What Does Amazon Know?



It has been a wild few days at chamblee54. Sunday morning, the primary hard drive crashed. Most of the data was backed up, so it wasn’t a disaster. We are back and running now, but with the inevitable setting up that a new system requires. The crew at Delta Computers is great. To get back with the program, we offer a repost. New material will resume shortly.
Amazon just scared PG. They are too optimistic . The first thing PG gave up when he lost his job was paying for reading material. The Chamblee Library has come a long ways from its humble beginnings as a storefront, next to Woolworths.
PG is reading “Wild Ducks Flying Backwards” by Tom Robbins. At least that is who got the copyright. The real star of this book is the contractual advance brigade at Bantam Books. WDFB is not a novel, but a collection of magazine articles. There is even rumored to be, G-d forbid, poetry.
Tom Robbins is a hero to PG. Ever since page three of “Another Roadside Attraction”, when Amanda asked about the meaning of life. When the oblique one asked how Amanda would repay him for this knowledge, she lowered her eyes and said “I will suck you off”. PG was hooked, and read each of the seven novels that followed.
One night in 1990, PG went to a eye clinic in Little Five Points to pick up his contact lens. It was a first for him…to see the world click into focus, without glasses, was astounding. From there it was on to Buckhead. A car dealership, turned bookstore, hosted an appearance by Tom Robbins (who did you expect, Neal Boortz?). PG was too late for the speech, but did get to wander by the desk while he signed books. Mr. Robbins also stood up, and slowly turned around, to lusty cheers .
PG then went home, to find a message on his machine. A longtime friend said to call him, it was important. When PG obliged, he learned that his friend had AIDS. This is enough for one day.
So, what does this have to do with the mind police at amazon? PG likes to write book reports, and he gives a link to Amazon for the book as a way of giving information. Well, those amazoners collect this information, and have a list of books that you inquire about in the corner. You don’t even have to buy them, which is handy for PG.
They also have a list of books “you might also consider”, which is where we go into never never land. PG likes Rock and Roll books, including ubertacky (spell check suggestions:puberty ) groupie sagas. That afternoon on the sofa reading “Going down with Janis” by Peggy Casserta (spell check suggestions :Casserole ) was memorable, even if PG didn’t believe a word of it. So, what does Amazon suggest but “I’m with the band” by Pamela Des Barres. PG hasn’t inquired, but has thought about it. He read “I’m with…” some 15-30 years ago. Its a small world, or maybe a small mind connected to a medium internet.



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