(no subject)

London is developing a tradition of May Day Riots. Anti-capitalism protesters take to the streets in great numbers and generally cause a certain amount of trouble. Admittedly, there's some debate as to whose fault it was last year - the police have taken some heavy stick for their behavior last year. Co-incidentally enough, heavy stick is exactly what they were giving the protesters.

Anyway, seeing as my office is right in the heart of the West End where all the trouble is likely to be, my employers have kindly said we can all leave at 3.30pm tomorrow. Colour me concerned...

Getting political

For the first time in my life I feel strongly enough about certain political issues that I intend to write to my MP. The reasons? Well, there are certain issues about the NHS that I have discovered through a friend that appall me. I can't really discuss them without betraying confidences, but a lot of public money is being spent that should be going into private pockets the way it is. The other concerns state benefits. In the last two years I've come face to face with the reality of dole scroungers, and I really feel that this issue needs to be addressed and addressed soon.

To my delight, I've discovered that my MP has a website, which will make tracking down her contact details much simpler..

Watching an industry commit suicide, slowly

Of late, I've been doing something with increasing frequency. No, it's nothing immoral or furtively sexual. In a way, it's more not doing something. Let me explain. I've been walking into music shops such as HMV with the express intention of walking out with a particular CD. Four or five times, I've walked out without the CD. It's not for lack of stock in the store, or lack of cash in my hand. No, the lack of purchase has come down to a few little words: WILL NOT PLAY ON PC/MAC.

Now, let's be clear here. I'm a writer. I make my living by creating easily copied material. Thus, I am deeply opposed to piracy and did not use Napster and its ilk. However, because I'm a writer, I do the majority of my music listening when sat at a computer. Indeed, my purchase of an iPod has meant that I buy more music. With more opportunities to listen to music (the train, the gym, the car, the garden…) my desire for it increases. Thus, MP3 is good for sales, at least in my case.

I know I'm not alone in this. many students, for example, don't buy both a computer and stereo, they just use speakers with their PC and listen to music that way.

This is a dumb, dumb move on the record industry's part. It's not going to stop file sharing. Pirates will always look upon copy protection and they'll beat it within hours of release. All it will do is piss off non-techie users like myself, who wants to pay good money for music they like, but is being prevented from doing so.

Last lost sale: Episode II soundtrack in the supermarket, one hours ago.