The Quiet Before The Storm

John (on the left) and Dean (on the right) report that the number of books bought back from DU students this quarter is way down. However, this could mean that everyone will come into the DU Bookstore on the same day to sell back their books - possibly this very Monday. The same thing happened a few years ago. On that day the book buyback line stretched out the door, down the hallway, and outside the building, all the way to the Jerusalem restaurant, several block away. As I recall, on that day Chuck - one of the Nebraska book buyers - fainted dead away. John had to throw water on his face, slap him several times to revive him, and then lash him to his computer terminal to make sure he didn't collapse again. It was a very stressful period for the Nebraska book buyers, but frankly quite amusing to watch. Good luck tomorrow guys!

The View From Downtown

Today was a sunny, beautiful, crisp fall day - perfect for a walk through downtown Denver. This was also World Toilet Day. I spent much of the afternoon wondering what kind of photograph would be most appropriate to celebrate Thomas Crapper's famous invention, but finally decided to flush the idea down the drain. Let everyone celebrate World Toilet Day in their own way.

Dave R. Goes By The Book

Dave R. seemed crestfallen today when I mentioned that I was taking the Tom Peters book "Re-imagine" home with me. It was on the "free" table in the DU Bookstore's break room, so I thought nobody wanted it. Evidently Dave has been reading it on his lunch hour each day and has been thoroughly enjoying it. I didn't have the heart to take it home after that and put it back on the break room table. However, I insist that Dave be put in charge of implementing the book's recommendations, chapter by chapter.

Still Another Nebraska Book Guy!

Dean, along with Chuck and John, is here at the DU Bookstore for the next week or so buying back textbooks from students. Dean, like Chuck and John, lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. I asked if Nebraska didn't seem to him to be overrun with cows and corn. Dean admitted this was true, but also mentioned that it was very windy in Nebraska, and the reason for this is because "Colorado blows and Iowa sucks." Could that be some kind of crack? In any case, welcome to the DU Bookstore Dean!

Chuck Is Back!

Chuck, one of the Nebraska Book Company representatives here to buy back textbooks from DU students over the next week or so, insisted during the last buyback that he and the other reps wanted the DU Bookstore to stay independent. That is why I was so shocked to see Chuck - in a suit no less - touring the bookstore with a group of executives wanting to make bids to take over the store. After all these years, we find out that Chuck has been moonlighting as a corporate raider. Who would have thunk it?

Nebraska Books Has Arrived!

Marty, the DU Bookstore's Textbook Manager (on the left in the photograph above) welcomed John (on the right) back to the store this afternoon. John, our Nebraska Book Company representative, along with Chuck, our other Nebraska rep, will be buying back textbooks for the store over the next week or so. Not only is that a great service to the Bookstore, it also gets Chuck and John out of cow-infested Nebraska for a little while. "Win Win," as we business types like to say.

Holiday Sale!

The Bookstore staff is all excited about the holiday sale going on at the store this week. Not only that, but the end of quarter bookbuy will start this Wednesday, the time of year when you offer students $5 for their $200 textbook and then duck. Thank goodness Chuck and the other Chuck - John - from Nebraska Book Company will be here to take the abuse. No wonder everybody is in such a good mood.