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Saturday, September 30, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/30 - Two Films

Armie Hammer is in the midst of a solid Hollywood career. Among the 36 titles listed under his name at IMDb are starring roles in The Lone Ranger (2013) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015), the latter of which saw him play Illya Kuryakin. Those are two iconic roles. Last night, courtesy of Netflix, I watched Mine (2016), in which Hammer plays a soldier stranded in a desert, one foot atop a mine. It is an odd story about survival and redemption. I will not comment on the opening scenes, which present an interesting controversy that becomes irrelevant over the course of the narrative. It would likely anger many. The main problem with the movie is that it is too long, even at only 106 minutes. As time passes and the soldier becomes more delirious, the line between what is real and imagined blurs, and he begins to confront his past, which includes an abusive father. He is helped a bit along the way by a desert dweller, excellently played by Clint Dyer, a Londoner. Although his dialogue often seems unrealistic, his presence lifts the narrative. The film was co-directed by two Italians, Fabio Guaglione and Fabio Resinaro, their first time at the helm of a full length feature after collaboration on shorts. They also wrote the screenplay. If their intention was to make an anti-war statement, it's lost among the scenario's other aspects. There are two excellent night time scenes where the protagonist is attacked by predatory animals, although it seems far-fetched that he would have kept his foot in place during them. 8700+ users at IMDb have rated Mine, forging to a consensus of 5.9 on a scale of ten. I don't think it's as terrible as many of its online detractors believe, but its appeal is certainly limited. Those squeamish about violence should pass, although the blood splatter is minimal. The flashbacks of the drunken father and a fight in a bar are more disturbing than the gun play.



I love Blade Runner (1982), one of the most imaginative movies ever made, and eagerly await its sequel. In an op-ed piece in today's NY Post, Jonah Goldberg uses the original, particularly where it went wrong, to defend capitalism. Here are excerpts: "... Ridley Scott thought that using real corporate titans - Coca-Cola, Atari, RCA, Bell Telephone, Cuisinart, Pan Am, Koss headphones, Tsingtao beer - would help convey his gloomy foreboding about the triumph of corporate power in the not-too-distant future. ... Of the eight companies depicted, five either disappeared, were broken up or were bought by other firms. Atari, which controlled 80% of the home-video-game market, went belly-up, though the name has been bought and revived by another company. Koss and Cuisinart went bankrupt (though Conair bought the Cuisinart brand out of Chapter 11 in 1989). Bell Telephone was split into different companies... The idea that corporations will one day take control of our lives has been a staple of science fiction — and the left-wing — for generations... Only 67 of the firms in the Fortune 500 in 1955 remained there by 2011. And the death rate is accelerating... The same dynamic holds true for another favorite super-villain: the super-rich. While it’s true that the combined net worth of the one-percent has increased, the actual people in that class come and go. Fewer than ten percent of the 400 wealthiest Americans who appeared on the Forbes list in 1982 were still there in 2012. As for the permanent aristocracy of wealth, of the 20 biggest fortunes on the 2013 Forbes list, 17 were self-made... What explains this? Simply: capitalism itself...  The only thing that can make a monopoly permanent is government, because only government can prevent the sort of innovation and competition that undermines every corporate behemoth..." Kudos, sir.



As for the capitalistic enterprise of the floating book shop, it was a complete flop today - no sales.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Friday, September 29, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/29 - Cloudy with a Chance of Fish

From Yahoo's Odd News: Officials in northeast Mexico say a light rain was accompanied by small fish falling from the sky. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, it's a phenomenon that has been reported since ancient times. Scientists believe that tornadoes over water may be responsible for sucking fish into the air, blowing them around, and eventually releasing them to the ground. This is what a street in Thailand looked like after such an event:



There is encouraging news on the economic front: Second quarter GDP growth was revised upward from 3 to 3.1%. Hopefully, it's not a temporary blimp similar to that seen in the previous eight years.

Technological advances continue to wow. An Ohio lawman shot a GPS tracking device into an armed gunmen's car. This obviated a dangerous high speed chase, and eventually allowed other officers to set a trap with devices that flattened the perp's tires. I'm surprised the thing's so large. Here's a pic:



The situation in Puerto Rico is terrible, as roads and ports are blocked or damaged. This seems perfect for the delivery of supplies by drones.

Here's another example of racist America: Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook’s new contract guarantees the six-time All-Star $233.5 million through 2022-23.



All the floating book shop's sales were concentrated in its final hour. My thanks to the gentleman who bought a work of non-fiction, to the one who purchased When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman, to the elderly woman who bought a Danielle Steel novel translated into Russian, and to the middle age one who overpaid for Steel's The Sins of the Mother and Heartbeat - in English, and Catherine Coulter's Blind Side, and a non-fiction book in Russian.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Thursday, September 28, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/28 - Positives & Negatives

Jonathan Podhoretz, a conservative pundit, has angered his base with constant criticism of the President Trump. He presents an intriguing prospect in an op-ed piece in today's NY Post. The caption above it says it all: "President Oprah Winfrey?" She has always been seen as a uniter by most people. She might win in a landslide. Unfortunately, her views are likely way left.

Here's encouraging news from a Post blurb: the President may sign an executive order allowing people to cross state lines to buy health insurance. Oh, please let it be so.

Security experts believe Russians are fomenting discord with posts on social media about the kneeling controversy, just as they did in the run up to the election by buying 3000 ads on Facebook. Supposedly, those ads, none of which I recall seeing, did not take sides. The idea is simply to create unrest, division among the populace. It appears the cold war had only a brief pause.

According to talk radio host Mark Simone, the NFL has quietly lowered ticket prices 10%.

RIP Hugh Hefner, 91, pioneer of the sexual revolution, way out in front of most folks. Whether one sees him as a negative or positive force, there's no denying his impact on western society. I was jealous of his success with women. How tame do his centerfolds, beautiful as they were, seem compared to what's available for free on the web these days?



To my surprise, The Blacklist has returned for a fifth season. Episode one had a decidedly lighter tone than those of the past, although it retained the usual gunplay... The premiere of Seal Team, starring TV vet David Boreanaz, was solid. I don't know if it will have enough variety to sustain a long run, but exploration of the psychological makeup of the leader, who has logged many missions, is a promising story line. His work has already cost him his marriage.



What a difference a day makes. Yesterday's heat has been replaced a cool autumn breeze. My thanks to Lev, who bought a book and CD in Russian, and to the gentleman from the Ukraine, who purchased a book in Russian, and to the two ladies who dropped off a few books, most of them in English. I witnessed a bit of excitement today. A lady engaged in conversation lost hold of a retractable leash, and her little black terrier sped around the corner and attacked a dog three times its size. It was vicious for a few moments. Fortunately, a couple of male passersby stepped in to separate the hounds. Neither animal appeared hurt.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/27 - Ends in a Vowel

An author with a surname that ends in a vowel always captures my attention. Such was the case with Cecil Castellucci, described in the blurb for Rose Sees Red as "YA Superstar." I was not surprised to discover the author is female, despite the first name. Set in 1982, the novel's protagonist is a lonely Bronx girl on the cusp of 16, an aspiring ballerina of modest ability who attends the High School of Performing Arts. Her life changes when her next door neighbor, the child of Russian parents who work at the consulate, crawls through her window one night. Also a dancer, the two immediately bond, elude the two-man detail trailing them, and embark on an all-night adventure in Manhattan, with a sleepover at a classmate's home in Staten Island. They return to the city the next day for a no-nukes rally, a real life event attended, according to an online article in the NY Times, by possibly as much as 700,000 people in and around Central Park. While reading, I wondered if the author had resurrected an old manuscript. Although the thinking is probably accurate regarding most of the attendees in liberal NYC, it seems stale in light of history. President Reagan's hard line began the Soviet Union's demise, not demonstrations. Of course, the possibility of nuclear annihilation is still with us, most likely to be delivered by Muslim fanatics, possibly North Korea. Aside from this sappy nostalgic chapter, the novel is okay. The dialogue, despite the absence of profanity, and actions of the teens is authentic. Except for the protagonist's former best friend, these are nice kids. The writing is smooth, the 197 pages reading like considerably less. The heart of the narrative is always in the right place. At one point the protagonist muses: "Aren't we all different and the same?"15 users at Amazon have rated Rose Sees Red, forging to a consensus of 4.1 on a scale of five. In my view, the novel's appeal is limited almost strictly to teens. Castellucci has an interesting personal history. She grew up in NYC, attending PA herself. She earned a degree in film production from Concordia U. in Montreal, where, post graduation, she joined an indy rock band. She had a hand in several recordings with bands Bite, Nerdy Girl, and as solo artist Cecil Seaskull. I'm not familiar with any of the music. In addition to her many novels, she has done graphic novels, an independent film, and a libretto for an opera. Now 47, she lives in L.A..

Here are famous people - names I recognize - who attended but did not not necessarily graduate from PA: Jennifer Aniston, Al Pacino, Isaac Mizrahi, Dom DeLuise, Billy Dee Williams, Ellen Barkin, Jessica Walter, Helen Slater, Suzanne Pleshette, Suzanne Vega, Janet Margolin, Marlon Wayans, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Gene Anthony Ray, Steven Weber, Amy Ryan, Elizabeth Peña, Nancy Allen. And here's a still from that famous scene in Fame (1980).



Another sports scandal is about to rock the NCAA, as the FBI did the policing the organization failed to do. I'm not sure the issue is worth the time and effort of law enforcement, as surely there are more pressing ones, but here we are. No one will be surprised. The corruption at the top level is obvious. Heads will roll - Rick Petino's seems to be the first. Reform will be promised, but there's so much money at stake that I don't know what may be done. There will be calls for players to be paid - as if that would end the cheating! There has always been chicanery at the college level, but today's seems monumental. I suppose it's naive, but I'd love to see academic standards followed. Is it too much to ask that the players actually be student-athletes? I suppose this would incite accusations of racism. Here's a shot of Petino, the first Division I coach to win a championship at different schools, Kentucky and Louisville:



Man, it was hot out there today. I was drained when I got home. My thanks to my only customer of the day, a woman who asked where I'd been, who bought Goddess of Vengeance by Jackie Collins, Tickled Pink by Rita Rudner, and The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. I've been under the scaffold, Lady, out of the sun, at my usual nook. Parking was unavailable in the area this morning.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/26 - Short Takes

As a conservative, I'm glad the latest health bill has failed. It is not true reform. It protects insurance companies and does not allow people to join co-ops. It isn't good enough.

From Yahoo's Odd News, edited by yours truly: A Sri Lankan waiting for a flight was busted for smuggling a kilogram (2.2 lb) of gold stashed in his rectum. It was worth 4.5 million rupees ($29,577). He was freed after payment of 100,000 rupees. Such methods of smuggling are not unusual. The gold was wrapped in four plastic bags. No word on whether the guy was a politician, although he certainly behaved like one.

I had a visit from Mayor Mike, a local super. He said a four-room apartment in which an old timer had lived for 40 years until his passing, now remodeled beautifully, was available. The previous tenant enjoyed rent control, paying only $600 per month. The flat will now go for $1900.

When my doctor abruptly retired, the prescription for my blood pressure medication ran out. Curious to see what would happen, I did not schedule an immediate appointment with my new physician. I was without the stuff less than a month. Two weeks ago my BP was 140/90. Disappointed, I went back on the drug. Today it was 130/78, and I don't have to see the doctor for another four months.

While I was having the $3.49 special at Burger King - two burgers, fries, Dr. Pepper - I noticed that the four people in my line of site were all staring at cell phone screens. I felt a little self conscious about not having the need or desire to be connected all the time.

I respect the NHL for being the first pro sports league to take a chance on a Las Vegas franchise. To honor those who have sprung for season tickets, management has placed a list of their names under the ice. Here's what it looks like:


Since I had little hope of finding a parking spot near my usual book nook, I set up shop in front of the Chase bank at Bay Pkwy & 85th, my Saturday spot. A woman who spoke to me in Russian, although I said I didn't understand, kicked things off by buying a Nora Roberts thriller. Then an electrician who was born in Haiti picked my brain about publishing a book on his experiences. He bought What On Earth Am I Here For? Study Guide (The Purpose Driven Life) by Rick Warren. Bad News Billy overpaid for a hardcover Meriam-Webster Dictionary. A young woman asked if I had Siddhartha, and was surprised when I brought out Demian. "How did you know I was looking for Herman Hesse?" she said. I told her I'd read Siddhartha, Steppenwolf and Narcissus and Goldmund when I was her age. She purchased Demian and two self help books. The sweet Russian grandma who is amassing a library for her grandkids bought an illustrated copy of The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor by John Yeoman and Quentin Blake. She is frustrated that the kids are no longer interested in reading books in Russian. I remarked that I was the same way regarding Italian, which brought a smile to her face. Finally, as I was breaking down the display, a middle age woman purchased Acceptable Losses by Irwin Shaw. My thanks to all.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc


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Monday, September 25, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/25 - Topsy Turvy

It's a topsy-turvy world. Nothing illustrates it more than the history of Burma's leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In 1991 she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights." As Michael Rubin points out in an op-ed piece in today's NY Post, she is now accused of providing cover for the ethnic cleansing of her country's Muslim population.

New Orleans' RB Adrian Peterson was the toast of the NFL until sidetracked by accusations of striking his son and injury. In three games this season, he has carried the ball only 23 times, about seven times per game. The Saints offense, understandably, revolves around future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees. If the team does not plan to use Peterson more often, they should trade him - and the woeful Giants should be first with an offer... Kudos to the Jets' players for not submitting to the negativism surrounding the organization and going out and dominating the Dolphins yesterday... By the way, the minimum NFL salary in 2017 is $450,000, the average $1.9 million. I know, I know - that should have nothing to do with their right to protest, but it adds perspective to what I believe is the absurdity of it... This morning, talk radio host Mark Simone mentioned something I'm embarrassed I hadn't realized myself. Any employee of a private business who practices politics on company time is likely to be reprimanded, suspended without pay or even fired. The NFL is, of course, a private business. Imagine if a Wall Street honcho, or a bank teller, or a secretary, or a supermarket manager kneeled in his firm's workplace and espoused his/her views. What if someone on a government payroll - postal worker, teacher, police officer - announced his/her views at a post office, school or precinct house? Simone mentioned that a boycott of NFL games is in the works during the week when Veteran's Day falls. I wonder if President Trump is using a tactic he believes further isolates the far left and takes many Democrats with it. If true, that's damn crafty strategy.

In case you missed it, Pittsburgh Steeler OL Alejandro Villanueva, 29, a graduate of Army who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, achieved the rank of Captain, and was awarded a Bronze Star for valor, stood alone on the field while his teammates stayed in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem:



Future NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony came to the New York Knicks with great fanfare in 2010. Although he continued to light up the scoreboard, the team failed to make the playoffs the past four years. Fans began hoping he would be traded. Well, they got their wish. 'Melo went to Oklahoma City, which has an outside shot at a championship, and the Knicks received a decent Center in Enes Kanter, Forward Doug McDermott, a former player of the year in college who has been disappointing as a pro, and a 2018 second-round pick. Although it doesn't appear NY received equal value in return, I think it was the right move for all parties concerned.



My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today. The ratio was eight in Russian, two in English, those being thrillers by James Patterson and Sandra Brown.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Sunday, September 24, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/24 - Compulsions

The following were gleaned from today's NY Post: Jonathon Trugman focuses on Harvard's endowment, which earned $3 billion in 2016, upping its kitty to $37 billion. It's tuition is $72,000 per year. The endowment is not taxed. Does this seem kosher?... Rachelle Bergstein cites a new book, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, who profiles a new, low-cost labor pool made up largely of transient older Americans who have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in late-model RVs, travel trailers and vans, forming a growing community of nomads: migrant laborers who call themselves “workampers.” (Adapted also from Amazon's summary.)... I'm totally square when it comes to drugs, but the following made me laugh. Lee Child, whose 22nd Jack Reacher novel will be released in November, is fond of marijuana. He told High Times magazine: "I don't want it to be legal. I want it to be compulsory."... A Jersey doctor has admitted to signing prescriptions for patients he never saw, cheating the government and other insurance entities out of $25 million. And that was accumulated during a period of only 14 months! It is frightening to think of how much fraud goes undetected - or ignored because the single incidences don't amount to much. I'd bet billions are stolen in small increments.



Last night the Svengoolie program, 33 on Cablevision in NYC, ran the 1931 Universal classic, Frankenstein. I'd probably noticed before but forgotten long since - Dwight Frye, magnificent as Renfield in Dracula (1931), was equally adept as the sadistic hunchback Fritz. Unfortunately, his brilliance in those two roles led to typecasting, despite the fact that he'd been very successful in the theater. There are 63 titles listed under his name at IMDb. He is quoted as having said: "If God is good, I will be able to play comedy, in which I was featured on Broadway for eight seasons and in which no producer of motion pictures will give me a chance! And please God, may it be before I go screwy playing idiots, half-wits and lunatics on the talking screen!" Alas, he never got the chance. He had a weak heart and succumbed to a coronary at 44, leaving a wife and son behind. Here he is as the hunchback assistant to the good doctor:



Although I think the privileged characters in pro sports who are protesting during the national anthem are silly, I believe President Trump is wrong to call for their firing. Free speech is one of the cornerstones of our society, even that of mental midgets. I no longer tune in to NFL games, but not because of the controversy. I hate the preponderance of commercials, the flagging of hard hits that to me look legit, the inability of officials to get pass interference right consistently and, above all, the boorishness of so many of the players. I now view game highlights, which run five to seven minutes each, on the web. It will be interesting to see how far the defiance goes, whose side the majority will support, and if the issue will cause a rift among teammates. The Golden State Warriors will not be going to the White House. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who I believe are all white, say they are going. I expect they will be coming under enormous pressure to back out. I wouldn't be surprised if they did, though I would be disappointed, even though I always thought these photo ops were silly. I wonder what the poor around the world think of the protests of these rich athletes. Then again, how many care about American football?



My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases on this hot day, and to the gentleman who donated a bag of books, four of which I brought back to the apartment and put in the Christmas box.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Saturday, September 23, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/23 - Tres Bien



Robert Bresson began as a painter. He directed his first film at 42, and did only 14 despite living until 98 (1999). Last night I watched his last, L'Argent (1983), translated as Money on the Netflix DVD. It is the story of a young oil delivery worker who is given a counterfeit 500 franc note as payment. It instigates a downward spiral that sees him lose his job and family, and leads to far, far worse. Based on Faux Billet (The Forged Coupon), a short story by Tolstoy, it is a bleak but fascinating depiction of mankind. Since it is only 85 minutes, I turned to a video essay in the special features section, hoping it would be illuminating. It was. The narrator, obviously a cinephile, has seen the film many times. He goes into great detail in what he thought Bresson was trying to accomplish in many shots. Although the story is solid, this is clearly a work for filmmakers to study. Bresson is quoted as saying: "Cinematography: a new way of writing, therefore of feeling." The technique is unusual, the focus often on hands and feet, the action, violence, taking place off screen, background sounds amplified, frames influenced by still life art. To someone so focused on story such as I, these aspects go unappreciated, if not entirely missed. Bresson also used non-actors to achieve a flat, real life feel. He succeeded in that respect in L'Argent. Christian Patey has only three titles under his name at IMDb, Vincent Risterucci three, and Sylvie Van den Elsen eleven. All three debuted in L'Argent. For his effort, Bresson was named Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival. It is unique storytelling, perhaps purist cinema. Fortunately, L'Argent is captivating despite its grim view of humanity. And it isn't obviously arty. I've seen at least two other of Bresson's works and have only a vague though positive recollection of them. 5000+ users at IMDb have rated L'Argent, forging to a consensus of 7.5 on a scale of ten. I wouldn't argue with that. I'm glad I didn't allow the views of its detractors on Netflix dissuade me from adding it to my viewing list. Here's a still of the now ancient ATM used in the film:



From Yahoo's Odd News, in my own words: A Colorado Springs police officer heading to an accident scene had an unexpected passenger - a raccoon. It jumped onto the front windshield and stayed there until the officer pulled over.



My thanks to the gentleman who purchased The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fishing Basics by Mike Toth, and to the elderly woman who bought two paperback thrillers. It may be fall on the calendar, but it sure felt like summer.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Friday, September 22, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/22 - Heroes & Villains

According to Wiki, E.R. Frank earned a degree from Vassar and works as a social worker and psychotherapist. She also writes novels. I just finished America, the second of her five books, published in 2002 and still selling modestly. It is the first person account, told in non-linear form, of a troubled teenager. Born to a drug-addicted mother, he is sent to a foster home at five. America has the great fortune of being in the care of a loving elderly woman. Unfortunately, her nephew, who at first treats the boy very well, eventually takes advantage of him sexually, another blow to the kid's sense of trust. The court then orders him on a weekend visit to his natural mom, who disappears. He is lost in the system, living with two older brothers who lead him astray, who frown at his not being black enough. He runs away and lives for a time with a young, kind-hearted pot dealer. When the latter is busted, America is sent to a psychiatric facility. Having repressed his inner rage for so long, he entertains thoughts of suicide when the memory of the violence he perpetrated begins to come to the surface. His male therapist doggedly tries to help despite the abuse America directs at him. Most of the narrative is grim. Of course, all humans suffer periodically throughout life, but not to the degree a handful do. The majority would rather not think of what those unlucky few experience. Fortunately, there are certain individuals, heroes really, who try to help. The narrative smacks of authenticity. The prose and dialogue are solid. The 242 pages read like considerably less. Only the hardest heart would not root for America. Although the conclusion is open-ended, it is hopeful. I don't believe the protagonist's name is meant to signify all of America, although it would be understandable how someone who works in such a field and witnesses such horrors daily might think so. 39 readers at Amazon have rated the novel, forging to a consensus of 4.1 on a scale of five. I wouldn't go that high, perhaps because I would rather not think of such things at this stage of my life. Kudos to those who have the resolve to face and do something about them.

The following were gleaned from today's NY Post: In his sports betting column, Stitches cleverly refers to New York's pro basketball team as the Titanknicks... In the Fast Takes column, Fox News reporter Marc Thiessen comments brilliantly on the cost of security for the recent speaking engagement of Ben Shapiro at UC-Berkley: "...leftists succeeded in imposing a $600,000 tax on conservative speech."... Texas state representative Dawna Dukes (D) has been indicted for spending $51,000, $1000 per month, of taxpayers' money on a psychic. Looking into my crystal  ball, I bet she gets off with a slap on the wrist.



Season four of Gotham began last night. The Penguin has cut crime by 57% - by killing many criminals. He makes a deal, Pax Penguina, with the mayor on a license to steal. Anyone who holds one and is caught in the act of theft must be released by the GCPD. It's an interesting theme, although I'm not sure if it will fly. The episode was so-so. Here's Robin Lord Taylor in the part it seems he was born to play:



I received a royalty from Amazon that covers the reading of pages by online visitors. In this instance it was for my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. Someone read - or at least looked through - 300 pages or so. That amounted to a disappointing payment of four cents. I have to remind myself that the company needn't do this at all. It's a no lose situation for a writer. It's up to me to steer readers to my work, to get more people to read pages, to buy a book.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books, in English, Russian and French (grammar), on the last day of what has been a spectacular summer in NYC in terms of weather. Fall arrived at 4:02 PM.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Thursday, September 21, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/21 - Pinnacles

RIP boxing legend Jake LaMotta, 95. He turned pro in 1941 at 19. His record was 83-19-4. His six bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson, regarded by many as the best boxer of all-time, are legendary. He won only one, the second, although a few were close. He knocked Robinson down several times through the years, but was never taken off his feet by him. In 1949 LaMotta defeated Frenchman Marcel Cerdan to win the World Middleweight championship. He lost the title in 1951 to Robinson in what was dubbed The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, stopped after 13-rounds of a brutal beating. LaMotta then fought for a while as a light-heavyweight, the results mediocre. His memoir: Raging Bull, My Story led to the uncompromising, critically acclaimed 1980 screen adaptation by Martin Scorsese. He was married seven times and had several brushes with the law and boxing officials. He is known to have thrown at least one fight. Despite his sins, Ring magazine named him one of the ten best middleweights of all-time, and he is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Here he is putting Robinson down:



The world famous Woolworth Building in Manhattan has an apartment at its top. The asking price, in case you're interested, is $110 million. There are 34 condos in all. The Penthouse, called The Pinnacle, covers the 50th to the 58th floor. It has a terrace. Here's the outside:



And here's one of its rooms:



As I expected, CBS has done it again. As it did with Under the Dome and Zoo, it failed to end Salvation definitively after its 13-episode summer run. I will not be watching if it returns next year. I abandoned the other two after their first seasons.

I feel fortunate for having made a little money selling books on this major Jewish holiday. My thanks to the two women who bought four novels in Russian between them, and to the gentleman who purchased non-fiction by a beat generation writer with whom I was unfamiliar and whose name I neglected to write down. My thanks also to the woman who donated a bag o'books, half in Russian.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

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Wednesday, September 20, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/20 - Another Day

I loved President Trump's bluntness in his address to the U.N.. How refreshing.

A new health car bill has been proposed. Senator Rand Paul, who is eager to repeal Obamacare, is a physician. Here's an excerpt from an article at foxnews.com on why he opposes the new measure: "... Even the bill’s authors and proponents, using what I’m sure are rosy numbers, admit that their ObamaCare Lite bill will spend 90% of what we currently spend on ObamaCare. Other estimates are closer to 95%. Either way, did anyone go out to vote so we could repeal only 5 or 10% of ObamaCare? I didn’t..." The piece goes into detail on where Paul believes the bill goes wrong. I sense many Republicans, including the President, want to get any bill passed simply because they campaigned on the promise of repeal. That's politics, not good government. And, if it flops, Democrats will be relieved of blame, which will fall to the GOP. Passage is a long shot, so the argument is probably moot. Of course, Schumer, Pelosi, Sanders and company are warning of armageddon, the loss of health insurance by millions. That too is politics. They have no solution other than higher taxes to the runaway costs that will force people to drop their plans. At least the new bill eliminates the individual mandate, the most unAmerican measure ever instituted. Its most egregious misstep is not allowing people to join health co-ops, which seem so promising. I guess it's dumb to expect the same body that instituted the ACA to come up with a better solution.

Lately, people have been buying very little fiction from the floating book shop, despite fantastic selection. Here's what folks purchased today, which demonstrates the great variety on hand at present: Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time by Michael Shermer and Stephen Jay Gould; The Art of Sexual Ecstasy: The Path of Sacred Sexuality for Western Lovers by Margot Anand; Lose Those Last Ten Pounds: The 28-Day Fool-Proof Plan to a Healthy Body by Denise Austin; Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond; one on heart health, one on gardening and three non-fiction books in Russian. My thanks to those who bought.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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Tuesday, September 19, 2017

The Writer's Life 9/19 - Enhancements

There's a lot of good stuff in today's NY Post: From the Weird But True column, an 111-year old Brit, Grace Jones, reveals the secret of her longevity - a shot of whiskey per day... Also from WBT, a guy in Kentucky was caught on camera breaking into a funeral home and donning the clothes of the deceased. The blurb does not state whether he stripped the poor soul. The thief also took the guy's jewelry and the keys to the parlor's limo... Nancy Pelosi held an event in California in support of protection for "Dreamers." She was heckled by a group incensed that she'd worked with President Trump on DACA. The ridicule got so intense she was escorted away by security. A liberal badgered by her own constituents - I love it!... Authorities in Geneva, Switzerland are investigating a mystery. $100,000 in high note denominations backed up the toilets of three restaurants. The legal tender is believed to have come from the pipes of a nearby bank.

RIP pro wrestling legend Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, 72. According to Wiki, he dropped out of school in the eighth grade to support his mother and grandmother. He began his career in the sport of kings at the bottom, carrying bags and jackets for the wrestlers, and selling refreshments at events. His first big break in the business was as a manager of heels and wrestler in 1965. In his first appearance in the AWA in 1974, he adopted his famous nickname. Along the way, he became an entertaining broadcast color analyst, working smoothly with the legendary Gorilla Monsoon, real name Gino Morella. Here are a couple of quotes attributed to The Brain: "I'm a legend in this sport. If you don't believe me, ask me." And: "I know all about cheating. I've had six very successful marriages." In truth, he was married to the same woman from 1966 until his death. Although he billed himself as being from Beverly Hills, he was born in Chicago and raised in Indianapolis. Well done, sir. Thank you. Here he is with one of his protégées, The Brooklyn Brawler, Bensonhurst's own Steve Lombardi, one of the all-time great whipping boys, known as "enhancement talent" in the business:



While on my morning walk I observed two interesting sites along the Sheepshead Bay promenade. Using a wide stance, a young man was repeatedly slapping the palm and fingers of his right hand at what seemed a bag of rice propped on a backpack. I assume he was in the midst of a martial arts workout. I found it curious that he wasn't using the edge of his hand. Further along, there was only a lone fisherman on the pedestrian bridge that spans the lower Bay - an Orthodox Jew. I took a gander into a bucket he'd filled a third of the way with water, and spotted a few snappers swimming in it. The baby bluefish begin leaving the area about this time of year. He was standing about 20 feet to the right of the lamp post below:



My thanks to the local home attendant who bought up my inventory of cook books, to the woman who purchased a beautiful, large children's book in Russian, and to the gentleman who selected a novel in that language. As I was waiting for customers to come along, I was surprised by an advertisement on the side of a city bus. It offered breast enhancement for $3900 and sported a picture of a bosom, reasonable by today's standards, covered by a bikini top.
Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc
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