Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/9 - Tidbits

It is a rare feat to have a song enter the top 100, even rarer to crack the top 40, let alone the top ten. There are many one-hit wonders. Edward C. King co-wrote two popular numbers, Incense and Peppermints as a member of the Strawberry Alarm Clock, which climbed to #1 on the U.S. chart, and Sweet Home Alabama, which rose to #8, as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. On the latter, he does the opening countdown and catchy guitar riff. My thanks to Pat St. John, long time NYC DJ, these days at CBS-FM, who provided the info.

Local newspapers have reported that welfare recipients have been using their cash cards for booze, gambling and lap dances - who knew? I wonder how high the percentage of those gaming the system actually is. I’d bet it's at least 50%. Maybe it’s a small price to pay for diversion that keeps the losers from mischief.

Have you noticed? For the first time in a dog’s age, the L.A. Lakers actually stink. Injuries and the lack of chemistry have derailed them. It seems the NBA, which bends over backwards to accommodate its most popular franchise, has failed in its attempt to prop it up. How can a team with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash have a losing record? Well, Howard, nickname Superman, and Gasol are currently injured, and Nash missed the first month or so of the season. Bryant, who logs an incredible amount of playing time, is unbelievable, an iron man all-time great. There’s still a long way to go, but celebrity row might be vacant come playoff time.

Vegas is in its first season on CBS. So far, it has not risen above standard TV fare, despite a top-notch cast. The best reason to tune in is the alluring Sarah Jones, who plays the casino manager, Mia Rizzo, a Mafioso’s daughter. I thought I’d never seen her prior to the show. To my surprise, she was one of the leads on Alcatraz, a series I enjoyed, which ran only one season on Fox. She played a short-haired detective who dressed down, so unlike her glammed-up character in her current role. Here’s a pic:

Facts culled from Wiki and IMDb.

The forecast called for sun, wind and mild temperatures. Well, two out of three ain't bad. The lack of a breeze made the lack of sun tolerable, allowing me to keep the floating book shop open three hours. It's always a great day when Mrs. Eclectic shows. I'd set aside some culinary mysteries, which she loves. She bought six books in all. I also had a bit of dumb luck. I've been carrying three thin, magazine-like books on wood burning for the longest time. I planned to leave them in the lobby if no one bought them today. Sure enough, a woman who has purchased dozens of craft books from me came along and took them. Karma? Thanks, ladies.
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Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h 
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