#contemplating social-distancing I'm definitely trying to scrape up everything I can do from the isolation of my 1 bd apartment

[notbecauseofvictories]

Oh No I’m Stuck in My Apartment

Now is the best of times, now is the worst of times! 

Anyway, I am not a healthcare professional and it turns out pandemics don’t care about “law” actually so I’m here to offer the resources I can. Namely: Where To Find Media & Inject It In Your Eyeballs Without Infecting Other People. Most of these links will be USA-specific, but do search for local equivalents.

I. LEGAL, IE EITHER KNOWN TO OR PROFITABLE FOR THE CREATORS / IP-OWNERS

Obviously there’s the whole Nutflix/Prima/Holla/Antitrust Violation+ axis, but there are lots of other ways to access content online and potentially without a subscription fee.

YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY---depending on the resources available, a public library can offer up a wealth of ebooks, audiobooks, online resources, and general content, including awesome stuff to keep the Little Ones (Suddenly Not In School) engaged and using their brains. I encourage everyone to start here. I also recommend the Hoopla app and the Library Extension---those times I feel tempted to look on Amazon first, they’ve pulled me back and reminded me that Chicago Public Libraries might have that, and for free! A blessing.

PBS---A miracle and a gift. Tons and tons of content on the website, and if you become a member (”viewers like you”!) you can access even more, through their partnership with Masterpiece Theater. 

KANOPY---Are you into old movies? Do you have a library card and/or are a student at a university? Check of Kanopy, a service that partners with academic institutions and libraries to stream culturally significant films.

TUBI---like Crackle or Vudu, its catalog is nowhere near as extensive as more profitable streaming services, but it uses a commercial break/no paid subscription model. Currently the only streaming service featuring Leverage, which is a pretty good indicator of quality imho.

MET OPERA LIVE IN HD---This is very niche, but if you’re into opera, the Met is making its recent Live in HD performances stream-able through its website. (It already had this capability through its archives, but I appreciate the chance to see more recent productions.)

Less specifically: if you’re interested in trying out a particular television channel or podcast, buying a book (particularly one from a debut author whose book tour has been canceled due to COVID), or attempting video games, now’s the time, since many are offering free or discounted shipping/access.

II. MAYBE POTENTIALLY NOT EXACTLY LEGAL BUT NOT TECHNICALLY A DMCA VIOLATION TO WATCH

oh no, what’s this whole “pu t loc ker” phenomenon? who can possibly say? no one should visit a link that’s mostly a repository of ripped movies of varying quality (both the movies and the quality of the recording)

and definitely I don’t recommend anyone google “project free tv” in order to catch up on their shows! who would do such a thing that might deprive a poor, multi-trillion dollar mouse some shred of profit????

in addition, no one should check out r/pro(f)shot musicals (minus the f) in they’re looking to find a lot of professionally-recorded musicals, operas and plays! I mean, that would be bad, sort of. I guess.

sometimes, if you go to youtube and click around in clips related to something you want to see, the algorithm will recommend a different video, with a non-searchable title akin to “man in basement develops unhealthy attachment to soprano” or  “austen heroine thinks manners are heroin”. Definitely shouldn’t do that, probably.

.........if you have other resources, don’t hesitate to add to this post or reply. Let’s all stay healthy, stay hydrated, and stay (relatively) socialized!