No Post Today

No post today.

That's a really big needle!

Mom has an appointment to get her first COVID-19 vaccination shot. She scheduled it for a Friday, so she'll have the weekend to recover in case it makes her sick.

10 free online classes from Harvard to learn something new - Mashable

Today Panzer made a quick trip to the Mashable site. There our inquisitive kitty found a post about free online Harvard classes. Back in November Panzer told you about MIT's free online classes, too.

 

I'm looking for a study partner.

According to the post by Amy-Mae Turner, Harvard University is offering free online courses. The post describes ten of the free courses, but includes links to access Harvard's other free online courses. The ten which are highlighted in the post range from a one week course titled PredictionX: Omens, Oracles and Prophesies to a seventeen week course titled The Einstein Revolution with other courses of varying lengths included.

 

Panzer says, "Harvard also has an audit option and a paid certificate option."

 

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a cup of cocoa, a muffin, a brownie, and a chocolate chip bar cookie (biscuit) for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to free Harvard classes

To read Panzer's previous post about MIT tootle over to free MIT classes 

Amazon to host another COVID-19 vaccine clinic at its Seattle HQ campus on Sunday - GeekWire

 Here's news about another Amazon pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic Panzer found over at the GeekWire site. If you live in the Seattle Washington area, this is a chance to get your vaccination this coming Sunday, January 31.

 

According to Kurt Schlosser, Amazon will again host the pop-up vaccination clinic in the company headquarters with Virginia Mason volunteers. The post includes a link to the Washington state eligibility site and a link to the Virginia Mason's wait list.

 

Don't wait! Only 2,000.

Panzer says, "There are only 2,000 slots open, so you better hurry."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon pop-up clinic

Melinda Gates Donates US$250,000 to New Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for Women - Publishing Perspectives

 Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering coming from outside. Following all the jocularity took our brave kitty to the Publishing Perspectives site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about Melinda Gates that was causing all the happiness.

 

Interesting story about her there.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Melinda Gates has donated $250,000 to the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. Carol Shields was an American-born Canadian writer. The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction will be awarded to women writers in Canada and the U.S. It will be an annual prize with the first one awarded in 2023. There are links included in the post to get more information about the prize.

 

Panzer says, "If you want to keep up to date on information about the prize, one of the links in the post goes to the site where you can signup for their newsletter."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea, a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) and a brownie for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Carol Shields Prize

Photos: Inside Amazon's pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site in its Seattle headquarters - GeekWire

 This doesn't have anything to do with publishing, but Panzer thought you might be interested in what Amazon is doing in Seattle, Washington, to help with the COVID-19 pandemic vaccinations.

 

Vaccinated yet?

According to GeekWire's Taylor Soper, Amazon made a portion of the company's indoor headquarters available for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations from Virginia Mason volunteers. Amazon says they plan to hold more pop-up vaccination sites in the future.

 

Note: This is a very long post with several photos taken inside the pop-up vaccination site.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Seattle

The Six Online Bios Every Author Needs - Anne R. Allen's Blog

 Today Panzer decided to make a stop at Anne R. Allen's Blog. With a little digging in the posts our traveling kitty boy found one about the online bios authors need.

 

According to the post by Nate Hoffelder, an author needs six online bios. In the post he describes each of the six as Twitter, Facebook, Podcast/Speaker, Amazon/Goodreads, and Memberships. He dissects and rewrites his own bios as examples of what to do with your author bios.

 

I'm on Amazon/Goodreads & Twitter.

Panzer says, "How does he find the time for all those places?"

Note: This is a long, long post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, two muffins, two brownies and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit).

 

To read the post tootle over to online bios

An Australia With No Google? The Bitter Fight Behind a Drastic Threat - The New York Times

 Panzer was working on the Panzermobile's window cleaners when he heard crying and screaming coming from the Catosphere. Jumping in the pilot's seat, our brave kitty headed out to find the source of all the noise. Following the hubbub took him to The New York Times site. With no digging at all, he discovered a post about a dispute between Google and Facebook and the Australian senate.

 

According to the post by Damien Cave,  Google is threatening to remove it's search engine capabilities from Australia. At issue is a three part senate legislation. The proposed legislation would force online companies like Google and Facebook to pay a fee when Australians use their services to search for online news articles. In addition, if the company and the news media source can't come to an agreement on the fee, the company is forced into arbitration. Finally, the companies would be required to tell the media sources when they plan to change their algorithms.

 

I can blink. I'm not part of it.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... An old fashioned stare down. I wonder who will blink first."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Google and Facebook

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.

And ...

It looks like a little campfire to me.

So ...

I put a marshmallow  on a stick.

And this one is portable.*

 

And ...

Eureka! 

 

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

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

A History of Cats in the White House - Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and Meows

Maybe I can get a nap now.

Panzer was just getting ready for a nap, when he heard clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile he followed all the happiness to Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and Meows. It didn't take any digging at all to find a post about cats who've lived at the U.S. White House was what was causing all the joyous noise.

 

 Panzer says, "There's been a lot written about the first dogs of the White House, but this is the first time this little kitty has seen First Cats get paid their due."

 

Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and Meows

6 Agents Seeking Women's Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Memoirs, Kidlit, YA, SF/F and more - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Today Panzer was washing the windows on the Panzermobile when he discovered something stuck under the wiper blade on the windshield. Smoothing it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post about agents from the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. 

 

My work is never finished.

If you've been looking for an agent to help with your submission to traditional publishers, Erica Verrillo's post might have some useful information for you. The post contains a list of six agents looking for submissions. There's a description of each agent's interest and submission guidelines.

 

To read the post tootle over to 6 Agents

No Post Today

Panzer here. 

 

No post today because Mom is finishing a work project.

Interview: CEO Allen Lau on Wattpad's $600 Million Merger with Korea's Naver - Publishing Perspectives

 Today Panzer made another stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. Yesterday the site had a post about Canada's Wattpad merger with South Korea's Naver. Today the site has an interview with Wattpad CEO Allen Lau about the reason's for the merger.

Maybe a cat comic? I'd read it.

According to Porter Anderson's post, Wattpad CEO Allen Lau is elated about the merger with Naver. The merger will form a combined user base of 160 million. Naver has 72 million users and Wattpad has 90 million users. The post includes some interesting information about the two company's channels/platforms and Wattpad's expansion into comics with Naver's Webtoons.

Panzer says, "This sounds like it will work out fine as long as Wattpad gets to stay a separate company in Canada and doesn't get lost in Naver's future plans."

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

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad CEO Allen Lau

Canada's Wattpad Announces It's Being Acquired by South Korea's Naver - Publishing Perspectives

 Panzer had hardly entered the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was violently shaken by yelling and screaming coming from outside. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty boy to the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all he found a post about the acquisition of Wattpad was what was causing all the noise.

Surprised me.

According to Porter Anderson's post, Wattpad's board announced the company is being acquired by the South Korean company Naver. Wattpad's acquisition is priced at US$600 million in cash and stock. Wattpad will stay in Canada. In addition to the platform and services, Wattpad Studios division and Wattpad Books will join Naver's Webtoon. The post contains much more information about both and the acquisition.

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know they wanted to sell the company. Did you?"

Note: This is an extra l-o-n-g length post. Bring a large mug of cocoa, a muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad

Amazon Sued Over Its Dominance of the eBook Market (Finally) - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about Amazon being sued.

 

It will be interesting.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is being sued for causing the inflation of ebook prices. The lawsuit says Amazon did this by signing contracts with the five large book publishers. The post includes links to the press release about the lawsuit, a copy of the lawsuit and an article explaining the lawsuit at The Guardian site.

 

Panzer says, "You'll want to follow the link to The Guardian site to get the most understandable information."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring three more cups of tea and three muffins.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon sued

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on your vintage years:

I'm ready.*

 

Mom told me old cats sleep 20 percent more than kittens.

Getting old sounds pretty good to me.

 

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

2021 Workshops and Conferences January to March - Red Pencil

Which one do I want to go to?

Today Panzer made a quick stop at the Blood Red Pencil site. With no digging at all our happy kitty boy found a post about upcoming online workshops and conferences in January through March. If you're looking for something educating, entertaining and fun, one or more of these may be of interest to you.

Panzer says, "There have already been changes to some of the workshops and conferences listed at this site. Some of these have already been postponed to next year, but the rest are still online. Be sure to check the costs."

To check out the site tootle over to 2021 Workshops and Conferences in January through March:

BiblioBoard, PW's BookLife Launch New Library E-book Program for Self-Published Authors - Publishers Weekly

 Yesterday, Panzer told you about Publishers Weekly's plan's for the US Book Show in May. Today, our busy news-gatherer kitty found an announcement at Publishers Weekly about the company's entrance into the ebooks for libraries market.

 

How much is the fee?

According to a post at the site by the staff, Publishers Weekly's BookLife has formed a partnership with BiblioBoard to start a new program called BookLife Elite. Libraries will pay a subscription fee to get access to BookLife Elite's curated self-published ebooks. BookLife Elite is already available on OverDrive. The post includes several links to information about BookLife, BiblioBoard, authors' books in the program,  and contact persons.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if, maybe, they're growing too fast in too many different directions at once."

 

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring three thermoses of tea, thirty-six muffins, twenty five cookies (biscuits), and fifteen brownies. Oh, and you'll need your sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

 

To read the post tootle over to BiblioBoard and BookLife

'US Book Fair' Set for s May Digital Debut Following Book Expo's Closure - Publishing Perspectives

 Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today when he decided to make a quick stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found an interesting post about Publishers Weekly.

 

What's the plan for indies?

According to Porter Anderson's post, Publishers Weekly plans to start a digital replacement for the cancelled publishing industry trade show Book Expo. The new online trade show is called the US Book Show. The trade show will run May 26-28. The attendance fee is unavailable at this time, but is planned to be reasonable. Self-published authors will also be included in the new trade show.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... May 26 is only four and a half months away. This little kitty wants to know what the reasonable fee is going to be."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to US Book Show

 

New Report Offers Post-Pandemic Outlook for Book Business - Publishers Weekly

 Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about a free report about book sales after the pandemic ends.

Can't leave? Shop online.

According to a post by Andrew Albanese, a new free report titled, COVID-19 and Book Publishing: Impacts and Insights for 2021, is now available. The report's five authors are involved in the publishing industry in various capacities. The authors of the report believe based on publishers' increased online sales experiences during the pandemic they will be more willing to publish online first post-pandemic. There is more information drawn from the authors' research included in the post. A link to download the free report is also included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty isn't worried about the extra competition. Big publishers charge too much for their online books."

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

To read the post tootle over to post-pandemic book business

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on the proper use of time:

Funny thing about naps ...

 

My eyelids are so heavy.*

I can never remember taking one.

I mean ...

Mom says I took one today, but I don't remember it.

I must have slept right through it.

* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Podcast Wars: Amazon to acquire Wondery escalating competition with Spotify - GeekWire

Earlier this week Panzer made a trip to the GeekWire site. There he found a post about Amazon and podcasting.

 

According to the post by Todd Bishop, Amazon has announced their intended acquisition of Wondery. Wondery is a podcast production studio. Once the acquisition is complete Wondery will become part of Amazon Music. Amazon Music is already involved in the podcast market.  Amazon's announcement doesn't give any information on the financial terms of the acquisition. The post includes several links to other sources including Amazon's acquisition announcement.

 

Is it time for a kitty podcast?

Panzer says, "This could prove to be an interesting development for podcasters."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea and two muffins, two cupcakes, and a brownie.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

NPD: 2020 Was the US' Bestselling Year for Print in a Decade - Publishing Perspectives

In order to get away from the craziness going on, Panzer made a trip into the Catosphere today. Our traveling kitty stopped in at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found some good news about the print book publishing industry.

I'm ready for good news.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, U.S. print book sales rose 8.2 percent over the past year. With more people (both adults and children) at home the increase in books sales is not surprising. While much of the increase was in adult nonfiction (political books, cookbooks and do-it-yourself books), juvenile and teen books also contributed to the increase. The post includes charts for total sales by category and bestsellers. (The end of the post has information about current Covid-19 numbers in the U.S.)

Panzer says, "Maybe, instead of doing crazy stuff, humans should just go home and read a book."

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

To read the post tootle over to print books.

 

No Post Again

 No post again today.

Who are these people?

Mom and What's His Name are glued to the TV watching what's happening at the capitol.

Definitely a post tomorrow. No matter what.

No Post Today

 There's no post today.

 

Mom is busy catching up on work after taking time off New Year's.

Me? I'm just doing what I do best.

See you tomorrow.

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on human narcissism:

I have joined Mom and What's His Name at backyard barbecues for the Fourth of July with neighbors, for coffee and tea on the deck for New Year's morning, and holiday season dinners with their families.

You can't change what is.

One thing stands out to me at all these gatherings:

Mom is always the second most attractive creature there.

Too bad she has such an attractive cat over-shadowing her.

*From Cat Wisdom for humans