Let Them Eat Cake

Happy Birthday, Deb and Kim! Here's a virtual cupcake in honor of the day. Chocolate, with lots of frosting, of course.



I regret I missed the party (gentle readers, please give them your good wishes, if you haven't already) and the good company of other Jersey knitters and spinners. At least I did a little spinning in place, in solidarity. That's the STR Wensleydale I bought last summer at The Fold. It's compressed from dyeing, but with a bit of pre-drafting, spins nicely.



Speaking of solidarity, I've been pondering the arguments in the current strike by the Writers Guild of America (East and West). As is usual, there would seem to be plenty of room for negotiation about money, should the parties desire to settle. But it also would seem the studios are making the extreme claim that publication/distribution via the Internet renders an author's copyright void (while at the same time vigorously defending their own rights against unauthorized reproduction by others). The big studios, giant international corporations all, could easily have outlined a more ethical management position, but that's not happening. Which is why there's unions and strikes and people who won't cross picket lines.