The Book Review, Sunday, May 6, 2012: Amazon

Dear Readers,

Madame L is not reviewing a book about the Amazon, but rather the online book-and-everything-buying service she often recommends, Amazon.com.

As you may be aware, Amazon uses what it likes to call a "dynamic" price system, in which the price you're being charged for an item may change over time---and sometimes over the amount of time it takes to look up an item and put it in your shopping cart.

You may think of this as a bait-and-switch tactic---Madame L certainly does!---but it's legal. According to this consumer advocate, "Not only do prices move up and down on a regular basis, but also they're often adjusted based on exactly which customer is mulling a purchase. The practice, called price customization or dynamic pricing, weighs factors as it sets prices such as a customer's income, buying habits, or the popularity of an item on a given day."

The Romans said it best: "Caveat emptor." If it happens to you, you should contact Amazon.com to complain, but be prepared to be persistent.

Although she has had problems with this in the past, Madame L has complained about it, with the result that it hasn't happened to her since then. She continues to use Amazon.com, but very carefully; and hopes all of you Dear Gentle Readers will use care, too.

Also, please share with Madame L any "dynamic price" experiences you've had with Amazon.com and any other retailers.

Writing to Congress

Dear Readers,

Madame L realizes she has forgotten to put contact information for writing to your Senators and Representatives where you can easily find it.

Madame L is remedying that problem so you can always find this information. It's in a new box at the top right of this page.

Madame L appreciates your staying active in the political progress. People like us are going to have to work hard to keep our democracy safe from the big companies and super-PACs and other organizations that would deny us our rights.

House of Representatives Contact List

Senate Contact List

Other resources:

From About.Com: This site suggests a straightforward three-paragraph structure and provides sample letters as well as contact information.

From CitizenRedress.Com: This site provides even more information on how to contact your Senators and Representative and how to track their voting and legislative records.

From Bread.Org: This site explains why hand-written letters are more effective than any other form of communication with Members of Congress, gives the important points to include in letters, and provides a sample letter addressing the issue of hunger in America.

Sasquatch?

Dear Madame L,

I have a friend who really believes in Sasquatch, based on some ridiculous reality TV show where these so-called scientists are going out at night and doing so-called research, looking for the creature. 

My friend showed me an episode online, and I couldn't believe it. It was like those ghost-hunters or something, with hand-held cameras and night-vision goggles, scary noises, and so on. Or like one of those teen horror flicks, where they go into the dark house at night, and they're the only ones who are stupid enough not to know something terrible is going to happen.

Please tell me you're not a believer! And give me some evidence to share with my friend.

Sincerely,

Skeptical

Dear Skeptic,

Madame L reminds you that it's very difficult (impossible) to give evidence that any thing or phenomenon does not exist. In addition, Madame L  is no expert on Sasquatch (Bigfoot) or any of its putative cousins, the Yeti, the Yowie, the Fouke Monster, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, or any of them. 

Like you, Madame L has heard the stories and seen at least bits of the footage of so-called sightings, many of which are available (ubiquitous) on YouTube. Madame L has recently also been introduced to a little-known (and justifiably so) movie about Bigfoot, the trailer of which she hereby shares with you:

You might want to check on YouTube for videos of supposed sightings of the creature from all over the U.S.  And let Madame L know what you think.  (Madame L must admit that she finds major flaws in all of them.)

Stay tuned for more, as Madame L will be writing more about this subject in coming days.

Meanwhile, hang on to your skepticism.

Somewhat Sincerely, 

Madame L

Rachel on Meet the Press

Thanks, Ellen, for your comment and for taking the time to follow that link to watch the video. 

Madame L has found the video on YouTube of the "Meet the Press" discussion between Rachel Maddow and the condescending jerk Alex Castellanos, and presents it here for those Dear Readers who didn't follow the link in the earlier post. Here's the short version:

And here's Rachel on her own show expounding on the differences between women's and men's employment and pay in this country:

Women's Employment --- Still Unequal

Dear Madame L,

I have a wife and two daughters who are victims to a complex set of employment biases - and this has bothered me for a long time. 

What makes it worse is that some people (generally so-called conservatives) keep saying there's no employment gap at all.

What's your opinion?

Sincerely,

Concerned Husband and Father

Dear Faithful Husband and Father,

You're right. Women still experience inequality in employment. AND some men, and women, are still claiming that isn't true.

For example, Rachel Maddow got into an argument on Meet the Press last Sunday when Alex Castellanos kept interrupting her, she said: 

"It's weird that you're interrupting me and not letting me make my point, because we get along so well, so let me make my point. But the interruption is important, I think, because now we know, at least from both of your perspective, that women are not faring worse than men in the economy, that women are not getting paid less for equal work. I think that's a serious difference in factual understanding in the world, but given that, some of us believe that women are being paid less than men."

When Castellanos had to admit that she was right with the numbers, he tried to make excuses ('give reasons") for the disparity in pay for women and men. 

When Rachel pointed out that those were just excuses, he condescended, in much the same way many women have experienced men (fathers, brothers, teachers, coaches, etc.) condescending to them from the time they were little girls to even after they are grown up: He said, essentially, "You're so cute when you're angry." 

Those weren't his exact words, of course. His exact words were, "I I love how passionate you are. I wish you were as right about what you're saying as you are passionate about it. I really do."

Rachel's reply was perfect:  "That's really condescending.," Maddow said. "This is a stylistic issue. My passion on this issue is actually me making a factual argument." 

Madame L is glad you only asked for her opinion, because she can't do anything about this issue except express her opinion when asked. But she hopes that you will do everything in your power to change this employment inequality. If you have any hiring power where you work, are you trying to get qualified women hired? Are you writing to your Members of Congress to express your opinions? And are you standing up for women in other situations?  Of course you are! And Madame L commends you for it!

Best wishes, 

Madame L

Inheritance Scam

Dear Readers,

Madame L has just read of a new wrinkle on the money-for-nothing-but-you'll-have-to-send-us-a-lot-of-money-scam: A man received a phone call saying he could claim an inheritance that would otherwise go to his cousin if he didn't send money.

The scam didn't work, in spite of the scammers' having knowledge of names of family members and many other details that made it seem like the real deal, because the man's wife was suspicious, and they called the cousin.

What gave it away for good was that while they were talking to the cousin, they received calls on another phone from one of the scammers claiming to be her. 

The wife wondered "whether the family tree information posted online helped the fraudsters create their story," according to The Oregonian.

And that, Dear Readers, is why Madame L is telling you about this scam. Madame L knows you're too smart to be taken in by most of those ridiculous scams, but these people have taken the fraud to new levels, even using family information that you have innocently posted online. 

So, in addition to being cautious about any offer of of anything that seems to be good to be true, and any phone call from any bank or insurance company or lottery or (fill in the blank) offering you money for an up-front fee, do also be careful what you post!

Sincerely,

Madame L

Exploiting Military Exploits?

Dear Madame L,

I see that Pres. Obama has released a campaign video in which he takes credit for the raid that killed terrorist Osama Bin Laden, and I think that's low. I agree with former Sen. John McCain, who said it was a "pathetic political act of self-congratulation."

What do you think about it?

Sincerely,

Just Wondering

Dear Wondering,

Madame L wonders about the political climate in which someone like Sen. John McCain, failed presidential candidate and self-proclaimed self-righteously right-about-everything critic of the current administration, can get away with saying nonsense like that.

Madame L notes that Pres. Obama DID authorize the SEAL raid that got rid of that terrorist menace. 

Madame L notes that former Pres. George W. Bush took credit for a war victory that didn't even happen (in 2003, in his infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech).

Madame L notes that, in addition, Bush's surrogates never stopped praising him for such "victories" as serving a dinner for U.S. troops at the Baghdad airport in 2003. 

Madame L would like to ask YOU, Dear Wondering Reader, why it's okay for the former (Republican) president to make a big deal about victories that never even happened, but not for the current (Democratic) president to point out that he has rid the world of a real menace?

For more on this issue, please read "Bin Laden's Scalp." 

Sincerely, Wondering, and Bothered That Someone Has Even Asked Such a Question,

Madame L