Sex & Other Stuff

32 years later, Sharon Stone, 66, recreates that scene from Basic Instinct (1992). Photo from Google Images:

RIP Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 96. Born in Germany as Karola Ruth Siegel, her parents had the foresight to send her at ten to a school in Switzerland. Both were killed in concentration camps. After WWII she emigrated to British-controlled Mandatory Palestine. Despite being only four-seven at 17, she joined the Haganah and trained as a sniper. On her 20th birthday she was seriously wounded in action. She moved to Paris and studied psychology at the Sorbonne, then emigrated to America in 1956. She earned a doctorate from Columbia in 1970. Her media career began in 1980 with the radio call-in show Sexually Speaking, which continued until 1990. In 1985 she tackled TV, launching The Dr. Ruth Show. She hosted several series on the Lifetime Channel and other cable networks from 1984 to 1993. She appeared in scripted TV shows, movies and commercials, charming America with her upbeat persona. Mark St. Germain wrote a one woman play about her, Becoming Dr. Ruth, and Ryan White did a documentary, Ask Dr. Ruth. She is the author of 45 books on sex and sexuality, and several others on ethnography. She delivered commencement addresses at several colleges. She is a member of the Radio Hall of Fame. She has received numerous awards. Her first two marriages were brief, her third lasted 36 years until her spouse’s death. He was a Holocaust survivor. She was a mom of two. One of life’s heroes, a mensch. With tears of gratitude for making the world a better place, thank you, Madam. Facts from Wiki, photo from GI:

Fodder for sci-fi writers. Headline from nypost.com: “Flock off! Angry birds are attacking NYC beach drones flown to track sharks and save drowning swimmers.” Coming soon to a theater near you: The Birds 2024.

Stop n Shop will soon close seven NYC stores. Fortunately, ours in Sheepshead Bay is not one.

RIP Dave Loggins, 76. Born in Tennessee, he was a draftsman and insurance salesman before embarking on a music career. He hit paydirt in 1974 with the lovely Please Come to Boston, which rose to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. His duet with Anne Murray, Nobody Loves Me Like You Do, was #1 on the Country chart in ‘84. He wrote Pieces of April for Three Dog Night, which cracked the Top 20 in 1973, and number one hits Morning Desire for Kenny Rogers and You Make Me Want To Make You Mine for Juice Newton, both in ’85. His work was recorded by Tanya Tucker, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alabama, Toby Keith and Crystal Gayle. He composed Augusta, which he wrote while visiting the Augusta National Golf Club in 1981. The next year CBS began using it during the Masters broadcast. He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was a second cousin of Kenny Loggins. Married twice, he was a father of three. Well done, Sir. Thank you. Facts from Wiki, photo from GI:

Cue The Clash. Awesome cartoon from Tom Stiglich. Thank you, Sir:

The humidity and business remain brutal at the Anti-Inflation Book Shop. My thanks to the gentleman who bought two hardcovers in Russian, and to the woman who did a swap of said.

My Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Fortezza/e/B002M4NLJE

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

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