(no subject)

I'm currently writing a fic (well, okay, I'm currently writing three fics but like, I started this one a few days ago and it's already up to 25 pages) that takes place in the late 80's, and since the characters watch MTV in one scene, I decided to google MTV programming in the late 80's. To my astonishment, I found an article posted at the beginning of this month (May 2020), reporting how a user on Archive.org has been posting a compilation of all of MTV's programming from 1981 to 1989! This would be perfect for my fic- I can even figure out what was playing on MTV on the exact date I'm writing about! Enthralled and enthused, I went to click on the link...

Only to find that it's been taken down, after a mere four days of being posted.

I get that copyright is important. But seriously? How are any of the artists losing money from a taping of their music videos, which are now mostly available on YouTube for public consumption under the artists' official channels, being posted on a digital archive? As for actual programs, I can't imagine that those have been released on DVD or anything so it's not like the owners of this content would be making any money from it in the first place. But what really bothers me about losing this invaluable source is the fact that several news outlets just HAD to report about it. I can't blame them for knowing a good thing when they saw it, but seriously? When things like that pop up online, the smart thing to do is STAY SILENT. Spread them around in private messages, but for the love of God don't say anything about it publicly if you want to ensure that kind of stuff stays available online. I'm just... so mad right now. Thanks for nothing.

(no subject)

So I heard Fred Willard died recently, but it didn't really click for me who that was until I saw an old photo of him and then I realized:

Watch on YouTube

He's responsible for one of the few movie scenes that never fails to crack me up! And he was the funniest character in Best in Show, too. I generally don't find these mockumentary movies as funny as most people do (I don't really laugh out loud at dry humor, even though I use dry humor a lot personally), but I love the clueless quality of this guy's characters, like he's totally oblivious to what he's saying and just blurts out whatever comes to mind and is generally just having a good time even though everyone around him is baffled by his entire demeanor. Kinda bummed about his passing now, I'm sure he'll be missed.