Kate Jackson: "Top Ten Tips for Private Eyes" - Sweet Freedom

Have fun reading it.

For all of you interested in reading about the PI business Panzer found this post on the Sweet Freedom site. It's written by author Kate Jackson.

Find a comfortable spot and enjoy learning the tips for PIs.

To read the post tootle over to "Top Ten Tips for Private Eyes":

Amazon expands education perk for workers to cover full college tuition - CNet

Today as Panzer was tootling around the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at the CNet site. There our adventuresome kitty discovered a post about a new addition to an Amazon employee perk.

 

According to the post by Carrie Mihalcik, Amazon has added a new employee perk to their Career Choice employee program. Amazon will now pay the full tuition and fees for associate and bachelor's degrees for eligible employees. The new add-on to the program will begin next January and will be available to 75,000 operations employees in the U.S.

 

Looking for a job?

Panzer says, "Pay for my college tuition? Makes me want ot go join their workforce."

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon education perk

OverDrive to acquire Kanopy - Publishers Weekly

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he found a post about OverDrive and Kanopy.

 

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, OverDrive is buying Kanopy. OverDrive is the major supplier of materials to libraries. Kanopy is a library service which makes documentary videos, movies and educational videos available to library patrons for free. There are links included in the post about OverDrive's previous acquisitions. There's no real information about what the acquisition will mean for the continuation of Kanopy.

Goodbye Kanopy?

 

Panzer says, "Mom watches educational videos on Kanopy. This little kitty wonders what will happen now."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Overdrive and Kanopy

It Took COVID Closures to Reveal Just How Much Libraries Do Beyond Lending Books - The Observer

Today Panzer was just minding his own cat business and tootling around in the Catosphere, when the Panzermobile was shaken by clapping and cheering coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our adventuresome kitty boy to the Observer site. There he found a post about U.S. and U.K. libraries.

 

According to the Observer post by Gillian Harvey, many people are not aware of all the available services provided by the U.S. and U.K. libraries.  With the Covid-19 lockdowns, today's libraries offer more than checking out physical books. Now library patrons can make use of numerous virtual services. These include online educational training for children and adults, recreational training such as learning to paint,  games for children, and more. This is an in depth post with lots of information.

 

Mom is taking a class there too.

Panzer says, "We already knew about this. We've been watching movies and TV shows Mom found at our local library's online site. Check out what your library has online."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to libraries

What Amazon's OER Platform Means for Education Publishers - Book Business

They're always looking for new markets.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he spotted a site he hasn't visited in a while. Our adventuresome kitty pilot stopped in at the Book Business site. With practically no digging at all he found a post about Amazon and their foray into the education market.

According to a post by Neal Goff, it looks like Amazon is planning to move into the K-12 education market. Amazon has been working on a new platform for Open Education Resources (OER). The new platform, Amazon Inspire, will search for OER material offered free to educators and then collate/file it for easy access. Apple and Google have already been making inroads into the K-12 market for at least two years, so Amazon's entry initially will be one of catch-up. The post also explains what Apple and Google's entry into the K-12 market has been like and it includes more information about the OER program and how that works.

Panzer says, "All these companies want to get consumers while they're young. Brand recognition is everything."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. You'll need a cup of tea and two muffins for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

Building a Blueprint for Better E-Books - Campus Technology

Panzer is feeling much better today. In fact our kitty pilot felt well enough to do some exploring in the Catosphere. He found the Campus Technology site. With a little digging around there he found an excellent post about advances in the e-textbook field.

According to a post by Frank DiMaria, the National Science Foundation is funding a project to create interactive textbooks. Mike Qaissaunee of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ, requested the grant after wondering if having interactive textbooks on devices would engage students interest more than traditional textbooks. The project works by having professors create the e-textbooks specific to their classes. To date three e-textbooks have been finished and students can access them across all platforms.

Interactive school books?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... What's next? ... Talking books? ... Oh, wait ... You already did that ... So, when will it be a talking textbook?"

Note: You'll need a cup of tea and a muffin for today's read.

To read the post, tootle over to better e-books

Amazon Ebooks Deal Cancelled

I'm feeling better now.

Panzer got behind in reporting the news last week because he wasn't feeling well, but today our big bad kitty boy is feeling much better. At the New York Daily News site he found a news item from last week that looks interesting.

According to a post by Lisa Colangelo and Ben Chapman, a $30 million contract between Amazon and the New York City Education Department has been postponed. The contract was to be to setup an ebook marketplace for the city's students. The contract was postponed because the Department received letters protesting that visually impaired students would have problems using the system. Amazon and the Department are in talks to alleviate the problem.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... $30 million ebook store for students."

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon Ebooks

Amazon Has 6,000 U.S. Jobs Available

Here's your chance to work at Amazon.

Out in the Catosphere today Panzer found some news of interest at the Business Wire site. Our kitty boy found some employment news about Amazon's fulfillment centers in the USA.

According to the post, Amazon will be hiring 6,000 new employees. Amazon says their growth necessitates more employees to fill the demand. The post also states these are full-time jobs with full benefits, including educational benefits. There's a list in the post of the fulfillment centers that Amazon is hiring for and a link for job information. There's no mention in the post of jobs outside the U.S.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. I didn't know they helped pay for your education."

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

William Shatner's Kickstarter Project

William Shatner's Kickstarter Watch the Video Below Then Click Here

The Vincent Zandri Vox: Should You Go to Writing School?

Oh, no! He said a bad word!

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today and he stopped in at Vincent Zandri's blog. Panzer hasn't been there for a long time and wanted to find out what Vincent is doing.

 Vincent's most recent post answers readers' questions about the importance of writers going to writing school and getting an MFA. He admits he did go to school and get the MFA, but for reasons other than being a writer. He wanted to be a college professor and, therefore, needed an MFA. But, his thesis became his first novel sale and success.

So ... is it important to get an MFA? You'll have to read his post to find out all of his advice, but be warned the post is not G rated.

With that warning in mind, tootle on over to The Vincent Zandri Vox: Should You Go to Writing School?