Comments on: Nice Try http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/ WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR HUMILITY Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:13:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Xopher tags comment spam http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-151303 Xopher tags comment spam Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:48:26 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-151303 "rate mypusy" posts generic comment with link to sex site (judging by the URL). “rate mypusy” posts generic comment with link to sex site (judging by the URL).

]]> By: rate mypusy http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-151297 rate mypusy Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:13:44 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-151297 This is great, it's clearly brief explanation for newb like me,I'll bookmark this! This is great, it’s clearly brief explanation for newb like me,I’ll bookmark this!

]]> By: Billy Hollis http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26465 Billy Hollis Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:20:12 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26465 It happens in the technology section all the time, because the pool for any particular technological subject is pretty small. Most of us who write tech books buy existing books in the subject as source material. So when our own book comes out, it's almost certain that Amazon will recommend it to us. I still get a kick out of it, though. More bizarre is when Amazon recommended an ottoman because I bought a pair of shoes. And I agree that some of their recommendations are silly, because owning one product pretty much assures you don't need another model of the same product. Plus I bought three pairs of jeans and got recommended every brand of jeans made. Heck, three pairs will last me for five years at least. The recommendation engine apparently thinks I need two dozen pairs of assorted brands. It happens in the technology section all the time, because the pool for any particular technological subject is pretty small. Most of us who write tech books buy existing books in the subject as source material. So when our own book comes out, it’s almost certain that Amazon will recommend it to us. I still get a kick out of it, though.

More bizarre is when Amazon recommended an ottoman because I bought a pair of shoes. And I agree that some of their recommendations are silly, because owning one product pretty much assures you don’t need another model of the same product. Plus I bought three pairs of jeans and got recommended every brand of jeans made. Heck, three pairs will last me for five years at least. The recommendation engine apparently thinks I need two dozen pairs of assorted brands.

]]> By: Yaron http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26464 Yaron Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:48:07 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26464 Kendall, that sounds like a missing and much needed feature. Some way for book stores and catalogues to differentiate between authors with the same name. It will nicely solve the problem of trying to run a search for all books by a an SF/Fantasy/Thriller/whatever author, who wrote about 5-10 books, just to get back a list of 80 titles by some dude who published many psychology/art/law/engineering articles and books. Surprisingly enough (at least for the first few times), that happens a lot. Especially annoying when I don't just search by name from scratch, but specifically click a link with the authors name inside of a book's page. To me it signifies that I want the person who wrote this particular book. Anyone up for a standard international governing body of book authors? That way it can run like in movies and TV. The sooner you sign up, the better your chances of being "Name (I)" rather than "Name (IV)" ! Kendall, that sounds like a missing and much needed feature. Some way for book stores and catalogues to differentiate between authors with the same name.

It will nicely solve the problem of trying to run a search for all books by a an SF/Fantasy/Thriller/whatever author, who wrote about 5-10 books, just to get back a list of 80 titles by some dude who published many psychology/art/law/engineering articles and books.
Surprisingly enough (at least for the first few times), that happens a lot.

Especially annoying when I don’t just search by name from scratch, but specifically click a link with the authors name inside of a book’s page. To me it signifies that I want the person who wrote this particular book.

Anyone up for a standard international governing body of book authors? That way it can run like in movies and TV. The sooner you sign up, the better your chances of being “Name (I)” rather than “Name (IV)” !

]]> By: Stacey http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26456 Stacey Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:19:42 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26456 Your purchase of your own book may just be the sale that puts you over that Grisham bastard for a particular day. I'd buy the whole catalog up. Your purchase of your own book may just be the sale that puts you over that Grisham bastard for a particular day. I’d buy the whole catalog up.

]]> By: B. Durbin http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26458 B. Durbin Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:14:20 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26458 Somewhat OT: I wish I had had my camera on me yesterday during the intermission of Gilbert & Sullivan's <i>The Gondoliers</i>, because one of the principals was backstage reading <i>The Ghost Brigades</i>. In costume. Which consisted of a pretty-pretty pink and gold princess dress complete with Barbie tiara. (The tiara was the actress', and matched the costume so well that the audience had never noticed the Barbie face in the center.) I *really* wish I had that picture. Somewhat OT: I wish I had had my camera on me yesterday during the intermission of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, because one of the principals was backstage reading The Ghost Brigades.

In costume. Which consisted of a pretty-pretty pink and gold princess dress complete with Barbie tiara. (The tiara was the actress’, and matched the costume so well that the audience had never noticed the Barbie face in the center.)

I *really* wish I had that picture.

]]> By: Kendall http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26459 Kendall Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:11:21 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26459 Yaron: There's no author tracking number like publisher codes in ISBNs, so it'd be tough to be sure these books by Steve Miller are by a different guy than these other ones...all they have to go on is the name. But that sounds annoying, nonetheless! Yaron: There’s no author tracking number like publisher codes in ISBNs, so it’d be tough to be sure these books by Steve Miller are by a different guy than these other ones…all they have to go on is the name. But that sounds annoying, nonetheless!

]]> By: Steve Burnap http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26460 Steve Burnap Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:48:51 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26460 Since last week, I've been tempted to write scathing 1-star reviews of all of both John Scalzi's and Charlie Stross' books. Since last week, I’ve been tempted to write scathing 1-star reviews of all of both John Scalzi’s and Charlie Stross’ books.

]]> By: Steve "Scalzi-Award Co-Developer" Diamond http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26461 Steve "Scalzi-Award Co-Developer" Diamond Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:53:08 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26461 You could always buy it and give yourself a scathing 1-star review that you could then post here on your blog. You could always buy it and give yourself a scathing 1-star review that you could then post here on your blog.

]]> By: Frogg http://whatever.scalzi.com/2008/04/27/nice-try/#comment-26463 Frogg Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:48:58 +0000 http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=677#comment-26463 Well, we wouldn't want the recommendations to become <i>too</i> good, now would we? I'm remembering a particular passage from <i>The Android's Dream</i>... Well, we wouldn’t want the recommendations to become too good, now would we? I’m remembering a particular passage from The Android’s Dream…

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