Even More Fun with Amazon's SIPs

Posted on: 05/26/09

Per this entry here and this one over here, Amazon's algorithms sometimes offer up odd SIPS (Statistically Improbable Phrases).

In the case of Wolverine: Worst Day Ever, check out the two circled items:

Now, the second item sort of amuses me like the others. Am I really to believe that "strawberry milk" is a statistically improbable phrase? Really? Does the Quik Bunny know about this? (More importantly, when did the Quik of my childhood become Nesquik? What the hell, people?)

OK, so Amazon hates all things pink. We get that.

But that first item that's circled? The one that says "entry pasted?" I agree it's a SIP. In fact, it's so improbable that it doesn't even occur in the book. At all! 

Seriously! I checked. Nowhere in the book does the phrase "entry pasted" appear. "Entry posted," well, that shows up a hell of a lot. But "entry pasted?" Nope.

Oops.

Amazon's software can't tell the difference between an "a" and an "o." Must be from drinking all of that chocolate milk. Strawberry milk is good for the eyes. 

(Once again, for the merriment-imparied: I'm not annoyed by any of these SIPs. I find them amusing, is all. It's what happens when you let a computer think. A human being wouldn't blink twice at those phrases. A computer isn't so sure about them.)

Write a comment

  • All fields are required.

If you have trouble reading the code, click on the code itself to generate a new random code.
Security Code:
 
1
Strawberry Milk
By: Fanboy107 on Tue May 26, 2009, 20:42:03
"It takes a man to drink something that's pink."

X) I loved that line. And this is quite amusing. And I don't think "Entry pasted" is grammatically correct, so it is truly an SIP. Unless we're talking about glue here... I think?
Anyways. The mysteries of the technological universe. It's amazing how mysterious it really is, considering the fact we created it.
2
Re: Even More Fun with Amazon's SIPs
By: Barry on Tue May 26, 2009, 20:48:30
Ah, but the phrase "entry pasted" never appeared in the book! That is the weirdness here - Amazon flagged a phrase that doesn't exist in the book.
3
I bought strawberry milk syrup after reading W:WDE :)
By: David Branson on Fri May 29, 2009, 15:33:52
Perhaps Amazon's computer wants to take a SIP of strawberry milk?

:)

Member Log-in Form

Guests are allowed to comment, but will be moderated.

User:
Password:
Forget Password?
Request a new account.