Blog by Sumana Harihareswara, Changeset founder
Someone's Got to Mind the Store: Zed recently bought our last marked-down…
Hi, reader. I wrote this in 2002 and it's now more than five years old. So it may be very out of date; the world, and I, have changed a lot since I wrote it! I'm keeping this up for historical archive purposes, but the me of today may 100% disagree with what I said then. I rarely edit posts after publishing them, but if I do, I usually leave a note in italics to mark the edit and the reason. If this post is particularly offensive or breaches someone's privacy, please contact me.
Someone's Got to Mind the Store:
- Zed recently bought our last marked-down copy of the Neil Gaiman collection Smoke and Mirrors, and thanked me for the pointer. First documented instance of someone actually using my Cody's Deals highlights!
- I now have evidence (a Cody's inventory entry) that John McWhorter's new book, "Authentically Black," will go on sale in January of 2003.
- A man bought a book on how to perform a particular sexual act upon a woman. I mentioned that we provide a free gift-wrapping service. He smiled and said, "No, this is homework." I wish his partner well.
BART and the Greedy Algorithm: Recent experience with lengthy BART delays teaches me: When you are on BART, and you get a chance to get closer to your destination, take it. Take your first chance to get across the bay and then transfer at West Oakland. That sort of thing. Even if it means you'll have to stand most of the way. It's only worse with the new reduced schedule. Man, I wish more public transit ran 24 hours.
Today I found myself near Berkeley TRIP and nervously made outlays for discounted public transit fare aggregations. I'm trying out a 10-trip AC Transit pass (a $15 value for $13) and a high-value BART ticket ($48 worth for $45) and feeling anxious about the expense and ease of loss. Other customers came in and out while I agonized and casually bought BART and AC Transit passes, which reassured me. Once I integrate these expenses and protocols into my life I won't feel so weird.
