Book News, In Brief

I love articles about indie bookstores as much as the next indie bookstore employee, but goddamn -- do they always have to focus on the stores' cats?! No wonder people are turning to big box bookstores and online behemoths. Instead of hyping our intelligence and experience, we've made ourselves look like a bunch of crazy neighborhood cat ladies.

It's what the kids call 'backpedaling', via The Huffington Post:
Author Of 'Obama Can't Win' Book Doesn't Believe Himself
Author Shelby Steele now says, "I regret that subtitle. It was an afterthought. And I don't argue that in the book. He can definitely win." Oh, and while he's setting the record straight, Steele is just a pen name. He chose it to offset his malleability.

Sunday's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review featured an article titled, Retailers in Step With Trends Shift Focus to Web Commerce. In addition to the usual blah-blah-blah about e-commerce (It's cheaper! You don't need as many employees! People like shopping while naked and viewing porn!), the article mentioned this depressing bit of gossip: A possible Amazon.com merger with Borders.
I don't know about you, but I just lost my erect**n.