Our Hachette rep sent an email saying you have to order four copies of Biden’s book to receive it by the pub date. I wonder how long in advance for orders of zero.

At a certain point you miss so many shots you no longer deserve the win, right?

I love criticisms of The Odyssey whinging about “authenticity” by people who’d never in a million years be able to understand the original language.

Small publishers have every right to hate bookstore returns, but one of the largely unsung points in its favor is customers will almost always purchase a couple of pending returns left on a cart for a couple of days.

Anybody want to trade left feet with me? Currently mine is decidedly opposed to walks longer than three miles, and my dog unsympathetic to my pain. Easier to trade the dog, I suppose, but he’s a mama’s boy, so he’s not going anywhere.

Stephen Miller looks like a piece of AI slop fed fascist prompts.

Almost no one ever in your entire life of riding public transport has the desire or means to kill you but every single driver on the road would splash your guts across the pavement to get to the next red light 30 seconds sooner.

The senior living housing project proposed in Rockridge has a $1 million buy-in & $10k in monthly rent. Like … what in the hell?

How has the US not yet suffered sanctions for its rank stupidity?

I've been listening to the latest Mandy, Indiana album on repeat. Really loved their previous one, but this one somehow is even better.

"I doubt I have a lot to say," says I to somebody requesting comment about bookselling. **** "Sorry ... I know that was probably way too much and not at all what you were looking for," says I to the same person after sending my comments about bookselling.

I don’t galley brag often, but I’m pretty happy about this one.

Was prepared to pull for the English, but by match time found I just couldn’t do it.

Catching a bit of KEXP’s 120 Minutes tribute while running some errands this morning’s, and man I’m feeling for a moment like a college kid again.

I wonder if the Senators introducing hateful bills like these were also a hoot with the jokes like Graham. bookriot.com/senate-bill-...

I remain kind of shocked that, as far as I know, Thomas Mullaney's HOW WE DISAPPEAR has not received major review coverage. Join the club, I know. But if ever there was a book screaming out for a NEW YORKER quick hit, it's this. & I mean that in the good -- it actually helps me sell books -- sense.

I respect France's commitment to not working on a holiday.

Belgium is feeling a lot better about their showing against Spain last round.

I don't understand the hubbub caused by the Atlantic Monthly piece about the "end of reading." It didn't seem esp revelatory or provocative. And I don't know that any analysis that focuses only on the US is deserving of too broad a thesis.

Really wish publishers would separate reissues / special editions into a different catalog. Would make my life a lot easier.

Never forget that time Sam Neill gave a quote about murder that was so beautifully kabonkers, we all assumed it was a Clickhole bit initially

Sometimes when I’m going through the daily sales report, I have to wonder if some of the discoveries— particularly the single-title treasures dropped in sections with little fanfare or warning — brought as much joy to the customer as they did me.

Have they checked VAR to confirm he’s dead yet?

You can’t give Argentina loving refs an inch. Ridiculous.

I appreciate a house rep's honesty when they tell my buyers EBB is not as big a priority as Green Apple or City Lights, and thus may not get the ARCs we want (& in general should buy the things we have no interest in selling anyway). But I don't think they appreciate my willingness to tattle.

Still don’t know why you even have on-field referees at all if they’re gonna swallow their whistles and let a computer effectively do their job in the biggest moments of a game.

Saw some US fans online trying to troll the Belgian squad for, apparently, playing respectably & actually being competitive in a a loss.

Sorta makes sense that Belgium would be done in by a goalkeeping mistake, I guess.

A Belgium win tomorrow over Spain would arguably be more of a “wtf just happened?!” than even a proper upset early in the tournament.

I may be finally liberated from IG even for store use. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

So much for Morocco as a dark horse, huh?

Something definitely in the water. It's been a DIALECTIC OF ENLIGHTENMENT summer in these parts.

whenever a driver comes to a full stop in oakland chances are it's just because they're replying to a text

We're sometimes asked, "Why don't you have the new David Brooks book?" The blank stare roughly translates to "He's an idiot."

We get these bills every two weeks at the store. Every time I have to dispute it, and each time I get an auto-response “ You don’t need to pay.” That stops the collections notices, which in itself enforces the sense that this is all fraudulent.

Fuck off, VAR.

FWIW, I was one of the Belgians here (in relative ease of immigration, if not current citizenship).

I just had the thought: "Roberto Martinez is going to be the next USMNT coach, isn't he?" & I laughed & laughed. (& I kind of like him, actually.)

I'm so disillusioned, I almost don't even care who gets the FIFA Peace Prize next year

I know that hating on Belgium is fun for soccer fans. (I'm nearly Belgian myself, and I do it, too!) But I'm so very happy Lukaku is having himself a WC after the horrible one last time around. Dude is class, and deserves his flowers.

I passed on a reasonably priced Rosalia ticket for this. And I’m happy I did. (Though arguably still time.) (& I drank enough so maybe?)

Guy at the bar told me my English is good for a Belgian. (Kidding he didn’t say that. I just think it’d be funny if he did.)

Says UEFA: "FIFA has crossed a red line." Says everybody else: Call me when there are consequences.

Obviously read whatever you like, but the general & consistent laziness of the NY Times “Best Books (So Far)” lists suggest you could just as well ask a stranger for theirs when waiting in line for a coffee.

Every time my adult (35+) talk about high school I’m reminded about how little I actually recall of my experience. Was it dull? Traumatic? Who can say?!

FIFA continues to make a mockery of its rules, huh? When apparently the fans don’t care, I guess why not?

Over-caffeinated and slightly boozy is how I hold it the fuck together during a holiday shift.

Hot damn! A new book by @alexisshotwell.bsky.social! ebbooksellers.com/item/SLzAqBF...

I sometimes see people contorting their bodies & minds to conjure up some rehabilitated, ethical form of patriotism, but I mostly don't see the point.