You Tube People

You tube likes top tens doesn't it? Well I like you tube and top tens, so guess where this is going! No I'm not just going to link you to YouTube and say "Go watch things!" Ok... I guess that technically did happen but shut up! The actual point of this post is to share with the world my 10 favourite you tube channels. Thats current favourites, the ones I watch all the time now, not all time favourites per se. Being my personal choices there are of course some shared themes that represent my interests, 70% of the list will be film and game related channels, two will be comedy channels and the last is... Well it's Laci Green's channel, representing one of my keenest interests. Right list time, I'll link you to the channel and put one of my personal favourite videos right here.

10. Lore

Ding! I love this channel for it's simplicity. In 60 seconds you get the back story to a video game, or the story behind it's development. They also have longer videos for fast facts: Easter eggs, story secrets, leaked information and such like. The channel covers everything from the birth of the RPG as we know it to modern games as soon as they come out. A constantly changing mix of animators, voice actors and writers mean that Lore is always feeling fresh while remaining true to it's mantra of delivering what it promises: Lore, in a minute.

9. CinemaSins

Ding!.. I didn't realise there were two dinging channels at the end of the list until just now, ah well. Cinema sins works entirely on delivery, be it plot holes, continuity errors or just bad work by a member of the cast or  crew, everything is simply pointed out and dinged. For reasons I can't really explain my favourite videos on this channels are the ones laying into to the films I love. Search through the archives of this channel and I promise that you'll quickly find one of you most treasured cinema memories, then love it even more as it's shown in plain witty English that no film is without sin.

8. theRadBrad

Ah lets players, one of the simplest types of you tube channels there is, a guy (or girl, just a guy in this case) plays games and that's it, the good ones talk while they do it to differentiate themselves, some with a facecam, done. They can churn out videos at a rate most channels could never match, making lets plays a great type of channel for time wasting video binges. I know that Felix holds the top spot for his lets plays, but I've always felt Pewdiepie is too much of an invented character for my liking. Brad is not that, he's much more human and easier to relate to as a result. Plus lets be honest, Pewdie is generaly not that great at gaming, I do like to see a bit of progress in the videos I watch.

7. Egoraptor

Arin 'Chinagan' Hanson is one of the most talented and popular animators and voice actors on the web. With over 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube and almost 20%  more fans on Newgrounds than any other author, it's hard to imagine him going anywhere soon. Even today I keep finding out that animations I've loved for up to a decade have featured Egoraptor as an animator or character's voice. His unique take on video games in the Awesome Series shows his brilliant comedy and then Sequelitis displays the man's critical abilities and logic. A talent that shows that being a high school drop out can be the right decision for people with the talent and drive to get things done in their own way.

6. PeanutButterGamer

PBG has a channel dedicated to game 'reviews' the inverted commas being his own addition to the word as it's not the standard score, pros and cons, value for money and whatnot you get in a traditional review. The system is more akin to a highlight reel from a lets play with the commentary dubbed after editing. Regardless of you define the formula, it works. Austin's videos are consistently funny, his rambling style and personable charm carry his videos and though you only get a basic understanding of the game in question, you'll still be glad you watched the video. His game play channel is just a good, especially the two minecraft hardcore series that feature many great you tube faces.

5. TomSka

See? The internet is not all American. A brilliant sketch comic most famous for the bizarre and random asdf series. Personally I prefer his live action sketches, they stand up better upon re-watching. Part of a group of British comics that make up some of the best comedy this country has to offer, the collaborations between these men and women are one of the main reasons I barely watched TV even when I had on in my room. There are things independent small teams can pull of better than multimillion pound company like the BBC.

4. Ninja Sex Party

It's a well known fact that a Jewish love god and a psychotic ninja cannot fail in any endeavour related to comedic music. This point is only proven further by Ninja sex party, Danny Sexbang and Ninja Brian take the most beautiful subject for music (carnal relations) and somehow not only manage to find humour in it, but also make it even more pure and perfect... Okay that's the opposite of true. Their music follows the life of Danny Sexbang, a man with more confidence than people betting against man united this season, as he manages to disappoint or simply disturb every woman he meets. Seriously though, I own both the NSP albums, they are hilarious and genuinely good musicians. The video game parody band Starbomb they formed by teaming up with Egoraptor (yeah he raps too) is just as awesome.

3. JonTron

A very similar style to PBG but in my opinion at least smoother and just generally better. Jon was the first YouTube channel I was ever truly a fan of. I was subscribed to others, I watched bands channels a lot, but Jon was the first person to really win me over with nothing over than some stupid internet videos about games. Constantly improving on his style and delivery, I don't think that Jon has even neared his potential and yet he already stands head and shoulders above his peers in the YouTube reviewing niche. 

2. Laci Green

I love this woman, she is truly one of the most brilliant things the internet age has ever produced (beating all social networks, internet pornography and even delivery motherfucking dominoes pizza!) So far all 8 previous entries on this list have got there purely through entertainment value, Laci not only manages to blow them all so far out of the water they dry out to the point of dust before landing, but she also endeavours to make the world a better place by educating the masses with over 150 videos on some of the most amazing, surprising, shocking, essential and enlightening pieces of information on the most important topic there is. Well over 99% of animals have a desire to do it, it's the driving force behind evolution, it's quite possibly the most enjoyable thing there is... You guessed it (or looked at the video for more than 0.006 seconds) she talks about sex. What makes Laci so good at this is that, as well as being genuinely qualified to, her ability to stick unyieldingly to a perfect standard of maturity without becoming an awkward sex ed lesson keeps the video engaging and not preachy. She is funny and she understands her audience, Laci's jokes manage to remain clean without going off topic, there's absolutely no awkwardness in her delivery on any subject, no matter how personal or seemingly taboo or unusual. Laci is adorable and deals with people who disagree with her, or act inappropriately towards her (either as a topic for a video, or frequently in response to one) in the same way she presents her show; with charm and maturity. That being said, she is a champion against true injustice, if I were a sexist or homophobe I would genuinely be afraid of this woman. She makes me giggle like a child  and grin like an idiot while making me think like an adult and hopefully act a bit smarter (with her subject matter you'll have to be a special one of my readers to know if she's succeeded on that last one). Laci Green is an amazing woman and I love her to bits.

Honourable mentions

Before we see what could possibly top the love I have for Laci, I just want to point in the direction of the channels I cut from the list, be it because I spend less time on them, or they're a fun but simple time waster or whatever, these are still worth checking out... Go linkfest! Cosmo Jarvis, Game theory, Caddicarus, did you know gaming, Rubberninja, OneyNG and finally: everyone who ever posts a game grumps animated/remix, which leads us on neatly to...

1. Game Grumps

Since I spent well over 2 hours sat with Emma watching Danny and Arin play video games today, I couldn't justify putting any other channel in this spot. Although they try not to admit it, the grumps are essentially a lets play channel like any other, except for one simple difference, there's two of them. The addition of the second host makes the grump channel like none other, the flow and chemistry of duologue makes it so much easier to watch and enjoy masses of game grumps without getting bored as you would watching a monologuing lets play. This channel recently overtook Arin's Egoraptor channel because, as I mentioned earlier, they can put out so much content as a lets play channel, so the best lets play channel on YouTube, is my number one channel overall.

Not the happiest of bunnies

My blog has always contained a strange and seemingly random mix of topics, I try to keep the personal stuff to a minimum but there are times when I just need to get something out and for some reason publishing that something on this blog seems to help. So tonight I use that venting purpose of my blog for possibly the most serious of any of the posts I've written.
I have depression. Part of me has been worried that something wasn't quite right in my head for a long time now, but recently it just got too much for me. I moved to uni and everything in my life is as good as it has ever been, yet I was so unhappy I could barely bring myself to get out of bed. I realised that I was no longer able to cope on my own and forced myself to see a doctor. I know it's cliché but admitting out loud that I thought I had a problem was genuinely the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. I am now on anti-depressant medication and will be having regular check ups over the next few months.
Until writing this post I had only told a few people, not because I wanted to keep it a secret, but because it wasn't a relevant point to bring up. I refuse to believe there is any reason for any sort of stigma to be attached to depression or any form of mental illness. There is a chemical imbalance in my body that causes some unwanted effects, much in the same way many physical illness work, my imbalance just happens to be in the synapses of my brain that's all. Everyone I have told about it, family, friends, even my lecturers, have been brilliant, offering me as much support as I could ever want. Special thanks has to be given to Katie and Sabrina though, without whom I'd be in a much lonelier and darker place.
I've had my pills for just under a week now, apparently they take 2-4 weeks before they really get to work, so I'm still a little way off being ok. I am however noticing two interesting side effects. One of the better known and often questioned effects of anti-depressants is increased thoughts of suicide. Now I've never had and still have no desire to kill myself I promise you, so maybe this is just a placebo effect, but I've become very aware of the possibility, a car drives past me and I know I could jump under it, I use a knife and know I could open my jugular, I take my medication and wonder if I have enough to overdose. I don't want to do it, but I'm acutely aware of my own ability to end my life. The second side effect is less serious, but certainly more annoying. (People who know me, this might get a little weird depending on how close we are, just saying) Being 19 and single my sex drive was pretty high as it was, but I get to be one of the lucky minority of users who gets theirs sent through the fucking roof by their pills, so for the next few weeks I'll be as horny as a dog in heat but have the self confidence of the average sea cucumber, so that'll be fun (FYI, the ex drive effect is likely to stay as long as the meds do, only the confidence level will change... hopefully it will)
On a serious note though, telling people about this has helped me so much in such a short space of time. If you think even a little bit that you might have depression then tell someone, either see a doctor or tell someone you trust to help you though it. Trust me, I know how terrifying that thought is, but it will be a massive step in helping you overcome it.

You're Not Perfect

I know, I haven't written anything here for a long time now, but I was getting ready to move to university when I wrote that last post so I've been busy, deal with it. Anyway, that's not related in the slightest to this post.
I was having one of those nights last night, the ones where my brain gets really fixated on one very specific random topic. Specifically the emotive meaning of words verses their actual meaning. I've talked about how cunt/pussy/vagina all have the same literal meaning, but obviously you'll get very different reactions if you use one instead of the other. Word to the wise, don't talk about a cunt in reproductive biology. (I don't do that module, just fyi, so that was just a joke, don't panic).
This time however I was thinking about positive, non sweary things (yeah, I was pretty shocked too). I was thinking about being referred to as "perfect" (no I was not called that, we both know that was a stupid question for you to ask). It's not something I say often, or at all really, because to me it feels cheap, meaningless even. No one is perfect, perfect is an absolute, perfect is an omnipotent high of goodness. You are not at that level, no one is, even Helena isn't (She spent new years at David Cameron's house without hitting him). Even if we talk about how physically attractive one person is to one other, the odds of you meeting their preference for every distinguishing feature is going to be billions to one. Certainly more than there are people on the earth, so odds on that there is no one perfect for you out there. Then we move on to everything else, mannerisms, opinions, accents, you really think that one person will have your number one choice for all of them?
And yet, after all this, I leave you with one of my rare positive endings. Who cares that your partner has flaws? We all have a fair few. The myth of perfection perpetuates the myth of the one. There is not one perfect person out there for you, but there are people out there who will make you happy, find one of them. Don't pretend they're perfect, just make sure they're beautiful to you, on every level.

Archduke Sarin

I was talking to Heather about Syria and she asked me if I was scared. Unfortunately, it's got to the point where frankly, not be scared is illogical. We are on the brink of the third world war, it sounds like I'm being melodramatic but I honestly believe that.
Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya all had one difference to Syria that makes this so, no powerful countries tried to stop an invasion. Syria is backed by China and Russia, two of the largest and most powerful countries on Earth and both Permanent members of the UN security council.
Despite this fact, Obama drew a line in the sand, he made it very clear that America would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons... Chemical weapons were used. So, like it or not, Obama pretty much needs a war to maintain his credibility. I can tell you exactly what will happen if and when the American troops land in Syria, because it has already happened once before.
On Sunday the 28th of June 1914 a 19 year old Gavrilo Princip shot and killed the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, this is the WW1 equivalent of the sarin, the spark in the powder keg. So Austria invaded Serbia, much as America seems poised to invade Syria. In both the past and all too likely future events, Russia steps in to defend it's smaller ally. Obviously Austria called on its allies and Russia on its, leading to WW1. The same thing will inevitably happen in Syria, America will bring in its European allies and Russia will be joined by China and Iran.
For the third time the world's superpowers will be at war with one another, millions will die and the reason for the war starting will be lost among the fighting, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was not enough to warrant the first world war, just as the use of sarin gas does not justify the third.
Something needs to be done in Syria, but invasion is not it.

The Russian Regime

My brother did a post on how dangerous it was for David Cameron to use a  phrase used to refer to "the bad guy" to talk about Russia. Cameron was right though, not something I'll often say, Putin is clearly an evil and insane excuse for a human being.
For those of you who don't know, Vladimir Putin is openly moving to make being gay illegal. Any "promotion" of homosexuality in media is treated in the same way as pornography, because if your child sees two men kiss it's life will be permanently damaged won't it? No Russian child can be adopted in Britain now, or France, or Canada, or any other country that has legalised gay marriage. Even if a straight couple adopts them, this country is no longer allowed Russian children.
Next in line is Putin's master stroke, the one that if allowed to go through will forever be remembered as his legacy. He wants to legally remove all children from homes with a gay couple. Not only adopted, but biological children too.
Putin is the head of a broken and medieval regime. A lieutenant colonel of the KGB sitting in the Kremlin pretending the soviet union never fell. Public opinion means nothing to this man but governments and the UN might be able to do something. The plans off the Russian government show a blatant disregard of human rights, wars have been started for far less.
Russia is large and powerful, but not untouchable. Putin believes he can act like Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein with impunity. The civilised governments of the world and the UN need to let him know that this is not the case. Putin has been at the top of Russian government, in one form or another, since 1999. Clearly it's time for a change.

Happy Endings

I got dumped a few days ago... That was fun.
Shockingly though I am not going to focus on that (it will influence the post a lot though) that was my original plan but I don't think I can without feeling cruel or petty. Part of me says I have the right to be just that, but I love her too much for that.
Luckily an alternative presented itself to me while watching a film (fun size, its brilliant, go watch it) As you'd expect, a bunch of shit happens to the main characters that makes everyone very unhappy. This inspires character development and dramatic adventures and whatnot. All perfectly fine.
My issue comes at the end of the film (and almost every film ever, hence it being an issue) Everyone good ends up happy, everyone bad ends up unhappy. Take fun size as the example, Wren leaves the popular good looking guy to be with the nerd who loved her, April stops rejecting the guy who likes her in favour of coolness, Wren's mother isn't angry she's just happy to be with her children, etc, etc... That is not the way the world works, deserving to be happy is not a good enough reason in the eyes of the universe. The person you love will not suddenly realise they loved you too all along, bad people will not get the punishment they deserve. It's bothered me a little for a long time, it's hardly surprising that I'm more bothered this time.
Films are supposed to reflect real life to some degree, even things that seem totally insane and off the wall have to connect with reality in some way to be enjoyed. So why does no film have a realistic ending? Every film ends in a world where justice has been done to everyone. That's not how it works, life is not just, the world is not fair. Unhappy endings are a part of life and films need to accept this. I'm not saying I want everyone to end up depressed, no one would watch that film, but having one main protagonist end the film suffering at the hands of fate, worse off than they started, would not only be a poignant dramatic device to make for a memorable ending, but it would also be a much more realistic ending.
I know why they don't do it, happy ending are meant to make the watcher feel just that, happy. To me they've always just said one thing "if your life isn't perfect, then you must be the bad guy, only they end up unhappy." The idea that everyone gets their fairytale ending is bullshit, filling people with ridiculous dreams, vous ne revez pas, the world will never be kind to you. So we have to keep going, don't let one thing or person dominate your life, because it will be gone one day. You may never have a happy ending, but a happy life is something worth fighting for.

Let your children live

I'm encouraging commenting on this post more than any other I've done. Our topic for today is "How much freedom should a teenager get from their parents?" Obviously if you're a teenager or the parent of one I'd like to know how things really work as well as how you think they should. Are you parents too controlling, or your children too rebellious? Are there any cases where it's the other way around, where you feel like your parents don't care about keeping you safe, or that your children can't function without you?
The two situations I'm aware of in enough detail to write about are mine (obviously) and one other who I won't mention by name but you all know who it is anyway. Rather nicely from a blogging point of view, they're very different situations. That's not a good thing from a personal point of view, for reasons you will see later.
Firstly, my family. My mother is fairly relaxed about when I go out, I am expected to sleep at my house and not drink on school nights, that pretty much covers it. If I can tell her who I'll be with, so she knows they're not strangers from the internet or whatnot, then all is well. If I go out early in the evening I don't get told when to be home for dinner, I get a text while I'm out saying "Will you be home for dinner at *whenever*?" The answer is generally yes, but I know that it is my choice. If I go out later than that I obviously get asked when I'll be home, if I don't know (I often don't, I don't know much) then that is the answer I give and it is fine. I don't even ask if people can come over any more, it's not uncommon for me to tell my mum "Heather is on her way over" and that's the first she knows of it. The system for the sister (15) is pretty similar, she just gets told to be home at 10, she of course turns up at 10:15 most nights (it's a 15 minute walk to Jamie Walker's house, coincidence? I think not)
I might be biased because it's a system I'm obviously very used to, but I think it works rather well. My mother makes sure I am safe, then lets me live my life. As long as I am with people I know and have a way of contacting/getting home, all is well.
The other situation I'm concerned with is ever so slightly different. Like I said, I may be biased by my own family, but lets be honest, if you have a 17 year old child that has been out and eaten dinner at someone else's house, but you still demand they be home for 7:30, you are an overprotective cunt. Frankly if you can't cope with your child being out of the house all the way to (gasp) 8pm! Then you're probably just going to drive your child away and cause arguments. I'm not saying all parents should let their children be out for as long as they want, but unless they stopped growing up at 12 years old, then 7:30 is a stupid curfew.
All parents (with a few exceptions) just what their children to be safe and I know that letting them do whatever they like whenever they like is madness, but bubble wrapping your child is just as bad. Protect your children, keep them safe and catch them when they fall, just give them the chance to make their own choices, they will make mistakes, let them, help them deal with it and make better choices, don't force them to hide those mistakes and make everything worse. A parent's job is to raise their child to be able to live their life, not to run their life for them.
I know a lot of parents will think this is just a teenager thinking they know better than any adult, but that's far from the case. (No one show this next part to my mother) I am so grateful to my mother for the way she treats me. I know if I do something stupid, like getting really terribly ill from drinking too much, I will be rescued and made better, then mocked about it mercilessly. Now I don't drink on an empty stomach, I made the mistake, I learnt from it. If I wasn't free to do so I would just make the mistake away from the safety net of my mother later in life, then I could end up hospitalised or worse.
This has not been an angry teenage rant, this has been logic. If you agree, or disagree, or have anything to say about teenagers and parents, then the comment box is right down there.