First up, I'd just like to say how sorry I am about the recent lack of columns. I've been rather... ill... as Chad will testify (not nice), and also my life's been rather hectic (but I have a new job in the video game industry, so I'm living out my childhood dream). Well, all back to normal now, so wee'l return to your regularly scheduled eye-opening life lessons.

"This walkman generation, in search of sweet sedation, While forests choke under a lever sky and the Exxon birds will never fly" - 100 Years of Solitude by The Levellers (From the album "Levellers")

I don't watch much TV. In fact I only watch two programmes regularly. And they're on in the same night. But this isn't a rant on TV. It is something far more important. 

One of the two programmes that I watch on a regular basis is Farscape. I like Farscape, because it is everything Star Trek Could be, if it really tried. It's funny, exciting, moving almost. So far it has run for nearly four years. The creators of Farscape originally intended the series to run for five seasons. They have all the plot worked out to the very end. But a few months ago, it was announced that the show would not receive funding for a fifth season. It would be cancelled after season four.

Now, when I heard this news, I was somewhat dismayed. One of the only TV shows I ever watch (and rather enjoy) was to be cancelled before the conclusion of its story. Unended stories are one of my pet hates. Even if I despise a story, I can never leave it half finished. But this is not a rant about the cancellation of Farscape. This is something far more important.

There exists a "save Farscape campaign". Thousands of people accross the globe have rallied together in a desperate attempt to save the programme. At first, I thought, what a fantastic idea. However, something Chad said to me once really stuck in my head. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. And what was this gem of wisdom? It was simply this: "So what? It's just a fucking TV show."

And that is when the first seeds of anger were planted in my brain. Farscape is just a fucking television programme. It's just entertainment. In the grand scope of things, it is worthless. Yet thousands of people rally together in a vain attempt to save it. There exists very little chance of them actually saving the programme. The axe has fell, and short of some HEAVY funding, it will not be lifted. Yet across the world, these thousands of people flock together in an attempt to save their love. They flock together to attempt something they know is nearly impossible. Now, this in itself is not particularly bad. But just think on this situation a little longer.

Ready? What conclusion did you come to? If you are still staring blankly at this page, then you are either a new reader of Cataract Resin or you have never really understood anything I have ever written. If, on the other hand, you realised there was something wrong with a community that tries desperately (and futilely) to save a fucking television programme but never lifts a fucking finger to save the very planet we live on, the mother of us all, then you are thinking along the same lines as me.

All of those people that signed the "Save Farscape" petition would give almost anything to save their favourite show from cancellation. They don't give a fuck if the earth is torn up to get at oil deposits. They don't give a fuck if Pringles and Nike Trainers and Fashion Clothes for fucking yuppies are being produced in sweatshop conditions. They don't give a shit that poultry farming allows Chickens less that one square foot of space to live their pathetic 40 day life in (not that they can walk anyway - they are fattened to such an extent in such a short space of time that their legs cannot support their body weight). They don't give a fuck about fucking anything except their own fucking entertainment. The only thing they give a damn about is trying to save a fucking TV programme to make their lives more exciting, fuck what anyone else is living through.

I understand that not all those people are like that, but the point is this: If people were willing to put as much energy into saving the planet, stopping warmongers, challenging capitalism etc. as they are into saving a fucking television show, the world would be a much better place.

But I guess that's people for you. Me! ME! MEEE!!!!! FUCK YOU ALL!!!

I don't need any of that shit anymore.

Before you sign a petition to "save this" or go on a march to "bring back that" just consider if the time and energy spent is really worth it. Then maybe consider some worthy causes.

Here are some sites you may wish to visit:

http://www.ifaw.org/
http://www.fairtradefederation.com/
http://www.mcspotlight.org/
http://www.reclaimthestreets.net/

See you in seven. Thanks for listening.