vic fortezza

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...." And so began the greatest country the world has known - the idea, the experiment. Sure, we've had our sins, but far fewer than other nations, and none has worked harder to rectify them than America. Certain elites scoff at this, openly deride this great land and its people - and many of them are rewarded handsomely for it, behavior that would bring incarceration, even death in some places. I went through a period of similar cynicism in my youth. Eventually, I realized that I was dissatisfied with myself, overwhelmed by the enormity of life and looking at the problem without rather than within. We are a land of abundance, prosperous even in difficult economic times. Our poor are fat, not starving. Free education is available to anyone willing to make an effort. Every American citizen has an opportunity to better himself/herself. The responsibility resides with the individual. He must choose whether to become a ward of government or stand on his/her own. I have opted for the...

There's an interesting one-man show coming to Broadway: The Undisputed Truth, starring Mike Tyson, directed by Spike Lee. It seems an effort to rehabilitate his image. At one time Tyson was in the argument of greatest heavyweight of all-time. He struck fear into opponents and the general public until a relative unknown, Buster Douglas, flattened him in one of the greatest upsets in boxing history. From there his career and life began a downward spiral that included marriage/divorce to actress Robin Givens, a rape charge for which he did a stretch in prison, the chomping of Evander Holyfield's ear during a bout, and the bizarre tattooing of his face. If all humans are enigmas, he is among the most enigmatic. It's said that he reads extensively. I hope the show goes well. If memory serves, it has been a long time since he's been in trouble. I do not like one-man shows, perhaps because they remind me of school, which I hated, or because I spend so much time alone. I love interaction between characters. Still, this show seems to have potential as long as it's not done as spin or a rationale for despicable behavior. Although I believe he was railroaded on the rape charge, I have no doubt he forced himself on the woman, who was either ridiculously naive or looking for a payout. That was a long time ago, and we are all entitled to redemption. Maybe Mike Tyson has found it, but I wouldn't bet on it....

After not playing golf at all last year due to concern about my right hip, two things have surprised me. One, the absence of pain (knock wood); two, my ball striking is no different than it was before the hiatus. In fact, it's a little better, and this despite the fact that we've lost five rounds to weather. I expected it to be the last thing to come around, especially since I'm now 62. Surprisingly, age has not yet become a factor. Although my chipping was decent today, I've been struggling with it since Cuz and I visited Ocean City about nine years ago. Don't ask me how it happened. All of a sudden I started hitting the ball with the edge of the club instead of the face, and it got into my head. I dreaded every chip shot and even began to use my putter from off the green. The psychology of golf is fascinating. The ball is just sitting there, waiting to be sent on its merry way. Somehow, the way is frequently errant. Today my ball-striking was above average, and my putting was below. I had only a single one-putt, and two three-putts, missing a pair of those dreaded two-footers that put so much pressure even on golfers having a friendly game sans wagers. I know what makes them so hard to sink. The mind says: "Don't you dare miss this." I shot 88, despite having 37 putts. Cuz, on the other hand, had a phenomenal round...

  I thank Jack of Chase Bank, who purchased five more thrillers today, and the gentleman who overpaid for We the People, a history of America's most important documents. "We need this now more than ever," he said. "You're not kiddin'," I replied. "Don't worry, we'll get 'em in November," he assured. I hope he's right. Confidence is not inspired when a Supreme Court justice described as a conservative takes liberal positions. Here's some fun to lighten a dark mood - an excerpt from All Hallows, a screenplay. Ozzie is a retired sheriff recruited to help track down five nuts who have escaped an asylum. Romero is one of them. Part 23: Ozzie in his pickup, cruising along an isolated two-lane road. From the opposite direction a lone head light appears. The knight roars past him. Ozzie veers onto the shoulder to turn the pickup around. Ozzie: Didn't take long, did it? As he turns and rolls forward, he sees the Harley turning in the distance. He parks on the shoulder, leaving the headlights on, shining in the direction of the Knight. He exits, shotgun in hand, and stands in the middle of the road. He focuses on the headlight and has a flashback to Korea, a flare lighting up the night, the Chinese attacking. He fires into the air. The Harley stops 50 yards ahead. The Knight raises his visor. Romero: Friend or foe? Ozzie: It's your call, son. Step off the bike and put your hands up. Romero: Surrender?...

I've now seen both the Swedish and American versions of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Which is better? I can't say. More than a year passed between viewings. Whose portrayal was better, Noomi Rapaci's or Rooney Mara's? Both were excellent, but I lean to Rapaci's, perhaps because it was my introduction to Stieg Laarsen's great protagonist, Lisabeth Stander. What I don't understand is why the second film was made at all. It doesn't bring much that is new to the story. I wonder if the producers considered bringing the action to the states instead of keeping it in Sweden. Were they restricted by the estate of Laarsen, who passed away from a massive heart attack in his early 50's? Strange. Speaking of strange, the opening credits were bizarre, backed with a cover of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. I thought they were ridiculous. A couple of online reviewers deemed them ingenious. Fortunately, the second film ended in the black, and it was a wonderful showcase for Mara's talent. Whenever immigration is argued, the Genius Visa is mentioned. The government recently awarded one to Canadian Shera Bechard, who was Playmate of the Month in November 2010. She qualified as a result of a photo sharing web site she developed, Frisky Friday. All red-blooded American males welcome her to these shores. Here's a pic: Sad news out of Hollywood: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have filed for divorce. No word if Cruise was jumping up and down for joy on his couch. The...