Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

[Robin Garr]

I just got the following "if you liked, you'll like" ad from Amazon.com. Seems to me that their algorithm broke down completely. Does anyone see any connection here other than possibly the shared "Hu..."?

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has purchased books by Hugh Johnson, you might like to know that "HMMWV Humvee 1980-2005 : US Army Tactical Vehicle (New Vanguard)" will be released in paperback on April 25, 2006. You can pre-order your copy at a savings of 35% by following the link below.

The glory of Google- a quick look lets usknow the illustrator's name is.....

http://www.attilathehum.com/books.htm

[Robin Garr]

the illustrator's name

Aha! Good work, Dale. A different HJ, I would guess.

Still, the e-mail alert tickled my funny bone ...

This kind of stuff will keep computers as second class citizens--the stupid things can't think at all...

Hey! My wine book can lick your wine book!

So there!

I just got the following "if you liked, you'll like" ad from Amazon.com. Seems to me that their algorithm broke down completely. Does anyone see any connection here other than possibly the shared "Hu..."?

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has purchased books by Hugh Johnson, you might like to know that "HMMWV Humvee 1980-2005 : US Army Tactical Vehicle (New Vanguard)" will be released in paperback on April 25, 2006. You can pre-order your copy at a savings of 35% by following the link below.

I had a similar thing happen. Amazon.com recommended Bill Clinton's autobiography, My Life, because I had previously purchased Gary Larson's The Complete Far Side.

I asked a co-worker who is married to a software engineer at Amazon, about this and he said, "Oh, that's easy. The connection is that they're both on the New York Times top 50 best seller list."

So there is a method, howver twisted, to Amazon's madness.

-Paul W.

Paul, I suppose you should be glad that Amazon didn't try to sell you Mopy Dick!

I like the messages that say:

Customers who searched for "Nuclear Terrorism" most often purchased "Nuclear Terrorism." Gee, you mean they didn't end up purchasing "Mother Goose Rhymes" instead?

[James Roscoe]

There's a really bad joke waiting here. I suppose Joe P. and Coad are busy.

[Robin Garr]

There's a really bad joke waiting here.

Worst of all, it works on several levels.

I suppose Joe P. and Coad are busy.

Thank Bacchus!

[James Roscoe]

On the other hand, maybe someone else could take up the challenge. I see Bob Ross is poking around.
Cheers!
James