Thursday, February 25, 2021

These 12 Free TV Apps Let You Watch Your Favorite Shows - Without the Bill - The Penny Hoarder

Day before yesterday Panzer found $50 wifi internet access for you. Today in his Catosphere travels he went to The Penny Hoarder site. After a little digging in the posts our determined kitty found one with information about free TV apps in a post by Chris Brantner.
 
Just what I need to nap to.
The apps work on computers, smart TVs, Windows, and different streaming devices. Be sure to read the descriptions to make sure it will Day work for you. There are movies, TV series (both new and old), classic TV, and children's TV shows.
 
Panzer says, "These TV apps have both a free level and a paid level, so make sure you sign-up for the level you want."
 
To read the post Tootle over to free TV

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

52 Writing Contests in March 2021-No entry fees - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

 Before Panzer made his trip home for his afternoon nap, he stopped at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. With no digging at all in the posts he found one about free writing contests.

I'm entering the mystery genre.
According to Erica Verrillo, she found fifty-two no-fee writing contests with March deadlines. The contests encompass all genres, but they all have one thing in common. There are no fees to enter.

Panzer says, "There's definitely something for everyone here."

Note: With fifty-two contests this post is humongous. Bring a thermos of tea, a thermos of cocoa, five muffins, five brownies, and five chocolate chip cookies (biscuits).

To read the post tootle over to writing contests

I signed up for T-Mobile's $50 unlimited home internet service. Here's what happened - CNet

 Today Panzer found a post at the CNet site about a replacement WiFi service for Comcast and other internet service providers. While this has nothing to do with writing, our little kitty boy thought you might be interested in learning about the service.

I looked everywhere. but it's not here.
According to the post by Rick Broida, T-Mobile has a new home internet WiFi service. The service is called T-Mobile Home Internet Service (surprise!). T-Mobile provides you with unlimited internet access with all fees included for $50 per month when you sign-up for automatic payments. The company supplies you with a modem/router. The post is an explanation and review of the service. There are links included in the post which is where Panzer discovered the service is currently available in selected cities in twenty-seven states. It's not available in our state yet, so we can't test it out ourselves, but we did get on the email list to be notified when it does become available here.

Panzer says, "Saving money on anything else means more money for kitty treats."

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

To read the post tootle over to T-Mobile

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Facebook Strikes Deal to Restore News Sharing in Australia - The New York Times

 Today Panzer decided to make a stop at The New York Times site. There our illustrious kitty boy found a post about Facebook in Australia.
 
What's happening without news?
According to the post by Mike Isaac and Damien Cave, Facebook is allowing Australians access to news sources again. Facebook had completely eliminated news from the company's Australian digital platform. In January Panzer told you about a proposed Australian law. The law would force news platforms such as Facebook and Google to pay media companies for their news content. The post contains links to other information about the proposed bill and persons involved in the negotiations.
 
Panzer says, "Hmm ... It's all so confusing. Would Facebook and Google have to pay for this little kitty sharing a link to an Australian news item?"
 
Note: This is a long 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, bring a cup of tea and a muffin for each link you follow.
 
To read the post tootle over to Facebook
To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Google 

Monday, February 22, 2021

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on exercise equipment:

What's His Name bought one of those treadmill thingies.
 
But ...

Mom had to teach him how to use it.
 
I was really surprised ...
 
It wasn't that hard.
 
Only took her about a week ..
 
He's easy for Mom to train.
And ...
 
Now ...
 
He's hanging his shirts and jacket on there all by himself.
 


Thursday, February 18, 2021

Fiction prize renamed in honour of Margaret Atwood and late partner Graeme Gibson - The Guardian

 Panzer made a stop at The Guardian site today. With a little digging in the posts he found one about the renaming of the Writers Trust of Canada fiction prize.
 
Laughed so hard I fell off the desk.
According to Alison Flood's post, the Writers Trust of Canada has changed the name of their fiction prize to the Atwood Gibson prize. Margaret Atwood shares some funny stories in the post about early fund-raising activities for the Writers Trust.
 
Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know they were two of the original founders of the Writers Trust of Canada."
 
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 Atwood-Gibson Prize

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Amazon E-book Case Sprawls, Lawyers Propose Consolidation - Publishers Weekly

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our busy kitty found one about the Amazon ebook price-fixing case. Panzer told you about this court case back in January.

E-book price-fixing? How?
According to the post by Andrew Albanese, there are currently four different lawsuits accusing Amazon and publishers Hachette, HarperCollins, MacMillan, Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster of ebook price fixing. Lawyers with the Hagens Berman law firm have asked the judge in the case to consolidate all four cases into one class action suit. The post includes links to other information about the price-fixing allegations.
 
Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't understand how stacking cases to be able to ask for a class action suit can be common knowledge in the court system and acceptable."
 
Note:This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a thermos of cocoa and six muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon ebook case 
To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Amazon ebook dominance

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Granite Noir 2021 Conference - Aberdeen Performing Arts

This will be a long weekend
As soon as Panzer entered the Catosphere today, the Panzermobile was shaken from the outside by clapping and cheering. Following all the joyful noise took our illustrious kitty boy to the Aberdeen Performing Arts site. There he found a notice about a free crime fiction conference that's online this year. 
 
Granite Noir 2021 starts February 19 (Friday) and continues through February 21 (Sunday). If you go to the site, there's an explanation about Granite Noir and below that is a list of the presentations with descriptions and times. According to the list, crime fiction writers Ian Rankin, D.V. Bishop, Val McDermid, Jo Nesbo and others will be in attendance.
 
It says you don't have to register, just go to the site at the appropriate time and watch each presentation. No where does it say the presentations will be recorded for later viewing, so it appears you must be there to watch it on time. 

Note: Remember the listed presentation times are UK/Scotland time, so you'll need to convert to your time.

For information about and to attend the conference in Aberdeen Scotland tootle over to Aberdeen Granite Noir

Monday, February 15, 2021

A New Panzerism

 Panzer with a riddle:

Don't know why she keeps them around.
Q: What  do a snorkle and What's His Name have in common?

A: Both are totally useless to a cat.

(Treadmills are in the same category.)

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Amazon's new CEO, Andy Jassy, is a music-loving, wing-eating, hard-charging disciple of Jeff Bezos - GeekWire

Today Panzer was digging around in the glove box of the Panzermobile when he found a wadded up post. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a GeekWire post about Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' soon to-be CEO replacement Andy Jassy. In case you haven't heard, Jeff Bezos is moving from chief executive officer to executive chairman.
 
He's been there a long time.
According to GeekWire's Todd Bishop, Amazon's incoming CEO Andy Jassy is a multifaceted individual. He's a passionate music enthusiast. He's held employee chicken wing eating contests. He's been with Amazon almost since the beginning. And finally, he's described by colleagues as a passionate, hard-driving, results-oriented leader. There are several links included in the post to previous GeekWire posts.
 
Panzer says, "Sounds like there won't be any changes at Amazon."
 
Note: This is a very long post. Bring a large mug of cocoa and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring an extra thermos of cocoa, six muffins, three brownies and two cookies (biscuits).
 
To read the post tootle over to Amazon's Andy Jassy
 To read the post about Jeff Bezos tootle over to Jeff Bezos

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Barnes & Noble Press Announces Refreshed Author Benefits Including Improved Payment Terms - Press Release

 Today as Panzer was settling down for his afternoon nap, he was shaken from his kitty bed by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile our expeditious kitty boy headed out. Following all the hoopla took him to the Barnes and Noble site. There with no digging at all he discovered a post about Barnes and Noble's new author payment plan.
 
MeWOW! 70 percent!
According to the Press Release at the Barnes and Noble site, Barnes and Noble Press has increased its ebook royalty rate to 70 percent and payment frequency to 30 days. Although not included in the new royalty rate, Barnes and Noble Press also does POD (print-on-demand) paperbacks which are sold through BN.com and at the Barnes and Noble brick and mortar bookstores. The post includes a link to more information about the changes.
 
Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe this little kitty needs to take a look at using Barnes and Noble Press."
 
Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.
 
To read the press release tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Who Wants to Help Me Design a Website for an Online Book Fair? - The Digital Reader

Cat Napping section?
The weather person says we're going to get snow starting tomorrow, so Panzer has been busy cleaning up the Panzermobile and the garage where he stores it. Vacuuming the carpet in the Panzermobile, he found a post shoved under the floormat. Straightening it out, he discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site.
 
Nate Hoffelder, The Digital Reader site owner, is asking for a little help designing a template for a website for online book fairs. He asking for readers to post suggestions for content in the Comments section of the post.

Panzer says, "It's going to be a free template."
 
To read the post and give your suggestions tootle over to online book fair website

Monday, February 8, 2021

A New Panzerism

 Panzer on the unequaled wealth of cat fur:

It's sad.
 
I got a boo-boo on my leg ...

And ...

Mom took me to the vet ...

And ...

The vet shaved around the boo-boo.
 
I feel sorry for him. Really I do.
Yes, my leg looks sad.

But ...

At least I don't have a receding hairline like What's His Name ...

Mine will grow back.


Sunday, February 7, 2021

2021 Publishing Predictions – Pandemic Reshapes Publishing, Accelerates Consolidation - Smashwords

Panzer was sweeping the floor in the Panzermobile when he found a wadded up post under the pilot's seat. Smoothing it out our fastidious kitty found it was a post from the Smashwords site about Mark Coker's publishing predictions for the coming year.
 
I agree with most of them.
In his annual publishing predictions post Smashwords founder Mark Coker has thirteen predictions for the 2021 publishing industry. These predictions cover everything from "nesting" and reading (Number 1) to the joy of reading (Number 13).
 
Panzer says, "Most years his predictions turn out to be true."
 
Note: This is a h-u-m-u-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea, six muffins, two brownies and three chocolate chip cookies.
 
To read the post tootle over to 2021 Publishing Predictions

Friday, February 5, 2021

No Post Today

 No post today. Mom has to finish a project.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Barnes & Noble sets opening date for new Westport store - ctpost

 Today Panzer went to the ctpost site. There with a little digging he found a post about a Barnes and Noble store opening.
 
A bookstore with books.
According to the post by Paul Schott, Barnes and Noble Booksellers is opening a store in downtown Westport Connecticut on February 24. This store is a relocation of a bookstore the company closed in December 2020. The new store is approximately half as large as the previous location. This store will not have a cafe/restaurant as the previous one did. The store joins eleven other Barnes and Noble bookstores in Connecticut. The post includes a link to a post explaining the closing of the previous location.
 
Panzer says, "Hmm ... No cafe/ restaurant. This little kitty has wondered for a long time why there were restaurants in the book stores."
 
Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a brownie for your reading.
 
To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition - Shots Crime and Thriller Ezine

 
Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Shots Crime and Thriller Ezine site. There our inquisitive kitty found a post about a short story mystery competition being sponsored by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA).
 
Can cats enter?  The rules don't say.
According to the post by Oyo Onatade, the CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition is open for submissions now. The short story mystery entries must be no more than 3500 words and unpublished. Entries must be submitted by February 26, 2021. There is an entry fee. The post includes a link to the CWA's site with all the rules and how to submit.

Panzer says, "The rules say this is an international competition."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for your reading today. If you plan to follow the link to the rules, bring another muffin.
 
To read the post tootle over to CWA short mystery competition


Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Authors Guild Asks DoJ to Stop PRH Purchase of S&S - Publishers Weekly

 Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site today. There with a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty found one about the sale of Simon and Schuster.
 
According Jim Milliot's post, the Authors Guild (and other writers groups) wrote a letter asking the Department of Justice (DoJ) to stop the sale of Simon and Schuster (S&S) to Penguin Random House (PRH). The Authors Guild says in the letter sent to the DoJ that the merger will harm authors by making a smaller market for their manuscripts and cause lower advances for them. PRH says they need to merge to compete with Amazon. The Authors Guild counters that the DoJ should step in and restructure the book market industry. The Authors Guild's letter also states Amazon poses "threats to ...  American democracy itself ...". Included in the post are links to information about the merger and posts about mergers in the book printing industry.
Democracy?  Really?
 
Panzer says, "Umm ... Amazon is a threat to American democracy?"
 
Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa, a muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a thermos of coffee, two muffins, a brownie and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits).
 
To read the post tootle over to Authors Guild

Monday, February 1, 2021

A New Panzerism

Panzer on intergalactic travel:
 
You can have it back when I'm done.*
Been there ...
 
Done that ...
 
Got Mom's VR googles to prove it.
 
 
 
 
 
* From Cat Wisdom for humans 


** Mom is still a little sick from Friday's vaccination, but she's hoping to feel better tomorrow.

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