The Writer's Life 5/31 - Fighting Back

Two fascinating stories have similar themes -- private citizens fighting off crime. Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido, 25, disappeared in his hometown on Saturday night when he was intercepted by gunmen after leaving a party with his girlfriend, who was left behind. He escaped his kidnappers by punching the guy guarding him, snatching a cellphone and calling for help. Pulido called Mexico’s emergency services around midnight on Sunday after the fistfight. Security forces located Pulido within minutes of his call, as they were scouring the area nearby. Police have detained the captor, one of at least four involved, who belonged to a criminal gang... Thousands of miles away, in the Bronx, a man received a call from his wife, who was fighting off an intruder trying to rape her. The husband raced to the sixth floor of the building, met the fleeing man in the hall, and a brawl ensued. He beat the creep, who has a long rap sheet, into submission with a tire iron, sending him to a hospital, where he died. The husband was arrested. It will be interesting to see how the case turns out. If the facts are as they seem, I doubt a jury would convict him of even assault.

Another type of fight is in the news. Hundreds of thousands of people have become unhinged about the orangutan that was killed to save a boy who fell into its cage. Although I am in no way an animal lover, I don't like zoos, but shouldn't the benefit of the doubt be given to staff trained in these matters? How can people not even within shouting distance, let alone miles away, with no experience in such situations, be certain of what occurred and what the right course of action should have been?  
And what would a day be without another counter-punch from Donald Trump, who was bashed by reporters for supposedly stiffing a group of veterans for whom he helped raise nearly six million bucks? He called the political press "completely dishonest." I'm sure many agree.

Last night This-TV, channel 111 on Cablevision in NYC, ran A Bridge Too Far (1977), Richard Attenborugh's adaptation of Cornelius Ryan's book, the second of his WWII trilogy. The Longest Day was the first, The Last Battle, which chronicles the taking of Berlin, the third. A Bridge... features an all-star dream cast: Bogarde, Redford, Connery, Caan, Caine, Edward Fox, Schell, Hopkins, etc.. Looking back almost 40 years later, three of the principals seem oddly cast: Ryan O'Neal and Elliot Gould as American commanders, and Gene Hackman as a Polish general. The first two were at the height of their popularity, so their inclusion isn't surprising, although they seem the antithesis of military leadership. In the case of Hackman, it's hard to believe a more appropriate actor wasn't used. Anyway, the film is solid but falls far short of greatness. It details one of the allies most stinging defeats, a bold bid to bring a quick end to the war, devised by British General Montgomery, who is not represented in the film. It was as massive an undertaking as D-Day, and the casualties were even greater. The basic plan was to send paratroopers behind enemies lines in Belgium to take several bridges and hold them until relief arrived. The British high command does not come off well. According to the scenario, the plan is undertaken despite signs that the Germans are not in the complete disarray that was believed at the time. Hindsight is always 20-20. Was the disaster the result of ambition, hubris? I'll leave that to historians to fight about. Despite the heroism on display, the narrative has an anti-war feel, especially as the carnage mounts. Although it's heavy-handed, no reasonable person would disagree that human beings should not have to go through such horror, Unfortunately, they have and, apparently, always will. Art, however great, is not going to change that.

The fight to sell books had mixed results today. My thanks to Jimmy, who bought Testimony, a collection of essays on the Holocaust, Stephen King's Revival, and Christina Schwarz's Drowning Ruth, an Oprah selection. Thanks also to the gentleman who donated a bag o'books that contained eight Danielle Steele paperbacks in pristine condition, and the woman who donated a hardcover romance.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/30 - Memorial Day USA

In memory of the fallen.

Thank you. Long live America.

The Writer's Life 5/29 - Student vs. Mentor

Among a batch of a recent donation to the floating book shop was The Los Angeles BB Murder Case by Nisioisin, the palindromic name of an author who specializes in Japanese thrillers. Curiously, the novel in question is a prequel to a wildly popular series, Death Note, created by another writer, one that has spawned versions in anime, video games, TV series and film. It involves a duel between the greatest detective of the century, known as L, and someone who studied his procedures and history at an academy. The latter has committed three murders and plans a fourth and last, which he believes will be unsolvable, making him greater than the master. Oddly, the super-sleuth is not directly involved in the case. He enlists a beautiful Asian FBI agent on suspension from her job to solve it and speaks to her only through email and on secure telephone lines. The killer leaves abstract clues at each site. That aspect was fun, although the intricacies lost me occasionally. The supernatural is largely hinted at rather than front and center as it is in the other books of the series. The Shinigami, spirits that invite humans toward death, are mentioned but do not play a significant role, even though the killer is said to be one. Japanese voodoo dolls, Wara Ningyo, are part of the puzzle. The heroine, who dislikes guns, is a proponent of Capoeira, a Brazilian form of martial arts that she uses more as a mean of evasion rather than physical confrontation. I enjoyed learning these things, and the central story. The prose, on the other, was odd and relied on many single sentence paragraphs, which I thought unnecessarily arty. The narrative was translated by a Brit, Andrew Cunningham, who has written a long list of thrillers under his own name. I guessed the identity of the killer very early. I think most readers would. For some reason I cannot fathom, the author gave the victims weird names: Backyard Bottomslash, Quarter Queen and Believe Bridesmaid. That was as baffling to me as the constant use of "..." I was unable to find a meaning for it using Google search. The hardcover version I read includes illustrations. The first is beautiful. The rest seem like photocopies. I found the one above at Google images, and assume it was done by a fan. Anyway, 121 readers have rated the novel at Amazon, forging to an impressive consensus of 4.6 of five. I rate it three. I've watched many Japanese movies through the years, but the ones in this series don't tempt me. If an English language version of the novel in question is ever produced, though, I'd definitely add it to my Netflix list.

The floating book shop switched to its alternate site in Park Slope today, 7th Av. between 4th & 5th Street. Unfortunately, business wasn't any better. The tree near the corner of fourth has flourished, providing much needed shade. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased three paperback thrillers, and to the old-timer who donated four Vince Flynns and a Navy Seal thriller in hardcover. I asked about a brace he was wearing on his right hand. He has arthritis, which he attributes to his days as a roper of bulls and cows. I now have a name for him -- Mr. Rodeo. It's not surprising that he prefers action-packed fiction.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/28 - Phoenix

Sometimes a film works despite a questionable premise. Such is the case with Phoenix (2014), which I watched last night courtesy of Netflix. It is tangentially a holocaust story but mainly a mystery. A death camp survivor returns to Berlin immediately after the end of WWII to have facial reconstruction surgery, and to find her husband, who is not a Jew. Arrested by the Nazis, he may have betrayed her to save himself. She finds him. He does not recognize her, although her appearance has not change much. The viewer must either accept or overlook this to enjoy the film. Although I found it hard to believe he wouldn't soon, if not immediately, know her, I realize I hadn't experienced what he had. I'd never suffered through war, been arrested and threatened by Nazi slime, or betrayed someone to a dire extent, all of which might lead a person into a deep sense of denial. He enlists the woman in a plot to make a claim on what is actually her inheritance. Although the pace is slow, the suspense is thick. The creators were wise to keep it short, a running time of only 98 minutes. The closing scene is as good as cinema gets. A former nightclub singer, she performs Speak Low, accompanied by her husband on the piano. That song is from the show One Touch of Venus, music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by poet/humorist Ogden Nash. It was been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett, to name a few. Nina Hoss is fantastic in the lead. I was unfamiliar with her previous work, including her nine episode stint on the popular cable show Homeland. Director Christian Petzoid, who has 14 credits at the helm and as a screenwriter, adapted it with Harun Farocki from the novel Return from the Ashes by Hubert Monteilheit, which is available in hardcover at Amazon for $500. It was also adapted in 1965, an American production starring Maximilian Shell. In reading a synopsis of that version, it seems far different from Phoenix. I don't know which is closer to the novel, and it doesn't matter. Phoenix, which was nominated for and won many awards, is a fine film. Unfortunately, the other is not available at Netflix. 9200+ users at IMDb have rated Phoenix, forging to a consensus of 7.3 of ten, a tad low in my estimation. Anyone who prefers a fast pace should pass. The tone is quiet, understated, grounded. The torrent of emotion remains below the surface, the possibility of eruption always there. Most of the film is in German with English subtitles.  

Here are quotes attributed to Nash:
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of."
"Middle age is when you've met so many people that every new person you meet reminds you of someone else."
"There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all."
"You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely."
"People who work sitting down get paid more than people who work standing up."
"Parents were invented to make children happy by giving them something to ignore."
"I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree. Perhaps, unless the billboards fall, I'll never see a tree at all."
"Progress might have been alright once, but it has gone on too long."
"A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold."
"Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you."
And his most famous: "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker."

My thanks to Bob, who bought Billionths of a Lifetime today on Bay Parkway. He recently experienced a couple of Kafkaesque dealings with the state, the first in trying to secure a non-driver's license ID at the DMV, and the other at the Social Security office, trying to end payments to his ex-wife, who has reached the age to qualify for her own. He'd never realized his name had been misspelled on the separation document. My thanks also to the gentleman who bought two DVD's and to the one who bought the book on sharks.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/27 - Good News, Bad News

Baylor University has fired its head football coach, Art Briles, despite a fine record, 65-37 in eight seasons. The school's administration looked the other way as sexual assaults piled up. According to an article at Yahoo Sports, "...Coaches and staff had inappropriate involvement in disciplinary and criminal matters." I've mention the following several times -- the number of arrests of college football players is astonishing, alarming and deplorable. Baylor's president, Ken Starr, may also get the ax. As the man in charge during these crimes, he deserves it. His dismissal would make Clinton supporters very happy. Starr led the Whitewater investigations. According to Wiki, there were 15 convictions of participants, including the governor of Arkansas, Jim Guy Tucker. The Clintons, of course, escaped prosecution.

President Obama has signed a measure that bans the use of the term "Eskimo" in all federal communications. It will be replaced by "Alaska Native." I'd had no idea the former was a pejorative. It's origin and actual meaning are not clear. It may or may not have come from white settlers, so it must be banned.

I just read that my favorite new prime time network show, Limitless, has been cancelled. I wonder if its body count wasn't high enough to attract a larger audience. It delivered quirkiness and imagination. I hope the fact that it lasted only one season doesn't mean it won't make it to syndication.

How refreshing is this in modern pro sports, given how players change teams so frequently? Defenseman Chris Phillips is retiring after 17 seasons in the NHL -- all with the Ottawa Senators. Good luck, sir.

There is new hope on the addiction front. According to a blurb in today's NY Post, the FDA has approved an implant that may curb the urge to indulge. Developed by Titan Pharmaceuticals, it is the size of a matchstick. This is an encouraging development, but I'd be surprised if it didn't lead to lawsuits from those it affects, or allegedly affects, adversely, even if it's only a relative few.

According to an article at Yahoo News, Pennsylvania school officials are red-faced in light of a diabolical prank mostly likely perpetrated by a student or students. Three quotes from human monsters got past reviewers and into a high school yearbook: Hitler: "Words build bridges into unexplored regions." Stalin: "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, so why would we let them have ideas?" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: "Be just: the unjust never prosper. Be valiant. Keep your word, even to your enemies." These kids today...

My thanks to Janet, who bought a book on cross-stitching, and to the sweet elderly woman who donated several books, included Thomas Harris' Red Dragon and Richard Wright's Native Son.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/26 - Listen to the Music

Here are highlights from an op-ed piece in today's NY Post by Joe Simonson, pared and edited by yours truly: "After suffering through the horrors of the music-hall massacre first hand when Islamic terrorists stormed the venue in the middle of the band’s set, killing 89 concert-goers, Jesse Hughes, lead singer of the Eagles of Death Metal, finds himself suffering the ultimate indignity for a musician: getting cancelled from two upcoming French festivals. In a recent interview, Hughes committed such blasphemies as noting that 'political correctness is killing our natural instinct and making us vulnerable,' attacking 'affluent white kids who have grown up in a liberal curriculum from the time they were in kindergarten . . . inundated with . . . lofty notions that are just hot air.' Authorities have chosen to rush to the defense of 'marginalized' groups, regardless of how preposterous it looks. Sure, Hughes heroically tried to save concert-goers and was later hospitalized after pieces of 'teeth and human bone' lodged in his face, but what really matters is that he briefly drifted away from the nebulous conception of 'tolerance.' Worse, it’s unclear what exactly these music festivals hoped to accomplish by forbidding the Eagles of Death Metal from performing. Total capitulation to the assassin’s veto hasn't worked very well for Europe. The band's music represents everything radical Islam loathes: the West’s tradition of free expression and having a good time. And losing these things is precisely what’s at stake if artists don’t stand up to the kind of behavior displayed by these festival organizers. Cancelling the Eagles of Death Metal’s performances wasn’t a virtuous act. All it did was disappoint a whole bunch of fans and further embolden extremists. I suppose ISIS might appreciate the cancellations, but you know what it would appreciate more? Outlawing Western music entirely. Maybe it thinks it has advanced another step closer to that — and who could blame the terrorists for that assumption after the cowardice on display? Sadly, the latest series of attacks in Europe has brought out the absolute worst examples of this kind of thinking. Shortly after the Charlie Hebdo shootings, some leftists didn’t hesitate to wonder whether the publication’s staff were ultimately responsible for the attacks because they dared satirize Mohammad. They fear that allowing the band to play might potentially 'alienate young Muslims.' No concern is shown for the actual victims of the attacks, only the hypothetically offended. Who wants to listen only to music that has been OK’d by a bunch of spineless liberals and their culture of censorship? Doesn’t that seem kind of antithetical to what rock n roll is all about? Just as the Paris atrocities were seen as an attack on all of Western society, the cancellation of the Eagles of Death Metal sets should be considered an assault on free expression." Kudos, sir. Here's a link to a song the band performed on Conan O'Brien's TV show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXFPeE-kQ2A

Also from the music world: There was violence at a rap concert in Manhattan last night. A thug opened fire, killing one, wounding others. Fear not -- the Reverends Sharpton and Jackson will help the police bring the slime to justice -- not! It is unlikely they will even stage a rally to protest the scourge that is such violence. They'd rather detract and deflect by blaming cops.

My thanks to the blonde beauty who bought the large tome on the brain, to the gentleman who purchased the Webster's Dictionary, and to Caroline, who donated a seascapes DVD backed by jazz tracks,

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/25 - Summer

FBI director James Comey has been criticized by the White House for mentioning the rising violence in urban areas. The administration has accused him of reading too much into troubling statistics. In an op-ed piece in today's NY Post, Heather MacDonald informs that homicides have risen nine percent in America's 63 largest cities. Economically, socially and culturally, the nation in 2016 has a feel similar to the late 60's, early 70's. Anyone nostalgic for a return of that era may get his/her wish. The police, who were blasted for being too aggressive, are now being ridiculed for not doing enough. The so-called Ferguson Effect seems real. Aging radicals must have shed sentimental tears in viewing footage or reading about the rioting last night at the Trump rally in New Mexico. Leftists who support Hillary might now be even angrier as a State Department Inspector General report said her email server violated agency rules.

Michael Goodwin devotes most of his column to the boring saga of the scandals of NYC marxist mayor, Bill deBlasio. He gives much less space to a more interesting argument. If Bill Cosby must stand trial for past alleged sex crimes, why not Bill Clinton? Of course, most of the press will delight in the plight of Cosby, who made several lengthy comments critical of popular culture, especially that of the inner city. Those same media folks have always protected the Clintons. The hypocrisy of Cosby is unacceptable to them. That of the Clintons is. It's selective outrage.

I'm reading a Japanese mystery. The author has used the following many times in the first 70 pages: "..." Google search does not recognize it. If anyone reading this blog knows what it means, please leave a comment.

"The summer wind came blowin' in..." So wrote the great Johnny Mercer. Welcome. The temperature is supposed to challenge 90 today and tomorrow. Maybe my apartment won't be so cold at night after the mini heat wave. My thanks to the kind folks who bought wares today, and to the gentleman who stopped his bike long enough to drop off a bag of books that included four Harry Potters, a Steven King and a Suzanne Collins, all in excellent condition.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/24 - Sevens

Let's start with a positive. The McCaughey septuplets were born in 1997. The siblings have just graduated from their Iowa high school and will now begin to go separate ways, although their bond must be incredibly strong. A college has offered them a free education, and some might go for it. Kudos to mom and dad. Parenting is never easy, but they managed seven kids at once.

Karma: the University of Missouri is facing another tough stretch, probably brought on by its previous one. It was a focal point after the shooting in Ferguson. Protests were common, resignations and firings occurred. The school has experienced an enrollment drop of 1500 students and faces a budget shortfall of $32 million -- and I don't feel any sympathy at all for it.

Last night's season two finale of Gotham has set up a potentially great third season. The monsters created at Arkham Asylum by Hugo Strange have escaped. A single episode can be devoted to the capture of each -- 22 weeks of variety... I'm really enjoying Houdini and Doyle, which follows Gotham on Fox. Although the male leads have extensive credits, I was unfamiliar with each, Stephen Mangan, who plays the author, is a veteran of Brit stage and TV. Michael Weston, a native New Yorker, plays the magician. He guest-starred on two episodes of Elementary in 2015, but I have no recollection of it. I don't have the crisp recall I once had, and I'm usually dozing half way through shows that air at ten. Fortunately, Elementary is now in syndication, back to back episodes running on Sunday night from eight to ten on channel 11 in NYC. I hope Limitless, the best new network show of the past season, will eventually follow suit. Back to H & D, the female lead is played by Rebecca Liddiard, a Canadian. There is no info on the web about her age, which I'd guess is less than 30. She previously did 24 episodes of Mslabelled, shot in Toronto.  

I sold exactly seven books today. One on my regulars, a middle aged tailor, prefers works on UFO's for himself and Hollywood for his mom. I had Monster Spotter's Guide to North America on hand and asked if he were interested. He was. Fortunately, he happened to gaze at the rest of the stuff and spotted Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America's Living Legends and Best Kept Secrets, a large, beautifully illustrated tome, which he also bought. My thanks, and also to Jimmy, who bought five works of non-fiction, including a heavy tome on Natural History. The crates were a lot lighter as I hauled them back to the trunk of the old Hyundai. I would be remiss in not thanking Mother Nature for providing the rain-free window that allowed me to do business.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/23 - Pop

Pop culture is endlessly fascinating, especially in the age of the internet. There is a new phenomenon generating interest at youtube. A thirtyish mom at the wheel of her parked SUV, fresh from Kohl's department store, shot a video of herself donning a Chewbaca mask, and falling into uncontrollable laughter. It has received 1,626,572 hits as of a few minutes ago. Radio host Mark Simone mentioned it this morning. The video sparked a run on the product, which sold out. Appreciative managers at the store where she bought it made a surprise visit to her home, bearing gifts, many of them related to the iconic film. Although I'm not a fan of the Star Wars series, I love the way stuff like this happens in this great country. Here's a link to the video, which runs four minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3yRv5Jg5TI
And here's the Top Ten All-Time youtube hit generators according to a March 2015 article at businessinsider.com:
Psy: Gangnam Style, 2.15 billion views.
Justin Bieber: Baby, 1.12 billion.
Charlie Bit My Finger: Again! 804 million.
Jennifer Lopez: On the Floor, 794 million.
LMFAO: Party Rock Anthem, 777 million.
Shakira: Waka Waka, 774 million.
Eminem: Love the Way You Lie, 771 million
Psy: Gentleman, 759 million.
Miley Cyrus: Wrecking Ball, 725 million.
Katy Perry: Roar, 708 million.
I guess I'm really out of step with the times. I've never seen any. I'm not even sure I've heard any of the songs, at least not enough times to recognize even one. I do recall that there was controversy regarding Psy, but I don't remember the specifics. There are ten video clips on my channel, five of them various stages of ads for my books, reworked after a new one became available. My totals view are about 500, 317 of a street interview I did for Della Peppo Village, a half-hour show on a Brooklyn cable access channel. I feel dwarfed.

And from Star Wars let's go to "where no man has gone before." While operating the floating book shop today, I was approached by a former customer who now reads books on her computer. Maryann asked if I'd be interested in helping her clear some space in her place by accepting books. She said she had hardcover first editions of the Star Trek series. "Whoa!" I said. "You should be thinking about selling those on Amazon." I did a little research at the site and found Prime Directive by Garfield and Judith Reeves-Steve listed for more than $2400. That seems like the exception. Shadows of the Sun by Michael Jan Friedman seems more representative of the value, listed at $22. Still, that's nothing to sneeze at and certainly not something to be given away. We'll call it even if Maryann downloads the books of mine she has yet to read.

My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases today on Bay Parkway. About half the beautiful pictorials that were donated recently have sold.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/22 - Giants

Born in Boston in 1966, Elizabeth McCracken has written five books, two novels, two story collections and a memoir. I just finished her first novel, The Giant's House, published in 2007, finalist for the National Book Award. Although completely different from Stendahl's classic Scarlet and Black, I had a similar reaction to it -- I didn't like the protagonist/narrator, in this instance a librarian who inwardly is a misanthrope. Why this attractive, educated young woman takes such a dim view of life is a mystery. Does it need explanation? I don't think so. It's not uncommon. Some people are just that way, and it's not always attributable to hardship. Some who have suffered terrible abuse are still capable of joy. The woman in question grew up in a stable household. Twice in the narrative, which is set in the 1950's, she says: "She had parents who were in love with each other, and that is a blow no child can recover from." At first I thought the sentence one of the most bizarre I'd ever read. Then I wondered if she meant it is as difficult to match that kind of happiness as it is for the children of the highly successful to match a parent's accomplishments. Anyway, McCracken conjured a fresh view of the human condition in her characters, the 30-year-old librarian and the adolescent giant who won't stop growing. She is more than a decade older than him, he is incapable of having sex, and he is likely to die young, yet she falls in love with him. I don't know where the author got her information about the condition -- or if she even bothered to do a lot of research about it. Whatever -- it rings with authenticity. The trials of such a man, more than eight feet tall, are fascinating. The problems alone with his feet are riveting. It takes a talented writer to pull off something like that. The prose and dialogue are solid, although a bit difficult at times. I particularly liked this observation, which comes late in the narrative: "Library books were, I suddenly realized, promiscuous, ready to lie in the arms of anyone who asked. Not like bookstore books, which married their purchasers..." Is the novel on the level of Scarlet and Black? Of course not, although who can never really say for sure what will endure. Regardless, The Giant's House is damn fine work. 143 readers have rated it at Amazon, forging to a consensus of four out of five. I wouldn't go quite that high. If only the librarian had been warmer. She is not mean or uncivil but infuriatingly negative inwardly and reserved, cold even, outwardly. Maybe I should simply credit McCracken for being uncompromising in her vision of the character.

My thanks to the giant of a mom who bought five children's books for her two pre-school girls, the only business of the day for the floating book shop in Park Slope.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/21 - Of Course, Of Course

RIP Alan Young, 96, near and dear to the hearts of baby-boomers as the star of 144 episodes of Mister Ed, which ran from 1961-'66 on CBS, and then in syndication. Born in Northern England as Angus, his family moved to Canada, where he appeared on radio at 13 and was writing and starring in his own show by 17. That led to an invitation to the USA, where he performed on stage and in movies as well. He had a three year stint in an eponymous variety show on CBS that began in 1950. There are 102 credits listed under his name at IMDb, which doesn't include multiple appearances on series. For instance, he did the voice-over for 98 episodes as Scrooge McDuck and 199 as a cast member of The Smurfs. He landed the lead in the film version of Jules Verne's The Time Machine (1960). For those old enough to remember Million Dollar Movie, which ran Monday-Friday on channel nine in the 50's and '60's, he was the star of Androcles and the Lion (1952). Here's a quote attributed to him: "When I was young I was paid $3 for doing a short monologue. That impressed my dad, who earned the same amount for working all day in a shipyard at the time. He told me to 'Keep up this talking business because lips don't sweat.' It was good advice." Well done, sir. Thank you.

The only movie I can think of that is as good as the book upon which it is based is One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). I read Joe Hill's Horns recently and was curious as to how it was adapted to the silver screen, so I added it to my Netflix list despite the tepid reviews it received. Although it is faithful in spirit, the film makes several changes, condensing matters, which is understandable. Being completely faithful would have required much more than the two-hour running time. One element suffered a great deal, the murderer's character hardly developed. Although the protagonist's brother is changed from a successful west coast talk show host/musician to a local struggling player, it does not hurt the narrative. One of the tormentors is reduced to a background role, and I would have liked to have seen his comeuppance. The leads, Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple, are fine. The supporting cast features several Hollywood vets: James Remar, Kathleen Quinlan, David Morse as a non-villain for a change, and Heather Graham in a brief role as a wicked waitress, the flick's strongest asset. It was directed by Parisian Alexandre Aja, whose previous work is unfamiliar to me. The screenplay was adapted by Keith Bunin, his first full length feature after a successful run on the cable show In Treatment, for which he wrote seven episodes. Hill consulted on Horns and does not seem unhappy with the result, although the box office returns were disappointing. It brought in "only" $3.8 million worldwide, and I'd be surprised if it didn't cost considerably more than that to make. 52,000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 6.5 of ten. I can't argue with that. Anyone squeamish about graphic violence or sexual situations should pass. I thought the latter went way too far for a film of its type, then again, it was directed by a Frenchman.

As I begin my 66th year on planet Earth, I feel blessed that I am still here and in good health. Several of my childhood friends have not been as fortunate. My birthday was lucky for the floating book shop. The rain held off and three customers made purchases: a young mom buying five kid's books, a teenage girl buying a mix of five works of fiction and non, and Hakim, who bought Close to the Edge. My thanks, and also to whomever downloaded Billionths of a Lifetime to Kindle.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/20 - Issues

On Monday the Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion in the case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor, which have been fighting being forced to pay for abortion-causing drugs for their employees in compliance with Obamacare’s mandate, which compels religious groups to pay for birth control and drugs that induce abortion. Without the decision, the Little Sisters would have faced millions of dollars in IRS fines, as their beliefs do not allow them to they give employees free access to contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs. Given that reproductive services are almost universally available, this was common sense. For instance, women can purchase a month's supply of the pill at Walmart or Target for $9, and the Planned Parenthood abortion mill is always looking for business.

According to the NY Post's Phil Mushnick, the starting pay for a weight-trainer for the Rutgers University football program is $260,000. I would like to see articles that justify such compensation. I mean, what am I missing here? Paired with what the coaches are paid and the ridiculous salaries of professors, it seems like just another reason why college tuition is so expensive and so many students are accumulating staggering debt to finance an education.

Also in the Post, a recent poll found that nine out of ten Native Americans are not offended by the term Redskins. Does this surprise anyone but the politically correct? In this instance, the term has a positive, not negative connotation.

The floating book shop had a good day. It was almost can't-miss, as Tanya donated about 20 more beautiful pictorials. Spasibo, madam. The success of the session was clinched when a large SUV pulled up to the curb and my dentist's wife, Jeannette, got out along with four of her brood, all under ten. The fifth, a new edition, was in his baby seat. She purchased Billionths of a Lifetime and Joe Hill's Horns. I let her kids go to town on the children's books I had on display, and they each took a few. My thanks, and to all the other kind folks who made purchases today. A woman who bought five books in Russian gave me an apricot. A gentleman swapped two paperbacks for the lone survivor in that language. It was fun.
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/19 - Wonderland

"Curiouser and curiouser," cried Alice. Here's what I found most interesting about the wonderland that is planet Earth, as found in today's news, which might have shocked even Lewis Carroll:

Donald Trump has issued a list of possible Supreme Court picks -- if he is elected.  All seem acceptable to conservatives. Of course, naysayers claim he is not being sincere. The make up of the court may be the second  most important issue after the economy. Under Hillary, it is guaranteed to careen left, possibly for a generation, which would mean controversial issues would not face the checks and balances so vital to government. Then again, presidents have been known to issue executive fiats to circumvent opposition.

Google has submitted an interesting patent regarding its driverless car. If a pedestrian is struck, a glue will be emitted that keeps the person fastened to the hood in the hope of saving him/her from more harm. I do not like the idea of driverless cars. I would never be comfortable in one, maybe because I'm simply an anal retentive control freak. There has been skepticism about invention throughout history, and fears have been put to rest, life improved. Maybe this will be another example.

In 2013, 677 women over 50 gave birth. I'm surprised it wasn't more, given the wondrous medical innovations made in the reproductive realm. If the deliveries are largely successful, I expect the figure to climb. I'd bet there will be a lot of modern women who suddenly change their mind about being childless.

And in the realm of the macabre, the gun George Zimmerman used to kill Trayvon Martin sold at auction for $120,000, not a great moment in the history of the human race.

NYC has issued guidelines requiring employees and landlords to refer to transgender workers and tenants, at least those who request it, as "ze/hir." Violators risk a fine of $250,000.

All of the above were gleaned from the NY Post. This is from Yahoo Sports: Jesus Machado received a scholarship offer from national champion Alabama, his fifth from a major institution. Ho-hum, you say. The six-one, one-hundred-ninety-five-pounder is in the eighth grade.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books, and to Natalya, who donated three mysteries in Russian, and Tanya, who donated an eclectic mix that includes pictorials, young adult novels and children books. She said she will bring more tomorrow. I have to figure out where to store them. The problem would resolve itself if a few more people would take the time to scan the impressive array and make purchases at the dirt cheap prices I charge.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/18 - Inside-Out

My thanks to the kind folks who purchased books on this gorgeous day. Here's an excerpt from an unpublished novel titled Inside-Out, the story of a man of traditional values and a modern woman. I plan to self-publish two others before it, one each January. When I first began to contact publishers and agents about I-O in the 80's, I used a tag: "Can a novel be explicit and meaningful?" When I transferred it to a web file circa 2000, it became much less explicit. As I aged and, hopefully, became wiser, I determined less is more when writing about sex. I believe going too far detracts and distracts from story. And these days there are certainly plenty of more efficient ways to attain gratification, and any web user knows what I mean.

   Vinnie was dozing when Karen entered.
   "Let's go out," she said, switching off the television. "I've been cooped up all day. I have a headache."
   "I'll get you some aspirin."
   He splashed his face at the bathroom sink. She was already dressed, in loose sweats, when he entered the bedroom.
   "I've been getting a lot of headaches lately," she said, taking a glass of water and a tablet from him.
   "Think it might be the pill?"
   "I've never had a problem with it before." She took a second tablet from him. "Must be tension."
   He sensed she was hinting it would be foolish of them to live together.
   "The pill scares me. Anything that alters the body chemistry does."
   "It's too convenient to give up. Besides, the headaches probably have nothing to do with it. Are you trying to get me to go off so I'll get pregnant? I wouldn't have the baby even if you got down on your knees and begged. And how would you be sure it'd even be yours?"
   He winced.
   "You deserved it. I can beat you any time I want. You're not as smart as you think, and I know exactly what hurts you, what makes you tick. I don't know how you could even consider me having your child. I want to be free. I want to enjoy myself. Can't you understand that? And I can imagine what a baby'd do to my hips. I'd hate the kid for it. Is that the type of mother you want for your kids?"
   "Suppose I offered to stay home with them?"
   "You would," she said contemptuously, hurrying toward the door.
   She stopped for wine, then headed for Manhattan Beach, a quiet, upper middle class area of Brooklyn tucked between Sheepshead Bay and the sea. Although the night was cool and breezy, there were several couples scattered about. Karen lay the blanket near the shoreline and they sat silently, looking out over the water, watching the ebbing tide, drinking from the bottle.
   "What's your problem?" said Karen petulantly. "What a puss you got on."
   "If you don't want any kids, why not get your tubes cut? Why assume the risk of birth control?"
   Her head jerked angrily. "Bastard. Why can't you ever leave things alone? I should've sat here and said nothing the whole night. When am I gonna learn not to set you up?"
   "Answer me."
   "Who says getting them cut's safe? I've wanted to do it for so long, but I haven't been able to get up the guts. And it leaves a scar. I hate the thought of it."
   "Is it because I'm a gentile?"
   "No! What's wrong with you? I just don't want to be a mother. Accept it. Nothing is more important to me than my own life. I know exactly what you're thinking. You're hoping I'm undecided. I'm not. I decided a long time ago. I will never have children."
   Not even Mark's? he was tempted to say. Was the fact that she and Mark were Jews the reason the bond between them was so strong?
  "How can you not want kids? You're so afraid of death. You can live on through your children and grandchildren."
   "Oh, please. It wouldn't be me that was living. I can't delude myself that way. You can. I don't care what happens once I die. The world could end, for all I care. I hope it does. I don't want anything to live on after me. I don't want any young people being born."
   "Selfish bitch."
   "That's right, I am. Maybe it's finally sunk into that guinea skull of yours. I'll take from you all I want, then leave."
   "And when you get old?"
   "I'm not afraid of being alone. I've always felt alone. It's better than being with somebody you'd come to despise, who'd really rather be with a younger woman. Maybe I'll take to mentoring teenage boys about sex."
  "That won't work. Fifteen-year-old's are giving it up these days. They don't need women like you any more."
   "There's always a vibrator. I have too much pride to go to one now, but more and more I can see the advantages of it. It's more reliable than men and it won't talk back."
   "You're sick, you really are."
   "No, you are. You see how life is and you insist on doing it the same way it's always been done."
   "Some people do love each other for a lifetime, despite ups and downs."
   "Only fools or liars. There's too much life to pass up to be faithful to one person."
   "Do you believe in anything at all?"
   "Only in me."
   "You think like a devil-worshiper. You want the world -- you want life to end."
   "Don't worry, it'll always go on because of fools like you who buy into and perpetuate myths that make people feel guilty and prevent them from enjoying themselves."
   He glared at her in the moonlight.
   "Go for it," she sneered. "Come on. I know what's coming. When a woman outsmarts a man he'll always resort to brute strength."

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/17 - Science

Although I enjoy sci-fi fare, science was my worst school subject. I have no aptitude for it nor any desire to delve into its intricacies. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate what scientists accomplish. A short piece in today's NY Post captured my attention. Here's a synopsis: The International Space Station, in operation the past 17 1/2 years, recently reached a milestone -- 100,000 orbits. It circles the globe once every 90 minutes. So far it has traveled 2.6 billion miles, the equivalent of ten round trips to Mars. Astronauts have been aboard since 2000, not permanently assigned, of course. They have been from the USA, Russia, Japan and European countries. Imagine if only half of government-financed projects worked so well. Why are the USA and Russia able to find common ground on this while currently at loggerheads over so much else? How does that massive, oddly-shaped craft fly? Kudos.

In other science news: Doctors have performed the first penis transplant. That is not a joke. The recipient is a cancer patient. It is not yet known if it will work in the way that is near and dear to all males... A woman snorkeling in Boca Raton was bitten by a small shark -- and taken to a hospital with it still attached to her forearm! She will be fine. The fish didn't make it.

And here is the guardian.com top ten list of sci-fi flicks, and a comment on each by yt:
10. The Matrix (1999), directed by the Wachowski Brothers - really enjoyed the first. The sequels had good moments but were mediocre overall.
9. The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2 (1991), James Cameron - prefer the first, but the second was also slam bang fun.
8. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Steven Spielberg - worthy entry.
7. Star Wars (1977), George Lucas - one bit of Americana I don't get.
6. ET (1982), Spielberg - not my cup of tea.
5. Solaris (1968), Andrei Tarkovsky - brainy sci-fi based on the novel by Stanislaw Lem, not to be confused with the 2002 version starring George Clooney, which is not as good..
4. Alien (1979), Ridley Scott - enjoyed the entire series, even the maligned third installment, prefer the second, Aliens (1986).
3. Blade Runner (1982), Scott again - my all-time favorite of the genre, a work of tremendous imagination.
2. Metropolis (1927), Fritz Lang - silent films put me to sleep.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Stanley Kubrick - some scenes go on too long, but it's still a masterpiece, a film that forces the viewer to think.

I had company for today's entire session of the floating book shop, two surveyors working with three tripods. They seemed to be measuring the apartment building at the corner of East 13th. The main tripod was set up right beside the books display. It had a revolving top that followed the man carrying a five-foot rod, which he placed as far away as across the street and as close as ten feet away at several different angles. It had a key pad in which I assume he logged the calculations, which made it seem as if the task is an exact science. I did not want to bother them, so I didn't ask the purpose of the measurements. It wouldn't be surprising if it was the city's way of squeezing more tax dollars out of the owners by claiming the property was larger than listed.

My thanks to the gentleman who bought two children's books and to Jimmy, who purchased three works of non-fiction, including a huge medical dictionary. Science was in the air today, which, I suppose, it is every day, at least for high IQ folks.
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/16 - Hollywood Myths

My thanks to the gregarious Carmine, who purchased Billionths of a Lifetime today on Bay Parkway. He also had a bit of trivia to impart. Dooley Wilson, who famously croons As Time Goes By in Casablanca (1942), may not have played the piano during the iconic scene. A writer claims the musicianship was done off stage while Wilson mimicked playing. Who knows? And it doesn't matter either way. That's the magic of cinema. Googling it led me to other Hollywood myths. Here are ten from ListVerse.com, comments edited and pared by yours truly:

10. Marilyn Monroe Was A Size 16: Whenever someone wants to remind our weight-obsessed culture that curves can be beautiful, he/she might mention that the most revered sex symbol of the western hemisphere wore a size 16. She allegedly was as wide as several of today’s starlets standing side by side. It couldn’t be less true. Several of Monroe’s famous costumes were recently auctioned off and spectators were shocked by how tiny the mannequins were. Monroe actually didn’t fit any standard size. Her waist was disproportionately smaller than her bust and hips.
9. The Ghost Boy In Three Men And A Baby: Following the 1987 release of the film, thousands of viewers reported seeing what appeared to be the ghost of a little boy in the background of one scene, and quickly started making stuff up to explain it. Rumors circulated that the son of the couple whose New York apartment was rented for the filming had been killed there. It was even insisted that the parents had appeared on 60 Minutes or 20/20 to tell the tale. First of all, the movie wasn’t even filmed in a New York; it was a Toronto sound stage. The filmmakers swiftly provided an explanation for the startling sight—it was a cardboard cutout of Ted Dansen that someone had misplaced. Even though it was quickly debunked, the rumor persists.
8. Back To The Future Predicts The Future: When the Miami Marlins won the World Series in 1997, rumors circulated that it was predicted in the sequel to the popular flick. People claimed that Biff perused a sports almanac and quipped, “Florida wins the 1997 World Series, yeah right.” Many claimed it was a broadcast displayed on a holographic billboard shown in the future. Biff never makes any such remark. What the billboard actually said was that the Chicago Cubs would defeat an unspecified Miami team represented by an alligator, not a marlin.
7. A Famous Actor Was The Gerber Baby: Since the adoption of the mascot in 1931, people have been speculating about the identity of the iconic image, which was kept secret by the company for more than 40 years. The name that comes up most often is Humphrey Bogart. A poll conducted by the company found many people still believed its either Bogie, Liz Taylor or Senator Bob Dole, even though it was revealed in 1978 to be mystery novelist Ann Turner Cook.
6. Steven Spielberg Got His Start After Sneaking Into Universal Studios: Over the years, Spielberg has told the story of how, as a young unknown, he sneaked into Universal Studios and moved into an empty office. He fit right in with his suit and briefcase, casually chatting with employees as if he had every right to be there. The bluff was so successful that they started actually giving him work, and the rest is history. According to people working at Universal at the time, it never happened. His career began when he was legitimately hired as an unpaid intern by a family friend. It’s true that he had to sneak onto movie sets to talk to people and make connections, but he was authorized to work. His story has changed a lot through the years. He’s claimed to have been anywhere from 17 to 21 when it happened, so even he isn’t sure what's what.
5: Richard Gere And The Gerbil: Gere has been plagued by rumors since the early 90's that claim he had sexual relations with a gerbil. He supposedly checked into a hospital to have the furry friend removed, but nobody seems able to track down such a report. According to Sylvester Stallone, Gere blames him for starting the rumor after a falling out, but Sly denies it.
4. The Goldfinger Death: According to the rumor, the actress who played the woman killed by being covered in gold paint really did die the same way.  All breathing is done with the lungs. Blocking pores isn’t wise and can lead to a slow poisoning if the paint contains toxins, but it won’t cause instant death. The actress, Shirley Eaton, is alive and well.
3. Brandon Lee’s Final Moments Captured On Film: The promising career of Bruce Lee’s son came to an abrupt and tragic end while shooting 1993’s The Crow. In the scene in which his character is murdered, a series of events led to a stunt gun being loaded with real bullets, and Lee was really shot and killed. Fans claimed the gruesome moment remained in the film for all to see, but it’s not true. The scene was re-shot with a double, and it was decided that Draven would be murdered by knife—presumably by filmmakers not wanting to tempt fate.
2. The Haunting Of The Amityville Horror Really Happened: The idea that it was a true story was a huge selling point for the book—and later, the movie, When it was released, the lawyer defending the original murderer went ballistic. The Lutz family originally agreed to write the book with him and, according to him, they made up the entire story together. The Lutzes eventually ditched him for a better deal. Apparently they hadn’t fled the house in terror but because of an inability to pay for it.
1. Jayne Mansfield Was Decapitated: The beheading is one of the most gruesome pop culture references. Everyone knows she died in a car accident, and some even claim it was her signature scarf that pulled her head off when it got stuck. That's not what happened. Mansfield was wearing a wig. It flew off and was mistaken by witnesses for her head. An employee of the funeral home informs that her head was very much attached when he attended to her.

My thanks to the other kind folks who bought wares today.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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

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

The Writer's Life 5/15 - Trolling

Here's what I found interesting in Sunday's NY Post: In an article under the caption "Everything Is a Lie," Maureen Callahan blasts celebrities adept at trolling, which she defines as nasty posts in online communities designed to attract interest. Among the offenders is Gwyneth Paltrow, whose website is hawking a $1500 golden dildo and a $13 organic lube made from yams. Callahan also excoriates Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne, Beyonce, Obama aide Ben Rhodes and the Kardashians, who she dubs the "Ground Zero" of the offense. She laments that the the White House's next resident may be Trump, one of the biggest trollers of all... Paul Sperry takes nation-building to task in his article. Nearly $113 billion has been spent in Afghanistan -- with virtually nothing to show for it. Security is so dicey, the roads so unsafe, that Americans have to take a helicopter to the airport... Kyle Smith offers a telling play on words in his op-ed piece, changing the term Orwellian, which describes the language used by Big Brother in 1984, to O'Wellian, deriding the President's penchant for euphemisms describing criminals... And a blurb informs of an anti-Clinton website: Won't Vote Hillary. which has received 65,000 pledges from Democrats.

Last night MeTV, channel 33 on Cablevision in NYC, ran another gem on its Svengoolie program -- The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957). It was directed by the late Jack Arnold, who had a fantastic run in Tinseltown. IMDb lists 85 credits under his name, which does not include the multiple stints he put in behind the camera on popular TV shows during the second half of his career. Among his other silver screen winners are: It Came from Outer Space (1953), The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), its sequel Revenge of the Creature (1955), Tarantula (1955), and one of the most infamous exploitation films of its time, High School Confidential (1958). I saw all but the last at Saturday afternoon matinees at the Benson theater. I just added the latter to my Netflix list. The Incredible Shrinking Man was written by the late Richard Matheson, adapted from his own novel, The Shrinking Man. Matheson wrote 16 episodes of The Twilight Zone, including one of the most famous, Nightmare at 30,000 Feet, and more than 25 novels, scores of short stories, and loads of other TV movies and series episodes. A shout out to these two fabulous artists.

After four straight sessions of good luck, the floating book shop had a tough go of it today in Park Slope. It was more like mid November than mid May, unusually cool, dreary and blustery. My thanks to the gentleman who bought the Michael Crichton thriller, Airframe, the only sale of the day.

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