The Practical Nomad: Edward Hasbrouck's blog: Writing and Publishing

Writing and Publishing

Monday, 1 January 2024

New year, new look for my blog and Web site

For a freelancer, there's no such thing as a paid holiday. Other people's holidays are an opportunity to immerse myself in large projects with little risk of outside interruptions and when it would be least damaging if I make a mistake and my Web site goes down. I've spent much... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 1 January 2024, 08:00 ( 8:00 AM) | Comments (0)

Sunday, 23 April 2023

Generative AI developers violate my moral rights as an author

[Results of search for "hasbrouck" in list of domain names in Inside the secret list of websites that make AI like ChatGPT sound smart by Kevin Schaul, Szu Yu Chen, and Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 19 April 2023.] The same day last week that I was invited to testify... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 23 April 2023, 09:29 ( 9:29 AM) | Comments (0)

Friday, 31 March 2023

Please, librarians, now can we finally talk?

I'm quoted in a thoughtful column by Kate Knibbs today in Wired, The Internet Archive’s Literary Civil War: As a general rule, I support the Internet Archive's work.... As another general rule, though, I support writers’ efforts to protect their intellectual property and make money.... I wasn’t sure how to... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 31 March 2023, 15:27 ( 3:27 PM) | Comments (1)

Wednesday, 14 December 2022

Mastodon is not Twitter

Like many other people interested in an alternative to Twitter, I've recently started posting on Mastodon in addition to (at least as of now) continuing to post on Twitter. Mastodon is not Twitter, and in many respects that's a good thing. But there are aspects of Twitter's functionality that Mastodon... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 14 December 2022, 09:33 ( 9:33 AM) | Comments (2)

Thursday, 4 November 2021

Unity in diversity

What does it mean to be part of a "union" of "independent contractors"? My article below on this question is cross-posted from the blog of the National Writers Union: The Book Division of the National Writers Union, including Delegates and other NWU members interested in issues related to books, e-books,... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 4 November 2021, 15:36 ( 3:36 PM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Susan E. Davis: Writer, Editor, Activist, Comrade

[Book Division Co-Chairs Susan E. Davis and Edward Hasbrouck at the 2012 NWU National Executive Board meeting, New York City. Photo by NWUsletter editor Sue Katz.] Susan E. Davis, a leader for many decades in the National Writers Union (including as Co-Chair with me of the Book Division of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 30 September 2020, 10:14 (10:14 AM) | Comments (0)

Saturday, 30 March 2019

How writers monetize words: The marketplaces for writing in digital formats

The Internet is often depicted as a threat to traditional print publishing and traditional print publishers -- which it is. But the Internet has also created many new digital publishing and income opportunities for tech-savvy, innovative, and entrepreneurial writers, including ways to make money from business models and types... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 30 March 2019, 16:29 ( 4:29 PM) | Comments (0)

Thursday, 14 February 2019

"An appeal to readers and librarians..."

As Co-Chair of the Book Division of the National Writers Union, I'm quoted today in Publishers Weekly in an article about "Controlled Digital Lending" (CDL), the flawed legal theory being used by the Internet Archive and its library "partners" as their jusitification for unauthorized, unpaid scanning and distribution on the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 14 February 2019, 13:46 ( 1:46 PM) | Comments (1)

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

"A demonstration's been announced... Against the draft, war taxes, the rise in food prices..."

"It was good to be outside, after the rooms with locked doors, the hiding places. It was good to be walking, swinging his arms, breathing in the clear air.... To be among so many people, so immense a crowd, thousands marching together, filling all the side streets as well as... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 23 January 2018, 19:35 ( 7:35 PM) | Comments (0)

Monday, 27 November 2017

New look for PapersPlease.org

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, The Identity Project deployed the first redesign of its Web site in more than a decade. I hope that the new look and formatting will be easier on the eyes and easier to read on a variety of devices, including those with small screens. For the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 27 November 2017, 08:56 ( 8:56 AM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Elected to IFRRO's Board of Directors

I've been elected to the Board of Directors of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO). For the next three years, I will hold the sole seat on the Board reserved for a representative of journalists, authors, and other writers worldwide. Although the name sometimes leads to confusion, IFRRO... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 30 November 2016, 19:07 ( 7:07 PM) | Comments (3)

Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Writers shouldn't have to choose between privacy and copyright

Writers shouldn't have to choose between protecting our privacy and protecting our copyrights. But existing and proposed laws in the US and other countries are forcing us to do so. They should be, and can be, changed to remove this unnecessary and unfair dilemma for working writers. That's the message... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 19 October 2016, 06:30 ( 6:30 AM) | Comments (1)

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

National reading of "It Can't Happen Here" on Monday, Oct. 24th

Over the weekend I got to see a stellar new staging of Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here at the Berkeley Repertory Theater. The 1935 novel is prescient even in its details. I've re-read it several times in the last year, and I've been recommending it to everyone I know.... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 18 October 2016, 11:23 (11:23 AM) | Comments (0)

Monday, 22 September 2014

Business and pleasure in Cancún at the TBEX travel bloggers' conference

[San Miguelito archeological site in the hotel zone, Cancún] I was in Cancún last week for the TBEX conference of travel bloggers. Blogging is a fairly solitary activity, and not everyone understands what it means to be a professional blogger or travel writer. I write about independent do-it-yourself travel, so... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 22 September 2014, 07:54 ( 7:54 AM) | Comments (11)

Friday, 12 September 2014

Responsible and sustainable travel

I'm in Cancún, Mexico, this week at the annual TBEX conference of travel bloggers. I've been interested in TBEX for several years as a venue at which to meet other professional travel bloggers. But each of the previous times I've registered, other things have come up, and I've had to... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 September 2014, 07:20 ( 7:20 AM) | Comments (3)

Saturday, 31 May 2014

Bill Dalton on "The Founding of Moon Publications"

Many large publishers started as self-publishing ventures by individual writers, but that pattern is especially dominant in publishers of guidebooks for independent international travellers. Arthur Frommer ("Europe on $5 A Day"), Tony and Maureen Wheeler (Lonely Planet), Hilary and Geoge Bradt (Bradt Travel Guides), and Bill Dalton (Indonesia Handbook and... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 31 May 2014, 09:24 ( 9:24 AM) | Comments (0)

Thursday, 19 December 2013

"They've given me a number..."

What's wrong with the "International Standard Name Identifier" (ISNI)? To: Olav Stokkmo Chair of the Board, International Standard Name Identifier - International Agency (ISNI-IA) CEO, International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) Dear Olav: Thank you very much for your request last week for me to expand on my Tweet... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 19 December 2013, 13:01 ( 1:01 PM) | Comments (13)

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Apologies and Explanations

[Keywords: Plesk, migration, Mailman, Horde, Spamassassin, Rackforce, frustration] Last week my hosting provider moved my Web sites and e-mail to a new server: We will be migrating your domain data to a brand new server that will be setup prior to the migration date. This server will contain the most... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 29 May 2013, 22:57 (10:57 PM) | Comments (0)

Saturday, 23 June 2012

How not to "reach out" to travel bloggers

I've gone to considerable effort on my How To Pitch Me page to make clear to publicists and marketers what sorts of information from them I am likely to find useful. Most of the time I just delete the more obviously useless p.r. spam. I recognize that receiving such pitches,... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 23 June 2012, 08:21 ( 8:21 AM) | Comments (2)

Thursday, 26 April 2012

What do authors fear from "Orphan Works" licensing proposals?

Earlier this month I represented the National Writers Union at a fascinating high-level symposium at Berkeley on so-called "orphan works" -- written and other publications, the holders of certain reproduction rights to which cannot be identified and/or found by some or all of those who want to reproduce those works.... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 26 April 2012, 20:57 ( 8:57 PM) | Comments (5)

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Facts and Fallacies of "Orphan Works"

I wrote the following article in preparation for a symposium next week on Orphan Works & Mass Digitization: Obstacles & Opportunities, co-sponsored by the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology; the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic; the Berkeley Technology Law Journal; and the University of California at Berkeley... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 4 April 2012, 12:02 (12:02 PM) | Comments (3)

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Upcoming events in Europe

[At the c-base hackerspace, Berlin, 20 October 2011.] I'll be in Europe for most of the rest of this month representing the Identity Project in a series of public events and private meetings with European Union and European national officials on PNR data (airline reservations), privacy, data protection, and... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 October 2011, 18:14 ( 6:14 PM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Coming soon: New edition of "The Practical Nomad"

As I've mentioned, I'm busy finalizing the forthcoming 5th edition of The Practical Nomad: How To Travel Around The World, which will be in bookstores, "inshallah", this fall. (Of course, you can still get the current 4th edition now.) I'd like your help designing my new book! I've just gotten... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 23 February 2011, 17:43 ( 5:43 PM) | Comments (20)

Included in the "Travel 10" of the inaugural "SAY 100" voices that shape opinion

There's a new badge off to the right in the sidebar of my blog, marking my inclusion as one of 10 inaugural "online voices that shape opinion" in the travel category of the worldwide SAY 100 launched today: Author, journalist, blogger, travel expert... there's seemingly nothing Edward Hasbrouck doesn't do.... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 23 February 2011, 07:45 ( 7:45 AM) | Comments (0)

Friday, 7 January 2011

Entering radio silence

This winter I'm in the final crunch of revisions and updates for the forthcoming 5th edition of The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World, scheduled for publication later this year, including updates to incorporate the lessons of my own most recent 13-month trip around the world and other... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 7 January 2011, 08:59 ( 8:59 AM) | Comments (3)

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Relations between travel bloggers and travel marketers and publicists

I spoke at the Travel Bloggers Show in Orlando on Saturday about "Working with travel marketers and publicists", and to travel marketers, publicists, and national tourism organizations about, "How to work with travel bloggers" at two sessions of the associated ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) Trade Show on Monday.... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 14 September 2010, 13:54 ( 1:54 PM) | Comments (3)

Wednesday, 21 July 2010

Travel Bloggers Show in Orlando, 11-14 September

I'll be in Orlando, Florida, 11-14 September 2010 as one of the featured speakers at the inaugural Travel Bloggers Show being organized in conjunction with the large annual travel trade show sponsored by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). I'll be giving a pair of presentations on relations between... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 21 July 2010, 11:04 (11:04 AM) | Comments (1)

Saturday, 19 June 2010

BATW discussion of "Ethics & Etiquette of Travel Writing"

I'm speaking at today's meeting of the Bay Area Travel Writers as part of a panel on the Ethics & Etiquette of Travel Writing. Audio archive: downloadable podcast and streaming audio Moderator (Erin Van Rheenen) and other panelists: Catherine Boire David Page Tom Wilmer Erin Van Rheenen (In addition to... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 19 June 2010, 07:26 ( 7:26 AM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

"How Can Creators Get a Fair Deal in the Digital World?"

As I've noted in previous articles on this topic, it's common but mistaken to assume that the "copyright fight" is between "rightsholders" and "the public", when in fact the real conflict is between the interests of creators (writers, musicians, etc.) and the public on one side, and publishers on the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 2 June 2010, 20:15 ( 8:15 PM) | Comments (1)

Thursday, 29 April 2010

NWU comments on intellectual property enforcement

Shortly before I left for Europe, I helped draft comments which were submitted by the National Writers Union in response to a call by the new U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator for input on intellectual property infringement and enforcement. The apparent intent of the "public consultation" was to collect political... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 29 April 2010, 11:47 (11:47 AM) | Comments (0)

Saturday, 13 March 2010

A great blog writer's advice on "How to Write"

I met Chris Clarke 30 years ago, lost touch with him after a couple of years, and reconnected through his blogging after a gap of 25 years. Chris is a great writer; the best writer in the blog medium I know. That is, in part, because he is thoughtful and... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 13 March 2010, 13:23 ( 1:23 PM) | Comments (1)

Wednesday, 24 February 2010

Arguments for writers' rights at the Google Books settlement hearing

For those who don't want to wade through the full 167-page transcript of last week's hearing on the proposed settlement of the copyright infringement lawsuit against Google, here's what was said on behalf of the National Writers Union and other allied writers' organizations:... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 24 February 2010, 16:23 ( 4:23 PM) | Comments (0)

Thursday, 11 February 2010

"Google will bring books back to life" (Not.)

Today Google and the Authors Guild (2 briefs) filed their briefs in support of court approval of its proposed settlement of the Google Books copyright infringement lawsuit, mirroring in legalese the arguments made in recent op-eds by Google and the Authors Guild in response to the objections to the proposed... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 11 February 2010, 19:39 ( 7:39 PM) | Comments (5)

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

Readers' interests lie with writers, not with publishers

This week Amazon.com -- the leading retail distributor of e-books -- and publishers of books in hardcopy have been squabbling over control, pricing, and which of them gets what share of e-book revenues. The Macmillan publishing conglomerate demanded that Amazon raise the retail prices for Kindle Editions of e-books licensed... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 2 February 2010, 10:50 (10:50 AM) | Comments (3)

Friday, 29 January 2010

My reply to Larry Lessig on the proposed Google Books settlement

Yesterday was the deadline for filings with the Federal court considering the revised proposal for a settlement of the Google Books copyright infringement lawsuit, with objections submitted on behalf of groups of authors including the National Writers Union, American Society of Journalists and Authors, and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 29 January 2010, 15:26 ( 3:26 PM) | Comments (0)

Friday, 22 January 2010

Kindle and Google Books "ripping" apps released

Two months ago I announced a contest to predict "the date when the first working Kindle ripping app capable of generating a PDF, text, or HTML file from a Kindle file is publicly released". We've got a winner, commenter "Ben", who predicted 31 December 2009, midway between the dates of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 22 January 2010, 10:29 (10:29 AM) | Comments (3)

Thursday, 21 January 2010

Why the NWU thinks the proposed Google Books settlement is unfair

[Left to right: Edward Hasbrouck (NWU), Sally Shannon (ASJA), Lynn Chu (Writers Reps), James Grimmelmann (NYLS), Paul Aiken (Authors Guild), Michael Capobianco (SFWA), Larry Goldbetter (moderator, NWU). Photo by kind permission of Bud Korotzer.] [Photos by kind permission of Bud Korotzer (left) and Joly MacFie (right, from from video).]... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 21 January 2010, 11:25 (11:25 AM) | Comments (2)

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

The Google Book Settlement: What's in it for writers?

As part of my work as co-chair of the Book Division of the National Writers Union, I'm speaking on behalf of the NWU at events on both coasts next week, in exceptionally distinguished legal and scholarly company: The Google Book Settlement: What's in it for writers? Free public informational events... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 13 January 2010, 20:12 ( 8:12 PM) | Comments (2)

Friday, 13 November 2009

Revised proposal for a settlement of the Google Books copyright infringement lawsuit

Just minutes before midnight (New York time), the parties to the Google Books copyright infringement lawsuit filed a revised proposal for a settlement, together with a proposed schedule (see p. 27 of the PDF) for consideration of the revised proposal and for a second chance until, they propose, 28 January... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 13 November 2009, 22:47 (10:47 PM) | Comments (3)

A message to publicists, marketers, and salespeople

I've added a new page to my Web site, linked from the Contact page: Are you trying to sell me something? How to pitch me: Notes and advice for publicists, marketers, and advertising salespeople (Please read this page before you contact me.) I've been meaning to add a How to... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 13 November 2009, 20:44 ( 8:44 PM) | Comments (0)

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Travel Forum in Boston on Friday, November 20th

I'm leading a workshop on travel writing in Boston next Friday as part of Hostelling International's Centennial celebration events. I know it's a weekday, but I think it will be worth the time if you can make it. Friday morning, there are workshops by experts in travel photography, travel technology,... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 November 2009, 20:12 ( 8:12 PM) | Comments (4)

Kindle for Windows: Now you can read "The Practical Nomad" on your PC

If you've been wanting to read The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World on your PC, now you can -- if, and only if, your PC is running Windows. Amazon.com has released a beta version of Kindle for PC software that you can download for free, and use... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 November 2009, 15:54 ( 3:54 PM) | Comments (6)

Clarification and commentary on new FTC advertising and endorsement rules

As I mentioned in an article last month, the USA Federal Trade commission has announced new guidelines effective 1 December 2009 for enforcement of the FTC prohibition on deceptive advertising as they relate to endorsements, sponsorships, and non-obvious financial relationships with the those who endorse or promote commercial products or... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 November 2009, 13:05 ( 1:05 PM) | Comments (11)

Sunday, 1 November 2009

"The Practical Nomad" Kindle Edition (e-book for Kindle, iPhone, or iPod Touch)

The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World":/books/ is now available as a "Kindle Edition" e-book that you can download and read on your Kindle, iPhone, or iPod Touch. The "Kindle edition"contains the complete text of the most recent (4th edition, 2007) print edition of the book. As I... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 1 November 2009, 15:11 ( 3:11 PM) | Comments (2)

Friday, 23 October 2009

New FTC rules on disclosure of sponsorships, freebies, and discounts

On October 5th, the Federal Trade Commission announced new regulations and interpretive guidance effective 1 December 2009 governing "endorsements, testimonials, advertisements, and bloggers" in the USA or subject to US jurisdiction. In general, the rules require that writers, including bloggers, must disclose to their readers any "material connections" with providers... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 23 October 2009, 22:01 (10:01 PM) | Comments (12)

Monday, 7 September 2009

KQED's "Forum" on Google Books settlement Tuesday

I'll be representing the National Writers Union on KQED's Forum with Michael Krasny tomorrow morning, Tuesday, 8 September 2009, from 9-10 a.m. PDT (noon-1 p.m. EDT; 16:00-17:00 UTC/GMT) to discuss the Google Books copyright infringement lawsuit and writers' rights. The NWU will be filing a friend of the court brief... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 7 September 2009, 07:25 ( 7:25 AM) | Comments (2)

Sunday, 6 September 2009

"The Practical Nomad" coming soon to Kindle and iPhone

The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World will be on sale later this month through Amazon.com in electronic form for reading on the Kindle e-book reader device or on the iPhone or iPod Touch with the Kindle reader app. Amazon.com approached my publisher (Avalon Travel) and I last... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 6 September 2009, 09:33 ( 9:33 AM) | Comments (9)

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

NPR's "All Things Considered" on Google Books settlement

I was interviewed this evening (it was recorded a few days ago, actually) on "All Things Considered" about why, as an author, I'm opting out of the proposed settlement of the lawsuit against Google for its unauthorized scanning and electronic republication of millions of books -- including, I've learned, some... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 2 September 2009, 14:09 ( 2:09 PM) | Comments (0)

Thursday, 20 August 2009

Google Books and writers' rights

Writers and publishers (including self-publishers) of "books" including out-of-print-books (and actually including many magazines, journals, chapbooks, ephemera, etc.), have until 4 September 2009 to decide what to do about a proposed settlement of multiple class-action copyright-infringment lawsuits brought against Google for scanning and distributing electronic copies of books without the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 20 August 2009, 15:25 ( 3:25 PM) | Comments (0)

Tuesday, 18 August 2009

New "experiential travel" magazine launches today: "Afar"

There's a section for "Travel magazines and Web sites for independent travellers" in the 100-page resource guide in the The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World . But almost all of the listings in this section change with each edition of my book. As I note in the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 18 August 2009, 12:59 (12:59 PM) | Comments (1)

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Travel writing resources

Today's the final day of the 18th annual Book Passage Travel Writers Conference, which you may have noticed among the "Travel Writing Resources" links in the sidebar of my blog. I'm not at the conference this year, but it seems a good occasion to highlight some of the other resources... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 16 August 2009, 17:45 ( 5:45 PM) | Comments (2)

Friday, 17 July 2009

Google finally starts a travel guide service, sort of

Travel was one of the first, and is one of the largest, sectors of e-commerce. Almost all of Google's revenues come from the sale of online advertising. Not surprisingly, that has meant that sales of ads for online travel services are one of Google's largest revenue and profit centers, and... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 17 July 2009, 22:31 (10:31 PM) | Comments (0)

Friday, 3 April 2009

Aviation and the environment

I've been in Geneva this week for a conference on aviation and the environment; more specifically, on what the air transport industry (aircraft and engine manufacturers, aviation fuel suppliers, air traffic control agencies, airport operators, and of course airlines) are doing about the impact of aircraft emissions on global warming... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 3 April 2009, 07:41 ( 7:41 AM) | Comments (23)

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Travel reading, travel writing, and the public library

[The Fells Branch of the Wellesley Free Library, where I got my first library card] I spent the weekend in Sacramento, where I was interviewed by Jeffrey Callison on Capital Public Radio's Insight show (the segment with me is from 20-35 minutes into the audio archive) and gave one of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 15 March 2009, 19:45 ( 7:45 PM) | Comments (3)

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

"The Practical Nomad Guide to the Online Travel Marketplace"

I've been informed today by my publisher, Avalon Travel , that one of my books, The Practical Nomad Guide to the Online Travel Marketplace (published in 2001), has been deemed officially out of print. Fortunately, that may be a good thing for would-be readers, and for me. The book got... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 30 December 2008, 19:23 ( 7:23 PM) | Comments (1)

Crossposting at PapersPlease.org

I'm continuing to work with the Identity Project as a technical expert, policy analyst, and consultant on travel-related civil liberties and human rights issues. I've often posted pointers here to the Identity Project blog and Web site at www.PapersPlease.org , and will probably continue to do so occasionally. But I'd... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 30 December 2008, 17:26 ( 5:26 PM) | Comments (0)

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

5 years of the "Practical Nomad" blog

As of today, I've been blogging here for more than 5 years. I'm not sure what significance to attach to this, espeically since this blog is far from my first writing or publishing venture. I've been publishing my columns about The Amazing Race on this Web site for more than... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 21 October 2008, 17:56 ( 5:56 PM) | Comments (0)

Friday, 12 January 2007

Avalon Publishing to be acquired by Perseus Books

Avalon Publishing Group -- which includes the publisher of my Practical Nomad books, Avalon Travel Publishing -- has announced that they are to be acquired by Perseus Books Group . This should have no affect on readers or buyers of my books, and hopefully will have little effect on me... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 January 2007, 14:10 ( 2:10 PM) | Comments (4)

Sunday, 26 November 2006

The Amazing Race 10, Episode 10

Kiev (Ukraine) - Ouarzazate (Morocco) - Idelssan (Morocco) - Ouarzazate (Morocco) This week the cast of travellers on The Amazing Race became the cast of a movie within the TV show, cheered on by a crowd of extras in a chariot race on a Moroccan movie studio's desert back lot.... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 26 November 2006, 23:59 (11:59 PM) | Comments (3)

Monday, 18 September 2006

The power of travel blogs

Using Technology: Blogs About Business Travel Begin to Feel the Power (by Christopher Elliott, New York Times, 18 September 2006): But business-travel bloggers are still a long way from wielding the power of political bloggers. Edward Hasbrouck, who writes The Practical Nomad blog (hasbrouck.org/blog), says that policy changes that result... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 18 September 2006, 09:31 ( 9:31 AM) | Comments (2)

Sunday, 17 September 2006

The Amazing Race 10, Episode 1

Seattle, WA (USA) - Beijing (China) - Juyongguan (China) As the teams in the new season of The Amazing Race prepared for the start of the race at Gasworks Park in Seattle, host Phil Keoghan told them -- and us, the viewers -- that there would be some surprises. And... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 17 September 2006, 23:59 (11:59 PM) | Comments (2)

Wednesday, 19 July 2006

MT-Preview plugin with MT 3.3

Ignore this unless you want to use Laurent Mihalkovic's MT-Preview plugin (for WYSIWYG previews of draft blog entries before you publish them) with MovableType version 3.3. If that is what you want to do, here's how:... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 19 July 2006, 10:38 (10:38 AM) | Comments (0)

Tuesday, 20 June 2006

Forward-looking statements

After eight productive and rewarding years as the staff "Travel Guru" at Airtreks.com in San Francisco, today is my last day as an employee. I'll remain a paid affiliate of Airtreks.com , and they still have my endorsement and recommendation. (Tell them I sent you, and your purchases of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 20 June 2006, 16:00 ( 4:00 PM) | Comments (0)

Monday, 3 April 2006

ICANN and the press

One of the three main issues that has arisen in my efforts to report on the Internet's governing body, ICANN , is ICANN's failure to comply with its own bylaws requiring that "ICANN and its constituent bodies shall operate to the maximum extent feasible in an open and transparent manner... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 3 April 2006, 07:52 ( 7:52 AM) | Comments (2)

Wednesday, 8 February 2006

Reasons for travel writing and publishing

Interesting comments on the motives of travel writers and publishers, from two articles which were brought to my attention by messages on the same day last week to the Travel Guidebook Writers e-mail list administered by author, Webmaster, teacher, and consultant Tom Brosnahan as one of his many resources for... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 8 February 2006, 08:19 ( 8:19 AM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 1 February 2006

Thank you for reading!

In January 2006, there were 105,238 visits to this Web site. That's the first time that number has passed 100,000 in a month. On principle, I don't use cookies to track you from one visit to the next. So I don't know how many of those visitors were "unique". And... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 1 February 2006, 21:56 ( 9:56 PM) | Comments (0)

Friday, 27 January 2006

Court says Google's distribution of "cached" Web pages is "fair use"

In the first legal test of Google.com's storage and redistribution of "cached" copies of Web pages -- even if the page has deliberately been removed from the original site, for example because a time-limited publication license has expired -- a Federal District Court in Nevada has ruled that this is... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 27 January 2006, 18:35 ( 6:35 PM) | Comments (1)

Saturday, 14 January 2006

MovableType on Yahoo Web hosting

This is not a blog about blogging, or a blog about blogging technology. Please skip this article unless you are interested in both. I've posted the information below solely as an aid to other bloggers, potential bloggers, and people who work with blogging software:... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 14 January 2006, 10:28 (10:28 AM) | Comments (2)

Wednesday, 7 December 2005

Blog-based articles in print

I mostly write printed books and electronic articles. But occasionally my articles end up in print, and I'm always open to offers for print licensing or adaptation of articles from my blog, Web site, or e-mail newsletter. The Fall 2005 issue of American Writer (see pages 10-11), the magazine of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 7 December 2005, 08:18 ( 8:18 AM) | Comments (0)

Saturday, 24 September 2005

Lies from "my" lawyers in copyright class action lawsuit

On the eve of the court hearing scheduled for this coming Tuesday to decide whether to approve a proposed settlement giving the New York Times and its co-defendant copyright infringers future rights in perpetuity to sell, license, and sublicense the electronic rights to freelance articles that they've been stealing for... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 24 September 2005, 14:49 ( 2:49 PM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 21 September 2005

New class action against Google for infringement of book copyrights

Authors Guild Sues Google, Citing 'Massive Copyright Infringement' The Authors Guild and [three individual authors] filed a class action suit today ... against Google over its unauthorized scanning and copying of books through its Google Library program..... Through its Library program, Google is reproducing works still under the protection of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 21 September 2005, 09:10 ( 9:10 AM) | Comments (0)

Monday, 12 September 2005

Update on electronic copyright infringement

The largest-scale bootleggers of the written word on the Internet are attempting to extend their thieving through measures represented as a "concession" to writers' and publishers rights by Google.com, and a proposed "settlement" of claims against by writers against publishers that includes a poorly-disclosed giveaway of rights to unlimited future... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 12 September 2005, 12:14 (12:14 PM) | Comments (1)

Thursday, 1 September 2005

RIP: Kepler's Bookstore

Of all the places where I've read from and signed copies of my books , there is none of those appearances of which I am more proud than the one on 25 January 1998 at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, California. Not because of anything I said -- although the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 1 September 2005, 14:18 ( 2:18 PM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

Academic publishers question Google copyright infringement

Exactly two months after news and photo "wire service" Agence France-Presse (AFP) brought suit against Google for copyright infringement through the unauthorized display on Google's Web site of bootleg images and news summaries stolen from paying AFP subscribers' Web sites, academic publishers of books and journals have joined in labelling... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 25 May 2005, 11:24 (11:24 AM) | Comments (0)

Sunday, 20 March 2005

Travel writing contests and conferences

Yesterday's meeting of the Bay Area Travel Writers reminded me of several upcoming contests and events for travel writers, including a new travel writing contest for high school seniors in the San Francisco Bay area, and a travel writing contest with a grand prize of a ticket around the world.... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 20 March 2005, 14:58 ( 2:58 PM) | Comments (2)

AFP sues Google for copyright infringement

In what I expect will prove the most significant test case since Tasini vs. New York Times (in which the U.S. Supreme Court found the Times liable for damages to writers -- which it still has yet to pay, more than three years later -- for systematic electronic bootlegging of... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 20 March 2005, 14:13 ( 2:13 PM) | Comments (3)

Tuesday, 26 October 2004

Travel advice from Neal Stephenson

In the course of a long interview on Slashdot (particularly worth reading for Stephenson's perceptive typology of writers), Neal Stephenson was asked by a fan of his "travel novels" whether he has any "Travel tips for modern primitives?" and "Do you carry any sort of self-defense means in some places?"... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 26 October 2004, 13:38 ( 1:38 PM) | Comments (0)

Robert Young Pelton on "The Practical Nomad"

Robert Young Pelton (author of The World's Most Dangerous Places ), devotes his column this month in National Geographic Adventure magazine to, "the top five secrets ... that guidebook publishers don't want you to know about their products." In no particular order, but starting with, "(1) They're outdated." His advice?... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 26 October 2004, 11:57 (11:57 AM) | Comments (2)

Wednesday, 6 October 2004

Google joins Amazon in e-book plagiarism?

A year ago this month, I noted reports that Google.com was planning to emulate Amazon.com's copyright-infringing scheme for online distribution of unauthorized bootleg images of the pages of books to which it doesn't own the copyright or electronic rights. In the intervening year, bootleg e-books assembled from page images obtained... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 6 October 2004, 16:44 ( 4:44 PM) | Comments (0)

Thursday, 3 June 2004

E-book bootlegs from Amazon.com showing up on Kazaa and IRC

In the Virtual Stacks, Pirated Books Find Eager Thumbs (The New York Times, 3 June 2004) "I was pretty broke and couldn't really afford $100 textbooks,'' said Joseph Ruesewald, a recent graduate.... Having come of age in the era of Napster, Kazaa and other file-sharing networks infamous as bazaars for... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 3 June 2004, 07:28 ( 7:28 AM) | Comments (0)

Tuesday, 11 November 2003

Amazon.com cuts back on copyright infringement -- step by step

As of today, my books seem to have been removed (at my publisher's request -- Amazon.com still hasn't made any effort to obtain permission from authors) from Amazon.com's co-called Search Inside the Book program(s). Other books whose publishers have requested their removal seem to be working their way through the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 11 November 2003, 20:38 ( 8:38 PM) | Comments (3)

Thursday, 6 November 2003

Lawyers, bloggers weigh in on Amazon.com book page images

Authors' lawyer (and former book editor) Charles E. Petit , who apparently represents a number of short-story writers, offers both an excellent page of advice for authors on dealing with Amazon.com and some right-on commentary on the issue in his blog, starting with this article on 27 October 2003 (check... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 6 November 2003, 07:57 ( 7:57 AM) | Comments (1)

Wednesday, 5 November 2003

More book genres join travel authors in questioning Amazon.com giveaway of e-rights

Authors and publishers of cookbooks, short stories, and how-to books are joining travel writers and publishers, as well as major publishers like Penguin, in raising questions about Amazon.com's so-called "Search Inside the Book" program, which actually bundles together searching with free display of images of all pages from the books... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 5 November 2003, 08:12 ( 8:12 AM) | Comments (0)

Saturday, 1 November 2003

The economics of e-books

There's a lengthy thread of comments at Ars Technica, to which I've contributed, in response to this article on Amazon.com's full-text search and page view program. Some commentators (at Ars Technica and elsewhere) have criticized me and other authors for being overly worried about the possible negative effect of free... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 1 November 2003, 17:03 ( 5:03 PM) | Comments (1)

Friday, 31 October 2003

Amazon.com "blocks" printing of page images (not)

In an e-mail message to Authors Guild members also posted on the organization's Web site, the Author's Guild says today that "Amazon.com has, at least for the moment, disabled the print function on its new "Search Inside the Book" program. We view this as an important development." Amazon.com's claims are... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 31 October 2003, 16:13 ( 4:13 PM) | Comments (1)

Thursday, 30 October 2003

Seattle P-I on Amazon.com "search" and page view

New Amazon search feature angers authors: Writers weren't consulted on searchability of work ( Seattle Post-Intelligencer , Friday, 31 October 2003) The P-I reports, on the basis of an Amazon.com press release, that "Amazon.com's new "Search Inside the Book" feature -- introduced last week to let visitors search the full... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 30 October 2003, 22:43 (10:43 PM) | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 29 October 2003

"Legal Problems for Amazon?"

Possible Legal Problems for Amazon's Book Search? (Publishers Weekly, 28 October 2003) Later revised version of the story: Industry Debates Latest Amazon.com Initiative; Varied reactions; some experts say 'search' poses legal problems; will it sell books? (Publishers Weekly, 3 November 2003) Book publisher Penguin's CEO says "we have a duty... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 29 October 2003, 15:38 ( 3:38 PM) | Comments (0)

More on Amazon.com copyright infringement

I'm quoted in today's Seattle Times in their story, Amazon's inside look irks authors: Search function previews any page Unfortunately, the story focuses rather narrowly on whether authors would want to participate in the full-text search and retrieval system as Amazon.com has established it. But that's not a choice authors... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 29 October 2003, 07:11 ( 7:11 AM) | Comments (0)

Tuesday, 28 October 2003

Google joins Amazon in expanding its book bootlegging

According to this article in today's New York Times (free registration and cookie acceptance required unless, ironically, you follow a link from a Google.com news search), "Google.com has begun talks with book publishers to compile a searchable database of the contents of thousands of volumes." As I mentioned in yesterday's... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 28 October 2003, 08:15 ( 8:15 AM) | Comments (1)

Sunday, 26 October 2003

Defend the Right to Link

If linking is at the heart of blogging, all bloggers should be up in arms at the cease and desist letter sent by e-voting (mis)manufacturer Diebold Elections Systems, Inc. to my friend Will Doherty in his capacity as Executive Director of the Online Policy Group. Not having been following the... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 26 October 2003, 16:33 ( 4:33 PM) | Comments (0)

Copyright infringement by Amazon.com

Yesterday I was forwarded a copy of this message from the Authors Guild about a new program under which Amazon.com is making the full text of certain books available for searching and download from the Amazon.com web site. The message from the Authors Guild was the first I had heard... (...Read Entire Entry)

Link | Posted by Edward, 26 October 2003, 15:13 ( 3:13 PM) | Comments (0)