AMY YEN - A Simple Feast - The Jewels of New York

It was nice meeting the amiable Amy Yen, the author of a tempting new cookbook, "A Simple Feast." Just how simple the recipes are, depends on you, of course. To make root vegetable chips, "using a mandolin set to 1/8 inch, slice the vegetables into thin rounds. Place the vegetables in a colander and gently rinse them of excess starch, then thoroughly pat dry. Pour peanut oil into a medium saucepan to about 3 inches deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat..."

So right there, this assumes you know what a mandolin is (at least, one you use in a kitchen), and that you regularly use a colander. In this age of "15 minute meals" and "quick and easy" recipes, this might be asking too much of some folks. Likewise, you're not a gourmet, or you're just don't have a lot of time, if "Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup" means...you just open a can of tomato soup and toss in a clove of roasted and diced garlic. As opposed to heating the oven and using a baking sheet to roast the tomatoes with olive oil until carmelized, and getting out fresh basil leaves, freshly ground black pepper, diced onions, vegetable stock and unsalted better.

Which led me to ask Amy a question I asked Craig Claiborne years ago, when I did a cover story on him. Is it ok to substitute ingredients? Or is it an insult to the chef? Amy, like Craig, felt it was ok: "Yeah, I think you can swap out whatever you have in your pantry. A lot of the recipes are very simple. You can cross things out and work with what you have."

Sometimes Amy offers substitutes in the recipes. In making "Turkish Style Eggs with Yogurt" she champions powdered drupes (fruit of the sumac tree) but if you can't find the esoteric item "finely grated lemon can be substituted').

The book has a loose theme to it...New York and its seasons. A few pages describe apple-picking in upstate New York. A chapter is devoted to "rooftop barbecue" suggestions, another features "brown bag lunch" items, and there's a chapter for picnics in "Central Park." The set-ups aren't much. For "Central Park," Amy's one page preamble to recipes lets us know that the park is fun for "people watching, nibbling and reading." Yes, so I've heard. She dubiously finds pleasure in watching "rollerblading...moms and nannies in Spandex...the faint rhythm of a trumpet player playing a melody of Frank Sinatra..." If it's a good day, maybe you can avoid obnoxious noises, rude people, dogs off leashes, or a drug dealer who wandered away from "Strawberry Fields" to avoid a passing patrol of cops. New Yorkers are a savvy bunch, so I don't think we needed the line about "sandwiches are another wonderful addition to the menu that requires only a few components and some good packaging."

Fortunately the recipes are original and intriguing, and the preparation will keep you busy but not too harried and nothing takes too long. The ideas include: Roasted Turkey, Manchego and Fig and Onion Jam Sandwiches, Mini Pea, Mint and Feta Quiches, Seared Scallops and Chanterelle Pasta, Pomegranate Poached Figs,Arugula, Lentil and Butternut Squash Salad, and Double Grilled Cheese and Ham Sandwiches. The latter isn't as simple as it might seem. Asks Amy, "why not put the cheese in a grilled cheese on the outside of the bread?"

There are some familiar items here, but done in new ways. "Mac and Cheese" becomes a casserole that includes panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) for a crust, and the textures and tangs of of grated nutmeg, grated Gruyere, and parmesan (no cheddar here!)

Thought cherry cola was a simple enough drink? Amy's version involves zest of lemon, oranges, limes, nutmeg, a cinnamon stick, anis pod, lavender leaves, and ginger...among other things.

The book is pretty hefty on desserts: Gingered Rhubarb and Mascarpone Parfait, Mini Strawberry Cakes, Raspberry Eton Mess (yes, that's not a typo), cocktail ice pops and pecan pie with salted maple ice cream. This brought up another question...how is it that some exotic desserts have fallen completely out of favor, and aren't even in recipe books? Like...Nesselrode pie. Amy gave me a perplexed look. "What??" "It's a creme pie...with marrons, bits of dried fruit and flecks of dark chocolate...named after Count Nesselrode...and..." Never even heard of it? Oh well.

There are definitely items here you either haven't heard of, or didn't think were worth your time. Hominy? Lowly hominy? It's back for a few pages, via "Fried Hominy with chile and lime." Yes, all you need is a can of hominy to start you off. Add paprika, cumin, lime zest...you'll see. You'll taste. You'll like. 269 pages, pleasantly low on meat/chicken entrees, and with a good amount of fish and veggies, the book is themed for New York (apples figure into a lot of Fall recipes, for example). It should be on the shelf of kitchens all over the country...and around the world. The hardcover is from Roost Books, a division of Shambhala.

Turley Richards - Blindsighted - The Hard Luck of The Greatest Singer You Never Heard

Throughout the years when he was on major labels...Kapp, Columbia, Atlantic, Warner Bros...the industry buzz was that West Virginia's good-looking 6'4" Turley Richards had the most amazing voice and was destined for superstardom.

His brightest hopes came in 1969 just when his fragile eyesight dimmed into permanent blindness. That was when a perfect storm of gospel, folk and rock fused with superb post-production (organ and strings) to create: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus."

Al Kooper was one of many rockers who praised it, and asked radio stations to play it. He says it's "the greatest vocal performance I have ever heard in my life." I'd have to agree. I had a radio show at the time, and I played it. I can't think of a track that's more breathtaking, amazing and inspiring than this one. Even if you're not Christian (and I'm not), it will bring the goosebumps and raise your spirit. It will stay with you and comfort you, too.

Why wasn't it a hit? Well...it was seven minutes. The album it was on arrived long after Turley's single, a cover of Dylan's "Love Minus Zero (No Limit)" drifted out of Billboard's Top 100. Turley recorded a second Warners album with no luck, latched onto another label...but it was just more ups and downs, hopes and frustration. Which song or style would vault him to fame...gospel, R&B, folk, rock? He tried. He tried. Depressing?

What makes this slim (162 page) book more inspiring and entertaining than depressing, is that it's loaded with stories and observations beyond what you'd expect. What you'd expect, of course, is a lot of grousing and bitterness, or Christian faith homilies infusing every page, or advice on how to deal with the adversity of blindness and finding a lot of positives about it all. No, there's very little of that in here. And if you're expecting a self-published book badly written, rest easy. Aside from an occasional name not quite right (It's Shelley Berman, not Burman) you won't be distracted by typos.

What you'll find in "Blindsighted," is a definitive depiction of what so many artists have gone through on their way to the bargain bin. Turley's book offers a primer on how difficult the entertainment world is, how capricious managers and "friends" can be, and all the complexities behind the simplicity of recording and touring. Check your record collection. Does it include albums you love and others never heard of? Then read this book by someone you never heard of.

Another reason to read it, is that it's funny and often startling. Sex and violence? It manages to get in here. This fellow was always a wiseguy, always headstrong. He had a part-time job where a guy pulled a knife on him. Another time, shots were fired at him from the stage. He could use his fists when he needed to, and also his wits...not everybody could share the stage with Richard Pryor and get off a comeback that would have the comedian shaking and laughing.

Born Richard Turley, the mischief-loving kid was literally pierced with fate's arrow before he was five. He was playing a bow-and-arrow game with his friends, including a 12-year-old, when an accident cost him sight in one eye. Fate wasn't done. Without a competent specialist to take the right action (which would've been removal of the eye...as was done with Peter Falk who lost an eye to disease) the eye remained, became infected, and ultimately spread the damage to his remaining eye. While he withstood many gruesome procedures, and managed enough sight to play sports and know a hot-looking babe when he saw one, eventually his luck ran out and he was told that blindness would be inevitable.

He made a rush to stardom while he could...signing with a local label (Fraternity) and getting up to the majors with a few singles (notably on Kapp). There were times when he gave up and went home, only to fight again thanks to his mother's encouragement. There were times when he had unlikely help thanks to his good looks. Making the "Midnight Cowboy" fantasy real, Turley found himself "kept" by many a New York City socialite (or two), and was able to gig and hang with the hot new stars of the day (including Jimi Hendrix and Richard Pryor) while living rent-free. Possessing a stubborn streak (he turned down or walked out of almost as many good deals as his managers screwed up), Turley still was prone to find himself broke. At one point he was sleeping in Central Park. At another, he rather hilariously and ingeniously was fitted with a Lone Ranger mask (and costume) so that he could make some fast cash in porn. The costume came off, but not the mask. The idea was that when he made it big, he'd never have to worry about the old loops coming back to haunt him.

As you know by now, he never did make it big. He was asked to be a regular on "The Merv Griffin Show," and his manager turned it down. As previously mentioned, Turley's Top 100 single for Warners didn't get an instant follow-up or the simultaneous release of an album. (The 45 is pictured above left...the photo is taken from his sighted side...before that eye would have to be replaced by glass).

He recorded an album for Epic but they didn't like the finished product. He had another deal, but refused because he was loyal to a producer he thought could do a better job than the one the label was providing. Mick Fleetwood was going to be helpful...but was a no-show. And on it went. It's only within the last 20 pages of the book that we get around to what, exactly, he's been doing for a living over the past few decades...a time when older artists, sighted or not, can't get record deals or put together big tours.

"I've often said that I am not a "good" blind person," Richards says. "As an artist, I had always made enough money to pay other people to do things for me, such as driving, housekeeping and grocery shopping. I never learned braille, and I didn't want to use a guide dog. Even today, I only use a cane if it is absolutely neessary...in early 1986 I reluctantly signedup at the Kentucky Department for the Blind Rehabilitation Center. The center taught me...daily living skills, and basic kitchen abilities...and how to use the computer...."

Turley's a successful teacher...offering lessons in songwriting and singing. Always able to attract the ladies, he's been through some divorces, amicable however, and has someone new in his life who helped him with the book project and supervises his Facebook page. It was from that page and his website that I learned of his book and...unusual for most reviewers...bought a copy. Listen...literally...the book comes with a bonus CD featuring several of his favorite recordings over the years. The closer is "I heard the Voice of Jesus," recorded 35 years ago. It was originally recorded with just Turley and his guitar. But, as Phil Ochs, Leonard Cohen and others have found, sometimes the right production can make for a masterpiece, and the arrangement here is perfect...the added instrumentation inspiring, not jarring.

Turley always felt his gift was in R&B. Often in his early work, he was mistaken for a black artist. Once, a single of his disappeared off the R&B charts because in reverse-racism, a photo of his white face appeared in a trade magazine, turning off black disc jockeys. "I Heard the Voice of Jesus" is the perfect meld of R&B, gospel, folk, soul and rock...as is fitting for a guy with a five octave range.

Want to hear the song? You'll find it on Google's YouTube, where copyright infringement is a way of life. But for a perfect version on CD, plus more songs, plus the fascinating story of his life...the book/music package is $20 including shipping and available at turleyrichards.com.

Billy Joel - From Autobiography to Biography

When I interviewed Billy Joel, back during his tour with "The Stranger" album, I found him honest and interesting. He told me he was just an "ordinary schlump from Long Island. I wake up with crud on my teeth like everybody else." When I mentioned some of the poetic lines in his lyrics, he quickly shook his head: "I wouldn't call myself a poet." He was as down to Earth as a rock star could be.

What followed after "The Stranger" was a leap into superstardom (his marriage to Christie Brinkley) and then the seemingly inevitable star-fall: the fascinating, frustrating years when he retired and seemed to do nothing but drink and get into car accidents. 9/11 saw him return to live audiences at charity events with songs uplifting his beloved New York. The climb back continued thanks to hit tours with Elton John and a public that still wanted to hear his enduring songs...now filling up Madison Square Garden once a month for the privilege.

Six years ago, HarperCollins was willing to toss a million dollars at him for an autobiography. "The Book of Joel" was heading toward completion when he backed out. Several things were going wrong in his life: another divorce, the death of his father, and a bunch of physical aggravations and health issues. One thing about writing an autobiography...it's a "jinx" that indicates there's nothing left of your career. Another, is that you're responsible for every word...first person singular. The manuscript was shelved, with ghostwriter Fred Schruers ready to move on to other things. But two years ago, he met with Joel, and they decided to re-tool the book from autobiography to biography. The result is satisfying to them...and it will be more than satisfying to all of Billy's fans.

Billy's fans tend to believe that his music is closer to his idol and influence Paul McCartney, and not the kitsch and cringe of, oh, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond, or others that critics have disliked for filling arenas with feel-good ballads and easy rock. While it might've been unseemly and even egotistic for Billy to discuss his songs in the first person, here, they are analyzed in the course of biography...and their worth, lyrical and musical skill given proper due.

Billy's fans may be familiar with some infamous anecdotes of his high times and low moments, but the official versions here separate fact from legend, even if they sometimes take a jokey tone. Yes, he did try to kill himself in 1970, wracked by misery and a failed relationship: "The bleach didn't look too palatable, so I drank the Old English Scratch Cover. I ended up sitting there, polishing my mother's furniture by farting a lot."

Those looking for more information on the music will find plenty of interesting trivia bits. One of his songs, "We Didn't Start the Fire," was inspired by...Sean Lennon. The kid wasn't too big on history: "You grew up in the fifties when nothing happened." Billy's response was "Are you kidding me?" Followed by jotting down all the awesome events and people that helped shape and mis-shape the world.

Being the ordinary kid from Long Island...some of his stories take on a "wow, I can't believe this" tone. This is especially true of his ability to score with superstar models. He didn't consider himself particularly good looking (neither do most of his sober fans) but his soulful eyes and pugnacious (he was a boxer for a while) rough looks did get him into rarified company. Elle Macpherson and Christie Brinkley both wanted to get their hands on him, exclusively. When they almost squared off (Brinkley escorted by Joel to his apartment...Macpherson already there), Billy was delighted: "Part of me thought, 'Oh god.' Another part of me was going, 'Holy crap, kif my friends could see me now!'"

You can see him now...not Billy Joel the autobiographer, but via this authorized biography. If you agree with me, that Billy Joel is comfortably on the platform with Dylan and McCartney...you'll be glad to get a copy of this one, which lives up to the title. It's as "definitive" as it gets.

NRA Fans Roast Gov. Cuomo Book Through Negative Reviews

Politics makes for strange book-selling. The NY Times and other newspapers gleefully reported that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's memoir failed to attract a big crowd to Barnes & Noble for a signing.

Photos showed Cuomo sitting behind a desk, embarrassed at the paltry lines. Other photos showed the empty seats...which are usually packed for even minor celebrities and pop stars.

The N.Y. Daily News reported that Strand, conveniently located within walking distance of the flashy Barnes & Noble where Cuomo signed, was trying to unload copies under the heading: "BEST GIFT FOR THE PERSON YOU LOVE TO HATE." The Daily News neglected to mention that Strand traffics in review copies and most likely paid a few dollars for their stack of Cuomo books. Odds are they were motivated by, well, getting The Daily News to give them a plug, not by any real angst over unloading books. After all, real bookstores have the option of returning unsold copies.

Cuomo, who will easily cruise to re-election, is a fairly dull guy. His speaking voice has the nag of Al Pacino in "Dog Day Afternoon" but none of the charisma. Most think he's doing a good job. So why the hatred?

Mr. Cuomo supports gun laws.

This seems to explain the rather astonishing ratio of one-star reviews on Amazon to five star. Celeste Katz of The Daily News offered a photo of a protest that included photos of Cuomo doctored to look like Hitler. "Cuomo is a Tyrant," the protests claimed...because he doesn't want every idiot in New York blasting away with a rifle. Perhaps Cuomo's Albany office was too close to the nutjob who began firing at all his neighbors? You could look it up...but there are so many examples of "nutjob who began firing at all his neighbors" you might not find the one closest to Albany.

While it's fairly easy to get a gun in New York State, the NRA crowd don't think so, and are paranoid that it might become harder in the future. So, Ms. Katz reports, Cuomo's book has gotten 550 one-star reviews "to just 24 five-star salutes. The rage reviews appear spurred by commenters enthusiastically heeding encouragement on social media and Second Amendment sites to trash it and its author."

Gov. Cuomo's case is extreme, but it highlights a fact at Amazon...which is that "reviews" can be manipulated. A bunch of jerks who normally use the site to buy sex toys and underwear, can torpedo a book with lopsided reviews without actually buying it on Amazon, or buying it at all.

Unless people have a favorite book reviewer, or a favorite newspaper that actually runs reviews, they are more likely to instantly check Amazon for the price and the reviews. In the case of Cuomo's book, it would lead to NO SALE.

The sad truth is most books by politicians are dull and self-serving. They are written as policy statements, or "official" tomes that can be pointed to in lieu of debate or interview: "It's in my book...go read my book." That Cuomo's autograph on a book didn't excite anyone, indicates that he has a long way to go before seeming to be a viable Presidential candidate in 2016. If he does get taken seriously by then, and runs, and actually wins...well...the few autographed copies of Cuomo's book will be worth a lot of money.

The Mother Court by James D. Zirin

"The Mother Court" is where some of the nation's greatest trials took place. Linda Fairstein's glib praise-blurb on the back of this book ends with: "It would be criminal not to read this book." In a way, she's right, because aside from dusty (anyone want to pay for Alger Hiss information when it's on Wikipedia) cases, and the lack of juicy murder stories, there's some very interesting chapters on the mechanics of the criminal justice system. This includes how a lawyer chooses a jury, and "the lost art of cross-examintion"

The book probably will be best appreciated by those interested in becoming a lawyer, or those who already work in the legal system...people who can appreciate the technical jargon that is sometimes part of this raconteur's stories. Most involve famous cases, but also some lesser known lawyers and judges who hopped up and down the building steps at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

I confess (not words you normally here in a courtroom) to have not hopped those steps very often. I think I was there as a photographer during the Woody Allen v Mia Farrow matter. My own encounter with the well-remembered Judge Sweet, was when I was called to jury duty and facing the prospect of a several months of Mafia testimony. Usually writers don't get picked...lawyers figure it's easier to sway a housewife or a plumber. But somehow we reached the end of the process and I was one of the 12 facing an interminable sentence. A few days...ok. But months? And months? A very heavy toll for a freelancer to bear. Blind Justice herself didn't seem to care about how much money I'd be losing during the projected months of delays, or snore-inducing testimony about tax receipts. Judge Sweet routinely declared that if anybody had anything further to say, better say it now.

And so I raised my hand and said, "I believe that most lawyers are just as guilty as the criminals."

This got me excused.

My story is not in this book of course, but for fans of high-profile and important cases held before Judge Sweet, Judge Friendly, and other less-amusingly named judges, James D. Zirin offers his interpretations, and very often first-hand recollections. While Fairstein calls his writing style "informative, riveting, accessible and uplifting," the fact remains, he's a lawyer first, and the point is to be fair and balanced and not lurid. This might not appeal to the casual reader or "Perry Mason" fan, who might expect, at the very least, some juicy put-downs of Roy Cohn complete with vengeful snark about the man's hypocrisy. This includes his open hatred and put-downs of gays, despite (as someone else put it in some other publication) his sexual interest in being "...the biggest catcher since Yogi Berra."

Zirin's more tasteful remark: "Roy Cohn died of complications from AIDS a month after his disbarment, lying to the end about the nature of his ailment and the high-risk behavior that had brought it about." In a footnote, he mentions that those who want to know more about his "deeply closeted homosexuality" should read Tony Kushner's play "Angels in America."

Zirin's take on the professional Cohn:

"Roy could get away with anything — at least for a while, until things caught up with him. His glibness was amazing. I once saw him argue an appeal in a New York appellate court. The presiding justice opened the proceeding in a way that seemed quite ominous for Cohn. "Mr. Cohn, in your brief at page 31, you cite the case of Jones v Smith. My law clerks and I have searched the authorities for Jones v. Smith, and we can find no report of the case wehre you cite it — indeed no report of it anywhere. Are you sure that this case exists?"

Without blinking an eye, Cohn responded, "I'll have a letter on your Honor's desk at 10 tomorrow morning."

Zirin blithely wanders through the Linda Lovelace "Deep Throat" case and Mayor Giuliani's spirited attack on the "obscenity" of an oil and elephant dung painting at a local museum, without once cracking a joke or pun. He ends that chapter by noting:

"Outside of child pornography, which is properly viewed as criminal, there is now little legal activity in the field of art censorship....Contemporary community standards of what is obscene have become porous, perhaps because of the Internet. Indeed, the Internet, where pornography is freely available with epithetic descriptions and explicitly graphic videos, has made censorship virtually impossible.Only its dull repetitiveness and superfluous specificity differentiates pornography from the irrelevant sex scene of the modern cinema. What once was X has become R; Rhas become PG-13; the really dirty films have become NR- not even rated at all. We now have a new normal."

Aside from chapters on sex, and on Roy Cohn (but not on both at the same time), there's "U.S. v Official Corruption," organized crime, libel cases, "Some of My Favorite Judges," "The Red Scare" (including Alger Hiss) and of course his mentor Bob Morgenthau, who wrote the book's foreword. Most of this is handled as a law professor might; with enthusiasm for the subject at hand, and less interest in being entertaining about it. After all, it's history. Zirin is more amusing when it comes to choosing some of the cases he was personally involved in, and most certainly in getting the last laugh on some of the judges he found frustrating, if not weird.

"One of the weirdest judges I knew was Irving Ben Cooper. Like the fictional Captain Queeg in Wouke='s "The Cain Mutiny, he was a Freudian delight..."

"...In one robing room conference I attended during a trial, he whirled on a junior lawyer: "Ive noticed you out there smirking at me. You don't understand. I'm here for life. The trouble with you...is that you think the judge is a schmuck."

It's those little moments of anecdotal chicken fat that lubricate this tome and keep it from being totally dry.

VALOR - MARK LEE GREENBLATT - true stories of bravery and courage

The bland title "VALOR" could be overlooked by the casual bookstore browser, but pick up the book and it'll be hard to put down.

File it in the category of "Profiles in Courage," where you go for an hour or two of breathtaking adventure and the even more satisfying feeling of inspiration.

Back when President Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" came out, war was still glorified, and "two-fisted action" magazines with titles ranging from "True" to "Saga" enjoyed prime space on a newsstand. In a way, the writing style here harks back to that era. Here's a bit of Chris Choay's battlefield drama:

"Choay continued to creep up on the enemy. He finally got within sixty-five feet of the insurgents — he was an easy target for shooters of their ability. Choay stop;ped and prepared for the assault.

And that's when he realized he was all alone.

"I told my men to follow me, but it was so loud with all the explosions, shooting, and people yelling that no one heard me. I had no one there with me. They were all still back where I left them...(it was) the loneliest moment of my life. I was dead center in the middle of the objective, all alone. I was scared, and I was ready to die."

Is this why his story is one of the ones Greenblatt chose? No, it had to be even more horrific. Determined to go out in a blaze of glory...

"Choay took a deep breath and prepared to shoot. He pulled the trigger. The weapon jammed."

Now, under the most frightening conditions and the greatest pressure, the soldier had to keep his head (already a miracle it was still on) and figure out how to get his weapon to work...and how to somehow pick off three of the enemy without any of them instantly pin-pointing his location and blasting him to bits.

It's not all blood and guts in these stories, or brains or willpower. Some of the stories are memorable for their heart...including the story of Michael Waltz's terrifying experiences in battle. His Afghan guide was by his side: "Waltz could hear Sumar gasping in his arms. The man's blood covered Waltz's hands and drenched his uniform...." The guide did not make it, but the story doesn't end there...it continues with the soldier desperately communicating to other Afghans how vital it was to return the body home...no matter the danger. For Waltz, the memory of the event haunted him even when he made it safely back to the States. It extended to a different form of quiet heroism, as he vowed to help the guide's family...against all odds.

Again, "VALOR" is not a catchy title, and the praise on the back might be a turn-off for some. All the quotes come from military men, including Sergeant Fist Class Sammy L. Davis, who enthuses, "It's obvious from these incredible stories that we certainly do still have the spirit of Audie Murphy in our military." But what makes this book worth anyone's time and attention is that while much of the narrative echoes scenes in the war movies that Audie Murphy (or John Wayne) made, the stories aren't just glorifications of combat triumph. The author here doesn't present boastful soldiers happy to tell their stories...many here are modest, glad to have made it out alive, and traumatized by the fate of those who didn't.

AUTHOR: Is YOUR eBOOK being BOOTLEGGED on EBAY?

There's an epidemic of book thieves on EBAY.

What you see above is BRIGHTDREAMS11, a seller who has made $150 for doing nothing but stealing a John Green title.

Multiply that by ten more authors raped and humiliated, and this seller is pulling down $1500 a week. Or more?

CEO John Donahoe doesn't seem to know about it? Doesn't care?

This is no surprise. Thanks to something called the "Digital Millennium Act," which goes wayyy back to 1988, copyright owners have been shoved under the bus. The excuse back then was "affirmative action." As in: let these poor little Internet companies, like cute-named Google and adorable-named Ebay flourish. They're just little kiddies who don't know right from wrong. They should be able to say "we're just a venue." Maybe some day, when they're big and strong, they'll know better.

Know what?

They became big and strong. Power corrupts. Ebay, Google and Amazon have become Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini. If you really need proof, see how easy it was for Jeff Bezos of Amazon to drop nearly a BILLION DOLLARS today to buy something called "Twitch." That's a "streaming" site for "gamers." As if he couldn't just build one himself. Bezos is the guy who is fighting book publishers over how much they should be able to charge for an eBook...and openly refusing to stock books just to play hardball.

Meanwhile Ebay, now trying to get out of being the Internet garage sale for back date magazines and "Granny's postcard collection," is looking the other way when it comes to literally stealing eBook sales away from Amazon.

How outrageous is the abuse? Just type in a key term: EBOOK. Then add an author. Or a title like "Wimpy Kid" or "Heavenly Fire" or "Vampire."

You'll discover blatant frauds and liars with eBay names such as:

damommastreasure, sarsar412, mojosstuffgalore, brightreams11, houseofaddarav, collegestudentmom — among others — happily bootlegging in violation of both copyright and EBAY rules.

How? EBAY looks the other way if a seller merely writes: "I will send this item by postal mail. Sending this item by email or by any other digital delivery method is not allowed and violates eBay policy."

In fact, a seller doesn't even have to write anything at all. Just don't charge a shipping fee and (nudge nudge wink wink) the bidder knows that an e-mail will arrive with the password to a cloud or the link to a Rapidshare file.

As to THE BIG LIE:

"Attention eBay Staff: I am an Authorized Reseller of this product and also the copyright holder and I have resale rights to this eBook or item. Full Resell Rights are Granted by the copyright owners to sell these eBooks with Resell Rights or Master Resell Rights Granted! This ad complies with all eBay rules and regulations."

And what happens if an author of book company stops that auction on "Shades of Grey Trilogy?" The seller continues to offer the other dozen or two dozen bootlegs, and if EBAY asks (and they never do) say "Gee, I made a mistake on that last one. But honest...I AM the copyright holder on Wimpy Kid..."

Farce? More than a farce. It's a bloody crime.

BRIGHTDREAMS11 is still on EBAY despite many negatives for blatantly selling fake items and bootlegs:

EBAY? No numbers to call. Letters go right into the garbage. Business as usual.

What happens if you ask Kari Rameriz, the publicist for EBAY at press@ebay.com? Find out for yourself. The answer is usually NO REPLY. Or the robot: "If you are a copyright owner, jump through some hoops, fill out some forms, and send them to vero@ebay.com. PS, if you complain that the seller is bootlegging everybody's books on our site, we will ignore you. We won't ask the seller to fax us "under penalty of perjury" any license agreements at all. We are THAT desperate for sales on our site. That's why we don't even let sellers leave negatives on deadbeat bidders, or allow them to block bidders who extort and cheat sellers or return DVDs after copying them, or books after reading them."

AUTHORS...PUBLISHERS...the best thing you can do, aside from perhaps joining to create the Mother of All Class Action Lawsuits...is to join EBAY's "VeRo" (verified rights owner) program and file against the bootleggers. This IS a war. Copyright holders are losing ground every minute while Internet giants like Google and Amazon bellow about how everything should be "Free" and copyright should bow to "Freedom of Speech." Ebay has the nerve to allow sellers to pretend they own the copyright to every best seller! How do they get away with this? "Because they can." They are being enabled...by copyright owners who don't take action.