The Writer's Life 11/30 - Word Play

From the Weird But True column in the NY Post, in my own words: There's a craft brewer in upstate NY called Shmaltz that manufactures HE'Brew Beers. It features types dubbed Rejewvenator and Jewbelation. When the company recently issued a 12-pack of three different pale ales named MANNAge a Trois, it was sued for copyright infringement by a California winery that uses the standard Menage a Trois for one of its products. I love the word play. The suit seems petty, especially since the companies are on opposite coasts. It reminds me of when the L.A. Dodgers threatened to sue a bar called the Brooklyn Dodger, forcing a name change. That seemed hubris from a team that abandoned the borough long ago.

Here is a short list of fun word play, only two of which I'd heard previously:
"Your argument is sound, nothing but sound." - Benjamin Franklin.
"I used to be Snow White, but I drifted." - Mae West.
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - credited to Tom Waits.
In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio quips, just before his death: “..tomorrow … you shall find me a grave man.”
From someone using the moniker aaa on yourdictionary.com: "How come nightfalls but daybreaks?" Also on the site: "A good pun is its own reword."
Groucho Marx was a master of the game. From Animal Crackers (1930): "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know."
From literarydevices.com: "Corduroy pillows are making headlines." And: “A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.” And: "Ophthalmologist: For Eyes."
I haven't used much word play in my own works. Two examples immediately come to mind from a one-act play titled The Last Laugh. In it, dead, invisible white greats are in an afterlife somewhere, watching TV, discussing modern times. Thomas Jefferson asks: "Is that paradox, Sam?" And Mark Twain replies: "Ask the pair of docs," referring to Freud and Johnson. A few lines later he is asked if a comment is irony and he responds: "We don't do ironing here," which incites groans.

And here's an amusing cartoon on today's theme. I could not find the artist's name. I apologize:

The floating book shop was rained out for a second straight day. I will be well-rested for tomorrow's return. I've begun what I hope will be the final flush of the file of my next self-published novel, Five Cents. The first 20 pages required little tweaking. If the rest is similar, I will submit the text and order a proof copy on the 10th.
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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
Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts
Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/29 - Music, Fish, Football

Barry Zito, 38, retired from baseball in 2015. The lefty spent 15 seasons in MLB. He had a big, sweeping curveball that baffled hitters more often than not. As a member of the A's in 2002, he went 23-5, had a 2.75 ERA, and earned the Cy Young award. He caught a lot of flack for failing to perform to expectations after signing a huge seven-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, although he was a member of the staff during the 2010 and 2012 championship seasons. Overall, he finished 165-143, ERA 4.04, a career of which anyone would be proud. Why bring this up? Zito has embarked on a new career as a country singer. Here is a link to his first video. To my chagrin, I was unable to find out if he wrote the song, which I found surprisingly strong. Judge for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux5ogOeD3Uc

What were they thinking? That phrase has become more common in the digital age, when someone's mistake often goes viral. A Japanese amusement park was blasted on social media when it opened a new skating rink that had 5000 dead fish - 25 different kinds - frozen into the ice below the surface. Officials claimed the fish were dead before the water was frozen, but that failed to quell the furor. The rink has been closed. Didn't it occur to any of the powers that be to use something like colorful rubber fish? Here's a pic:

NFL: The Patriots still seem significantly better than any other AFC team... In the NFC, the Seahawks are again confounding fans and experts. How do you win at New England and two weeks later score only five points in a loss at Tampa Bay?... As for the Giants, they seem like the weakest 8-3 squad in the history of the league, but they have a chance to prove their detractors wrong this weekend in Pittsburgh... Dallas looks Super Bowl bound... Atlanta is playing well, but the Falcons have a woeful playoff history... When Matt Barkley was drafted by the Eagles out of USC three years ago, I thought he would quickly become their starting QB. Last Sunday he rallied Chicago beautifully in the second half. The Bears would have tied had a wide open receiver not dropped a pass in the endzone. Was it a blip, or has Barkley found himself?

The floating book shop was rained out today and will likely be so tomorrow as well. One of the things I did to fill time was fill out Christmas cards, which I won't mail until the 15th.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/28 - #1's

Since I had Harold Robbins' The Raiders available today, I asked a gentleman if he'd read its prequel, The Carpetbaggers. I said that Robbins was the James Patterson of the 1960's. He wasn't, although he was highly successful. He cracked the top ten nine times into the early '80's, nothing to sneeze at.  I wondered who was at the top each year of my lifetime. Here are the number one books from 1950-2005 according to kruegerbooks.com. I've only read two, denoted by an asterisk:
1950: The Cardinal by Henry Morton Robinson
1951: From Here to Eternity by James Jones
1952: The Silver Chalice by Thomas B. Costain
1953: The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
1954: Not as a Stranger by Morton Thompson
1955: Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
1956: Don't Go Near the Water by William Brinkley
1957: By Love Possessed by James Gould Cozzens
1958: Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
1959: Exodus by Leon Uris
1960: Advise and Consent by Allen Drury & Hawaii by James A. Michener
1961: The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
1962: Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter
1963: The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris L. West
1964: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carre
1965: The Source by James A. Michener
1966: Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
1967: The Arrangement by Elia Kazan
1968: Airport by Arthur Hailey
1969: Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth*
1970: Love Story by Erich Segal
1971: Wheels by Arthur Hailey
1972: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
1973: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
1974: Centennial by James A. Michener
1975: Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow
1976: Trinity by Leon Uris*
1977: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien
1978: Chesapeake by James A. Michener
1979: The Matarese Circle by Rob Ludlum
1980: The Covenant by James A. Michener
1981: Noble House by James Clavell
1982: E.T., The Extra-terrestrial by William Kotzwinkle
1983: Return of the Jedi by James Kahn
1984: The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
1985: The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
1986: It by Stephen King
1987: The Tommyknockers by Stephen King
1988: The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy
1989: Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy
1990: The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
1991: Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
1992: Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
1993: The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
1994: The Chamber by John Grisham
1995: The Rainmaker by John Grisham
1996: The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
1997: The Partner by John Grisham
1998: The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
1999: The Testament by John Grisham
2000: The Brethren by John Grisham
2001: Desecration by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
2002: The Summons by John Grisham
2003: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
2004: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
2005: The Broker by John Grisham

Yesterday Juan, who substitutes when one of our building's porters is on vacation, gave me a bunch of books a tenant had discarded, all non-fiction. One immediately stood out - a beautiful pictorial on Italy. I took it along this morning, hoping Gina would pass the floating book shop. As I walked up to the Chase bank lugging the crates, there she was in her usual nook, taking a smoke break. We exchanged hellos, but I didn't mention the book. When she saw it she immediately pounced. The deal was sealed when she spotted a section on Calabria, which she'd recently visited. My thanks. It was a long time between sales. While Olga was telling me her problems concerning a woman she'd allowed to share her apartment, Jack approached and bought a thriller. To my surprise, Olga purchased Billionths of a Lifetime, saying she loves short stories. I had the feeling I'd spoken to her several years ago, but I'd have to be put under hypnosis to verify something like that at this stage of my life. Regardless, thank you, madam.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/27 - Rockin'

From the NY Post, in my own words: The late Malcolm McLaren managed the infamous Sex Pistols. While they were regarded by many as hacks, three of their tracks, God Save the Queen, Anarchy in the UK and Pretty Vacant are terrific rock n roll. It is the 40th anniversary of the release of Anarchy..., and a wave of nostalgia has hit Britain, which has annoyed McLaren's son, Joe Corre. As pictured above, he has burned rare punk memorabilia in protest over how the late 1970’s underground music and cultural movement has turned into a “McDonald’s brand.” He abhors the ongoing "Punk London" event, which has been hosting films and talks in celebration of that wild and crazy genre. I get his point. The hoopla does seem contrary to what punk was about, but isn't he taking it too seriously? I'm sure punk means different things to different people. I thought it was outrageous fun that managed to make some good points. Corre seems to view it as sacred and inviolable, and isn't that contrary to what the music and lyrics were demonstrating?

Also from the rock world: Two notable bios have been published recently: Testimony by Robbie Robertson of The Band, and Lemmy by Mick Wall, which is a portrait of the hardcore rocker who fronted Motorhead.

And on to sports. Here are two incredible stats from college football. In the entire month of November Navy punted only twice, and the Alabama defense did not allow a touchdown... In baseball, Shohei Otani, a 22-year-old superstar, dominated the Japanese league in an unusual way. He made 21 appearances as a pitcher, posting a 10-4 record and 1.86 ERA. In 140 innings he had 174 strikeouts and averaged less than one walk per nine innings. He also served as his team's designated hitter. In 382 plate appearances, he hit .322 with 22 home runs, 18 doubles, one triple and 67 RBI. In the immortal words of Phil Rizzuto - "Holy Cow!" I'm sure this kid will soon be receiving many offers from MLB.

My thanks to the young man who purchased a pictorial on nature, the only sale of the day at the floating book shop. At least it was something large and heavy.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/26 - Vory Scary

Every now and then there is a large disconnect between the general opinion on a film and mine. Such seems the case regarding Our Kind of Traitor (2016), which I watched last night courtesy of Netflix. It is a more realistic look at international intrigue than is commonly portrayed in cinema. There is only one explosion, minimal action and the violence is not graphic. The accent is on suspense. Although the narrative is grounded, the viewer must accept that an ordinary citizen will agree to help a Russian mobster he has known for about an hour. I accepted it and went along for the tense ride. Stellan Skaarsgard, who is Swedish, steals the show as the foul-mouthed, larger than life gangster. In a way, the story is reminiscent of The Godfather (1972) in that it pits the "honorable" don against a thoroughly evil modern cabal that includes politicians. Maybe what attracted me is that it is refreshingly unlike most contemporary thrillers, where the action is at a breakneck pace and credulity is almost completely absent. Ewan McGregor plays the poetry professor caught in the web, Naomie Harris, the current Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond series, his wife. Damian Lewis, of Homeland and Band of Brothers fame, is the agent trying to expose the criminals. The screenplay, adapted by Hossein Amini, was based on the 2010 novel by John le Carre. To my surprise, the director was a woman, Susanna White. It was her first theatrical work after 19 credits in TV. I look forward to her next movie. 8000+ users at IMDb have rated Our Kind of Traitor, forging to a consensus of 6.2 of ten. On a scale of five, I say four. My guess is that it would bore action fans. One of its strengths is that it is not as densely plotted as the most serious spy fare. And it runs only 108 minutes, another plus. It was a modest success at the box office, bringing in almost $11 million of a budget of four million, according to Wiki. The image above is what a member of the Vory would look like. It's the organization Skaarsgard's character heads, and it actually exists.

My alma mater, Western Michigan, finished the regular season 12-0 after a 55-35 win at home vs. Toledo yesterday. After squeaking out a one-point win at Northwestern in the season opener, the Broncos have defeated the rest of their opponents by at least 14 points. Now it's on the MAC conference championship Friday in Detroit vs. Ohio U., 8-4. If WMU wins, there is a chance they will play in the storied Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. Yesterday Corey Davis became the career FBS leader in receiving yardage. Wow!

Just when it seemed he would live forever, Fidel Castro, 90, has passed away, more proof that only the good die young.

My thanks to the young woman who purchased Exchanges, my only sale of the day, and to my buddy Bags, who kept me company for about an hour, relieving the boredom.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/25 - In Passing

RIP Florence Henderson, 82, matriarch of the wildly popular sitcom The Bray Bunch. She did 117 episodes of the series, plus three off-shoots. Although I wasn't a fan, there's no denying the show's impact of American popular culture. I don't think I've ever seen a full episode, but I found her to be a lively guest on talk shows. In reading her bio at IMDb, two interesting bits of trivia stood out: She was the first female to ever host The Tonight Show, and she was a licensed hypnotherapist. She was the spokesperson in ads for Wesson Oil for 20 years, Here's a quote attributed to her: "I begged them [the producers] to give Carol Brady a job. They wouldn't do that. I mean, those clothes, for God's sake, take a look at them! I didn't choose those, please...But I said, 'Can I just hit the kids every now and then? I mean, real life!' They wouldn't let me." Well done, madam.

Government busybodies were at it again recently. The Advertising Standards Authority in the UK ruled that Heinz's Can Song ad should not be broadcast again in its current form. Nine people complained it encouraged unsafe practices or might be dangerous for children to copy. Over 1.6 million people have viewed a version on youtube. It shows families, workers and festival goers enjoying the product, a British mealtime staple, and using the tin cans to hammer out percussion in accompaniment of an original song. The ASA said there was a risk that viewers could cut themselves while trying to emulate the ad. The videos featuring the song included instructions on preparing a can and taping the inside to avoid cuts. Typical of government, the ruling comes after the end of the TV campaign, which ran for two months. They really think the entire public is stupid. Judge for yourself. The ad runs 1:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCEnqIZEv8E

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I didn't over-indulge, but I did eat a lot more than usual. The fridge is loaded with leftovers my youngest niece gave me. My great-niece/godchild Danielle is not pleased with SUNY Albany and will transfer to a local JC and figure out things from there. My great-nephew Ronnie is not only taking a full class load at the University of Kentucky, where he's a junior veterinary student, he's working full time as a manager at Walmart. He did not make the long trip to south Jersey, but his mom showed me a picture he sent to her iphone of his first serious girlfriend. After dinner and before dessert, I sat in the living room watching TV while the boys in the band were playing in the other living room, Ron Sr. on banjo, Kerry on upright bass and the incomparable Ed on guitar. Man, can he play. It was a nice time, and traffic on the long ride home was a dream. And I didn't have to hunt very long for a parking spot.

I saw two interesting things on my morning walk the past two days. Yesterday, just after six AM, a woman was getting her hair done at the corner shop. I wonder how much extra she had to pay to get the stylist to service her at such an hour on a holiday. This morning there were five lovely young girls in line at a local, little clothing store on Sheepshead Bay Road, looking for Black Friday deals. One had brought a chair.

My thanks to the middle age women who bookended today's session of the floating book shop. The first arrived just after I'd set up and bought 12 books, all non-fiction except for Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Maeve Binchy's massive Circle of Friends. The second came just as I was about to pack up and purchased a beautiful pictorial on old Hollywood.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/23 - Creativity

RIP Ralph Branca, 90, the man who in 1951 threw the pitch that became the "Shot Heard Round the World," the greatest moment in the wonderful history of Major League Baseball. Bobby Thomson drilled that fastball into the lower leftfield deck of the Polo Grounds, resurrecting the NY Giants from the dead and breaking the hearts of the Brooklyn Dodgers and their fans in what was a bitter rivalry. Branca later learned the Giants had stolen the signs to the two pitches he threw Thomson. That rumor was confirmed in The Wall Street Journal in 2001 when Giant Sal Yvars admitted he relayed them to Thomson. In 12 seasons Branca was 88-68 for the Dodgers, Tigers and Yankees, His ERA was 3.79. He eventually became friends with Thomson and they made joint television and trade show appearances. Branca was a pallbearer at Jackie Robinson's funeral. Although his mom was Jewish, he is a member of the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame. His memoir, published in 2011, is A Moment in Time. In an odd bit of trivia, he won 17 consecutive games as a contestant on the game show Concentration and appeared on its Challenge of Champions in 1963. Well done, goombah. I always get chills watching a clip of that incredible moment. Here's a link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrI7dVj90zs (Facts from Wiki)

Human beings are so creative. Of course, this applies also to those who work the dark side. Case in point, from the Weird But True column in the NY Post, in my own words: Drug dealers in New Zealand are sending packages of crystal meth for pickup to mailboxes at empty vacation homes. Police have caught on, so the pushers will have to find another diabolical tactic, which no doubt they will.

I ran a search on creativity and found an article at forbes.com: Six Unusual Habits Of Exceptionally Creative People by Travis Bradberry. I'm eliminating his commentary and including how the half dozen pertain to my life:
1. Wake Up Early - I rarely sleep past 5:30 AM. Now that my focus is almost exclusively my literary efforts, I look forward to each day with gusto.
2. Exercise Frequently - I do, but it is light exercise: a half hour walk each morning, one set for each arm on a dumbbell, back and hip strengthening exercises, stretching.
3. Stick to a Strict Schedule - Mine is absurdly strict. One could set a watch by my actions.
4. Keep Your Day Job - I'm grateful for the almost 25 years I was employed at the Commodity Exchange. The pay was okay, the benefits excellent, and I was out the door most days just after three PM, which allowed me ample time to write.
5. Learn to Work Anywhere, Anytime - Just about all my writing has been done at home, but I brought my work with me to a job as a summer camp counselor in 1977. And, in the early stages, ideas would flood into my brain 24/7, wherever I might be. That still happens, especially on my morning walk, but only occasionally. I've almost run out of things to say.
6. Learn That Creative Blocks Are Just Procrastination - I've never felt blocked, only that I needed a few days off. However, I'd be surprised if I publish more than eleven books (the eighth will be out in January, if all goes well). I don't ever want to feel as if I have to write. Then again, I blog almost daily, although sometimes it's really hard to come up with something interesting to say.

Here's a case of the creativity of surgeons. These twins, Anias and Jadon McDonald, were conjoined at birth and separated by doctors at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. They face more operations but are doing fine. The pic below ran in today's Post:

The wind finally abated at my usual book nook, but no one was interested enough to buy any of my wares today. My thanks to Herbie, who donated one of those thin books James Patterson has been selling. As many folks said to me this afternoon, Happy Thanksgiving.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/22 - 1963 & Beyond

Since 1963, November 22 has always been a creepy day. I was a freshman at Lafayette H.S. in Brooklyn, on a staircase between classes, when I heard the news of the president's assassination. It was scary. Since then there have been thousands of books published on the subject. Although I was unable to find an exact figure, I came across an eye-opening one in a 2013 article by Cory Matteson, who estimates that at that time there were more than 40,000 titles in print. I just ran a search at Amazon and found 23 more titles published in 2016 alone. It is a story that only time will diminish. The theories are many. Nothing I've read or seen has convinced me that anyone but Lee Harvey Oswald was involved, although I would not rule out a possible conspiracy. It is a mystery unlikely to be solved to any satisfaction. Anyone who might have been connected is either dead or soon will be.

Here are facts about 1963:
The population of the United States is 188,483,000. (2016: 322,761,807)
National Debt is 310.3 Billion. (2016: $20 trillion).
Unemployment is 5.5%.
Life Expectancy: 70.1 years. (2016: 78.8)
Academy Award : Lawrence of Arabia.
Grammy Award : I Left My Heart in San Francisco (Album) What Kind of Fool Am I (Song).
Pulitzer Prize : The Reivers (Fiction) by William Faulkner.
Patsy Cline, country music superstar, is killed in a plane crash.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the poor must have lawyers, paving the way for the Public Defenders Office.
Alcatraz Island is ordered shut by Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
General Hospital debuts.
The Coca-Cola Company announces its first diet drink, TAB cola. (Yuck!).
George C. Wallace is elected Alabama Governor on a platform which promised racial segregation.
ZIP Codes are used for the first time in the U.S.
Pro Football Hall of Fame opens in Canton, Ohio.
Doctor Who debuts on BBC.
Instant Replay invented by Tony Verna, a CBS-TV director.
The first woman in space was Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova aboard the USSR’s Vostok 6 spacecraft.
The Beatles release I Want to Hold Your Hand and I Saw Her Standing There, in the US.
Harvey Ball draws the now iconic smiley face symbol for an advertising campaign.
Debuting on TV were: My Favorite Martian, The Fugitive and Petticoat Junction.
New film genre emerged, the beach movie, Beach Party the first of many.

The NFL maintained status quo this week. The Giants, 7-3, won their fourth consecutive game in unimpressive fashion against the weak Bears. They are on pace to have the lowest average margin of victory in NFL history. They probably will squeak by the 0-11 Browns in Cleveland this week, at least I hope they'll win.

Also in football. Fans of Ohio St. and Michigan are gearing up for the big game this Saturday in Columbus. Both teams are 10-1. The pranks are underway. One joker placed red tape over each M in a plaque honoring legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes. Here's a pic:

With the wind still a nuisance at my usual nook, I took the floating book shop to an alternate site. My thanks to Bob, who bought A Hitch in Twilight, to the gentleman who bought a book on creative breakfast dishes, and the elderly woman who purchased Danielle Steel's Journey.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writers Life 11/21 - Moonlight

Born in Budapest in 1901, Antal Szerb was beaten to death in a concentration camp in 1945. He wrote many books in his short life, and several have been translated into English. His Journey by Moonlight came my way via a donation to the floating book shop. It is the story of a middle class man in his mid-30's who deserts his wife on their honeymoon in Italy, sort of searching, like Proust, for his lost youth. He undertakes an odyssey of travel that takes him to small cities and Rome. His focus is a woman he knew while growing up. He is not in love with her but with what she represents - non-conformity. He longs to shed his bourgeois background. He flounders, escape becoming more futile at each step. All humans are self-absorbed to a degree. The characters in this novel, especially the protagonist, are to the highest degree. Although I disliked all but one, I still found the narrative interesting, though ultimately unsatisfying. It mirrors life in that, try as we may, it is hard to change oneself and the course we are on. Here are nuggets I found particularly interesting, reflective of my own thoughts at certain times of my life: "...he was alone in that profound solitude that a man feels after he has embraced a woman with whom he has nothing in common..." "...And again he had the feeling that the really important things were happening elsewhere, where he was not..." "...Mihaly had never really liked work, but in his bourgeois years had applied himself obsessively because he loved the feeling at night of having done a good day's worth..." "...You yearn for someone, maniacally, mortally, to the verges of hell and death... And then suddenly she appears... and you'd actually rather this person, for whom you've yearned so irrepressibly, were simply not there..." "The elevated gave way to the mundane, as always happened..." Obviously, Journey by Moonlight, published in 1937, is not commercial fiction, but it is eminently readable, translated by Len Nix. who doesn't have a web presence other than listings as a translator. Although Mussolini and the fascists are mentioned casually, Hitler and the Nazis are not. 37 readers at Amazon have rated the novel, forging to a consensus of 4.3 of five. At one time in my life I probably would have gone that high. Now 66, hopefully wiser, I frequently tell myself, whenever I find myself wallowing: "Get over yourself."  

The fierce wind and lack of sunshine put the kibosh on the floating book shop today. I worked on the cover of my next novel. My buddies, Jim in Michigan, who took the photo, and Bags right here in Brooklyn, who shrunk it to a size acceptable to the Create Space cover creator, came through big time. My thanks. This is how it stands right now as I wait for feedback from my literary angel, Victoria Valentine:

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/20 - Gallant Men & Others

The greatest generation is becoming physically extinct but its legacy endures. Here are portions of an article in today's NY Post, edited by yours truly: Donald Stratton was an 18-year-old from Red Cloud, Nebraska when he joined the Navy in 1940 — and found himself on the front lines of history. A Seaman 1st Class, he was aboard the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor when Japan launched its sneak attack. He was just 500 feet away from where a bomb hit the ship. A fireball — fueled with ammo and gasoline — suddenly went 800 feet into the air. It shot right through him and many others. 70% of his body was burned. His T-shirt became engulfed in flames and scorched his torso. The hair on his head was burned away. His legs suffered serious damage. He lost part of an ear. He was saved when a sailor working on another ship swung a line toward him and five other mates. He says: "Six of us had our lives saved by Joe George. We rallied for him to receive a Medal of Honor for his valor, but, sadly, it never happened. Because he disobeyed a direct order to cut the lines, the Navy would not see fit to give him the recognition we thought he deserved. He only received a lesser medal... After the attack, I spent 10 months hospitalized in Hawaii and California. I was 92 pounds, half my body weight from the day I enlisted. I spent so much time in bed that when I tried to stand, my feet just hung down; they had ceased working. There was no muscle reaction. I had to learn to walk again. Everything was gone. Even my fingerprints were burned off. My mom wanted to visit me, but I asked her not to. I didn't want her to see me in such terrible condition... In September 1942 I received a medical discharge and was deemed unfit for combat... I saw that all the young men in the area had entered the service. I wanted to go back... After more than a year at home, I convinced the draft board to let me back in and went through boot camp for a second time. I got sent to the South Pacific on a destroyer... I was there for the Battle of Okinawa in the spring of 1945 — 82 days of hell. Japanese kamikazes came at us..." 1102 of the sailors on the Arizona perished. Now 94, Stratton lives in Colorado Springs with his wife of 66 years. They have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The full story is a new book: All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by Donald Stratton and Ken Gire. Kudos, sir. Here are then and now pics:

My alma mater, Western Michigan, ran its record to 11-0 yesterday with a 38-0 win at home vs. the University of Buffalo. Broncos QB Zach Terrell has 27 TD passes and only one interception this season... The University of Texas has a storied gridiron history. The past five years or so have seen the Longhorns struggle mightily. Yesterday UT lost to one of college football doormats, Kansas, 24-21, on the road. It's the first victory for the Jayhawks vs. the Longhorns since 1938, and its first in two years in the Big 12. How the mighty have fallen.

A Florida man has entered the Guinness Book of Records. His distinction? He has collected 1277 pieces of dinosaur poop, or coprolite. No s---? as we said whenever questioning the outrageous.

The McDonald's up the street from the old house has been undergoing renovations for a few weeks but remains open. I went in for lunch yesterday and saw kiosks being readied. Unfortunately, they will be credit card only. I wonder how many of the minimum wage jobs, if any, will be lost.

Given the wind and cloud cover, the only way I was going to open the floating book shop was if I scored an ideal parking spot. I did. It looked like it would be a fruitless effort until Monsey strolled along late in the session and bought two works of non-fiction, one on dreams, the other on love. She has been my only customer on several occasions. My thanks - again.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/19 - Age Is Just a Number

Of course it came on Senior Day. Joe Thomas Sr. rushed into history today when he took a hand-off for South Carolina State and gained 3 yards. What's so special about that you must be wondering? He's 55, believed to be the oldest player ever to play in a D-I game. The son of a sharecropper, he was profiled earlier this week by Sports Illustrated. Thomas looked spry, taking the hand-off from a quarterback young enough to be his son, and lowering his shoulder into a Savannah State defender, who threw him to the ground. He was originally supposed to play along side his son, Green Bay linebacker Joe Thomas Jr., in 2013, but injured his knee in a car crash. He's been with the team since 2012, while working on a degree in engineering. He’d been on the scout team but finally got his historic shot. He replaces Tim Frisby in the record book. The former U.S. Army Ranger, who served in the first Gulf War and in Kosovo, was the father of six. His years in the military preserved his body. He still ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. In 2005 Frisby, 39, notched his first career catch, a nine-yard reception. A journalism major, he won the team’s offensive GPA award with a 3.6 mark. Kudos, gentlemen.

And then there's the Ivy league. The annual clash between Harvard and Yale is called The Game by those affiliated with the schools. Today Yale broke a nine-game losing streak to the hated Crimson, 21-14. The team got help from the student section, where a number of males got naked. Here's a pic:

These kids today. Recently, the Harvard men's soccer team had its season canceled because of vulgar and explicit documents rating women on their perceived sexual appeal and physical appearance. Not to be outdone, members of Columbia's wrestling team engaged in a racially and sexually explicit group chat. The team’s season has been suspended until the University concludes an investigation. Sounds like all these young men are ready for a career in politics.

My remote mouse shows signs of coming around. It's now approximately 50% operational. Yesterday it worked solely as a pointer. I had to use the laptop's pad to get a response to clicks. I inadvertently erased the blog twice as I was trying to post. I was a bit perturbed, to say the least.

My thanks to whomever downloaded Killing and Exchanges to Kindle, and to Bill Brown, author of Words and Guitar: A History of Lou Reed's Music, who bought right-wing talk show host Michael Savage's novel, A Time for War. Alas, it was the floating book shop's only sale.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/18 - Short Stuff

Oxford Dictionaries has selected “post-truth” as 2016's international word of the year. It is defined as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Usage of it has increased 2000% from 2015-'16.

 A man wanted for four bank robberies has been dubbed the "spelling bee bandit." Each noted he's passed has the same spelling error: "robery."

Two moose were recently discovered frozen in battle and encased in ice near a remote village on Alaska's unforgiving western coast. Here's a pic:

A cop responded to an online advertisement for sex services. At first the woman wanted $50 and some nachos. She later upped the price to $60. She was busted in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant.

Chinese websites have blocked searches for "Fatty Kim the Third." That's what many Chinese mockingly call North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. China's foreign ministry says it does not approve of ridiculing foreign leaders

University of Rochester QB Daniel Bronson's biggest play happened off the field. The 21-year-old junior was leaving a restaurant in his hometown when he saw a man swipe the purse of a 73-year-old woman. Bronson took off after the creep, who dropped the purse and kept running. Bronson kept running too, tackled the guy and held him down, with the help of his girlfriend's father and brother, until police arrived. His heroics came just hours after he piled up nearly 400 yards in total offense and ran 60 yards for a touchdown in a 37-34 home loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His 192 yards rushing was the most ever by a quarterback at the Division III school. He also completed 21 of 32 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, despite suffering what was later diagnosed as a separated right shoulder in the third quarter. His gridiron success may be coming to an end, but this kid will be heavily recruited by employers. Kudos.

My mouse is being finicky. The remote's clicks are being ignored. I'm using it to point and using the keys on my laptop's pad. It sucks.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books on this, another, mild day in Brooklyn.
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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

 

The Writer's Life 11/17 - Droning On

Here's my favorite story of the past few weeks, from the Weird But True column in the NY Post, in my own words: A Pennsylvania man suspected his wife of infidelity, so he did what any modern guy would. He sent a drone to follow her. From 400 feet above, it filmed her meeting a lover in a parking lot. The betrayed husband then did what any modern man would, posting the video on youtube, where it has received more than seven million views. Kudos, dude - and watch your back. Hell hath no fury... Here's a link. Caution - it is unpleasant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECdznSO3TY

According to mentalfloss.com, here are the favorite books of these famous authors:
Ayn Rand - Calumet 'K', a quaint, endearingly Midwestern novel about the building of a grain elevator.
Hemingway - long list that includes Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov.
Joan Didion -  Joseph Conrad's Victory. 
Ray Bradbury - Collected works of G.B. Shaw, Moby Dick, John Carter: Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
George R. R. Martin - The Lord of the Rings, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel’s, a novel about a group of actors in a post-apocalyptic society.
Gillian Flynn - Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Norman Mailer’s The Executioner's Song.
Vladimir Nabokov - Joyce's Ulysses, Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Andrei Bely's Petersburg, and the first half of Proust's In Search of Lost Time.
Twain -  Carlyle's  The French Revolution, Malory's King Arthur, Arabian Nights.
Fitzgerald - long list including Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser, The Life of Jesus by Ernest Renan, Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, and Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson.
Samuel Beckett - Around the World in 80 Days, Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane, The Catcher in the Rye.
R. L. Stine - Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.
Amy Tan - classic Chinese literature, Jing Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase).
J. K. Rowling - Jane Austen's Emma. The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit.
Maya Angelou - A Tale of Two Cities, the Bible, Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and Little Women.
Henry Miller - from a list of 100: Wuthering Heights, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Les Miserables, Leaves of Grass.
John Steinbeck - Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory.
I'll comment on only two. I hope Winesburg, Ohio, which I've never read, makes its way to the floating book shop through a donation. I put Le Morte de Arthur aside not even halfway through. I found it empty. Maybe I should give it another crack.

My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases and donations today. I picked up about 20 hardcover best sellers in excellent condition, and a dozen books in Russian. The inventory, which I'd whittled considerably lately, is again ridiculous.
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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/16 - Pizza

Who doesn't love pizza? Who would guess that it's been a great tool in crime fighting? Here's the gist of a terrific article in today's NY Post by Kirsten Fleming, edited by yours truly: Deliveries have tipped authorities off to international fugitives, and preserved DNA evidence that blew open a gruesome D.C.-area quadruple homicide. In Illinois the mugging of a deliveryman led investigators to criminals who had murdered a man in Georgia. “Pizza hunger trumps better judgment,” says a former FBI criminal profiler. “Because none of these people would have been in prison today if they hadn't picked up the phone and called up for a Domino’s pie.” Sometimes pizza is a tool of intervention. In 2015 a woman called 911 and “ordered” a large pie so as not to tip off her assailant. When the dispatcher questioned her, she calmly responded, “Yeah, I know. Can I have a large with half pepperoni, half mushroom and peppers?” When pressed, the woman stayed the course, saying: “Yeah, do you know how long it will be?” The dispatcher checked the address and noted there had been multiple domestic violence calls to it. When cops arrived, they found the woman had been beaten and her boyfriend drunk. He was arrested. Kudos, madam and the dispatcher.

RIP jazz/blues master Mose Allison, 89. I'd frequently heard his name but was completely unfamiliar with his work, so I did a search. The list of his albums at Wiki numbers more than 30. His music influenced many, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, the Yardbirds, John Mayall, J. J. Cale, Georgie Fame, and the Who, who made Young Man Blues a staple of their live performances. Blue Cheer recorded his Parchman Farm on their debut album in the early 1970's, as did John Mayall and many others. The Yardbirds and the Misunderstood both recorded versions of his I'm Not Talking. Manfred Mann also recorded a version for the BBC, although it was basically Paul Jones performing solo with his harmonica. Allison's Look Here was covered by the Clash on Sandinista!. Leon Russell covered Smashed! on his Stop All That Jazz. Allison performed with Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, and Ben Sidran on Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison. Elvis Costello recorded Everybody's Cryin' Mercy on his Kojak Variety and Your Mind Is on Vacation on King of America (bonus tracks). Allison's I Don't Worry About a Thing plays during the opening credits of The Whole Nine Yards (2000). Bonnie Raitt recorded Everybody's Crying' Mercy. Well done, sir. (Info from Wiki)

It'd been more than a month since I'd seen Political Man. He has not been chastened by the election. He is still dubbing Trump a racist and a Nazi. This was pooh-poohed by my Tuesday benefactress, who happened to show at the same time. I doubt she voted for The Donald. I've offered her a pick of any books she desired as a token of my appreciation, and to date she has selected only one - a tribute to FDR. Anyway, among the dozen or so she donated today, several were taken by a woman who pulled her fancy car to the curb and asked for works of interest to children. I chuckled as I heard Rush Limbaugh's voice coming from her radio. My thanks, ladies, and to Barry Spunt, who overpaid for Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon, and to the woman who bought an Aunt Dimity mystery, and to Lev, who bought an illustrated Bible for kids. I also had a visit from Ol' Smoky, who says he may soon be off the street, set up in an apartment near Bleecker Street. May it be so.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/15 - Americana

Spoiler alert! I'm not sure it's been done before in a prime-time series, but I bet it has on soaps. Gotham has knocked off the same actress playing two different recurring roles. Chelsea Spack played Miss Kringle, an aide at the GCPD. She was accidentally - sort of - strangled by Ed Nygma, the future Riddler. She resurfaced as Isabella, a librarian, and again won Nygma's heart, and again met her demise, this time at the hands of the jealous Penguin, who had a henchman cut the poor woman's brake lines. Oswald Cobblepot is in love with Nygma. I don't know if the comic ever speculated on the Penguin's sexual orientation. Then again, he may just be confused. He is, after all, a psychopath, as is Nygma. The plot turn of making a villain of the previously unimpeachable police captain, perfectly cast in the person of Michael Chiklis, has breathed new life into the show.

Americans have always been crazy about blue jeans. A blurb in today's NY Post reveals just how much. Recently, a pair from Levi Strauss & Co. in mint condition, manufactured in 1893, were found in a trunk. They will soon be auctioned off. In 2005 a pair of 501's from the 1880's brought in $60,000. Another pair, from 1888, sold for six figures months ago. Maybe we should all be leaving pairs in a trunk for our heirs.

Last week I said New England was clearly the class of the NFL and Seattle a mere shadow of its former self. Shows what I know. On Sunday night the Seahawks won on the road in Foxboro. While there no longer seems to be a clear cut favorite for the Super Bowl ring, it will be surprising if the Patriots don't win the AFC championship, although Raiders fans would argue that point. Last week the silver and black defeated the defending champs convincingly in Denver, executing a game plan contrary to what they'd done in previous games, emphasizing the run instead of the pass. The Chiefs' grit has to be admired, but I'd be very surprised if they went far in the playoffs. Right now the Cowboys front office people, much maligned in recent years, are looking like geniuses, having drafted QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliot, who have led them to an 8-1 record. Prescott was selected in the fourth round, the 135th pick overall. He was entrusted with the offense after Tony Romo was injured, and has played brilliantly. Compare this to the 4-5 Rams, who drafted QB Jared Goff number one overall, and who haven't seen fit to play him a single down thus far, despite a struggling offense. According to a headline I just saw at Yahoo Sports, Goff will finally get the nod this Sunday. Hallelujah! As for the locals, even if the Jets win their last six games they might not make the playoffs. Remember when fans and writers were clamoring for management to offer Ryan Fitzpatrick a long term contract? Kudos to the front office for having stuck to their guns and signing him to a one-year deal. I'm still not convinced the Giants will make the post season, although they seem to be improving.

The floating book shop was rained out 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 Collection 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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza

The Writer's Life 11/14 - Unique

RIP Leon Russell, 74, the second unique musical artist to pass away within a week, Leonard Cohen the other. His  looks were striking, his talent large. He wrote Joe Cocker’s Delta Lady and put together Cocker’s 1969 Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, which spawned a documentary and hit double album. Primarily a pianist, he played on The Beach Boys’ California Girls and Jan and Dean’s Surf City. He produced and played on recording sessions for Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike and Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones and many others. He recorded hits himself, namely Tight Rope and Lady Blue. John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison played on his first album. His concerts often ended with a rousing version of Jumpin’ Jack Flash. In 1973 Billboard Magazine listed Russell as the top concert attraction in the world. In 2011 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also was honored with an Award for Music Excellence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He began as a nightclub piano player in Oklahoma at the age of 14, and also backed touring artists who visited town. Jerry Lee Lewis was so impressed that he hired Russell and his band for two years of tours. In the early 2000's Russell began his own record label, Leon Russell Records. Well done, sir. Here's a video of my favorite Russell song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYTThhMoJxA

Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer, a finalist for the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year award, has a unique off-season occupation - plumbing. He is in backyards in the Oklahoma City area digging ditches and changing sewer lines, replacing old Orangeburg pipes with new PVC pipes. He can also be found in basements exchanging water heaters, in kitchens replacing sinks and faucets, in bathrooms fixing leaky toilets. He says: “it’s fun.” I want this guy on my team. He was 11-7, 3.06 ERA. In 159 innings he allowed only 136 hits and had 132 K's.

For the second straight session the floating book shop had only one customer. My thanks to the 76-year-old goombah who bought pictorials on old Hollywood, Harley Davidsons, and epic events as shot by photographers of Life magazine.

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/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza