• freemake, ereaders

    From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to George Pope on Sunday, January 16, 2022 12:45:00
    Hello George Pope!

    ** On Wednesday 12.01.22 - 16:31, George Pope wrote to August Abolins:

    Not really. I discovered FreeMake. It allows multiple video

    I grabbed it just now. Does it convert between formats?

    It should. My does. But I have an older version. I was not
    pleased with a recent version that [1] pasted a "Freemake"
    watermark over the recording, and [2] disabled converting the
    audio from a video file (such as a typical YT music video) to
    mp3.

    So no 11-bit MKVs., what type do I want?

    Officially, I forget which ones are problematic. But if you
    DON'T see a thumbnail image from the video after loading it in
    the Freemake panel (instead, Freemake uses something that looks
    like a nebula), then you know that it will NOT transfer to DVD
    very well. Eventually you will learn to avoid particular .MKV
    versions.

    Have you started into Dirt Birds yet? [...]

    It's in my queue -- I'm trying to find my "sdnt to Kindle"
    books on my Kindle, on Z-Lib(living it7 -- my whole fam
    is on now)

    I told it was a little gem.

    I can read on my phone in Apple's Red (default for Z-Lib
    downloads)

    I can't imagine reading for the longterm on a standard
    smartphone or tablet. For one thing, the battery would deplete
    too often and the screen display would tire the eyes. Instead,
    I have a new Kobo now. It's the Clara HD. It was $149, but I
    got it for $125 after I qualified for a discount simply by
    inquiring about the ereader recycle program for my old ereader.


    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.51
    * Origin: Creditors have better memories than debtors. (2:221/1.58)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757 to August Abolins on Monday, January 17, 2022 12:06:12
    Have you started into Dirt Birds yet? [...]
    It's in my queue -- I'm trying to find my "sdnt to Kindle"
    books on my Kindle, on Z-Lib(living it7 -- my whole fam
    is on now)
    I told it was a little gem.

    Not often you see a bookstore owner recommending a free lending library, especially one that lets you essentially own the ebook forever.

    Glad I've met the one who does! :D

    I can read on my phone in Apple's Red (default for Z-Lib
    downloads)
    I can't imagine reading for the longterm on a standard
    smartphone or tablet. For one thing, the battery would deplete
    too often and the screen display would tire the eyes. Instead,
    I have a new Kobo now. It's the Clara HD. It was $149, but I
    got it for $125 after I qualified for a discount simply by
    inquiring about the ereader recycle program for my old ereader.

    I keep my phone plugged in when I'm home reading, or doing crosswords, sudoku, etc.

    I've discovered a new way to get discounts on almost anything (if over $20 -- I'm not a troublemaker): just ask!

    Walmart Cashier says, "Those clothes will be $119.87 after your discount card us applied."

    I reply, "Are there any cashier-offered discounts, too, please?"

    & might get another 10-40% knocked off, just because I smile & am polite.

    Worked on computers, books, clothing, furniture; not on alcohol, though, as we have laws against discounting it beyond defined ways that include the government taking the difference for themselves from the seller.

    Is okay, we've got many gallons of home-made fruit wine stashed away under the stairs! (potency from 12-25%, depending on the fruit & maceration time)

    Yet we drink so little, it's just growing in number of bottles. . . not allowed to sell, &giving it saway has limits, too. . . *sigh* Buddy of mine drops by on occasion for chess & I let him drink his fill. . . the only way I get a chance to win, playing chess against him! We can only do this when his dad drives him over, of course, as I don't get driving guests drunk, since the prospect of my seeing the inside of a prison cell bothers me as much as it's supposed to. I buy a 50ml bottle of Maker's Mark (quality bourbon)on occasion, & it lasts me 4-6 months (5ml at a time, neat, satisfies me most of the time, done on the occasional weekend)

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)
  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to George Pope on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 07:58:00
    Hello George Pope!

    ** On Monday 17.01.22 - 12:06, George Pope wrote to August Abolins:

    I told it was a little gem.

    Not often you see a bookstore owner recommending a free
    lending library, especially one that lets you essentially
    own the ebook forever.

    Glad I've met the one who does! :D


    I use the ebook version to find specific sections|quotes that I
    might like to use or review if I don't have the chance to have
    the hardcopy with me. I get review-copies from publishers too
    (both in hardcopy and e-book); eventually, I give the
    hardcopies away to people who could give me their POV on it
    (technically they are not meant for resale) but they are a way
    to read something before it is officially released.

    I'll use whatever resource is available to me. Granted, the
    little gem can be a bookseller's killer. But you'd be
    surprised at the stats on the popularity of ebooks; it's not
    what most people are being told by "the media".


    I can't imagine reading for the longterm on a standard
    smartphone or tablet. For one thing, the battery would
    deplete [...]

    I keep my phone plugged in when I'm home reading, or doing
    crosswords, sudoku, etc.

    Ah.. Ok. That cable surely is a critical piece of hardware.
    Actual books don't need cables or batteries! ;)


    I've discovered a new way to get discounts on almost
    anything (if over $20 -- I'm not a troublemaker): just
    ask!

    At my shop, I provide at least 10% off most books, and I can
    often meet the big online place prices.


    I reply, "Are there any cashier-offered discounts, too, please?"

    I've never heard of that one. Is that an adhoc discount at the
    discretion of the cashier?


    Worked on computers, books, clothing, furniture; not on
    alcohol, though, as we have laws against discounting it
    beyond defined ways that include the government taking
    the difference for themselves from the seller.

    Yes.. its seems ironic that there are laws that prevent sellers
    to price booze to compete against each other, but meanwhile,
    the big online places can practically give merch away at a
    loss. I can't compete with the big online place when it lists a
    book below cost. But sometimes the added shipping cost or delay
    in delivery steers people to a REAL book shop.

    WRT booze, can't the seller just declare their stock as a
    "loss" and give it away as a form of advertising or as a
    promotional expense?

    Yet we drink so little, it's just growing in number of
    bottles. . . not allowed to sell, &giving it saway has
    limits, too. . . *sigh* Buddy of mine drops by on occasion
    for chess & I let him drink his fill. . .

    It's either give it away or throw it away. Can't win.


    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.51
    * Origin: Creditors have better memories than debtors. (2:221/1.58)
  • From George Pope@1:153/757 to August Abolins on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 12:18:22
    I use the ebook version to find specific sections|quotes that I
    might like to use or review if I don't have the chance to have
    the hardcopy with me. I get review-copies from publishers too
    (both in hardcopy and e-book); eventually, I give the
    hardcopies away to people who could give me their POV on it
    (technically they are not meant for resale) but they are a way
    to read something before it is officially released.

    That would be handy in generating promo copy, simply copy/paste.

    surprised at the stats on the popularity of ebooks; it's not
    what most people are being told by "the media".

    Not surprised at all.

    Us oldbies prefer a nice old treebook in hand to while away the winter evenings, or on a beach.

    The kids have pretty much stopped reading anything; Reddit now has several YouTube channels just reading out comments, for those who gotta have it in multimedia form.

    Is it illegal for me to reproduce a book by reading it out loud & recording it?

    Can I sell it, if I emphasize I'm not selling the book, I'm charging for my time?

    I keep my phone plugged in when I'm home reading, or doing
    crosswords, sudoku, etc.
    Ah.. Ok. That cable surely is a critical piece of hardware.
    Actual books don't need cables or batteries! ;)

    Oh, I'm aware, I still read my share of treebooks! They're perfect for reading inbed when I'm not yet overtired (overtired, if I drop off with an ebook, it'll remember which page I was last on)

    I've discovered a new way to get discounts on almost
    anything (if over $20 -- I'm not a troublemaker): just
    ask!
    At my shop, I provide at least 10% off most books, and I can
    often meet the big online place prices.

    Most proprieter shops have a ceretain amount of leeway, & corporate outletsr grant, sometimes, discretionary disxcounts for the cashier to give out (genmerally as promo, or to match a competitor); I don't ask how the cashier files it; whewn I was obviously in my 40s, I had cashiers wink & say, "It's Tuesday, & I just gave you the 15% seniors' discount"; she only told me so I woulddn't be offended. She was a regular one I interaxcted with at Shoppers Drug Mart -- all CSRs & cashiers know me to be polite, respectful(& respectable), & empathetic to their plight(dealing with others, including the occasional "Karens," et al)

    I reply, "Are there any cashier-offered discounts, too, please?"
    I've never heard of that one. Is that an adhoc discount at the
    discretion of the cashier?

    Sometimes, see above; I try it & it oftemn works, especially with the young cute ones whom I flirt with, but not so they'd necessarily realize it (I use my eyes looking into theirs, not words or coarse leering)

    Yes.. its seems ironic that there are laws that prevent sellers
    to price booze to compete against each other, but meanwhile,
    the big online places can practically give merch away at a
    loss. I can't compete with the big online place when it lists a
    book below cost. But sometimes the added shipping cost or delay
    in delivery steers people to a REAL book shop.

    Yup, I was curious how those 1c book guys online do it, so I googled & it was explained clearly enough how they actually make millions yearly doing it.

    WRT booze, can't the seller just declare their stock as a
    "loss" and give it away as a form of advertising or as a
    promotional expense?

    I suppose some could 'chyeat' & do that, saying a bottle broke, but if a BC LDB guy caught on -- bif time fines & possible loss of liquor sellers license for a long time (even up to life)

    Jackbooted bureaucratic thugs! As in any other police state as they build up momentum & control over a weakening("oh, no, more of this again. Maybe I'll write a letter if I don't get distracted by Candy Crush) population.

    I'll give it to he Americans -- they may do it wrong a lot, but they do have protocols in place to deal with these things.

    Yet we drink so little, it's just growing in number of
    bottles. . . not allowed to sell, &giving it saway has
    limits, too. . . *sigh* Buddy of mine drops by on occasion
    for chess & I let him drink his fill. . .
    It's either give it away or throw it away. Can't win.

    Or let it keep aging, open a bottle every now & again & enjoy home-made fruit wine for life, while likewise sharing with friends in person (perfectly legal)

    I don't worry about these things. I'll give a bottle or 3 to my old boss as a gift when we see each other next, probably; I'm sure that's allowed, so long as it's not a bulk transfer of untaxed alcohol. (hey, I paid tax on the bottles, yeast, & plastic buckets to soak the fermentation in, & on the beer I drank to get the 471ml pop top Grosch bottles we use now)

    There's no tax on fruit in BC -- I know you Ontario-io-io-ans do. . .

    So 6# of fruit is fully paid on tax, at a rate of 0.0%.

    Ditto 1kg sugar.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)