Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!
From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Macmillan CEO John Sargent: 'We're Not Trying to Harm Libraries' - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was just taking his afternoon nap, when, suddenly, he was shaken from his kitty bed by booing and hissing coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, he followed the caterwauling to the Publishers Weekly site. There our brave kitty boy found a post about publisher Macmillan's embargo on libraries. Panzer told you yesterday about the American Library Association's (ALA) letter to the House Judiciary Committee about Macmillan and other publishers.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, Macmillan CEO John Sargent has released a letter to librarians and the American Library Association (ALA) about Macmillan's embargo of libraries. Starting November 1, Macmillan will only allow libraries to purchase one copy of their new ebooks until two months after the ebooks publication date. CEO Sargent's letter basically repeats the same argument he has been using to place the embargo. That people check out ebooks from the library instead of buying the physical book. He says this hurts Macmillan, so he won't change his decision. The post includes links to other Publishers Weekly posts about the embargo and a link to a copy of the letter. You will want to read the letter.

Who's on the House Judiciary Committee?

Panzer says, "So he doesn't want to 'Harm Libraries', he wants to 'Harm Library Patrons.' Those same library patrons he wants to buy his books. Makes this little kitty want to run right out and buy a Macmillan book."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you want to follow the links, bring another cup of tea and two muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan

To read yesterday's post about the House Judiciary Committee, tootle over to  Digital Antitrust

Libraries Take E-Book Lending Fight into Antitrust Territory - Copyright and Technology

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at the Copyright and Technology site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive, traveling kitty found one about the libraries' on-going fight with Macmillan and other ebook publishers. Panzer told you about the problems which brought about this dispute last week.

Bill Rosenblatt's post addresses the American Library Association's (ALA) problems with access to ebooks from the major publishers. Publisher Macmillan announced earlier this year it would start a two month embargo on libraries' access to new ebooks. Since Macmillan's announcement the ALA complained to the publisher, started a library patrons' petition and most recently sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is investigating antitrust/anticompetition allegations against major corporations. In the letter to the House Judiciary Committee the ALA also presented the fact Amazon doesn't make its books available to libraries. In his post, Mr. Rosenblatt points out Amazon does allow Prime members to have access to, "check out," read ebooks and then "return" them. There are so many links included in this post, that this little kitty gave up counting them.

My head is starting to hurt.

Panzer says, "This fight is just getting more and more complicated."

Note: This is long, long post. Bring a cup of tea, a cup of hot cocoa, and three muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links included in the post, bring a thermos of tea, a thermos of cocoa, and two dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to libraries e-book lending

To read Panzer previous post about the letter to the Judiciary Committee, tootle over to Congress

A New Panzerism

Panzer on human superstitions:

Mom says humans think black cats are bad luck.

Where did she get that idea?

Oh ...

Wait ...

There was that time I left that present in What's His Name's shoe ...

and ...

Mom's credit card and The Catnip of the Month Club ...

Cause and effect maybe?*

And ...

And ...

Hmm ...

Maybe she is right.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Bring Out the Daggers - The Rap Sheet

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside. Following all the jocularity, took our intrepid kitty traveler to The Rap Sheet site. There he found a post about the British Crime Writers Association.

According to J. Kingston Pierce's post at The Rap Sheet, the British Crime Writers' Association has announced the 2019 Dagger winners. There are 11 CWA Awards: Gold Dagger, John Creasey, ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-fiction, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, International Dagger, Sapere Book Historical Dagger, Short Story Dagger, Dagger in the Library, Debut Dagger, Best Crime and Mystery Publisher of the Year, and Diamond Dagger. The Dagger Awards are given out annually in the UK. The post lists all the winners and the also nominated for each award.

I'm known internationally. Right?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I wonder how to get nominated for the International Dagger?"

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

To read the full post tootle over to CWA Daggers

Congress Looking into Anticompetitive Behavior in the Digital Library Market - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our speedy kitty boy found a post about the American Library Association and publisher Macmillan's embargo. Panzer has been telling you about Macmillan's two month embargo on new ebooks sales to libraries since it was announced.

Libraries can get my ebooks.

According to Andrew Albanese, the embargo has taken an unexpected turn. The American Library Association (ALA) has taken their digital book distribution problem with publisher Macmillan to the United States Congress. In a letter to an antitrust subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, the ALA explained the detrimental effects to the library systems caused by Macmillan's actions. The ALA also says Amazon Publishing refuses to sell ebooks to libraries. There are several links to other posts about the ALA's ongoing dispute with Macmillan and with Amazon included in the post.

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know libraries were fighting with Amazon too."

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and three dozen muffins, a sleeping bag for a nap, and a camp stove to cook your dinner on.

To read the post tootle over to digital library market

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to public library system

Small Claims Copyright 'Case Act' Passes US House of Representatives - Publishing Perspectives

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the hubbub took our brave kitty boy to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found all the noise was about the new copyright act passed by the United States House of Representatives.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, the US House of Representatives has passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act). The Act will now go to the US Senate for consideration. The CASE Act creates the Small Claims Board (CCB) which will hear copyright infringement claims. The CCB will be part of the US Copyright office. The post contains links to several other posts with information about the CASE Act and supporters of the Act.

Don't get too excited yet.

Panzer says,"Hmm ... This little kitty thinks the celebrating is a little early. The CASE Act still has to be voted on in the Senate and then signed into law. It's not a finished deal yet."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a gallon of tea and half a dozen muffins for your reading today. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring three more gallons of tea and six more dozen muffins, plus a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

To read the post tootle over to Copyright Case Act

Barnes & Noble Will Seek to Dismiss Ex-CEO's Defamation Claim - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty found a post about the lawsuit and counter-lawsuit between Barnes and Noble and the company's former CEO Demos Parneros. Panzer has been telling you about this court case since early last year.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, Barnes and Noble's attorneys have petitioned the court to have portions of Demos Parneros' lawsuit dismissed. The former CEO said in his lawsuit against Barnes and Noble that his firing made people think he was fired for sexual harassment. However, the company says in the letter to the court that their press release stated he was fired for "violations of company policy" and "not due to any disagreement with the Company regarding its financial reporting, policies, or practices or any potential fraud relating thereto." The post includes four links to other posts about the ongoing court case.

It's never going to end.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't understand Mr. Parneros lawsuit. If you follow the links in the post, you'll discover it wasn't the company, but Mr. Parneros, who in his court filings, is the one who brought out the fact part of the reason he was fired was because of sexual harassment allegations."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea and four muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

To read Panzer's previous post about the court cast, tootle over to Demos Parneros

A New Panzerism

Why worry? It's already over.*

Panzer on the purpose of naps:

I never worry about the future.

Never.

By the time I wake up from my nap the future has already come and gone.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Number of Self-Publishered Titles Jumped 40% in 2018 - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by aahing and oohing. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered a post about the number of titles self-published in 2018.

Jim Milliot's post concerns Bowker's annual survey of self-published books for 2018. According to the survey, self-published books and ebooks increased by 40 percent over 2017. Bowker's self-published books figures use the number of ISBNs sold as the measurement tool. The post includes Amazon's CreateSpace and Lulu publishing numbers for books. Ebooks numbers are included too. No ebook publishing numbers are available for Amazon (doesn't use ISBNs); however, Smashwords and Lulu both show publishing declines.

1.68 million? That's scary!

Panzer says, "According to Bowker, 1.68 million books were self-published in 2018! How can this little kitty compete with book numbers like that?"

Note: This is a short-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffins for your reading.

To read the post tootle over to self published titles

Major Public Library System Will Boycott Macmillan E-books - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about publisher Macmillan's embargo on ebook sales to libraries.

The post by  Andrew Albanese contains information about the embargo impasse by publisher Macmillan against public libraries. Panzer already told you about Macmillan's plans to limit library ebook purchases to a single copy of a new ebook release for the first two months after publication. The newest development in this embargo involves a boycott of Macmillan's ebooks. The King County Library System, located in Washington state, won't purchase new ebook releases from Macmillan. The library has a patron friendly rule that readers won't have to wait more than three months for a book they've requested. Since Macmillan is not letting libraries buy more than one ebook for the first two months after publication, patrons wouldn't get the requested book within the three month time frame; so, the library system simply won't buy the ebook at all. There's more information about how the boycott will work included in the post. The post contains several links including one at the end with information about a pettheition signed by over 100,000 people asking Macmillan to stop the library embargo.

Somebody has to stand up against a bully.

Panzer says, "This little kitty was waiting for a boycott to happen, but he didn't know it would be his own local library system that would be the one to start it."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links included in the post, bring at least a gallon of tea and two muffins. If you plan to follow the link to Panzer's previous post (and the link in that post and the link in that post and the link in that post), bring a lot more tea and muffins and some cookies, too, because this has been a long ongoing problem with Macmillan.

To read the post tootle over to boycott Macmillan
To read the Panzer's previous post about the embargo, tootle over to librarians' national campaign

10 Tips to Avoid Leaving Tracks Around the Internet - The New York Times

What's His Name is still sick and Panzer has been helping Mom with her nursing duties, so his trip into the Catosphere was a quick one. Our speedy kitty stopped in at The New York Times site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about protecting your privacy online.

According to David Pogue, the post is a collection of privacy ideas submitted by Crowdwise readers. There is a total of ten ideas to avoid or at least cut down on the ads, cookies and tracks that follow us around the Internet. Included are the usual culprits Google and Facebook. plus eight more. This is a followup to the Google privacy post Panzer told you about earlier this month. There are links to ad blockers, privacy settings pages and other helpful sites included in the post.

Cookies are bad for you? Say it isn't so!

Panzer says, "Why does The New York Times tell how to avoid cookies? Sometimes here, Mom says to eat chocolate chip cookies, so I know she likes cookies."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, also bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins. Oh yeah, bring six chocolate chip cookies too.

To read the post tootle over to Internet privacy

To read Panzer's post about Google privacy from last week, tootle over to Google data

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the ancient feline art of studying the back side of your eyelids:

Sleep more. It's better that way.*

Life is what happens when you wake up ...

and ...

can't go back to sleep.

It's over-rated.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Court Denies Audible's Request for Settlement Conference in 'Captions' Case - Publishers Weekly

Panzer didn't post yesterday because What's His Name has a cold and Panzer has been helping Mom take care of him.

Audible didn't ask them first?

Today as Panzer was mopping the floor in the Panzermobile, he found something under the floor mat. Pulling it out, he discovered it was a post from Publishers Weekly about the court case against Audible's Captions feature. Panzer told you about the case last month.

According to Andrew Albanese's post, Judge Valerie Caproni has denied Audible's request to turn the case over to another judge for a settlement conference. The publishers in the case said they didn't believe a settlement conference would be productive and, therefore, wouldn't participate. Publishers believe Audible's Captions feature is a copyright infringement which Audible denies.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This case just keeps dragging on."

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 Audible Captions case
To read Panzer's previous post, tootle over to Captions copyright infringement

Barnes and Noble will continue to support the Nook eReader - GoodEReader

Today Panzer made a stop at the GoodEReader site. There with no digging at all our inquisitive kitty pilot found a post about Barnes and Noble's plans for the Nook ereader.

That makes me feel better.

According to Michael Kozlowski, James Daunt, CEO of Barnes and Noble, has indicated the company's support for the Nook will continue. The company released a new Nook in June and now sells two versions. The post includes two links, one of which is to a previous GoodEReader's post about the new Nook and its specifications. Panzer told you about some of CEO Daunt's other plans for Barnes and Noble last month.

Panzer says, "This is good news for owners of Nook ereaders."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading. If you want to follow the links in the post, bring two more cups of tea and two muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble Nook
 To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt

Amazon is Shutting Down Kindle Matchbook, Its Print+eBook Bundling Program - The Digital Reader

It never was that popular.

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. There with a little digging in the posts, our adventuresome kitty found one about Amazon's Kindle Matchbook program.

According to the post by The Digital Reader owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has sent emails to participating authors notifying them the program is being discontinued. October 31 is the official shut down date. The Kindle Matchbook program allows authors to "bundle" their print and ebooks. If a reader buys the print book then the author offers the ebook either for free or $1.99 or $.99. Amazon's email to authors is included in the post. Also included in the post are links to other The Digital Reader posts, a Facebook post and Twitter Tweets about Kindle Matchbook and related programs and services.

Panzer says, "Matchbook never worked for this little kitty's book."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, also bring half a gallon of tea and half a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Matchbook

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the daily cat news:

Today there's good news and bad news.

First ...

The bad news:

Hey - Inside I'm still a kitten.

Today I'm really feeling my age.

And ...

The good news:

I'm not that old.

How to Set Your Google Data to Self-Destruct - The New York Times

They know everything about you.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside. Following all the jocularity, our inquisitive kitty found himself at The New York Times site. With no digging at all he found a post about deleting your Google searches.

According to the post by Brian X. Chen, Google has a new feature that allows you to delete your search history. It appears to be a little complicated, so the post includes instructions for how to use the feature. There are screen shots to help explain the instructions. There's also information on deleting your YouTube history and the Google Maps app history.

Panzer says, "There is a lot of information here, but it's worth reading to delete your search history."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s length post.  Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins and also a glass of milk and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for a snack.

To read the post tootle over to Google privacy

Nearly Three Out of Four American Consumers Read or Listened to a Book in the Past Six Months - The Digital Reader

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about reading and listening to books.

Please explain it to me.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, in a recent survey three out of four people said they either read a book or listened to an audio book. Breaking down the book readers further, half of them said they read a print book and one-quarter said they read an ebook.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I know Cat math is a little different than human math, but how does one-half (1/2) plus one-quarter (1/4) add up to one (1) in human math?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Reading or Listening to Books

The UK's Publishers Association Schedules 'Urgent' Brexit Forum - Publishers Perspective

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found one about UK publishers and Brexit.

According to Porter Anderson, the UK's Publishers Association has scheduled a forum/program for October 10. Included in the scheduled events are discussions about disruptions to trade, intellectual property issues and data flow. As well as publisher members, the forum will also be open to book business industry individuals and companies. The forum is in preparation for the UK's exit from the European Union and the impact this will have on publishing. There will also be free legal advice available. The program will also be live-streamed and will have a downloadable tool kit.

You know, Mom is always right.

Panzer says, "Mom always says, be prepared because it keeps you out of trouble."

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

To read the post tootle over to UK Publishers Association Forum