Value Select (Max Renner)
My new favorite YouTube musician (usurping the throne long-held by NigaHiga and KevJumba). I’ve been listening to this song on repeat:
(Not endorsed: the intro up to 0:12. Not sure what he’s trying to do there.)
He has his own version of the white girl ukelele song, and its male equivalent:
He’s talented in many genres of music, including hip-hop and pop:
Plus he’s random:
And deep:
I’m a fan.
Note that I don’t endorse any of the songs featuring the weird Willy-Wonka-esque character (you’ll know it when you see it). Also, I don’t understand at least a quarter of his videos. The good ones are great, though.
Micarah Tewers
Come for the sewing tutorials, stay for the house chickens, rat funerals, and slice of small-town Ohio/Florida trailer-park life. She lets you into her world, and it’s delightful.
Before watching “I made Kylie Jenner’s Christmas dress for $20,” which I had ignored despite months of YouTube recommending it to me, I assumed her videos were clickbait. So glad I was wrong.
Also recommended, if you’re interested in costume design:
And one featuring her singing, painting, and RV-decorating skills:
Adam Ragusea
Last time I recommended Binging with Babish and Internet Shaquille under “Cooking.” I thought about putting Adam Ragusea there too, but I hadn’t watched many of his videos.
I enjoyed “Making New York-style pizza at home” back when it first went viral, but at the time he had hardly any other videos. (Version 1 was posted Dec. 2018; I’ve linked version 2 below, since you’ll want the updated recipe.)
Well, at some point I watched Pancakes 201, which has changed the way I make pancakes (now on a dry non-stick pan—I used to melt butter in it). This set off a Ragusea-watching marathon.
I have now watched almost all his videos, many of them multiple times.
I learn something new from every video, even when I already know about the topic (like the difference between baking powder and baking soda—I knew what the difference was, but I never knew how single-acting baking powder companies tried to crush the double-acting competition when it was first invented).
He’s the only food youtuber whose recipes I will actually make!! (or at least, plan to actually make :P) thanks to approachable dishes like these:
Also, he seems to have high integrity. For example, he:
- Backs up claims with scientific evidence.
- Reminds people that jokes where the punchline is “Adam’s an alcoholic!” are not funny (he puts white wine in a lot of food).
- Thoughtfully considers where his viewers are located, and explains things that might be confusing outside the US.
I am now a devoted Adam Ragusea fan, and will watch any video he makes. I went to “Videos,” sorted by “Most Popular,” scrolled all the way down, and have been working my way back up.
Here’s a gem from the under-viewed section:
Thank you, Adam!!
Ordinary Things
This video showed up in my recommended feed:
And I was immediately entranced by his brilliant turns of phrase.
I like all his videos. For example:
Plus, he brings out my British side:
And he has forced me to consider how my chocolate habit is supporting child labor. (I’m even considering giving up KitKats forever.)
Normally I would have more to say, but it’s 11 PM and I’m getting tired. If you’re anything like me, you’ll binge-watch all these videos after being hooked by the first few anyway 😛
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