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.

 

I am at the top of the world.

 

I am the greatest!

 

Your King has spoken.*

I am the King of all I survey!

 

What ...?

 

What do yoiu mean get off the curtains?

 

No ... You can't make me.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

MIT Free Classes

Panzer is still recovering from yesterday's Thanksgiving turkey, so this morning's trip into the Catosphere was a quick one.

Recovering? I want more.

While this doesn't have anything to do with writing, publishing or books, it looks interesting. Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a program called MIT OpenCourseWare. The OCW site says course materials are available for all the MIT departments and programs. The courses are all free. You can not get a degree here. There's a link included in the instruction to MITx where you can take other courses for free or paid. Taking the free courses at MITx you will not get a degree. Taking the paid courses you will get a certificate.

Panzer says, "Always read all the instructions!"

 

To go to MIT tootle over to MIT OCW

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Day in the US

Thank You to Everyone Wherever You Are!
(Next Year will be better)(Mom said it and I believe her)

 

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Germany's Bertelsmann To Buy Simon & Schuster for US$2.175 Billion - Publishing Perspectives

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all our speedy kitty found a post about Simon and Schuster and Bertelsmann.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, it was announced today that Penguin Random House (PRH) will buy Simon and Schuster for $2.175 Billion. PRH is actually owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Writers groups immediately asked for regulatory review of the sale. In the US the Authors Guild expressed its opposition to the sale on the grounds the merger would unfairly impact authors with less markets for their work. In Canada the Association of Canadian Publishers asked for a review of the sale on the grounds of "whether the sale violates the Competition Act ...". At the end of the post there are links to other information about the various publishing companies.

Who's getting too big now?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... People complain about Amazon getting too big? What about Bertelsmann buying up traditional publishers? Two now. Who's next?"

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of tea, eight muffins, six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and a brownie for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Bertelsmann

 

 

 

 

Writers Groups Protest Audible Exchange Policy - Publishers Weekly

 Today Panzer was just finishing his afternoon nap when his kitty bed was shaken violently by noises coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty boy headed into the maelstrom of crying and shouting. Following the chaos took him to the Publishers Weekly site. There he discovered the cause of the problems was a post about Audible.

You know, sneaky always gets caught.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Audible and Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) now have as part of the company's Audible Premium Plus membership benefits, members can purchase an audiobook, listen to it, return it within 365 days, and then exchange it for another audiobook. When the audiobook is returned for the exchange, the royalties for the sale are removed from the author's royalties account. Audible began doing this without notifying the authors what the company was doing or why. When writers discovered what Audible was doing, they contacted the Authors Guild. The Authors Guild and other writers groups are in the process of collecting signatures on a letter protesting what Audible is doing. The letter likens the new process to Audible having a rental or subscription service. Audible has now backtracked a little and says the company won't deduct royalties for books returned after 7 days. This, however, won't become effective until January 1, 2021.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Seems like Audible has stepped in a big pile of you know what."

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

To read the post tootle over to Audible exchange policy

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on history repeating itself:

Mom's got this high, high shelf in the kitchen.

I mean it's really up there.

Well ...

She keeps her wine glasses on this towel-like thingy up there.

Umm ...

I probably don't need to say any more ...

Except ...

I really, really hate all that crashing and yelling and screaming.

You'd think she'd learn.

And ...

The weird part is ...

The same thing happened last week.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon Launches New Author Portal - The Digital Reader

 Panzer hasn't been to The Digital Reader for a while so, today, he decided to stop in there. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about Amazon's new author portal.

 

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has introduced a new Author Portal called Amazon Author Central. Amazon Author Central replaces the older Author Central. The new portal contains most, but not all, of the functions Author Central did. You can no longer create your own author-specific URL to the site and you can't list your speaking engagements. The post contains links to the new portal.

 

Do you like it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't like it as much as the old Author Central. No author-specific URL? No listing your speaking engagement? Not author-friendly deletions, this little kitty thinks."

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 in the post and setup or explore your Amazon Author Central, bring a thermos of cocoa, twelve chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and two brownies.

 

To read the post tootle over to  Amazon Author Portal

Try This: 24 Standing Ab Exercises to Strengthen and Define Your Core - Heathline

As soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere today, the Panzermobile was shaken by clapping and cheering.  Following all the hullabaloo took our speedy kitty boy to the Healthline site. It didn't take any digging at all to see the exercise instructions there were what was causing all the happiness. While this doesn't have anything to do with books or publishing or writing, it is interesting.

 

Just as svelte as before Covid.

Like a lot of us during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Panzer hasn't been able to go outside and get any exercise. Consequently, he has gained a little weight, so we'll be starting the exercise program tomorrow.

Panzer says, "Maybe you and What's His Name have gained weight, but not this little kitty."

 

To  check out the site tootle over to Home Exercises

 

BA calls for bookshops to be classified essential retailers - The Bookseller

When Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile today, he found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Flattening it out, he discovered it was a post from The Bookseller site about re-opening bookstores during the UK's pandemic lockdowns. Panzer told you about French bookstores efforts to re-open during France's lockdown.

 

Books are essential.

According to the post by Mark Chandler, the UK's Booksellers Association (BA) has sent a letter to government officials requesting bookshops be allowed to re-open during the Covid-19 lockdown. While the BA and it's members agree the lockdown is necessary, the group feels bookshops and the books they sell are important to maintaining people's health. It's also important to maintain that part of the country's economy as well. Although bookshops are closed for the lockdown, other retailers (garden centres and food shops) are open and allowed to sell books. A copy of the letter is at the end of the post.

 

Panzer says, "Other countries consider bookstores essential retailers."

 

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, two sugar cookies (biscuits), and one brownie for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to UK booksellers

To read Panzer's previous post about French bookstores, tootle over to  France

Monday's Bloody Scotland Event Replay

 Good News! 

 

I'll watch it again.

If you missed Monday's Bloody Scotland event, the replay is now available. The event is an interview between bestselling authors Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin.

 

Panzer says, "Did I mention it's still free?"

 

Note: The replay will be available until December 19.

To watch it tootle over to Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin

Europe accuses Amazon of misusing third-party retail data, opens new 'Buy Box' investigation - GeekWire

 As Panzer was tootle around in the Catosphere today, he decided to make a stop at the GeekWire site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon and the company's European sales dealings.

 

According to the post by Todd Bishop, the EU's European Commission is investigating if Amazon gives itself or those who use its services an advantage with the company's 'Buy Box.' The Commission is also investigating Prime members' use of the 'Buy Box.' If the Commission determines Amazon is in the wrong, the company could be fined 10 percent of its global annual revenue. There are links to other information about the Commission's investigation included in the post.

 

 They decide if they get the money?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty is confused. ... Mom is an Amazon Prime member and she buys stuff on Amazon. Since she pays Amazon to be a Prime member, Amazon gives her special prices and special deals. Sometimes what she orders is shipped from Amazon fulfillment centers and sometimes it's shipped directly from the seller's company.  What is Amazon doing wrong with Prime memberships?"

Note: This is a short medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the included links, bring a thermos of cocoa, four muffins, four chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and two brownies.

To read the post tootle over to Europe Commission vs Amazon

 

 

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.

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.

Well ...

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

I could catch him some spiders.

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

Maybe ...

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

From Cat Wisdom for humans 

 

National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) started November 1. While we're really late letting you know about it, Mom's excuse is she's been working on a new book and forgot to tell you.

 

Even though it's late in the month, you can still register for NaNoWriMo. Although it's billed as National Novel Writing Month, it's really (Inter)National Novel Writing Month because anyone can join the craziness.

Mom is crazy.

Your NaNoWriMo assignment is to write a 50,000 word first draft of your novel and finish on November 30. You can upload your work and get the number of words verified.

Panzer says, "It doesn't have to be perfect."

Note: A 50,000 word novel in thirty days. That's 1.613 words per day.

To signup tootle over to National Novel Writing Month

Another Bloody Scotland Event

See you there!

Bloody Scotland is sponsoring a one hour long event with bestselling authors Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin. The free live event is on Monday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. GMT.

 

Panzer says, "There's a "Donate" button there. ... This is a free event. ... So ... You do not have to donate ... But ... It would be nice if you did."

To watch the event tootle over to Bloody Scotland

 

 

Veterans Day

 

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention 2020

Pick and choose.

Last week Panzer told you about the free online Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention. If you missed it this last weekend, don't worry. All thirty-one of the presentations are now available on YouTube. There were three "tracks" attendees could signup for: the Creative Track, the Genre Track and/or the Breakout Sessions. They're all online now for a total of almost thirty hours of presentations.

 

To watch the uploaded videos from the convention, tootle over to SFF Con

'MeowTalk,' an app that translates cat sounds, is a pet project for this former Alexa engineer - GeekWire

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard laughing and guffawing coming from outside. Following all the jocularity, took our adventuresome kitty to the GeekWire site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about a new app called MeowTalk (That's right, there's no space between the words.) was causing all the happiness.

 

According to Kurt Schlosser's post, Javier Sanchez has developed an app called MeowTalk which allows people to understand what a cat wants when it meows. Although the app comes with ten pre-loaded cat translations, you can make changes to them and, also, make additions. The post includes links to other posts/sites with information about the app.

It's easy: Feed me. Pet me. Mine.

Panzer says, " Why do you need an app? All you have to do is read Cat Wisdom for humans and you'll know exactly what we say and want." 

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

To read the post tootle over to MeowTalk app

 

 

 

 

 

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on board games:

I love playing checkers with Mom and What's His Name.

 

Especially the part where the noble jungle kitty sneaks through the tall carpet grass.

 

He waits patiently.

He slithers forward ...

And ...

You're free! Fly away!

pounces on the checker board where all the plastic pieces take flight ...

like ...

a herd of butterflies.

From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon hires 248,500 people in Q3 as Jeff Bezos challenges large employers to raise minimum wage - GeekWire

 Panzer decided to make a stop at the GeekWire site today. With a little digging in the posts there, our inquisitive kitty found one about Amazon.

 

1.13 million?

According to Taylor Soper's post, Amazon has 1.13 million employees worldwide. 400,000 of those employees were hired this year. Now Amazon plans to hire another 100,000 seasonal workers for the company's distribution centers. Amazon pays its employees a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour and CEO Jeff Bezos challenged other large employers to raise their minimum hourly wage as well. The post contains several links to information about Amazon's previous hiring sprees, previous wage increases, letters to shareholders, and more.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Seasonal workers? ... They must be planning for a lot of online Christmas shoppers."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea, a cup of cocoa, three muffins and three cupcakes for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring a thermos of cocoa, twelve muffins, twelve cupcakes, and a blanket for a nap in the middle.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Coronavirus Worklife: 'France Creative' and Italian Publishers Speak Out for Bookstores - Publishing Perspectives

 Today as Panzer entered the Catosphere the Panzermobile hit a headwind of crying and a screaming. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty pilot to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about European lockdowns and bookstores was causing all the angst.

 

I think books are essential.

The post by Porter Anderson describes efforts by French publishers and other organizations to convince the country's government to allow bookstores to remain open during the current Covid-19 lockdown. The publishers' group issued a statement requesting that during France's lockdown bookstores be allowed to open for cultural purposes. The statement also notes that other countries have designated bookstores as essential businesses. The Publishing Perspective post also includes information about Italy's lockdown's impact on books and bookstores in that country. There are links included to other posts with information about lockdowns.

 

Panzer says, "Included in the French publishers' statement is a reference to Amazon too. This little kitty isn't saying any more about that. You'll have to read the post to find out what it says."

 

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and two brownies for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a thermos of tea and five muffins too.

 

To read the post tootle over to France Creative and Italian publishers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon is Killing Kindle Owner's Lending Library on 4 January - The Digital Reader

 Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With just a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon's Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

 

Will anybody miss it?

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is doing away with the Kindle Owner's Lending Library (KOLL). KOLL was Amazon's subscription service available for Kindle users. It proved so successful Amazon launched Kindle Unlimited. An email sent out to KOLL participants says their ebooks will still be available to read even after the service is discontinued. The post includes links to previous posts about the service.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the Comments section. There is some interesting information there."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Kindle Owner's Lending Library

Free Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention for writers and fans

 We couldn't post yesterday as our internet service was down. Again.

But we're back online today.

Not knowing how long we'll have internet access today, Panzer made a quick trip into the Catosphere. While there our speedy little kitty boy heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took him to The Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention site. He discovered all the hullabaloo was because the online convention attendance is free.

To see information about the programs and presenters, go to the Home site. Click the Programs button to see what will be offered. Click the Presenters button to the biography for each presenter. If you've decided you want to attend, hover your cursor over the About tab at the top. Click the SFFCon 2020 button for attendance instructions. You can view the programs on Facebook or YouTube. (If you continue down this page to the convention schedule, it appears you can click the links to watch from this page too.) The convention starts Friday and concludes Sunday.

A long weekend.

Panzer says, "Whether you're an SFF writer of a fan there is something for everyone. The convention is put together in different tracks. There is a Creative Track (writers and indie publishers), a Genre Fan Track and a Breakout Sessions Track."

 

To go to the convention Home page site, tootle over to SFF Con Site

To go to the convention on Facebook, tootle over to SFF Con on Facebook

To go to the convention on YouTube, tootle over to SFFCon on YouTube