to one of people of color. The memoir records his time on Lenox Rd. from his earliest memory until his teens when his family finally joins the white flight, in his case to Bayside, Queens. Although he's almost a decade younger than I, it was easy to relate to his experiences, particularly the games his friends and he played. It is a well written account, eminently readable. The most interesting aspect is his dealings with blacks who hate whites, who steal his money and sometimes beat him. It's amazing that the treatment didn't turn him into a bigot. Surprisingly, his musical taste tends toward R&B rather than hard rock. He was also a fan of pro wrestling, particularly of Bruno Sammartino, a hero to lower middle class Italian-Americans. He has published Wrestling Then & Now, a newsletter, since 1990. He works in radio, and is a publicist, promoter, booker and MC. He received credit as an Associate Producer on the the critically acclaimed The Wrestler (2006). He also has published a book about his father's experiences: Hey, Cabbie -- A Million Miles Behind the Wheel. Nine users at Amazon have rated Apt. 4B, forging to a consensus of 4.5 of five. It's 141 pages read like much less. There is profanity, but a lot less than in most modern fare. There are plenty of those great black and white pictures of the era, almost all of them of family and friends. In the parlance of the streets of Brooklyn, Evan Ginzburg would be dubbed "a good kid."

The proof copy of my latest short works collection, Billionths of a Lifetime, arrived to day. I hadn't expected it until next Monday at the earliest. So far, so good -- no errors in the first story -- at least I didn't spot any.

Mother nature also provided a big surprise -- a rainless three-hour window that allowed me to open up the floating book shop for the first time since Monday. Since it's Christmas Eve, I wasn't expecting much business and it seemed that would be the case until the final hour. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases, especially the Russian woman who bought seven in her native language; to Herbie, who donated another thriller (he must read three books a week); and to Mira, who not only bought two Best-of short story collections, but gave me three Rocher chocolates and two tangerines, which have already been consumed. I hope they will tide me over until dinner time, which will probably be no earlier than nine. The seven fishes await!

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/23 - In Brief

Here’s a surprising and troubling stat from a brief article in today’s NY Post: Since 2002, deaths related to alcoholism in the USA have risen 37%. I wonder if the work force participation rate, at its lowest since the ’70’s, has anything to do with it. Geez, it sounds like a stat from the old Soviet Union.

Through nine bowl games, I have four wins, five losses in the ESPN pool. The odds of qualifying for a prize have gotten longer.

Congressional Republicans have again caved to the President on the budget and its obscene spending. They put up no fight at all, afraid a government shut down would be blamed, as usual, on them. I suppose they're hoping to gain veto-proof majorities in November. What if they don't? And people wonder why Donald Trump's candidacy has taken hold. He may prove to be as big a dud as the rest, but his outsider image at least gives his supporters a glimmer of hope that he can end the insanity.

The GOP needs somebody as tough as Jaromir Jagr. 43, he is still playing in the NHL (Florida Panthers), and doing better than men half his age. A few nights ago he scored his 732nd goal, which places him fourth on the all-time list. Last night he took a high stick that knocked out some teeth. Here's what he tweeted post-game. Remember, English is not his first language: "Dear Santa, can I get a new teeth for Christmas :) it's going to be tough to eat-good -at least I don't get fat :)))" And here's a pic:

The floating book shop had had good luck with weather since mid May. Now it's had two straight rain-outs and a possibility of three more, as the forecast predicts precipitation through the weekend. I guess we should be happy it isn't snow. I filled time by doing the last of my Christmas shopping, then trying to find a new desk for my computer. My old one sways back and forth, the screws stripped. I didn't spot any at Best Buy and the one at Staples was made for a corner. To my surprise, the huge selection of music and movies at BB has been trimmed considerably, replaced by a kitchen appliances section. I guess management has conceded to the digital download age,

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/22 - Seafood

NFL: The Jets have a golden opportunity vs. the Pats at home this week. New England has been bitten by the injury bug, especially at WR. RB Stephen Jackson, who has been idle all season, is expected to sign with them. No one will be surprised if he puts up big numbers. Belichick will plug him in and Jackson will deliver as has just about everyone who has donned the team’s uniform the past decade… The Steelers look like the team to beat in the AFC, although they will have to run the table as a wild card, which is not unprecedented anymore… Hail to the Redskins and QB Kirk Cousins, who have improved markedly… The Seahawks did what they had to do by defeating the Browns, but the win gives no indication of whether they are back among the elite. I wouldn’t want to draw them in the first round of the playoffs, however… There are two show and tell games this weekend: the Packers at Arizona and the Bengals at Denver… If there were an award for most exasperating team, the Giants would be the unanimous selection. How sad that a great talent like OBJ is a complete jerk… I have only one thing against the city of Buffalo and its football team -- their blowhard coach. It’s satisfying to see Rex Ryan eliminated from the post season.

12 of 23 health insurance co-ops will have failed by January 1st -- despite government subsidies.

By now you’ve heard that in Saturday’s debate Hillary said Donald Trump is being used as a recruiting tool in ISIS videos. According to WOR radio talk show host Mark Simone, the latest video uses pictures of Obama, Kerry and Bill Clinton, and none of the Donald.

My sister and I made the annual pilgrimage to the fish shop at 18th Av. & 85th St.. The line wasn't long, so I didn't have to worry about her getting soaked standing in the rain. Since she's lost her voice, which has been reduced to a whisper, she brought along a list made out by my third youngest niece, Luci. Still, there were communication problems. I parked the car in the CVS lot nearby, bought a Snapple, and put the bag and receipt on the driver's seat so the car wouldn't be towed or have one of those big stickers put on one of the windows. I got to the store just as my sister's turn came up. She handed the gentleman behind the counter the list and there was immediately a problem. He assumed the number beside the calamari meant six pounds. It was a few minutes before I realized it meant six pieces. After that, the transaction was pretty smooth. The bill for eleven items came to $139. I thanked the man for his patience, and he gently told my sister she should be making her kids do her chores. The two living in the old house are both working. From there we headed to Frank and Sal's, five blocks away, where we picked up the tagliatelle my niece had neglected to include in the order delivered on Saturday, most of which will cover the meal on Christmas day, when we'll be joined by my youngest niece, her husband and daughter. Her son has returned to the University of Kentucky, where he is an avid fan of the basketball team, which has a game on campus the 26th. I'm not happy that he has chosen to forgo being with family on the holiday, but I didn't say anything. I reminded myself that there were times I chose to eat upstairs alone rather than at the crowded table my brother in law ruled.
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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/21 - Contents

Here’s the table of contents of my forthcoming book. 12 of the 35 works will be appearing in print for the first time, although excerpts have appeared in this blog. A few were posted in their entirety. The screenplays have been available as Kindles for a couple of years. I have to decide whether to take them down. They’re a bargain at a dollar, but I wonder if some customers would be pissed that they could have gotten more bang for their buck by ordering the collection. Unlike A Hitch in Twilight, which is comprised of stories influenced by Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone, the new book is an eclectic mix, but largely explorations of the bittersweet mystery of life, my favorite subject. I just ordered a proof copy. I hope to flush any errors I may have missed in the digital file. If it’s relatively clean, I’ll submit the corrections and forego a second proofing. I’ll be surprised if it isn’t ready by early January. I hope I haven’t jinxed myself in saying that. The brief synopsis that appears here after each story will not be in the book.

Rude Awakening, an eight-year-old's growing awareness.
Lessons Learned, the same child two years later, still trying to get life right.
The Bat, an at-risk adolescent's love of baseball.
Change, (First time in print) Christmas in a department store.
Distinctions, a raucous night on the town.
Actor-Activist, based on someone like Alec Baldwin.
Mysteries, after-party of an off-off-Broadway play.
The Best Revenge, growing up in Brooklyn.
Up and Down, (First time in print) four friends playing golf.
Bad Form, (First time in print) friction between a dating middle age couple.
Member’s Only, (First time in print) my only attempt at what is called Flash Fiction.
Murky Realm, (First time in print) conversation between old friends.
Chaos in Alphabet City, (First time in print) a young woman's struggles.
Symbiosis, (First time in print) a man on his early morning walk.
What Might Have Been, (First time in print) an alternate universe.
Just a Joke, argument between man and wife.
Wonder Wheel, (First time in print) young man opens up to a beautiful stranger.
Oblivious, the danger that awaits the unaware.
Rain and Rhubarb. a young man's tribute to his uncle.
Decisive, (First time in print) young female living dangerously.
Miller’s Time, (First time in print) conspiracy buff.
Colors, unemployed male, post job interview.
Panorama, what a middle aged man sees on a walk through his neighborhood.
Fear, late night NYC circa 1980.
Hip Hop, a girl with a heart of gold in a cold world.
What Is Life? - dealing with an old parent.
Fall, chance encounter.
Real World, political hardball.
Psychology, a man comforts his wife with lies.
Fairy Tale, a couple who have made it.
One Billionth of a Lifetime, a different kind of parlor game.
The Last Laugh, one-act play, great dead white males converse in the afterlife.
All Hallows, screenplay, five nuts escape asylum, wreak havoc.
A Truth Universally Acknowledged, screenplay, romcom influenced by Shakespeare & Austen.
Not So Black and White, teleplay, (First time in print), race relations in NYC circa 1990.

Here’s the cover:

My thanks to the three kind folks who bought books today, and to Herbie, who donated a hardcover thriller.
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/
Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/19 - Engrossed

Descendants of the English have been in Northern Ireland since the 1100’s, and it has caused strife on and off ever since. At present the situation is about as good as it gets. I haven’t heard of any violence between the Irish Catholics and Protestant Unionists in a long time, although I’m sure many on each side probably still hate each other. ‘71 (2014), which I saw last night courtesy of Netflix, takes the viewer back to the height of "The Troubles," as they are called by the natives. The focus is on a British soldier who grew up in an orphanage. His first assignment becomes a nightmare. He is separated from his comrades during a riot and spends a harrowing night in Belfast, clueless as to whom to trust and how to get back to his barracks. The tension is thick, the action crisp. I don’t know how accurate the circumstances and history of the scenario are, but it all seems plausible. After all, it is a single day. The situation may not have been as bad as this most of the time, but it’s certainly possible it was occasionally, especially given the foolishness of hot-headed young men. Yann DeMange directed, his first feature film after several stints at the helm of BBC series. I look forward to his future work. The star is Jack O’Connell, who was also the lead in Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut, Unbroken (2014). The film runs only 99 minutes. I was completely engrossed. 28,000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 7.2 of ten, which is a bit low in my estimation. It takes no side on the issue. In fact, elements of both factions betray their own cause. It does have an anti-service bias, but that takes a back seat to the plight of the young man. As a survival odyssey, '71 is first rate. Of course, there is violence, but not as much as in most movies. The accent is on suspense.

It was a surprising session of the floating book shop. I wasn't expecting much after just missing out on two parking spaces and waiting an hour for another to open up. Fortunately, the bank blocked a great deal of the stiff, icy wind on the first winter-like day of this mild December. Then clouds rolled in, so I knew it wouldn't be long before I surrendered to the cold. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases during my brief stay, especially to the two gentlemen who bought the largest, heaviest books on display, a Webster's dictionary and a beautiful pictorial history of English monarchs. Thanks also to Bad News Billy, who overpaid for a DVD, The Good Night (2007), starring Danny DeVito and Penelope Cruz. Unfortunately, his grand-daughter is again skipping school. I think the only solution for her will be a GED. Spasibo to the three Russian women who between them bought four novels in their native tongue.

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/

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/18 - Therapy

There are three schools of Viennese psychiatry: Freudian, or the will to pleasure; Adlerian, or the will to power; Logotherapy. I've just finished a book on the third, The Will to Meaning, written by its founder, the late Dr. Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor. The practice has three basic beliefs: 1) Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones; 2) Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life; 3) We have freedom to find meaning in what we do, and what we experience, or at least in the stand we take when faced with a situation of unchangeable suffering. I understood roughly 50% of the book, which is written in clear, accessible prose but filled with technical terms. Although it is geared to professionals and students of psychiatry, there are many nuggets laymen will appreciate. For instance: "...each man's life is unique in that no one can repeat it." "There is no such thing as a universal meaning of life but only the unique meanings of individual situations." "A lively and vivid conscience is the only thing that enables man to resist the effects of the existential vacuum." "Flight from the self allows for avoiding a confrontation with the void in the self." "The past is the safest mode of being." "Logotherapy is no panacea." Frankl sees value in all the psychiatric approaches, and in the use of drugs. An example of Logotherapy in simplified form is as follows: An insomniac will be told to go to bed and intentionally try not to sleep. Surprisingly, unlike many scientists and academics, the author invites religion into his practice. He cites a case in which a young rabbinical student, a survivor of WWII, came to him riddled with doubt. Suffering symptoms of schizophrenia, he spent two and a half years in a sanitarium. Frankl counseled him to look on that time as similar to Jonah's in the belly of the whale. As one who has struggled with existential angst his entire adult life and, perhaps unknowingly, as long ago as childhood, the book was valuable. Of course, these issues are never fully resolved, perhaps not even in death. I keep busy to avoid thinking about the existential vacuum, to try to provide meaning to my life. That's why I dread bad weather. It prevents me from filling those three hours I devote to the floating book shop, three hours more in which to find diversion on rainy, snowy or frigid days. My literary efforts are my main reason for living. There are thousands of writers, but each one is unique in the way he views and presents life in his work.

Shrinks may have to create a fourth category: The Will to Sell Books. The forecast called for clearing skies. I prepared psychology to fight the wind that would usher in the front. To my surprise. it was raining when I left the building and not windy. I waited in the car, doing a crossword puzzle. I set up shop, thinking the rain had cleared out. It returned a half hour later. I went home and took a nap. I set up again at about the time I'd usually be closing. The temperature had dropped considerably. My thanks to the three kind folks who bought four books between them, and to Herbie, who donated a hardcover mystery.

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

The Writer's Life 12/17 - To-Do

I’ve always resisted making a to-do list, as I prefer to rely on memory, which occasionally leads to a forgotten item on a trip to Stop n Shop. A Californian couple, obviously challenged mentally or, perhaps, drug addled, created a unique written reminder. They were busted stealing from an Amazon delivery truck. When cops searched their car, they found a note that read, according to the Weird But True column in the NY Post: “Steal packages” and “Shoplift.” Yahoo News has it as: "Steal mail and shoplift." Either way, it's clear where the couple, already on probation, will be spending the holidays and the next few years. It takes all kinds to make a world.

Michael Jackson’s mega-smash album Thriller was released in 1982. It’s still selling, surpassing 30 million copies in the U.S., 100 million overseas. The late MJ has become the first artist to crack 30-time multi-platinum. Wow. It’s hard to imagine anyone will ever Beat It.

What to do on a rainy day? I redeemed recyclables, burned four stocking-stuffer CDs for my nieces, did the Sunday crossword I'd saved, read a bit more than usual, worked on the cover for my new book at Create Space, and entered a bowl picking contest at ESPN. What the heck -- it's free. I picked all 42 games without doing a stitch of research. I don't want to finish first, as the prize is a trip to next year's championship game, which I would turn down. I have no idea what else is on the line. There was one blank CD left from the package I bought. I used it for the Ultimate Sinatra collection I have on digital file at Windows Media Center. I will sell it for five bucks or give it away to the next person who buys one of my books.

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

http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life 12/16 - Chi-Chi

It would not be an exaggeration to say there is an app for everything. Case in point -- Japanese developers are a month away from introducing one that will enable women to measure their boob size, which will allow them to buy an appropriate bra. Users will simply place a phone between their hooters. It will be called Chi-Chi, which is Japanese for breasts.

What was the most Googled story of 2015? It was Lamar Odom's bizarre sex and drug binge.

Betsy McCaughey devoted her most recent op-ed piece in the NY Post to the ACA. Here is an excerpt: "Here’s the Obama administration’s playbook: First, pass a law requiring the public to buy insurance-company products. Then impose big penalties on anyone who doesn’t buy. Finally, when insurers still can’t make money, bail them out using taxpayer dollars." In this case, congress has slipped a boon for insurers, who are losing billions selling Obamacare plans and threatening to stop offering them, into the new budget bill. They will be exempt from paying taxes on them. It is welfare for rich corporations. McCaughey is the author of Beating Obamacare: Your Handbook for the New Healthcare Law.

Here are are a couple of more words from the book on psychiatry I'm reading that has me consulting the dictionary:
Noology - the study of mind, the science of phenomena regarded as purely mental in origin.
Ontology - the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
Halfway through, I'm getting more out of the book than I'd expected. There are a lot of nuggets even a challenged layman can understand. I've had to re-read many sentences, as my mind has an even greater tendency to drift these days.

My thanks to the two kind ladies who broke up the shutout late in today's session of the floating book shop. Thanks also to Natalya and Benedict, and Herbie, who donated books. I've accumulated so many the past week that I had to take a box-worth to the apartment. The trunk of my car is still filled to capacity.

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 12/15 - Hello

I watched the Adele special last night. She has taken the world by storm, her popularity astounding. While I’m not crazy about her song-writing, there is no mistaking her wonderful voice and her delivery. She has a way with song that the great ones have had. Appropriately, she began the show with her current smash, Hello, from her record-breaking new album, 25. It’s chorus is stirring, but the song has the same fault as most modern pop -- it’s at least a minute too long. She covered her most popular work and got the enthusiastic audience to solo on certain parts. She has suffered stage fright and throat surgery, but held up well despite being overcome by emotion at one point. She closed with what I believe is her finest track, Rolling in the Deep. Every time it plays on my car stereo I can’t help singing along: “We could have had it all…” It’s as beautiful and rousing a chorus as there ever was. I hope she one day does an album of standards, and that I’m around to hear it.

NFL: Things seem to have broken the Patriots way, as losses by Denver and Cincinnati and the injury to Bengals QB Andy Dalton have vaulted New England back to the top of the AFC. Their biggest threat now seems the Steelers, whose offense looks unstoppable… Seattle’s win vs. the depleted Ravens revealed nothing about where they are, nor will Sunday’s game vs. the Browns, unless they lose… Last night the great -- not the good or bad -- Eli showed up in Miami. Do the Giants have a chance this weekend vs. the undefeated Panthers? It’s reminiscent of the 2007 Super Bowl vs. New England, when only die-hards believed Big Blue would prevail… Kudos to the Jets, who did what had to be done, jumping on a bad Titans team at home. Next up -- Dallas. Although the Cowboys have had a difficult season, I expect a close contest at Texas Stadium… The Chiefs have won seven in a row, but does anyone believe they are a true contender, especially after the lackluster win at home vs. struggling San Diego?

Angered by the theft of packages in his neighborhood, a man in Vegas came up with what he hopes will be a deterrent. He filled a USPS box with dog poop. It sat on his porch for four days before it was swiped. (From Weird But True in the NY Post)

Fortunately, the temperature was in the 60's today, which mitigated the unfriendly wind that blew along Avenue Z. My thanks to the kind folks who bought books, and to Justin, a local porter, who donated about 30, among them large Webster and Oxford dictionaries and a slew of Beat Generation fare. I had a visit from Hans, aka Mr. Su Do Ku. As we were conversing, Amalia came along holding tightly to her walker. It occurred to me that she, like Hans, is Swiss. I introduced them and they immediately began communicating in German. They also spoke a little French and Italian. I loved it.

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

The Writer's Life 12/14 - Challenged

I didn't want to read yet another mystery/thriller, and there are no literary novels among the book donations that have lately come my way, so I've chosen a work of non-fiction by a Ph.D in psychiatry. I haven't been tested as severely as this intellectually in a long time. I'm not sure I'll be able to get through it, so I won't mention the title and author. I'll blog about it should I manage to complete it. It's certainly geared more to professionals in the field or students of it. 46 pages in, I haven't got much out of it. It has tried my vocabulary, though. I've recognize most of the clinical words, but forgotten their meanings. Here are three examples, the last having been completely foreign to me but which I love. I'm surprised I'd never come across it before. Then again, at this stage of my life it's entirely possible that I'd simply forgotten it.
"Homeostasis" -- the property of a system in which variables are regulated so that internal conditions remain stable and relatively constant. An example of it is the regulation of temperature.
"Etiology" -- the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition. It might be used like this: "a disease of unknown etiology."
"Scotomization" --  the theory in psychoanalysis which refers to the mind's ability to erase a traumatic or overwhelming experience.

RIP Phil Pepe, 80, who had a 50-year career in sports journalism. Born in Brooklyn, he was the author or co-author of more than 50 books. There are eleven listed under his name at Amazon. He had a long tenure at the NY Daily News, and always used a civil tone in his work. The epitome of class and decency, he didn't take cheap shots. Well done, sir.


Here's something straight out of Hitchcock. Yahoo News reports that the severed, embalmed head of an unknown female, found NW of Pittsburgh, may be linked to the black market in body parts, Red balls had been placed in the eye sockets. Here's an artist's rendering of the unfortunate soul:


I assumed the floating book shop would be rained out today. What a pleasant surprise that it was business as usual. My thanks to the kind folks who bought books.

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

The Writer's Life 12/13 - This n That

The Oxford Dictionary has chosen “emoji” word of the year. Here is an example of one:


Kudos to former MLB slugger Darryl Strawberry, who has opened his second drug rehab facility near Orlando, Florida. It offers a 28-day residential treatment program. That former wayward soul has become a role model.

After 24 straight victories, the Golden State Warriors finally got tired of winning. Last night they were drubbed in Milwaukee by the Bucks. Bums.

Yesterday Navy defeated Army for the 14th straight time. The Midshipmen finished an impressive 10-2 and now will play Pitt in a bowl game. It was another disappointing season for the Black Knights of the Hudson, who finished 2-10. Five of their losses were by five points or less. Progress may have been made. Of the 22 starters on offense and defense, 14 will return. Army has not won more than four games during its 14 straight losing seasons.

Last night ME-TV, channel 33 on Cablevision in NYC, ran The Mole People (1956), a run of the mill, cheapie sci-fi flick starring John Agar and Hugh Beaumont. It’s not very good, but four aspects make it noteworthy. The first is the long, silly intro delivered by Dr. Frank Baxter, an English professor at UCLA. In six of his seven credits at IMDb, he is billed as Dr., four times as "Dr. Research." The film was directed by Virgil Vogol. I assumed he had a brief career characterized by similar works. Not so -- he was prolific, logging 80 credits, not including multiple stints on popular TV shows that vault his total well into the hundreds. The screenplay was written by Lazlo Gorog, which sounds like a pseudonym. He too was active in TV, amassing 29 writing credits, also not counting multiples on series fare. Lastly, Nestor Paiva was one of the supporting players. Although he lived only 61 years, he appeared in 305 titles! Here's a pic of that stalwart:


My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books today in Park Slope.

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/