Amazon: GlitchFail

The #amazonfail tweet-a-thon is still going strong. Amazon is calling the whole thing a glitch and there are several conspiracy theories floating around. I think they are trying to cover their assets because they really did not expect to get such a backlash. The thing is several authors have been reporting these issues going on for months and there are reports that Amazon employees stated that certain books deemed too adult would be kept from the searchable rankings. But now it is a glitch. Right…I am no techie, but the glitch theory is bunk ["why it's not a glitch" is explained quite technically HERE]
The only theory I am partial to is that a puritan hacker/Amazon employee created the term-specific-glitch, which still makes it censorship (even if it is not authorized). But that’s still pretty weak because it does not explain why people were being told in February that their books would not be listed in the sales rankings. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has been covering the story well and  DailyKos has a good round-up of info and posts. Meanwhile, this hilarious chart from the National Coalition Against Censorship illustrates the recent buzz:

This is not over, even if they think they can whitewash it and move on. A boycott of Amazon has begun and several petitions are available upon request. I personally don’t use Amazon, and recommend independent stores and sites like BetterWorldBooks [link on sidebar!]. One of the things that turned me off of Amazon in the first place was that they seemed to be taking so much biz from the stores. I had to create an account at some point when I received a gift certificate [which I still haven't used!] but now I can’t figure out how to delete it…Let’s hope we see a surge in bookstore sales now.  BTW: Powell’s Books, a very established indy store also has a discount going on…on tweets its being called the #amazonfail discount, but the folks at Powell’s are a bit kinder than that. Here’s how they put it:

#powellswin deal!

At Powell’s, all books are created equal. We hold this truth to be self-evident. Whether any given title is deserving of a wide readership, we leave that decision to you, our customers. In the spirit of such freedoms that perhaps we too often take for granted, today we’re offering friends a special, winning deal.

Just enter the code “#powellswin” by 11:59 pm (Pacific) on Thursday, April 16, 2009, and you’ll save 20% on your order of $20 or more.

Coupon valid online only, not in our stores. This discount cannot be combined with other offers. Offer not valid on eGift Cards. Limit one coupon per customer.

So, go buy a book! Anywhere but Amazon…

Amazon Fail: Let the People Read

I know I talk about writing and books a lot more these days, but when I first began this blog, I was often ranting about media issues, and I was “dedicated” to fighting censorship and the demise of print media. So, this topic tweeked my ire last night and now I return to my roots:

In case you haven’t heard, there is a huge controversy going on about Amazon’s ranking system which is suddenly [from some accounts drastically] dropping sales rankings of books which they deem to be “Adult” in nature. No, we are not talking the smutty books which honest people used to have to go to dark rooms in the back of “those stores” to purchase. Some of the books being affected include feminist books and especially LGBT books. I am reading what I can, before I pass too much judgement, which is always recommendable, but from what I have read and seen, not surprisingly, Amazon is bowing to the puritanical pressures which have been dictating what we are supposed to read, watch and think for about as long as we have been here. I don’t really use Amazon often, and some arguments in the comments are that they “can do what they want with their sales rankings” but this reeks of censorship to me. If books are being bought they deserve their rank. And how are they deciding what is too “adult”? Which seems weird to me anyway… Because most books are written for adults and there are some pretty hot scenes happening in plenty of hetero romance novels. Once again free speech, literacy and the pursuit of happiness are being hindered based on what other people think is appropriate? Anyway, I need to read more, but you can follow it on Twitter, hash #amazonfail or at Jezebel here and here or …A brand new update at NYTimes I am going to read now…

Go Dan Go!!

Rather’s suit has certainly pushed some big brass buttons…

I believe more people understand and support his position than either CBS or the GOP believed possible. It would be an intensely historic moment if Bush was actually put on the stand. Of course in doing so he would open up that proverbial can for more Truths to come out. I said the other day, they can’t sue Bush himself [can they?], but this is close…Has a president ever had to witness for a journalist before? Whatever way you vote, or don’t, such an event could conceivably change the presidency forever…I just hope the case isn’t put off until 2010 by Powers That Are….

Meanwhile the BS admin continues to contradict itself

 to the point that they don’t have any idea where they stand on anything…. first they don’t believe in global warming, now they say they do [?!]  For years they’ve undermined environmental policy and progress in this country, and refused to support the international Kyoto treaty five years ago, After, embarassingly enough, skipping another meeting at the United Nations Climate Summit this week [but showing up for dinner] now he’s rolling out his own climate change conference. His point- why should we do anything if they don’t have to? It’s the same whiny argument mothers have been refereeing between siblings for generations.

The main reason given for not cutting US emissions [fancy word for pollution] is that other developing countries don’t have to meet the same levels that other polluters do. He’d rather take his toys home and play with nations like China [which did sign Kyoto] to come up with their own ideas, and we know what a good record the”People’s Republic” have when it comes to regulations and public health issues.

All the News that’s fit to Sue

I must applaud Dan Rather’s big move … but wow, 70 mill… will there be any left for Katie? But, really, how do you put a price on your reputation? He better win and hopefully the Truth will come out.

I am proud of Rather and his co-plaintiffs for speaking out against censorship and refusing to go out quietly like They wanted and assumed he would. Future generations will also praise and thank him. He was obviously treated like a pawn instead of the figurehead that he was at CBS when they did their obediant rollover and play dumb trick… obviously he was the scapegoat!

when it happened i was flabbergasted that they would even question the credibility and integrity of Dan Rather… especially when the story was about He-Who-Need-Not Be-Named’s own credulous record…. i mean, duh… I was not surprised to hear that he floundered in the National Guard as much as everywhere else…

I did/do not watch CBS, but I seem to remember seeing a picture of the “Documents” with big ol’ black lines running through them and other edits…. now, I’ll have to search for that but meanwhile, here’s the suit, with some rather frank language that boils down to one word: censorship…..

21st Century Plague: Viruses amongus

I am still trying to recover from being struck down by this technological illness… i did everything right [i think] ran my viral scans and used a firewall yadayada…. still got an evil bug then got talked into wiping the whole slate clean and starting over [wouldn't that be nice in reality world]. But of course it’s never that simple… as so many of us have found out the hard way, you can’t just start over…. so many pieces need to be fixed and some never can be…. and I am still doing makeup work!

It’s especially daunting trying to read through the mailbox while new stuff keeps rolling in [in my "spare" time]… but i am compelled to write because of this disturbing piece i just read [not the heinous crime in WVA which words cannot express enough horror over]

No, this piece of news is the news that almost wasn’t, meaning to say that

CENSORSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE USA….

apparently restricting citizens’ rights, creating a police state and being a dictator is only “bad” if you live in another country… if you live here and do it you are patriotic not despotic….

It’s not all news to many but it is interesting to see it all in one place- rather a long entry since we get to read the TOP 10 CENSORED/IGNORED STORIES together…..

Some highlights:   “This year’s Project Censored presents a chilling portrait of a newly empowered executive branch signing away civil liberties for the sake of an endless and amorphous war on terror. And for the most part, the major news media weren’t paying attention.”

“While the project usually turns up a range of underreported issues, this year’s stories all fall somewhat neatly into two categories – the increase of privatization and the decrease of human rights. Some of the stories qualify as both.”

“the federal government continues to provide major news networks with stock footage, which is dutifully broadcast as news. The George W. Bush administration has spent more federal money than any other presidency on public relations. Without a doubt, Parenti said, the government invests in shaping our beliefs. ‘Every day they’re checking out what we think,’”

this just goes to show that the mainstream media which insist on broadcasting parodys of debates are being controlled by the central government, whether it’s financially, legally or physically has yet to be discovered…..