Okay, I got a new hit on Google, it explains the rating system:
http://www.businessinsider.com...

User ratings are not changed. Instead, this is a rating system internal to Amazon. Based on your internal Amazon rating, it will chose how to promote your book. I'm assuming this means advertising on other pages, items in the "featured" section, etc. In other words, Amazon is saying that they will more heavily promote books that make them more money.

To tell you the truth, I'm surprised they don't do that already. I always assumed featured items were paid advertisements (i.e. they get a commission if you click and make a purchase) and/or high-margin items. Anyone know if that's the case with Amazon in the U.S. already?

Our finance dept is on a different floor, and I say dept, but it used to be only several people, not all of which were always in the office. When they printed something sensitive, they'd immediately make a mad dash down the stairs to the printer room.

They have a printer on their floor now and they are happy, so yea, a robot is pretty overkill.

I don't know if you realize, but your post is all over the place and at times refutes your own points.
1) You say it's not "patriotic duty," and then immediately explain how deep ingrained and important patriotism is to guiding Japanese behavior. Didn't you just agree with the point you were trying to refute?
2) Japan is very safe compared to California. Okay, I don't think anyone disagrees with you. Water is wet. Earth is round.
3) You explain that used books need to be kept expensive so that small publishers can make money easier ... except publishers don't get any money from used book sales. Maybe you meant new books? Also, this is what exactly they mean by protectionist, so you just proved the point.
4) Then you end with the statement - "Japan can do business in Japan however it chooses." See #2.

So as far as I can see, you totally agree with the first post in this thread, except that the first post says this is bad, and you say this is good.

The summary says:
"Amazon has launched a new rating system in Japan which gives preference to publishers with larger ebook catalogs (and publishers that pay higher fees)."
This is the main point of the post and yet there are not even a mention of how this rating system manipulation works in the articles linked? Online search just shows sites copying the same line from each other and again w/o explanation. Does anyone know?

What's the secret message for "remember to bring the anti-tank explosives?"

...set up some streaming cameras. I'm sure the nerds on the Internet will write something to count them.

Or are they afraid the videos will go viral. WATCH BIRDS GET ROASTED OMG WTF LOL!!!!

to kill them before the power plant does?

Better than the bum but not as good as the undocumented at Home Depot and more expensive than both.

And put his clone on trial.

Which is why networks love reality shows.

It sounded really cool until it got to the part where they "mildly shock."

Your fellow Americans will turn around and nuke you instead to protect their iPhone addiction.

"UPDATE 17:20, 3 July 2014
So there have been some interesting developments in my encounter with the EU's "Right to be Forgotten" rules.
It is now almost certain that the request for oblivion has come from someone who left a comment about the story.
So only Google searches including his or her name are now impossible.
Which means you can still find the article if you put in the name of Merrill's ousted boss, "Stan O'Neal"."

True dat. I categorize my apps. Whenever I install a new app, I will go to the start menu and move the shortcut it into the appropriate category folder. Then, I'll delete everything else, incl. the uninstall shortcut, help file shortcuts, and the folder that's holding those. I also use Classic Shell (free third party app) to make my menu like the Win2000/98 style that opens subfolders to the right and goes all the way to the top of the screen.

"Tianjin Pipe, for instance, began building its Texas plant after the U.S. imposed sanctions against Chinese-made pipes in 2010, notes Thilo Hanemann, Rhodium's research director."
In reality, it's usually to get around tariffs, contract requirements, or for sales purposes. Chinese labor is still super-cheap compared to the U.S.