It Was the Best of Headlines ...

The Best of Overtimes, the Worst of Overtimes

By Lynn Zinser

Published: May 31, 2012

There is nothing quite like playoff overtime, for its riveting suspense and hero-making qualities, for its ability to destroy your plans for a full night’s sleep because playoff games start ludicrously late to begin with. But as both hockey and basketball sent its showcase games into extra time Wednesday night, the similarities ended there.

You can read the rest of this New York Times article here.  Good article.  Great headline.

Facebook Sold for Girl Scout Cookies

As the price per share of Facebook continued to decline, a private equity firm, Brain Capital, purchased Facebook for 184 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that the firm's daughters were unable to sell this spring.

Facebook, Inc.

Mark Zuckerberg, former CEO and chairman on Facebook, who is particularly fond of Tagalongs, was thrilled.  "To trade some practically worthless pieces of paper for something of tangible value was extremely rewarding.  I can actually eat Girl Scout Cookies.  It was difficult to see any value at all whatsoever in Facebook."

Minivan owned by Mark Zuckerberg

In related news: on the same day that Facebook was removed from the NASDAQ exchange, Priscilla Chan filed for divorce from Zuckerberg.

Charles Barkley Ate Kenny Smith

Charles Barkley ate fellow basketball analyst Kenny "the Jet" Smith during the third quarter of last night's Western Conference Finals game between the San Antonio Spurs and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ernie Johnson, Jr., who moderates Inside the NBA on TNT called it "a perfect storm."  "The Spurs were totally dominating the Thunder, Kenny again claimed that the Celtics would defeat the Heat in six games in the East, and Charles was just plain hungry."  Barkley has served as a spokesperson for Weight Watchers since late last year.


David Kirchhoff, CEO and president of Weight Watchers, was uncertain of how it would handle 'the Barkley debacle.'  "Our contract with Charles rewards him with bonuses for losing weight, but there is no cannibalism clause" that would allow Weight Watchers to void their deal.  "We'll weigh him in a couple of days and see what happens."


The Spurs defeated Oklahoma City 120-111 to take a 2-0 series lead.  The Thunder host game three Thursday evening.

Review of Richard Ford's Canada

You can read my review of Richard Ford's new novel,

Canada

at Decatur Metro.

Fifty Shades Trilogy Hits 10,000,000 In Sales

Fifty Shades of Grey.  Fifty Shades Darker.  Fifty Shades Freed.

Ten Million is sales in the United States in paperback (more than sixty printings), ebook, and audio editions.

The New Yorker has a rather entertaining article about a sex shop in Manhattan that offers workshops based on the books.

“I found out about the books because people kept coming into the store and asking about specific products—floggers, restraints, paddles,” said Claire Cavanah, Babeland’s co-founder.

 You can even purchase your copy from your favorite children's bookstore.  Just ask for it.  We keep them behind the counter.

Colbert Book Debuts at #1

We are a New York Times reporting bookstore.  When we sent in our numbers last Monday, Stephen Colbert's new picture book, I Am A Pole (And So Can You!), was listed under children's books.  So we noted it's single sale along with a note to the effect of 'any book with an illustration of a stripper wearing a g-string and tassels is NOT a children's book.'

Perhaps as a result, the Times has moved Colbert's book to the category of Hardcover Advice and Miscellany, where it now sits at the top of the chart above other titles that include mostly cookbooks and inspirationals.

I'm a fan of the Colbert Report.  I enjoy his humor.  But this book ... ehh, no so much.

However, we do have copies available!

On the other hand, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons is enjoying its second week at #1 on the Children's Picture Book list.  And it's a great book!

The Pooh House is For Sale

If you have a spare £2 million and a hankering to live south of London, then Crotchford Farm might be for you!

This is the house where Christopher Robin Milne grew up.  His father, Pooh author A.A. Milne owned this English estate for about 30 years.

 

One subsequent owner of the 16th century, six bedroom home was Brian Jones, founding member of the Rolling Stones, who died here in 1968 at the age of 27.  ("Death by misadventure," according to the coroner's report.)

 

Jones, who had recently been exiled from the Stones, was found floating in the still existing swimming pool.

Alastair and Harriet Johns are the current owners.  According to Alastair, they get their share of curious Milne and Jones fans.  “By and large, the Jones fans are rather nice. They almost always contact us first, to make an appointment, and unlike the Winnie-the-Pooh crowd, they don’t think they can just walk in here, as of right.”

News About Corporals Cooper and Hanes

Hannah Reiss, staff writer for Decatur High School's Capre Diem (and a person with books in her blood as well) wrote a very good piece on Little Shop's Laura Cooper and Jenna Hanes.

You can read it here.

It's Pete the Cat's World

and we're all just living in it.

Pete's third book

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

just came out last Tuesday and will be debuting at

Number One

on the May 20th

New York Times Bestsellers List

In case you didn't notice, that is ahead of
Mo Willems, Ladybug Girl, Julie Andrews, and Dr. Seuss.

(Signed copies available at Little Shop of Stories!)

Joining Groovy Buttons will be

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

at

Number Eight

and

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes

at

Number Nine

Major congratulations to

James Dean

and

Eric Litwin

 

In Memorium: Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak

(June 10, 1928 - May 8, 2012)

Maurice Sendak, who died this morning at the age of 83, had a tremendous impact on children's literature.  Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen are two of the greatest picture books ever.

I'll be writing more about Mr. Sendak for tomorrow's Decatur Metro blog.

This is now posted.  You can read it here.

Q and A with Neil Gaiman

In the New York Times.

(Man, I miss that guy.)

Stephen Colbert's New Children's Book Update

Stephen Colbert was on the Today show this morning to plug his upcoming children's book, I Am A Pole (and So Can You!)

He gave us a superb preview:

I considered fireman’s and fishing,

Was a totem for some time,

And even tried to be a stripper pole

But I couldn’t stand the grind.

The book comes out next Tuesday!

Decatur slogan update!

Some time ago the city sought suggestions for a 'buy local' slogan.  Catherine over at city hall has posted the FOUR FINALISTS for the 'buy local' campaign slogan.  There's been some creative combining of ideas and sample artwork.  Each looks great! but Catherine is seeking input from the community.  Check these out and let her know your thoughts.

A Monster Ate Sean Connolly!

There are some really fun, creative blogs out there.  Sometimes they even involve us.

Sean Connolly was here last week.  He thinks and writes about math and science in ways different from most normal human beings, which make his books highly entertaining.  We had an excellent crowd here at Little Shop to see him talk and make stuff and do strange experiments.

Then these kids at A Monster Ate My Book Report blogged about it.

And I'm thinking I should hire them to handle all our social media stuff.

Poem of the Day April 30

It's our last poem of the day for this year! We'll send you off with a classic...

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
 
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Poem of the Day April 29

(yes, it's a little late, but better than never...)

A Shark is a Pet
by Ken Nesbitt

A shark is a pet
that you don't want to get.
There is nothing less fun than a shark.
He doesn't have fur.
He won't cuddle or purr,
and he never takes walks in the park.

Instead he just stares
and intensely prepares,
as he circles and waits in the dark,
to nibble your nose
and your fingers and toes,
for his bite is much worse than his bark.