Libro.fm Launches Audiobook Subscriptions - The Digital Reader

A kitty's work is never done.

Panzer was sweeping out the Panzermobile when he notice a post stuffed under the passenger seat. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site about Libro.fm.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, audiobook seller Libro.fm has announced a new audiobook subscription service. The subscriptions will be $15.00 ($14.99) per month. The post includes a link to the Libro.fm site which includes information not included in Mr. Hoffelder's post. The $14.99 membership/subscription fee allows the reader one audiobook for the month, then each additional audiobook is 30 per cent off the regular price from their 70,000 audiobook inventory. Currently, the first month's signup fee is $0.99 to "try out" the service. You can cancel the service at any time. The service is only available in the U.S. and Canada.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I'd like to see the whole list of audiobooks first. And as always, read everything carefully."

Note: The original post is short. Bring a half a cup of tea for today's reading selection; but, if you plan to follow the link to the Libro.fm site, bring an extra cup of tea and a muffin and a doughnut.

To read the post, tootle over to Libro.fm

The science of why cats like getting into boxes and peering menacingly over the edge - BoingBoing

Peak-a-boo! I see you!

Panzer was shaken from his evening nap by laughing and clapping. Taking the Panzermobile into the Catosphere he discovered all the hoopla was coming from the BoingBoing site. It didn't take any digging at all to find the post about cats and boxes that was causing all the noise.

According to the post by Rob Beschizza, cats like boxes because ... we're predators ... and ... we're bored in the house. There's a video explaining it all to you humans.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Humans needed science and a video to explain we're predators."

Note: This is a two minute video. Bring a cup of tea and sit on comfortable chair watch it.

To watch the video, tootle over to Cats and boxes

The Marauder's Map - Pottermore

Who needs a map? Not me.

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at the Pottermore site. Everybody knows our kitty boy is a big Harry Potter fan, so he was doing the happy kitty dance when he found a new post by J.K. Rowling at the site.

What our fan kitty found was the story of The Marauder's Map by J.K. Rowling explaining the origin and creation by James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. At the end of the post, Ms. Rowling gives her thoughts on the use of the map by Harry.

Panzer says, "All those shape shifters and not one smart enough to be a kitty."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring two cups of tea, a muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to The Marauder's Map

EU Court Rules Lower Sales Tax Only Applies to Print, Not eBooks - The Digital Reader

Panzer was jolted from his afternoon nap by crying and shouting coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, he followed the weeping and gnashing of teeth to The Digital Reader site. There our brave kitty found a post about the EU Court of Justice.

Please explain this to me.

According to the post at The Digital Reader, the European Court of Justice in announcing their decision in the digital book VAT case ruled digital books will be charged a higher tax than printed books. According to the EU Court judges, digital books are electronic and not allowed the lower rate because the EU legislature  "consists in the exclusion of all electronic services from the possibility of a reduced rate of VAT being applied."

Panzer says, "Hmm ... When is a book not a book? I'll never understand humans."

Note: This is a shortish-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to EU Court

Hachette U. K. Acquires Bookouture - Publishers' Weekly

I've been one busy kitty today.

Panzer is helping Mom update Cat Wisdom for Humans, so he made a very quick trip into the Catosphere today. Our hurrying kitty stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site. With a little digging he found a post about Hachette U. K.

According to the post by John Maher, Tim Hely Hutchinson, Hachette U. K. CEO, announced the acquisition of digital publisher Bookouture. Oliver Rhodes, CEO and founder of Bookouture, will remain in that capacity. Bookoutre will stay in its current location and all employees will remain with the company. Bookouture's digital authors can now be seamlessly published by Hachette U. K. Little, Brown print publishing arm.

Panzer says, "Bookouture sure has grown in only four years."

Note: This is a shortish-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Hachette UK

February 2017 Big, Bad, Wide & International Report: covering Amazon, Apple, B&N, and Kobo ebook sales in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - Author Earnings

Today, Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard oohing and aahing. Following the breathless noises took our kitty boy to the Author Earnings site. With no digging at all he found a post about ebook sales all across the e-retail sites.

The post by Data Guy is ebook sales information packed. The post includes information on total e-retailer sales by country, total ebook sales by country, amount of money spent by country, and more. The headline for the post names all the e-retailers ebook sales covered, including Amazon, Apple, B and N, and Kobo. Each company's sales information is included for the English language countries of the US, UK,  Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There are charts and graphs illustrating each section.

After all that, I need a nap too.

Panzer says, "I have a kitty headache from all the information included in the post."

Note: This is a h-u-m-u-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring two thermoses of tea, one dozen muffins and one dozen doughnuts. Also bring a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

To read the post, tootle over to Author Earnings

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the Oops Factor:

Mom and I are having a disagreement.

She says my middle name should be Oops.
I'm definitely not happy about that.

Really. They jumped by themselves.*

It's not my fault her knick knacks keep smashing themselves by jumping off the shelf in the living room.

I say they have a mind of their own.
They're like lemmings. Where one goes, they all follow.



* From Cat Wisdom for Humans

Barnes and Noble Announces the Winners of the 26th Annual Discover Great New Writers(R) Awards - Yahoo Finance

26th? I never heard of it before.

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, when he stopped in at the Yahoo Finance site. With a little digging around, our inquisitive kitty found a post about Barnes and Noble.

According to a post from Business Wire, Barnes and Noble announced the winners of the Discover Great New Writers Awards. Murder mystery The Lighthouse Keeper by Abby Geni won Barnes and Noble's award for fiction. Nonfiction book Evicted Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond won Barnes and Noble's award for nonfiction. The authors will each receive $30,000 and marketing from Barnes and Noble. Second and third place winners are named in the announcement too. How the novels were nominated and judged is also included.

Panzer says, "MeWoW! A mystery novel won first place. I've got to get Mom to read me that book."

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 Barnes and Noble winners

Amazon Publishing's Newest Imprint Makes Its Debut in Germany - Publishing Perspectives

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishing Perspectives site. There our meandering kitty found a post about Amazon's APub division.

I learn something new every day.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Amazon Publishing Europe announced their new German language publishing imprint Tinte and Feder. The Tinte and Feder imprint will publish historical and contemporary fiction German authors. Tinte and Feder joins Amazon's German language mystery publishing imprint Edition M.

Panzer says, "I didn't know Amazon had a publishing division in Europe."

Note: This is a shortish-long post. Bring a cup of tea, a muffin and a cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon publishing

Amazon Unveils First East Coast Bricks and Mortar (Store) - Publishers' Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering from up ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the hullabaloo took our kitty boy to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon.

Another cafe, but no alcohol this time.

According to the post by Alex Green, Amazon has opened their newest bricks and mortar store in Dedham, Massachusetts. The 5,800 sq. ft. bookstore includes a cafe. The cafe was included based on customer requests. The bookstore has a limited selection of only 5,700 physical books. It does, however, also carry Amazon digital devices. The Dedham store joins the Seattle (Washington), Portland (Oregon) and San Diego (California) Amazon bricks and mortar stores.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Most libraries have more books than each of the Amazon bookstores."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon bricks and mortar store