E-BOOKS, READERS AIN'T GOIN' ANYWHERE...

... So embrace it. Deal with it.Blog Buddy Ed Gorman gave me the original heads up on this little nugget and I thought it would be apropos to pass it along.In February, e-Books hit a major milestone. According to Association of American Publishers (AAP) sales figures, eBooks ranked as the top format among all categories of trade publishing.E-Book sales totaled $90.3 million for the month, expanding 202 percent compared to the same period last year....

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DELTA DAWN (#fridayflash)

Press play for some music Sugar Foot Hollow was always peaceful. Or so it seemed.Under the shiny surface of comely dimestore counters and picture-postcard porches, four women decided to break the cycle.* * *Mertyle's life was good enough. She woke up every day, made her pies and if she was lucky, got to read her Saturday Evening Post before Supper. She had no children because her woman parts didn't work so well but it was probably for the best. You...

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'DEADWOOD' AT THE RACETRACK

Bukowski loved the track so I think this post is more than apropos. A making-of featurette has arrived for the upcoming HBO drama "Luck" and let's just say it looks like "Deadwood" at the racetrack.A what an ensemble -- creative and otherwise. "Miami Vice" creator Michael Mann directs the pilot and will produce the series along with David Milch of "NYPD Blue" and "Deadwood" fame.The show follows a number of characters who frequent the same horse...

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'THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM' (watch it here)

Ain't gonna get much better than this, folks... Most don't know this, but there's a ton of movies on YouTube than can be watched for free. And they're pretty damned good to boot."The Man with the Golden Arm" is a gritty 1955 drama based on the novel of the same name by Nelson Algren. It centers on a heroin addict (Frank Sinatra) who gets clean while in prison, but struggles to stay that way in the outside world. It co-stars Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak,...

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J.J. ABRAMS TO TACKLE FICTION ... REALLY?

OK ... Some will probably not agree with me but ... Am I alone in thinking that J.J. Abrams is completely overrated as a writer?Sure, his premises start out promising enough -- think "Lost" or "Alias" -- but inevitably the man (and his creative team) always seem to write themselves into a corner with no way out. Hopefully, he'll fare better in his next venture -- novels. Abrams has just inked a deal with Little, Brown and Company to pen an us yet...

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SHE WORE MAN'S PANTS (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music Jackie Lee swigged the Beam and turned on the Crosley. Patsy Cline was on Arthur Godfrey's show and she cranked it, bobbing her head."Turn that down, girl," Junebug said. "Gotta think...""'Bout what? You prolly did this more times than I care to know any 'ol how," Jackie Lee told him."So?" Junebug barked back. "Doesn't mean I still don't need to think. Now shut that damn radio before I have to. And pass me that Beam."She...

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'DIME WITH A HALO' (TRAILERS FROM HELL)

Featured on 'Trailers From Hell': In the hope of winning a fortune, five Tijuana street urchins pool their meager earnings each week in order to buy a $2 ticket at the Caliente racetrack. Friendly American Mr. Jones places their bets, although he disapproves of their selections.After losing for 11 consecutive weeks, the boys decide to make Jesus a partner in their venture. They steal a dime from the church poor box, add it to their cash, place their...

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IN THE WORLD OF 'DUH...' HEADLINES

NEWSFLASH: 'J.K. Rowling Considering Harry Potter e-Books' Oh she's considering it?? Gee, what with e-books taking over the marketplace and all... Good idea, J.K. ...SUBHED: The move would transform the electronic market and add to Rowling’s already impressive net worthWhile the availability of Rowling's modern classics will undoubtedly ignite tremendous sales across the board, the current e-book market does NOT need any kind of transformation. In...

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AN AFTERNOON WITH THE SISTERS SWERVE (#fridayflash)

Play play for some mood music Tom was only back from Korea for a week and he had to make sure he made the most of it. The next leg of the tour would be rough. Or so they predicted.Rumor was his outfit was headed for the 38th Parallel and that it was gonna get all sorts of ugly before it got better. But he shrugged it off like he did most things. It was his way of dealing.Riding the bus he was sweaty and the Nevada heat was almost unbearable at this...

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