Happy New Year!

Happy New Decade!

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve!

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Publishers Brace for California Labor Law Changes - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard shouting and crying outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise, took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about a new labor law going into effect in California.

It's giving me a headache already.

According to the post by Jason Boog, California has a new labor law going into effect on January 1, 2020. The new law will re-classify many independent workers as employees. Included in the current independent workers categories are authors, editors and illustrators. If these workers are changed to employee status, publishers will be required to pay for unemployment coverage, minimum wages and other benefits. How to determine if an independent contractor will be re-classified and the new rules and exemptions appear to be confusing to some publishers.

Panzer says. "Hmm ... If publishers aren't very, very careful, this could turn into a big pile of kitty do-do for them."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring two cups of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection..

To read the post tootle over to California labor law

A New Panzerism

Panzer on human narcissism:

I have joined Mom and What's His Name at backyard barbecues for the Fourth of July with neighbors, for coffee and tea on the deck for New Year's morning, and holiday season dinners with their families.

You can't change what is. *

One thing stands out to me at these gathers:

Mom is always the second most attractive creature there.

Too bad she has such an attractive cat overshadowing her.



* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Smashwords End of Year Sale

I'm still resting.

Smashwords' after Christmas Year End sale runs through January 1 (2020). There are thousands of books on sale including lots that are free.

Be sure to read all the instruction. The coupon codes for the books for the sale are included under the box where the price is listed. The instructions say to included the coupon code after you put the book in your cart and are ready to checkout.

Panzer has Cat Wisdom for humans on half-price for 99 cents for the sale.
You can buy your copy of Cat Wisdom here: Cat Wisdom for humans
 
You can shop the whole sale here: Smashwords End of the Year Sale
To see all the books in the sale click the box on the left side that says "Browse Books on Sale"

This is a great chance to fill up your ereader!

Equity Firm Agrees to Buy OverDrive - Publishers Weekly

That turkey sure was good.

After yesterday's big dinner Panzer was planning to spend today resting, but he was shaken awake by shouting coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty followed all the noise to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he found the post causing all the hullabaloo was about OverDrive's sale.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, it was announced on Christmas eve that OverDrive had been sold to equity firm KKR. OverDrive provides libraries with ebooks and audio books. This is the second sale of OverDrive in four years. Rakuten USA bought the company in 2015.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Christmas Eve? Inquiring kitties want to know if they thought nobody would notice."

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 OverDrive sold

Merry Christmas

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Happy Christmas Eve

(And a little catnip too because I've been such a good kitty this month)
From Panzer the Cat

A New Panzerism

The dent? The big guy with the reindeer.*

Panzer on the Christmas holiday:

Do I think those look like my paw prints on the hood of the car?

Noooo ...

From here I'd say they look like reindeer prints.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

How To Wipe a Computer of All Your Personal Data - Popular Mechanics

Today, when Panzer was cleaning the console between the pilot's seat and the passenger seat, he found a wadded up post. Smoothing it out, our curious kitty boy discovered it was a post from the Popular Mechanics site about how to wipe a computer drive clean.

According to the post by Courtney Linder, doing a factory reset on your computer is probably all the average person needs to do to remove the data from their computer. The post includes instructions for how to do it on either a Mac or a PC. The post also includes instructions for how to destroy the hard drive if you think that's necessary.

Three days until Christmas.

Panzer says, "The post is long, but, if you plan on getting rid of your computer, it's worth reading and doing for your privacy.."

Note: This is a large post. Bring a thermos of cocoa and six muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to wipe your computer

Pearson Sells Last 25% of PRH to Bertelsmann - Publishers Weekly

Four days until Christmas. Then watch out.

Today as Panzer was trying to see what was under the Christmas tree, What's His Name rudely pushed him out of the presents. Not wanting to get on Santa's naughty list our rule-abiding kitty got into the Panzermobile for a trip into the Catosphere. Tootling around, he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. Taking his frustrations out on the posts pile there, he dug around until he found one on Pearson's sale of its shares in publisher Penguin Random House

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Pearson has sold its last shares in Penguin Random House (PRH) to Bertelsmann for $675 million. Pearson has owned 25 percent of PRH since 2017 when it previously sold 22 percent of its shares to Bertelsmann. Bartelsmann no owns 100 percent of PRH and all its publishing assets. The post contains links to other information about PRH and it's future publishing plans.

Panzer says, "Bertelsmann is becoming a worldwide publishing behemoth."

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 Bertelsmann

AAP: US Students Spending on College Materials Down 23 Percent in Fall Semester - Publishing Perspectives

With Mom cleaning the house for Christmas company, Panzer decided to clean the Panzermobile. While vacuuming the floor, he discovered a wadded up post under the pilot's seat. Smoothing it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the Publishing Perspectives site about college students textbook buying habits.

According to Porter Anderson's post at the Publishing Perspectives site, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) reports US college students are spending less on textbooks and course materials. Spending for the Fall 2019 semester is down 23 percent from last year. Although some students still buy new or used textbooks, others are renting their textbooks, or subscribing to digital textbooks (for an unlimited time or a limited time) and getting online homework answers. The last third of the post quotes extensively from college professor Tim Wu, who advocates for the use of textbooks from free sites.

Only five days until Christmas.

Panzer says, "Textbooks are so expensive how do publishers expect students to pay for them?"

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a pitcher of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to US college students

New Round of Tarriffs Suspended - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer decided to make a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our traveling kitty boy found one about the USA-China trade war.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, the USA and China have come to a "phase one" trade agreement that suspends the tariffs scheduled by the USA to go into effect on December 15 against China. Children's picture, coloring and drawing books were to be part of the suspended tariffs. The children's books were for USA publishers, but printed in China and the tariffs applied when they came into the USA.

7 days until Christmas, but whose counting?

Panzer says, "Charging tariffs on children's coloring books?"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to book tariffs

Latest CIPFA stats reveal library numbers still falling - The Bookseller

Panzer was taking his after lunch nap when he was thrown from his kitty bed by crying and shouting coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile our brave kitty boy followed all the hullabaloo to The Bookseller site. Digging in the posts, he found one about the closing of libraries in the UK.

A post in The Bookseller by Mark Chandler says England, Wales and Scotland's libraries are having financial problems. According to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) which released statics for the year ending March 2019, 35 libraries closed. Also included is the fact that since 2014 the number of library employees is down by 15.1 percent. As a result libraries are relying more on volunteers whose numbers are up by 24.3 percent. Libraries are also cutting services.

Only 8 days until Christmas.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Why don't these humans support their libraries?"

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

To read the post tootle over to library spending

A New Panzerism

Panzer on history repeating itself:

Mom's got this high, high shelf in the kitchen.

I mean it's way up there.

Well ...

She keeps her wine glasses on this towel-like thingy up there.

Umm ...

I probably don't need to tell you any more ...

Except ...

You'd think she'd learn.*

I really, really hate all that crashing and yelling and screaming.

And ...

The weird thing is ...

The same thing happened last week.




* From Cat Wisdom for humans

 

Roku Tops Off Year of Entertainment With Unlocked Premium Content for Second Annual Stream-a-thon - Business Wire

While this doesn't have anything to do with writing or publishing and we don't have a Roku TV or Roku streaming player, Panzer still found this post very interesting.

According to a press release for Roku Inc. at the Business Wire site, Roku will be having the company's second annual free Stream-a-thon this month. The Stream-a-thon will begin December 26 and continue to January 1. Movies and shows from Cinemax, ShowTime and Starz will be available, as well as the first season of HBO's Game of Thrones. You do need to have a Roku TV or a Roku streaming player to access the Stream-a-thon. The press release contains a list of all the shows available.

Only 11 days until Christmas, Mom!

Panzer says, "We've seen Game of Thrones, but some of the other shows might be interesting."

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

To read the post tootle over to Roku Streaming

US Publishers and Alliance Back Congressional Letter on Copyright Restatement - Publishing Perspectives

I need some dark and a nap.

We're all still recuperating from the Christmas light decorating party day before yesterday. We told you it's a neighborhood contest. What's His Name likes a contest and gets into the Christmas light contest every year. We have lights on the gutters on the roof, around the windows, the door, the fence, the bushes in the front yard, and along the driveway. (Don't worry they're all LED lights.)

With all those lights outside shining in the windows, Panzer can't get any sleep, so he only took a short trip into the Catosphere this afternoon to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts, our sleepy kitty found one about the copyright restatement project.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) has joined the Copyright Alliance (CA) protesting the American Law Institute's (ALI) copyright restatement project. The "restatement" would be a rewording (rewriting) of the federal copyright law. Currently released information shows the ALI seems to support big corporations' interests instead of the creators of the material. Since copyright is a federal law, some members of Congress sent a letter to the ALI posing questions concerning the ALI's intentions.

Panzer says,"Who gave these humans the power to do that?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Association of American Publishers

No News Today

We're taking the day off so What's His Name can put up the Christmas lights.
Every year it's a neighborhood contest.

Only 13 days until Christmas.

The effect of no-deal Brexit on independent publishers - The Boar

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken side to side by yelling and hissing coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our traveling kitty boy to The Boar site. In case you didn't know, The Boar is the student newspaper of the University of Warwick. With a little digging in the posts there, Panzer found one about Brexit and independent publishers.

According to the post by Charlotte Anne Creamore, UK independent publishers are afraid an exit from the EU without a deal will force .many of them to close. These closures could leave as many as 70,000 workers in the publishing industry unemployed. There's also some uncertainty about whether authors will look for publishers outside the UK.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This Brexit thingy gives this little kitty a headache."

Sometimes you just need to ignore things.

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

To read the post tootle over to Brexit

A New Panzerism

Panzer on return policies:

He won't do that again.*

Mom ...

What's His Name bought the cheap cat food again.

Can we take him back to the Husband Store and get a better one?




* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon unveils musical keyboard that uses AI to compose surprisingly good original songs - Geek Wire

It's that time of the week again. The time when Panzer cleans the Panzermobile. Today our fastidious kitty found a post from the Geek Wire site. While it's not a post about publishing or writing, it is a post about Amazon.

AI will never replace cats.

According to the post by Todd Bishop, there is now an AI music composer keyboard called DeepComposer. It contains Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, and Build Your Own models. A human gives DeepComposer the beginning of a song and the AI finishes the composition and adds other instruments. There's a video included in the post that explains how DeepComposer works. The AI-Human composed music is near the end of the video.

Panzer says, "It seemed interesting to this little kitty."

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 musical keyboard

Daunt Tweaks B&N for the Holidays - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Barnes and Noble and new CEO James Daunt.

Only 20 days to Christmas.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, while CEO James Daunt has no plans for major changes at Barnes and Noble before the holiday sales season, he is making some small holiday changes right now. Stores will be making books more prominent by having tables of books right by the entrances. The company doesn't, however, have a big advertising budget planned for the holiday season this year. CEO Daunt does plan to start making store changes in 2020 to increase book sales throughout the year and next year's holiday season.

Panzer says, "Are you as excited as this little kitty about Christmas shopping?"

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 Barnes and Noble

Introducing Smashwords Presales - Smashwords Blog

Today as Panzer was taking his afternoon nap, he was shaken from his kitty bed by yelling and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Following all the hubbub took our kitty boy to the Smashwords Blog. There with no digging at all he found a post about Smashwords new presales software feature.

That's interesting news.

According to the post, Smashwords has added a new feature for authors to offer their readers. Readers who purchase through the presales feature have immediate access to the ebook they just bought and this is before general purchasers have access to the ebook. This is also different than a pre-order which is a sale before the book is available to anyone. The post is divided into five sections covering how presales work, why authors should participate in the presales program, an explanation of the patent pending software, information about the licensing of the software to other retailers. and a short wrap up about the future.  By far the largest section is the one explaining the new patent pending software.

Panzer says, "MeWOW! This looks like a major step forward for Smashwords!"

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a half gallon of tea and a half gallon of cocoa and six muffins and six sugar cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Smashwords presales

Amazon Opened a Bookstore in Nashville Just in Time for Thanksgiving - The Digital Reader

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the jocularity, took our adventuresome kitty to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts, he discovered one about Amazon's newest bookstore.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, just before Thanksgiving Amazon opened the company's twenty first bricks and mortar store. This one is in Nashville Tennessee. Books available in the store have four or more stars with their book reviews and are bestsellers. Included in the post is a link to another post about the opening of the twentieth Amazon bricks and mortar store in Scottsdale Arizona.

Only 22 days until Christmas.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wants to know where the twenty-second bricks and mortar store will be ...  And ... Will it open before Christmas?"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon bookstore

A New Panzerism

Panzer on retribution:

There I was snoozing on a warm keyboard ...

When What's His Name told me to "Get Down."

Then ...

He pushed me off the desk!

I was shocked!

Push the cat? I don't think so.*

Shocked I tell you!

I wonder ...

If he'll be shocked ...

When he finds what I put in his running shoes.




* From Cat Wisdom for humans

AAP StatShot for September: Modest Gains in the US Market - Publishing Perspectives

Mom still has turkey from Thanksgiving.

Panzer was cleaning out the console between the pilot's seat and the passenger seat in the Panzermobile, when he found a wadded up post in the cup holder. Flattening it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the Publishing Perspectives site about US book sales for the month of September and the whole year.

According to Porter Anderson's post, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) has released their StatShot report. According to the report, overall the U.S. book sales for the year are up 4 percent over last year. The rest of the post is divided into three sections comparing September sales of 2019 to 2018. The sections are US Trade Publishing, US Trade in Terms of Format, and Overall Publisher Revenue. The sections cover audiobooks, ebooks, and trade books (adult, YA, children etc.).

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The numbers show sales are up for the year and for the month of September. Interesting."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a quart of warm cocoa and a three muffins for this reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to AAP StatShot