Update: Store launches Thursday

Thursday you say? But, Josh, it's Friday...

Yep, right. We went ahead and launched the store last night.

You can buy photos directly from the artist (me!), all from the comfort of your living room. You don't even have to put pants on.

What we're reading: The Wanting Seed by Anthony Burgess

Anthony Burgess is best known for A Clockwork Orange. The Wanting Seed also falls into the dystopic category – my favorite – and it's just as bleak.

Overpopulated futuristic world? Check. Government have an eye on – and a hand in – everything you do? Check. Love triangle? Check. Population limitation by killing all the stupid people? Check. Really smart main character who figures everything out and gets the girl? Check.

Really, it's almost too perfect. I feel like giving you actual plot points would take away something. Like really, you should run out and read this book. Keep a dictionary and a glass of wine handy.

Also, be paranoid. Be very paranoid.

Two new-to-me blogs

I've come across a couple of blogs lately you should read.

My former co-editor at The Westerner Wayne Barr writes about family at The Rag & Bone Shop.

Our biggest fight at the paper? Monster vs. New Adventures In Hi-Fi. Nuff said.

The other comes thanks to someone in the tech department at my current job. It's called Passive-Aggressive Notes, and really, nothing else needs to be said about that.

Store drops Sunday, 2 March 2008

We're counting down to Sunday, the 2nd of March. That's the day photos go up for sale – in plenty of time to order for Mother's Day.

More later.

v2.0 update

You may have noticed a slight change in the color scheme. Just a slight one, mind you.

It took a lot longer than I thought it would to figure out how to integrate PayPal seamlessly into the site, but I think I've got it now.

There will be some sort of announcement later today as to when you can expect the store to be up.

Countdown to v2.0

New colors are just the beginning. Better readability? Check. More stuff? Check. Ability to order photos online? Check.

Wait, what?

That's right. Order photos online from JoshShear.com. Coming soon.

What we're reading: Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

It's no secret. I'm a big fan of Christopher Moore. The man writes cheesy horror wrapped in a romance package.

I mean, look at that cover. How middle school is that?

Anyway...

Meet Catch. He's a demon. Most of the time, he's invisible, unless he's eating people.

Meet Travis. Travis is a nonogenarian who has looked 20ish since he was a physically and emotionally abused seminary student who accidentally called Catch up from the pit of Hell.

When he called Catch up, he hopped a train to try to run away, and wound up exchanging a set of candlesticks for the kindness of a stranger, and when he figures out after all these years he needs those candlesticks to send Catch back, he tracks them to Pine Cove, California, a one-horse town full of one-horse town characters.

Anyway, I'm going on the assumption that demons, interesting characters, and the fact that this is a Chris Moore novel are all you really need to hear. Go read it.

Sisters

OK, I'll admit it. Story Corps usually makes me weep like a little girl. I blame it on the 6:24 a.m. Friday starting time.

Check out today's installment – it's about sibling resentment turned into deep love.