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Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:35 pm
by 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.

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:02 pm
by Dale Williams
The glory of Google- a quick look lets usknow the illustrator's name is.....

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

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:00 pm
by Robin Garr
Dale Williams wrote:the illustrator's name


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

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

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:07 am
by Thomas
This kind of stuff will keep computers as second class citizens--the stupid things can't think at all...

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:43 am
by Bob Cohen
Hey! My wine book can lick your wine book!

So there!

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:31 pm
by Paul Winalski
Robin Garr wrote: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.

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:26 am
by Thomas
Paul, I suppose you should be glad that Amazon didn't try to sell you Mopy Dick! :)

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:15 pm
by JC (NC)
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?

Hugh Johnson and Hummers

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:43 pm
by James Roscoe
There's a really bad joke waiting here. I suppose Joe P. and Coad are busy.

Re: Hugh Johnson and Hummers

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:55 pm
by Robin Garr
James Roscoe wrote: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!

Re: Hugh Johnson and ... Humvees!?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:04 pm
by James Roscoe
On the other hand, maybe someone else could take up the challenge. I see Bob Ross is poking around.
Cheers!
James