> 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