March 22, 2009 – Scribblings From The Public Restroom Stalls Of The Gods

The seven habits of highly ineffective product recommendation algorithms

By Earl
March 22, 2009
1 comment

Ping...ping... You know, I have nothing against ABBA or musicals based on the works thereof. But the e-mail I got from Amazon UK this morning just makes no sense. See if you can follow the logic here:

We recommend: Mamma Mia! [DVD] [2008]

DVD ~ Meryl Streep

RRP: Â£21.99
Price: Â£7.98
You Save: Â£14.01 (64%)

Recommended because you purchased or rated:
* Doctor Who – The Mark Of The Rani [DVD] [1985]
* Doctor Who – The Claws Of Axos [DVD] [1971]
* Doctor Who – Vengeance on Varos [DVD] [1963]

I have a feeling that only the broadest connection possible applies here: you bought shiny round things from us a few years ago, therefore you simply must be interested in this shiny round thing, because everyone who likes shiny round things at all likes this particular shiny round thing. Trust us. We’ve asked them. All of them.

I know marketing is an inexact science, but come on, the logic on this one is grope-in-the-dark voodoo, people. 😆 … Read more

I'm just your typical compulsively-writing, sci-fi-and-science-obsessed, classic-video-game-playing, action-figure-collecting dad.

That's me in red with the smooth round head.

I edit Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast and its sister shows Mission Log: Prodigy and Mission Log: The Orville for Roddenberry Podcasts. I was a frequent writer, editor, and voice on the daily Sci-Fi 5 podcast for Roddenberry, and I created and currently co-host Mission Log: Gene-ology. I handle video production on Mission Log Live, Mission Log: Prodigy and Mission Log: The Orville. I'm the technical director for the TrekTalks online telethon event benefiting Hollywood Food Coalition.

I also run theLogBook.com/theLogBook.media and host podcasts here, including Retrogram, Select Game and Don't Give This Tape To Earl. I've written several books (WARP!1, VWORP!1, VWORP!2, and "Fatherhood, Fandom And Fading Out), and produced the Phosphor Dot Fossils video game documentaries. On YouTube, I still occasionally produce and host the ongoing Phosphor Dot Fossils and Voyages Of Shelf Discovery series. Follow me on Twitter @LogBookGuy, like theLogBook.com on Facebook, or contact me here.

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