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| Just several I've gotten recently |
I may not be getting any more pirate CDs from Boris any time soon. Between a lack of titles I want from the site he uses to the current situation (we don't need to get into it too much here as we're all against Mr P.), I think it's time for an indefinite pause until further notice. Even picking a bunch of titles I could just trade in is not feasible as that would still cost money when the economy in Russia is suffering because of the elephant in the room. Also, the post office won't allow anything to be sent there at this time due to lack of transport and continuing sanctions.
I still plan to send some CDs over to him when it is allowed again, but it likely won't happen for the foreseeable future. It's also because of limited availability of albums in my own area and having to go on the road or online, which can add up either way and that's before I ship. Customs on both ends may now be wary at this time as my incoming package has not had an update in a couple weeks. The two have had their issues prior to this anyway. It's become a waiting game and then some. We've gone from the latter stages of the pandemic to far worse. Also, after those CDs do come, I shouldn't get anything else from there for the time being, even if you can't tell by looking at it (clever lot, that).
Universal and Sony have closed their Moscow offices, and Warner might next, as have many international companies, so people there would rely on pirate CDs, although downloading has become more prominent in the past two decades anyway. It's nothing compared to the petrol rises back here.
I've also done something similar with someone in Ukraine, but we haven't done that in a period because he could no longer get anything over the border and now everyone is in survival mode, so I'm just worried about him and everyone there. He sent few pirates, and was more into providing bootlegs.
As for Boris, I may break it to him gently once I give him information about the package, knowing how delicate this will be. He knows all too well about he who shan't be named. I will miss doing this, but it'll be the least of our problems compared to everything else. I will just support the artists and buy new when I can, particularly within days of release if I can't on the day (as with indie and lesser known artists). Maybe I've spent too much all these years with this scheme, letting it go on for so long.
UPDATE: My package is here now, but because it was sent before the war, it was probably still allowed, but another might not be until further notice. Also, the website that he orders from hasn't has an update in a few months, so nothing new from there again until things settle down.
UPDATE 2: I've tried sending him another through a third-party service, but he has been surprisingly been uncooperative lately and won't respond to my e-mails anymore to provide information needed to proceed with the order. We all have lives no matter where we are in the world, but he usually writes back in a matter of days. Also, between the decreasing availability of titles on the list and having to deal my own life and expenses, I may not be able to do this anymore, even when everything's back to normal there. This has become too much, and I'll admit I haven't gotten back to him straightaway either in fairness, so I'm no better. Still, even the vast time zone difference hasn't been that much of a barrier. My inner Ann Landers tells me I should probably stop dealing with him, but I need closure first. I've spent too much time and money for over a decade doing all this. Now, it's more personal than external if he won't keep up his end. Even here, not everyone can be looked up online, let alone there. I think I'm done with him since I don't even listen to all of the CDs I have anymore, let alone need that many more. I had his whereabouts on paper or the plastic from the last shipment, but it was binned after I took everything out thinking I'd never need them. It's a wild goose chase and holy grail at this stage now. I won't use the term "ghosting" because that's b------s. I don't know what the problem is except that he's incommunicado, even though he's said before he gets busy, but don't we all? It takes a few minutes of your day to tell me where you live and where to ring you (I won't). Dr Phil says, "It's not an essay question" (and I wrote the essay, and then he'd say, "How's that workin' for ya?!" and "Don't invest more than you can afford to lose" [I don't watch that show anymore]). Boris, please answer me.
