A New Panzerism

Panzer on going to the veterinarian:

A riddle for you:

What does Panzer call a trip to the vet's clinic?

Answer:

Singing practice.
Mee-yohw! ... Mee-yohw! ... Mee-yohw!

And a second riddle for you:

You can sing along if you want.

How does Panzer know when he's hit the right high note?

Answer:

The cars in front of Mom's car pull over and look for the red and blue lights on the police car.

DOJ Gets Extension in Apple Case - PW (Publishers' Weekly)

Mom, that turkey was so good.

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and Panzer has had a whole day to catch up on his naps, our kitty boy is ready to search for news for his friends. After waddling his way into the Panzermobile, Panzer discovered liftoff took longer than usual for some reason, but he finally made it into the Catosphere.

During a stop at the Publishers' Weekly site, our kitty pilot discovered a post about the next step in the Apple price-fixing case. Apple was found guilty of ebook price-fixing in 2013 by Judge Denise Cote ... and ... yes, the case is still in the news

According to the post at the Publishers' Weekly site by Andrew Albanese, before the Supreme Court decides if they will take Apple's case under review, the Department of Justice will be allowed to respond to the appeal. Since the response isn't due until January 2016 and the Supreme Court will have to review all the information, it will be a while before they decide if they'll review the case. So ... Panzer will still have a job reporting the Apple price-fixing news in 2016.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Let me see. The verdict for this case was decided in 2013. It will be 2016 before the Supreme Court decides if they'll take the case. I wonder how much the attorney fees are by now?"

Note: One cup of tea should be enough for the original post, but there are links in the post to earlier ones so you may need a second cup.

To read the post, tootle over to Apple Appeal Case

Bertelsmann seeks partner to buy Penguin Random House - Reuters

It's just something humans do.

Panzer made a trip to the Reuters site today. Digging around there, our inquiring kitty found a new post about book publisher Penguin Random House.

According to the post by Harro Ten Wolde and Arno Schuetze, Penguin Random House majority owner Bertelsmann  (53 percent) is looking for a financial partner to help in a buyout of minority owner Pearson (47 percent). Pearson has not directly stated they intend to sell their ownership, but Bertelsmann wants to be ready in the event they do. Apparently, it will be 2017 before Pearson makes any kind of decision.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I'll never understand human ownership. You buy something so you can sell it in a couple of years. Cats ... We get it ... We eat it. That's it."

Note: This is a two cups of tea read.

To read the post, tootle over to Bertelsmann

A New Panzerism

Panzer on cats' mathematical abilities:

Humans decided a long time ago that cats have limited intellectual potential.

They believe it because we can't count beyond one.

But ...

I can count to one a lot of times.

And ...

It's a miracle!

Guard the computer ... I am Binary Cat!

Humans have a name for this condition ...

It's called Binary.

Turns out cats have excellent math skills.

ABA Looking Into Amazon Books Inventory Practices

I'm feeling a little better.

Panzer was searching the Catosphere today looking for news items he missed while he's been sick. Our kitty pilot stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site to see what he could find. After a little digging around he found a post about the new bricks and mortar Amazon Books book store.

Judith Rosen reports Oren Teicher of the American Booksellers Associate (ABA) sent a letter to members that the group is looking into Amazon Books store's inventory practices. The ABA wants to make sure the bricks and mortar store isn't using inventory from Amazon.com. According to the post, this is an illegal practice under the U.S. antitrust laws. There's a link to Mr. Teicher's original letter and a second link to Publishers' Weekly's original post about Amazon Books opening included in Ms. Rosen's post.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... The bricks and mortar store has been open how long? Less than a month? And the ABA is already looking into their inventory practices?"

Note: This can be one cup of tea if you just read Ms. Rosen's post or two cups if you follow the links too.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon vendors

Self-Publishing and Big Five Dominate Book Market, According to Nielsen - Book Business

My head hurts. Achoo! And my nose.

Panzer has been fighting a nasty cold for the last couple of days, so it was a short trip into the Catosphere today. Our sick kitty boy traveled to the Book Business site. There he found a post by Jim Wikert reporting about the recent Frankfurt Book Fair 2015.

According to a presentation at Frankfurt by Jonathan Stolper of Nielson, the big five publishers and self-publishers are taking over the book/ebook marketplace. They've beaten the mid-sized and small publishers in marketplace sales for the fiscal year first quarter 2014 to first quarter 2015.

Panzer says, "If self-publishers like me are taking so much of the market, how come I don't have more kitty treats?" Achoo! "I'm going back to bed now."

Note: A cup of tea should do it today.

To read the full post, tootle over to self-publishing

Apple and Amazon Audiobooks Agreement Under Investigation In Germany

Panzer was enjoying a quiet trip in the Catosphere today when our kitty boy decided to stop in at the Yahoo! Finance site. There he found some interesting news about Amazon and Apple.

We'll have to watch this.

According to a post from Reuters, German Federal Cartel Office chief Andreas Mundt says the organization is investigating Amazon and Apple's dealings in Germany. The investigation will center around Amazon's Audible selling audiobooks to Apple's iTunes. According to complaints filed earlier by German booksellers, Amazon, Audible and iTunes control 90 percent of the audiobooks market in Germany. The agreement between the companies will be at the center of the investigation.

Note: This is a one cup of tea post.

To read the post, tootle over to Apple Amazon Audiobooks

The Coloring Craze: Adult Coloring Books, 2015

Panzer jumped in the Panzermobile and headed out into the Catosphere today. Our big bad intrepid explorer kitty was intent on tracking down information on the newest writing trends.

Panzer has been hearing a lot about the adult coloring book market and wanted to know if the rumor was true. Searching around he ended up at the Publishers' Weekly site. It only took a little digging to find what he was looking for.

One paw print per page by us.

According to a post by Jim Milliot, it's true that adult coloring books have taken over the publishing market in 2015. Penguin, Laurence King, Indigo Books, and other publishing houses have all joined the craze. Authors/artists' books are selling in the hundreds of thousands of copies per coloring book. Some publishers are also joining in with stickers books and connect-the-dots books for adults.

Panzer says, "Ummm ... Coloring books I understand. I can make a really good paw print for Mom to color ... but ... stickers books and connect-the-dots books? It's turning into a real playground out there."

Note: This is a medium post, so a cup of tea and a muffin should do it for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to adult coloring books

A New Panzerism

Panzer on ways to save money:

Today, I heard Mom and What's His Name talking. Mom said they need to save money for Christmas presents.

What's His Name said my cat food is the really expensive kind

and ...

she should change my cat food to the cheap stuff to save money.

I could catch him some spiders.

Well ... I know how What's His Name could save money.

I've heard bugs are a good source of protein.

Maybe ... What's His Name needs to change his diet to save money.

Solving the Self-Publishing Puzzle - American Libraries Magazine

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today looking for sales and marketing information for his books. Our big busy kitty found a post at the American Libraries Magazine site about getting your books into libraries.

Let's go to the library, Mom.

According to the post by Greg Landgraf, as self-published books gain in popularity, libraries are beginning to take notice. Some libraries are actually setting up venues for the self-published to sell their physical books to the public. Even more interesting is the fact some libraries are even making agreements with ebook distributors such as Smashwords. Representatives from three libraries, two in the U.S. and one in Canada, explain their criteria and selection process in interviews in this post.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Getting in a library would be a good tactic. The more people know your name and your work, the more they'll look for your other books."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post, so bring a h-u-g-e cup of tea and g-i-a-n-t muffin.

To read the full post, tootle over to self-published

Barnes & Noble Chairman Creates TV Ad With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga - The Wall Street Journal

Today Panzer made a trip to The Wall Street Journal site. After some digging around, our adventurous kitty boy found some news about Barnes and Noble in a post by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg there.

Hmmm ... shopping time already.

According to Mr. Trachtenberg's post, Barnes and Noble Chairman Leonard Riggio is back helping the book store chain get started in the holiday shopping arena. Mr. Riggio has started Barnes and Noble's launch into the holiday season sales market with a TV commercial featuring performers Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. The two are gift shopping for each other in one of the chain's bricks and mortar stores. This marks Mr. Riggio's first hands on work with the company in a decade. The post has interesting facts about how Mr. Riggio actually put the commercial and the performers together. Also included is information about his past involvement with the company.

Panzer says, "Are you ready to start your holiday shopping? You know ... they do have other books besides mine that you might like."

Note: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post, so bring a v-e-r-y l-a-r-g-e cup of tea.

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble chairman

Authors: Have You Blabbed or Scoped yet? - The Book Designer

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he saw some strange images flickering around outside the Panzermobile. Our big brave kitty pilot followed the ghostly sights to The Book Designer site.

According to a post there by Frances Caballo, those images Panzer was seeing in the Catosphere came from the apps Periscope and Blab. Turns out these two are new broadcast apps. You can live-stream videos of yourself and others. Periscope works on the iPhone or Android and Blab works with Chrome or the iPhone. Caballo included instructions for downloading and using the apps.

Thinking about it makes me tired.

Panzer says, "My time in between naps is already full. There's no time left to learn anything new."

Note: This is an extremely l-o-n-g post. You'll need a thermos of tea and a half-dozen muffins.

To read the post, tootle over to Blabbed and Scoped

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day in the U.S.A.  

Amazon VP on Amazon's New Bookstore: 'We Have No Idea What's Going to Happen' - Publishers' Weekly

Panzer was out in the Catosphere scouting around for interesting news for you today. Our intrepid kitty hunter stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site. Guess what he found? More news about the Amazon Books store.

 Jim Milliot has an interview with Jennifer Cast, v-p of Amazon Books, in which she states Amazon's new bricks and mortar bookstore had quite a crowd of book shoppers the first few days it's been open. As Panzer told you a few days ago, the books chosen for the store must be at least 4 star Amazon.com books, approved by Goodreads readers and Amazon staff. This means the store carries new as well as older books that meet that criteria. According to Ms. Cast, if the store is successful, there will be more Amazon Books stores.

It does make me wonder.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. If Amazon Books opens more stores, that may put more pressure on independent bookstores."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post, so bring a thermos of tea to drink while you read; and, if you want to read the earlier posts too, bring two thermoses of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the full post, tootle over to Amazon's bookstore

and: To read Panzer's post about how books are chosen for Amazon Books, tootle over to Amazon's first physical bookstore

and : To read Panzer's post about the opening of the first store, tootle over to bricks and mortar store

A New Panzerism

Panzer on alternative uses for our forest products:

If a tree fell in the forest

Who would know?

and ...

and there was no one there to hear it,

could I have it for a scratching post?

Inside Amazon's First Physical Bookstore - Publishers' Weekly

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today and discovered Amazon is in the news again. Our big bad kitty boy stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site. There he discovered a post about Amazon's new bricks and mortar store.

You missed your chance with me.

Rob Salkowitz gives us a tour of the Amazon Books store. The store carries 5,000 to 6,000 books as well as Kindles, Kindle Fires and Fire TV devices. The books are 4 and 5 star Amazon. com bestsellers. Other things taken into account for store placement include Goodreads reader opinions and Amazon pre-order launch numbers. Included in the post are photos of the outside and inside of the store.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... I didn't do pre-orders for CAT WISDOM for humans and it's not up at Goodreads yet. Does that mean I'm wasting my time formatting CAT WISDOM for humans for a Create Space paperback? "

Note: One cup of tea should be enough for today's reading.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon bookstore

J.K. Rowling Has Been Working on a New Children's Book - GalleyCat

A new book?

After this week of nothing but Amazon news and nearly wearing his poor claws down to nubs, Panzer managed to dig up some news that isn't about Amazon! Stopping in at the GalleyCAT site, our big bad kitty found a post about a new J.K. Rowling project.

According to Maryann Yin, Ms. Rowling revealed in a radio interview she has a children's book she's been working on. While Ms. Rowling was very secretive about the book's contents, she did say she intends to finish it, but she didn't say exactly how long that will take.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know: What age group is the children's book for?"

Note: The post includes a link to a portion of the Simon Mayo interview. A warm cup of tea should be all you need this time.

To read the post, tootle over to J. K. Rowling

Smashwords: Amazon Lowers Kindle Unlimited Payouts

Listen humans ... It's a business.

Panzer stopped in for a visit at the Smashwords blog today. Our kitty traveler can't seem to go anywhere lately without tripping over news about Amazon and his trip to the Smashwords blog is no different.

According to a post by Smashwords founder Mark Coker, Amazon is changing how their KDP Select global fund will handle their Kindle Unlimited (KU) author payouts. The payouts will now take into account the monetary exchange rates in the different countries where an author's ebooks are sold. This will undoubtedly mean a lower payout rate for authors. Mr. Coker points out that he stated this would happen back in March of this year.

Panzer says, "Not too surprising to an astute cat like me. Amazon is a business and the purpose of a business is to make money. You can't make money, if you give it all away to your workers. Kind of like the purpose of a human is to feed this kitty and, if you eat all my food, I'll be one unhappy kitty. And that ... is why I'm not part of KU and you can buy my ebooks at all the e-retailers."

Note: Included in the Smashwords post is a link to the original Amazon press release. One cup of tea should suffice for your reading today.

Smashwords: Amazon Lowers Kindle Unlimited Payouts:

Amazon Opens First Bricks and Mortar Bookstore - Publishers' Weekly

Amazon's dead tree books?

Panzer was shaken awake from his nap by shouting and clapping. Jumping into the Panzermobile, our yawning kitty found his way to the Publishers' Weekly site.

According to a post there by Judith Rosen, Amazon now has a bricks and mortar bookstore in Seattle, Washington. The store is 5,500 square feet located in the U-Village Mall. The store will sell books chosen from those at Amazon.com, Goodreads favorites, and Amazon staff members favorites. The store will also sell Kindles and other Amazon devices.

Panzer says, "The store is named ... Amazon Books! Pretty ingenious, huh?"

Note: There's a link in the post to an article about Amazon's new store in The Seattle Times newspaper.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon bookstore

Shopping On Amazon Fire TV

Where's the TV? I need some catnip.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today just enjoying himself. The next thing our big bad kitty knew the Panzermobile was being buffeted around by sighing and "Oh, nos!"

Following all the noise, took our intrepid kitty pilot to the Geek Wire site. Digging around in the posts there, he discovered a post by Todd Bishop and Tricia Duryee about one of Amazon's newest ventures. You can now make purchases on Amazon's Fire TV. A viewer can click on an advertisement on their TV and purchase the advertised item. Not exactly a shopping channel yet as it's only one item at a time, but ... this is Amazon ... so a shopping channel can't be far behind.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Can't wait to buy my kitty treats on the TV."

To read the Amazon shopping experience post, tootle over to Amazon

A New Panzerism

Panzer on keeping pets:

The three main reasons to keep pets:

1) Teaches responsibility,

One heartbeat away from the curb.

2) Teaches unselfishness,
3) Teaches cleanliness.

All true.

But mostly I just keep Mom around to feed me. Otherwise, I'd dump her in a heartbeat.*


* reprint from Cat Wisdom