The Best of YouTube

 

I know — I should ditch YouTube because it’s anathema to those fighting to preserve what’s left of free speech. I ditched Facebook for this very reason and experienced an inner peace I’d been lacking since Skynet became self-aware. But I still use YouTube all the time for two main reasons:

  1. Unlike Facebook, a good alternative fails to exist. Rumble just doesn’t cut it yet.
  2. Most of the good guys’ channels are still up and dishing it, despite YouTube’s best efforts to silence them.

I have plenty of channels I subscribe to, almost all of which have nothing to do with politics. I subscribe to several ministries (Todd WhiteDutch SheetsFlashpointmy church), a bunch of movie and film channels, channels with nerd stuff, and a couple of NFL ones. They show up on my feed and I watch them in the quiet hour after the kids are finally in bed, or at three in the morning while trying to get the toddler back into his bed. If you’re looking for a soothing balm to mitigate the news of the latest atrocity against our country, or just want a break to kill the time in a waiting room somewhere, here are my latest favorites. (Note: unless noted, these are not always appropriate for kids.)

Rousseau

He makes piano covers of classical and pop songs with a reactive visualizer and they are captivating. I watch them and gain new appreciation for the composition and performance. I think I’ve watched around twenty of them. (Appropriate for all ages.)

Millennial Movie Monday

There are hundreds of reaction videos on YouTube; most of them are boring as all get out. Why should you bother watching someone watch another movie you’ve already seen? You probably shouldn’t unless that person is hilarious with her simple, self-deprecating humor and Tennessee drawl. Ashleigh Burton started this as a way of killing time during quarantine and has since turned it into a full-time job and brand. Kudos to this young lady who found a niche and filled it:

Edwin Sarkissian

Things I’ve learned from these jolly chaps:

  • You can fire a .50bmg round from a shotgun or pistol made from plumbing pipe.
  • You can convert a 9mm Glock to fire on full auto.
  • Riot shields can stop crossbow bolts … well, some of them.

I love the accents, too. These are my people:

The Critical Drinker

There are also a hundred channels that trash popular movies. Some of them are shrill, crude, and devastating in their critique. In this sense, The Critical Drinker is not much different, but with one exception: The guy can write. “The Drinker” is a pseudonym for Will Jordan, a Scottish fiction writer with 11 books to his credit, and it shows. He can evaluate story composition, character development, and every other factor that goes into making a creative tale impressive (or garbage). Some of his commentaries are pure poetry, and sometimes they’re incredibly important:

Hornet King

I stumbled upon this guy’s channel one night and simply got hooked. From an educational standpoint, I’ve learned a lot about the science of wasps and stinging insects, but really it’s just super cool to see how these little buzzing guys build away in the dark places. (Appropriate for all ages.)

Full Mag

Ever wonder if it was possible to fit enough explosives into an arrowhead like Rambo used? Or if a thermite grenade will blow up a limo? Well, these guys do. Just a few engineers with curiosity and plenty of time on their hands:

The Breakdown

The Breakdown isn’t exactly a YouTube channel of its own, but rather a show on the GQ channel where industry professionals (security experts, rock climbers, pilots, jewel thieves) break down depictions of their areas of expertise as shown in the movies:

I suppose this means I’ve now inadvertently contributed to wasting some of your precious time. It’s alright, we all need an escape now and then. What are some of your favorites? I’ll let you get back to work by ending this as The Critical Drinker ends all of his videos:

“That’s all I’ve got for today. Go away now.”

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  1. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    I think YouTube is a money loser for Google.  Go in anonymously and the ads have less value.

    • #1
  2. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) (View Comment):

    I think YouTube is a money loser for Google. Go in anonymously and the ads have less value.

    I’m pretty sure only one of these channels has ad’s Ashleigh Burton’s, and even there there is usually only one. 

    • #2
  3. JamesSalerno Inactive
    JamesSalerno
    @JamesSalerno

    Critical Drinker is great! He runs in the same circles as a lot of YouTubers I follow who cover entertainment. 

    • #3
  4. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    I really like The Critical Drinker. A good critical eye, combined with attitude.

    There are some others that I watch. One of my favorites is Modern History TV.

     

    • #4
  5. lowtech redneck Coolidge
    lowtech redneck
    @lowtech redneck

    I like a couple of channels dedicated to comedically reviewing movies ranging from cult classics to awesomely bad (or just plain bad).  GoodBadFlicks is focused more on celebrating underrated or guilty pleasure movies , while Brandon Tenold is oriented more toward the MST3000 schtick (and Godzilla), but their focus often overlaps, such as with Deathstalker (both NSFW):

    • #5
  6. Pete EE Member
    Pete EE
    @PeteEE

    My favorite YouTube alternative is Odysee (https://odysee.com/). Rumble has a nicer looking interface. Odysee has more content.

    Jordan Peterson is there:
    https://odysee.com/@JordanBPeterson:c/the-jordan-b.-peterson-podcast-season-2:b

    So is one of my favorite science channels, Veritasium:
    https://odysee.com/@veritasium:f/bullet-block-experiment:5

    (This one is a puzzle with follow up links that lead to YouTube.  Ody links are here: https://odysee.com/@veritasium:f/bullet-block-experiment-result:e
    and here: https://odysee.com/@veritasium:f/bullet-block-explained:b

    John Stossel is there:
    https://odysee.com/@johnstossel:7/tour-guide-under-attack:1

    And so is Prager U:
    https://odysee.com/@PragerUArchive:c/Did-Capitalism-Save-Communist-China:1

    Competition is good.

    • #6
  7. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds

    Have any of you seen The New Culture Forum on YouTube? I highly recommend it. There’s 2 regular programmes, So What You’re Saying Is which is a one to one interview format and then one called Counterculture which has a panel discussion on a topic. There’s also one off documentaries and they published an excellent book about the influence of cultural Marxism on the education system called The Long March last year which I enjoyed very much, I think it’s only available by ordering directly from them.

    https://youtu.be/-PNCwFE_eiU

    • #7
  8. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Marjorie Reynolds (View Comment):

    Have any of you seen The New Culture Forum on YouTube? I highly recommend it. There’s 2 regular programmes, So What You’re Saying Is which is a one to one interview format and then one called Counterculture which has a panel discussion on a topic. There’s also one off documentaries and they published an excellent book about the influence of cultural Marxism on the education system called The Long March last year which I enjoyed very much, I think it’s only available by ordering directly from them.

    https://youtu.be/-PNCwFE_eiU

    I’ve watched it a few times. I might even be subscribed. I haven’t seen it in a few months though.

    • #8
  9. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    For theology, 

    Ascension Presents https://youtube.com/c/AscensionPresents

    Pints With Aquinas https://youtube.com/channel/UClh4JeqYB1QN6f1h_bzmEng

    Renewal Ministries https://youtube.com/c/RenewalMinistriesRM

    – 

    For Ricochetti,

    Dave Carter https://youtube.com/user/DBCarter62

    Andrew Klavan https://youtube.com/c/AndrewKlavan

    Peter Robinson  https://youtube.com/user/HooverInstitution

    Land of Confusion  https://youtube.com/channel/UCOxasziLxKk6pW86XGdUdXQ

    For the nexus of British humor, video games, and silly tabletop roleplaying, 

    Outside Xbox https://youtube.com/user/outsidexbox

    Outside Xtra https://youtube.com/c/outsidextra

    Playstation Access https://youtube.com/user/PlayStationAccess

    – 

    For pretty music and pretty faces, 

    Taryn Harbridge https://youtube.com/c/TarynHarbridge

    Camille and Kennerly https://youtube.com/c/CamilleandKennerly

    Traditional Gaelic music https://youtube.com/c/TradTG4

    For classic cartoons, 

    https://youtube.com/user/8thManDVDcom 

    – 

    For birdbrains, 

    Lesley the Bird Nerd

    https://youtube.com/c/LesleytheBirdNerd

    – 

    PS . . . 

    • #9
  10. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Although I don’t BBQ nearly enough, I have spent a lot of time watching this guy . . .

    https://youtu.be/kRe0WymG1Jk

    Searching through my kids history to see if they were watching anything inappropriate, I saw that they were checking out a bunch of Prager U and Daily Wire videos (I guess conservatism is the new counterculture).  Through the years my son has also watched a lot of this guy’s videos,

    https://youtu.be/bkqJg3xDkmQ

    which then led to him making his own videos 

    • #10
  11. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds

    If you want to see a beautiful, side-splittingly funny, animal loving Christian woman who is also an amazingly talented seamstress, here’s Micarah Tewers

    • #11
  12. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Percival (View Comment):

    I really like The Critical Drinker. A good critical eye, combined with attitude.

    There are some others that I watch. One of my favorites is Modern History TV.

     

    You watched the ones focusing on period-specific advances in knightly armor, right? Or am I confusing this with the guy from English Heritage?

    Anyway, let me add my recommendation to the list for the Drinker. I have started listening to him regularly. 

    • #12
  13. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    But to join in the spirit of the OP, here are some of my favorites.

    The Netherlands Bach Society: Netherlands Bach Society – YouTube

    The Gebetshaus Augsburg (German): Gebetshaus – YouTube

    The Free to Chose Network: Free To Choose Network – YouTube

    Dr. James M. Tour (science apologetics): DrJamesTour – YouTube

    Dr. William Lane Craig’s international site: DrCraigInternational – YouTube

    The Daily Wire: The Daily Wire – YouTube

    Operation Fatherhood (from Jerome Danner who used to be on Ricochet): Operation: Fatherhood – YouTube

    The North Devon House of Prayer: North Devon House of Prayer – YouTube

    The Free Christian Youth Association (German): FCJG Lüdenscheid / HELP International – YouTube

    And though they do not have a channel, the Band Geeks have tons of videos “cross listed” on YouTube. Like this one: Heart of the Sunrise cover by the Band Geeks – YouTube

    • #13
  14. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    I love You Tube.  Thank you for sharing about it.

    • #14
  15. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Hartmann von Aue (View Comment):

    But to join in the spirit of the OP, here are some of my favorites.

    The Netherlands Bach Society: Netherlands Bach Society – YouTube

    Will certainly give this one a go. 

    • #15
  16. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Hartmann von Aue (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    I really like The Critical Drinker. A good critical eye, combined with attitude.

    There are some others that I watch. One of my favorites is Modern History TV.

     

    You watched the ones focusing on period-specific advances in knightly armor, right? Or am I confusing this with the guy from English Heritage?

    Anyway, let me add my recommendation to the list for the Drinker. I have started listening to him regularly.

    Jason Kingsley’s channel is pretty much all medieval. Like “How to Eat Like a Peasant.”

    I just looked up English Heritage and that looks pretty good too.

    • #16
  17. Troy Senik Member
    Troy Senik
    @TroySenik

    Ahem.

    I don’t suppose I could point you to Kite & Key? Our latest got shared by a group that included everyone from Newt Gingrich to our very own Mollie Hemingway to John Stossel to Conor Friedersdorf. If that’s not hitting for the cycle, I don’t know what is. I’m telling you, we’re the only thing holding the movement together!

    • #17
  18. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Ive enjoyed many of the recommendations above, like Millennial Movie Monday for quite some time. Check into Natalie Gold:

    CinemaBlend:

    GenX SpawnPoint:

    Some Canada: (Rex Murphy)

    Dead South: (South Saskatchewan, in this case)

    Cooking shows:

    Sciencey:

    Some strange stuff, (I wont post a link – but its on youtube) I found this fella in England, making a living as an E-Girl. F1nn5ter, he dresses up and plays video games on Twitch and YouTube. He gets paid $15000 to dress as a girl per month. Its a weird channel – he pushes very hard to keep his channel friendly with YouTube and Twitch standards – so there will be no nudity but some bad language – he F-bombs a fair lot. (innuendoes galore) … I dont know why, but for some reason I like it – its weirdly funny.

    • #18
  19. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Its a little unusual, but here is a historical documentary about Nazi Germany, that is quite touching:

     

    • #19
  20. Pony Convertible Inactive
    Pony Convertible
    @PonyConvertible

    I had never heard of paramotors a year ago. Then a found out my son was taking classes to learn. The school didn’t shut down for Covid-19, but they allowed people to cancel.  I took one of the cancelation spots.  Now I’m a pilot. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (I’m 61).

    Tucker Gott is the most popular paramotor YouTube channel. Enjoy, but beware, you might get hooked.

    • #20
  21. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Pony Convertible (View Comment):

    I had never heard of paramotors a year ago. Then a found out my son was taking classes to learn. The school didn’t shut down for Covid-19, but they allowed people to cancel. I took one of the cancelation spots. Now I’m a pilot. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (I’m 61).

    Tucker Gott is the most popular paramotor YouTube channel. Enjoy, but beware, you might get hooked.

    My Cousin was really into this sort of thing – he flew one that had a tricycle undercarriage. He gave it up, once he had children, but he died a few years back of cancer – not an unexpected landing. I wonder if he shouldnt have kept flying – his time turned out to have been more limited than he expected.

     

    • #21
  22. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Pony Convertible (View Comment):

    I had never heard of paramotors a year ago. Then a found out my son was taking classes to learn. The school didn’t shut down for Covid-19, but they allowed people to cancel. I took one of the cancelation spots. Now I’m a pilot. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (I’m 61).

    Tucker Gott is the most popular paramotor YouTube channel. Enjoy, but beware, you might get hooked.

    This is epic. 

    • #22
  23. Pony Convertible Inactive
    Pony Convertible
    @PonyConvertible

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):

    Pony Convertible (View Comment):

    I had never heard of paramotors a year ago. Then a found out my son was taking classes to learn. The school didn’t shut down for Covid-19, but they allowed people to cancel. I took one of the cancelation spots. Now I’m a pilot. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (I’m 61).

    Tucker Gott is the most popular paramotor YouTube channel. Enjoy, but beware, you might get hooked.

    My Cousin was really into this sort of thing – he flew one that had a tricycle undercarriage. He gave it up, once he had children, but he died a few years back of cancer – not an unexpected landing. I wonder if he shouldnt have kept flying – his time turned out to have been more limited than he expected.

     

    I assume I’ll be using a trike someday, when I’m forced by my body to act my age. They take a little more space to launch. I don’t think I’ll be able to launch from my front yard anymore. They are not as maneuverable in flight, but I’m not into acrobatics anyway. I just relax and sightsee.  I’m sure it will still be fun.

    • #23
  24. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Pony Convertible (View Comment):

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):

    Pony Convertible (View Comment):

    I had never heard of paramotors a year ago. Then a found out my son was taking classes to learn. The school didn’t shut down for Covid-19, but they allowed people to cancel. I took one of the cancelation spots. Now I’m a pilot. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (I’m 61).

    Tucker Gott is the most popular paramotor YouTube channel. Enjoy, but beware, you might get hooked.

    My Cousin was really into this sort of thing – he flew one that had a tricycle undercarriage. He gave it up, once he had children, but he died a few years back of cancer – not an unexpected landing. I wonder if he shouldnt have kept flying – his time turned out to have been more limited than he expected.

     

    I assume I’ll be using a trike someday, when I’m forced by my body to act my age. They take a little more space to launch. I don’t think I’ll be able to launch from my front yard anymore. They are not as maneuverable in flight, but I’m not into acrobatics anyway. I just relax and sightsee. I’m sure it will still be fun.

    My cousin lived on a small ranch in North West Saskatchewan – space for an informal runway wasnt really a problem.

    I think I posted the story before – how one time he was out flying – and he over flew an RCMP police car. Which started to follow him. A few moments after he landed the cruiser pulled into the field where he had landed and the Mountie was absolutely fascinated by the machine – how to fly it, what licenses needed – where to take the lessons, etc. He was so into it he forgot to ask to see my cousin’s license – which he did not yet have… He was just so open with the cop that he never thought about writing a ticket. (not sure a regular beat cop has a ticket pad for that, anyway)

    • #24
  25. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    This topic of yours, Vince, is a treasure. Thank you.

    And I haven’t even wandered into other people’s suggestions.

    Whoever  said nothing good ever comes out of endlessly experiencing having an infant up at 3 Am!

    • #25
  26. Chris Oler Coolidge
    Chris Oler
    @ChrisO

    I’ve watched The Breakdown a few times, including Jocko Willink looking at combat movies. I was a little shocked that Charlie Sheen’s Navy Seals fared so well under his critical eye. You know, you just think it’s one of those cheesy action movies from a time when you couldn’t walk blindfolded into a theater and avoid one. Turns out they did a lot of it right.

    • #26
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