BookExpo 2018: B&N Boss Says More Bookstores the Better - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty found a post about the opening speech at the BookExpo 2018.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, Barnes and Noble Chairman Len Riggio presented the opening speech at this year's BookExpo. The speech was centered on independent bookstores and chain bookstores co-existing. Mr. Riggio said readers are returning to physical books because they like the feel of a book and want to have a physical library. In order to accomplish this readers will need both independent and chain bookstores. He also stressed the importance of following new trends such as audio books.

Actually, real books never went away.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe, Mr. Riggio knows what he's talking about. ... Mom has a Kindle ereader, a PaperWhite and a huge pile of to be read real books."

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

Amazon Launches Latest Rooftop Solar System on 813,000 Square Foot Fulfillment Center in North Las Vegas - Press Release

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard clapping and cheering. Following all the joyful noise took our adventuresome kitty to the Amazon Press Release site. There he found a post about Amazon's newest solar rooftop installation.

According to the press release, Amazon has installed a solar rooftop system at their North Las Vegas fulfillment center. The 1.1 megawatt system installation is the second the company has installed on their company sites in Nevada. This is the 17th rooftop solar installation in the U.S. in the past 14 months. Amazon's plans are to eventually be providing 100 percent of the company's energy consumption from it's own renewable energy company-wide. There's a link to Amazon's renewable energy plans included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Nevada seems to like all the jobs Amazon is bringing for employees there. ... And ... You know, Seattle, Washington, where the Amazon headquarters (HQ1) are located just put a $275 per employee tax on businesses ... And ... Amazon is the biggest employer there. ... And ... Amazon will be paying over $10 million per year because they have so many employees. ... So ... Maybe Nevada would like Amazon's HQ1 and all those jobs for employees, but with no per employee tax, of course. ... This little kitty is just wondering."

Note: This is a short-medium length post (if you take out all the usual information about Amazon at the end). Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Solar

Two Years In and Kobo is Still Missing the Mark on its Color-Changing Frontlight - The Digital Reader

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere today when he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the post pile our inquisitive kitty found a post about Kobo's Clara HD ereader.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Kobo has a new Clara HD ereader. The Clara HD will have a 6 inch screen with RGB LED frontlight. The Clara HD product description is followed by a short section about Kobo's history with RGB LEDs. This is followed by a larger section about the features Mr. Hoffelder would like to see Kobo add.

Any sleep aid is nice.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... A screen where you can adjust the colors to make going to sleep easier? This little kitty wants one."

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

To read the post tootle over to Kobo Clara HD

Memorial Day

Memorial Day
The Day We Remember Those Who Gave All

Amazon Has Banned ARC Reviews, and Forgot to Tell Anyone - The Digital Reader

Panzer was taking a leisurely ride around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by crying and howling. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to The Digital Reader site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's review policies on ARCs (Advanced Reader Copy).

Makes absolutely no sense to me.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, recently there have been a lot of authors posting at online sites about Amazon's new ARC review policy. Authors are posting that some of their ARC reviewers are receiving a message saying they can't post a review of a book. No one is exactly sure what has changed at Amazon since there appears to be no change in the on-site posted reviewer policy. Speculation is that it's another case of 'bots running the business without supervision. Be sure to read the Comments section below the post for some interesting information.

Panzer says, "But ... But ... How can you play by the rules if you don't know what they are?"

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

To read the post tootle over to Amazon ARC reviews

Amazon Pushes Facial Recognition to Police. Critics See Surveillance Risk - The New York Times

Today's trip took our frisky kitty to The New York Times site. There he found a post about Amazon's facial recognition system.

I don't like this at all.

According to Nick Wingfield, Amazon has a facial recognition service called Rekognition. The facial recognition tool is available through Amazon Web Services. Amazon is making a concerted effort to interest law enforcement agencies in the service. Apparently, the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon is the first (known) adopter of the service. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union has asked Amazon to stop promoting the facial recognition tool to law enforcement.

Panzer says, "Mom and I usually only post about publishing stuff ... But ... I wanted you to know ... Because ... This is kind of scary stuff to this little kitty."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea, a dozen muffins and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon facial recognition

Witherspoon Brings Hello Sunshine to Audible - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the hullabaloo took our fearless kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With hardly any digging at all he found a post about Audible.

Sooner or later, all good things cost money.

According to the post by Publishers Weekly's (PW) Shannon Maughan, Audible and Hello Sunshine have announced their partnership. Hello Sunshine is Reese Witherspoon's company formed to help bring books with strong female characters to the public's attention. To help with this endeavor Ms. Witherspoon also started Reese's Book Club. Now Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine will be available on Audible in June. This will allow Hello Sunshine to expand its female centered books into the audio realm.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I guess that means only Audible subscribers have access to Reece's Book Club x Hello Sunshine now."

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 Audible

Juggernaut India's Answer to Wattpad gets its first movie deal as an injunction against another Juggernaut title is restored - The New Publishing Standard

I'll be watching this company.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The New Publishing Standard site. There with a little digging our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Juggernaut.

According to the post by Mark Williams, India's Juggernaut recently announced 35,000 stories have been uploaded to their Writing Platform site. In a separate press release Juggernaut also announced one of the stories uploaded has been acquired for a movie. This is in addition to the ten publishing contracts given to authors whose work was uploaded to the site. Juggernaut is only available to the Indian subcontinent. There are several links to other posts and sites.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks Juggernaut is aptly named."

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

To read the post tootle over to Juggernaut

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the first signs of Spring:

Mom! I have to go outside!

Mom! Look out the window!

Mom ... Girl Kitty! Girl Kitty!

Hey ... Girl Kitty ... I'm in here!

Yooh hoo!

Mom! I have to go outside!

Girl Kitty! Look at me!

Mom! I have to go outside!

Girl Kitty! I'm right here!

Hey Girl Kitty! Wait for me!

Mom! I have to go outside right now!

Girl Kitty! It's me hanging from the curtain!

MEYOOW!

Mom! When you let me outside, you can get a screwdriver to put the curtain rod back up.

RIP

It will be okay.

Panzer here.

It's official.

Mom's computer is dead.

It died of congestive CPU fever.

A new computer will be delivered on May 28. Until then, we'll be working as best we can to keep everything on time.

See you tomorrow.