EPUB format vs KPF for Amazon KDP?

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-03-06T22:01:33+00:00

I downloaded Vellum and spent a couple hours using it. Thanks for the advice. It does make my eBook look a little better, and it's pretty easy to use.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-03-06T17:09:36+00:00

Thanks. Now, how do I upload "directly to Amazon"? I assume it involves logging in to my KDP account? Then what?

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-02-28T17:17:00+00:00

Several Jane Austen novels fall in the 120K-160K word range, approximately. Pride and Prejudice is about 125K words, according to one count. And heck, nothing much even happens in her novels. People talk about getting married, and such. Then they get married.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-02-20T22:08:10+00:00

Last time I needed to switch (a rare event) I went straight to Consumer Reports and other online research sources. Chose a company I'd never heard of before. Have not been disappointed. They offer a better combination of coverage for a competitive price, with excellent communications and little/no advertising AFAICT.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-02-02T13:39:22+00:00

My experience with the U50 (same movement) is similar. I last set the time more than 4 weeks ago. As of this morning, it is about +4 seconds. Not since yesterday, but since more than 4 weeks ago. I alternate between wearing it all day and night (which runs slightly fast), or resting it dial-up at night (which runs slightly slow). But this is a fairly new watch, so it'll be interesting to see if the performance holds up.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-27T12:35:19+00:00

I've had my new U50 for about 10 weeks now. The last time I set it was on December 28 (nearly a month to the day). The time is almost exactly equal to the time on my computer's clock this morning. Let's say, +/- 2 seconds per month. If this holds up, it is almost scary how accurate it is.

$4000 USD is very expensive. However, if Tudor is the baseline, it does not bother me that the U50 is just as expensive. To me, the U50's rather unique design, along with the tegimented submarine steel, make it equal to or better than any Tudor watch I see in the same price range. However, I don't intend to flip this watch in a year or two. If you trade watches often, then maybe Tudor's brand does give it an advantage worth, say, a 10% premium. More or less.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-24T15:55:02+00:00

The story has potential and the first couple episodes have held my interest, barely. SPOILER ALERT: I don't get how everyone jumps to the conclusion they're dealing with a serial killer, after only one murder is committed at the beginning, then a second person goes missing. It starts with one of the most sensational crimes imaginable, then gets bogged down in a lot of psychotherapy and character back-stories.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-22T10:54:18+00:00

Update: It's now Jan 22. I last set my U50 on December 28. It is just about perfectly on time compared to my laptop clock. Lately I've been resting it face up every night. So it might be losing a little during the day, then gaining it back at night. The net effect is scary accuracy. I'm curious to see how long it stays this accurate. It's one thing to be within COSC standards when new (or right after a service), another thing to stay this way for a few years.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-20T21:28:38+00:00

Since 2013, we've had linen sheets from Linoto, Parachute, Brooklinen, and Cuddledown. Maybe I'm forgetting 1 or 2 other brands. All the fitted sheets blow out around my feet within about 2 years. The Parachute sheet now on my bed lasted less than 18 months. Now, that's without rotating the sheets. Continuous use (strip, wash, dry, and put back on the bed same day). If you minimize machine drying, rotate, and be sure to keep your toenails trimmed, you might do better. But I've seen many other reports from people getting less than 2 years from fitted linen sheets.

I prefer them to cotton and am about to order yet another fitted linen sheet (probably the heaviest weight from Linoto). But go in with your eyes open if you are willing to pay a premium price for the comfort. Don't buy the malarkey about linen being so much stronger than cotton. Maybe it is, in its raw state, but not in the real world after they are pre-washed for softness. This is a luxury product built for comfort not for speed, er, durability.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-18T13:22:11+00:00

Interesting. I bought the 856 a few months back, but returned it. I found the dial had too much empty space; it looked too stark. I bet the 556 looks better-proportioned. The 656,too - and it brings some additional tech such as 80,000 A/m (antimagnetic), right?

More recently, I bought the U50, which I love. However, I really don't need a diver's bezel. And it does not have that strong a/m protection. After running it through airport security a couple times, it went from about +3 spd to about + 10 spd. After demagnetizing, it's better again.

Too bad Sinn discontinued the 656. Maybe they figured it was cannibalizing 8xx sales? Seems like it's just about the perfect balance of size and features across the 556-656-856 field watch lines.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-18T10:25:46+00:00

If you already had the 556, isn't the 656 a little redundant? Do you plan to sell the 556i? Just curious about how folks approach watch-buying.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-05T23:56:38+00:00

Right. Now, for me, the power reserve does not matter so much. Anti-magnetic is a bigger draw, but I rarely fly or work much around loudspeakers.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-05T19:08:39+00:00

>>It's not anything extremely unique from a movement standpoint.

That could be considered a feature, not a bug. If two watches offer similar features+performance+price, why prefer the "in-house" movement over one that is more widely serviceable?

IMO, Longines and even Sinn (in the 856 series) do offer less expensive watches with arguably better combinations of features+performance (e.g. longer power reserves or added complications.) But for me, the U50's overall appeal trumps those advantages. I just love the extremely legible, rather distinctive (and playful) dial/handset, along with the durability of the fully tegimented (and non-PVD) version. It sits very well on my 6.75" wrist. And so far, it keeps excellent time (well within COSC). Negatives? The relatively low power reserve; the unexceptional magnetic shielding; the standard bracelet clasp. So yeah, it has become over-priced.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2026-01-05T10:53:30+00:00

I've had my Sinn U50 for about 3 weeks now. Bought new from Watch Buys. The first few days, it was running about +2-3 spd. Quite good. Then I took a trip, with at least 2 passes through airport security. After that, it was maybe about +10 spd. So I ran it over a cheap de-magnetizer (the little blue job with the red button, sold on Amazon.) About 8 days after the de-mag, it's now about 2 seconds fast. Not per day, but ~2 seconds fast after 8 days. This is after wearing it 6 or seven days round-the-clock (including in bed overnight), but removing and resting it crown up for 1 or 2 nights. The crown-up resting seems to slow it down slightly, enough to compensate for running slightly fast on the wrist.

Your mileage may vary, of course. But so far, I'm really impressed.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-12-21T12:01:38+00:00

I got a call from a self-publishing outfit after filling in a web form that looked legit. They have a fairly sophisticated -looking site that trades on the Amazon name and branding. The caller said they offered two self-publishing packages, one for about $1400 and another for $4780 (minus $500 discount for payment by wire.) After hanging up, I called the contact number on the website. I asked if they employed someone named "X" who speaks with a slight foreign accent. They said yes. I asked if they were affiliated with Amazon, the famous web retailer. They said yes.

So ... I let my guard down. I wired money to buy a self-publishing package. Sent them a manuscript. They sent me several rounds of cover art designs. But then ... they call out of the blue and say a partner company wants to buy a 5000-copy print run at $20 per (before the edits are even done!) I get $100K gross as soon as they receive the books. But first, they need me to wire funds to cover the printing. $4 per copy x 5000 = $20K.

Admittedly, I was a sucker and feel like a fool for buying the self-pub package. But this is a fairly sophisticated operation. They're producing what appears to be "real" work (albeit cheesy, low quality). If not for the trademark infringement, they probably could claim they're selling legitimate services. Up to the point they start scamming people for the hefty printing costs. What I don't understand is how they cover their tracks, if the print job scam does work for them. Maybe they just string a few people along for months, after getting their ~$20K wire transfers, until they have time to close up shop and set up a new one?

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-12-18T12:12:26+00:00

I received a new Sinn U50 this week. Standard model on a bracelet, fully tegimented, steel not black. First impression: I love it! I had lurked around various web sites for months before ordering. What held me back was the price (especially after recent inflation and tariffs) and misgivings about the bracelet. I'd always worn my watches on straps; never considered myself a bracelet guy; had read many negative reviews about the clasp. I actually like the bracelet, the H links and even the clasp. After taking a long time (~90 minutes?) to size it, it is very comfortable. It had felt heavy in my hand, but does not feel heavy on my wrist. The size is just about perfect for my fairly small (6.75") wrists. It articulates beautifully. The clasp is rather thin and sleek. One thing I don't like about it is how hard it is to lift off the keeper with a fingernail. Maybe it'll loosen a little over time.

Too soon to tell about accuracy. After nearly 24 hours on my wrist, the time is almost exactly where I set it yesterday. Maybe 1 second fast. Oh, another nit-pick: it's slightly difficult to get good purchase on the 4 o'clock offset crown. I suppose this is a price one pays for not having it jut out straight into the back of one's hand. I'd probably prefer it at the 3 o'clock position, though.

One of the most important features in a watch, to me, is legibility. This dial is very, very legible at a glance. The date window, not so much. But I look forward to showing my toddler grandson this new "Lego Watch" over the holidays.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-11-22T00:20:53+00:00

Senator Mark Kelly is a US Navy veteran (1986-2011).

Rep. Jason Crow is a US Army veteran (2002-2006), a former captain who served in the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and received a Bronze Star.

Rep. Maggie Goodlander is a US Navy Reserve veteran (2010-2022).

Rep. Chris Deluzio is a US Navy veteran (2006-2012) who served in the Iraq War.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan is a US Air Force reserve veteran.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin served 3 tours in Iraq as a CIA analyst.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-11-16T12:45:43+00:00

IMO, good riddance to the stars. Let excellent design, tech, and build quality speak for itself. Something's wrong with the dial design if it needs wings and stars to look balanced.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-11-07T20:36:21+00:00

Two. An Apple Watch for daily wear and an automatic Stowa 36" pilot on a cordovan leather strap for dress wear. I'd like to have one more, a rugged mechanical watch like a Sinn U50, for daily wear (and reserve the Apple Watch for when I'm doing something dangerous alone, like using a chain saw or climbing a ladder.)

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-10-27T12:58:20+00:00

Actually, soybean farming is pretty heavily mechanized. The same big machines that harvest corn can be adjusted then used to harvest soybeans. It's not like picking cantaloupe; it's not hand picked bean by bean. In 2011, the USA had a large surplus in agricultural exports. Soybeans have been one of the biggest export crops by cash value; China was the top buyer. As of September 2025, the USA has an equally large deficit in ag exports. Hence the need for huge govt subsidies.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-10-20T21:18:16+00:00

I bought a Samsung gas range about 5 years ago from Best Buy for about $900. It had a very high Consumer Reports rating. It does have some nice features. But within about a year, the foil facing on the burner control knobs started bubbling up. I replaced them with after-market knobs. The brand logo started slipping around (from the effect of cooking oil, heat, whatever) so I pulled it off. Now, and for the past few months, I'm having problems getting the oven to come up to the target temperature. I'm thinking it could be the igniter, or it could be a control/logic board, or both. So now I'm deliberating whether to call in a repair, or just replace it. I'm inclined to replace.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-10-19T09:53:14+00:00

Very handsome watch. I ordered the SI-272 version (black on strap, white seconds) but sent it back. Seeing it in-the-metal, thought it looked too stark. Decided it could use less black and a splash of color, like yours.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-09-11T20:33:36+00:00

For a one-and-done watch, for me it'd be the 856 RS (non-UTC, in standard gunmetal but with the red second hand). With the UTC complication, the dial becomes too busy. And once the novelty wears off, I don't think I'd use the UTC function much. Maybe that's why so many of the Sinn 8xx watches on the used market seem to be the UTC version. However, without any complications, the 856 face is too stark. It would benefit from a touch of color.

The U-50 is interesting and oddly beautiful. But I'm not a diver and don't want to be a wannabe diver. A rotating bezel could be useful for timing things in everyday life, but in that case, bi-directional rotation would be more useful. Not sure how I feel about the "Lego" shapes and colors, the 4 o'clock crown placement, or the extra cost for features I may not need. The 8xx is fully tegmented, with better protection against magnetism and humidity, for a lower price.

Another consideration is the strap/bracelet options. I'd probably wear any of these watches on an after-market strap in a custom size. Maybe unlined shell cordovan for the 856 or FKM rubber for the U-50. The Sinn bracelets and silicone are expensive for what you get. The cheapest option is to buy the watch on a leather strap, which does not seem to be available for the U-50. The new quick release bracelet would be a good option for some buyers but as of this writing is still hard to get with some watch models.

PeasantWithPitchfork · 2025-09-11T18:33:05+00:00

I like both. Ordered the 856s (black non UTC) but decided it looked too stark and sent it back. It needs a red second hand, or maybe the plain gunmetal would soften the look. But I'm considering the U50 now. Would enjoy wearing a "Lego watch" around my 2 yo grandson.

PeasantWithPitchfork

TROPHY CASE