So what do you think of when you hear copyright infringement?
I’m sure most of you think immediately to people downloading movies illegally over the internet. As well as music, tv shows and other media. I believe that most of you have done this, or have borrowed a DVD from a mate that wasn’t just quite right, at the VERY least.
The argument that downloading movies from the internet at least can be largely dismissed by the fact that box office earnings where up before the Global Financial Clusterfuck. The reason for this is simple, movies pirated before they release to DVD/Blu-Ray are shite. They’ve got people walking through them, the sound is often tinny and horrible, etc etc. I for one would much prefer to go to the movies and enjoy it than sit at home and for free get a shitty copy that will just make me want the last 2 hours of my life back.
As for music well, the issue here is that the recording industry still does not recognize the internet as a good way of getting their media out there. They aren’t REALLY paying attention to the internet and developing solutions that suit the end customer. They aren’t interested in realistic prices that reflect the fact that the cost of selling a set of MP3s is FAR less expensive than releasing to CD. The recording industry is VERY much to blame for piracy.
Finally, we come to my favourite medium, TV Shows. The fact here is that people simply don’t often have the money (with the exception of hard core fans) to pay upwards of 70 bucks for a season of a TV Show. The creators already got paid when it was on TV, and, much like movies, many people still tune in because they want to see their show first. I can only summise that TV show creators don’t really care less about the people who actually want to watch their show more than once. Otherwise maybe they’d make the damn things affordable.
But, the fact that I turn to more often than all of these is, many of the people pirating these mediums would NEVER pay for them anyway. They cannot afford them, it doesn’t fit into their lifestyle. If they hear a really good album, or see a really good movie, they’ll pay. Otherwise, why should they. People claim it hurts the recording industry, blah blah blah, well most of the people weren’t even going to buy the stuff at it’s current cost anyway.
So protip to the RIAA, charge reasonable prices, and provide the mediums we want, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll make a fortune and people will stop pirating!
Countrylink trains…
Because I can I’m going to have a gripe at Countrylink. Countrylink as far as I can tell is the company that runs train services between Sydney and Melbourne. The train is currently the only passenger service operating between Albury and Seymour on rails. This means that if you want to get to Melbourne from Wangaratta, as I’m doing presently, you can catch a bus and take around 3 hrs 45 mins or the train which will take a little under 3 hrs normally.
Naturally I choose the train wherever I can. VLine books out 1 or 2 carriages on the train in order to allow their customers to use the XPT train while the other services are out of action due to the rail upgrade. They offered tickets on the XPT before this but I suspect this is the main reason why they do so atm.
So the train is faster, and frankly more comfortable, and there’s no changing between a train and bus at Seymour station. However, the cost of convenience is the staff. Every time I get on a VLine train the conductors are smiling, they ask politely for your tickets, and if you need to move seats they’ll ask you nicely.
Countrylink staff, in particular one member who I’ve seen a few times, tend to stop just short of yelling at your face. They’re not quite up to Connex ticket inspector standard but they get close. For example, hot meals are offered on board the service. Just as you get on at Wangaratta, and while most passengers who just got on are getting settled, an announcement goes over describing the choices.
It’s spoken as though to a child enough but heaven forbid anyone should have to ask for the choices again as the steward hurridly rushes through the cabin avoiding human contact wherever possible. I’ve seen someone ask before, it’s not pretty. I accidentally sat in the wrong seat this time as someone was seated in my seat and holding my ticket as though it was a prize the conductor turned around and asked the whole cabin very loudly to ensure that they sit in the right seat. All with her face looking like it’s about to go inside out from sucking on a sour lolly.
I’d mention her name but I stop short of that, it’s a little mean, besides most of them are just damn shocking. Oh and before I finish, don’t bring a snowboard or anything slightly large on board, you’ll get the “OK, WHO’S IS THIS!” talk. Srsly, I know you repeat the same things over and over, but it’s your fucking job to do so.
It was my job directing traffic at Mt Buller, and unless I’d had a really shit day I did my best to do it with a smile and apologise when I felt I couldn’t. To everyone in customer service, just fucking smile, at least you have a job these days.
Cheers,
Stubbers
Solution To Violence In The Melbourne CBD…
Hi all, I know it's been a while... But you know, I have a life... I decided to post today mainly because yet another person has ended up in hospital seriously injured after an attack in the CBD. All while the government seemingly stands by and watches. All while the police talk about CCTV not being an effective deterrent. Do you know why it's not a deterrent? Because although it may lead to successful prosecution, there's not really this feeling that it would directly link the person to the crime, without additional evidence to tell the police who the person on the tape is.
Fact is CCTV in the CBD is abysmal, it's either not being monitored, not being maintained, or is just shit. There is no reason we can't have a CCTV system that covers the CBD and is monitored 24x7 by a few operators. I really cannot understand why the government doesn't just invest in a system that covers the CBD and the major ways in and out (ie, up to the trains/trams/taxis). That way when an incident occurs, an operator can be tasked to managing the incident, rolling back the tapes (or even watching it live), tracking the people involved as they leave. Track what train they get on, get into Connex's CCTV system (which also needs work) find out where the train they've gotten onto is going. Then just tell the train to reduce speed and give the cops time. Cops roll up at the next station and arrest all the people. All in 30 mins tops. It's not really that hard people.
All it takes is a bit of money and a bit of co-operation.
The other side to the issue seems to be that Victoria Police is underfunded and desperately needs more police on our streets. If you doubled the number of cops on Melbourne's streets, put them into cars each by themselves, you could never be more than a couple of blocks from an officer. Supply them all with Tazers and pretty soon the criminals will get the message. Victoria Police means business. Right now it feels like they don't. They just don't seem to have the resources to do anything about the CBD issue.
How many more people have to end up in hospitals before the government and Victoria Police act and do something useful for a change?
In short, more police, more resources, more non lethal but very painful weapons, and a CCTV system that actually works and allows police to track people across the CBD and out on the major arteries and I reckon we'd have this problem licked in no time.
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Stubbers101 on Twitter
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