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Friday, November 30, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/30 - Stranger Than Fiction

Here's a story from Yahoo's Odd News that mystery writers might wish they'd created, edited by yours truly: In 2010 Igor took out a $2 million life insurance policy and named his wife Irina the primary beneficiary. They divorced later that year. In 2011 she identified a corpse in Moldova as her ex-husband's, returned to the U.S. with a death certificate and the cremated remains, and received payment. There was a funeral service at a Minneapolis cemetery, where an urn was placed in a niche. Irina, 51, transferred money to her son and to accounts in Switzerland and Moldova. Turns out Igor, 54, wasn't dead. He somehow arranged for a stand-in corpse to be dressed in his clothes, on which he planted I.D. before placing it along a road. He was indicted in absentia in 2015 on one count of mail fraud. Prosecutors called him in May 2016 and tried to persuade him to return to the U.S., but he said he would rather live with his new love interest on an apple farm. He was arrested this month and returned to the U.S.. Irina pleaded guilty and is serving a three-year stretch. The son was sentenced to probation. The identity of the corpse is still unknown. Igor has pleaded not guilty. Who me?


How many articles or interviews are there where someone is complaining about the cost of college? Some folks are so frustrated they are calling for government to pick up the tab, and those with common sense reply: "If you think it's expensive now - wait 'til it's free." Nothing ever is. Somewhere someone is paying for the politicians' largess. According to the Fast Takes column in today's NY Post. Purdue U. may have found a solution. First move: its president, former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, cut eight million from the operating budget. Subsequently, room and board decreased by five percent. And, thanks to a deal with Amazon, students are saving 30% on books. This has led to total savings of $57 million since 2013. Kudos.

I watched youtube highlights of last night's game between Dallas and New Orleans. The Cowboys' defense almost completely shut down the Saints' juggernaut offense. Only a few weeks ago the team seemed out of the playoff picture. The acquisition of WR Amari Cooper has been huge, but the entire squad has upped its play. The win puts them in Super Bowl contention. Only die-hards would've thunk it. Kudos.

No wind today, which allowed me to put in a full session of the floating book shop despite a temperature in the low 40's. My thanks to the woman who bought a Colin Powell bio, and to the other who purchased a novel in Russian; and to the gentleman who selected Concise Guide to Jazz by Mark C. Gridley; and to Mark, who found five works of non-fiction to his liking, three related to the Holocaust.
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Thursday, November 29, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/29 - Stanley Stolz & Co.


This may restore your faith in humanity. From foxnews.com, edited by yours truly: Vietnam vet Stanley Stolz, 73, passed away on November 18th. The Omaha World-Herald ran this notice. "Public invited to cemetery to honor Vietnam veteran with no known family. Interment at Omaha National Cemetery on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 2 pm." Word spread around social media and was picked up by news networks. Cemetery officials estimated that between 1500 and 2000 people turned out. RIP, sir. Thank you.


Although I love the way the President has warned Dems about harassment by threatening to declassify files damaging to their brethren, there's no doubt in my mind they will throw those folks under the proverbial bus, since most no longer hold positions in the government. Politics will diminish your faith in humanity.

Oops. John Senden, 47, suffered a mishap on the first tee of the Australian PGA Championship. Here's a pic:


The break caused him to completely miss the ball. He was assessed a one-shot penalty and made bogey on the hole. By rule, the club cannot be replaced during the round. Playing without a driver, he shot an even par 72, six shots behind the leaders, two who have yet to finish. The native of Brisbane has earned more than $22 million at the game. He turned pro in 1992.

I didn't make a decision on the location of the floating book shop until the last moment. The wind wasn't as strong as it'd been and the sun was out, and since the most favorable parking spot was open, I set up at my usual nook. Of course, the clouds rolled in during hour three. My thanks to the woman who bought two books in Russian, and to the female postal worker who purchased three DVD's. I usually have the display curbside. Since I wanted the least distance between my car and the goods, I chose the opposite side closest to the corner, hoping no one from the building's management would show and demand I move. I got away with it. Here's what it looked like:


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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/28 - Perpsectives

Perspective: During the Obama administration, tear gas was used on the border 26 times in 2012, 27 in 2013, 15 in 2014, eight in 2015, and three times in 2016. That compares to 18 times in 2017 and 29 times in 2018 during the Trump administration. I found the following cartoon at briansolis.com:


For years MLB's brass has been trying to find a way to speed up games. The thinking on that has suddenly changed, according to an article at Yahoo Sports. Here's a snippet: "Gambling could turn baseball’s pace-of-play from something people complained about into something gamblers love. We all know sports fans who will bet on anything, and baseball offers dozens of micro bets per inning and hundreds of micro bets per game. This could single-handedly bring more eyes to baseball than any rule change ever could." SMH & LOL at once.

The Feds have issued another dire warning on the environment. In the interest of equal time, here's a link to text of the late George Carlin's take on the issue:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/251836-we-re-so-self-important-everybody-s-going-to-save-something-now-save

Woke up at 4:15 AM. Needed something to do, so I started, three days early, the third and, hopefully, final proofing of the file of the novel I intend to self-publish in January. Minor changes to the first 19 pages.

I haven't had a colonoscopy since about 2006. Although I have no symptoms, my doctor insisted I get one. I set it up for early January this morning at a clinic within walking distance of my apartment. To my surprise, the doctor said I looked a lot younger than my age. I'd thought that was history. Although my body looks a lot fitter than it is, my hair is now almost completely gray and my neck sags.

The first half of today's session of the floating book shop was a snap, as there was enough sunshine to take the sting out of the cold. Then the clouds rolled in. Since my car was right beside the display, I was able to sit in it for a while a couple of times. My thanks to the young woman who bought a French instruction textbook, and to the gentleman who purchased a sci-fi paperback and Walter Moseley's Charcoal Joe.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/27 - Forecasts

It would be great if Presidents could focus entirely on domestic matters. Unfortunately, bad actors across the globe pose distractions. Trump was placed between a rock and a hard place concerning Saudi Arabia, drawing heat from those who don't have to deal with the situation. Now Putin is again up to no good. No matter what Trump does in these cases - or any other - the know-it-alls will bash him. What would they do in his place? It's so easy to criticize when one doesn't have to make a decision. I wonder if he ever wishes he hadn't run for office.

Will record online sales make up for the drop in store-shopping? Last year, stunned by the number of packages delivered to our building, I was sure fourth quarter growth would be brisk. It came in at only 2.6%. Will that again be the case in 2018? Will the damage done by Hurricane Michael and the California fires keep this year's number low? 

Chargers' QB Phillip Rivers may never make it to the Super Bowl, but he will probably be a first ballot Hall of Famer. His excellence was on display once again Sunday when he completed his first 25 passes, an NFL single game record. It tied a record Miami's Ryan Tannehill previously held alone, 25 straight completions in a two-game span. 35, in his 15th season, father of seven, Rivers has been to seven Pro Bowls and will finish in the top ten in many categories. Kudos.


With the wind blowing hard at my usual nook, I took the show to an alternate site, hoping the sunshine that had been forecast would negate the cold. Only one problem, it was overcast the entire three-plus hours I was there. I sat in my car periodically. I stayed longer than usual, hoping someone would finally come along and buy a book, DVD or CD. After I'd surrendered and began packing up, an angel approached and purchased The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. I asked for a buck. She gave me ten. My thanks, young lady.
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Monday, November 26, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/26 - Communication

Phillip Jose Farmer had a 60-year run as a sci-fi icon. He passed away in 2009 at 91. He was a
three-time Hugo Award winner, was cited for Lifetime Achievement, and named a Nebula Grand Master. He had scores of novels and short stories published. I just finished Traitor to the Living, which came out in 1978. In reading such fare, it's always fun to see what the author got right and wrong. He has L. A. suffering a dangerous level of smog, which was solved by emission standards not that long after the book hit the market. He cites as the solution the gradual phasing out of the gasoline engine in favor of electric cars. That's at least half right, although air quality is fine these days, at least to reasonable folks. Fortunately, environmentalism is not the focus of the novel. It has a far more interesting theme - communication with the dead. Allegedly, a machine has been invented that enables contact with the deceased, who are reduced to a form of energy. Is it a scam or legit? If the latter, what will it do to religious beliefs? The nation is divided. Violence breaks out. How will it end? Of course, the main question when discussing such a novel is - is it, especially the science, too outrageous, detracting from enjoyment of the story. I don't think so, although science has never been my strong suit. Is it a good novel? Hardly. Is it bad? No. Since it's the only one of Farmer's works I've ever read, I'll leave it to others as to where it fits in his impressive canon. Its 220 pages move quickly, and the theme is engrossing. Upon completion, I experienced the usual sense of dissatisfaction I do regarding almost all sci-fi, in print or on screen. Only four users at Amazon have rated Traitor to the Living, forging to a consensus of 2.1. I'll add my opinion and go a little higher.


There was a nice surprise on my Facebook feed this morning. A former teammate at Lafayette H.S. posted pictures from our senior season, '66. Here's one. I'm number 72. Stu, our center, who posted the pics, is 62. Joe, who was named All-City, is 61, Pasc is 88. Obscured are the LT, Moochie, the RT, Frank, the RE Lenny, and the WB, Carmine. The opponent is, I believe, Lincoln. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. After a long run, Nicky stepped out at the one-yard-line - instead of diving into the endzone. Ralphie fumbled the next play, which he will not live down in this lifetime. Thanks, Stu.


Expecting rain, I brought out only one-third of the floating book shop's wares today. It didn't do anything more than sprinkle. My thanks to the woman who bought a novel in Russian, to the gentleman who purchased Gender Babble: Dumbest Things Men Ever Said by David Olive; and to the other, whom I hadn't seen for a while, who found four DVD's to his liking; and to the young man who donated three highly marketable books. 
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Sunday, November 25, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/15 - Gifts, Ancestors, Magic, Wolves

Looking for a Christmas present for the Trump-hater in your life? In a fun op-ed piece in today's NY Post, Kyle Smith points out how many in the bustling economy are cashing in on anti-Trump products. Ben and Jerry, those two capitalists posing as socialists living in the second whitest state in the nation, have created a new flavor - Resist, which consists of chocolate ice cream, pecans, walnuts, fudge-covered almonds and white and dark fudge chunks. Smith says: "Be Antifa, not antifat." Other items: Lingua Franca's $380 cashmere sweater that reads: “I miss Barack” or “beat the system.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg T-shirts in which she is flipping the bird with each hand; Monogram Studio's “Resist persist insist” T-shirt, only $65; Society 6's $70 shower curtain reading, in huge letters: “SUPPORT 25TH AMENDMENT,” which states that a president may be removed from office if he is unable to discharge his duties; CafePress' thong reading “Anti-Trump AF”; Etsy's panties reading “Dump Trump.” Viva capitalism, which works even for leftists who want to replace it with socialism.


Also in the Post: a study by Rockefeller University and the U of Basel, Switzerland has found that all humans are descendants of a couple who lived 100,000-200,000 years ago. They survived a catastrophic event that almost wiped out the entire human race.

RIP magician/actor/writer Ricky Jay, 70, Brooklyn boy, great entertainer. There are 39 titles under his name as an actor at IMDb, and five as a writer. He also took his skills to theater, mesemerizing audiences. A historian of magic, there are ten books listed in his name at Wiki. He lectured at Harvard and USC. He is the subject of the feature documentary Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2012), directed by Molly Bernstein. He and Michael Weber ran Deceptive Practices, a consulting firm that advised movie, TV and theater directors on various illusions, magic secrets, and con artistry techniques. He was the curator of the Mulholland Library of Conjuring and the Allied Arts. He was a master with playing cards. He is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for having throw one 190 feet at 90 MPH. From ten paces he can plunk one into the flesh of a watermelon. He was great fun. Thank you, sir.  


It's not surprising that Michigan again lost to Ohio St., but the margin of victory, 62-39, was shocking, especially since the Wolverines had been playing stellar defense. The loss knocked them out of the Big Ten title game. Jim Harbaugh has lost all four of his games against the school's 
arch-rival. Will that lead to his ouster despite a 38-13 overall record at his alma mater? I would be surprised if he's not fired. The Buckeyes seemed vulnerable this year. I bet the Maize and Blue's alumni are very unhappy. The wolves are at the door.

My thanks to the odd couple who bought an Atkins diet book in paperback. He was tall and stout, she short and petite. He looked Irish. She spoke to him in Spanish.


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Saturday, November 24, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/24 - Book vs. Film

The book is almost always better than the movie. I liked the film version of Ken Kesey's One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) better than the novel, and also The Godfather Parts I & II versus the book. I add to that short list the adaptation of Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea (1993), which I watched last night courtesy of Netflix. I found that novel a very difficult read, which at this stage of my life perhaps reflects laziness or lack of focus on my part. How faithful is the film to the book? Very, if I recall correctly - which is a big if, especially since months have passed since I finished reading it. Since I chose the NC-17 version, there was more sex than the book contained. That didn't affect my opinion. I simply found the narrative, which is the back story to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, a lot easier to follow on screen. And the location and characters were vivid on celluloid than in my imagination. Born in Tahiti, Karina Lombard was a natural for the role of Antoinette Cosway. The matinée idol looks of Nathaniel Parker were perfect for the young Rochester. Lombard has had a modest career since, mostly in TV. The classically trained Parker has done very well, mostly in BBC productions. Rachel Ward is excellent in her brief role as the mother who goes mad after her son is killed in a fire set by ex-slaves. Michael York brings his usual grace to his part as the step-father. In the role of Aunt Cora is Martine Beswick, twice a Bond girl: From Russia with Love (1963) and Thunderball (1965). John Duigan was at the helm. It was my first encounter with his work despite the fact that he has 25 titles as a director and 20 as a writer under his name at IMDb. Jan Sharp, who has only one other screenplay credit, and Carole Angier, her only writing credit, had the difficult task of adaptation. I was unable to find the cost of production, which was probably modest, but I suspect the film was a box office flop, as it brought in only $1.6 million worldwide. 1000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 5.8 on a scale of ten. It runs only 1:38. Those who object to screen nudity should pass or opt for the R version. There is also a 2006 BBC production whose rating is 5.6 and runs less than an hour-and-a-half. Here's a pic of the stars cropped from a German movie poster:


I can't resist. Here's a still of Martine Beswick as a gypsy in From Russia with Love, her screen debut, as she is about to square off with an equally beautiful rival over the affections of a man. It didn't take much to inflame my hormones back then. That scene sent them into warp drive.


The five-session streak of double digit returns ended today. My thanks to the dignified elderly woman who bought a book in Russian, and to Monsey, who insisted on paying for three Christmas CD's and a self help book despite the fact that she donated seven hardcovers to the cause.
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Friday, November 23, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/23 - Life Is Good

Drones seem to have a checkered history, but here's an instance of 100% positivism from the Weird But True column in today's NY Post. University of Maryland researchers sent a kidney stored in a refrigerated box via the skies. It traveled at 42 MPH over three miles, potentially faster than an ambulance, and arrived in good shape.

Also on the medical front in a Post article: To no one's surprise, legislators are preparing a bill that would have marijuana covered by insurance. How much fraud will occur on this front? "I'm in pain, Doc. Better write me a prescription."

The pros and cons of NYC's deal with Amazon continue to be debated heatedly. I don't like that a billion dollar corporation has been given tax incentives to locate in a rich city, while other areas of the state are struggling mightily. Anyway, opponents have taken to the streets in a creative way. Here's a pic:


Is the economy headed for a big slowdown? Many experts seem to think so. Meanwhile, in a radio interview, I heard a Target exec gush that he expects the most holiday business ever in his 30+ years on the job. Of course, I realize he may be trying to generate biz, or that the slump may occur after the fourth quarter.

Lost in the holiday hubbub yesterday was the anniversary of JFK's assassination. I don't like that date to pass without a mention, although I don't recall having heard any new info or theories on it. I wonder if it is the most discussed event since that fateful day. It has certainly been a bonanza for the book business and those authors whose work took off.


It was about 20 degrees when I left the apartment at 11:15. I was in no hurry, as I was hoping the temperature would climb to the predicted 30 while I was operating the floating book shop. I'd worked in such cold many times. I wondered only if being another year older, 68, had weakened me to a point where I wouldn't be able to take it for very long. I'm not as young as the folks in the above photo. Fortunately, nothing seemed different. I stood in the sunshine in front of the Chase bank on Bay Parkway and 85th. There were six layers beneath my heavy winter coat. There was barely a breeze, and I was able to put in two+ hours with no problem. My thanks to the woman who bought two young adult books for her daughter, and to the one who purchased a pictorial on Chihuahuas; and to the one who selected two Christmas CD's; and to the young man who chose five; and to the one who found a Noel compilation by Jazz artists; and to the guy who bought a blue ray DVD of Phone Booth (2002). It was a fifth straight session of double digit returns, which I'm not sure has ever happened before. And my good luck continued at CVS, where the large bottle of Pepsi was on sale for .77 cents. I bought three, then headed to Delmar for a couple of slices. Life is good.
My Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Fortezza/e/B002M4NLJE

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Wednesday, November 21, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/21 - Ladies & a Few Gentlemen


Remember when Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues was all the rage amongst leftists? Alas, the PC police have caught up to it. Eastern Michigan is the third college to have banned it, citing its "lack of trans-sensitivity and overall lack of diversity and inclusion." There is no bottom to this sort of absurdity.

Given Michelle Obama's popularity, it's surprising that Dems are not pushing her as a presidential candidate, especially since the current front-runners are so dubious. It doesn't matter that she's as unqualified as her husband was. As things stand at the moment, it seems she'd have a real shot at defeating President Trump - perish the thought.

Is the Ivanka email issue a big deal? Probably not, but the left will make it one.

From foxnews.com, edited by yours truly: Internal decapitation results from extreme trauma to ligaments, muscles and joints connecting the skull to the spine, leading to the dislocation of the head from the spinal cord. It is often fatal. Those who survive can have significant neurological impairments. A Michigan man witnessed an accident involving his wife and immediately rushed to her aid, holding her head in place as he spoke to dispatchers through a cell phone held to his ear by the other driver. Once at the hospital, the woman couldn't move or breathe on her own. She communicated by blinking. Months later she's back on her feet and has resumed homeschooling her two daughters. She still undergoes physical therapy twice a week. Her surgeon said: "It's one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen." I'd love to be at their table as they give thanks tomorrow.

I have a lot to be thankful for. Most Americans in good health do. What I am most grateful for, even though two years have passed since the election, is that Hillary is not President of the United States. It even surpasses my appreciation for book sales. Of course, she may run again - perish the thought.

I did not make a decision on the location of the floating book shop until the last second. When I saw the flag at the corner of East 13th and Av. Z fully extended I knew I had to go elsewhere. I doubted it would be a full session, as clouds had moved into the area. I told myself to expect a goose egg. Fortunately, luck was with me. The sun popped out every now and then, taking the bite out of the wind and cold. When a woman who spoke no English bought seven books in Russian, I was so happy I wouldn't be leaving with nothing. Oddly, people kept buying. My thanks to the aforementioned young lady, and to the middle age one who purchased Danielle Steel's Vanished; and to the other who selected a collection of 50 American short stories; and to the teenager who chose Kevin Trudeau's Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About and How to Get Out of the Hospital Alive: A Guide to Patient Power by Sheldon Paul Blau; and to the young man who jumped on Get Anyone to Do Anything: Never Feel Powerless Again--With Psychological Secrets to Control and Influence by David J. Lieberman; and Johnny, who bought Stephen King's The Waste Lands: The Dark Tower- Book III, Death Benefit by Robin Cook, and a sci-fi paperback. That was the easy part. Since we're going to Jersey tomorrow and my eldest niece is not working, I had to make room for her in the back seat of the old Hyundai. I loaded two large canvas bags with books. Knowing the elevator in our
co-op is out of service, I had to make a choice of one or two trips. Of course, I chose the former. It wasn't easy getting that stuff up two flights. I couldn't manage it without resting the bags on every third or so step. I'm sure I will be very sore tomorrow. Good food should lessen the pain.



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Tuesday, November 20, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/20 - Kid You Not

According to the NY Post's Weird But True Column, the American witch population is booming. It has risen from 8000 in 1990 to 1.5 million today, according to a study by Trinity College. All together now: "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"



As if there haven't been enough Robin Hood movies, another has just been released. In trying to make it different from the others, the creators have "modernized" it. In his one-star review in today's NY Post, Johnny Oleksinski writes that "Steal from the rich, give to the poor" has been replaced by - I kid you not - "Redistribution of Wealth!" Include me out. Here's my favorite:


Quiz: What is the object in the picture below?


Umbilical chord jewelry, a new fad. Some women are keeping the stump that falls from the child after a few weeks - and putting it in a locket!

My thanks to the sweet elderly woman who bought a novel in Russian, and to Ira, who purchased a bunch of magazines on woodworking; and to Ludmila, who chose Things To Do, a crafts pictorial geared toward children; and to the Latino gentleman who parked his bike and found seven DVD's to his liking and, as usual, overcompensated me for them. Gracias, amigo.


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Monday, November 19, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/19 - Then, Now

Born in 1900, Meridel le Sueur became a feminist icon through writing and activism. She worked as an extra and stunt-woman during Hollywood's silent era before becoming a journalist. She joined the communist party in 1925, and never changed her affiliation. In the 1930's she wrote a novel that she would revise through the decades and that was finally published in 1978. I just finished a 2006 edition of The Girl, a harrowing depiction of the depression, described in a blurb as "An Urban Grapes of Wrath." Set in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1936-'37, it is told from the point of view of the uneducated title character, a 20-year-old. This was a time when the social safety net was minuscule and not easy to secure, the exact opposite of today. The poor were destitute. Many men were psychologically devastated by not being able to find work, and women of child-bearing age were especially vulnerable. The author captures this in compelling fashion in 182 pages. She does not compromise in matters of prose and dialogue. The narrative is awkward, true to the character, often repetitive. The point of view frequently shifts briefly within a paragraph. No quotation marks are used, which I assume the reader is to take as how The Girl wrote it. It is not easy reading. The slang of the era is incorporated, some of which escaped my comprehension. Still, this is a valuable novel that should have been published soon after it was written. No matter where one stands politically, I think most people would agree that changes needed to be made and, thankfully, were and continue to be made. Now the pendulum has swung completely the other way, and the question has become: How much is enough and how is the massive amount of fraud to be curbed? I'm sure the author, who passed away at 96 in 1996, would want a limitless safety net, no questions asked. Only six users at Amazon have rated the book, forging to a consensus of 4.3 on a scale of five. I rate it 3.25.


NFL: Any doubters that the Giants made the wrong choice in the first round of the draft are nitpickers... The Saints are on as dominating a roll as there ever has been... After six straight wins, the Chargers seemed to have lost their penchant for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Yesterday they were back at it, missing an extra point and completely bungling clock management, allowing the Broncos plenty of time for the game-winning field goal drive... It looks like the Bears are for real, although QB Mitch Trubisky needs to improve his passing... Suddenly the Cowboys are alive, the calls for the firing of Jason Garrett temporarily stayed... So are the Ravens, who made a QB switch. In the win over the Bengals yesterday, Lamar Jackson ran the ball 27 times for 117 yards, and passed 19 times for 150, a bizarre ratio in modern pro football... I've always rooted for QB Alex Smith who, although his skills have made him rich, seemed a victim of bad luck and to be treated unfairly despite great stats. Here he is acknowledging the fans after being sidelined by a gruesome leg injury in yesterday's game in DC.

 
My thanks to the woman who bought a vegetarian cook book, and to Angelo, who overcompensated me for a pictorial on wood staining; and to Bus Driver, who purchased two more thrillers: The Miko by Eric Van Lustbader and The Final Detail by Harlan Coben. Special thanks to the lovely young woman who bought Five Cents, although I'd be very surprised if someone her age liked it.
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Sunday, November 18, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/18 - Mega-Bucks & A Bonehead Act


There are two interesting articles about money in today's NY Post. To no one's surprise, the most ever spent on a midterm election occurred in 2018. Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife donated $113 million to Republicans. Former NYC nanny mayor Michael Bloomberg gave $61.3 to Democrats. He really got bang for his bucks on House races, where 21 of the 23 candidates he backed won. Still, I think that dough could have been put to far better use. I've never donated to a politician, and I doubt I ever will. Most are slime... Colleges are profiting big time from application fees. UCLA earned $5.6 million from the 79,000 applicants it rejected in 2016. Columbia and NYU reeled in $3.9 million each. Fordham attracted a measly half-million-plus. What a racket.

"The Game" - Harvard-Yale - was played yesterday. It's no longer a national event, as the Ivy League hasn't been in the upper echelon of NCAA football for decades. It's of interest largely to students and alumni, who make a big day of it. This year's contest has made headlines due to an incident involving a Crimson sophomore RB. On his way to a 27-yard score, he gave the finger to the Elis' defense. Kudos to the official who flagged him for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Harvard then had to settle for a FG. Its head coach said: "He was wrong. It's that simple. It was the right call; he was wrong..." Harvard won 45-27, despite the classless gaffe, but Yale leads the series 67-60. There were eight ties back in the day before OT was instituted.

Things worked out well for the floating book shop today in Park Slope. The lack of wind made it a pleasant stay despite a complete absence of sunshine. My thanks to the three gentlemen who bought nine DVD's between them, and to the young woman who purchased Tom Clancy's massive Executive Orders, Isaac Asimov's Foundation's Edge, and two paperback sci-fi novels.
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Saturday, November 17, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/17 - Threads

Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson tackles serious themes, unlike most American filmmakers. He's more like a European auteur, which seems odd given that he was born in Studio City, California. Despite his professional stature, he continues to do shorts. His work is always interesting and challenging, which is the case with Phantom Thread (2017), which I watched last night courtesy of Netflix. Set in Europe in the '50's, it is the story of a fastidious, soft-spoken dressmaker frequently haunted by memories of his dead mother. Single, obsessed with his craft, women pass through his life. His sister, also single, is his business partner, almost a mirror image of him. Needing a break from post-success doldrums, he travels to the country, where he meets a waitress who interests him. She goes to work for him and they become lovers. She is frustrated by his aloofness and fussiness. Finally, she hits on a novel way that may reach into his personal cocoon. This is an intense character study. The pace during its two-plus hour running time is measured, requiring patience. The brother and sister are not likable but very interesting, expertly played by the great Daniel Day Lewis and Lesley Manville, both nominated for an Oscar. Manville has a phenomenal career as a supporting player in progress, and is comfortable on the big or small screen. Luxembourg's Vicky Krieps is wonderful as the waitress. Although she has extensive credits, it was my first encounter with her talent. This is one of those works that is respected more than liked. Is it pretentious? I bet the average movie-goer would think so? Is there a Freudian theme at the bottom of it? I'm not sure. I think the title refers to that which binds human beings, which is often mysterious. There is an element in the narrative I didn't get - the fear of being cursed, as the entrepreneur is anything but, although it is not out of the ordinary that even the wildly successful suffer such anxiety. This in not commercial, feel-good cinema. To my surprise, the film was profitable, bringing in $44 million on a budget of $35 million. I was also surprised by its rating at IMDb, where 74,000+ users have forged to a consensus of 7.4 on a scale of ten. It's encouraging to know that Anderson is appreciated by more than his peers. He doesn't play it safe or compromise. Here are the leads in character:


My thanks to Bill Brown, author of Words and Guitar: A History of Lou Reed's Music, who bought Paddy Chayefsky's Altered States and Michael Crichton's Airframe; and to the young couple who purchased Civil War in Pictures by Fletcher Pratt... I've received a higher volume of clicks than usual on the stories I've posted at fictionaut.com, and two of my books at Amazon have attracted reads of 150 & 25 pages. My thanks to those kind folks who took the time to take a look... I had a one-hour visit from Lou, who is blessed with the gift of gab. He said one of the potential jurors at the trial of El Chapo asked for the drug lord's autograph. Either he's a grade one goofball, or he hit on the perfect scheme to get himself dismissed. If the latter, mega-kudos.

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Friday, November 16, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/16 - A Word, A Camel, A Car, Belts

Each year the Oxford University Press chooses a word that characterizes the annual mood. "Toxic" is 2018's winner. Few would argue with that. Also in the running was one I'd never heard: "Gas-lighting," defined as manipulating someone by psychological means into doubting his/her own sanity.

From foxnews,com, edited by yours truly: Irv Gordon, a NYC teacher, has passed away at 78. He is the world famous owner of a 1966 Volvo 1800 S, on which he put more than three million miles. His commute to work was 125 miles, and he traveled extensively, hitting every state but Hawaii, and also driving across Europe. He set the world record in 1998, 1.69 million miles by an original owner. He hit two million in 2002, three in 2013. He maintained the car religiously, had the engine rebuilt twice. He  regularly teamed with Volvo for events and became a promotional partner of Castrol, which he said was the only brand he’d ever used. He once offered to sell the car back to Volvo for $1 per mile. They didn't bite. Here's a pic:


You're driving along, cursing Mother Nature, and all of a sudden you see this:


The camel, named Einstein, was let out of its van, which was stuck in traffic 40 miles north of Philly.

I watched a youtube video last night. What do these actors have in common: Jason Statham, Wesley Snipes, Taylor Lautner, Michael Jai White, John Cusack, Ashton Kusher and Ed Oneill? All have black belts in the martial arts. Some have several. Keanu Reeves, Hugh Jackman and Chloe Grace Moretz all train extensively for kick-ass roles. According to his bio at IMDb, Jackman goes all out to make Wolverine authentic. He can bench press 300 pounds! He acts, he sings, he dances, he lifts heavy weight - he should be playing Superman.

My thanks to Bob, who bought Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff, the only sale of the today's session. At least the snow is almost gone already.
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Thursday, November 15, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/15 - Music & Snow

RIP country music legend Roy Clark, 85. He was the host or co-host for the entire 24-year run of Hee Haw. A great guitarist, he performed all over the world, and appeared as a guest on numerous TV shows, and even did some acting. He played other instruments as well. He won a Grammy, seven CMA's and two ACM's. He published a memoir in 1994, My Life in Spite of Myself, co-written with Marc Eliot. He cranked out 37 studio albums, from which 68 singles were pulled, his most successful being Yesterday When I Was Young. There are nine live discs and five compilations that carry his name. Way back in the day when I was a young know-it-all who actually knew nothing, I thought country artists were hacks who appealed to yokels. I was aware of who Roy Clark was but completely unaware of his virtuoso skill, which I discovered in an odd way, as I was not a fan of the the following TV show, which I landed on while channel hopping:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssnp7R51A 


Awesome, sir. Thank you.

As if there needed to be any more evidence that this topsy turvy world has gone mad - Michael Avenatti, lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels and accuser of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was arrested on domestic violence charges. While this gladdens the hearts of those of us who support President Trump, the shyster is just as entitled to the presumption of innocence as any citizen. Actress and activist Alyssa Milano has already bailed on him. Milano, who was beside Avenatti at a protest outside the White House in July, took to Twitter to repudiate him. How does she know he's not the victim of some political dirty trick?


I was tempted to open the floating book shop despite the raw cold and lack of sun. Fortunately, parking was unavailable and put the kibosh on that silly idea. As I've said before, if this weather pattern continues and temperatures dip below freezing, we are in for it this winter. I took the shot above at 1:30 PM. Hopefully, the forecast is correct and it will change to rain. The expected accumulation has already been changed from one inch to two-to-five.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/14 - Remembering Two Beauties

Last night the Movies! channel ran The Battle of the Bulge (1965), which ate up a four-hour time-slot. It's a middle of the pack WWII epic that has a star-studded cast featuring Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews and Charles Bronson. Two women had brief roles. Anna Maria Pierangeli died of a barbituate overdose at 39 in 1971. Born in Sardinia, the beauty was utterly charming as the wife of boxing legend Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956). She didn't have much luck outside of that role. She has only 34 titles under her name at IMDb. In ...Bulge she played a black marketeer partnered with a tank sergeant played by Telly Savalas. According to her bio, Pier and James Dean were very much in love and wanted to marry, but her mother disapproved because of Dean's behavior and because he wasn't Catholic. She helped arrange Pier's marriage to Vic Damone. Three years before she died, the National Enquirer published an interview in which Pier said Dean was the only man she ever really loved. She is also quoted as saying: "He wanted me to love him unconditionally, but Jimmy was not able to love someone else in return . . . it was the troubled boy that wanted to be loved very badly. I loved Jimmy as I have loved no one else in my life, but I could not give him the enormous amount that he needed. Loving Jimmy was something that could empty a person." She had a son with Vic Damone, and another with composer Armando Trovajoli. She divorced both.


Barbara Werle had only one scene in the film, as a prostitute sent by a general to a colonel played by Robert Shaw, who has no interest and ushers her out. She did not have a long Hollywood career. She has only 24 titles under her name at IMDb, divided almost equally between the big and small screen. One was with Elvis, Harum Scarum (1965). She had success off-screen as a soprano for the St. Elizabeth Seton Traditional Choir in La Costa, California, and as half of the ballroom dance partnership of Barbara and Mansell, who performed in Las Vegas and in nightclubs across the U.S.. She married once, had a son, and passed away in 2013 at 84.


I have a new Facebook friend who probably came to me through my Godmother. Her name is Nunziatina - Nun-zee-ah-teena. Love it!

Broward County Florida is still counting and moving to extend the Thursday deadline. 55 of 57 counties, even those ravaged by the recent hurricane, got their votes in on time. This takes incompetence to a new level - even for politics.

It was too cold to do business at my usual nook. I needed to stand in the sunshine, so I took the floating book shop to Bay Parkway. My thanks to the gentleman who bought three DVD's, and to the one who purchased five and Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama by Ann Coulter, and the WWII non-fiction classic Is Paris Burning? by Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre. 
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Tuesday, November 13, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/13 - Mavens

Looking for a change of career? According to Forbes magazine, Dutch DJ Tiesto earned $39 million last year.


RIP Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, 95, whose colorful characters entertained millions. Here's a pic of his legacy:


RIP actor Douglas Rain, 90, the voice behind the rebellious Hal 9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). That's not all the Canadian native did, of course. He has 35 titles listed under his name at IMDb, and not all are voice-overs. He was highly successful on the stage. He made his Broadway debut in Tamburlaine the Great in 1956. In 1972 he was nominated for a Tony as Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a dramatic role for Vivat! Vivat Regina! He performed in a host of Shakespearean plays at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, of which he was a co-founder. Well done, sir. Here's what the voice of Hal looked like in real life:


Another bonus of cutting the chord seems to be a lower electric bill. I read recently that a cable box consumes a lot of energy. The reporter suggested it be turned off when not in use. My bill has certainly gone down.

The forecast was on the money, the rain stopping in the afternoon, allowing a full session of the floating book shop. My thanks to Angelo, who overcompensated me for two works of non-fiction, one of them How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes; and to the two ladies who combined to donate three books in Russian.
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Monday, November 12, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/12 - Singles, a Myth, NFL, Triple F

China's Singles' Day is a holiday among the young that celebrates pride in being single. The date, 11/11, was chosen because the number "1" resembles an individual who is alone. Oddly, the holiday has also become a popular date to celebrate relationships. Many marry on it. It is also a colossal shopping day comparable to Black Friday. Sales on Alibaba topped $30 billion this year.

Here's a myth buster from the Weird But True column in today's NY Post: Spain's University of Granada has determined that the nose actually shrinks when one lies, due to a two-degree drop in body temp. We still love you, Pinocchio.


I thought the Jets would improve as the season wore on - they've regressed... I've always believed Matt Barkley is a good QB. I'm not surprised by what he accomplished yesterday after only a few days of practice. I don't understand why he was out of the NFL... The Saints have replaced the Rams as the team to beat in the NFC... What's happened to the Eagles? What a dropoff!... The Buccaneers were the first team in league history with more than 450 yards and three or fewer points in a game... Always great to see the Patriots routed, but never count them out... Anyone still questioning whether the Browns made the right choice at the top of the draft?

My thanks to Ira, who bought pictorials on Trains and Autos, and to the woman who confessed to being shy, who purchased The Gentle Art of Verbal Written Self-Defense: Letters in Response to Triple-F Situations by Suzette Hadin Elgin. I googled Triple F. In this context it probably means fears, flaws and failures and not the slogan sex-obsessed teenage males ravaged by hormones often spouted. Wait  - that was a quadruple... Despite today's meager returns, there were three moments that made the session worth it. Mike, who is pushing 80, said he got a drug bill from Aetna for sixty-seven cents, which says a lot about the state of health care in the USA... While daydreaming about customers buying books, I was returned to my senses by the distinct chords of a song and turned around and saw a middle age guy sporting a crewcut sitting in an SUV, waiting for the light to change. As Tony Iommi's familiar guitar lead began, the driver mimicked it with his lips. Soon the unmistakable voice of Ozzy Osbourne burst from the speakers: "Is it the end, my friend?" Sounded great... Finally, the little guy in the pic below jumped off his scooter, climbed the pole and had to be coaxed down by his mom. That durn car had the audacity to get in the way.


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Sunday, November 11, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/11 - Vets, a Cover & a Monster


Yesterday I worked on the cover of the novel I will self-publish in January. Fortunately, a red template was available. I wanted it for two reasons: the characters are on fire with sexual desire, and none of the covers of my other nine books is red. I'd had the blurb in my head for days, perhaps weeks. I don't think this will change much:


From various sources: A record has been set in Miami's Dade County. A 17-foot-five-inch python has been caught. It weighs 120 pounds. The hunter's hands were swollen from the bites he suffered during the capture of the female. The South Florida Water Management District pays eligible hunters $8.10 an hour to hunt Burmese Pythons on its vast landholdings, which encompass much of the Everglades, although not Everglades National Park. They get a $50 bonus for every beast measuring at least 4 feet, and $25 for each foot beyond. If my math is correct, the bonus here was $325. The creatures are not native to the region. They were dumped there and have multiplied, and have virtually wiped out all the raccoons, foxes and other small mammals that once thrived in the southern part of the area. PETA has complained about the way some have been killed - shot more than once. Maybe the organization should send its own members out to capture the beasts. Here's a pic: 


Why are wildfires so common to California and recounts to Florida?

I know better than to let myself believe that immediately landing the most favorite parking spot is a good omen for the floating book shop, which today was in Park Slope, allegedly the most literate neighborhood in Brooklyn. My thanks to the old-timer who bought two DVD's as I was setting up the display, and to the young man who purchased a Brain Busters puzzle book as I was breaking it down. I hardly put a dent in the inventory this weekend. I dread the thought of people dropping off more wares to my usual nook. Then again, I've yet to secure parking there, so I may have to go elsewhere manana. 
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Saturday, November 10, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/10 - French, Russian, American

Michel de Montaigne, 1533 – 1592, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for his skeptical remark which translates as "What do I know?" His ideas have influenced not only many authors but the field of psychology. I've just finished Selections from the Essays, a 135-page edition, perfect for lazy-bones like me. It is largely self-examination, something I've been doing since at least the age of 25, when I began writing. Philosophy is even a more difficult read for me these days than in the past. My mind wanders. I did get something important out the book, however, a thought that found itself into the novel I plan to self-publish in January: "Nothing is harder for me than to believe in men's consistency, nothing easier to believe in than their inconsistency..." I gave my adaptation of the line to the female protagonist, who is addressing the main character, her lover. I doubt it will change much from this: "Nobody's completely consistent - not even you, although you come ridiculously close. I may change my mind about all this ten to fifteen years from now. And why not? I'm allowed."


Last night I attended the wake of the best boss I ever had, affectionately known as Fat Joe, who rose to Floor Supervisor at the Commodity Exchange. He was a sweet guy who had a big heart. He knew the atmosphere was charged and often volatile, and that people occasionally went overboard in venting. He let me get away with behavior that easily could have gotten me fired. There were times I completely forgot I was low on the totem pole, and really ripped into a few brokers. They may have been jerks who deserved it, but I was out of line, no doubt my ego inflated by the fact that I was a college grad and a writer, albeit a failed one. Anyway, my fondest memory of Joe occurred away from the trading floor, on the softball field. During our three-year reign as Wall Street champs, he would often coach third, score-book and pen in hand. One game we were really rocking, scoring a bunch of runs, going first to third several times in a row. I was third in line. Although I was slow, I was a smart base-runner. When a grounder made its way into right-field, I knew where I was headed. The grounds were not maintained well. The ball would bounce erratically. There was a chance it would be bobbled momentarily. As I was sliding safely into third, I heard Joe laughing uproariously: "Hee, hee, hee." I'll never forget it. It captured his joie de vivre perfectly. His cousin, an lit' prof, delivered a wonderful eulogy that included commentary on their grandmother's atomic potato balls, which were served at the family's bi-monthly Sunday dinners. When the priest asked who'd had Joe as best man, several hands shot up. Here's a pic that also captures his personality perfectly. I took it with an old Instamatic in the mid 80's. Joe's holding the football. If it offends you, tough noogies.


Rest in peace, sir. Thank you.

Spasibo to the gentleman who reminds me of Nikita Khrushchev, who bought four books in Russian, and thanks also to the one who purchased Danielle Steel's Fine Things, claiming the author an easy read for someone of his immigrant background, which several people have remarked through the years; and to Lou, who donated three pictorials.

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Friday, November 9, 2018

The Writer's Life 11/9 - Interesting Day

Our national curse has struck again - another mass shooting, and the same arguments follow. I don't know what the solution is. The anger is understandable and justified, but would a total gun ban work any better than Prohibition did or the War on Drugs has?

Broward County, Florida - SMH. Even the panhandle, which was devastated by the hurricane, submitted its election results on time.

I've completed the second of three scheduled proof-readings of the novel I plan to self-publish in January. It shrunk by about a page. Almost all of what I removed was from the female protagonist's point of view, and it wasn't much, so I decided to eliminate those instances entirely. Just about all of it remains in dialogue, anyway. My next move is to begin work on the cover. I have red in mind, but that may not be doable because using the free templates restricts options. Whatever - it's what's inside that counts, and I'm happy with it. After the first round on the cover, which will probably take less than an hour, I'll put the book aside until about December 1st. If it looks good after that proofing, I'll add page numbers and submit it to KDP. Then I will review a print copy. If there are errors, I will correct them and resubmit. I'll repeat that process until I'm confident most of the errors have been flushed.

Matt, the principal of a private school that caters to many special needs kids, stopped to chat, as he often has. Older than 70, a Vietnam vet who took a bullet there, he has worked in many fields and has been a money magnet, and generous to me. He owns a pizzeria and a cigar bar in Philadelphia. Today he shocked me by saying he is a recovered alcoholic. His low point was his early sixties. His weight dropped from 320 to 170 because he often went days without food. When I asked if he knew what was at the root of the problem, he shrugged and said his mom, who lived into her eighties, had the same problem. His dad is 101.

It was sprinkling throughout today's session of the floating book shop, which was again salvaged by the scaffold. My thanks to Ira, who gushed about the books he bought yesterday, and who today found four on home repair to his liking; and to the burly ex-con who purchased James Paterson's Quickie, co-written with Michael Ledwidge, and Mario Puzo's Fools Die, and three DVD's; and to the gentleman who selected a thriller in Russian; and to the local home attendant who chose a book on Italian cooking; and to the woman thrilled with an opened CD compilation of classical music and one strictly on Beethoven. Special thanks to the other ex-con, a co-resident of the Atlantic Towers co-op, who is reforming, becoming a drug counselor. He dropped off about 100 DVD's, half of the them karate movies. I always suspected he was the person who several times vandalized one of my former cars, as he often ridiculed me unprovoked. I never took the bait. I haven't had many physical altercations in my life, and challenging a burly guy like that, 20 years my junior, would have been disastrous. Anyway, I get the feeling he's atoning for past behavior. I still don't trust him, but I wish him the best.



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