The Writer's Life 1/31 - Crazy Out There

Of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who boarded or got off flights this weekend in the USA, 109 were detained and released, two were deported, an Iranian and a Sudanese. The ban affects seven countries believed to host the next wave of potential terrorists. 90% of Muslims worldwide are unaffected by it. The supposedly right-leaning Rasmussen poll shows 57% support the policy. (Various sources)

There are stirrings in California about secession. Similar movements have arisen in its history, and gone nowhere. A part of me is curious about what would happen if it occurred. Would Golden State succeed on its own or would it soon be begging for readmission?

The Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a 9-team summer operation, has six franchises in Massachusetts, two in New Hampshire and one in Connecticut. It will be taking a novel approach to extra inning games. Any still tied after the 10th inning will be decided by a home run derby. I doubt this will ever occur in MLB, despite complaints about the ridiculous length of games. That's one change traditionalists, if there are any left, shouldn't have to worry about.

In an op-ed piece in today's NY Post, Seth Mandel dubs Green Day a pseudo punk band because of its adherence to PC. He compares the trio to the genre's seminal band, the Sex Pistols, citing songs from the influential Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols album. Although I don't support the politics of the songs, I admire three rip-roaring rockers from the disc: Anarchy in the UK, Pretty Vacant and God Save the Queen, which is rousing despite its simple-minded viciousness. As someone who thinks abortion is an abomination, I'm embarrassed to say I missed the importance of Bodies, of which lead singer Johnny "Rotten" Lydon said in a 2007 interview in Spin magazine: “I don’t think there’s a clearer song about the pain of abortion. The juxtaposition of all those different psychic things in your head and all the confusion, the anger, the frustration, you have to capture in those words.” That flies directly in the face of PC. Mandel describes another track, Holidays in the Sun, as: “... a send-up of the misery tourists who live comfortably in the West but enjoy vacationing in socialist dystopias in order to feel (as we would say today) 'woke.'” Thank you, sir. By the way, I like several songs by Green Day, especially Longview, which has a beautiful drum and bass intro. I'm not familiar with at least 90% of its catalog, so I won't criticize the group. I enjoyed the handful of live performances I've seen from the band through the years.

The Nine Commandments. This from Yahoo's Odd News, edited by yours truly: The Tallahassee Democrat reports that a husband found his wife in bed with Pastor O. Jermaine Simmons in the middle of the afternoon on Jan. 17. She told police her husband threatened to kill Simmons, who fled the apartment naked and hid behind a nearby fence. I guess that makes it eight commandments, although no one was actually killed.

The floating book shop was flurried-out today. If February is anything like January, the winter will have been fairly benign.

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

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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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
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The Writer's Life 1/30 - Written Off

I comsidered writing about the selective outrage people practice, but I'm so turned off by political discourse that I decided to have some fun instead. Here's a list from woah.com on why actors left roles on successful TV shows, edited by yours truly: Jeffrey DeMunn wasn’t happy when close friend Frank Darabont was fired from season two of The Walking Dead, so he asked to be written off as well... B.J. Novak's character took an “extended trip to Thailand” from The Office when he landed a role in Quentin Tarantino’s  Inglourious Basterds... Tommy Chong abruptly left That ’70s Show when he was thrown in jail for 9 months for selling bongs. His cellmate was Wolf of Wall Street author Jordan Belfort... Steve Burns left Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues because he rapidly began losing his hair and didn’t want to go bald on a children’s show... Janet Hubert was written off The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when she became pregnant... Jared Padalecki left Gilmore Girls when he landed a starring role on Supernatural... Lisa Edelstein (the Risotto Broad on Seinfeld) of House was written off because of a salary dispute... Another House cast member, Kal Penn, was written off when he was offered a job at the White House... Lisa Bonet was fired from The Cosby Show because Bill didn’t agree with her posing topless in Angel Heart (Write in your own joke)... Mandy Patinkin didn’t like the direction Criminal Minds had taken, deeming it too morbid, so his character was retired... After breaking up with his girlfriend and co-star Evangeline Lily, Dominic Monaghan asked to be written off Lost so things wouldn’t be awkward...When the original Doctor Who was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis near the end of his run, the writers developed the idea that the main character could regenerate in a new body... When Will Lee, who played the role of store owner Mr. Hooper, passed away during a season of Sesame Street, writers worked his death into the show... 2nd Runner Up: Maggie Roswell, who voiced Maude Flanders on The Simpsons, lived out of state and had to fly into Los Angeles to record her lines. She asked to be reimbursed for travel. Producers decided it would be cheaper to just kill her off... 1st Runner Up: Scarlett Pomers left Reba to battle anorexia. When she returned characters asked, “Where have you been?” To which she replied, “I went to get something to eat!”... And the Winner is: Soleil Moon Frye played Punky Brewster until she hit puberty. Her chest grew rapidly and she ended up having reduction surgery on her 38DD bust at 15!

My thanks to the usually gregarious Carmine, one of my biggest supporters, who bought Five Cents today. He too is bummed by the political climate. Thanks also to Jack of Chase, who bought two thrillers, and to the the woman who bought another.

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Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
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The Writer's Life 1/29 - Butts, Bailouts, Bathtub

Smoking disgusts me. The following facts, culled from an article in today's NY Post, are not a defense of the practice but a knock on politicians. A recent study found that more than 50% of the cigarettes consumed in New York are smuggled in - the nation’s highest rate. A study by the Mackinac Center says that besides the tax losses, the smuggling activity has engendered violence against residents and police officers, financing of a terrorist organization; truck hijackings and counterfeiting of tax stamps; property damage; and the counterfeiting of name-brand cigarettes that are replaced with inferior products, including smokes from China. The $13-a-pack Marlboros available in Manhattan come with $4.35 state tax levy and $1.50 in city tax. Meanwhile, the city’s poorer neighborhoods are being bombarded by tobacco advertising in order to try to re-enforce brand loyalty against knock-off cigarettes. It's reminiscent of the prohibition era.

Another Post article reports that Elon Musk, the whiz behind electric cars, is so crazed by L.A. traffic that he is building a tunnel to avoid it. Is this legal? How much palm-greasing would it require to make it so? Shouldn't he be wary of being trapped underground during an earthquake?

In an op-ed piece praising George W. Bush, Kyle Smith included this eye-opening stat: the bank bailouts have returned a profit of $75.8 million to the government. I have to rethink my opposition to them.

Meet Siobhan O'Loughlin, Brooklyn performance artist profiled in the Post. She is doing an unusual one-woman show - in bathtubs. Broken Bone Bathtub is what’s known as an immersive theater experience. In this case, a handful of audience members squeeze shoulder to shoulder into a stranger’s john and listen to O’Loughlin, clad only in her rainbow cast and a generous helping of bubbles, share an earnest, meandering account of her accident (she broke two fingers in a bike mishap) and journey to recovery. It’s also participatory. Selected audience members may be invited to share their own experiences or help her wash a hard-to-reach place. Admission is $35. Here's a pic:

Last night MeTV, channel 33 on Cablevision in NYC, ran The Invisible Man Returns (1940) on its Svengoolie program. In researching the cast, I've discovered a new all-time champ in credits at IMDb. Stanley Blystone has 544 listed under his name, edging out Irving Bacon, whose credits have risen from 524 to 542 since I last checked, despite the fact that he's been dead since 1965. I'm sure avid movie fans report sightings to IMDb. What's even more remarkable about Blystone is that he
lived only to 61. How many credits would he have amassed had he lived another decade? His career began in 1924 and ended in 1956. Here are pics of these unsung Hollywood stalwarts, first Blystone:

It was a gorgeous day. I set up shop in Park Slope and felt like I was in hostile territory. There must have been a protest rally nearby, as many passersby were carry signs and placards denouncing Trump. I didn't say a word to any. It looked like the session would end with no sales, then Ting and her boyfriend, who seem like a great match, showed and bought Rising Star. My thanks.

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

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
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The Writer's Life 1/28 - Sparsely Sunny

Has an Oscar ever been revoked? Here's an interesting list from mentalfloss.com, edited by yours truly:
1. At the very first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, Charlie Chaplin was nominated for four awards for The Circus: Best Actor, Best Writer, Best Director for a Comedy, and Outstanding Picture. Concerned that Chaplin would sweep all of them, the Academy revoked his individual nominations and presented him a special Honorary Award “for writing, acting, directing, and producing...”
2. In 1954 the John Wayne western Hondo was nominated for Best Story. The film was later disqualified when it was discovered that the script was based on a short story, The Gift of Cochise, and not an original work.
3. In 1957 writers Edward Bernds and Elwood Ullman were nominated for Best Story for the musical comedy High Society starring Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. There was only one problem: Bernds and Ullman didn’t write it. They wrote the 1955 Bowery Boys comedy of the same name. The Academy confused the two. Bernds and Ullman withdrew their names from the final ballot. (Slip & Satch must have been heartbroken.)
4. Young Americans won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1969. A month later the Oscar was revoked when it was discovered that the film had played in a theater in October 1967, making it ineligible for the 1968 movie awards season. The Oscar was then given to the first-runner up, Journey Into Self. Young Americans is the only movie in Academy history to receive an Oscar, then have it taken away.
5. In 1973 Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather was nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Original Dramatic Score, but the accolade was revoked when the Academy learned that Nino Rota used some of his score from the 1958 Italian comedy Fortunella. Two years later Rota won an Academy Award for his work on The Godfather: Part II. (Sounds like revokers guilt.)
6. In 1993 Uruguay submitted A Place in the World, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It was removed from the final voting ballot because it was Argentinian. Uruguay had had insufficient artistic control over the production. Director Adolfo Aristarain had asked Uruguay to submit the film on his behalf, as it was partly financed there and several Uruguayan artists contributed to it. Aristarain sued the Academy.
7. Tuba Atlantic, a 25-minute Norwegian short film about a 70-year-old man who only has six days to live and spends that time reconciling with his estranged family, was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film in 2012. The nomination was rescinded after it was discovered it had aired on Norwegian television before its theatrical release, which violates Academy rules.
8. In 2014 the title song from the Christian film Alone Yet Not Alone was nominated for Best Original Song, and disqualified two weeks later. Bruce Broughton, the song's composer and an executive committee member of the Academy's music branch, “had emailed members of the branch to make them aware of the submission during the nominations voting period,” which is against Academy rules. Devastated, Broughton said: “I indulged in the simplest grassroots campaign and it went against me when the song started getting attention. I got taken down by competition that had months of promotion and advertising behind them. I simply asked people to find the song and consider it."

RIP John Hurt, a brilliant actor, one of the most underrated of all-time, equally adept on stage, screen, TV or doing voice-overs, comfortable in any era, in commercial or arty works. He was nominated for only two Oscars, but won four of the British equivalent. His 47 on-screen deaths are believed to be the all-time record. IMDb lists 204 credits under his name. What sci-fi fan will ever forget his brief turn in Alien (1979)? Although his most famous role may be The Elephant Man (1980), I will always remember his fantastic work as Caligula in I, Claudius (1976). He played Dr. Who in 2005. He also did two versions of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, starring as Raskolnikov in the 1979 production, and as Porfiry the police inspector in 2002. His last four appearances will be released posthumously. Here's a quote attributed to him: "We are all racing towards death. No matter how many great, intellectual conclusions we draw during our lives, we know they're all only man-made, like God. I begin to wonder where it all leads. What can you do, except do what you can do as best you know how." Well done, sir, and thank you.

The forecast was wrong. It was not partly but sparsely sunny and, if flurries were predicted, I missed it. Strangely, I never felt really cold, probably because the wind had diminished considerably. I sold only one book, a Nora Roberts thriller. My thanks to the woman who bought it. I did come to the rescue of a woman who had lost her cell phone. I let her use mine to locate the store where she'd left hers. I tried to refuse the two-buck tip she offered, but she insisted. If one is going to stand out there like an idiot trying to sell books, one might as well get something out of it. My thanks, and also to the two kind souls who downloaded Five Cents to Kindle this week. I believe it was James K. and the Lady Eve.

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
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The Writer's Life 1/27 - Gamers

Here's something from a blurb in the NY Post that rankled me. Francis Ford Coppola has been a successful filmmaker for decades. He wants to make a video game of his indictment of the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now (1979), and is trying to raise $90,000 from the public at Kickstarter. He claims game publishers won't allow him total freedom on the project. This bothers me on two levels. One: it's hard to believe someone who has known great success can't come up with the money on his own, either through his own accounts or loans from family and/or friends. Two: whether one respects the premises of the film or not, it was a serious work of art. Wouldn't making a game of it, especially one that stresses violence, not ideas, invalidate it? I'm not a gamer. Maybe Coppola's intent is to create a different kind of game, hence the resistance of the publishers. One risks looking like a fool opposing new ideas that at first seem bizarre and eventually prove worthy. Still - asking average Joes for money? He's not getting any from me. I wouldn't ask the public to finance the publication of my books. I will get them into print on my own and buy copies to sell myself..

RIP Mike Connors, 91. Born Krekor llevado Ohanian, of Amenian descent, he had a fantastic eight-year run as P.I. Joe Mannix. IMDb lists 109 credits under his name, which doesn't include multiple appearances on TV shows. He did 194 of Mannix alone. He started out on the big screen in 1952 and was often billed as "Touch" Connors, a nickname he picked up playing college basketball at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden. He served in the Air Force during WWII. He was married to the same woman since 1949. Here's a quote attributed to him: "If nothing else...just do the right thing." Well done, sir. (Facts from Wiki & IMDb)

The world is full of characters, such as the West Virginian mentioned in another Post blurb. Gambling stake dwindling, he put down a $20 chip to hold his place at a Blackjack table - then drove miles to rob a bank, handing tellers a note that he had a bomb and weapons. He returned to the casino, but was later busted. Even if he came out ahead at the table, he was/is a big loser - but a character.

Since the wind was blowing hard at my usual nook, I took the book shop to an alternate location and got lucky. Fortunately, the sun came out for about 15 minutes, which warmed me up, allowing me to stay long enough for Neil of Della Peppo TV to arrive. He was miffed because a bus driver pulled away from him as he was running and calling out. His loss was my gain, as he bought Five Cents, the first street sale of it. Thank you, sir, and also to Mr. Conspiracy, who bought a book on fighting high blood pressure, which he needed after losing a ten-dollar-bill. Fortunately, he found it on the floor of the nearby liquor shop.

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
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The Writer's Life 1/26 - Mary + More

RIP TV legend Mary Tyler Moore, 80. Born in Brooklyn, she captured the hearts of baby-boomers as Laura Petrie in 158 episodes of The Dick Van Dyke show in the '60's, and another generation during the '70's in 168 episodes of her eponymous series. She won six Emmys for her work in those beloved shows. Although she will be remembered best for her turns on the small screen, she had a major success in film and on Broadway. She received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the powerful Ordinary People (1980), and a special Tony as the replacement star of Whose Life Is It Anyway? She received another as producer of a revival of Peter Nichols' Joe Egg. She and her second of three husbands, Grant Tinker, established MTM Enterprises, which had great success producing sitcoms. She lived a long life despite a battle with alcohol and once being a heavy smoker. She wrote two memoirs: After All, and Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes. Here is a quote attributed to her: "There are certain things about me that I will never tell to anyone because I am a very private person. But basically what you see is who I am. I'm independent, I do like to be liked, I do look for the good side of life and people. I'm positive, I'm disciplined, I like my life in order, and I'm neat as a pin. I love order and discipline. God, I sound like a Nazi don't I?" No, we'd never think that. Well done, madam. Thank you. (Facts from Wiki & IMDb)

A statue of the Ten Commandments is being proposed in Arkansas. A Satanic Temple wants one of Baphomet to stand beside it. Who is Baphomet? His origin is in dispute and there are various interpretations of him, and many aren't linked to Satanism. An article at Wiki mentions several personages who used him as inspiration, including the Knight Templars and Aleister Crowley, who has fascinated Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin, and who is among the crowd on the cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The image certainly seems demonic:

I'm not sure what to think about President Trump's threat to withhold federal funds from the so-called "sanctuary cities," where illegal aliens are allowed the same rights as American citizens. I've never had a problem with them being here, but I do with them receiving government services. I do favor the temporary ban on Muslim immigration from certain countries. As for the wall, it will be symbolic. It might deter some, but if economic conditions improve there will be a demand for labor, especially those who would work cheap. I chuckled upon reading a blurb in today's NY Post about Cemex, a cement company that works both sides of the southern border. It's stock was up 3.7% yesterday, as the DJI breached 20,000. My accounts have hit all-time highs. Yesterday I sold one of my biggest losers, Citi, which I'd bought during the financial crisis, thinking it had hit its nadir. It was a $1500 error, peanuts compared to what the high rollers risk every day.

The average ticket price for the 2017 Super Bowl is $5089, down 8% from last year at this time. You couldn't pay me to attend. I'd much rather watch with friends and share good conversation and food.

My thanks to the three fabulous ladies who bought in bulk today, which vanquished a lot of the sting of yesterday's disappointing session. I learned a little more about Mariann, a 28-year-old blond beauty who has a love for the classics and hasn't an ounce of pretense about her. She is a software programmer. She drives two-and-a-half hours from her home in Connecticut to visit her parents. Tonight she will be going to see Verdi's Rigoletto at the Met. She and her husband are working on bringing their first child into the world. I'm sure she will be as great a parent as hers have obviously been.

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
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The Writer's Life 1/25 - Dead Even

The floating book shop had been carrying Brad Meltzer's Dead Even for at least a year, and it attracted no attention. Wondering why, I read it. Published in 1998, it was the second of Metzler's 11 novels, all NY Times best sellers. As a graduate of Columbia Law School, he must know a lot about the Manhattan court system, although I'm not sure he ever practiced law. His first novel was published while he was a student, so literary success must have spurred a change in career path. I don't know if husband and wife lawyers are allowed to square off against each other in real life. It sounds like a bad idea and Dead Even proves it at length, although that isn't the point of this thriller. I enjoyed the story despite being skeptical about the situation. The mystery was interesting and it was fun trying to figure out if the mole was who it seemed or someone else. The action is grounded until the climactic scene in a subway station, and even that isn't as far-fetched as a lot of what is seen in film and on TV these days. The prose and dialogue are solid, smooth but over-written. I'd bet Meltzer has become sharper over time. My favorite line from the novel occurs during a murder, as the killer observes the dying, "...sitting at the kitchen table, watching the event as if it were dinner theater." So why have people been passing on this book? I have no idea. Dead Even is on a par with most of the mysteries I've sampled. The 341 pages of the hardcover edition read more like 300. 235 users at Amazon have rated it, forging to a consensus of 3.5 of five, a little high in my estimation. Bear in mind that I'm not a big fan of the genre. Meltzer is in the midst of an impressive run. He has written for comics such as The Justice League of America, The Green Arrow and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and worked in TV. He created the fictional Jack and Bobby, which was about the Kennedys and ran for a year, and two documentary style series, Decoded and Lost History. He has also written ten children's books and three works of non-fiction. Dead Even will return to the floating book shop's inventory as soon as I sell off a bunch of the hardcovers I recently received. Now I can recommend it to those who enjoy lawyer-based thrillers.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Trump presidency so far is the retention of James Comey as head of the FBI. I was sure he was another casualty of Clinton corruption. I wonder if there is an ulterior motive behind it, such as the possible prosecution of Hillary. As much as I despise her, I'd rather the country not have to go through that. I suppose Comey's presence may simply be a warning to keep the Clintons in line. Who knows? Before the campaign, Comey was regarded as a straight arrow who would always do right. His reputation has suffered considerably... It was great to see the president sign an order to get the Keystone Pipeline built. If only it were that easy. Expect vigorous opposition, potential lawsuits.

It was a beautiful day despite the stiff wind. My thanks to the middle age woman who bought a cook book, which raised me a bit above dead even, and to the owner of the local print shop, who donated a large pictorial on cross-stitching. In the digital age, it is surprising that traditional print shops still exist.

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

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The Writer's Life 1/24 - Go to the Mattresses

An article by Linda Massarella in today's NY Post touts a unique writers residency program run by Amtrak. I visited the website and found the following: "...designed to allow creative professionals who are passionate about train travel and writing to work on their craft in an inspiring environment. Round-trip train travel will be provided on an Amtrak long-distance route. Each resident will have use of a private sleeping roomette, equipped with a desk, a bed and a window to watch the American countryside. Onboard meals will also be offered to all residents in the dining car aboard the train." More than 600 applied for this year's program. 24 were selected. The Post article focused on Tamara Lush, whose passion is erotica. She has been publishing since 2015. Of her eleven books, only Into the Heat is currently in print. All may be downloaded to Kindle. Her sales are solid. None of her works is rated less than four+ stars. I'm one of these nuts who don't like travel, so the program doesn't appeal to me, but I'm sure it would to many. I'm perfectly happy to crank out stuff from my large studio.

As the mainstream media continues to go to the mattresses against him, President Trump made two interesting moves yesterday. He has frozen all federal hiring and pay raises. I'm sure all but those affected and leftists would approve of this attack on the behemoth that is government. He also killed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as he had pledged during the campaign. Although it is commendable that he fulfilled a promise, I'm not sure it's good. Critics of the deal argue that it would disproportionately help other countries at the expense of America, the same point made against NAFTA, which I believe lifted millions around the world out of poverty. That deal coincided with the '90's boom, so opposition was muted. Now that many Americans are hurting economically, trade deals are viewed as part of the problem... I've also read but haven't heard any follow up on the rescinding of the ACA mandate that everyone must buy health insurance or be fined. I never understood how that passed constitutional muster. I hope it's gone forever... According to radio host Mark Simone, the White House website is now entirely in English. All Spanish has been scrubbed. Expect cries of racism.

From the NY Post website, in my own words: Jokes about money stuffed in a mattress are common. One crook stashed millions in his. Authorities conducted a search in the Massachusetts apartment of a Brazilian, who was charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering in connection to an alleged pyramid scheme. Here's a pic:

More insanity from major college football: The University of Michigan will conduct three of its 20 spring practices in Rome, Italy. Why would it do this? I suppose it's a recruiting lure.

The floating book shop was rained out today, the Nor'easter blowing through. Had it been snow - brother!

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/

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The Writer's Life 1/23 - Addition to Vocabulary

Although I'm hardly a sports fan anymore, I'm still occasionally fascinated by what occurs. Whenever I was experiencing a bad round of golf, here's one of the things I would say to myself: "If it happens to the best, it'll happen to the rest." While the top tier of golf pros have been postings phenomenal scores the first three weeks of 2017, those playing on the Web.com tour, the equivalent of AAA baseball, have been struggling mightily in high wind conditions in the Caribbean. Yesterday one man, who I will not name, had a 15, the highest score in that tour's history, on the last hole, a par five. I think the worst I ever had was an eleven, although there may have been occasions when I was so demoralized I stopped counting. Believe it or not, there's a word for it - decuple bogey. Who knew? The score was an aberration, as the gentleman finished 74th on the money list in 2016, qualifying for the finals. Last season he failed to break 80 just once.

Here are reasons I find to be cheerful as a Nor'easter bears down on NYC. All my numbers were excellent at the doctors this morning... The bust of Winston Churchill has been recalled to the White House by President Trump. Thank you, sir... An old friend/teammate posted a brief review at Amazon of what I believe is my best novel. "Loved Killing. The story had me on the seat of my pants. Love a happy ending. Mr. Fortezza has rekindled my love of reading." I'm blessed.

And here's a brief excerpt of what has been my most disappointing seller, Rising Star, which is at least profitable. Each chapter begins with a quote from a rock song, in this case Jethro Tull:
3 "... Skating away on the thin ice of a new day...."*
   Susan saw herself gliding along a long, narrow strip of ice that stretched across a pond near her home. Bonnie followed, laughing hysterically. Suddenly large, warm waves were splashing over them. They were breathless from laughter. Susan wanted the pleasurable assault to continue, although she sensed it would eventually become harmful. "Stop, stop!" she pleaded, howling as waves continued to pound them. She didn't want it ever to stop.
   She was awakened by the ringing of the phone. She sprang to a sitting position and gazed about, trying to determine her whereabouts, panicking. Someone groaned beside her, bringing her back to reality.
   "Time to get up," she said, nudging him gently, sliding out of bed, reaching for the phone. "Hello?" She stifled a yawn.
   "Miss Klein? This's Paul Ranga of Rising Star."
   She paused, trying to recall which band that was.
   "John Doe."
   "Of course -- how could I've forgotten that?" she said ironically, reaching for a cigarette. She was irked, having truly forgotten, not merely pretended in order to impart an impression of success. "Sorry. I've seen so many bands lately they've blended into each other."
   "Can I stop by your office today?"
   "No, I'd rather get out of here. I've been cooped up all morning. I'll meet you in front of the Eighth Street Playhouse in an hour. Gotta go. I have another call."
   Her guest groaned and rolled over.
   "Hey...." She was stopped cold by thought. She tiptoed to the sofa and went through the pockets of the pants lying there. She quickly spread a line on the table, indulged, and put the packet back in place. "Weeee," she said with restraint, chuckling as she recalled the dream, imagining herself sliding along the strip of ice, bombarded by warm waves.

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/

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The Writer's Life 1/22 - Amusing Typos

Here's a fun group of typos from listverse.com, pared and edited by yours truly: In 1915 The Washington Post ran an article on Woodrow Wilson’s love life. A sentence read: “The President gave himself up for the time being to entering his fiancée.” Of course, what the paper meant was "entertaining."... Perhaps the best-known Bible blunder ever was the omission of the word “not” in “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Published in 1631, it became known as the Sinner’s Bible. In the 1795 edition of the King James Bible, “Let the children first be filled” (Mark 7:27) was printed as “Let the children first be killed.” In a 1716 edition, “Sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34) is replaced with “Sin on more.”...  A misprint in a 1955 Sears advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper had people calling the Continental Air Defense Command, now known as NORAD, thinking they would be speaking to Santa Claus. The man who first answered assumed it was a prank and was about to hang up when the kid started crying. A number of airmen were then assigned to the phones to act like Santa... In 1988 Gloria Quinan, owner of a travel agency, sued a phone company because of an ad typo. The caption read “erotic” rather than "exotic." A large number of inappropriate calls ensued, and the loss of loyal clientèle. Quinan was refunded not only the $230 monthly fee for the ad but was awarded $10 million for mental anguish and distress... The inscription on a statue of Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore contained two quotation errors in a line taken from The Raven. It read: “Dreamng dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before.” The obvious typo of “dreamng” was less rankling to Poe enthusiasts than “mortals,” which should have been “mortal.” For years one man wrote letters of complaint to local newspapers, which did not incite action. Finally, he took a chisel and removed the "s" himself. "Quoth the raven - 'Nevermore.'"

The rain held off long enough to allow a full session of the floating book shop, but passersby did not cooperate, despite an impressive array of best sellers. There were several browsers but no buyers. A young woman scanned each of the hundred or so titles displayed before finally asking if I had any classics. Alas, not a one. I consoled myself with the thought that my latest bank statement reflects royalty payment for a print copy of Billionths of a Lifetime and a Kindle of Adjustments. The post office also delivered the 25 copies of my new novel, Five Cents, on Saturday night. I will be mailing five of them to my niece in Colorado tomorrow. I also received a flattering email from an old friend/teammate, who says my books have "rekindled his love of reading." Thanks, Frank.

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/

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The Writer's Life 1/21 - Winners & Losers

I don't understand how rioting will convince citizens to vote for leftists. The hostility on Facebook seemed to have abated until yesterday. I guess reality has finally sunk in to Trump detractors. One friend, a guy ten years younger than me who I had the privilege of coaching at the high school level, is particularly embittered. I know he's a good person, but he seems unhinged. I suppose it's good that he has an outlet to vent. Everyone needs that occasionally, but anyone whose happiness depends so much on who is in office is bound to be unhappy. The lunatic fringe is more likely to drive people to the right of center than convince them its ideas are better for America. I'll say it again - the left has lost its collective mind. Its leaders should be concentrating on convincing a majority that its way is best. I don't know if Trump will be successful, but I'm willing to give him a chance, as I gave President Obama, who I did not vote for, a chance to prove he was a centrist. Unfortunately, all the suspicions and fears I had about him proved true. Trump will not unite all Americans. That's impossible. But he may be able to create a climate that stems economic decline. The main problem remains health insurance. How does a nation of 300+ million insure everyone without stunting fiscal growth? Several friends who are Democrats cite their admiration for Canada's health care system in Facebook posts. Canada's population is only 35+ million. Its oil industry alone may cover costs, as Norway's does. Sometimes it seems the left is terrified that Trump may actually succeed.

A blurb in today's NY Post brings good news. Doubleday has acquired a recently discovered fairy tale from Mark Twain's archives, The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine. Another blurb cites 109-year-old Ruth Benjamin of Illinois, who believes, contrary to what doctors say, that her love of bacon explains her long and happy life. She never smoked or drank.

For the first two hours of operation, the floating book shop was ignored by passersby. When Mike, a local Super, stopped by, I told him I hoped he'd again brought me luck. Immediately following his visit last Monday, the floodgates opened. He pooh-poohed the comment and went off to buy a cup of coffee. A moment later Ralph showed and bought three works of non-fiction, including Don't Shoot Yourself in the Foot by Daniel G Amen, a manual on overcoming self-defeating behavior. I hadn't spoken to him since before the election. He was an early Trump supporter and is very pleased and hopeful. On his heels came a young man who I know has a fondness for the works of Danielle Steel. I picked up and showed him The House on Hope Street, which he purchased. Soon Mike returned. He laughed when I told him what had occurred. "Love you," he said as he left to see how the work on his building's boiler was proceeding. It was the second time a male had said that to me this day, the other being Steve, aka Mr. Conspiracy. I was relieved that he and Ralph had not arrived simultaneously. If a political argument had ensued, and escalated to more than words, the burly Ralph might have annihilated Steve. Ralph, who attended Lafayette High School while I was coaching there, called me an "inspiration." Shucks. My thanks to these kind folks, and to the woman who donated about 20 hardcover best sellers in pristine condition, several each by Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Iris Johansen and others. I didn't make much money, but it was a good day, topped off by the ride home when Iggy Pop's foray into existentialism, Winners and Losers, popped up on Car CD #21. Eyes glazing, I sang along: "...Winners and losers in love with themselves/ no Santa Claus, no happy elves/ In this smoking gun existence/ it gets harder to unwind/ I'll just eat my breakfast/ Try to keep my questions starving all night..."

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

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The Writer's Life 1/20 - Postings

Here are interesting tidbits from today's NY Post, in my own words: The New Orleans police department has a checkered history. The fact that nearly 60% of its current trainees were accepted despite red flags does not raise confidence that its reputation will improve. The warnings include incidents of drug use, failure to pay child support, and domestic abuse... In this hyper-sensitive world talking heads can get into a lot of trouble for a momentary lapse. An ESPN tennis analyst has been dropped from coverage of the Australian Open for a remark used to describe the play of Venus Williams. He claims he meant "guerilla." The PC police wonder if he meant "gorilla." I doubt he planned to use the word. Unless he's a complete idiot, which I doubt, he would have realized it would stir controversy. I guess it can be argued it came from the subconscious, which opens up a host of possibilities. It's crazy out there... New York officials are proposing transcendental meditation for inmates. It's worth a shot, although I wonder if they will learn only to be at peace with their crimes... In his droll football picks column, Hondo suggests the menu for the inauguration dinner include these items as thanks for helping him get elected: Russian dressing, chicken Kiev and pasta Putin-esca. Kudos once again, sir.

From Yahoo's Odd News, edited by yours truly: Atlanta police received a tip that the sale of heroin was being advertised on social media. "Specials of the day" were offered. Prosecutors say the defendants accepted orders through Facebook and Snapchat, and arranged delivery. What made them think it wouldn't be discovered? I guess being tech savvy and intelligent are not necessarily synonymous.

RIP Miguel Ferrer, 61, who succumbed to throat cancer. The son of superstar singer Rosemary Clooney and Academy-Award-winning actor Jose Ferrer, he emerged from that intimidating shadow to forge a fine career. He has 123 credits listed under his name at IMDb, which doesn't include multiple appearances on TV series. He did 105 episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles and 117 of Crossing Jordan, and also directed four episodes of the latter. He was an accomplished drummer who played on Keith Moon's 1975 album Two Sides of the Moon. He also toured with his mom and Bing Crosby. He did numerous voice-overs in film and ads. Here's a quote attributed to him on his experiences on Crossing Jordan: "It was great. I loved that. Six years on the same show, working on the same lot. Got to go home and see my kids every night. They weren't always awake, but I saw them. I loved that there were no out-of-control egos on the set. I loved working with the same people for six years. You develop a sure hand, and you learn how one works and likes to work. I wouldn't trade it for anything. We had a ball." Well done, sir.

My thanks to the gentleman who bought hardcover thrillers by James Lee Burke and Robert B. Parker, and the woman who purchased M. L. Stedman's The Light Between Oceans. She noted that it was adapted into a film starring Michael Fassbender, of whom she is obviously enamored. Thanks also to Herbie, who donated a Sandra Brown mystery. Of course, many passersby mentioned the inauguration. Fortunately, no one was negative. Good luck, Mr. President.

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/

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The Writer's Life 1/19 - President Quotes

Tomorrow Donald Trump will be sworn in as America's 45th president. Here's a list of quotes from the previous 44. I avoided the obvious and the scandalous.
1. George Washington - "Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth."
2. John Adams - "The happiness of society is the end of government."
3. Thomas Jefferson - "No man will ever carry out of the Presidency the reputation which carried him into it."
4. James Madison - "The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted."
5. James Monroe - "It is the knowledge that all men have weaknesses and that many have vices that makes government necessary."
6. John Quincy Adams - "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
7. Andrew Jackson - "Americans are not a perfect people, but we are called to a perfect mission."
8. Martin Van Buren - "The less government interferes with private pursuits, the better for general prosperity."
9. William Henry Harrison - "I contend that the strongest of all governments is that which is most free."
10. John Tyler - "I can never consent to being dictated to."
11. James K. Polk - "No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure."
12. Zachary Taylor - "It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostrate foe."
13. Millard Fillmore - "It is not strange... to mistake change for progress."
14. Franklin Pierce - "Frequently the more trifling the subject, the more animated and protracted the discussion."
15. James Buchanan - "I like the noise of democracy."
16. Abraham Lincoln - "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
17. Andrew Johnson - "The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people."
18. Ulysses S. Grant - "Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions."
19. Rutherford B. Hayes - "Must swear off from swearing. Bad habit."
20. James A. Garfield - "The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable."
21. Chester Arthur - "I may be president of the United States, but my private life is nobody's damned business."
22. Grover Cleveland - "Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters."
23. Benjamin Harrison - "Great lives never go out; they go on."
24. Grover Cleveland - "What is the use of being elected or re-elected, unless you stand for something?"
25. William McKinley - "War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed."
26. Theodore Roosevelt - "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."
27. William Howard Taft - "We are all imperfect. We can not expect perfect government."
28. Woodrow Wilson - "If you want to make enemies, try to change something."
29. Warren G. Harding - "America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration."
30. Calvin Coolidge - "The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
31. Herbert Hoover - "Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt."
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt - "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."
33. Harry S. Truman - "A President cannot always be popular."
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower - "Pessimism never won any battle."
35. John F. Kennedy - "Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all."
36. Lyndon B. Johnson - "Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose."
37. Richard Nixon - "A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits."
38. Gerald Ford - "Tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time."
39. Jimmy Carter - "We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles."
40. Ronald Reagan - "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives."
41. George Bush - "We know what works. Freedom Works. We know what's right. Freedom is right."
42. Bill Clinton - "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right in America."
43. George W. Bush - "There's no bigger task than protecting the homeland of our country."
44. Barack Obama - "There's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America."

My thanks to the kind folks who bought, swapped and donated books on this glorious day.

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/

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The Writer's Life 1/18 - Patriarchy

This isn't new but it's worth repeating. President Obama has ordered 1385 sentence commutations and 212 pardons during his two terms, more than those of the previous twelve presidents combined. I don't understand how he rationalized his pardon of the woman who sent documents to Wikileaks. Is espionage bad only when the Russians do it to affect the outcome of a U.S. election? On the other hand, it fits perfectly with his leftists views.

I admire creativity, grudgingly when folks use it criminally. Case in point, a Florida guy was caught using a remote controlled gadget to lower a curtain over his license plate just before he'd pass through a toll station. He sounds like a great job candidate - except for the fact that he would have to be monitored closely. (From Weird But True in the NY Post, in my own words.)

From Yahoo's Odd News: A topless activist from the group FEMEN attacked a life-size wax statue of President-elect Donald Trump during an unveiling ceremony at Madrid's wax museum. The woman pushed past security ropes and placed her hand on the statue's crotch while screaming "grab patriarchy by the balls." The comment was scrawled on her bare back. Although I disagree with its intent, the protest was at least imaginative and funny, although I suspect the woman is entirely humorless. I thought about posting a picture of it, but decided it might offend some people. There are plenty available on the web. By the way, a web dictionary defines patriarchy as: a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line; a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.

Even though I know the main story arc of The X-Files goes nowhere, I'm enjoying the reruns on My9 as much I did the original airing of the series. I've forgotten most of those episodes, so they seem fresh, and they are so well done. Unlike most fans of the series, I like the episodes outside the arc a lot more. I remembered the one with Peter Boyle as a psychic and another that had the phrase "Cerulean Blue." Both from season three, they are riveting. In Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose, Boyle's character has the ability to see details of people's deaths. In a hilarious line, he  predicts Mulder will die by auto-erotic asphyxiation, which alludes to the FBI agent's interest in porn, and which is doubly fascinating in retrospect, given David Duchovny's addiction to it in real life, revealed years later. Bruckman also predicts Scully will live forever, which incited avid speculation as to its meaning among the legion of fans. I'd guess it has something to do with Scully having been abducted and having her DNA mixed with an alien's. In The Pusher, starring Robert Wisden, the villain has a massive brain tumor that gives him the ability to bend people to his will. There are two other episodes I particularly look forward to, one takes place aboard a Titanic-like ship and the other has to do with a crossbred family, a work as creepy as any I've ever seen. I hope those haven't been skipped. I've noticed that there have been a couple of leaps in the programming order, leaving gaps. I haven't found anything online that explains My9's strategy. It's hard to believe, in this day and age, that the episodes are lost. To my surprise, in researching the series at IMDb, it ran nine years. I would have guessed five. I was faithful to the end, even when the main arc became increasingly ridiculous. I hope the ratings are strong enough for My9 to stick with it to the end.

It was raw and damp today at the floating book shop. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased David Baldacci's The Escape, the middle age woman who bought two thrillers in Russian, and the young one who bought the cleverly titled Latin Quips at You Fingertips.

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/

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The Writer's Life 1/17 - Pop Quiz

Not much interested me in today's news, so I went trolling for lists and found a entertaining one at looper,com. The following famous movie quotes were all improvised, Name the movie. the actor, and the character. Most are very easy. I'll add context to a couple. Answer key below. No peeking. 1. "I'm walking here!" 2. "Squeal like a pig," The original dialogue was considered too hardcore and producers worried it would result in the film being banned from television, which might cut into ancillary profits. On the spot, a crew member came up with the line, which the site assigned to Ned Beatty, but I believe it was said by the actor listed below. Anyone who knows his name is a true movie buff. 3. "I don't care." Spoken by a law enforcement individual. 4. "You're going to need a bigger boat."  5. "You talkin' to me?" 6. "I know." Said by a hero in answer to a princess declaring her love. 7. "Here's looking at you, kid." 8. "Here's Johnny!" 9. "You can't handle the truth!"

MTA employees are set to approve a new contract that grants them a raise. In an op-ed piece in today's NY Post, Nicole Gelinas cites the staggering costs the organization faces. In 2002 worker pensions cost $153.1 million, healthcare $400.4 million. In 2017 the totals will amount to a total of $2.4 billion. Had the parties used inflation as a guideline, the costs would have been $742. 6 million. The fare will again be rising soon. It looks like the next government subsidy will be reduced fare Metro Cards for the poor, paid for by taxpayers. Union greed is just as bad as corporate greed.

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 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

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1. Midnight Cowboy (1969) Dustin Hoffman as Ratzo Rizzo. 2. Deliverance (1972) Bill McKinney. 3. The Fugitive (1993) Tommy Lee Jones as Girard. 4. Jaws (1975) Roy Scheider as Chief Brody. 5. Taxi Driver (1976) Robert DeNiro as Travis Bickle. 6. Star Wars (1977) Harrison Ford as Han Solo. 7. Casablanca (1942) Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine. 8. The Shining (1980) Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance. 9. A Few Good Men (1992) Jack Nicholson as Colonel Jessup.