Happy New Year's Eve

 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 napzzzz.*

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.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on the Christmas holiday:

The dent? The big guy with the reindeer.*

Do I think those look like my paw prints on the hood of the car?

Noooo ...

From here I'd say they look like reindeer prints.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Christmas Eve

 

Happy Holidays to Everyone!
Do you have the catnip cookies out for Santa Cat?

 

 

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

All I Want for Christmas Is:

 

 

 

 

Overdrive Retires Libby Windows app - The Digital Reader

3 days left

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts there he found one about Overdrive.

 

According to site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Overdrive is retiring the Libby Windows  app. Overdrive gives users access to library books. The Libby app in its various incantations allows users to use/read Overdrive on various devices. With the discontinuation of the Libby Windows app, Windows device users won't have access to read library books through Overdrive.

 

Panzer says, "Is there a Windows ereader device?"

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Overdrive

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on cleanliness:

Mom's toothbrush floats very well.

Five flushes ...

and it still didn't go down in that whirlpool.

Round and round it goes.*

I don't understand why she's so upset.

I washed it ...

and put it back where I found it.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Bookstore Sales Post Another Decline in October - Publishers Weekly

8 days

Today Panzer made a quick trip into the Catosphere. Our busy kitty boy stopped in at the Publishers Weekly site.  There he found a post about October's book sales.

 

According to the post by Jim Milliot, bricks and mortar bookstore sales were down by 28.8 percent in October when compared to October 2019 book sales. Included in the post is a link to a post about September's book sales, which also declined.

Panzer says, "Umm ... The decline in bricks and mortar bookstore sales doesn't surprise this little kitty. The stores are either closed or are limited by the number of people they're allowed to let in."

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

To read the post tootle over to bookstore sales

Amazon Sidewalk rollout shows the future of 'forced opt-in,' taking lessons from Xfinity Wifi - GeekWire

 Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was violently shaken and thrown about. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty boy to the GeekWire site. With no digging at all he discovered a post about Amazon's new Sidewalk offering. This doesn't have anything to do with publishing or books, but it is important.

According to the post by Christopher Budd, Amazon recently sent an email to Echo customers alerting them to the soon to be released Sidewalk. Amazon's Sidewalk uses a customer's Echo device for constant connectivity. Even if you (or your neighbor) lose your wifi connection, Sidewalk allows you (or your neighbor) to keep your wifi connection by using each other's Echo wifi. Don't want your neighbors to have access to your Echo wifi? You can follow the instructions in the email Amazon sent you to opt-out. Included in the post are links to other information about Amazon's Sidewalk, such as Amazon's own post that says your whole community will be connected with Sidewalk, and a link to another forced opt-in that was done (and is still going on) by Comcast.

This isn't what we pay for.

Panzer says, "Part of this post is about Comcast and their forced opt-in for Xfinity Wifi. Mom didn't have any idea they did that. Maybe that's what slows down her streaming sometimes."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and two muffins. If you plan to follow the link in the post to turn off the Xfinity Wifi opt-in, add another muffin. If you plan to follow the other links, bring another cup of cocoa and three muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Sidewalk

 

 

No Post Today

 

10 days

No post today.

 

Mom is taking care of What's His Name. He's having trouble getting used to that Walking (trip and fall over everything) Boot.

A New Panzerism

 

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

Stay drowsy. Life'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 

Sorry this is late. Everything is kittywumpus around here. Going to the mailbox What's His Name fell down the front porch steps. He went to the doctor and found out he broke a bone in his foot. He's got six weeks in a Walking Boot.

Amazon Publishing in Talks to Offer E-books to Public Libraries - Publishers Weekly

14 days

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard cautious clapping outside the Panzermobile. Following the noise took him to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about Amazon Publishing.

 

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, Amazon Publishing is in talks with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) to start offering ebooks to public libraries. Apparently, the talks have been in the process between the two for several months. Discussions are around the library lending procedures. Included in the post are links to other posts about Amazon library ebook policies and about the Digital Public Library of America.

 

Panzer says, "Interesting. This little kitty had never heard about the Digital Public Library of America."

 

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of cocoa and four muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring two more thermoses of cocoa, twenty-four muffins, six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and your dinner.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon ebooks

The Netherlands' NL Film Is Developing a Muslim Romance With Wattpad - Publishing Perspectives

15 days

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 Wattpad Studios.

 

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Wattpad Studios and NL Film have entered into a new production agreement. Aron Levitz of Wattpad Studios in Toronto, Canada, and Kaja Wolffers of NL Film in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, will work with Samya Hafsaoui for the film production of her novel. Samya Hafsaoui's Dutch Wattpad novel '36 Questions (and lots of coffee)' is translated as a serial each week on the English-speaking Wattpad. Included in the post are links to previous posts about Wattpad and NL Film and a link to Samya Hafsaoui's Wattpad site.

 

Panzer says, "Maybe this little kitty should spend some time on Wattpad."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring another thermos of tea and fifteen muffins.

 

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad

No Post Today

 

16 days

 

No post today because Mom has to catch up on some work.

We'll be back tomorrow.

A Merry Jingle Cats Christmas - Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries & Meows

Only 17 days.

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he heard the most melodious sounds outside the Panzermobile. Following the wonderful music took our enchanted kitty boy to Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and Meows site.

 

According to the post he found at the site, Mudpie the cat took over the blog for the day. In the spirit of Christmas Mudpie posted Silent Night sung by the Jingle Cats. There's nothing in the world more wonderful than cats singing. The post also includes a link to the Jingle Cats YouTube channel where you'll find even more music.

 

Panzer says, "You really, really, really need to follow that link. There are twenty Christmas carols by the Jingle Cats there. If they don't get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will.

 

Note: Bring a thermos of hot cocoa and go listen to the Jingle Cats.

 

To listen to the post tootle over to  Jingle Cats Christmas

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on being a happy camper:

 

This brilliant kitty learned something new today.

 

Mom's big hot furnace thingy in the basement is broken.

 

The nice repairman gave Mom something he called a space heater.

 

I watched everything he did.

And ...

It looked like a little campfire to me.

So ...

And this one is portable. *

I put a marshmallow on a stick ...

And ...

Eureka!

It works just like the big hot campfire thingy in the basement did.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Audible Letter Petition - The Authors Guild

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he made a stop at the Authors Guild site. There our traveling kitty boy found a letter The Authors Guild plans to send to Audible-ACX. Panzer told you about Audible's membership program that touts the return and exchange of authors' audio books.

 

The Authors Guild letter lays out all the reasons the return/exchange program is unfair to authors and the narrators of their audio books. The Authors Guild is soliciting authors and their supporters' signatures on the letter. The Guild would like to collect 25,000 signatures.

 

Please help.

Panzer says, "It might seem like you're saving yourself money by returning and/or exchanging an audio book, but you're really costing the audio book author and the narrator money when you do it."

 

Note: It's a medium length letter. Bring a cup of tea to drink while you read it.

 

To read the full letter and add your name, tootle over to Letter to Audible

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to #Audiblegate

Campaign to buy JRR Tolkien's house backed by Lord of the Rings actors - The Guardian

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Guardian site. With no digging at all our intrepid traveling kitty found a post about J.R.R. Tolkien.

It looks important to me.

According to The Guardian's post by Alison Flood, the Project Northmoor wants to raise the money to buy the house where J.R.R. Tolkien wrote Lord of the Rings. The house would be turned into a museum. To accomplish this, the Project Northmoor charity has started a crowdfunding campaign. Lord of the Rings actors Sir Ian Mckellen, John Rhys-Davis and Martin Freeman are helping promote the fundraising campaign. The post has a link to the Project Northmoor site. The Project Northmoor site has all kinds of information about the fundraising and what the money will be used for. You can read about the gifts you will get by donating at the different levels. You can also donate from there.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty can give up his kitty treats for a day to donate at The Hobbit level. How about you?"

 

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 link to Project Northmoor, also bring a thermos of tea and twelve muffins. (There are also links there too.)

To read the post tootle over to J.R.R. Tolkien's house

#Audiblegate: How Audible-ACX Returns Policy Penalizes Authors - Writer Beware

As Panzer entered the Catosphere today the Panzermobile was suddenly violently shaken about by the crying and gnashing of teeth outside. Following all the chaos, took our brave kitty boy to the Writer Beware site. There he found a post about Audible's ebook return policy. Panzer told you about this situation in a post last week.

 

According to the post by Victoria Strauss, Audible has been using an audio books return policy without alerting authors to it. While some authors suspected their audio book sales didn't make sense, it wasn't until a computer glitch a couple of months ago brought Audible's return program to light. Audible members can listen to an audio book (either partially or totally) and then return it and exchange it for another audio book for no extra charge. The author, meanwhile, loses the royalty for the sale because it was returned. In Audible-ACX's Premium Plus program this is actively promoted as a benefit of the program. Since learning about the returns policy, some authors have gone so far as to get Audible memberships to test the program. They did this to see if there is any number of returns at which point a member will lose this return benefit. The answer: No. And it's not just the authors' losing out on the royalties. Narrators who didn't get paid up front, are losing on the returns to. There are several links to other sites, YouTube and Twitter for more information by authors about this return policy.

 

It really stinks over there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Author sites? ... YouTube? ... Twitter? ... That is one big steaming pile of you-know-what Audible stepped in."

 

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and twelve muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring another thermos of tea, a thermos of hot cocoa, another twelve muffins, ten chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and six brownies. Oh, you will also want to bring your sleeping bag for a nap in the middle of all your reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to #Audiblegate

To read Panzer previous post about #Audiblegate (although, if you follow all the links in the Writer Beware post you don't need to) tootle over to Audible exchange policy

 

No Post Today

 No post today.

 

Mom has a project due tomorrow and she needs to finish it.