Business sucks -- blame the lighting!

This one's a misfire. While layout and lighting are important to any retail business, I bet there's a lot more wrong with the Borders location being discussed than just that.

And the idea that an independent bookstore could fill the space left by a (potentially) closing Borders? One presumably closing, in part, because it isn't generating enough traffic? Way to double down on a failing enterprise.

Giamatti wins

I just hope no one offered him any Merlot at the after-party.

I really like Paul Giamatti: Sideways is a personal favorite. I'm sure you would want someone like Brad Pitt or Michelle Williams (depending on your gender) to portray you in the film of your life. Me? Giamatti all the way, baby.

Borders patrol

More news about Borders Books' financial trouble.

Quick anecdote:

I was at a local Borders just before the holidays to take advantage of a half-off coupon they sent me. (I make most of my book-related purchases on Amazon.com, but for 50 percent off, I'll make the drive.) Apparently, many others received the same coupon and the store was packed -- the checkout line stretched from the front of the store to the back ... and it's a big store.

I was having difficulty locating the book I'd gone there for and asked a Borders sales associate for help. Her response?

She sighed, rolled her eyes, and said "You know we're about to close, right?" Then, she looked up the title I sought and informed me, no, they didn't have it.

Now, here's the thing:

Did she act like a person working for a company desperately trying to hold onto whatever customer walks through their doors? No. Would a customer in my situation be inclined to repeat this very negative -- albeit brief -- interaction with a Borders sales associate? Yes. (Right now, in fact.)

The very point of distributing what I can only assume were hundreds, if not thousands, of half-off coupons before Christmas was to get people in the store, to break their online shopping habits. Wouldn't management gather the employees around and tell them, "Hey, listen, you might work long and hard today, but let's all do the best we can until the last customer is out of the store. Okay? We can do it!" We! Are! Marshall!

Apparently not. However, I should have expected just such an experience.

Why?

Because this particular store is famous for it.

This Borders location has a reputation among the locals for shoddy service and pretentious salespeople. My interaction wasn't the exception: it was pretty much the rule. If this was a problematic little bookstore in a far-off land, that would be one thing. But this Borders is one of the most prominent -- and heavily trafficked -- locations in the country. And it has a reputation for bad service and lousy employees.

The story I link to above talks about bad Web strategies, poor management decisions, the rise of the e-book reader. How about, um, not treating your customers as if they're a nuisance? You know which prominent bookseller doesn't do that? I'll give you a hint. No, better yet, I'll just leave the link right here.

South Korean industry's exploitation

Terrifying stuff out of the South Korean entertainment industry, as covered by the LA Times.

Part of me appreciates how some bloggers can take stuff like this and toss in a joke or two. Not out of disrespect, more just out of a need to keep things light. Not me. This is simply another depressing example of how poorly humans can treat one another when there is a disparity of power between them.

I love James Franco

Seriously. More often than not -- well, okay ... the vast majority of the time -- actors doing anything other than acting bothers me. See: "But what I really want to do is direct!" and/or "Check out my new clothing line!" They have every right in the world to do this stuff, but it still bothers me. Irrational, I know, but there it is.

James Franco is a different story. Franco is everywhere ... in an almost literal sense. If the guy started performing a song and dance routine at the restaurant down the street from me, I'd only be mildly surprised.

But does it bother me that the guy is acting, hosting, writing, directing, etc.? Not one bit.

There are a couple problems when celebrities branch out:

• They might not be very good at the new thing. Eddie Murphy's music career comes to mind.
• They might not be doing work they're credited with. Show of hands: how many people really think Jessica Simpson is a fashion designer?
• They might become horrifically overexposed. Even if you kinda sorta like the person, there's only so much you can take.

For me, Franco is avoiding all of these pitfalls.

1. He's no Raymond Carver (although neither was Carver), but he's lots better than Snooki's ghostwriter.
2. There's no question that that's Franco in 127 Hours, Saturday Night Live and General Hospital. And that'll be him hosting the Oscars and directing a movie or two down the line. No doubt: he's actually doing the work. (Hey, an MFA isn't the most difficult degree in the world to get, but it isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination.) 
3. His presence -- on screen, in interviews -- has just the right amount of, "I'm just having a good time." Too much of that attitude and no one takes you seriously. Not enough and everyone thinks you take yourself too seriously.

Plus, there's Pineapple Express. Come on: how can you not love that guy?

I'm looking forward to his Oscar gig with Anne Hathaway. (A brilliant move on the part of the producers, by the way.) More James Franco is all right with me.

After all, I'm in love.

"Golden" doesn't begin to describe this guy's voice.



I know I'm a little late to this party -- this thing exploded online yesterday -- but I had to get a link up here.

Oh, and the good news? The guy got a job.

Didn't I see this on "Seinfeld"?

My favorite news story of the day. Hell, possibly my favorite news story of the year: "Man playing real-life 'Frogger' hit by SUV."