Amazon and Ebay Personalized "Picks"

Gary Sisco · July-13th-2005, 10:05 AM

Can these things get any stranger? I just looked at the computer-generated "picks" Ebay recs for me. First one: Barbara Streisand. I can't think of anyone I dislike more. The next was a Bill Monroe; I can live with that, though I own all I'll ever need to own, and have for many years. Next was somebody Don Gibson; I've never even heard of him.

Amazon's similar book recs whenever I buy one from them can be equally strange. Last time I looked, the first one recommended was a Harry Potter. (!?!)

Literally brainless.

bluenoter · July-13th-2005, 10:25 AM

Don't underestimate the power of the relational database! Get interactive and answer all their questions about their picks and your actual preferences (at least on Amazon). In short, help them market to you! Think of all the products you might miss if you're not prompted!

Jason Bivins · July-13th-2005, 10:43 AM

I think I got "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in one of mine.

Oh and Amazon once listed Family Vineyard as a Christian label too!

Gary Sisco · July-13th-2005, 11:08 AM

Hilarious.

Boris Badenov · July-13th-2005, 11:22 AM

Dood, I think Root needs to come over and slap you. Don Gibson wrote "Sweet Dreams," "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You."

Boris Badenov · July-13th-2005, 11:28 AM

Amazon does turn up a winner now and then. Just recently, they recommended to me a CD by the "Hacienda Brothers". I wondered who the hell they were and clicked out of curiosity. Turns out their lead singer is Chris Gaffney, an excellent neo-honky-tonker from Texas who rarely releases a recording. I had ordered his last recording maybe five years ago from Amazon.

patricia · July-13th-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

Next was somebody Don Gibson; I've never even heard of him.

Gary, nobody is less likely to choose country music than me, but I make an exception for Don Gibson along with Hank Williams. Both have written and recorded some lyrics that have stayed with me.
Don Gibson wrote "Sea Of Heartbreak", which has soul-stirring lyrics that, although I hadn't heard it for years, I still remembered.
A while ago I was flipping through some vintage vinyl and along with a fistful of old jazz, snapped up a copy of his greatest hits, which included "Sea Of Heartbreak" and it's stood the test of time.

But, you're right, smiles can be had when Amazon is guessing what else you would be interested in, based on what you just ordered.

Noj · July-13th-2005, 12:31 PM

Despite never having ordered a Country Western CD, somehow my Columbia House account automatically had that become my music preference. Next biggest section in the catalog they sent me was "what's hot," advertising a bunch of MTV-type pop bands and Kelly Clarkson types. I cancelled my subscription shortly thereafter.

patricia · July-13th-2005, 10:32 PM

But Noj, I understand that you're a skate-boarder. If you have ever ordered anything related, perhaps they had you pegged as one of my daughter's contemperaries.

crawjo · July-13th-2005, 10:44 PM

My personalized list on Amazon is really strange. I have no idea where it came from!

Red Shoe Diaries

The Emmanuelle Collection

Stripper U.S.A. Championship

Lap Dance Lessons

Jenna Jameson: Essentials

Slutfest: Strippers Gone Wild

BIG Book of Masturbation

Tickle his pickle: Your Hands-On Guide to Penis Pleasing

Can anyone explain this????

Lenny D.Guitarist · July-13th-2005, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

My personalized list on Amazon is really strange. I have no idea where it came from!

Red Shoe Diaries

The Emmanuelle Collection

Stripper U.S.A. Championship

Lap Dance Lessons

Jenna Jameson: Essentials

Slutfest: Strippers Gone Wild

BIG Book of Masturbation

Tickle his pickle: Your Hands-On Guide to Penis Pleasing

Can anyone explain this????

Crawdaddy,

You gotta stop flogging your dolphin. You're a big boy now. Amazon knows a profit when it sees one. Recommending jerking journals to
a serial masturbator such as you is a no-brainer, guaranteed money in the bank. Much akin to Budweiser supplying Betty Ford with a life-time supply of its hops. Stop the monkey spanking, your eyesight will be restored, your bishop will stop excommunicating, and Amazon will get off your gherkin!

Noj · July-13th-2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

But Noj, I understand that you're a skate-boarder. If you have ever ordered anything related, perhaps they had you pegged as one of my daughter's contemperaries.

If that were the case, one would think they'd chalk me up as a Dead Kennedys or Suicidal Tendencies fan, not Kenny Chesney!

Jazzzoline · July-13th-2005, 11:32 PM

.oO( thought Barbara Streisand was very appropriate for Gary)

*running to hide under the couch*

Jazzzoline · July-13th-2005, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

My personalized list on Amazon is really strange. I have no idea where it came from!

Red Shoe Diaries

The Emmanuelle Collection

Stripper U.S.A. Championship

Lap Dance Lessons

Jenna Jameson: Essentials

Slutfest: Strippers Gone Wild

BIG Book of Masturbation

Tickle his pickle: Your Hands-On Guide to Penis Pleasing

Can anyone explain this????

You got Larry's list

patricia · July-13th-2005, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noj

If that were the case, one would think they'd chalk me up as a Dead Kennedys or Suicidal Tendencies fan, not Kenny Chesney!

Good point. Then they may take you to be a resident of one of the many fine retirement homes in the country. I now picture you wearing both a belt and suspenders on your hiked-to-the-armpits trousers with a plaid shirt and a polka-dot bowtie.

Noj · July-13th-2005, 11:51 PM

Can't trust a man who can't even trust his own pants!

July-14th-2005, 12:08 AM

Fixed for better accuracy:

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

My personalized list on Amazon is really strange. I have no idea where it came from, with the exception of:

Jenna Jameson: Essentials

Slutfest: Strippers Gone Wild

BIG Book of Masturbation

Tickle his pickle: Your Hands-On Guide to Penis Pleasing

Look, every man has his weakness...........

Noj · July-14th-2005, 12:37 AM

Here's some vintage pics of me, at about 13-14yo:

Noj · July-14th-2005, 12:38 AM

I at least deserve some Fugazi in my catalog out of respect.

Noj · July-14th-2005, 12:39 AM

Dude, how's my knee brace, elbow pad on my shin, crazy Airwalks with lace covers, and Mike McGill shirt? Could I have been more of a kooky grommet?

patricia · July-14th-2005, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noj

Can't trust a man who can't even trust his own pants!

This practice is a scourge on the elder citizens of both your and my countries. Who knows how far throughout the world it has spread?? Promise me that when you become an elder citizen you will never wear both a belt and suspenders, nor hoist your trousers under your armpits..

The pic of you on your board is great!!!

Gordon B · July-14th-2005, 07:41 AM

My music list isn't bad.
One of my favorite records of the last 10 years,
WP and IOTS- "The Peach Orchard" is on it.
There's also
Monk's Moods
~ Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra with Steve Lacy

Is this a good one? It sounds intriguing.

There's also more W Parker and Lacy, Enrico Rava, Geri Allen, one jazz guy I've got mixed feelings about, Don Byron, and one I dont' like, Archie Shepp.

The books were pretty accurate too except for Jeffrey Sachs, 'The End of Poverty" which I'd probably not like very much.

Gary, have you ordered much music from Amazon? I suspect you haven't. Their recs for me were bizarre until I ordered enough for them to compile enough data to make good recs for me.

rollhead · July-14th-2005, 03:15 PM

My amazon book/CD recommentation:

How To Make Jazz With Power Tools by Rollhead

Singing the Dewlap Blues by Blind Lemon Scrotum Boy

Off the DEEP End by Danny D'Imperio

Whining, Stomping and Pouting the Blues by Chris Albertson

Wining Boy Blues by Dr Jelly Roll Dave

How to Listen to the Unlistenable and Convince Others you Really Love it by Steve Reynolds

Gary Sisco · July-15th-2005, 09:26 AM

I try to avoid ordering music from them, normally, as I'd rather give my bread direct to artists, to labels I respect, or to independent record stores, like DMG. Most times, the only Amazon music ordering I do would be to buy the occasional new BN release that my standard sources wouldn't likely be carrying. BN and ECM, both occasionally, are the only majors I still deal with.

I buy probably 80% from DMG, and the rest from Erst or Erstdist, artists I know, or direct from independent labels like AUM-Fidelity. I make the occasional allowance for the majors, like when Osby or someone like that has a new release. Otherwise, my tastes have moved in directions that make the major labels daily, increasingly irrelevant.

I do use Amazon's pretty amazing used bookstore lineup, though. I've yet to be looking for a book that hasn't turned up there at a very reasonable price.

So, my lack of buying history with them, musicwise, might explain the strange offerings their computers come up with.

Geez, sorry I didn't know who Don Gibson is. Hank, I have a whole huge pile of. I haven't always kept track of who wrote what song in C&W, though. Nevertheless, songs like some of Gibson's were in my standard barband repertoire in the day.

Actually, I often have a hard time remembering band names these days. As a dj, I developed a different kind of memory. I remember tracks and where they're located, so I can grab them easily. Once grabbed, I can read the credits if necessary. Once I read an article about pot and memory loss but I can't remember what it said.... (rimshot)....

As for Babs, there's no one in the US I loathe more, though there are many who are her equal in my esteem. I'd rather shoot myself in the head with a nailgun than deal with that kind of runnings.

Boris Badenov · July-15th-2005, 09:58 AM

I was just funnin' you, Gary. Though it does make Gibson seem like a pretty defensible choice for their engine to recommend to you. Streisand, on the other hand... I don't think science can explain that. Must be intelligent design!

Gary Sisco · July-15th-2005, 10:04 AM

That's what I thought, too.

The Harry Potter amazed me more than anything else. I mean, I *know* what books I've bought, and what connection any of them might have to Harry Potter is well beyond my reasoning powers.

Gary Sisco · July-15th-2005, 10:06 AM

Truth is, though, it is Root Doctor these days who keeps me up with roots musics, to the extent that I get anything "new" in that category. I have a whole lot that I've been listening to since my teens and 20s -- and all of it still holds up. Roots comes around occasionally and turns me on to some cat who's still doing the real thing out there.

Gordon B · July-17th-2005, 09:45 AM

Gary, I also buy most of my cds from one of DMG/artists/An Die Musik when I'm there for a music show, DMG getting the majority of my business. I guess I've ordered from Amazon enough for them to know I buy jazz. I buy almost all my books from Amazon, probably over 90%.

Root Doctor · July-17th-2005, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

Dood, I think Root needs to come over and slap you. Don Gibson wrote "Sweet Dreams," "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You."

I'm on my way, Boris. Thanks for the green light!

Boris Badenov · July-17th-2005, 06:49 PM

Don't be too hard on him, Root. He's a good boy at heart.