The Wordsmith's Forge

 ... is like this.  And no human being deserves to live like this, and many are far worse off than this.

This quote really spoke to me:

It occurred to me, thinking about the conversation we had in the meeting, that the corporations are putting themselves in the position of essentially deciding if people are worthy to have a place in society at all.

Now consider that it's not just about a place in society, but the ability to LIVE, because without a job there is almost no way to make money and thereby obtain survival needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and health care.  I'm not okay with the idea of throwing away people just because they don't have anything you want.  It makes me think that society is fundamentally sick.

chordatesrock has a fascinating essay about supporting fanfic-friendly creators and avoiding fanfic-hostile creators.

Basically, use your folding vote to say how you want cultural material to be handled.  Do you want it shared so more people can play with it and make cool stuff?  Buy from people with an open-source or fanwork-friendly policy on their material.  That includes conventionally and alternatively published material.  Don't buy from people who won't let anyone else play with their ball.  Do you feel that only creators and their heirs should be able to use that stuff, forever?  (It is forever, as long as Disney owns The Mouse That Ate Copyright and enough politicians/judges to keep rolling the dates.)  Do the opposite.  Either way, support what you want to see more of.  It isn't necessary to rant.  People mostly don't care what you think.  They absolutely DO care what you buy -- or don't buy.

Wow, she says all the stuff I've been saying, in a place that's a lot harder to ignore.

 Here's another article on the "space marines" issue.  As a linguist and a writer, I am extremely hostile toward people cutting chunks out of the language and refusing to let other people use them.  It is one thing to keep a proprietary claim on something you created -- but very different to abscond with something you did not create.  And when rules cease to be fair or sensible, people look for ways around them, and then you have chaos, too much of which is not a good thing either.

So this school board wants to claim it owns copyright on what students and faculty create, even outside of school.  Let's hear a rousing a chorus of "fuck that noise," "homework boycott," and oh yes, "BIG FAT LAWSUIT."

 ... that are less publicized.  Well, you can see why.  That man knew a lot of records that might break the record player if left on for very long.

So play 'em again.

This is what happens when one individual amasses a vast amount of wealth in a destructive manner and then holds onto it over a long period.  (Link courtesy of my partner Doug.)

Think about it.

The Winterfaire spreads out as far as the eye can see. Some booths show streamers of red and green, while others sport blue and silver. All of them offer treasure after shining treasure. Music fills the air with lyrics of Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, and Yule. From the Wordsmith's Forge comes the bright chiming of words being hammered into literature. Delicious scents of hot chocolate, spiced cider, peppermint, baking cookies, and gingerbread tantalize the appetite. Smiling, laughing shoppers amble from booth to booth with lists in hand. Vendors grin back, calling out, "Come try, come buy...!"

I know a lot of artists, writers, musicians, crafters, and other talented folks who make some of their living from their creative endeavors. I don't always have the money to support them as much as I'd like, but what I can do is set up a virtual faire where vendors can offer their wares to an audience that likes crafts, literature, and small businesses. For those of you doing your holiday shopping, here's an opportunity to buy something made with love, something unusual or unique, in a way that helps make it possible for creative people to go on creating wonders. And there will be no traffic jams, stampedes, or gunfights at the Winterfaire!



Vendors: If you have goods or services suitable for holiday gifts, please put up a booth by replying with a description of what you sell, an estimate of your price range if possible, and some kind of contact information so shoppers can reach you.  If you have a website (Etsy, DeviantArt, personal, whatever) showcasing your work in more detail, include the link(s).  If you have holiday freebies, such as downloadable greeting card imagery, you're welcome to promote those too. For ease of identification, I recommend titling your reply starting with "BOOTH:" followed by the name of your business or type of goodies.

Shoppers: If you're looking for something specific and it's not posted yet, feel free to ask. Someone else may know where to find it! "SHOPPING FOR:" and the topic would be a good title.

Everyone: You may help promote the Winterfaire by linking to this post from your own blog or site. If you have a similar holiday-networking post, you may link to it in a comment on this post.

Participation Perk: I'm offering poetry for participation, beginning with verses of "With Its Head Cut Off" (28 verses) from the Path of the Paladins series. (Completed!)  If that runs out, I may pick another.  New perk poem: "Hrafn's Nest" (19 verses, Hart's Farm).  Because, you see, all of these activities will unlock a verse each time someone does them:
* link to this Winterfaire page to boost the signal
* comment posting a Booth of your wares/services in the Winterfaire
* buy something from a vendor listed in the Winterfaire 
* host a similar holiday market in your own blog or other venue
LiveJournal will notify me of comments to the Winterfaire post and links to it elsewhere on LJ; for everything else, you need to TELL ME in order to get credit for it.

Similar Markets:
Do you know of another indie holiday shopping post?  Let me know and I'll link it here.
Jaguar's Black Friday Bazaar
The Winterfaire at Angel's Place
Handmade Holiday Shopping
2012 Holiday Bazaar

Happy holidays!