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			 As sometimes happens, when we are glancing at the tabloids to see 
			who fathered Bigfoot’s new baby, we get into discussions of trivia. 
			Annette was sliding broccoli and corn flakes over the glass-window 
			dinger machine, and we were just chatting about … I think it was 
			bears this time. You know… 
 “I read,” said Annette, “that a bear can run 45 miles an hour, 
			faster than a race horse.”
 
 To which I added, “Did you know a polar bear’s skin is black, and a 
			black bear’s skin is white?”
 
 “Really?” Annette said, weighing the plastic bag of apples. “And did 
			you know,” she said, “that horses can’t vomit?”
 
 Horses just hadn’t heard me sing yet, that’s all.
 
			
			 
 So it was then that the next guy in line, a young fellow dressed in 
			camouflage, smiled and joined in.
 
 “You know the song, ‘The Duke of Earl’?” he asked.
 
 Well, of course we did. We used to slide around the dance floor to 
			that when Elvis was still a pup. Wasn’t as good for snuggling as a 
			Johnny Mathis tune, but what is? Half the marriages in this town 
			began while dancing to “The Twelfth of Never.”
 
 “Well, here’s something to think about,” our young friend said. “If 
			you are driving down the highway, and you tap your foot on the 
			accelerator each time the car goes by one of those broken yellow 
			lines, and if you do it in time to ‘The Duke of Earl,’ you’re doing 
			exactly 55 miles an hour.”
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            column] | 
            
			 “You’re kidding!”
 “Nope. I’m a trucker, and I can tell you it’s a fact. Heard it on 
			the radio and gave it a try. Fifty-five miles an hour.”
 
 Let’s see … Duke, duke, duke, duke of earl, duke, duke, duke of 
			earl, duke…
 
 Might come in handy if the speedometer goes on the fritz.
 [Text from file received from 
			Slim Randles] 
			 
			 Ol' Jimmy Dollar 
			is Slim Randles' first children's book.  The book is for kids 
			K-3rd grades and is even better when parents read it with children. 
			Ol' Jimmy Dollar makes for sweet dreams and if you have a dog 
			even better.  Available now on Amazon. |