Fiona L. Woods's Blog, page 102

Free Classic Murder Mystery Movie: Detective Kitty O'Day

See you tomorrow.
If you like your murders clean and short, Panzer found this one at the Movieholic channel on YouTube. 
The black and white movie Detective Kitty O'Day was made in 1944. It's 59 minutes long. Make some popcorn, grab a blanket and see if you can figure out the killer before Kitty and her boyfriend do.
To watch the movie tootle over to Detective Kitty O'Day

Free Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast: Caught by the Last Star

There's no murder in this one.

Here's a cute little mystery short story Panzer found at the Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast.
 The short story Caught by the Last Star is written by Nikki Knight and narrated by Amelia Ryan. It's 17 minutes long including the intro and outtro.
 Have a cup of tea while you enjoy the little crime.
 To listen to the episode tootle over to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast 

Free British Mystery Radio: Death Against the Odds

No popcorn with a radio play.
For those of you who like British crime radio plays Panzer found one on the Old Tube Radio channel on YouTube.
The murder mystery Inspector Coleman and Sergeant Astor: Death Against the Odds was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 August 1993. It's 1 hour 23 minutes long.
Make a pot of tea, get a plate of cookies (biscuits) and enjoy this classic thriller.
To listen to the audio tootle over to Death Against the Odds

Free Cozy Mystery Audiobook: Chocolate Grudge

Ads? That is so depressing.
Panzer found a clean cozy mystery audiobook for your listening.
The audiobook Chocolate Grudge was written by Wendy Meadows. It's 3 hours 54 minutes long. Like the romance audiobook we posted about earlier, this one has ads for YouTube channels below the book cover.
Make a cup of cocoa, get some chocolate chip cookies and enjoy this cozy mystery.
To listen to the mystery tootle over to Chocolate Grudge

Free Spicy Romance Audiobook:Island Hopping

Not sure if I like this.
If you want a romance with a little spice, Panzer found one for you on YouTube.

The opposites attract romance Island Hopping is written by Ann Omasta. It's 4 hours 39 minutes long. The beginning of the audio says all the nasty parts have been removed. If you want the full version, you have to buy her book. There are several ads for other YouTube channels on the page below the book cover. This is an experiment. Everywhere we went looking for audiobooks had these ads today.

Make some tea, get a warm blanket and enjoy the romance.
To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Island Hopping

30 Marvelous Writing Conferences and Workshops in March 2024 - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

I'll do my regular work later.
Today on Panzer's trip to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site our little kitty pilot found a post about writing conferences and workshops.
 In her post Erica Verrillo lists 30 writing conferences with application/start deadlines in March. These workshops and conferences cover everything and anything that has to do with writing. These include marketing your books and yourself, writing, querying, pitching,and more. Some of the workshops and conferences are in-person and some are online or both.
 Panzer says, "This little kitty is posting this news today because some of these have March 1 or 2 as deadlines."
 Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what you want for your snack for today.
 To read the post tootle over to Writing Conferences

UK's Society of Authors: More Clarity in Spotify Terms - Publishing Perspectives

It just keeps spreading.
Today Panzer made a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found a post about Findaway Voices and Spotify's Terms of Use. Your favorite traveling kitty told you about the Findaway Voices and Spotify Terms of Use (TOU) upset explained in the Writer Beware (R) post on Tuesday. 
Porter Anderson's Publishing Perspectives post explains the UK's Society of Authors take on that same Terms of Use. Specifically, the Society wants more clarity and assurance about AI training and also that authors' work won't be used without permission. The post includes the Society's itemized list of what needs to be clarified and or agreed to.
 
Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks this AI training use of writers work without permission is starting to sound like the Internet Archive lawsuit. You know how that ended."
Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a glass of milk and a piece of apple pie for today's snack.
To read the post tootle over to Spotify Terms of UseTo read Panzer's earlier post tootle over to Findaway Voices

Amazon named among the world's most admired companies for the eighth year in a row by 'Fortune' magazine - About Amazon News

I'm ready for this month to be over.
Now, Panzer will be reporting today's news.
 
Amazon is again in the top three most admired companies in the world ranking. In an Amazon staff written post at the Amazon site it's explained that parts of the basis for this ranking are the  company's increase in employee pay and benefits, its involvement in affordable housing and easier pathways to home ownership, and improvements to customer shopping using AI. The post also includes links to information about the criteria.

Panzer says, "Most admired in the whole world?"

Note: Because of the links to other information, this is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to

Oops! Sorry.

Wasn't me. Mom did it.

Published a draft earlier that was supposed to go to trash.
Although from everybody who was reading it, maybe it shouldn't be trashed?

Outrage Over New Terms of Use at Findaway Voices Forces Change - Writer Beware(R)

You need to be very careful now.
Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Writer Beware (R) site. With hardly any digging at all in the posts there our diligent kitty boy found one about Findaway Voices and owner Spotify. This is a follow-up post about an earlier problem with writers/creators losing right to stop AI from "learning" their works through Findaway Voices' Terms of Use.
 In her post Victoria Strauss does a deep dive into the Findaway Voices' Terms of Use (TOU). She explains different sections of TOU which have been changed and why. There are also details about areas which are still a little confusing and could be better clarified. The post includes links to other earlier posts and to information about Findaway Voices.
Panzer says, "This shows two things: 1) If enough people complain and make enough noise, you can get things changed, and, 2) Always read the Terms of Use."
Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.
 To read the post tootle over to Findaway Voices