A New Year's Eve 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 kitty napzzzzzz.*

Or ...

Some I suppose may want to sit back and watch.

Or ...

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



* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve

from

Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

A Holiday 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 human

Storyboard Lets You Turn a Video Clip Into a Comic - The Digital Reader

Only 3 Days Until New Year's Eve

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today when he heard clapping and cheering ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our inquisitive kitty pilot to The Digital Reader site. It didn't take any digging at all to find a post about the new app Storyboard.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Storyboard, one of Google's newest apps, allows users to use a video clip to produce a comic. Apparently, Storyboard doesn't put together a whole comic book for the user, instead just doing one page. Also, it only works on Android. There's a link in the post to another site with samples from three of Google's new apps including Storyboard.

Panzer says, "This little kitty would like it better if he could do a whole kitty comic."

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

To read the post tootle over to Storyboard

Smashwords End of Year Sale Starts December 25

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Smashwords blog. Our very good kitty boy got a new Kindle PaperWhite for Christmas. He needs some new ebooks for it and found where to get them at the Smashwords blog.

I need a nap after all those books.

According to Mark Coker's blog post, Smashwords is having an end of the year sale. A large number of Smashwords authors are discounting their ebook prices from 25 percent to 100 percent (free) off. The sale runs from December 25 - January 1. At the Smashwords site on the left side there is a link to go to the ebooks included in the year end sale.

Panzer says, "Time to fill up my new ereader."

Note: The Smashwords site is h-u-g-e. Bring three thermos of tea, two dozen muffins and a sleeping bag for a nap during your search.

To visit the Smashwords' sale site, tootle over to Smashwords End of Year Sale

Playster raises price and limits collections for audiobook listening - The eBook Evangelist

Yesterday's dinner was s-o-o-o good.

Panzer is recuperating from yesterday's Christmas celebrations. Our tubby little kitty boy made a quick stop at the The eBook Evangelist site. With a little digging around he found a post about Playster's new pricing changes.

According to the post by Glinda Harrison, Playster has made changes to the pricing structure of their audio book subscription service. There are now two levels to the subscription platform. The original level is now called Basic and the new level is called Premium. The Basic level  price remains $14.95 but is now restricted to 40,000+ "selected" audio titles. The Premium level price is $29.95 and offers 100,000+ "newest" audio titles.

Panzer says, "This little kitty is hearing a lot of yowling and snarling from Playster users about these changes."

Note: This is a longish post. Bring a cup of tea and one muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Playster

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
From
Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Christmas Magic ...

Only 1 Day Until Christmas

A Note For Santa

Google Play Books is Currently Offering a $5 Credit - The Digital Reader

Only 2 Days Until Christmas

Today, Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile. Behind his pilot's seat he found something wadded up on the floor. Smoothing it out our inquisitive good kitty discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site about Google Play Books.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Google Play Books is offering a $5 credit for use in the store. It's advertised in the banner at the top of the page. Unfortunately, the coupon is only good for U.S. customers. It's a short term coupon and expires January 19 (2018) so you need to hurry to use it. The post includes a link to the site and the coupon.

Panzer says, "Remember: Always read all the instructions and the small print!"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the included link to Google Play Books, bring a muffin too.

To read the post, tootle over to Google Play

The woman who gave America the Christmas tree - Washington Examiner

Only 2 Days Until Christmas

Panzer took a break from Mom's baking and went tootling around in the Catosphere. Our tired kitty boy stopped in at the Washington Examiner site. With a little digging he found a post about how the Christmas tree became a traditional part of the American Christmas.

According to J. Mark Powell we (Americans) owe the entire American Christmas tree tradition to one woman, one Queen and one Prince. Interesting reading.

Panzer says, "A kitty's work educating humans is never done."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and two Christmas cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection. Enjoy the break from all your Christmas preparations.

To read the post tootle over to the Christmas tree

The Kindle Changed the Book Business, Can It Change Books - Wired

Only 3 Days Until Christmas

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today was a quick one. Stopping in at the Wired site, our speedy kitty pilot found a post about Amazon and the Kindle.

The post by David Pierce follows the Amazon Kindle from its past, through the present and into the future. The post opens with a history of the Kindle's birth in 2007. It then moves on to E Ink technology. The post continues following Amazon, Kindle and the ereader experience into the future to show the possibilities for customers.

Panzer says, "Umm ... This little kitty didn't know Amazon would be looking at a Kindle he could pick up, roll up, let it go, and then chase it around the living room."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring one and a half thermoses of hot cocoa and a dozen muffins and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Kindle

Amazon is Beta-Testing a New Author Portal - The Digital Reader

Only 4 Days Until Christmas

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the The Digital Reader site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about Amazon's new Author Portal.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is beta-testing a replacement for Author Central called Amazon Author. The post contains an email Amazon sent to the authors they selected to beta-test the new portal. The email states the new platform makes updating an author bio much easier and faster.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Guess it's time to update my kitty bio at Amazon."

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Author

No Liability for Self-Publishing Platforms over Author's Use of Unauthorized Cover Photo - National Law Review

Only 5 Days Until Christmas

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the National Law Review site. With a little digging around our adventuresome kitty boy found a post about self-publishing platforms liability with reference to indie author legal issues.

According to the post by Jeffery D. Neuburger, the Sixth Circuit court recently ruled in an appeal that self-publishing platforms (Amazon KDP, Smashwords, and Nook) are not responsible for the actions of indie authors who use the platforms to upload and distribute their material. The original case concerned an indie author who used a photograph without permission for the cover of his erotic ebook. The self-publishing platforms where the author uploaded the ebooks and used for distribution had claims filed against them by the owner of the photograph. The self-publishing platforms include in their sites' terms of service statements that the authors are representing that the material and cover they are publishing are their own work and they own all rights. There links to supporting information in the case included in the post.

Panzer says, "Umm ... This little kitty wants to know where the author found the photograph to steal it."

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring half a thermos of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you also plan to follow the links, bring a full thermos of tea and five muffins.

To read the post tootle over to self-publishing platforms

Indonesia likely to tax ebooks in 2018 - The New Publishing Standard

Only 6 Days Until Christmas

Panzer was sweeping out the Panzermobile when he discovered a rolled up post stuffed under the passenger seat. Smoothing it out our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a post from The New Publishing Standard site about Indonesia imposing a tax on "imported" ebooks.

According to the post by Mark Williams, it appears that with the expiration of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) moratorium on charging taxes on imported intangibles that Indonesia will begin charging taxes on ebooks (and other intangibles). The Indonesian government will be the beneficiary of the new taxes. As Google Play and Kobo are the only ebook platforms serving Indonesia the new taxes will only impact their sales there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... So, it's not just the U.S. using taxes to get their cut of the ebook pie."

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

To read the post, tootle over to ebook tax

A New Panzerism

Panzer on maintaining your dignity:

The main thing about being a proper cat is ...
always act like you know what you're doing.

Like ...

When you dive head first into the window ...
chasing the bird outside ...

Or ...

When you dive head first into the toilet bowl ...

Really ... I want to do that. *

chasing Mom's toothbrush.

Just stick your tail straight up in the air ...

and ...

saunter away like you meant to do it.



* from Cat Wisdom for humans

Luxembourg challenges EU order to recover tax from Amazon - Reuters

10 Days Until Christmas

Panzer has been a busy kitty today helping Mom put up the Christmas decorations, so his trip into the Catosphere was a quick one. Our speedy kitty boy hurried to the Reuters site. With a little digging he found a post about Amazon and Luxembourg.

According to the post composed by the Reuters staff, Luxembourg is appealing the European Union's recent order to them to collect 250 million euros from Amazon for back taxes. The European Commission asserts Luxembourg gave special tax treatment to Amazon, which Luxembourg denies. The appeal will be heard in the General Court in Luxembourg. The post states Luxembourg is already appealing an EU tax collection order case against another company.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't understand how the European Union can come into a member country and tell that country who to collect taxes from and how much to collect in taxes. Does the EU get part or all of the tax money? Are members of the EU no longer sovereign countries?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Luxembourg tax

An Author's Guide to Sweet-Talking Amazon - The Digital Reader

11 Days Until Christmas

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging around our kitty boy found a post about Amazon.

The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post is about how ebook authors should approach Amazon when a problem arises. The post quotes extensively from former Amazon employee Greg Hullender. According to Mr. Hullender, since Amazon is a customer focused organization it's in an author's best interests to deal with their problem keeping that the focus of their request to the company. Also included in the post is a link to Amazon's Leadership Principles which begins with the customer focus statement and describes all the leadership qualities necessary to work for Amazon.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Always put the customer first so you don't get put on Santa's naughty list."

Note: This is a short-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and one and a half muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to read Amazon's Leadership Principles, bring a half a thermos of tea and three muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Storytel dots the 'i's with an Italy launch pending, having just opened in India - The New Publishing Standard

12 Days Until Christmas

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The New Publishing Standard site. While our traveling kitty boy was digging around in the posts there his Santa hat slipped off, but he was able to find a post about Storytel and Amazon's Audible.

According to the post by Mark Williams, Sweden's audiobook producer and distributor Storytel has opened its platform in India. Storytel already has distribution in eight other countries, including Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, and Sweden. There are also two other country openings pending, one in the United Arab Emirates and one in Italy. Until now Storytel has strategically avoided opening its platform in countries where Amazon's Audible has already opened. With a pending opening in Italy, however, Storytel will be competing directly with Amazon when the Audible platform opens there in early 2018.

Panzer says, "Storytel is playing an interesting game of chess with Amazon. This little kitty can't wait to see what happens."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Storytel

A New Panzerism

Panzer on true confessions:

Sometimes Mom says, Panzer, you're a good boy."
The sickening truth is ... she's right.

No real cat would ever want to be a good boy ...
But ... I am so afflicted.

It seems that some time ago, on a bright and sunny Druid holiday, I stepped in a patch of good-kitty-ness.

And ...
got the stuff all over my beautiful black fur.

So ...
I tried to lick it off ...

And ...

Wow! That was good catnip. *

contaminated my insides.

It was there at that precise moment ...

That ...
I became a good boy ...

And have been tormented by it ever since.



* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Freight authors agast as former publisher sets up new imprint - The Guardian

17 Day Until Christmas

Panzer had barely made it into the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was struck by a sound torpedo of crying and screaming. Following the noise trail took our brave kitty pilot to The Guardian site. There he found a post about Scotland's Freight Books.

The post by Alison Flood documents the demise of Freight Books. According to the post, the partnership between Adrian Searle and Davindor Samrai was dissolved in April when Mr. Searle left the company. By September the company was in financial straits and unable to pay its creditors, including authors. The company is currently shutdown and in liquidation. It appears the authors will never be paid. While authors are dealing with the realization they won't receive their royalties, former partner Adrian Searle opened another publishing company the day after the liquidation was announced.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It just doesn't make sense 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 Freight authors

Amazon's Australian Debut Brings Excitement, Dread and Defiance - The New York Times

18 Days Until Christmas

Panzer was awoken from his afternoon nap by a cacophony of noises. Our sleepy kitty boy heard laughing and crying, clapping and gnashing of teeth. Stumbling to the Panzermobile, he headed into the Catosphere. Following all the noise took him to The New York Times site. There he found a post about Amazon's entrance into the Australian marketplace.

According to the post by Adam Baidawi, Amazon opened its online presence in Australia earlier this week with a small number of vendors and products. While the company's entry into the Australian marketplace turned out not to be the formidable juggernaut businesses feared, it's believed Amazon's vendors and their selections will increase over time. The company has a habit of making a small inroad into a marketplace and then exploding with lower prices and innumerable products. The post does say most Australians don't use the Internet to buy products.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks Australia will be a hard market for Amazon to break into."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Riggio Ups B&N Stake - Publishers Weekly

19 Day Until Christmas

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With just a little digging around there our kitty explorer found a post about the effects of Barnes and Noble's most recent sales report.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble founder Len Riggio increased his stock holdings in the company by 1 million shares. Mr. Riggio now owns 19.3 per cent of the company's stock. Last week Panzer told you about the impact of Barnes and Noble's quarterly sales slump on the company's stock price. The post also discusses Sandell Asset Management's proposed (and rejected) take over bid.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks when the stock price is low it's a perfect time for Mr. Riggio to buy more shares."

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

To read today's post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

To read the post about Barnes and Noble's quarterly sales slump, tootle over to Barnes and Noble's sales slump

Kindle Create App Out of Beta - The Digital Reader

20 Days Until Christmas

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by clapping and cheering. Following all the jocularity, took our brave kitty explorer to The Digital Reader site. There he discovered a post about Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing's (KDP) Kindle Create App.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has announced the Kindle Creater App is out of beta testing and ready for Windows and MacOS users. Users can download the free software from KDP to their computers. The software edits (formats) .doc and .docx files to the proper formatting for uploading to KDP for ebook publishing. The software also has four layout templates for users' ebooks. The post includes a link to the download site.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Making it easier to publish to KDP?"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin to read today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the download link and read the Q and A section, bring a second cup of tea and a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Kindle Create app

A New Panzerism

You expected something different? *

Panzer on a canine's true value:

Let sleeping dogs lie ...

After all, they're dogs ...

That's all they're good for.



* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Barnes and Noble's Sales Slump and It's Impact

24 days until Christmas

Panzer was awoken from his morning nap today by crying and wailing. Hopping into the Panzermobile took him first to the Publishers Weekly site and then to the Forbes site. Both have posts about Barnes and Noble's second quarter sales.

At his first stop our kitty boy learned that according to the Publishers Weekly post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble's second quarter revenue/sales figures were reported. Revenue/sales were down nearly 8 percent compared to the same time period last year. Barnes and Noble attributed the book sales slump to lower sales in coloring books and the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. There was also a decline in non-book sales like games and the Nook.

At his second stop he learned that according to the Forbes' post by Jonathan Ponciano, Barnes and Noble's second quarter sales slump also caused a 10 percent decline in their stock price as well. As the bookstore chain moves forward it does intend to place more emphasis on books and less on general merchandise.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks we need to help Barnes and Noble increase their holiday sales. ... Here's my plan ... Buy something from them. ... Hint: They do sell Cat Wisdom for humans ebooks and paperbacks."
 
Note: These combined posts are a long read. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selections.

To read the Publishers Weekly post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble sales

To read the Forbes post, tootle over to Barnes and Noble stock