A New Panzerism

A cat's forgiveness? You're kidding, right?

Panzer on cat poetry:

To err is human, ...

To get even ...

Is divine cat justice. *


* Thanks to 18th century poet Alexander Pope.

Voting for the Fan Choice Dragon Awards Ends on 28 August - The Digital Reader

Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile today when he found a wadded up post under the pilot's seat. Flattening it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site about the Dragon Awards.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, the deadline for voter registration for the Dragon Awards is open until August 28. The Dragon Awards are a fan alternative to the Hugo Awards. The last three years have been filled with disagreements within the Hugo platform. There's a link included in The Digital Reader post to George R.R. Martin's site where he has a post about the Hugo Awards' history and the current state of affairs there. That's why the Dragon Awards came about: To get back to fan based awards.

After all that reading I need a nap!

There's a link included in The Digital Reader post to become a registered voter for the Dragon Awards. Follow the link. Click the Register to Vote button in the top bar. Fill out the email information form. Be sure to read the Rules. You'll get a confirmation email.

Panzer says, "Read all the information about the categories. There's more to vote for than just dragons!"

Note: This is a short-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to read George R.R. Martin's post too, bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins. Finally, if you plan to register to vote, bring an extra muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Dragon Awards

Amazon Has More Than 50,000 Jobs Available and Expects to Hire Thousands of Employees at the Nation's Largest Job Fair - Press Release

Today, Panzer's trip into the Catosphere turned out to be a noisy one. Our traveling kitty had barely gotten into the Catosphere when his tender little kitty ears were assaulted by cheering and clapping and oohing and awing. Following all the hullabaloo took him to the Amazon site. There he found a press release about the Amazon Jobs Day.

According to the press release, the Amazon Jobs Day is August 2. The job fair will run from 8:00 am to Noon at 10 Amazon fulfillment centers across the U.S. With 10 hiring locations and 50,000 positions to fill, Amazon bills this as The Nation's Largest Job Fair. Tours of the fulfillment centers will be provided so potential employees can see what's entailed in working for Amazon. Qualified employment seekers will be offered jobs "on-the-spot." Locations of the participating fulfillment centers are included in the press release. Almost at the end of the press release is a link to apply online.

Do you think anybody will notice me?

Panzer says, "Shhh ... Don't tell anybody ... But this little kitty thinks he'll go to a fulfillment center just to see what they do in there."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g press release. Bring a thermos of tea and a half dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the press release tootle over to Amazon jobs

Color It Dead: Coloring Book Bubble Has Burst - Dead Tree Edition

Panzer made a quick trip into the Catosphere today. Our inquisitive kitty was tootling around when he found the Dead Tree Edition site. With a little digging he discovered a post about adult coloring book sales.
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According to the Dead Tree Edition post, publishers and bookstores are reporting a decline in adult coloring books sales. In 2016 the only hot topic for discussion in bookstores was adult coloring books high sales. Now, with sales in a steep decline bookstores are refusing to even order adult coloring books. During the adult coloring books' high profile sales days, even magazines entered the adult coloring books craze. Now, magazine publishers are also experiencing the same decline as book publishers and bookstores.

Maybe a kitten's coloring book, instead?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I guess all this means it's a waste of time for this little kitty to do an adult kitty coloring book."

Note: This is long post. Bring a thermos of tea, a half dozen muffins and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to coloring book bubble

Investor Urges B&N To Find a Buyer - Publishers Weekly

On today's trip into the Catosphere Panzer was greeted by booing and hissing and crying. Following all the clamor took our adventuresome kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he discovered that a post about Barnes and Noble was causing all the noise.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, in a letter to the Board of Directors an investor in Barnes and Noble is suggesting the company put itself up for sale. The investor, Sandell Asset Management Corp., says in their letter they feel Barnes and Noble should either be bought/merged by a larger company or by a private firm and taken private. The letter also says company founder (and majority shareholder) Len Riggio has the financial resources to take the company private.  Included at the beginning of the post is a link to Sandell Asset Management Corp.'s letter to the Board of Directors.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... This little kitty wonders if Sandell Asset Management Corp. thinks they can get more money for their stock if Barnes and Noble gets sold ... Because ... maybe the larger company they want to buy Barnes and Noble is ... Amazon? Or ... maybe because Mr. Riggio would pay more to keep Amazon from buying the company?"

That is one very long letter.

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring a b-i-g cup of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Sandell Asset Management Corp.'s letter, bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

A New Panzerism

Panzer on etiquette:

I told Mom ...

I think I should get a chair in the dining room ...

So ...

I can eat at the table with her.

That's what I told her ...

What I know is ...

He can't even purr.

It's undignified for me to eat from a dish on the floor ...

After all ...

She let's What's His Name eat at the table.

Enter a Huge Archive of Amazing Stories, the World's First Science Fiction Magazine, Launch in 1926 - Open Culture

On Panzer's trip today he discovered some interesting information about pulp fiction publishing. Our kitty traveler had barely piloted the Panzermobile into the Catosphere when he heard cheering and clapping and shouting. Following all the rowdiness took him to the Open Culture site. With no digging at all he found information on the digitization of the science fiction and fantasy magazine Amazing Stories.

According to the post, over 500 issues of the Amazing Stories magazine have been digitized. Included in the post is the history of the magazine from inception in 1926 to its closure in 2005. The magazine published many of science fiction's well-known authors, such as Isaac Asimov, George R.R. Martin, Robert Heinlein and Robert Bloch. Included at the beginning of the post below the first illustration there's a link to the Internet Archive site where the magazine issues are available free. At the site, if you click on the title under the cover illustration, you'll be taken to the issue. You can read it online by clicking the cover and each page after that to turn to the next page. Below the cover and to the right are the download options.

And it's all free.

Panzer says, "If you read all the way to the end of the post, there are links to other digitized science fiction and fantasy magazines and radio dramas."

Note: With all the illustrations this is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. Panzer gives a tip of the fedora to The Digital Reader site for a heads-up about the Open Culture site.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazing Stories

Wattpad now pimping writers to Hachett Romans - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer made a short trip into the Catosphere. Our speedy kitty made a quick jump to The Digital Reader site. There with just a little digging around he found a post about Wattpad and Wattpad Studios.

What about marketing and promotion?

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post,Wattpad has signed a new publishing partnership agreement with Hachette Livre. Chosen Wattpad writers can have French language translation and publishing of their stories by Hachette Livre. Wattpad Studios which handles the selection of stories receives a commission for their services.

Panzer says, "Umm ... This little kitty wants to know if there's more involved than just French translation and publishing."

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

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad

Whole Foods Shareholders Sue to Block Amazon Merger - Courthouse News Service

As soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere today the Panzermobile was buffeted by ranting and raving and shouting. Following all the reverberating noises took our brave kitty boy to the Courthouse News Service site. There he found a post about two Texas court cases filed against the Whole Foods Market and Amazon merger/acquisition.

According to the post by Ryan Kocian, two Whole Foods Market shareholders have filed separate lawsuits against Whole Foods Markets and Amazon to stop the proposed merger/acquisition. In one suit Robert Riegel is suing Whole Foods Market and the board of directors. In the second suit Robert Berg is suing Whole Foods Market, the board of directors, Amazon.com and Walnut Merger Sub. Both suits claim a lack of certain financial information, the lack of certain conflict of interest information, and the lack of certain banker interest and financial compensation information makes the proxy statement false and misleading to the shareholders. Both suits are seeking to get class action status.

Blindsided me. Never saw it coming.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... And this little kitty thought it was going to be the federal government that would slow down the acquisition."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea, half a dozen muffins and two cinnamon rolls for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Whole Foods shareholders

Indigo Eyes U.S. Expansion - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard whispering and muttering outside the Panzermobile. Following the curious noises took our inquisitive kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Indigo Books and Music.

According to Ed Nawotka's post, rumors abound about Indigo Books and Music's proposed expansion into the U.S. retail book sales market. Indigo bookstores are well represented in Canada under such store brand names as Indigo, Chapters, and Coles, among others. The success of the company's new concept superstores there has contributed to the rumor. Speculation is that the first U.S. Indigo bookstore will open in New Jersey in 2018. The Publishers Weekly post states, "Indigo would neither confirm nor deny" plans to expand to the U.S. So, for right now it's just a rumor.

I think they're making a big mistake.

Panzer says, "Umm ... This little kitty wants to know why Indigo would want to come to the U.S. and go head to head with Amazon. ... Haven't they heard Amazon is opening bricks and mortar bookstores in addition to the online store?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Indigo

A New Panzerism

Panzer on music appreciation:

I woke up Mom and What's His Name this morning

serenading them from the windowsill in the bedroom.

What's His Name told Mom ...

my sweet, wonderful music was annoying yowling.

Then he yelled at me and chased me out of the bedroom.

You know, I have sensitive hearing, too.

Let me tell you something Mom ...

The next time I hear What's His Name  doing his singing in the shower ...

I'll teach him about shampoo, shower curtains and yowling.

Bertelsmann Ups PRH Stake to 75% - Publishers Weekly

I'm feeling better today.

Today, Panzer made a short trip into the Catosphere. Our recovering kitty boy made a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging he found a post about Bertelsmann increasing their holdings in PRH (Penguin Random House).

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Bertelsmann intends to increase the company's controlling stake in PRH (Penguin Random House) to 75 percent. When Penguin merged with Random House in 2013 Bertelsmann acquired 53 percent and Pearson 47 percent of the new entity PRH (Penguin Random House). Bertelsmann will acquire an additional 22 percent from Pearson for $968 million. Pearson will retain 25 percent. The deal won't be completed until September, 2017.

Panzer says, "The post does mention Pearson can't sell any portion of their remaining ownership for 18 months. This little kitty would be very surprised if there wasn't also a little clause in the agreement that Bertelsmann has the right of first refusal if Pearson wants to sell."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Bertelsmann

No Post Today

Me-OW-OW-OW! That hurt!

Panzer isn't feeling well today. He went to the veterinarian's office and get two of his annual vaccinations. He'll post tomorrow.

New Bricks and Mortar bookstores -Amazon Books

Panzer was taking a leisurely trip around the Catosphere today, when he happened upon the Amazon Books site. It didn't take any digging at all to discover information about Amazon's bricks and mortar bookstores there.

Five more store?

About one third of the way down the page is the Stores by State heading. Listed are the eight Amazon bricks and mortar bookstores currently open across the U.S. Listed below that are the locations of the five Coming Soon store locations. Included under each of the stores listed is a link to apply for employment. Listed under the employment link is a link to signup for updates on the store.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Amazon is really taking their bricks and mortar bookstores seriously."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon bookstores

A Serial Publishing Platform That Earns Money for Indie Creators - Jane Friedman Blog

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Panzermobile when he heard oohing and awing coming from ahead in the Catosphere. It didn't take our adventuresome kitty long to find the location of all the hullabaloo. It was at the Jane Friedman Blog site. With no digging at all he found a post about Tapas Media that was causing all the noise.

According to Jane Friedman's post, Tapas Media has recently opened their platform to allow authors to self publish their serialized material (novels) there. This means the site is now open to authors/creators of web comics and novels. While Tapas Media has headquarters in both Seoul, South Korea, and San Francisco, California, according to the post its 1.6 million readers are mostly in North America. Author/creators get paid for their work in three ways: by advertising on their work, by readers tipping them, or by being upgraded to 'Premium' content. Two author/creators are interviewed for the post. One is located in Malaysia and the other in the United States, so this appears to be a global platform.

Always listen to the kitty.

Panzer says, "Listen to this little kitty when he says, 'Don't put your paw print on a contract until you read it all the way through to make sure you understand it.'"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Tapas Media

A New Panzerism

Panzer on making apologies:

What do you mean I owe you an apology?

An apology for that wine tasting party you and Mom and all your friends had last night?

I would say, it's you who overreacted when I hacked up that fur ball on the cheese and cracker plate.

It was just an accident you know ...

But ...

I'm waiting.

Then you started screaming and swatted me off the table.

No ...

I would say you owe me an apology.

Ingram Buys NBN's International Division - Publishers Weekly

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers Weekly site. It took a little digging around but he found a post about Ingram Publisher Services.

According to Jim Milliot's post, Ingram Publisher Services has acquired the British distribution company National Book Network International (NBNi) from Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group (RLPG). With the acquisition Ingram has gained access to the British content and distribution market. With the sale of NBNi,  RLPG will concentrate on its publishing division, although the company will still use NBNi for distribution.

Humans are a fun adventure to me.

Panzer says, "Umm ... They sold the company ... so ... they can pay to use the company's services? ... This little kitty will never understand humans."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Ingram Publisher Services

Print Units Up 3% in First Half of 2017 - Publishers Weekly

Print book are up. Ebooks are down.

Today, Panzer made a quick trip into the Catosphere to go to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. There he found a post about print book sales.

The Publishers Weekly post quotes information supplied from BookScan about print books sales during the first six months of 2017. The BookScan information was based on the combined print book sales of juvenile fiction and nonfiction and adult fiction and nonfiction. Although juvenile fiction and nonfiction sales outpaced adult fiction and nonfiction, all four had a combined increase of 3 percent during that time period over the same period in 2016.

Panzer says, "Print book sales are up? Hmm ...  Cat Wisdom for humans was just published in paperback. This kitty hopes that's good for sales."

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

To read the post, tootle over to print books

Why Kobo didn't focus only on the U.S., home turf of Amazon - The Globe And Mail

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Globe And Mail site. It didn't take any digging at all for our kitty boy to find a post about ebook and ereader company Rakuten Kobo Inc.'s marketing strategies.

Really smart thinking for humans.

David Israelson says in his post that Michael Tamblyn, President and CEO, attributes Kobo's success to the decision to go global. Early in Kobo's existence the company didn't concentrate on the United States ebook and ereader market for the simple reason Amazon, Apple, Google, and Barnes and Noble were staking their territory there. So while the others were fighting over U.S. digital supremacy, Kobo decided to do global distribution instead. In doing so, the company has grown to number three in the ebook ereader market behind Amazon and Apple. The post includes several interesting facts about Kobo's history.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Smart move to go where nobody else was so they were the first ones there."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins and six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Kobo

Happy July 4

Happy Fourth of July
From
Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

A New Panzerism

Panzer on loyalty:

A cat's loyalty may be non-existent ...

Or ...

You choose which you want.

A cat's loyalty may be total ..

And ...

It's totally related to your catnip supply.

Smashwords' Summer Free and Discounted Ebooks Promotion

Every summer Smashwords has a ebooks promotion in July.  Ebooks in the promotion can be free, discounted 75 percent, 50 percent, or 25 percent. Authors can put any or all of their ebooks into the promotion. The prices are only good with the coupon code and at Smashwords.

I don't think you need an account to get free ebooks in the promotion, but, if they're discounted ebooks, you have to have an account to pay for them.

Below are our contributions to the promotion. Remember, you MUST use the coupon code.

Panzer says, "Happy reading while they're free!"


Cats and Crime (Use code SW100 to get it free)

Cat Wisdom for humans (Use code SW100 to get it free)

Romances included in the promotion:

Love's Decisions (Use code SW 100 to get it free)

Under New Management (No code needed. Always free.)