tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post4829497054482862137..comments2023-10-30T07:10:34.610-07:00Comments on Underbelly: Coincidence? Um--Bucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16452321114185736762noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-3583583815571897462012-09-05T10:24:51.198-07:002012-09-05T10:24:51.198-07:00Does this book discuss the Luxenberg thesis about ...Does this book discuss the Luxenberg thesis about the language of the Quran? That has always seemed like a very interesting argument to me, but I lack the background to critically evaluate it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-20264687881410688342012-09-03T16:37:41.054-07:002012-09-03T16:37:41.054-07:00Oh boy. The quest for the historical Mohammed. Goo...Oh boy. The quest for the historical Mohammed. Good luck!<br /><br />The fact that everyone competing for power in the early eight century had to be descended from Mohammed's grandfather or at least have a cousin who married one of Mohammed's daughters--and the fact that by the end of the seventh century there is enormous political mojo to be gained even if you aren't descended from Mohammed's grandfather by putting "mhmt rsl lh" on your coins--suggests both that but the Prophet Mohammed did and preached was really really something and is now largely lost beneath the sea of false ahadith forged for the faction rights.<br /><br />And the absence of the Quraysh from the non-Islamic historical record is damned odd. But lots of history is damned odd...bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04548019979157668776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-85499163265536926072012-09-02T12:11:24.252-07:002012-09-02T12:11:24.252-07:00Before you let Amazon completely off the hook, thi...Before you let Amazon completely off the hook, think of the feature that says, "People who bought this book also bought..."<br /><br />Is it possible Amazon rents out this data?<br /><br />And what about Google, which no doubt is tracking my travels across the Internet so that advertisers can offer me things "more likely to interest me."<br /><br />I'm not accusing. But I am asking.<br /><br />Crankily yours,<br />The New York CrnkThe New York Crankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04489472134701718697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-29585615243053365032012-09-02T10:42:37.605-07:002012-09-02T10:42:37.605-07:00Well I can't be certain but I doubt it. Amazo...Well I can't be certain but I doubt it. Amazon certainly knows how to send me clean, well-produced marketing mail. If they don't send me email on individual books, I surmise that it is a strategic choice not to annoy the customer. Also: an Amazon direct mail would not get tagged as spam. And the unsubscribe link would go to a recognized source. This, by contrast, was pretty clearly amateur hackwork.<br /><br />Does Amazon feel no strong incentive to police an offending email which has the potential of generating sales? Ah, now that is a slightly different story.Bucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452321114185736762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-43488159014241742322012-09-02T10:41:12.625-07:002012-09-02T10:41:12.625-07:00I've received the same spam, and am pretty sur...I've received the same spam, and am pretty sure there is nothing in my Amazon history to spark it. (Powell's or Librarything would be a different story.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-79126527290587278322012-09-02T10:25:55.251-07:002012-09-02T10:25:55.251-07:00I don't think "hacked" is the right ...I don't think "hacked" is the right work. Seems to be working as intended, from Amazon's point of view.Marcelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028012640414182031noreply@blogger.com