Photo Below: What I saw when I came in to work after a day off.
Just a minor pile-up, but I could tell at a glance that half those boxes were filled with Christian books. Those don't sell, except Bibles--specifically the King James Version.
A lot of Nondenominational Christians and five large Christian denominations still use the KJV—Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Latter-day Saints, and Pentecostal. And so do people who may or may not be believers but want a Bible with literary & historical heft (like me).
Those Xtian books have heft alright--thick old Lutheran hymnals on thin paper weigh a lot––and I have to transfer them all to recycling boxes.
I am with the Mona Lisa: NO MORE. (Cover of the Aug 29 New Yorker.)
A man recently threw a piece of cake at Mona Lisa, you know, saying, [via NPR]:
"Think of the Earth! There are people who are destroying the Earth! Think about it. Artists tell you: think of the Earth. That's why I did this."Well, fair enough. Mona Lisa is behind glass--cake won't hurt her.
Someone yelled at Prince Andrew as he walked behind his mother's coffin a couple days ago:
“Andrew, you're a sick old man!”
Bad manners, sure... but definitely true, the emperor has no clothes.
The heckler was arrested and charged with breaching the peace.
Excuse me, but... isn't it Andrew who should be under arrest?
These people who are misbehaving have such good points!
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Looking at the news... How's Ukraine?
"Ukrainian victories on the battlefield have prompted even pro-Kremlin voices in Russia to question the war, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime is looking more fragile this week."
[via CNBC]
I just put that here to mark the moment--godknows what will happen next.
In 2019, dystopian TV series Years and Years predicted a world meltdown starting with Russia taking over Ukraine. Not off the table yet...
Cashless
Speaking of signs of the times... How about prices?
This morning I'm at Bob's Java Hut, where I blogged for many years when I lived a few blocks away. (It's near the cats' house.)
I haven't been to Bob's since I moved three years ago.
They no longer accept cash. At all. If the electricity goes out, no sales.
I put $14 on my card for a cup of coffee and a ham and swiss sandwich.
I'd wanted to treat myself with my cat-sitting money, but this doesn't feel like a treat, it feels like a rip off. Not specific to Bob's though--prices are up everywhere.
It is nice to be out among people, but next time I'll eat oatmeal at home beforehand.
I am earning my money, tending three touchy cats, but good news--feral cat Robinson came in to eat breakfast yesterday. I left the door open so he could go back out, which he soon did. I've been worried he isn't eating, so I left food outside too. I saw him almost catch a chipmunk, though, so I expect he's hunting.
The man of the house wants me to shut the door, trapping Robinson inside. We are having beautiful warm weather (around 80ºF). No way am I trapping a wild cat indoor. He hates it indoors, and Marmelade, the Main Cat, hates him being indoors too.
I've had good luck with Marmelade too.
She seemed lonely, so I stopped shutting her in a room at night and let her sleep with me. She is somewhat pest-y, mewing in my face every few hours--but she settles down and sleeps nicely.
Americans and pets. What can I say? It's deeply weird.
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Signs of the Times in BOOK's
I made a couple silly signs yesterday---one for a "Name the Novel: WIN A BOOK" contest I stuck on the end of a shelf.
Will anyone play?
(I'll put the answer in the comments here.)
And the other, an award for a pun-loving volunteer, Marc, who regularly cleans at the store.
A bio of Barry Manilow came in, and Grateful Dead Jerry pointed out that Marc looks a little like (an old) Manilow.
I got the three managers to sign it and put it up in the breakroom, next to my "Jesus, the 4th Bee Gee" mashup, which Marc had thought was hilarious.
Marc was in high school in the 1970s, same as me, so he'll get the lyrics and pun. (I right the wrongs = I write the songs.)
And thus I continue to earn my keep at the store.