Ticketing service says in March they'll send a follow-up email w/ a PDF of tickets for a show. They send an email w/ a PDF that looks immediately to me to be tickets. I save it w/out looking at it too closely. Alas, the PDF actually says I'm to wait for a third email with the actual PDF tickets.

I saw a post out of context that made me think “it” had happened. The swings of emotion in a ten-second span were wild, and not just back-and-forth.

Reposting this. Because it’s one of those bleedingly obvious things that only become so AFTER you say it: convenience is extended mostly to make somebody else gobs of money, & is usually paid for by those who can’t afford it.

From Diane Negra’s “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” ebbooksellers.com/item/jox8MGW...

This has made me laugh until my eyes water several times today.

Only the best city governments like Oakland’s knows how to serially trip on its own tail. oaklandside.org/2026/04/02/o...

“Why do you sound so happy? Are you dying?”

That was a pretty strong tremor.

[reading a book in first person] i dont remember doing any of this

A new rule, which I thought should’ve been one of those unspoken sort: you don’t get a straight answer if you ask how the store is doing without having (recently, if I’m feeling generous) bought something.

Given the circumstances, seems pleading for national unity is pretty naive.

If he should keel over on April Fools, I mean ...

Unpopular opinion here, but I don’t think any of those dogs on Instagram ever sound like they’re saying “I love you.”

Every team not quite making the World Cup this year are the true winners.

A couple of new arrivals from Stanford UP today that I'm keen to see (I'm working from home today): 1) ebbooksellers.com/item/jox8MGW...

You should note that at least one tier of subscription gives you access to a Loyalty Points Plan (that name is not official, and feels very squishy the moment I type it). Basically, as long as you maintain that subscription, we'll create/adjust your account with us to accrue points w/ rewards.

FRANCE: we're fancy WORLD: ok FRANCE: a fried ham sandwich is our national lunch WORLD: FRANCE: a fried ham sandwich with an egg is its wife

I mean, I don't NOT want to uproot my life for one vaguely similar to another country ... & I do have appeal (at least) to some EU legal necessities. emeraldislehomes.ie/property/ker...

I keep getting this ad on Instagram, and I feel like maybe there’s at least a third type.

This is grim. www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Ouch: " Since February 2020, Oakland has lost nearly 1,100 retail businesses." Curious how those losses were distributed year over year & where. oaklandside.org/2026/03/26/t...

Overheard at the store tonight: "Look at this $50 pop science book about counting birds." [Browses book] "Wait, why do they have this very technical math book about counting birds on display?"

ok drunk posting but actually I think you do not have to separate the art from the artist, you just have to have an approach to personal morality that is more complex than "I have ranked you on a scale of 1=bad and 10=good"

I’m looking forward to this exhibition. exhibitions.asianart.org/exhibitions/...

There is apparently a NYT op-ed calling for more public theology, and brothers and sisters let me tell you: I don’t think the public or theology are ready for that.

As one whose business now pays half the rent it did in 2023, has a smaller staff, and still has roughly the same (non-COGS) expenses I have to assume it’s not always the evil landlord’s fault your favorite small business closed.

I get that all parties may simply want an exit ramp, but the thought of taking any assurances in a US authored peace plan at face value seems pretty laughable.

At minimum seven people in this cafe audibly singing along to Total Eclipse of the Heart.

So many books to pass on, so little time. The bookstore buyer's dilemma.

He was serving looks out on the beach today.

This is Neo seeing the Matrix for what it is levels of inefficiency management.

We’re absolutely gutted to hear about the fire in Amsterdam destroying the warehouse of Idea Books. Very relieved no one was injured, but the loss is huge. As we learned, though, they will discover the depth of friendships far & wide in the wake of this.

Gutting news to hear about Idea Books’ warehouse in Amsterdam and all their publishers’ books destroyed. Just awful.

How committed am I to the inefficiencies of university press distribution? I immediately reordered several titles right after returning them to a distributor because (a) I was nearing my 18 month window to return, and (b) I needed to get to shipping minimum for them to release a new title I wanted.

This sun has made the past two days seem busier than they’ve actually been. I’m ready for a nap.

I have no problem with a publisher or a bookstore having a firm no-AI rule, but that rule is going to be increasingly harder to judge. “No admitted AI,” isn’t the worst, because it makes it something one has to confess. But shame only lasts so long.

Makin’ lemonade. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

There's a book, apparently, called THEO OF GOLDEN that is, definitely, a huge seller at indie bookstores, but I confess I've not a clue what it is. A trained professional, don't try this at home.

This bill is an absolute abomination. Shame on anyone in Congress who so much as flirts with it.

The slowness of the past two (very sunny) days at the store is as much evidence as I need that our weekday customers are vampires.

On the one hand, I don’t see my job being replaced by AI. On the other hand, increasingly fewer people will have the means to be in need of my services. A wonderful house of cards has been constructed.

We’re all cheering for Venezuela, right?

Tracking information says it is THE TUNNEL reissue arrival day, for the William H. Gass fan in your life.

Bummed that there’s more discourse today about the Oscars than about that horrible called strike three against the Dominican Republic last night.

From a certain point of view, a good bookstore is at least mildly antagonistic toward popular culture.

Bookstore owner here, and I agree. There’s a certain responsibility we have (imo) to celebrate what people want while also challenging it & them.

Just saw an invoice in my email for a book whose title suggests it’s about mariachi musical instruments. I don’t recall ordering such, but I think “Cool!” Alas … it is a board book.

Some days your returns outpace your sales; or, other sordid tales of bookselling.

Almost impressed by their commitment to make their chocolate even worse than it was. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Huh … maybe that headache I’ve had for the past week wasn’t “just sinuses,” but more the gas leak in my basement.