I, for one, welcome our new cloud overlords.

Last week, I suggested that Amazon was poised to eat Netflix's lunch and leave a few unwanted baby carrots in their rival's ear. Or words to that effect.

I now think they are going to rule the world. I have seen the future, and have pre-ordered it.

The Amazon Prime® Membership seems inexplicable from an accounting perspective. I pay $89 or whatever it is and get free two-day shipping and $3.99 overnight shipping on all products that ship from Amazon (not necessarily their partners). I signed up when my lovely bride was in the hospital and found it so convenient, I have suggested it as a gift to caregivers everywhere. Always scarce time is at an extra premium when a loved one is hospitalized. Not going to Walgreen's for toothpaste is another 15 minutes at bedside. Precious.

It's been six years and I would not let that subscription lapse if Bezos appeared at Zuccotti Park and gave lessons on Marx and Engels.

They included FREE access to an extensive streaming video library a few months ago. I bought a Blue-Ray player that supports it (from Amazon, natch) and my Netflix account expires 11/21. My wife and I have both pre-ordered the Kindle Fire® It will let us watch our free and purchased Amazon videos, listen to Amazon MP3s (and others I upload to my cloud player) and read all our kindle books, blog and magazine subscriptions.

Today, they announce a library of free books. I guess you can borrow one a month -- if you have a Kindle and Prime.

Who is going to hold out for long? I get 200% ROI just on shipping. It seems like they might be giving too much away. But -- contra Netflix -- their business plan allows this customer captivity to pay off. Shipping is free, you might as well start buying your coffee from Amazon. And, if you buy that movie or MP3 it will be on all your devices. And I can no longer counsel agnosticism on eReaders. Buy the damn Kindle people.

Today, Netflix, tomorrow a Jobs-less Apple.

UPDATE: If you buy the Fire, use the ProfGlennGetsPaidFerIt link.