Monday, April 24, 2006

My Body is Angry at Me

I have no idea what I've done to piss my body off so much, but it is in the throes of a full-scale insurrection against me. I'm takings so many damn pills at the moment. Anti-biotics for an ear infection, cold and flu tablets for the obvious and a whole handful of vitamins and supplements because my eating habits are so shit I'm afraid I'll die without them.

And I'm not even sure the vitamins do me any good (not surprising to anybody who's read my posts ripping on hippies). The science on vitamins and similar supplements is sketchy at best. But I can afford them so they are more insurance, I guess. I take them on the off chance they work. I am not always an overly rational person - I also occasionally buy a lotto ticket. I call this paying my stupid tax.

At least tomorrow is a public holiday in Australia so I can rest a little while the cold takes hold. April 25th is ANZAC day - for those who don't know that's an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The combined antipodean fighting force that went off to be slaughtered wherever the English sent them, most notably to Gallipoli. This day is tied most closely to the Gallipoli disaster in Australian minds although it is more broadly a second Remembrance day, commemorating all service by Australian soldiers and other service people.

I don't have it in me to attend a dawn service tomorrow, maybe I'll mark the day by watching the new movie, Kokoda. I'll have to go alone, my girlfriend share my love of science fiction but does not share my liking of war films. Speaking of science fiction (and tying in with my earlier angry rant) I watched the last two episodes of the Battlestar Galactica Season 2.0 DVD with my lovely girlfriend last night.

How does this tie in with my abuse of copyright post you ask? Let me fill you in, dear reader. You see, not only has this series of BSG not aired on Australian TV yet, there is not even a hint of it being screened. And yet you can get it on DVD in the US. So I thought, screw this, and ordered it from Amazon. And there's another twist, even with the crap exchange rates between the $A and $US plus the freight, the DVD set was cheaper than it will be if and when it gets to Australia. Now I've watched it and it was awesome.

And I broke the law.

Yes, I bought a commercial product in an above the boards transaction but I broke the law. Because of the insane copyright regime that exists the studios say they can dictate when I get to watch something, despite paying for the privilege. And they wonder why people download pirated products online. These knuckle-dragging fucktards have this amazing business opportunity waved in their face and their response is to sue people who were potentially their biggest customers.

Because they're scared. They don't understand this new medium and it scares them. They should be scared. Not because the net will starve all the artists who create original work (the lying fucking bullshit they spread around so often) but because, almost inevitably, the days of the big movie studios and big record companies are numbered. Instead of giving customers what they really want, they focus their energy on buying politicians to enact corrupt laws to protect their inefficient practices.

And it will catch up with them. And I will join in on the big party that involves dancing on their graves.

5 comments:

Brandi said...

My husband and I are huge fans of BSG as well, and I applaud you watching it. And I applaud your girlfreind watching it with you - most of the girls I know detest sci-fi and would not be caught dead watching this awesome show - and what they are missing!!
I am not going to say anything about breaking the law, but I am glad you got a chance to see the second season. If there is no other way for you to watch it and it is not made available to you, then I guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Mr Angry said...

Yes Brandi, I am a very lucky man. My girlfriend is actually more into SF than me. We also enjoy watching Dr Who and Firefly together (nerds!).

And so far as breaking the law goes... I'm going Nelson Mendela on these bastards, it's an unjust law and I'm going to fight it!

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear you are so sick..
I have never tried the product yet but I have heard so many people (not hippies or strangers but friends and the like) exclaim how much they swear by a product called COLD F/X. Do you have this in Australia yet? Try to ignore this fact but I think it's mostly a herbal compound and the raves are stunning?!?!
Bloody expensive it is though...

Mr Angry said...

Thanks Evi, I use similar things - echinacea and such like. Hopefully I'll live. I'm so kind to my readers I actually spared you the full details but I think I'm going to have to go back to the chemist and get some Immodium.

Unknown said...

Oh...(lips pursed)...(eyes dodging quickly)...walking away...good luck with that.