A New Panzerism

Panzer on New Year's Eve and Kitty Zen:

This is an amazing point in time.

We are at that precise intersection of history and the future.

And ...

We can embrace it and create a wonderful tomorrow.

Sequential cat napzzzzzz.

Or ...

Some I suppose may want to sit back and watch.

Or ...

A few may be disposed toward sleeping through it all until next year.

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're reindeer prints. *


* From Cat Wisdom for Humans

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Australian Publishing Is Losing the Copyright Fight - PW (Publishers' Weekly)

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers' Weekly site. There he found a post about changes to Australia's copyright law.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, the Australian Productivity Commission is set to change Australian copyright law. Under the new proposal parallel imports would be allowed. This means the U.S. and U.K. publishers would be able to enter the Australian book market. The proposal also includes a change to the length of a copyright.

Panzer says, "I didn't know the Australian book market worked like this."

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

To read the post, tootle over to copyright fight

No News Post Today

Mom and What's His Name are decorating the house and wrapping my Christmas presents, so there will be no post today.

Union calls new strikes at Amazon's German warehouses -Yahoo! Finance

Back to my nap now.

Panzer was shaken awake from his evening nap by loud noises coming from the Catosphere. Following all the hullabaloo our tired little kitty found himself at the Yahoo! Finance site. There he discovered a post about Amazon.

According to the post from the Reuters news feed, the German union Verdi is telling workers at three of Amazon's warehouses to go on strike now until December 24. The union wants reclassification and pay increases for their members working in Amazon's German warehouses.

Panzer says, "I hope this strike doesn't mess up Santa's Christmas cat toy deliveries!"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

OverDrive is Beta-Testing a New eBook App, Libby - The Digital Reader

Panzer made a short trip to The Digital Reader site today. After a little digging around there, our traveling kitty boy found a post about OverDrive.

Now where did she hide that password?

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, OverDrive is testing a new software app called Libby. OverDrive's Libby is used to check your ebooks out from the public library system. Libby is also used to read the ebooks after they're downloaded to an Android or iOS device. There are links at the end of the post to download the software.

Panzer says, "I'm going to download Libby and put it on Mom's tablet. Like Mr. Hoffelder, I quit using OverDrive's old app for library ebooks because it was too clunky for this 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 OverDrive

The Final Chapter for GalleyCat - GalleyCat

I'm really sad about this.

Today Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to the GalleyCAT site. There our forlorn kitty got some bad news about the site.

According to the post by Dianna Dilworth, the GalleyCAT site is shutting down. There is no explanation as to why.

Panzer says, "No! This was one of my favorite sites for publishing news."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a tissue to wipe away your tears for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to GalleyCAT

A New Panzerism

Panzer on persistence:

Greatness is never easy.

It requires focus, intense effort, and endurance.

But after much struggle I have made it.

The King has spoken.

I am at the top of the world.

I am the greatest!

I am King of all I survey!

What do you mean get off the curtains?

 No ... You can't make me.

Scholastic Reports Fiscal 2017 Second Quarter Results - Press Release

It was a lot of hard work to find that.

Panzer made a long trip into the Catosphere today. Because of the upcoming holidays there is a scarcity of book news out there. After much digging around at the Book Business site our tenacious kitty finally found some news about children's book publisher Scholastic.

According to a press release at the site, Scholastic announced their 2017 second quarter financial results. The press release says revenues were up 4 percent for the quarter over last year. It also states the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them script book and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition contributed to the healthy second quarter increase.

Panzer says, "No 2017 Second Quarter isn't a mistake. It's a human thing. Corporations can have their year start at different times than the rest of us. So their year doesn't have to start in January."

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 Scholastic

Congressional Leaders Back Independent Copyright Office - PW (Publisehrs' Weekly)

Today, Panzer made another trip to the Publishers' Weekly site. After a little digging around our inquisitive kitty found a post about the Copyright Office.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, the House Judiciary Committee has proposed making the (U.S.) Copyright Office independent from the Library of Congress. Now, the Copyright Office is controlled by the Librarian of Congress. The change would allow the Copyright Office to have their own budget, technology and leadership control. The Judiciary Committee is now accepting public comments on the proposal.

It's an important job.

Panzer says, "Do you see the number across my nose on the photo at the top of this blog page? The Copyright Office gave that number to the Cats and Crime blog. It shows this is a copyrighted periodical. The Copyright Office keeps track of everybody's copyrights to make sure nothing gets stolen."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Copyright Office

Jaime Carey Leaving Barnes & Noble - PW (Publishers' Weekly)

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers' Weekly site. There our big bad kitty found a post about Barnes and Noble and their concept stores.

Hmm ... Who's next to go?

According to the post by Jim Milliot, the head of the development and restaurant group Jaime Carey is leaving Barnes and Noble. Mr. Carey has been with the company since January 2005. He will remain with Barnes and Noble until the end of February 2017. The company plans to continue opening their new concept stores with the dining and alcohol-serving restaurants.

Panzer says, "Barnes and Noble didn't terminate (fire) Mr. Carey. He resigned when they took away all of his job duties."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble.html

A New Panzerism

What makes you think I did it?

Panzer on plausible deniability:

Never step in white paint.

It makes it really, really hard to deny ...

you're the one who put that in What's His Name's shoe.

Authors United Declares Victory Over Amazon, Announces "Merger" With The Authors Guild - The Digital Reader

Today's trip into the Catosphere was another short one. Panzer went to The Digital Reader site. There our traveling kitty found a post about the Authors United group.

Think they'll go away now?

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, bestselling author Douglas Preston has announced his group Authors United is "merging" (joining?) the Authors Guild. In case you don't remember, Authors United is a group Mr. Preston started a couple of years ago during the contract dispute between Amazon and the Hachette publishing group. Since the Hachette publishing group no longer had a contract with the company, Amazon stopped selling and/or promoting Hachette books. This is when Authors United was formed. There is a link included in this post to a longer post about Mr. Preston's announcement at The Bookseller site.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Unlike cats, humans have to justify their existence somehow."

Note: This is a short post. If you plan to only read the original post, bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection; but, if you plan to read the second post as well, you'll also need a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to  Authors United

Iowa Considering E-Book Sales Tax - Forbes

If Mom doesn't feel good, I don't either.

Mom is still fighting that nasty tummy flu bug, so Panzer only made a short trip into the Catosphere today. Our hurried kitty stopped in at the Forbes.com site. There he found a post about Iowa imposing a sales tax on ebooks.

According to the post by Ellen Duffer, Iowa is considering instituting a new state sales tax. The sales tax would only apply to companies which have a physical presence in Iowa and also sell online ebooks. The post states that means Barnes and Noble and Apple because they both have bricks and mortar stores in Iowa where they sell electronics and also have online stores for ebooks.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This kitty knows how to keep new bricks and mortar stores who also sell ebooks online from moving into your state ... Put a sales tax on them."

This is a longish-short post. It looks long, but that's because it has an advertisement in the middle. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Iowa ebook sales tax

No Post Today

There will be no post today. Mom has to been sick and she has go to the doctor.

Under pressure from national governments, Commission lowers VAT rates for ebooks - EurActiv.com

I am so tired after that trip.

Today Panzer made a l-o-n-g trip in the Catosphere. Our adventurous kitty traveled all the way to the EurActiv.com site. There he found a post about the EU VAT on ebooks.

According to the post by Catherine Stupp, the European Commission has proposed to allow ebooks and online newspapers and news services to be sold with the same 7.6 percent VAT rate as paper books and paper newspapers. EU countries can accept the new VAT rate proposal or not as they determine. The proposal will not become effective until Members of the European Parliament and the respective national governments agree to it.

Panzer says, "Maybe EU ebook sales will  get better since the Commission is getting rid of the 19.9 percent VAT on ebooks."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a cup of tea and one-and-a-half muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Vat rates