Comments on: The Amazon at night http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/ Website of Joshua McGee Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:23:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: mcgees.org » Blog Archive » Amazon/UPS Deal http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-45554 mcgees.org » Blog Archive » Amazon/UPS Deal Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:07:24 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-45554 [...] so, Amazon, yeah?  As discussed previously, Amazon apparently have some sweetheart (but non-exclusive) deal with UPS.  I verified this [...] […] so, Amazon, yeah?  As discussed previously, Amazon apparently have some sweetheart (but non-exclusive) deal with UPS.  I verified this […]

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44231 Joshua (Site Owner) Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:10:55 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44231 <p> <a href="/pagearchives/ups_amazon001.html" rel="nofollow">The first one</a>, for posterity, or if someone is doing a reverse-engineering study of UPS. </p> The first one, for posterity, or if someone is doing a  reverse-engineering study of UPS.

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44230 Joshua (Site Owner) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:28:48 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44230 <p> <a href="/pagearchives/ups_subway001.html" rel="nofollow">Awesome</a>. Anyone ever put a logging GPS tracker into a box and send it through a parcel carrier? I wonder if it would ever get reception to log its position. I'd love to see the map it makes. Maybe the successor to GPS, which will presumably not need <abbr title="line of sight">LoS</abbr>? </p> Awesome.  Anyone ever put a logging GPS tracker into a box and send it through a parcel carrier?  I wonder if it would ever get reception to log its position.  I’d love to see the map it makes.  Maybe the successor to GPS, which will presumably not need LoS?

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44224 Joshua (Site Owner) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:44:55 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44224 <p>Quick, what's 17 + 22? Just to prove you're not a spambot.</p> <p>I must have really been tired. There's either a transcription error or an <i>addition</i> error there...</p> Quick, what’s 17 + 22?  Just to prove you’re not a spambot.

I must have really been tired.  There’s either a transcription error or an addition error there…

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44180 Joshua (Site Owner) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:47:52 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44180 <p> And why did <a href="http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?HTMLVersion=5.0&loc=en_us&Requester=UPSHome&tracknum=1Z0713W81201677649&track.x=36&track.y=13" rel="nofollow">this one</a> make a stop in Cerritos, while <a href="http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?TypeOfInquiryNumber=T&InquiryNumber1=1ZA7810W0254839686" rel="nofollow">this one</a> go straight through? Just speed of service? It surely didn't add an extra day. Is it <i>ad hoc</i>? Some days they have enough packages to truck from Long Beach to Baldwin Park (31 miles), some days they sub-hub in Cerritos (17 miles) and then truck to Baldwin Park (22 miles, for a total of 37 miles, or six extra miles)? </p> <p> Please do your own metric conversions, I'm going to bed. </p> And why did this one make a stop in Cerritos, while this one go straight through?  Just speed of service?  It surely didn’t add an extra day.  Is it ad hoc?  Some days they have enough packages to truck from Long Beach to Baldwin Park (31 miles), some days they sub-hub in Cerritos (17 miles) and then truck to Baldwin Park (22 miles, for a total of 37 miles, or six extra miles)?

Please do your own metric conversions, I’m going to bed.

]]> By: Dave (Site Brother) http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44135 Dave (Site Brother) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:43:51 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44135 "So Almost?" Isn't that... like... an Ani Difranco song? “So Almost?” Isn’t that… like… an Ani Difranco song?

]]> By: Dave (Site Brother) http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44126 Dave (Site Brother) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:20:02 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44126 A note about the lyrics: Think about how far we [humans, that is] have come. We have constant access to so almost all of the information that has ever existed that we're now *surprised* when a single bit of it isn't there. I like that. A note about the lyrics:

Think about how far we [humans, that is] have come.

We have constant access to so almost all of the information that has ever existed that we’re now *surprised* when a single bit of it isn’t there.

I like that.

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44086 Joshua (Site Owner) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:23:00 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44086 <p> And if Louisville's a hub, as the <a href="http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?HTMLVersion=5.0&loc=en_us&Requester=UPSHome&tracknum=1Z0713W81201677649&track.x=36&track.y=13" rel="nofollow">second one</a> implies, why did the <a href="http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?TypeOfInquiryNumber=T&InquiryNumber1=1ZA7810W0254839686" rel="nofollow">first one</a> not go there from Nashville? </p> And if Louisville’s a hub, as the second one implies, why did the first one not go there from Nashville?

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44085 Joshua (Site Owner) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:20:54 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44085 <p> <a href="http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?HTMLVersion=5.0&loc=en_us&Requester=UPSHome&tracknum=1Z0713W81201677649&track.x=36&track.y=13" rel="nofollow">Here's another one</a>. Why do I find tracking so exciting? </p> Here’s another one.  Why do I find tracking so exciting?

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44084 Joshua (Site Owner) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:17:58 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44084 <p> <i>Origin Scan</i>, <i>Arrival Scan</i>, and <i>Departure Scan</i> all make sense. What's a <i>Destination Scan</i>? It's not the same as delivery. Maybe it means arrival to the final warehouse, the one from which the truck will be sent in the morning? </p> Origin Scan, Arrival Scan, and Departure Scan all make sense.  What’s a Destination Scan?  It’s not the same as delivery.  Maybe it means arrival to the final warehouse, the one from which the truck will be sent in the morning?

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44081 Joshua (Site Owner) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:53:30 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44081 <p> OK, that's pretty cool (let's see if it will let me paste): </p> <pre> LONG BEACH, CA, US 01/29/2008 6:30 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN WEST COLUMBIA, SC, US 01/29/2008 3:59 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN 01/29/2008 12:50 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN </pre> <p> 5.5 hours warehouse to warehouse, across the continent! </p> OK, that’s pretty cool (let’s see if it will let me paste): 

 LONG BEACH, CA,  US 	01/29/2008 	6:30 P.M. 	ARRIVAL SCAN

 WEST COLUMBIA, SC,  US 	01/29/2008 	3:59 P.M. 	DEPARTURE SCAN
	01/29/2008 	12:50 P.M. 	ARRIVAL SCAN

5.5 hours warehouse to warehouse, across the continent!

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44075 Joshua (Site Owner) Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:28:16 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44075 <p> Yeah, weird, that. They flew it from Tennessee to South Carolina? </p> Yeah, weird, that.  They flew it from Tennessee to South Carolina?

]]> By: Amal http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44061 Amal Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:34:19 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44061 I suppose it's a good sign of how their business is doing if they need to be packing up orders in the middle of the night. Your item is still in SC right now. I am interested to see how they manage to get it to your door by tomorrow! Despite the volume of business that comes through there, Amazon still has some of the best customer service in my experience. I wish Dell would take a lesson from that. I suppose it’s a good sign of how their business is doing if they need to be packing up orders in the middle of the night.

Your item is still in SC right now. I am interested to see how they manage to get it to your door by tomorrow!

Despite the volume of business that comes through there, Amazon still has some of the best customer service in my experience. I wish Dell would take a lesson from that.

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44036 Joshua (Site Owner) Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:16:19 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44036 <p> You don't think anyone could possibly have <i>complained</i> about the song lyrics, do you? </p> You don’t think anyone could possibly have complained about the song lyrics, do you?

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44022 Joshua (Site Owner) Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:08:53 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44022 <p> And yeah, Amal, it looks like that's what "shipped" means, that UPS were notified. Still, interesting that they're packing orders in the middle of the night. </p> And yeah, Amal, it looks like that’s what “shipped” means, that UPS were notified.  Still, interesting that they’re packing orders in the middle of the night.

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44021 Joshua (Site Owner) Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:05:53 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44021 <p> The absolutely precious lyrics of Amazon's Christmas TV spot December of 1999 or 2000 seem to have disappeared from collective memory (they're nowhere on Google). They're worth remembering: </p> <blockquote> Minnesota's got a lot of snow<br> There's a lot of potatoes in Idaho<br> Boston's got a lot of baked beans<br> There's a whole lot of bowling in Bowling Green<br> <br> But no one's got a lot of a lot of things<br> Like Amazon's got a lot of books and DVDs<br> Toys, electronics and tools<br> Like Chinese poker's got a lot of rules:<br> Amazon.com's got a lot! </blockquote> The absolutely precious lyrics of Amazon’s Christmas TV spot December of 1999 or 2000 seem to have disappeared from collective memory (they’re nowhere on Google).  They’re worth remembering:

Minnesota’s got a lot of snow
There’s a lot of potatoes in Idaho
Boston’s got a lot of baked beans
There’s a whole lot of bowling in Bowling Green

But no one’s got a lot of a lot of things
Like Amazon’s got a lot of books and DVDs
Toys, electronics and tools
Like Chinese poker’s got a lot of rules:
Amazon.com’s got a lot!

]]> By: Amal http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44016 Amal Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:50:37 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44016 I suspect that "shipped" means they sent notification to UPS. I love Amazon.com. They've been so good to me. I did about 75% of my Christmas shopping there last year. I had a problem with one shipment (out of about 12) and they shipped another one to me with a faster shipping method and without any difficulty. I suspect that “shipped” means they sent notification to UPS.
I love Amazon.com. They’ve been so good to me. I did about 75% of my Christmas shopping there last year. I had a problem with one shipment (out of about 12) and they shipped another one to me with a faster shipping method and without any difficulty.

]]> By: Joshua <i>(Site Owner)</i> http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44011 Joshua (Site Owner) Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:51:37 +0000 http://www.mcgees.org/2008/01/27/the-amazon-at-night/#comment-44011 <p><a href="http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?TypeOfInquiryNumber=T&InquiryNumber1=1ZA7810W0254839686" rel="nofollow">Track</a>. Let's see what time UPS reports getting it in their hot little hands.</p> Track.  Let’s see what time UPS reports getting it in their hot little hands.

]]>