Bolwing for Columbine / RIP!

So this Michael Moore documentary came out 8 years ago but I finally just saw it today (thanks to Netflix). This was actually the second documentary I watched today. The first was RIP! A Remix Manefesto, it's about copyright. You can check out the site right here: http://films.onf.ca/rip-a-remix-manifesto/

After seeing these two films today I just need to quote Thrice, "ALL THE WORLD IS MAD"

There's probably thousands upon thousands of rants about the topics discussed in these films. I would recommend watching both of them. One thing I found interesting in Rip! was that Walt Disney copied the past (all those old Disney movies are based on fairy tales and what not) and after he died the company got the US government to change copyright laws so no one could do the same.

A lot of the movie was about music. Personally, I like to own physical CDs, so I go to stores and buy them. I think if you like an artist or band you should support them by buying their music, going to shows and buying merch (just as long as it's not over priced...)

Anyway. What's crazier is how things like plants and ideas can be copyrighted. There are patents on medical research that keep other scientists and doctor like people from developing them further, so pretty much things like cancer research are hindered by copyrights. I don't know much about the subject but I want to research this further myself.

It reminded me about what my pastor said this past Sunday. In an illustration he mentioned that Mercedes Benz developed some sort of safety feature that would save lives and even though they patented it they allowed other car manufacturers to use it. They said something like, "some things are too good not to share". The illustration was that me (or we) as Christians know something important. We know Jesus saves, so why would we keep that to our selves? I'm not the greatest at witnessing so I could always use a kick in the pants.

Sooo... I started typing with only Bowling for Columbine on my mind... Firstly it made Canadian's look kind of dumb. I lock my door. "You're always safe in the country" That's an inside joke. I like the documentary and what it's trying to do but one part was stupid. Michael Moore, with two students who were shot at Columbine, went to K Mart head quarters and got them to stop selling 9mm bullets. They thought this would DO something. I don't want to belittle Columbine or the people effected by it, but K Mart not selling 9mm bullets won't do a thing. Even if they didn't sell GUNS. Firstly (wait.. secondly?) guns don't kill people, people (with guns) kill people. If K Mart doesn't have bullets they'll go to Walmart or hey maybe even get them illegally. I don't know much about this stuff but up here in Canada we've got some kind of gun control (right?) but the people killing people with guns get them illegally. Don't know where I'm going with this but yeah...

It's all about money. The huge corporations. Fear driving people to consume. Um.. am I making sense? I may sound like a crazy person but I'm not. I don't think everyones out to get me. Just my money ;) OH! Winky face!

ALL THE WORLD IS MAD