Congratulations to Blake and the TTMBS team!

We’re thrilled to share that TTMBS has been nominated at the 6th Annual All The Laughs (ATL) Comedy Festival and Awards Show, presented by the All The Laughs Comedy Awards (ATLCA).

Blake and I were excited to read ATLCA’s congratulatory note:

*“Dear Blake,
As the festival director of the 6th Annual All The Laughs Comedy Festival and Awards Show, I would first like to thank you for submitting your work to us. We received hundreds of incredible submissions this year from twenty countries—the independent comedic community is stronger than ever!

Congratulations on being selected as a nominee! Not only will your work be showcased over the weekend, but you are also in contention for the coveted Golden Pitcher. We had such a fun time viewing your submission, and you should be very proud.

This year’s event will take place September 26–28 at the Limelight Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. We hope you’ll join us in person, but if not, all content will also be available on SparqFest through October 16th.”*

We would, of course, be honored to bring home the Golden Pitcher Trophy—a brilliant idea with its Oscar-inspired handle design!

Blake and I still fondly remember our family trip to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where we narrowly missed the Centennial Olympic Park bombing and witnessed unforgettable events:

• Women’s basketball (China dominated Canada with a 7-foot star towering over 5’6” opponents),
• Boxing (as if we’d stepped into a George Bellows painting),
• Water polo (against the breathtaking downtown Atlanta night skyline),
• Women’s softball in a small Georgia town, and
• Track and field at the brand-new Centennial Olympic Stadium.

So, if you’re in Atlanta, September 26–28, make sure to catch TTMBS on the big screen!

And while you’re there, I recommend exploring some Atlanta favorites:

• Stone Mountain Park (with its legendary laser show),
• The historic Fox Theatre (where Gone With the Wind premiered),
• Pittypat’s Porch Restaurant (classic Southern cooking with a side of history),
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, and
• The fun-filled World of Coca-Cola (yes, you can taste Coke flavors from around the globe!).

Here’s to laughter, memories, and maybe even a Golden Pitcher! 🏆

Years ago, I wrote a series of blogs about lesser-known Jews—naturally, I called it Lesser Known Jews.

Sure, we all know the famous names, but there are plenty of remarkable Jews who’ve slipped through the cracks of history—even for someone like me, a self-proclaimed student of Jewish history.

Today’s subject is one of them: Siegfried Marcus.

And as I dig into his story, I can’t help but wonder: Why have I never heard of this guy?

Siegfried Marcus was a German-Jewish inventor and engineer. In 1870—fifteen years before Carl Benz rolled out his first “modern” automobile—Marcus built a petrol-powered, four-wheeled vehicle.

Okay, it was technically a seatless handcart. But come on—four wheels, a gas motor, self-propelled? That’s a car in my book.

So why isn’t Marcus celebrated alongside Benz and Daimler? Well… here’s where the road takes a dark turn.

Because Marcus was Jewish, the Nazis erased him from history. His name and all memorabilia—especially in Austria—vanished. In 1937, the Austrian Harand Movement Against Racial Hatred actually issued stamps featuring prominent Jews, including Marcus, as a rebuttal to Julius Streicher’s vile “Eternal Jew” exhibition in Munich. They credited Marcus with inventing the petrol-driven motor car.

But when the Germans occupied Austria in 1938, Marcus’ memorial in front of the Vienna Technical University was torn down. His car—hidden away during the war—was later recovered and put back on display after the Nazis fell.

The erasure was methodical. In July 1940, the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda issued this directive to Daimler-Benz:

In the future, the encyclopedias Meyers Konversations Lexikon and the Große Brockhaus are to refer to the two German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz as the creators of the modern automobile, not to Siegfried Marcus. 

And just like that, Marcus’ name was scrubbed from encyclopedias, classrooms, and public memory.

Now you know the rest of the story—why Siegfried Marcus never got the credit he deserved, and why, until today, you’d probably never heard of him.

About the Author

About the Author Florida’s Jewish short-story writer, speaker, film producer, and retired attorney. Mort is the co-editor of “Sea of Tranquility—A Literary Anthology.” The book is scheduled to land on the Moon in December of 2025 as part of the Lunar Codex Project. The Earthbound editions are now on sale on Amazon. He has also authored “A Hebraic Obsession”, “The Hanukkah Bunny,” and “The Greatest Gift.” Mort has produced an award-winning short film titled “The Stairs.” The movie is available to view for free online. ChatGPT says, “Mort is known for his works that often explore themes of love, loss, and the human connection. Laitner has published several books, including “A Hebraic Obsession.” His writing style is characterized by its emotional depth and introspection. Laitner’s works have garnered praise for their heartfelt expression and keen insight into the human experience.” Mort was the president of the South Florida Writers Association and a correspondent for the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Jewish Journal.

Thumbs up:

Joanne

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Amy

What if I told you there were only two major political parties in America?

Yeah, you already knew that.

But what if I told you one of them should be called “It’s Way Too Complicated” (IWTC) and the other “It’s Simplimente”—meaning our solutions are simple (IS).

Are you a too complexer or an oversimplifier? That is the question.

Tough choice, I know. But before you decide, let’s examine how these two parties approach America’s key issues.

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Immigration

IWTC: This has been a problem throughout our history. Some immigrants make great citizens—many pay taxes—and we’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to work. People want to live here, and we don’t have the tools or the money to solve it. All we can do is throw up our hands and say, “It’s way too complicated! We’re trying our best. Maybe one day we’ll find a solution.”

IS: Round them up, put them in cages in the middle of an alligator-infested swamp for a few months, and they’ll never come back. Build a wall too high to climb, fill border rivers with barbed wire, and boom—problem solved. Simple solutions send strong messages.

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The Economy and Inflation

IWTC: Why address inflation when the stock market’s up? The economy’s “honky-dory.” Jobs are plentiful, unemployment is low—but let’s not talk about the minimum wage. Inflation? Way too complicated. The forces driving it are so complex that trying to explain them to voters would just confuse everyone. Best to avoid the topic.

IS: I’ll tell the farmers and grocers, “Lower egg prices or else.” Threats always work for me. It’s simple. And if it doesn’t work? No problem. Voters have short memories. Remember how nobody cares anymore that Mexico didn’t pay for the wall?

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Foreign Policy

IWTC: Stopping countries that have hated each other for centuries from fighting wars? Way too complicated. We talk, we threaten, we impose sanctions—knowing they rarely work. Eventually, they’ll get tired of fighting and stop. We’ve been to Vietnam and Afghanistan; we know the limits of intervention.

IS: I’ll cut their aid, slap on high tariffs, and stop selling them weapons. These moves always work. They know I’m tough, I wrote the book on negotiations, and when I say stop, they’ll stop. Simple.

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Antisemitism on Campuses

IWTC: Universities have to handle their own problems. They don’t like being told what to do, and threats just make enemies. Maybe this problem will go away on its own. If not, it’s too complicated to fix without backlash. Silence is golden.

IS: I’ll threaten to yank their federal grants, and watch how fast they change their tune. Money talks, and I’ve got them by the short hairs. They know I control the courts, the House, and the Senate. They’re smart—they’ve got the diplomas on the wall to prove it—so they’ll fall in line.

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So… now that you know the facts, which of these two parties would get your vote?

Thumbs up:

Richard

Sampson

Patricia

Robert

Zainab

Helene

Perry

Elaine

Madelyn