Big Stuff

Fortunately this little California guy doesn’t realize what a mess the world is at present. Mike Blake photo from Reuters.com:

RIP singer Jean Knight, born Caliste, 80. Born in New Orleans, she began singing at a cousin’s bar after graduating high school. She did well locally for several years, then broke big upon the release of Mister Big Stuff, which hit #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1971, #1 on the R&B chart, and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. The album hit #60. After that, she struggled, cracking the top 60 singles only twice. Overall she cut five LPs and a score of singles. Her big hit is a mainstay on oldies feeds and still sounds great. Most folks only dream of getting as far as she did. According to Wiki, she “was married at least twice and had at least one child.” Well done, Madam. Thank you. Photo from Google Images:

Amusing nypost.com headline: “Nebraska man proposes to girlfriend moments after she shoots giant buck.” Nothing says I love you like…

RIP director Elliot Silverstein, 96. Born in Boston, he worked the stage and the big and small screen, career spanning 1955-’94. Among the many TV shows he helmed: eight episodes of Naked City, five of Route 66, 14 of Dr. Kildare, four of The Twilight Zone, four of Tales from the Crypt. His two biggest silver screen successes were Cat Ballou (1965), for which the great Lee Marvin won an Oscar, and A Man Called Horse (1970). His first marriage ended in divorce after seven years. His second lasted from 1982 until his death. Well done, Sir. Photo from GI:

There was more than enough sunshine to keep me out of the car at today’s session of the floating book shop. The trick was staying out of the path of the stiff wind. My thanks to the gentleman who delivered about 30 books in Russian, and to my Constant Benefactress, who donated about ten in English, as did Marty, NYPD retired, and to the kind folks who bought, especially the two ladies who overcompensated me for their purchases. Here’s what sold: approximately 20 books in Russian, Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag, Zoya by Danielle Steel, The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo, The Blood of an Englishman by M.C. Beaton, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, and a NY Mets Jacob deGrom knickknack. I am blessed.

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