I'm one of those hipsters who doesn't use streaming services.

I did, a while ago, but I quit using them because the experience is kind of awful, and I'm happier now for it. I collect physical media and watch it using Jellyfin on my Linux-based home theater PC, and I'm completely satisfied with how it works.

I'm making this video because I am really troubled by algorithmic helplessness, and I feel like corporate-centralized streaming media makes that worse. Maybe this video will encourage someone else to cut the cord and rediscover an appreciation for owning your media and being choosy about what to "watch next". Or maybe I'm just wasting time. Who knows? I suppose, you know, you're reading this description, right?

If you read the description, say "algorithmic helplessness sucks" in the comments. That'll make me feel better.

Oh right, I need to tell you about the things I mentioned in the video.

Software:
- MakeMKV: https://makemkv.com/
- To support MakeMKV and get all the advanced features: https://www.makemkv.com/buy/
- That LibreDrive forum post on the MakeMKV website which is hard to find (contains list of LibreDrive compatible drives): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=79712#p79712
- Handbrake: https://handbrake.fr/
- Asunder: http://littlesvr.ca/asunder/
- Jellyfin: https://jellyfin.org/
- Kodi: https://kodi.tv
- Finamp (via GitHub): https://github.com/jmshrv/finamp

Hardware I mentioned - not sponsored and no affiliate links.
(These drives might not be currently available at Micro Center, but I'm providing these links as they're probably the most helpful if you want to find one yourself.)
- My LG portable Blu-Ray drive, a BP60NB10: https://www.microcenter.com/product/607144/lg-slim-portable-blu-ray-dvd-writer-w-3d-blu-ray-disk-playback-and-m-disc-support
- And my internal Asus BW-16D1HT drive: https://www.microcenter.com/product/435513/asus-16x-blu-ray-disc-drive
- FLIRC receiver (I don't remember if I bought it here but maybe): https://www.pishop.us/product/flirc-rpi-usb-xbmc-ir-remote-receiver/

Other links of note:
- 13 minutes of videotaped footage of the Wii Netflix app: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raAOW1pP66E
- Video about smart TVs by @LonSeidman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TPV9yQvcIQ
- My PeerTube (watch this video without ads or tracking): https://tinkerbetter.tube/c/veronicaexplains/videos
- My blog post about how I use Handbrake: https://vkc.sh/handbrake-2025/

Lastly, links to support my very unsponsored videos:
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/VeronicaExplains
- Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/VeronicaExplains
- Bandcamp: https://thestopbits.bandcamp.com

Chapters:
0:00 My motivation for ditching streaming
3:21 Physical media is awesome
4:05 Ripping media
5:59 Serving with Jellyfin
7:09 Bookstores and libraries are lit (get it?)
8:10 I don't want an algorithm programming us.

#homelab #streaming #linux

Veronica Explains

A personal account of abandoning streaming services in favor of physical media (DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs) and paper books. Covers the technical setup for ripping and managing media using tools like MakeMKV, Handbrake, and Jellyfin on Linux, while critiquing algorithmic recommendations and advocating for more deliberate content consumption and ownership.

I stream nothing, and I am happy.

<p>I stream using Kafka and I am happy as well</p>


<p>Might I suggest checking out an open-source tool I found called FastFlix on the Github as a HandBrake replacement?</p>
