Is my blog or yours copyright? Writers, illustrators, performers ...

Not just writers, but illustrantors, translators and performers can benefit from copyright and public lending right from library loans.

The BBC has an interesting series of articles and videos on copyright. I knew that educational organizations could use works for study purposes. I did not realise that the organizations had to be registered.

I would like to add:
You cannot copyright a book title.
Copyright can protect the owner from financial loss plus damage to their reputation.

Read the copyright notices in books and other media. Notice that some say 'all rights reserved'. Why? Because if you had copyrighted something in print only before the days of film, somebody might have said that you have the rights to written material, text, but not animation.

New kinds of products might appear. A soft toy based on your character? A tee-shirt? A hologram?

To get paid by UK libraries, you register your book titles with the PLR. We have been fighting attempts to close public libraries in the UK.

Another organization deals with Ireland.

Useful Websites
https://www.bbc.co.uk/copyrightaware/what-is
https://www.bbc.co.uk/copyrightaware/article-8745
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_law_of_the_United_States
https://www.gov.uk/copyright
https://www.bl.uk/plr

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Drunken Escapades - don't do it - here's why

Problem
On holiday people get drunk. Celebrating, people get drunk. Then, alone or in a group, they do things which seemed like a good idea at the time, not so good a day or two later.

Drunk or sober, before taking any actions, ask yourself:
1 HOW DO RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE & HEROES ACT?
Would this action be done by any responsible person such as, (choose your favourites) my parents, my school teachers, the head of my school, my country or state, the HM The Queen?
Don't be an anti-hero if you can be a hero.

2 DO AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY
Would I be happy if somebody else did this to me?

3 NEWSPAPER REPORTS
It used to be said, 'a lady should get her name in the newspapers only when she is born, when she marries and when she dies'. How will I feel if this is reported in the papers or on the internet and known to the next person giving out honours or jobs?

4 NO HONOUR AMONGST THIEVES?
If somebody else did this and I allowed them to do it, do I risk them claiming that I did it, in order to save themselves from loss of status, being put in prison or worse?

5 PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
Can I safely suggest to somebody else that they might refrain from this action, to protect them from regrets and punishment and to protect an innocent third party?

6 YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE
Do I owe it to my family, friends, colleagues, sponsors, bystanders, members of the same sex, race, religion, nationality, to protect our reputation?

7 CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES
Actions have consequences. For you, your family, your colleagues, nearby acquaintances, people at a distance. Like stepping on a butterfly in the short story, everything has consequences. Consider the consequences.

8 HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS
Instead of' it seemed like a good idea at the time', you might find that 'on second thoughts, it did not seem such a good idea'. You would then save yourself and lots of other people lots of trouble.

9 FAMILY FIRST, LAWYERS LAST
Your family come first, not the people looking for work or a story or entertainment. You can entertain with your successes and skills. Believe me, if you refrain from a bad action, the lawyers won't go hungry. And journalists will be able to find something else to write about.

10 WRITE YOUR OWN EULOGY
Set a good example to others. Everything you do, even running across the road when the light is red, can inspire children and adults to copy you, at the time, immedately afterwards, or later. What do you want on your obituary? Not errors of judgement! Only good things!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5434151/Canadian-athlete-coach-fined-taking-car-Olympics.html#comments

Angela Lansbury
Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Cruises: balconies, cabins, excursions, tips and travel sickness

CABINS
I've thought of chaining rooms in a hotel, or asking to see two or three rooms, then picking the one I prefer. At least if you look at two or more, you will be more satisfied with your own room if you know there's no better option.

DRUNKS & FALLING OVERBOARD
The figures and conclusions about falling overboard are intriguing as well. I'd always puzzled over the deaths by falling overboard of Barny Barnet and Robert Maxwell. I'd suspected they were pushed. However, reading about the number of drunks and suspected suicides falling off ships, I now feel that drink is a larger factor to consider. Prevention is better than cure. Don't get drunk and make sure your companions are sober.

EXCURSIONS
Very useful points to consider when booking. I have to admit I'd prefer to pay more for the ship's own excursion which guarantees to get me back on time, rather than save £10 and risk losing £100 or even £1000 flying on to meet the ship at the next port.

As for the remark about the police being more interested in protecting the tourist industry\s reputation than solving the crime, I've heard that accusation made in high profile murder cases and had previously dismissed it. Suddenly, I see links everywhere, and understand that you can't rely on the police being interested in the welfare of the tourist, when all of them or a few of them or even one of them is more closely attached to their own neighbourhood, workplace or country.

The comments from readers at the end are also interesting.

http://www.destinationtips.com/cruises/16-things-cruise-lines-never-tell-you/?utm_content=119e48&utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=16+Things+Cruise+Ships+Keep+Hidden+from+Customers+-+52561485&utm_campaign=OUT+DST+9930+16-things-cruise-lines-never-tell-you-desktop&utm_term=5425786