Notes from the Edge - 03-20-24

YouTubers

I have my own YouTube channel, but aside from some modeling builds, book videos and some of my own music there isn’t much there.

It seems to me a few years ago I looked at YouTube, and although it was great for a few minutes of distraction it didn’t really appeal to me that much. Then my writer friend recommended it as a place to find all kinds of content, do-it-yourself videos, off-grid, boat sailing, and marble collectors: Really anything you want. Do you like bald-headed three-legged dogs? I haven’t searched but I am sure they are there.

Still, I went, used nearly no imagination because I truly didn’t believe I would find much and so I didn’t.

Then I purchased an MXQ Pro Quad Android Box. 8 gig Android 7.1. I still have that. I purchased it to replace my old Roku.

Totally different than Roku, but the YouTube app fascinated me; it came preloaded with some channels and within just a few days I was a YouTube junky.

I had a few subscriptions prior to that for car shows, alternative building shows, etc., but after watching a few shows on off-grid living, alternative living, shipping container home building, evolution, Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal history: Yes, I was red eyed and binge watching and wondering how the hell I was going to fit sleep in there. Hooked, yes, I was hooked.

The MXQ Android box was okay, but it wasn’t Roku, so I bought another Roku, installed it, went to YouTube and searched for all the stuff I like and began subscribing. I think I have about 39 subscriptions now.

I have Spectrum Cable that I never watch, I think that is 200 channels. It actually costs more to get just the Hi-Speed Wi-Fi (10 x 10) than it does to get the Hi-Speed Wi-Fi with the basic 200 channels and mobile phone plan all bundled together. So, the channels are there, and in the evening, I go over to my mother’s side of the house and watch a few hours of cable with her.

I work on my side and normally binge watch/listen to Netflix or my Plex server content. Music, TV shows, Documentaries. I can hear it, work on editing or modeling or scripting and the days pass and I couldn’t care less about cable. Then I got the Roku YouTube app and added 39 subscriptions and I couldn’t care less about anything except my YouTube Subscriptions. Still, as I said the Wi-Fi, and the Mobile phone plan, and my mother’s peace of mind are worth having Spectrum.

So, I noticed on the second day I wasn’t getting much of anything done because I was too worried about Nike (Nicky or even Niko to some) and whether she would get Carl (Her sail boat) working. You can find Nike’s adventures with Carl, Joanna and Maria at White Spot Pirates: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkYfFeySHGN4DPrOc9So7PA

There is a six-year diary of sorts there and she updates regularly. Awesome woman, great sense of humor and since I love the idea of sailing, doubly awesome, and I learned enough watching up to date that I’m pretty sure that if society comes to an end like my books, I can locate a sailboat, live on the ocean and be good. Ha ha, maybe, after watching what Nike went through, I’m not so sure. It isn’t easy but I would have the knowledge.

The next channel that got me was My Little Homestead. Parents, children, moved the kids from the city to the desert and began living closer to the land. They build-out the whole home-place and the construction method they choose is Earth-bag. But to say that is all it is about would be an understatement. They build their own little homes, show how to do it, run successful channels besides the main one, make interesting art, materials, even a sustainable water filtration system and fish farm… In the desert. Unfortunately the patriarch passed away a short time ago, but the kids and his wife are keeping the work going. My Little Homestead: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr9ib9quyHJkEchOck4PG2w

There are videos going back ten years, and compilation videos showing construction start to finish. They update regularly too.

Another I have enjoyed watching is Life Uncontained. Life Uncontained chronicles a couple and their dog Bear as they build a home out of shipping containers in the Texas outback somewhere. With cows, bulls, donkeys and Lady bugs. I watched a few others in a similar vein that seemed to be really just playing for hits, these two may want the followers but they provide reality for it not manufactured life. And a few years later they are still going only now they have two children and another on the way! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-l69It3hxAY3tkBH_utLNQ

There are a years’ worth of videos and they are in depth, great learning tools and they are both likable people. Looks ideal and I love it.

The next thing I got hung up on was This Farm Wife – Meredith Bernard. As a kid I helped the next-door neighbor, who worked on a farm, all summer long a few summers in a row. I was nine, ten, and it was awesome work, and it gave my family free eggs, milk etc. It gave me an appreciation of hard work and this channel shows that same thing. Think it’s easy to run a farm, kids, family, crawl under the farm equipment and help the husband fix it when it breaks down? It isn’t of course, but this is as close as most of us are ever going to come to it. Cows, dogs, kids, husband and her life on the farm trying to keep it all balanced. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNyOeBMHez5KXvFlTewIDAg

About a year of videos and she updates regularly.

My latest one is Wonder Hussy Adventures Sarah Jane. Yes, I only watch her for the desert destinations and history… Okay, she is also sassy, funny as hell and I watched one video where a guy called her low-brow entertainment, or entertainment for low-brow people. Something like that, and that decided me. If someone is so threatened by you they have become a hater then you are definitely good enough for me.

She investigates Ghost Towns, Lost Mines and other places in the desert with her friend Larry, most of the time, but sometimes her sister and or her girlfriend. Awesome. I love it.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRkyWI1tbWchz0uHfCMXK0w

8 years of videos and she updates often and you truly never know where she’ll be next.

Music. Music used to be the only reason I went to YouTube. I know there are people who still think MTV is great, but I’m not one of them. It used to be great when It didn’t have an agenda, but that is neither here nor there because we all see life differently, but if you like the way it used to be, never fear it is still that way on YouTube.

Want to see a video of Ironic by Alanis Morissette? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc

Johhny Cash Hurt? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI

Mazzy Star Fade into You? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKY6TZEyrI

Semisonic Closing Time? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGytDsqkQY8

Dido White Flag? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs

Natalie Merchant Carnival? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ_Wqtnlv4U

Like Creed Arms Wide Open? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99j0zLuNhi8

RHCP Dani California? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb5aq5HcS1A

More of an Elvis Man? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb0Jmy-JYbA

Black Sabbath N.I.B? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwLQw_95hX0

Metallica Nothing else matters? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAGnKpE4NCI

 

Mazzy Star is a band I had never heard of. I write my own music and songs, play guitar, build my own guitars in fact, and for the longest time I was stuck in a rut only listening to certain bands and music, and only playing music derivatives and or covers of those bands.

When I got into YouTube I discovered that YouTube kept track of all the music I listened to and it provided a Playlist of My Music. Ha, I thought, but, to give whatever algorithms they use credit, they did a great job of playing what I liked and then introducing me to music they thought I would like, like Mazzy Star.

So there is my free YouTube plug, like YouTube needs my help. Yet, it is awesome and maybe, like me, you missed it when it got great. I am listening to Collective Soul as I write this. Full of Thanksgiving Day turkey, and, oh yeah, my subscriptions are up to 42. Dell…

Mentioned here:

Roku Express 3900 R: About $35.00 on eBay or Amazon, Walmart.

PRO Quad Core Android 7.1 Smart TV Box 1+8GB HDMI WIFI 4K Media Streamer: About $25.00 eBay

Plex Server: Download free and make your own media server. Add a TV card and record live video too. I opted for the $5.00 a month charge to allow live video and allow me to share my server with whomever, relatives, and friends pretty much anywhere.

This review is my own. No one paid for or offered products for it. I purchase my own products, test them and review them.

My YouTube channel: Everything Else - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ATD-EverythingElse

Home: https://www.writerz.net