Media Frenzy

a virtual evening of channel surfing

Mar 04, 2022

This week, I’m sharing all Youtube content (some archive stuff, music, and some miscellaneous recommendations). As many of you know, two years ago, I gave up all paid streaming services for physical media and Youtube mostly, although I do occasionally digitally rent / buy or watch some stuff on Tubi. The idea was that for the cost of two monthly subscription rates ($16-20/mo), I could collect any number of DVDs, Blu-rays, or VHS tapes secondhand. Often I have found DVDs and Blu-rays going for as low as $0.30/ea and tapes as low as $0.10/ea, it really is a great time to be collecting.

I don’t know what the future holds for physical media. 4K Blu-rays are incredibly expensive, and are pushing some collectors away because of their price, but I do seem to remember HD-DVD and Blu-ray having the same effect initially. For me, my favorite eras of movies and television are represented well on VHS and DVD, and I’ve had very little trouble finding what I’d like to watch, even if it takes me a couple days to find it.

I am one of those who suffers from inaction in situations of overchoice, so streaming services didn’t really help me decide what media I’d like to consume, and in most cases inhibited me from choosing anything or at least swayed my decision into watching something I ended up not caring much for. I’m nearing 500 tapes in my collection now, and with the way my cataloging app displays box sets, I’ve likely passed 500 tapes at this point, so it’s possible I may one day experience the same effect of option-overload that I have with streaming services, but for now and the past two full years, this has worked great for me.

In addition to physical media, the majority of what I consume is content on Youtube, so today I’d like to share some things that I’ve made, some things that I’ve archived, and some things I found interesting on the platform. I hope you enjoy!

Analog → Digital

Citizens Protecting America's Parks: National Parks and Conservation Association

1998 | Runtime 12 minutes

National Parks and Conservation Association 75th Anniversary (revised)

Established in 1919, the National Parks and Conservation Association is the only national, nonprofit, citizen organization dedicated to protecting and preserving our country's National Park System and promoting public understanding of our national parks.

HOW TO USE OR RETURN
After your own viewing, we urge you to circulate this video as widely as possible to friends, schools, libraries, and community groups. If you return the tape on the pre-addressed carton we will be happy to "recycle" the video to another NPCA member.

How to Protect Yourself Featuring: Master Tsai

1994 | Runtime: 34 minutes
Master John Tsai began his kung fu training in Kasshiung, Taiwan, at the age of seven. The training was traditional in nature, beginning with service to his Master and proceeding through the years to a full understanding of the essence of kung fu.
After arriving in the United States, Master Tsai opened his first school in Chicago's Chinatown, initiating a lifelong mission: teaching the art and philosophy of king fu to both Chinese and American students. The instructors headed by Master Tsai carefully select techniques and training methods that are well suited to the individual's potential. The results have been spectacular. Students have achieved a strong sense of personal dignity and have learned to successfully defend themselves when threatened with violence.
Master Tsai's talents for developing potential go beyond the reach of his schools. His demonstrations and seminars on kung fu are in demand across the country. He as worked with law enforcement agencies to provide instruction to officers and with many civic groups to teach (SA) prevention.
Master Tsai holds the titles of State Champion for 1963, National Champion for 1964, and World Lightweight Champion for 1965 and 1967. He is considered the foremost teacher of Shaolin kung fu today.

Hanes 500, Martinsville NASCAR Race 1995 FULL RACE WITH COMMERCIALS

Greater Vision: "Coming Home" Recorded Live at Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, TN

1998 | Runtime 63 minutes
Since December of 1990, Greater Vision has inspired audiences around the world with their rich vocal blend and their effective ability to communicate the message of the gospel. They have established a firm place at the pinnacle of Christian music, becoming the most awarded trio in the history of Gospel music.

lo-fi boom bap chill anime hip hop beats to listen to while you harass the Dollar Tree executives online for taking out huge bonuses last year while the company raises their prices 25% while continuing to pay their employees less than livable wages

Suggestions…

The more time I spend on Youtube, the more I see it less as what it’s intended to be (social media platform / community). I think of it as just another box to dig though. Yes, there is an algorithm to attempt to keep me engaged and interested and clicking and watching ads, but breaking free from that, and using the strangely powerful advanced search options, I’ve found things from old commercials or tv shows I’d nearly forgotten to tutorials about how to fix things I already own and documentaries about things I had no idea I would care about.

There’s no overarching theme or context to what I’m going to share below, but there’s some great content on Youtube and this is just a small taste of what I’ve found interesting this week.

Thanks so much for checking out this week’s newsletter! As always, if you have any questions or comments you can get at me here or here or leave a comment below this post. If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet (it’s free) please think about doing so.

See you soon.

—Forrest