“Thanks To The Aussies” by Mort Laitner

My son’s (Blake) first music video, “Know About Us” with Def davyne and featuring

LoLoRae has received its first bit of recognition from Down Under.

The Australian Independent Film Festival has given the video its first set of laurels.

We are keeping our fingers crossed as the festival is about to announce Semi-Finalists.

The competition is tough with films being submitted from 31 other countries.

The video portrays a young man, who wants to steal a pretty girl

away from her boyfriend. The young man promises her confidentiality—repeatedly telling

the pretty girl that her boyfriend will never “know about us.”

The song has a catchy reggae beat and once you hear it you start singing the lyrics.

The visuals, beach scenes, cruising Cadillac and a graffiti-covered food truck are eye-

catchers.

To view video go to : https://youtu.be/b9puGTYRfXw

Well, a big-shout out to the Aussies for being first to recognize Blake’s first music video.

“Why I Write” by Mort Laitner

Why do I spend countless hours tapping on these keys?

Writing—deleting—writing—deleting.

Searching for the prefect verb or phrase.

Looking for similes and metaphors.

Waiting for that inspirational moment.

“Now that would make a great story!”

The answer my friend is not blowing in the wind.

I reckon it’s found on my computer screen or in my inner ear.

When the owner of Books & Books writes,”Thank you for your lovely poem and your kind words.”

When a gentleman, in Middletown, New York (who I have never met) reads my online story and calls me an “artist.”

When a Toastmaster on Facebook says,”I will be presenting from the Interpretive Reading advanced manual, project #1, Read a Story. Not your usual speech format.
I selected the short story “Happy Endings” by Mort Laitner. If you’re a Vietnam War Veteran, a student during the 60’s and 70’s….or, know one….or, have been affected by it… or, simply curious about the author’s message.. then, come and listen as I hone my speaking skills and make the story come alive through: vocal variety, tempo, rhythm, inflection, volume, pitch, and pause.

When a Florida reader tells me that my short stories usually end with a bang.

When a fellow writer gives my story three—ha ha ha.

When  readers on Amazon or Good Reads comment:

“A real page turner, easy to read, Will pass it on to a friend;

 “I recommend this book. Anyone who reads it will learn so much and be touched;”

“I felt as if I could pinpoint the author’s emotions and I was also experiencing them while reading the stories;”

At first, I thought the writer jumped around too much, but then I appreciated the funny chapters in between the more dramatic chapters, 5 stars, for sure.

Well, I answered my own question.

I write for these readers.

This essay was published in the December issue of the South Florida Writers’ Associations publication—The Authors’ Voice.

“The Survey” by Mort Laitner

I’m surfing the net and I come across an article from Quinnipiac University Polling

Institute.

For those of you who don’t know it.Quinnipiac uses live cell phone and land lines

interviews to conduct public opinion surveys. 

The article focuses in on why some people give likes or thumbs up emoji’s or written

comments on Facebook while others do not.

If the interviewee replies that they don’t give any love on Facebook, they are asked, why

not?

Here is a list of responses tallied by Quinnipiac from over a thousand interviews:

1, Why should I? My life sucks; (Number one answer given)

2. Every minute of my life is valuable. I don’t want to waste even a second on tapping on a

like button;

3. If those writers, photographers, artists are so stupid, to but their stuff on the internet

for free, they don’t deserve any recognition;

4. Not even whores give away their work away for free; (Sub-answer to #3.)

5. I don’t want to build up the author’s, photographer’s, or artist’s ego. Most of their

egos are too large anyway;

6. It is so hard to choose between the thumbs up or the heart. (Second most given

answer)

7. Nobody gives me any pats on the back, or praise or love so I don’t want to start any

new trends.

The article concludes that if you are looking for love or praise or thumbs upon the

internet post a picture of a kitten.