Earlier quoted context omitted.
The context is unclear: what would cast a lie to that claim?
"Random high-level items" is not much of an algo.
Even bubble sort is an algorithm...
Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
61–70 of 141 posts
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
Although, to be fair, while Amazon doesn't need this, it kind of deserves it.
How dare they let just anyone write a book. Printing presses should be reserved for the elite and people whose opinions I personally agree with.
I think you misunderstood that.
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#63Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#64Just what Amazon needs: 800,000 computer-generated books crapping up the listings along with the thousands of on-demand printed copies of Wikipedia articles. Wonderful.
I can't believe this guy has no sense of humor[1]! He's completely serious about providing a service and making tons of money from it. In one question the interviewer asks: 'could you make a novel for instance?' to which he replies 'well, novels don't usually make money'. Wouldn't you think the correct answer would be 'well, it wouldn't be very good'? Hauntology at its best[2]. [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Wu…
It's not that he has no sense of humor, it's that the fact that the books aren't good is a foregone conclusion. The idea that one of his books could be good is just not even on his radar.
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#65Does the Library of Congress (and the other national library collections) have to keep copies of all these books?
Because actually now I'm angry that tax dollars are spent buying, shipping, storing, garbage.
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#66Earlier quoted context omitted.
How dare they let just anyone write a book. Printing presses should be reserved for the elite and people whose opinions I personally agree with.
I think you misunderstood that.
a misunderstanding could have been prevented if the parent poster gave a reason for his hyperbole.
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#67Is there where we reap upvotes with strident comments about how terrible curation is? No, wait for the Apple articles? Hookay.
So 'curation' means 'arbitrarily refusing to let someone give something away for free for absolutely no good reason'? http://www.jwz.org/blog/2012/07/apple-dicks/ (Oh. No. Apple had a very good reason: It was called xscreensaver and fuck you. I believe the second reason was the most important one.)
Hm, but then they let it through:
http://www.jwz.org/blog/2012/08/xscreensaver-for-ios-now-ava...
I fail to see the point of your tangential vitriol.
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#68Funny what passes for "algorithm" these days. Ahhhh.... a marketer "programmed" it. All cleared up now.
I know the entire process is extremely seedy, but I can't deny it does seem kind of complex.
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#69dick creates 800,000 useless books algorithmically, starts defrauding people on Amazon
Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
#70The reviews tend to paint a pretty grim view of the quality of these books, but the sarcastic ones are some of the funniest reviews I've ever read. Here's an honest one that shines a light on the quality: "The description for this book is TOTALLY misleading. It is NOT a book of quotations and phrases. It is a reference book of where to look to find possible quotations- like the old filecard cabinets in the library. O…
The funniest part of "Scrotum" is that it's priced at $28.95. For an 84-page paperback, whose sole purpose is to trace the usage of the word "scrotum" throughout an oddly specific period in English linguistic history (1678 - 2007). I mean, perhaps the content farmer should also write a pricing algorithm? The review is, indeed, ball-bustingly hilarious.
So how soon before the algorithm then uses the comments as part of the next revision of the book? Its an interesting way to demonstrate the value proposition.
In this case algorithmically selecting stuff from around the web generates random books, but they have little value for the most part. Books that are researched and curated on the other hand have higher values. The only difference being the curation, not the basic information. So it gives you an insight into pricing curation.
Next up, a bot that sends out 800,000 DMCA takedown notices, oh wait we already have that for youtube.