#3,997 on Amazon.com by whozit

That's a damn good ranking.

Alice in Wonderland is 1,657. The thing is that what most people don't get is that the top rankings on amazon are generally not filled with new books, but with old ones. Any countdown of greatest hits of any media content would always show this to be the case. Things like Billboard and the NYT bestseller list are intensely manipulated to remove this effect so they can keep the list looking "trendy"

So, after you filter out the Peter Rabbit books and Narnia and everything else that always sells, if you're <100,000 you're doing pretty well.

It depresses me a little that anyone would want to read the long angry rants of

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 4:10 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
The thing is that what most people don't get is that the top rankings on amazon are generally not filled with new books, but with old ones.

Not sure about that. the Bestsellers list is books that are currently selling big. Currently, George Bush is on top of the list with "Decision Points" which has been in the top 100 for 96 days.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/ref=pd_dp_ts_b_1

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 4:21 AM

KANEMAN

Rember this.....

Quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The size of the combative liberal host's audience shot up in the days after his return from a two-day suspension for donating to three Democratic candidates. The Nielsen Co. said Olbermann's show reached 1.3 million viewers the first three days after his return last week, up from the 1.08 million he averaged in October.

His first day back, today, Olbermann reached 1.5 million people, Nielsen said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Frem

I do not serve the Blind God.

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 6:08 AM

Geezer,

Sorry, I meant to clarify, I know the system far far better than I ever wanted to.

The "top" top spots, the first 100 or so, are filled with *relatively* new books, but Amazon is also manipulating those. Even with the manipulations, it still ends up with irregularities.

All three Stieg Larsson books are on the top list, and have been since issue. The top ten was dominated by Larsson for over a year. It's out of scale with anything else that ever happened on amazon, and this, I will grant, is not a manipulation. It's just what they *don't* want to happen.

Lists, like American Top 40, are designed to keep you buying. You will not buy if it is the same thing week after week after week. If the Dark Side of the Moon, the White Album and the Runes Album were to top the record list, as they did on the album list for a long time, that wouldn't help sales.

This has been exposed twice that I recall by a less careful media:

1) Some years ago, an american countdown moved to britain and started counting record sales. The early results were that no one bought anything new. People were shocked, and thought this said something about Britain, that they were still in Beatlemania.

2) Just a couple years ago, here, online, MTV launched a most downloaded song list. For the first two weeks they let the raw numbers numbers stand before they started monkeying with it. It showed the same thing. No one downloaded anything new. People are far more likely to download the Kinks or Deep Purple than they are to download Beyonce or Jay Z, a fact that the industry has no interest in letting anyone know. Not one of MTV's *unmodified* top downloaded songs was released post 1990.

It seems that contrary to the fashion trend of popularity that they would like us to believe in, the most popular things grow slowly in popularity over a long period of time, and are influenced more by word of mouth than by the media.

This is why The Hobbit is #957 even though the last printing was longer ago (2007) than the Audacity of Hope, (2008) which is #2,907.

The top spot is manipulated in favor prominent republicans like Sarah Palin, because Bezos is a Republican. It gives a comforting impression that Republicans read much more than Democrats do, but I don't think it's accurate.

Still the tops spots on any hit parade will be manipulated. Truth comes out as you go down the list.

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 6:10 AM

Kane

Who would want to listen to Olbermann? He's a can of rage. Like a liberal Glenn Beck

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 6:14 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
That's a damn good ranking.

Seriously? For a guy who has his own show, and is on t.v. 5 nights a week ? I'd say that's pretty pathetic.

Quote:

It depresses me a little that anyone would want to read the long angry rants of

Well, the hard core Leftists will do exactly that. It's what they thrive on. It's who they are, after all.....

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 6:49 AM

Rap,

Take it from a person who knows the system: Yes, it's a good rank. He's up there with the president at the moment. And he's only Keith Olbermann. I can't stand to listen to him, let alone read him.

If you are ever ranked in the single digit thousands, let me know.

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 7:11 AM

CANTTAKESKY

I loved this speech though.

--Can't Take (my gorram) Sky

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 7:13 AM

CANTTAKESKY

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Who would want to listen to Olbermann? He's a can of rage. Like a liberal Glenn Beck

Maybe that's a good litmus test on how left or right you are: who do you hate more, Glenn Beck or Keith Olberman?

--Can't Take (my gorram) Sky

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 7:27 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Rap,

Take it from a person who knows the system: Yes, it's a good rank. He's up there with the president at the moment. And he's only Keith Olbermann.

NY times bestsellers for this week doesn't have Olbermann's book in the top 35 Hardcover Nonfiction books. Hardly up there with Pres. Bush's book which is #1 and on the list for the three weeks since publication. http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/hardcover-nonfiction/list.ht
ml

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 8:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by canttakesky:
Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Who would want to listen to Olbermann? He's a can of rage. Like a liberal Glenn Beck
Maybe that's a good litmus test on how left or right you are: who do you hate more, Glenn Beck or Keith Olberman?

--Can't Take (my gorram) Sky

Ooh. That's a toughie. Can't I hate them both?

It's not politics, it's the gravitas with which Olbermann pretends to feel on each issue. It wasn't revealed to me in full until he got into a personal spat with O'Reilly. Olbermann can get 100% as indignant and noble newsman of old style prosaic when ranting about his personal dislikes, his timeslot, and downright trivial stuff as he can about torture. Seriously, if you're not able to reserve a special level of dislike for assassination civilian slaughter and the dismemberment of children at some higher level than that of the neighbor that just claimed five feet over the property line to plant their hedge row, then you're going to come across as a psychopath.

Beck is a similar but differently annoying story. He is a complete and total act. Beck can pretend to care on a wide range of emotions, but none of them are well calibrated. It's whatever he's decided will rev up his base he most hat he gets most emotional, but he faking.

I can't stand watching either one, though I used to watch both. I've become convinced that Beck actually cares about nothing at all, and is always faking, and Olbermann really does care, but is really psychotic.

I made it through a minute and eight seconds of the video you posted before I had to shut it off. I don't think I could tolerate either, they both represent to me what's wrong with the media: 100% pure anger. Okay, anger with a sprinkle of fear mongering on top.

Anyone care to post funniest jokes ever told by olbermann and beck?

But anyway, no, I prefer Jon stewart. Lately I've gotten very irritated at him, though. He really doesn't get the globalism thing in a big way, and he's still unaware that he's pushing for war.

Geez

Olbermann is a second rank news anchor, the kind who does opinion pieces, whereas bush was president of the sinking empire of America... A direct comparison would do better.

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:05 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I agree with DT:

Quote:
I can't stand watching either one, though I used to watch both. I've become convinced that Beck actually cares about nothing at all, and is always faking, and Olbermann really does care, but is really psychotic.

I made it through a minute and eight seconds of the video you posted before I had to shut it off. I don't think I could tolerate either, they both represent to me what's wrong with the media: 100% pure anger. Okay, anger with a sprinkle of fear mongering on top.

I gave up on Olbermann a long time ago, especially his "special comments", so I didn't even try to watch the video.

But comparing him to BECK is a good laugh. DT nailed it, and Beck HIMSELF said it, remember?

Quote:
I’m a rodeo clown,’ he said in an interview, adding with a coy smile, “It takes great skill.” “He added later: “I say on the air all time, ‘if you take what I say as gospel, you’re an idiot.’“

Of course, I don't think he believes that NOW necessarily; he's become such a messiah, it's quite possible he thinks he should be taken seriously now.

Olbermann, by the way, isn't and I don't believe has ever been or considered himself a "newsman", rather a "political commentator". If I wanted to find someone who is his opposite, I would choose O'Reilly. Both of them are quasi-respectable, but skewed out the ying-yang.

Beck I would compare more to Schultz, except that NOBODY on left-wing TV gets as totally assinine as Beck, or nearly as far out! The man IS a rodeo clown, as he himself admitted. What amuses me is that I'll bet money there's nobody really like him on the left on TV because the left wouldn't BUY it, he's so transparently idiotic...he's almost like a political "evangelical preacher".

By the way, comparing rankings of books is amusing; first in that you can crow that the "rantings" of a former President so far outweigh those of a minor political pundit, second you forget the fact that the right is pretty rabid about "their" people and pretty much only reads/watches anything from them.

It's the same as the crowing about ratings; the right wing almost exclusively watches Fox, while the left wing is more likely to be divided between MSNBC, CNN, news and other things. So the only way to actually compare ratings is to add up ALL the things left wingers watch and then compare that to Fox. Otherwise, ratings are immaterial. Same with books.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:19 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I googled: there are tons of "funniest jokes ABOUT" Beck and Olbermann, but none about the jokes they made...well, some about semi-jokes such as put-d0wns they think are funny.

Examples:

Beck:

Quote:
I work at Radio City in midtown Manhattan, and up by the doors, you know, like where the -- you know -- the office kitchen is, in Braille, on the wall, it says 'kitchen.' You'd have to -- a blind person would have to be feeling all of the walls to find "kitchen." Just to piss them off, I'm going to put in Braille on the coffee pot -- I'm going to put, 'Pot is hot.' Ow!"

Olbermann:

Quote:
Keith Olbermann mocked conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama is a Muslim with a satirical explanation of all the reasons to believe that Obama is hiding his Muslim faith.

In a video with Olbermann's breathy, apocalyptic voiceover, "Countdown" launched a "Special Investigation" into the president's true faith.

"The Muslim-seeded toddler engineered the divorce of his own parents to prevent people from learning that his father was Muslim," the video opens.

"To keep up appearances, Obama cleverly violated his Muslim faith whenever he could, fooling everyone by: never going to Mecca, breaking the fast of Ramadan, eating pork, drinking alcohol, having a Christian wedding, baptizing his children, worshipping at Christian churches...for decades," it continues.

Olbermann jokes that Obama "even sent his daughters to...a fancy Washignton school that was really a madrassa," that he once "ran an Islamic journal whose Arabic name translates to Harvard Law Review," and that as president he "refuses to bomb not just one, but many Muslim countries."

If you want to talk "mocking" type funnies, Olbmerann gets the prize by far. He also guest starred on the Simpsons and takes most jokes about him good naturedly.

I'm not sure the same can be said of Beck. He IS as much a joke, but PLAYS IT at least like he takes himself dead seriously. Unfortunately.

Both are admittedly unintentionally funny as hell...sometimes.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:48 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Interesting. Out of curiosity I checked. This one isn't a serious book, it's a compendium of his "Worst Person" stuff, which I shouldn't expect to get much interest. Why is it important? Why is it's sales being crowed about? Oh, of course, it's Whozit. Silly me.

Dunno how to check Amazon ratings, but his previous books seem to be selling quite well, even after four years.

Seriously; for any thinking person to compare this kind of book to supposedly SERIOUS writings is a joke.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 10:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
Interesting. Out of curiosity I checked. This one isn't a serious book, it's a compendium of his "Worst Person" stuff, which I shouldn't expect to get much interest. Why is it important? Why is it's sales being crowed about? Oh, of course, it's Whozit. Silly me.

Dunno how to check Amazon ratings, but his previous books seem to be selling quite well, even after four years.

Seriously; for any thinking person to compare this kind of book to supposedly SERIOUS writings is a joke.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

Oh com'on NIKI!! Where does Olbermann think he can get off picking who's the worst? Do you REALLY want HIM as the judge!? Do you want to follow him? HE'S NUTZ!!

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 10:16 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Oh, gawd, I LOVE it! You take his "Worst Persons" SERIOUSLY!?!? That's just too much

Ohhhh (wipes tears), you gotta do better than THAT!

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 10:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
Oh, gawd, I LOVE it! You take his "Worst Persons" SERIOUSLY!?!? That's just too much

Ohhhh (wipes tears), you gotta do better than THAT!

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

HE takes it seriously, he thinks he matters....and he's stupid.

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 10:44 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

No, he doesn't, you poor idjit, it's a "segment", and he doesn't actually think they're the "worst persons in the world". No wonder you hate him so much...you can't even grasp reality, apparently!

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 10:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
No, he doesn't, you poor idjit, it's a "segment", and he doesn't actually think they're the "worst persons in the world". No wonder you hate him so much...you can't even grasp reality, apparently!

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

Then why does he have a segment? Why did he write a book? He's stupid and thinks he has followers.....you follow him don't you? HE IS YOUR GOD!!

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 11:31 AM

Niki

I didn't think it was a competition for "better" I thought it was just a douche-off. I've heard both of them tell jokes like the ones you posted, but they have never made me laugh.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 6:45 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Nothing to do with "competition", DT. The question was asked "Anyone care to post funniest jokes ever told by olbermann and beck?", so I went looking.

But no, the best Olbermann ever got out of me was a smile...probably a crooked one, at that... So, like I said, not "jokes" per se, just the closest I could find.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 7:09 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

I think it's kind of interesting that Rappy has issues with ppl who rant, since Beck and ...oh, who is that deaf gasbag again...? Oh yeah, Limbo... are his gods.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 8:27 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I find it funnier that Whozit takes "Worst Person" seriously...tho' I guess it explains why he takes BECK seriously...

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 8:38 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Rap,

Take it from a person who knows the system: Yes, it's a good rank. He's up there with the president at the moment. And he's only Keith Olbermann. I can't stand to listen to him, let alone read him.

If you are ever ranked in the single digit thousands, let me know.

If you say so.

I'll be writing my book just as soon as I get my nightly show on a ( major ) cable news channel.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 8:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
I find it funnier that Whozit takes "Worst Person" seriously...tho' I guess it explains why he takes BECK seriously...

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

I don't take him seriously, few people do. I just would like to know where he gets off thinking HE can decide who the worst person is. He gets fired everywhere he goes, maybe he's the worst person on TV.He's just a douchebag with a low rated cable show and an axe to grind, plus he's a whore for the liberals.....and he's stupid.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 8:52 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

...and you are so obsessed with him that it's hysterical.

Of all the things in this wide world to obsess on...you choose a small-time pundit like Olbermann????

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 11:18 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
I think it's kind of interesting that Rappy has issues with ppl who rant, since Beck and ...oh, who is that deaf gasbag again...? Oh yeah, Limbo... are his gods.

It's the substance I have issue with, not the style.

You seem to overlook the former, and only show interest in the latter.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 11:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
...and you are so obsessed with him that it's hysterical.

Of all the things in this wide world to obsess on...you choose a small-time pundit like Olbermann????

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off

Why do you obsess on the Palins, Beck and FOX News?

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 1:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

I'll be writing my book just as soon as I get my nightly show on a ( major ) cable news channel.
]

Clearly, by the stats it's better to have a failed run for presidency, or a failed presidency, but not as good as being a dead Norwegian.

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Monday, December 6, 2010 8:02 AM