But for my general policy against the use of profanity in blawg posts, I would have added the word “bitches” at the back end of the title, because it’s the only word suitable to express the attitude of Cook Source  editor Judith Griggs.

Some readers will immediately jump to the conclusion that cooking is among my many talents and interests.  It’s not. 

Reading, however, is, and when I read a post like Ken’s at Popehat (who is not reluctant to use profanity in his title), I feel that it needs to be passed along and spread around the blawgosphere.  The reason is that Cook Source editor Judith Griggs is a worthless sack of excrement, and everyone should know.

It’s tempting to assume that the world of online cooking is somehow different than the world of online games, or online politics, or online gossip — that the culinary arts have made the transition to the internet without running afoul of the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory. But of course they haven’t. Case in point: Cooks Source.

The bullet: Monica Gaudio wrote an entertaining and informative piece about how apple pie recipes changed over the ages. Then Cooks Source simply stole it: they ran it in their printed magazine without asking her permission or paying her. “Mistakes happen,” you might say. “Someone screwed up.” Think so? Then consider the response of Cooks Source’s editor when Monica complained. Monica asked for an apology and a modest donation to the Columbia School of Journalism (a nice touch). The editor displays a breathtaking combination of abject legal ignorance, swollen entitlement, hubris, and general Internet Fuckwittery:

Yes Monica, I have been doing this for 3 decades, having been an editor at The Voice, Housitonic Home and Connecticut Woman Magazine. I do know about copyright laws. It was “my bad” indeed, and, as the magazine is put together in long sessions, tired eyes and minds somethings forget to do these things.

But honestly Monica, the web is considered “public domain” and you should be happy we just didn’t “lift” your whole article and put someone else’s name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio. For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me… ALWAYS for free!”

The web is considered “public domain”?  Maybe by children, scrapers and thieves, but not by editors of supposedly legitimate print publications, Judith.  It’s not that your former job at Housitonic Home doesn’t blow me away with your importance and power, but the whole “what constitutes public domain” issue isn’t left to Judith Griggs to decide.  Trust me, Judith, it’s not public domain around here.

Ken thinks that Griggs rationale for stealing Monica’s content, that she edited it, makes Judith Griggs an “entitled jackass.” I disagree.  If this were done by one of the “anti-copyright because ideas belong to everyone” ninnies, then “entitled jackass” would be appropriate.  That’s not the case here.

You see, Griggs works for a commercial enterprise.  That means they are in business to make money, and the way they make money is by creating content and selling advertising to food service businesses.  Ironically, this is how they describe their mission:

The Cooks Source mission is to educate our readers in sustainable sources of foods and products, farms, restaurants and businesses; and to assist in readers’ understanding in the joy of simple basic cooking, and healthy, delicious eating… with an occasional decadent delight.

Cooks Source assists food businesses, restaurants and farms in Western New England to market. And you can read about them here within these pages, or look for our publications at food specialty businesses throughout Western New England.

Sweet, no?  Cute little brown cursive writing, leaving readers with that warm, fuzzy feeling about “sustainable sources” of food.  No mention, nary a word, about Judith Griggs stealing the content used in the publication being sold to advertisers. 

How “sustainable” are the “sources” of a copyright infringer?  How about the umitigated arrogance of saying that everything on the internet is “public domain”? 

No, I don’t believe that calling Judith Griggs, or Cook Source, an “entitled jackass” is sufficient, though I find it difficult to come up with an appropriate phrase that doesn’t involve the use of profanity.  And as I said above, it’s my general policy not to use profanity, even when someone is as much of an arrogant, nasty bitch as Judith Griggs and deserves it.