How to register a copyright

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Australia, Berne Convention, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, copyright, registering copyright, United Kingdom, United States, United States Copyright Office

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

Original work is protected under the Berne Convention, Article 2 (2), in any country that is a signatory to the convention, which includes about 165 countries. However, only a few countries have a system of registering copyright. Although registering a copyright in these countries is not compulsory, there are some advantages. Copyright details are on public record and the author or creator has a certificate. In the US, if an author registers their work no more than five years after publication, it automatically qualifies as evidence in court. In the event of a successful court case, the author can get legal fees and statutory damages paid.

In the US, copyright registration services are provided by the United States Copyright Office. These days, the main method of registering a copyright is by electronic form via their online system. By clicking on the Registration tab at top of the home page, or on Forms (under Publications), the author or creator is taken to a page with all the registration details. From there, the person can click on the Electronic Copyright Office button and register before filling the forms out online. This service offers the quickest processing time, currently nine months or less, to obtain a certificate of registration. Progress of applications can be tracked online. The filing fee for online registration is $35, via secure payment.

Two other copyright registration methods are possible. A CO form can be downloaded from the Copyright Office site, filled in, and printed out. It can be mailed to the office. The fee for this option is $50. Instructions to fill in the form and a page of FAQs are provided online. For authors and creators without computer access, relevant forms, such as a Form TX for literary works, a Form VA for visual arts works, and so on, can be mailed out by contacting the office. Cost to register copyright this way is $65. For both methods, waiting time for a certificate is up to 22 months. The process can take this long depending on how busy the office is, as well as the number of questions about the application and perhaps establishing that the person is indeed the copyright holder.

In Canada, from the home page of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, authors and creators can click on “register your copyright” in the centre of the page. This goes to a page explaining the applications process. Clear and detailed instructions show applicants how to fill in An Application for Registration of Copyright form. At bottom, there is a link to the actual form. A fee of $50 is payable if submitting online; otherwise it’s $65. The office advises applicants of the progress of their application at several stages of the process. Canadians can expect a registration certificate in three working days for online applications and for special requests by fax or mail, and 10 working days for ordinary applications by fax or mail.

The only other countries with a copyright registration process are Albania, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Turkey. These countries have a government department or office where forms can be obtained and filled out to obtain registration. The UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have no registration system. In these countries, authors and creators can generally seek private registration. In the UK and Australia, for example, they can register and pay a fee to a private company, but no extra legal protection is gained. These two countries also have a process whereby publishers must deposit several copies of their work with national and other libraries, which acts as a form of copyright registration.

What is poor man’s copyright?

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Berne Convention, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, copyright, copyright office, poor man's copyright, registration fees, UK Intellectual Property Office, US Copyright Office

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

Poor man’s copyright refers to the practice of an author placing their work in an envelope and mailing it to themselves. This will give the author a sealed envelope with a postmark on it giving the date it went through the postal system. The idea is that if copyright is disputed, the sealed, dated envelope can be used as proof that the work contained inside it is the author’s own and that it had been created by a certain date. However, there are no instances in US legal history where poor man’s copyright has been used to successfully prove ownership in a court of law.

Copyright is automatically established when the author creates an original and tangible piece of work, on paper, on tape or electronically. The work is protected under the Berne Convention, Article 2 (2), in any country that is a signatory to the convention. This includes all major countries and most of the smaller ones. Works covered include nearly all writing, as well as music, software and paintings. This means there is no need to try and protect one’s work through poor man’s copyright. However, in countries without a copyright office, mailing oneself may be seen as having some advantages in certain situations.

The main problem with poor man’s copyright is that it is by no means foolproof and is in fact quite easy to fake. There is usually nothing to stop someone sending themselves an empty unsealed envelope through the postal system. When the envelope arrives, the recipient can place anything they like in the envelope, including their own work or someone else’s. They then seal the envelope and can claim that the work was there before the date of the postal mark. Even a CD can be placed in an open envelope that already has a date stamp on it, and claimed as one’s own. This can be done by setting the computer clock a day or two before the stamp, and then burning the CD before putting it in the envelope and sealing it. But in any case, an envelope sealed in the first instance can be steamed open. Further, a date stamp can smudge or be unreadable from the start.

Most countries have no copyright office, making it potentially difficult to prove who has copyright and the date the work was created. Several government sites advise that as an option, authors could mail their work to themselves to help show copyright ownership. Even the UK’s Intellectual Property Office recommends the option of mailing oneself by special delivery so that a date stamp clearly appears on the envelope. Alternatives to mailing oneself include depositing work with a notary public, solicitor’s office, bank or taxation office. These methods are often included in a definition of poor man’s copyright, although they can be much more costly than mailing a letter, and may still not be proof of ownership.

In countries with a copyright office, registering one’s work is far preferable to relying on poor man’s copyright. The cost is more than using the mail, but registration has definite advantages over poor man’s copyright and can end up much cheaper in the event of legal action. Copyright details are on public record and the author has a certificate. In the US, if an author registers their work no more than five years after publication, it automatically qualifies as evidence in court. In the event of a successful court case, the author can get legal fees and statutory damages paid. Registration fees are quite reasonable. For example, basic online registration with the US Copyright Office costs $35. At the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the fee is $50.

How long does a copyright last?

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Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, copyright, copyright protection, Copyright Renewal Act, duration of copyright, length of copyright, public domain, published works, Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act, TRIPS, unpublished works, US Copyright Act, what is copyright

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

Copyright gives an author or creator of a work the exclusive right to copy, distribute or change that work. This includes books and any other writings as well as things such as maps, photos, paintings, sculptures, sound recordings, films, computer programs, dramatic and dance works, and architectural creations. Copyright does not last forever though. Eventually, the work becomes part of the public domain, giving anyone the right to use it for any purpose, although this does not give a person the right to claim it as their own.

The usual duration of copyright before a work enters the public domain is either 50 or 70 years after the author’s or creator’s death. The length differs between countries. About 55 per cent of nations generally have a period of life plus 50 years, including Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and South Africa. The trend is towards longer durations and around 30 per cent of countries now stipulate life plus 70 years, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, European Union members, Israel, Russia and the United States.

Some countries have other lengths of time. Mexico has used life plus 100 years since 2003, with 75 years still applying to deaths before 1928. Cote d’Ivoire uses life and 99 years, Colombia uses 80 years, India and Venezuela 60 years, and Iran and Yemen 30 years. A few countries use 25 or 75 years. In Ethiopia, copyright expires on the death of the author or creator. Afghanistan, Laos and the Marshall Islands have no copyright laws.

A number of countries simply state that they follow international treaties such as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, or the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), both of which specify a minimum of 50 years. These countries are included in the 55 per cent figure above.

Length of copyright in most countries is more complex than a simple number of years. Different rules often apply when an author or creator is anonymous, corporate or a government body. In these cases, the copyright period might be longer than 50 or 70 years after the work was first published, performed or broadcast. If an unknown author or creator is subsequently found, the term might revert to 50 or 70 years after their death.

In cases where a work is not published, performed or broadcast before the author’s death, copyright in some nations might exist for 50 or 70 years after the year the work is first made public. Thus copyright in these cases can last indefinitely. Further, copyright expiry is usually based on the number of years after the end of the calendar year of death. Also, many countries have different periods for certain items, for example, photos and works of art are often less than for written works.

A few countries that have changed their copyright terms apply the new legislation retroactively, such as Mexico, whereas most have retained the previous length of time for older works. For example, if the time was changed from life plus 50 years to 70 years in, say, 2005, the 50 year period applies to deaths up until 1955. In other words, for someone who died in, say, 1952, copyright still expired in 2002 rather than 2022.

Copyright duration in the US is quite complex and the term has been extended many times over the last two centuries. The Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act of 1998 lengthened the period from 50 years to 70 years after the death of an author or creator, or from 75 years to 120 years after the creation of corporate or anonymous works or 95 years if the work was published.

The former periods had been set by the US Copyright Act of 1976. This Act, which was effective from 1978, eliminated the requirement for a work to be published or registered to qualify for copyright protection. Works registered or published between 1923 and 1977 have a copyright length of 95 years after publication, rather than a period based on date of death. However, copyright had to be renewed after 28 years. For works published from 1964 to 1977, this became automatic under the Copyright Renewal Act of 1992. Anything published before 1923 is no longer under copyright and is in the public domain.

In the European Union, the copyright laws of the various members were harmonised in the 1980s and 1990s. Copyright protection now lasts for the life of the author or creator plus 70 years in all member countries. Where a national law gave a longer duration as at 1 July 1995, this period remains at the original length. In countries that had a shorter copyright duration, certain works already in the public domain had their copyright restored.

The length of time a work is protected and other aspects of copyright can be complex and differ between countries. It is always wise to check a particular nation’s copyright laws and period until copyright expiry before thinking of using a particular work in any way. And remember, you cannot pass it off as your own, even if it is out of copyright.

Worst moments in Olympic Games history

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Ben Johnson, Berlin Olympics, boycotts, Moscow Olympics, Munich massacre, Olympic Games, Olympics, worst moments

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

The Olympics Games have unfortunately been the setting of a number of ugly scenes, incidents of political opportunism, and athletes so desperate to win that they resort to cheating. I have tried to pick what I see as the four worst or most publicized incidents, across a wide period and representative of several types of worst moments: terrorism, boycotts, drugs, and political propaganda.

First place, or is that last place, would have to go to the “Munich massacre” at the Summer Olympics in 1972 in Munich, West Germany. Israeli team members were taken hostage by Black September, a splinter group of the Fatah organization of Yasser Arafat. With World War II a distant memory, a joyous time was being had by all, and security was quite relaxed. Concerns were expressed by the Israeli team over security but little was done. In the middle of the night, eight members of Black September climbed a six foot wire fence and entered two apartments of Israeli team members. Several burly wrestlers and weightlifters escaped or tried to escape. Two Israelis were killed at this stage.

Nine hostages were taken and were restrained in the apartments. The attackers wanted the release of 234 Palestinians and others who were in jail in Israel. However, the Israeli government refused to negotiate. The German government offered unlimited money for the release of the hostages, but the kidnappers wouldn’t budge. Negotiators were able to buy time by somehow convincing the terrorists their demands were being looked at. The attackers then demanded to be taken to Cairo.

There was a feigned agreement and about 16 hours after the drama had started, the kidnappers and their hostages were taken by bus to two helicopters that were to take them to an airport. Authorities had planned an ambush at the airport but snipers were outnumbered. The kidnappers took the four helicopter pilots hostage too, and a shoot-out started between the terrorists and authorities when the attackers discovered the plane, a Boeing 727, that was to take them to Cairo was empty.

Armored personnel carriers were headed for the site but they got stuck in traffic and didn’t arrive until midnight. When back-up finally arrived, the kidnappers turned on the hostages and shot several of them dead. One of the terrorists threw a grenade into a helicopter, blowing it up along with several more Israeli hostages inside. Another kidnapper allegedly shot dead the remaining five hostages, who were in the other helicopter, although what happened to them has been a matter of dispute. Some of the attackers had been killed already, and the others were captured by the police.

Initial media reports had all hostages alive and all terrorists dead. But it was soon realized that all 11 hostages were dead and the eight kidnappers dead or in custody. It was a sad day indeed for the Olympic movement. Competition was suspended for a day as more than 80,000 people, including 3,000 athletes, attended a memorial service. Security was tightened considerably at subsequent games.

Another black moment in Olympic history occurred eight years later at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The USSR had invaded Afghanistan in December 1979. US president Jimmy Carter gave the Soviets an ultimatum to withdraw by 20 February 1980 or the US would boycott the games. The USSR didn’t pull out and the US announced a boycott on 21 March. Many other countries also decided to stay away in protest. Sport had become a pawn in a political game that athletes had absolutely no influence over.

In all, 62 countries who had been invited did not compete in the games. This included many Third World countries in Asia, Africa, and South America, but only three major European countries: Albania, West Germany, and Norway. Other notable absentees were Japan, China, and Canada. A number of European countries supported the boycott but felt that it was up to individual athletes to decide if they wanted to compete. Many countries didn’t attend the opening or closing ceremonies but their athletes marched under the Olympic flag, including Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Olympic anthem was used at many medal presentations.

Sadly, this worst “moment” continued onto the 1984 Los Angeles games where 14 countries boycotted in a political tit-for-tat that had started four years earlier. This consisted of the USSR and 13 of its allies.

On an individual athlete level, perhaps the worst moment was when Ben Johnson was stripped of his 100 meters gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics when he tested positive to banned drugs. Johnson had been beating arch-rival Carl Lewis at a number of meetings before the games, breaking the world record in 1987 by a whole tenth of a second, winning in 9.83 seconds. This should probably have set alarm bells ringing more than they did, although Lewis was certainly quite vocal. Johnson suffered some injuries in the lead-up to the games and his times were slower. Lewis declared he would win.

Despite poor preparation, Johnson won the final, clipping another four one-hundredths of a second off his world record. Three days later, Johnson was disqualified after the drug Stanozolol was found in his urine sample. He lost his gold medal and it was awarded to Lewis. Johnson also admitted to using steroids when he broke the world record in 1987 and this was rescinded too. Ironically, four of the fastest five athletes in the Seoul 100 meter final tested positive at some time in their careers. Linford Christie was later banned for using steroids. Lewis himself tested positive for three banned stimulants at the 1988 US Olympic trials, although he was able to get the results overturned as the use was inadvertent.

Any list of worst moments in Olympic history would have to include the 1936 Berlin Olympics which were used as a propaganda machine by the Nazis. Hitler allowed only “Aryan race” members to compete for Germany, pushing his belief in racial supremacy. His country won the most medals but there were some notable exceptions to Hitler’s race theory, including black American Jesse Owens winning four gold medals in track and field. At the time, the Nazis prevented Jews and Gypsies from taking part in sport of any sort. Jews in particular were discriminated against. There were “Jews not wanted” and similar signs around the city, although Hitler removed them from tourist areas. Gypsies were being arrested for no good reason and being put in camps. The US considered boycotting the games.

The Olympic Games will probably always attract their share of “worst moments”, especially as the games receive saturation media coverage around the world. If anyone has a gripe, this is a favourite way to give it exposure. The drug problem probably won’t stop either, with a proportion of athletes willing to take the risk for Olympic glory.

How Olympic host cities are chosen

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Beijing, candidate cities, Candidature Committee, host cities, Host City Contract, International Olympic Committee, IOC, IOC Evaluation Commission, IOC members, Istanbul, Olympic Charter, Olympic Games, Osaka, Paris, Sydney, Toronto

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

A new two-phase process was introduced to decide the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and subsequent winter and summer games. This new process came out of the 110th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in December 1999. The reason for the new process was so that interested cities could be judged initially by the IOC and if they were deemed to be insufficiently prepared to hold the games, they would not have to incur unnecessary expenditure.

The first phase of the new process is the applicant city stage. If a city is interested in holding the games, it prepares an application, gets it endorsed by their National Olympic Committee, and sends it to the IOC. Applicant cities for the 2008 games were four Asian cities of Bangkok, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and Osaka, three European cities of Istanbul, Paris, and Seville, North American cities of Havana and Toronto, and the African city of Cairo. Each city’s basic technical requirements are assessed by an expert team which then reports to the IOC’s executive board. The board reviews the findings and decides on a shortlist of candidates. For the 2008 games, the cities that made it through to the second, or candidate city, stage were Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka, Paris, and Toronto. This was announced at a meeting in Lausanne on 29 August 2000.

As soon as the IOC announces its acceptance of candidate cities, each city may commence its promotional campaign. A candidate city creates an emblem that has the five rings of the Olympic symbol plus a second element that represents the city. The emblem has to be submitted to and approved by the IOC before any public campaigning. The IOC is acutely aware of the Olympic image, and cities are under scrutiny to be conscious of costs, targeting the right audience, and not making vague promises, or setting unrealistic goals during the promotional campaign, so as not to bring damaging criticism from the public, sponsors, and media.

A drawing of lots is conducted by the IOC’s executive board to determine the order in which the cities give their presentation to the board. The draw takes place a few weeks after the initial announcement of candidate cities. For the 2008 games, this took place in Sydney on 13 September 2000, just before the Sydney Olympics which were held from 15 September to 1 October. An information meeting takes place between the IOC and the candidate cities. This was on 25 September in 2000. A few months later, a ten minute presentation is made to the board in Lausanne, which doesn’t seem much time for something so complex. This was held on 13 December in 2000.

Candidate cities then have to submit 70 copies of a lengthy questionnaire of over 100 pages to the IOC. For the 2008 games, the deadline for this was 17 January 2001. This candidature file must be accurate and concise, and reflect a candidate city’s current situation as well as its plans for the games. There are sections on national, regional and city characteristics, legal aspects, customs and immigration formalities, environmental protection and meteorology, finance, marketing, general sports concepts, Olympic sports, the Paralympic Games, the Olympic Village, medical and other health services, security, accommodation, transport, technology, communications and media services, Olympism and culture, and guarantees. Answers are to be given in both English and French. Various IOC and other guidelines must be abided by, such as for media, accommodation, marketing, technology, and an Olympic village. Cities also have to meet the requirements of the various international Olympic summer sports federations. A deposit of US$150,000 has to accompany a city’s candidature file. This money is returned to those cities who are not awarded the games.

The IOC studies each candidature file to make sure all information has been included. Further information may be sought from a candidate city. The IOC then authorizes each city to send a copy to each IOC member, honorary member, and various sport and other federations, committees and associations. Candidate cities are then permitted to release their file to the public and the media.

An IOC Evaluation Commission then visits each city, in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Sites are inspected and meetings held with the Candidature Committee and with various experts in all relevant themes. For the 2008 games, visits were conducted in mid February to mid April 2001. The Commission then prepares a report by mid May. This is examined by the IOC. The IOC’s executive board decides which cities proceed to the vote at the following IOC session, which is held about two months after the Evaluation Commission’s report.

At this next session, each candidate city makes a presentation not exceeding 45 minutes. Questions from the floor follow each presentation. Minutes are taken, and all statements made by the candidate city are binding on that city should it be chosen as the host city. After the presentations, the IOC Evaluation Commission delivers a report to the session. IOC members then vote by secret ballot. Each member votes for one city. There are over 100 members but not all of them are allowed to vote. Members from countries with a candidate city are not eligible to vote in the first round but are eligible to vote in subsequent rounds if their city is eliminated.

A city must obtain an absolute majority of votes for it to be awarded the games. If, at the end of the first round, no city has a majority, the city with the least votes is eliminated, and there is a second round of voting. This process continues, with as many rounds of voting as it takes to produce a majority vote for one city. The name of each eliminated city is made public as soon as it occurs.

The final result is given by the IOC president and is televised live. That’s when you see all the delegates of the successful country yelling and cheering, and back-slapping each other. The 112th IOC Session was held in Moscow on 13 July 2001, and this is where Beijing was announced as the host city for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The elected city immediately signs a Host City Contract. A government representative of the host country then signs a confirmation of government support. This process has been repeated to decide the host city at the 2010 Winter Games (Vancouver), the 2012 Summer Games (London), and the 2014 Winter Games (Sochi, Russia).

As you could imagine competition among candidate cities is fierce. There have been various allegations of bribery and other wrongdoing over the years. The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games was alleged to have offered bribes to the IOC before the host city was picked for the 1996 games. However, committee documents were destroyed before the inquiry. A bribery scandal involved Salt Lake City in 2002, resulting is the expulsion of several IOC members. This was not the only time IOC members have been investigated for allegedly taking bribes. In 2006, candidate city Nagano in Japan spent $4.4 million entertaining IOC members.

Tougher rules have been introduced from time to time, although the process of selecting a city has remained basically the same since 1999, and that is the process described above.

Great moments in Olympic history

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Al Michaels, athletics, Cold War, Dawn Fraser, Edwin Moses, gold medals, gymnastics, Hitler, ice hockey, Jesse Owens, Mark Spitz, Michael Johnson, Miracle on Ice, Nadia Comaneci, Olympic Games, Summer Olympics, swimming, track and field, US hockey team, USSR, Winter Olympics

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

There have been numerous great moments in Olympic history. I love the Summer Olympics and look forward to them every time, especially the track and field and the swimming. To see the athletes at the peak of their careers, all the hard training behind them, line up to see who is the best in the world and if they can beat the world record is simply awe-inspiring.

Jesse Owens 1936

My all-time favourite moment in the Olympics is when black American Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 games in Berlin. Hitler and the Nazis had been carrying on about how the Aryan race was superior. Owens won individual gold medals in the 100 yards, 200 yards, and long jump, and a team gold medal in the 4 x 100 yards relay. His four gold medals was the first time an American had done this at the one Olympics.

I’ve seen an old documentary a number of times that highlights Owens’ Olympic achievements. It includes footage of Hitler turning away as Owens crossed the finish line in one event. Hitler didn’t hang around for the medal presentation either. Earlier, when he shook the hands of German victors only, officials said he should either greet all medal winners or none. He chose none. But the great thing was that even his own people didn’t see eye to eye with him. Some 110,000 people who had packed into the stadium cheered Owens on, and many ordinary German people later sought his autograph.

US hockey team 1980

In second place would arguably be a moment from the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid when the US hockey team won a gold medal against the mighty USSR team. The moment became known as the “Miracle on Ice.” There was a fair bit of niggle between America and Russia in those days, so the victory was more than just a hockey win. It was a Cold War showdown, and a win for free America against communist Russia. The USSR was the dominant hockey team going into the 1980 Games. It had beaten everyone in the 1979 World Championship. The Americans were the clear underdogs, lacking the skill levels of their more favored opponents, and were beaten 10-3 by the Soviets in an exhibition match just before the Games.

The US team made it to the medal round but had to play the USSR. Although outpointed in most aspects of play, the US held their own on the scoreboard, matching the Soviet team goal for goal. With 10 minutes left, the US led 4-3. The US somehow held off a relentless Russian attack. The crowd counted down the last seconds as ABC commentator Al Michaels joined in the count and made his now famous call: “Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now. Morrow, up to Silk … five seconds left in the game … Do you believe in miracles? Yes! Unbelievable!” The US had won, despite only 16 shots at goal compared with 39 by their opponents. The rest of the medal round matches were an anticlimax. By the way, the US beat Finland 4-2 for the gold medal.

Nadia Comaneci 1976

Any list of great Olympic moments has to include Nadia Comaneci, the Romanian gymnast who won five gold medals at the 1976 Montreal Olympics at the tender age of 14. Even more remarkable was that great moment when she received the first ever perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics events. It happened during the team section of the competition on the uneven bars. Ironically, the electronic equipment wasn’t able to display a score of 10.0 and it read 1.00 instead, but everyone knew it was a perfect score. This was a moment quite worthy of third place overall. Nadia went on to score six more 10s at the Montreal Olympics.

More great moments

Equal fourth goes to two incredible runners and two record breaking swimmers. Edwin Moses won a gold medal in the 400 meters hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics eight years after winning his first gold medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Had the US not boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games, Moses would have more than likely won that race too. He was undefeated in 107 consecutive finals between 1977 and 1987.

Michael Johnson winning the 200-400 meters track double at the 1996 Atlanta Games rates as one of the great Olympic moments. He is the only male runner to have done this at the same games. He successfully defended his 400 meters title at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming the first male athlete to achieve this feat.

Swimmer Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Amazingly, he set a world record in every event he contested: individual records in the 100 meters butterfly, 200 meters butterfly, 100 meters freestyle, and 200 meters freestyle, and team records in the 4 x 100 meters freestyle, 4 x 200 meters freestyle, and 4 x 100 meters medley.

Dawn Fraser from Australia won eight gold medals in three Olympic Games. The highlight of her career was probably when she won her third straight gold in the 100 meters freestyle at the 1964 Tokyo Games, having won in Melbourne in 1956 and in Rome in 1960. Fraser held 39 records, and is one of only two swimmers to win an event at three successive Olympic Games.

There have been many more great moments in Olympic history and no doubt some superb performances have been unfairly left out. The Olympics often bring out the best in athletes and we should see more great Olympic moments in the years to come.

Through the Eyes of Thomas Pamphlett: excerpt – finding land

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Australian convicts, Australian history, castaways, Jervis Bay, John Finnegan, non-fiction, Richard Parsons, survival, Sydney, Thomas Pamphlett

Here’s an excerpt from my non-fiction book on an Australian convict, Through the Eyes of Thomas Pamphlett: Convict and Castaway. After nearly a month lost at sea, the remaining three cedar fetchers finally reach land …

Pamphlett, the only reasonable swimmer, volunteered to go ashore to obtain drinking water. He fastened the keg to the running rigging, stripped off his clothing, climbed over the side and swam towards land. His health had deteriorated greatly and his strength weakened by the hardships of the previous three and a half weeks at sea. An exhausted Pamphlett battled for more than an hour through current and surf to get the keg to shore. As soon as he touched the sandy bottom in the shallows he struggled to his feet and hobbled up the beach as fast as he could, collapsing beside the fresh water. He drank like a horse. Temporarily satisfied, he stumbled back across the golden sand to the edge of the sea to retrieve the keg he had left there during his mad dash for the stream. But he was forced back to the spring for another extended guzzle. In all, he tottered between the keg and the delicious, cool, clear, fresh water three or four times. When he eventually attempted to fill the keg he found himself too weak to do so, from swimming and from stretching his stomach with several pints of water.

A strong onshore breeze sprang up. Pamphlett saw his friends beckoning him to return to the boat so they could up-anchor and sail out of the way of the breakers. He stood watching the big surf and the little boat being tossed about in the swell just beyond the breaking waves. He knew he lacked the strength to swim it. Instead, he yelled to his companions to raise the anchor and to let the surf bring the vessel ashore. A very thirsty Parsons succumbed to the temptation of a limitless supply of drinking water, reluctantly agreeing to land. Parsons, who could swim a little, and Finnegan, a non-swimmer, climbed out of the boat and clung to it tightly while guiding it as best they could through the breaking surf to the beach. Within five minutes of landing, the relentless movement of the waves over the sand firmly embedded their trusty craft.

Fresh water was priority though, after 25 days at sea. Parsons grabbed the pint pot brought ashore by Pamphlett for the purpose of filling the keg. He lolloped desperately towards the stream, falling down in front of it. He scooped up a cupful of water and bolted it. He gulped down another pint, and another, and another, until he had polished off 13 pints in succession. Sawyers had enormous capacities for fluid, although the claimed quantity made no allowance for spillage or partly filled pots caused by the great hurry Parsons was in to quench his thirst.

Finnegan did not bother about the etiquette of using a cup, choosing instead to lie down in the middle of the water, lapping it and sucking it in as rapidly as he could. But his constitution could not cope with the foreign substance and he vomited. Again he drank furiously and again he was sick. He repeated this cycle several times.

Exhausted and bloated the three survivors sat naked on the sand. Their clothing was in the boat where they shed it to swim ashore. Pondering their next move they watched in vain as waves of an ever-increasing size broke over their transport, covering it with spray. They were too weak and the surf too rough to consider salvaging anything from their battered boat that afternoon. Surveying their surroundings, the long sandy beach continued south for as far as they could see, but to the north it seemed to finish with a rocky headland about two miles away. Behind them was a low ridge of sand dunes, bare of trees or any other material suitable for a fire. In any case they had no means of lighting one. Believing they were still some considerable distance south of Illawarra, they ascended a nearby dune to seek a resting place for the night. Tomorrow they would free the boat and continue north along the coast supposedly towards their original destination.

With no shelter against the pouring rain they rested their weary bones on the wet sand. Pamphlett lay between the other two where he was afforded at least some protection from the elements, he being the weakest of the trio due to his long swim.

After a sleepless night suffering from cold and hunger, daybreak was a welcome sight. They dragged themselves to their feet and stood on top of the dune when they were horrified to see the remains of their boat, broken up overnight by powerful surf. Their means of reaching civilisation had disintegrated into a useless shell, with pieces of wood scattered about the ocean. Some of their food and equipment had washed up on the beach. They went down to the high-water mark to retrieve what they could. The contents of two of their three bags of flour were ruined by sea water but the third had only been penetrated about two inches at one end. Discarding the spoiled flour they apportioned the good among the three bags. Each bag weighed 20 to 30 pounds, the limit they thought their weakened state would allow them to carry any distance.

Breakfast was a revolting mixture of uncooked flour and water prepared in a bucket. Along with the keg, axe, scissors, tin pot and an old jacket belonging to Finnegan, these items became the sum total of their possessions. They had no other clothing, it being lost when the boat broke up. In that state, and each with a sack of flour on his back, their only food, and containers full of water, they commenced walking north along the beach believing they were south of Sydney and possibly somewhere south of Jervis Bay.

How wrong they were! The trio were actually nowhere near Jervis Bay. They were not even south of Sydney. Their navigational abilities did not match their boatmanship or survival skills. They were in fact more than 500 miles north of Sydney and walking further away from it.

– end of excerpt –

There are still some print copies at certain sites although this book is mainly available as an ebook through Amazon, Google Play, Apple iTunes and Kobo:

http://www.amazon.com.au/Through-Eyes-Thomas-Pamphlett-Castaway-ebook/dp/B00QHEGGA6/ref=pd_rhf_pe_p_img_1

http://www.amazon.com/Through-Eyes-Thomas-Pamphlett-Castaway-ebook/dp/B00QHEGGA6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Through-Eyes-Thomas-Pamphlett-Castaway-ebook/dp/B00QHEGGA6/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chris_Pearce_Through_the_Eyes_of_Thomas_Pamphlett?id=6uihBQAAQBAJ

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/through-eyes-thomas-pamphlett/id946797962?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/through-the-eyes-of-thomas-pamphlett?bookId=5f6a77ed-aaa5-4d63-91ab-e036c185f737

A Weaver’s Web novel excerpt: Albert and Benjamin remeet

Tags

a weaver's web, Albert Wakefield, Benjamin Wakefield, Charlotte, England, historical fiction, historical novel, Manchester, UK

Next day, Sunday, Benjamin left home as usual in the afternoon. He went directly to Charlotte’s house. She was still seeing her aunt, but the other occupants were there.

‘Have you brought us the money, rich boy?’ Nicholas said.

‘If you tell me where my brother Albert is.’

‘Give it here and we’ll tell you.’

Benjamin took the money from his pocket and held it out. Everyone in the room swarmed around him, jostling each other for a better look.

‘A ten shilling note and four shillings in silver,’ said one. ‘I’ve never seen so much money.’ He snatched at it.

But Nicholas pushed him aside and grabbed the money himself, before pulling back the sacking between the two rooms. Benjamin looked at him inquisitively, then peered into the back room.

‘Go on, then,’ Nicholas said.

It was very dark and Benjamin pointed to the candle. Nicholas nodded to him to take it. Benjamin saw there was someone in one of the beds, but couldn’t see if it was Albert. He went closer, and saw a face. It was still and the eyes were shut. For several seconds he studied it, searching for a familiar trait.

‘I can’t tell,’ he said.

‘You mean you don’t know your own brother?’

‘I haven’t seen him in years.’

Benjamin then recalled a peculiarity of his brother’s posture when asleep. His left arm was always straight by his side and the right one across his body, a legacy of having to share a bed for so much of his life. Whenever he put his right arm at his side, it used to fall out over the edge of the bed, while the left arm would hit Benjamin’s leg if not tight against his body. ‘He used to lie a certain way.’

‘Pull the blanket down and have a look.’

Gently Benjamin peeled off the bedding and saw the right arm draped over the midriff. Dumbfounded, he stared at the body before him. It was dressed in street clothes and a bit smelly, but he could see it was Albert.

‘He’s still recovering from last night,’ Nicholas said.

Benjamin stepped back as his brother stirred. The eyes opened, slits at first, trying to focus on whoever it was in front of him, then suddenly wider, startled. Benjamin, almost as alarmed, returned the look, nearly dropping the candle, while Albert pulled the blanket up over his head.

A moment later, he peeped out. ‘Benjamin?’

‘Albert!’

‘How did you find me?’

Benjamin glanced at Nicholas who gave him a threatening look and tipped his head towards where Charlotte usually sat. ‘It was …’ He didn’t want to inform on her, but he would rather face her than Nicholas and bullyboy George. ‘… Charlotte,’ he finally whispered.

‘I knew it.’ Albert sat up. ‘That little tramp.’

‘It wasn’t her fault. I made her tell me.’

‘Don’t dare say anything to the family. I’m happy doing what I do. I don’t want to go back.’ His face was sweaty and grimy and glowed in the candlelight.

‘Mum’s in the asylum.’

‘I suppose he put her there.’

‘Dad had to, because …’

‘… because it suited him not to have her around, just as it did to have me out the way.’

‘That’s not true.’

Albert got up. To Benjamin’s surprise, they were the same height. Being two years younger he had always been several inches shorter than his brother. He watched as Albert ran his hands through his hair and put his boots on.

‘Where are you going?’

‘The Crown and Anchor. Coming?’

(cover of A Weaver’s Web showing the Peterloo Massacre)

Benjamin had never been to a tavern, even during the week, let alone on a Sunday.

‘My shout,’ Albert said.

‘I won’t be drinking much. I’ve got to go home.’

‘Afraid of him, eh?’

‘No … yes, sometimes.’

They went up the steps to the street and walked a couple of blocks before Albert led them into a laneway between high buildings. It was dark and narrow and strewn with rubbish. They came to what Benjamin thought was someone’s workshop. Albert did a certain knock. The door opened and a man, the owner, waved them inside. There were two other men, customers, at a counter in a small room. Benjamin heard a woman’s voice and a child crying on the other side of a partition and presumed this was the bedroom, and the bar probably the man and his family’s living room when the tavern wasn’t open. The pair sat at a table in the corner.

‘Two specials,’ Albert said to the owner, who went behind the counter and poured a dark-coloured liquid from a barrel into two glasses.

Just the thought of what might be in it made Benjamin recoil. He sniffed his drink, but the room was full of so many others smells, he couldn’t tell what was in the glass.

Albert laughed at him. ‘It’s only poison.’

This made Benjamin push his drink towards his brother. ‘You have it then.’

‘I thought you were a man now.’

‘I’d rather be a live boy than a dead man.’

‘Charlotte thinks you’re a man. She’s told me about you. I think she likes you.’ Albert sipped his drink. As he swallowed it, he screwed up his face and gasped for air. ‘What did you put in this?’ he called out to the publican.

‘Secret home brew.’

‘It’s even worse than usual.’ Albert grinned and had another sip, a bigger one, and nearly fell off his chair.

Benjamin had seen enough, pushing his glass further across the table.

‘I’ll tell Charlotte you’re a coward,’ Albert said, his voice rasping.

He didn’t doubt his brother’s threat. What he did question was if Charlotte liked him. She had shown no signs. But she was the only girl, apart from his sisters, he had ever spoken to and felt at ease with. He reached over and picked up his glass and held it to his lips. Closing his eyes tightly, he let his top lip touch the drink before he put it down.

‘You’ll have to do better than that,’ Albert said.

Benjamin picked it up again and took the smallest sip, though he made it appear he had taken a larger one. His throat felt as if it was on fire. The heat travelled up to his mouth, which he opened wide. He blew hard, half expecting flames to burst out, like a dragon. His eyes watered and became sore. ‘Is that good enough?’ he said and coughed several times.

‘It’ll have to do. What do you see in her anyway?’

– end of excerpt –

My historical novel, A Weaver’s Web, is available fro the following stores:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H52SEEK

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H52SEEK

Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00H52SEEK

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chris_Pearce_A_Weaver_s_Web?id=-hlJAgAAQBAJ

Kobo Books: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ww/books/A-Weavers-Web/jHgKZNwqjkybm8qWDO3mcw?MixID=jHgKZNwqjkybm8qWDO3mcw&PageNumber=1

Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/a-weavers-web/id775610928?mt=11

The Norwalk Islands, Connecticut

Tags

Chimon Island, Cockenoe Island, Connecticut, fishing, Goose Island, Grassy Island, hunting, kayakers, Long Island Sound, Norwalk City, Norwalk Islands, Shea Island, Sheffield Island, Westport Town, wildlife

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

The Norwalk Islands are a group of over 25 islands off the coast of Norwalk City and Westport Town in the state of Connecticut in north-eastern United States, in an Atlantic Ocean estuary called Long Island Sound. Most of the islands are about a mile from the coast and form a chain some six miles in length more or less parallel to the coast. Manhattan skyscrapers 40 miles to the south-west can be seen from the islands on a clear day.

The islands are what geologists call terminal moraines. They were formed from glacial debris including gravel and rocks at the southern edge of an ice sheet which covered the state 17,000 years ago. This debris originated in the Norwalk River and Saugatuck River catchment areas and was pushed downstream by glaciers. Gravel, rocks, and boulders are a feature of the islands.

They are used for various recreational activities, including kayaking, fishing and hunting, swimming, camping, and bird watching. Some of the islands are privately owned, while others belong to Norwalk and Westport governments, and to the federal Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge includes various parts of Connecticut’s shoreline and is named after the late congressman who was instrumental in setting it up in 1972. The Norwalk Islands are an important environmental area and are protected by town ordinances, as well as federal legislation such as the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982.

Kayakers frequent the islands, some of them paddling the 40 miles from New York City. The water is usually calm and the currents are gentle. A good landmark is the power plant at Manresa Island, which is not actually an island but a peninsula on the western side of the mouth of the Norwalk River. The main things kayakers need to look out for are larger craft and also fog which can descend on the Sound without much warning. A brochure showing a canoe and kayak trail with half-day and full-day loops is available from the South Western Regional Planning Agency. There are guided tours by kayak too.

Fishing and hunting are popular pastimes at the islands. Fish that can be caught in the surrounded waters include trout, flounder, bluefish, striped bass, dogfish, fluke, bonito, and false albacore. There are clamming beds too. Ducks can be hunted below high tide during duck-hunting season. Deer hunting is possible on the privately owned islands if the owner gives permission.

An abundance of wildlife inhabits the islands. Many birds can be found on Sheffield Island, including ospreys, herons, songbirds, shorebirds, terns, and various wading birds. Waterfowl such as black ducks, brants, and scoters can be seen in the surrounding waters. Cockenoe Island is becoming an even larger home for birds than Sheffield Island. Harbor seals also live on Sheffield, mainly at the south-western end, and kayakers are asked to stay at least 50 yards from them. Deer inhabit a number of islands, swimming to them from the mainland. Plants on the islands include sassafras, bittersweet, juniper, honeysuckle, and thorn thickets, as well as black cherry and blackberry bushes.

The four largest islands in the Norwalk group are Chimon, Sheffield, Shea, and Cockenoe. Chimon Island is the largest, with an area of 59 acres and located directly opposite Norwalk Harbor. It is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. The south and east coasts are covered with boulders, while the north and west coasts have a gravel beach. Boaters and kayakers can land at this beach year round. They cannot land elsewhere on the island between 1 April and 15 August due to bird nesting. Overnight camping is prohibited.

Sheffield is the next largest island at 51 acres and is at the south-western end of the chain. Rocks and boulders cover the shore. It is also part of the McKinney Refuge and is closed most of the year to protect bird nesting areas. However, tours are available in summer to visit the lighthouse which was built in 1868. A trail of over one mile has been established for public access at certain times. Winter cruises to see the seals and waterfowl are run by Norwalk’s Maritime Aquarium.

Slightly smaller at 45 acres is Shea Island. It is situated between Chimon and Sheffield islands and is owned by the Norwalk City government. The public can access it from May to October and can camp with a permit at one of 16 campsites. Restrooms are available on the island. Again, the shoreline is covered with rocks and boulders. Shea Island is subject to a number of restrictions such as no alcohol, no glass containers, no dogs, no tampering with trees and other plants, no hunting on the island itself, no open fires apart from on the beach, and no fireworks anywhere. The regulations apply to Grassy Island too. No garbage is to be buried or otherwise left on Shea, Grassy, or Chimon islands.

Cockenoe Island is at the north-eastern end of the group, opposite Westport and owned by the government of that town. Most of the bird rookeries are now located on this island. The guano of the cormorants is toxic to trees and can kill them after the birds nest in them for best part of a year. Camping needs to be booked as only four parties are allowed there per night.

Among the other islands, Grassy Island, just to the north-east of Chimon Island, is one of the larger ones. It is open between May and October and camping is permitted. Goose Island, to the east of Grassy Island, has an interesting history. Research may have been conducted there to find a cure to yellow fever. A small stone hut on the island may have been built as a spy lookout in World War II. Sprite Island, north-east of Calf Pasture Beach on the eastern side of Norwalk Harbor, was owned by a New York financier who bred collies there. He sold it to the Sprite Island Yacht Club in 1952, who converted the kennels into lockers.

The Norwalk Islands offer a variety of activities for locals and tourists alike. The area is subject to various restrictions in order to preserve its fragile environment. It is best to check these restrictions before visiting the islands. The regulations are commonsense rules that will protect the islands and their wildlife, and allow future generations to enjoy the area as much as people do today.

How did Norwalk, CT get the nickname “Oyster Town”?

Tags

Connecticut, CT, Daniel Patrick, Hillard Bloom, Hillard Bloom Shellfish Inc, Norman Bloom, Norwalk, Norwalk Oyster Festival, Norwalk Seaport Association, NRB Corp, Oyster Town, oysters, Pure Food Laws, Roger Ludlow, Talmadge Brothers Inc

(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)

Norwalk is a coastal city of 84,000 people in the US state of Connecticut. It is about 40 miles northeast of downtown New York and is regarded as part of its metropolitan area. The Norwalk region originally belonged to the Norwalke or Norwauke Indians. In 1640, land to the west of Norwalk River was bought by Daniel Patrick. A year later, Roger Ludlow purchased the land east of the river from the local population in exchange for items of clothing, tools, and other oddments. Settlers arrived in 1649, pursuing various agricultural and pastoral activities, and the town was incorporated in 1651.

The city has a long association with oysters. It is quite possible that the resourceful pioneers of the mid 1600s collected and ate oysters, and perhaps even sold some to settlers further inland. The industry may have started at this time. Oyster farming has been practised since ancient times when the Romans cultured oysters in England and shipped them back to Rome. Certainly since the 1700s, Norwalk has farmed and harvested oysters. There was a plentiful supply in all the estuaries along the northeast coast from Delaware Bay to Massachusetts.

The people of Norwalk and other coastal areas consumed large quantities of oysters in the early 1800s. However, with the increase in population in the following decades, depletion of readily available supplies resulted in oyster prices soaring. Soon only the wealthier classes could afford oysters. Demand for Norwalk oysters increased in the mid 1800s when the expansion of the railways across the US opened up new markets. At the same time, improvements in oyster farming technology as well as in canning and preservation methods further boosted demand.

Eventually, prices fell and by the 1880s, oysters were cheaper than meat, poultry, or fish, and production surged. By then, Norwalk was the largest producer of oysters in Connecticut and had the biggest fleet of oyster boats with steam power in the world. Norwalk became the oyster capital of the US and became known as “Oyster Town”. The boom lasted for several decades, into the early part of the 20^th century.

The downturn in the Norwalk oyster industry started in 1906 with the Pure Food Laws. The new legislation brought sweeping changes to the food business in general. For the oyster industry, it meant a complete change in processing and shipping methods. A lack of cleanliness in the industry was taken up by health officials and the newspapers. The adverse publicity led to people eating far fewer oysters. A typhoid outbreak in 1924 as well as pollution of the harvesting areas exacerbated the problem. It is doubtful that Norwalk encouraged its “Oyster Town” tag at all in these years. Consumption continued to decline. The local industry took a further blow in the 1950s when oyster beds were devastated by storms and hurricanes. Many people left the industry or moved into areas such as clams.

In 1972, brothers Hillard and Norman Bloom bought Norwalk’s leading oyster company Talmadge Brothers Inc, originally formed in 1875, and started rebuilding oyster beds still ruined since the storms of the 1950s. It was hard work. The brothers had been in the clam industry for 25 years and, although clamming requires long hours, clams set naturally and it is a matter of finding them. Oysters, however, need to be farmed. The shells are vacuumed and put on land. When the oysters spawn, the shells are returned to the water. Within a few months, baby oysters set in the shells. Close to a year later, they are moved to the growing area, where it takes a further four years before they are ready to harvest.

In recent decades, the industry has turned itself around and once again Norwalk is happy to be called “Oyster Town”, although the name doesn’t seem to be used as frequently as in the industry’s heyday in the late 19^th and very early 20^th centuries. Talmadge Brothers Inc. promoted their oysters at trade shows and participants always held Norwalk oysters in very higher regard, apparently preferring them to the product of other areas. The company was split into Hillard Bloom Shellfish Inc. and NRB Corp. by the children of the now deceased brothers in 2001. Hillard Bloom is the largest oyster company in the US.

Demand for oysters has increased despite their high price. The city remains Connecticut’s largest producer of oysters. The industry is still not without its problems though. In recent years, warm winters have kept the water temperature high and warm-water diseases have migrated north and killed many oysters.

Since 1978, the city has celebrated its oyster heritage with the annual Norwalk Oyster Festival in September, the weekend after Labor Day. It is like a state fair, with over 90,000 people attending each year to try the vast array of seafood on offer, including of course local oysters. Entertainment is provided by top performers such as the Village People, Willie Nelson, the Monkees, Little Richard, and Blood, Sweat and Tears. The festival is conducted by non-profit organization Norwalk Seaport Association and each year contributes more than $5 million to the local economy. Norwalk no longer tries to shake off its nickname as the “Oyster Town”.