A New Panzerism

I'm ready. *

Panzer on your vintage years:

Mom told my old cats sleep 20 percent more than kittens.

Getting old sounds pretty good to me.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon's Audible's Captions' Court Case Continues

Today Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. Digging around in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found two about the Audible Captions court case.

Both posts are by Andrew Albanese.

The first post is about the publishers' response to Audible's filing last week. In the earlier filing Audible's lawyers contended publishers gave away "their right to sue for copyright infringement" when they contracted with Audible. The publishers' lawyers responded in their filing that the defense "makes no sense" as the licensing contract doesn't give away the publishers' copyright, so Audible is guilty of copyright infringement if they publish speech to text of the publishers'  audio books.  Panzer already told you about Audible's filing.

Reading is reading. Listening is listening.

The second post is about the hearing Judge Valerie Caproni's questions for Audible's lawyers about their Fair Use defense. The judge was asking about an explanation about the reading experience of Captions. The judge did not issue an injunction yet, but did say the court case could be scheduled before the end of the year.

Panzer says, "It looks like this is one of those court cases that just keeps going on and on and on."

Note: Each of today's posts is medium length. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for each post in today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the posts, bring an extra gallon of tea and two dozen muffins.

To read the post about the publishers' response, tootle over to  Publishers' response to Captions defense

To read the post about the judge's questions, tootle over to Captions hearing judge

To read Panzer's earlier post, tootle over to Audible filings

Poland Approves Reduction of Ebook VAT from 23 to 5 percent - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was shaken from his nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, he followed all the noise to the Publishing Perspectives site. With just a little digging he found a post about Poland's VAT.

It's a book.

According to Jaroslaw Adamowski, beginning November 1, print and ebooks will be subject to the same VAT in Poland. Previously, the print book VAT was 5 percent and the ebook was 23 percent. Both readers and publishers will benefit from the change. The post included statistics on digital book readers, buyers and publishers.

Panzer says, "This little kitty says, whether it's made from a dead tree or electrons a book is a book and all should be taxed the same."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. You might want to bring a blanket for a nap in the middle too.

To read the post tootle over to Poland digital VAT

B&N's James Daunt Isn't Daunted At All - Publishers Weekly

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to stop in at the Publishers Weekly site. Digging in the posts, our adventuresome kitty found one about the new Barnes and Noble after Waterstone's takeover.

Makes sense to me.

According to Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble's CEO James Daunt has plans for turning around the bookstore's sales and profits. The plans include making each store manager responsible for determining the store's stock. The company feels the store manager knows their community and customers better than the company's New York headquarters. This does, however, mean the manager will be responsible to the New York headquarters for the store's sales or lack thereof. The plans also include investing in making improvements to the stores.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... CEO Daunt says he does not plan to do away with the Nook or BN.com."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the virtue of naps:

Young cats have often asked me how many naps are too many.

It's enough to make me purr when those youngsters recognize my expertise.

So, my answer to them is:

Thanks for asking.*

As the day progresses,

it's natural to take more frequent naps.

When the naps begin to overlap,

you have reached the perfect nap to alert cat ratio.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Jeff Bezos announces Amazon's 'Climate Pledge', promising to cut emissions and pushing other companies to follow suit - GeekWire

Panzer was washing the Panzermobile windshield (windscreen) when he discovered a post shoved under the wiper blade. Smoothing it out, our traveling kitty pilot discovered it was a GeekWire post about Amazon and the climate crisis.

Electric vans! Wind farms! Solar farms!

According to Lisa Shiffler's post, on September 19 Jeff Bezos announced Amazon will be carbon neutral within 21 years. The company is purchasing 100,000 electric delivery vans. The vans will begin deliveries in 2021. The company plans to get 80 percent of it's energy from renewable sources within 5 years. Amazon is already building wind farms and solar power farms. The post includes a lot more information on Amazon's future plans to address the climate crisis. The post also includes links to the Paris Agreement and other sites.

Panzer says, "Amazon's announcement came the day before the Global Climate Strike."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea, three muffins and six chocolate cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring two gallons of tea and three dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Climate Pledge

Two Text Only News Sites and One Regular Weather Site

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, when he heard on the radio about all the flooding and storms happening in the southern and eastern states here in the U.S.

From personal experience in snowy winter weather your friendly kitty boy knows that in stormy weather the electricity can stop working. That means there's no television news.

Here two text only news sites he uses that you can access with your phone. These sites cover national (not local) news.

Hope this helps.

The two sites are:

 CNN

NPR

 This one is not text only; but, if your laptop has battery power, check the weather forecast here:

Weather

Kindle, Kindle Fires On Sale This Week - The Digital Reader

Hurry! Hurry!

As soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere today, the Panzermobile was immediately shaken by clapping and cheering outside. Following all the hoopla took our brave kitty pilot to The Digital Reader site. With no digging at all he found a post about a sale of Amazon Kindles.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has some of the Kindles and Kindle Fires on sale; however, you must be an Amazon Prime member to get the sale price."

Panzer says, "You need to hurry! The sale ends September 22!"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring a cup  of tea and a muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Kindle sale

In Filings Audible Says 'Captions' Copyright Case Should Be Dismissed - Publishers Weekly

Panzer had to go to the vet today, so when he got home he made a quick trip into the Catosphere. Our speedy kitty's trip took him to the Publishers Weekly site. With some digging in the posts, he found one about Audible's Captions feature.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, Audible's lawyers made a court filing in the copyright infringement lawsuit against Audible's Captions feature. The filing stresses Audible's right to Fair Use protection from the copyright infringement claim. The filing also states the publishers gave Audible a license to the copyright of the audio books. The publishers' attorneys now have the right to respond to Audible's court filing with one of their own.

Those attorneys shouldn't have said that.

Panzer says, "Read the post to end to see what Audible's attorneys said about the publishers."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Audible Captions

Librarians Launch National Campaign to Oppose Macmillan's Library E-book Embargo - Publishers Weekly

Today as Panzer was sweeping the mats in the Panzermobile, he found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Spreading it flat, our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was from the Publishers Weekly site about publisher Macmillan's library embargo.

According to Andrew Albanese's post, the American Library Association (ALA) has started a campaign to convince publisher Macmillan to lift the ebook embago against libraries. Part of the campaign is an online petition for library supporters to sign. Panzer told you a few days ago about Macmillan's new policy not to allow libraries to buy copies of the publisher's new ebooks until two months after publication. There are several links included in the post, including one to the petition and one to the ALA's new book club.

It's simple.  Macmillan is a bully.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This kitty wonders, if library patrons don't buy any of Macmillan's books until after the embargo is over, maybe the publisher would end it sooner."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large size travel mug of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post and follow the links in it, bring an extra gallon of tea and six muffins and six chocolate chip cookies.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan's library ebook embargo

To read Panzer's earlier post tootle over to Macmillan

A New Panzerism

Panzer on book reviews:

I read a book review today ...

Puppy love? Who would read that?*

that said ...

the storyline was about ...

puppy-love.

Dumbest plot I've ever heard of.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon's Audible Captions Feature New Developments - Various

Today, Panzer's afternoon nap was disrupted when he was shaken from his kitty bed and onto the floor. Jumping into the Panzermobile, our brave kitty discovered the Catosphere was full of news about Amazon's Audible Captions feature.

My work for you is never done.

First he traveled to the Publishing Perspectives site where he discovered a post by Porter Anderson. According to the post, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) has added their support to the Association of American Publishers' (AAP) lawsuit against the Audible Captions feature for copyright infringement. Twenty-seven member publishers of the IBPA in a letter to Audible have asked to not be included in the feature until the court decision is rendered. Panzer has been posting about the Captions feature for a few weeks now.

Next he traveled to the Publishers Weekly site where he discovered a post by Andrew Albanese. According to this post, Audible will not be rolling out the full Captions feature until after the court's decision. The company will instead roll out a version with only public domain material included. Public domain material is not copyright protected and can be used by anyone.

Panzer says, "Both these posts cover the same material but from slightly different angles."

Note: The first post is a long length and the second is a long-medium length. Bring two thermoses of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selections.

To read the Publishing Perspectives post tootle over to Audible Captions

To read the Publishers Weekly post tootle over to Captions roll out

To read Panzer's other post about Audible Captions tootle over to Captions

September 11 - Patriot Day

Amazon surpasses Microsoft in number of Seattle region employees amid big growth plans across US - GeekWire

Today as Panzer entered the Catosphere he heard clapping and cheering outside. Following all the jocularity took our brave kitty boy to the GeekWire site. There with no digging at all he discovered a post about Amazon's employment plans.

MeWOW! 30,000 jobs!

According to GeekWire's Civic Editor Monica Nickelsburg, Amazon announced they now have 53,500 employees in the Seattle (Washington) area, 650,000 globally, and employee expansion plans. On September 17 the company is holding a "Career Day" with plans to hire 30,000 new employees. The "Career Day" will be held in Seattle as well as five other cities.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... According to the post, some of the jobs require specific talents."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selections.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

A New Panzerism

Panzer on thoughts of Autumn:

Mom's asters are blooming.

She said they bring another Summer to a beautiful conclusion.

Hey ...

Wait a minute ...

That means Autumn is coming.

Cold weather. Rain. Sleet. Snow.

COLD!

She better appreciate my work.

I have to get outside now!

I have to rip out those asters.

NOW!

It's up to ME to stop Autumn from coming!



*From Cat Wisdom for hiumans

Amazon Breaks Embargo of 'TheTestament' - Various Sources

Panzer was eating his lunch when his food bowl began shaking from all the screaming and shouting coming from the Catosphere. Getting into the Panzermobile, he discovered the noise was coming from different directions. Our busy kitty visited the Publishers Weekly site and The Guardian site and discovered both have posts about Amazon and The Testament embargo. Panzer told you yesterday about Amazon breaking the embargo on Margaret Atwood's new book.

According to the Publishers Weekly post by Claire Kirch, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) has been trying to convince the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Amazon for violating antitrust laws. The ABA now wants to use Amazon's shipment of Margaret Atwood's new novel before the embargo conclusion as new fuel in that argument.

It was an accident.

According to The Guardian's post by Alison Flood, Amazon shipped 800 pre-ordered copies of the novel to buyers by accident. The post includes a quote from Amazon which says "a technical error" caused the books to be shipped early. A quote from Atwood's publisher Penguin Random House says the error "has now been rectified."

Panzer says, "Looks like this kerfuffle* will be around for a while."

Note: These are large posts. Panzer hopes you still have that RV you borrowed for yesterday's posts, because you'll need it and its cooking and sleeping facilities for today's reading selections.

To read the Publishers Weekly post tootle over to ABA
To read The Guardian post tootle over to Amazon
To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Booksellers

* Yes, it's a word. Google it. Tee hee hee

Indie Booksellers Incensed as Amazon Breaks 'Testament' Embargo - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, when the Panzermobile was buffeted and shaken by crying and screaming and gnashing of teeth. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about online book retailer Amazon's latest mess with bricks and mortar bookstores.

 According to Claire Kirch's post, Margaret Atwood's new novel The Testament, the sequel to The Handmaiden's Tale, is scheduled to go on sale September 10. Publisher Penguin Random House (PRH) required bookstores to sign an embargo contract agreeing not to sell the book before that date. It turns out, as soon as Amazon got the books delivered to their warehouse they began mailing copies to their customers who pre-ordered it. Bricks and mortar bookstores immediately complained to PRH. As soon as Amazon realized what had happened, the company stopped the book deliveries.

I bet somebody is looking for a new job.

Panzer says, "Umm ... Were they all sent from just one warehouse? ... If so ... Then ... Maybe it was a mistake."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Publishers Are on a Collision Course With Libraries - News Breaks at Informations Today, Inc.

Panzer is recuperating from all the fun, barbecue, and jocularity of the three day holiday weekend. His tired kitty attitude didn't improve when he was shaken awake from his afternoon nap by booing and hissing coming from the Catosphere. Dragging his poor body into the Panzermobile, he followed all the noise to the News Breaks section at the Information Today, Inc. site. It didn't take any digging at all in the posts to find one about publisher Macmillan's library embargo. Panzer told you about the embargo back in the beginning of August.

900 copies? I'd be doing the Happy Cat Dance.

According to the News Breaks post by Terry Ballard, John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan, has doubled down on his argument that libraries are responsible for the lessening of book sales. Macmillan has implemented an embargo on libraries not allowing them to obtain copies of books for the first two months they're on the market. As an example he used the sale of 900 copies of one book to a library. Because each of the 900 books could be checked out multiple times, he believed this proves the library impacted the book's sales. The post is divided into sections with librarians' responses to Mr. Sargent's arguments.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I don't think Mr. Sargent understands library patrons. If a patron can't find a book at the library, he'll just find another book by somebody else to read. The patron is not going to run out and buy the book he couldn't find."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post about the embargo and follow all the links in it, you'll need an RV with cooking and sleeping facilities.

To read the News Breaks post tootle over to Macmillan and Libraries

To read Panzer's previous post about Macmillan tootle over to Macmillan library embargo

Labor Day

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name