So about this dust-up with Amazon and their decision to stop stocking Print On Demand titles unless it's through their service, Booksurge. As it stands, this is not just mere rumor since the precious golden "buy" buttons are being removed willy-nilly throughout their site. First Kindle, now this. I'm guessing Amazon's Audible is next.

While I understand corporate bottom line, this smacks of strong-arm tactics. I don't like bullies and I'm very fond of the little guy, be it small press or an author just stepping into the scene. Must be my blue collar roots showing.

Amazon, in my opinion, is an insidious plague. They have quite a big hook to fish with and they're using just the right kind of bait. It's called Convenience. One stop shopping, be it books or CDs or DVDs or a new vacuum cleaner. I buy my new books from Amazon however since it's one or two a year -- at best -- it's not like they're taking a huge chunk out of my bank account when it comes to text. With that said, I do buy one hell of a lot of stuff from Amazon because it's convenient (or was until yet another insidious plague -- Walmart -- opened up in my town.)

Why don't I just drive to a brick and mortar? Because I don't live anywhere near a bookstore -- either chain or independent. It's like planning a vacation to get there from here (I'm exaggerating but you get my point.) The B&N by the mall is smack dab in the middle of a traffic nightmare. Borders -- at the other end of the road -- fares no better. It is inconvenient. Drag winter and snow into this? Hell no. I haven't set foot in a bookstore since October. B&N and only because I had birthday gift cards. I could have spent them online but I thought it would be a treat. A book/coffee combo is hard to resist when a pair of gift cards are on the line.

But if things continue along these lines with Amazon's empire, it may have me rethinking my buying habits, both online and off. And perhaps it isn't too far to drive after all...