So in no particular order, here is a list of eight video sites you should have on your radar.
TWITCH
The pitch to launch Twitch must have been really interesting: "We'll launch a channel where gamers will play games and comment on them live." Someone evidently bought into the concept and the Amazon-owned service was launched. Those that questioned the power of the concept were no doubt surprised at its success.
Not only has the channel made stars of video gamers, it has also gone a long ways to dispelling the typical gamer stereotype. The platform has also become a favourite of poker players of all levels, and has even been said to be revolutionising the game. In addition to some of the up and coming players launching channels, many old school players have taken to the channel to offer tips, such as Daniel Negreanu, poker's all time tournament money winner.
JUNGLEINDIEROCK.COM
There are tons of music video sites. Vevo is without a doubt one of the best, especially for established artists. However if you like to discover new music that is interesting and often pushes the boundaries a bit, then you should check out JungleIndieRock.com. Unlike a lot of the indie sites, Jungle doesn't take itself so seriously as to exclude music from established mainstream artists that fit the site. You'll find the Black Keys and even a tribute to Percy Sledge along with Pussy Riot and Daddy Issues.
POKERSTARS.TV
Professional poker players have come a long way in the last decade. At one point, now well-known professional players avoided publicity; now they are treated like rock stars. PokerStars.tv provides live coverage of European Poker Tour (EPT) tournaments as well as other tournaments from around the world. The broadcast team has earned numerous awards and garnered rave reviews from mainstream media. The platform has even created some unique competitions like The Shark Cage which features contestants and celebrities like Miss Finland, competing for $1 million in poker earnings.
EXPLORE.ORG
Cats and kittens are not the only animals featured in videos. Explore.org is a portal to some of the most amazing live animal cams around. The feeds on the site are especially interesting since a lot of us live in urban areas and seldom get a glimpse of real life in the wild. The predatory bird nest cams are among the most interesting as you get to follow the eagles and owls from egg to fledglings. One owl cam is even located in a window box of a family home in Oklahoma. The camera's owners are often online to answer questions and the discussion boards show a devoted following. Just as a side note: if watching a large bird rip apart fish and other small animals to feed its young is disturbing to you, you might want to avoid the site.
SPORTLEMON.ORG
If sports are your thing, one of the best streaming sites is SportLemon. The site serves as a portal to a diverse list of free live streams for every genre of sports. The pop-up ads can be a bit irritating when you make your way through the menu tabs, but the site is still well worth a visit for the content.
AFRICAM.COM
Another great portal for animal lovers is Africam.com, which features cams from various locations throughout Africa. Rhino and elephant cams are among the most popular. Many of the cameras are located near watering holes; you get to see a variety of animals, but there also can be long periods without an animal siting. Predatory animals capturing prey is also somewhat common. In addition to cams in the wild, there are some located in conservation and rescue facilities. The site promotes conservation and the plight of endangered species without being overbearing.
ACADEMICEARTH.ORG
One of the best educational portals available is AcademicEarth.org. The site has links to lectures ranging from Art History to Management. The Berklee College of Music, Oxford, Yale and Stanford are among the universities featured. The electives section features a collection of some of the most eclectic information you will find on the web. You can find out how all the time you spend online has changed your brain, learn how to take a punch, or figure out how to build the perfect protagonist in your next novel. All of the lectures are free and are arranged in a logical course structure.
OPENCULTURE.COM
If you love conventional movies, you probably already have some of the best film sites bookmarked on your computer, but if you are looking for Susan Sontag's bizarre Duet for Cannibals (the 1969 film featuring a pair of cannibals), Andy Warhol's "anti-movies," or the thirty minute film of the Beastie Boys' You've Got to Fight video, Open Culture is for you. What the site lacks in design flourish is more than made up for by the amazing array of films available. While the cultural significance of some of the offerings is debatable, there is no question that even the most adventurous film viewer will find something of interest.
We're sure that you can contribute more to this list. One of the best things about these sites is that all of them will lead you to discover even more interesting sites as well. An additional plus is that the next time someone wants to share an 'interesting' video of a cat riding a robot vacuum, you can share one of a cheetah taking down live prey.
21 April 2015