diff --git a/public/blog/subs/chains.jpg b/public/blog/subs/chains.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d807e7 Binary files /dev/null and b/public/blog/subs/chains.jpg differ diff --git a/src/layouts/MarkdownLayout.css b/src/layouts/MarkdownLayout.css index f88a315..68f74f6 100644 --- a/src/layouts/MarkdownLayout.css +++ b/src/layouts/MarkdownLayout.css @@ -17,3 +17,7 @@ #content em { @apply italic text-gray-300; } + +#content a { + @apply text-secondary underline; +} diff --git a/src/pages/blog/posts/reject-subscriptions.md b/src/pages/blog/posts/reject-subscriptions.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a07845 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/pages/blog/posts/reject-subscriptions.md @@ -0,0 +1,110 @@ +--- +layout: ../../../layouts/MarkdownLayout.astro +title: 'reject subscription services, embrace freedom' +pubDate: 2024-07-14 +description: 'An insight into services I use to ditch Spotify and Netflix' +--- +Do you like content? I'm sure you do! + +But do you like paying every month for it? I'm sure you don't! (Neither do I.) + +## Story time + +I remember when I was a kid, my mom would take me to a kiosk after my dentist appointments, and I would get to pick a DVD to bring home. + +Sometimes I would like the cartoon, sometimes I wouldn't. But it was always a surprise, and I loved that. + +As the famous saying goes, "The cartoon was..." + + +I didn't have a computer back then, so I would watch them on a DVD player I had hooked up to my TV. +(Thank you mom and dad for paying out of your asses for that!) + +## The Problem + +Nowadays, we have services like Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Video. They offer a wide range of content, but they come at a cost. + +First and foremost, you don't even own the content! You're just renting it for a monthly fee. + +What happens if Netflix decides to randomly remove your favorite show/movie? + +What if Spotify decides to up their prices? + +You're effectively a hostage and have no say in the matter. + +At least with DVDs and other physical media, I don't have to worry about that. I paid for it, and it's mine. + +Also, according to Netflix, I am not allowed to share my account with my friends. Something I don't have to worry about with physical media. + +(I'm still waiting for my friend to return my copy of "David, el Gnomo") + +## The Solution + +So, what can you do? + +Well, you can always use the DVD player you have lying around, but physical media has its own set of problems. + +You have to store them, they can get scratched, and they can get lost. + +So what do we do? + +# We embrace freedom! +![We break these chains!](/blog/subs/chains.jpg) + +Now, I'm not saying that you should pirate content. That's illegal and wrong. + +I admit that I have done it in the past, when I was a kid, and my parents didn't quite understand the concept of "dishing out money for something that's free on the internet". + +But I have since learned the error of my ways and have repented. + +I'll share with you a list of free alternatives I use myself but feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. + +## Movies, TV Shows and Music + +For movies, TV shows, and music, I use [Jellyfin](https://jellyfin.org/). + +It's free, open-source, has a Docker image, and it's pretty easy to set up. + +It has a web interface, Android, iOS and even Tizen apps (though you have to compile and deploy the Tizen app yourself). + +I won't delve into the details of how to set it up, but there are plenty of guides out there that can help you. + +I have a home server that I use to host it (among other things), and I can access it from anywhere in the world. + +The only downside is that you have to take care of setting it up and maintaining it yourself, but at least I don't have to worry about my favorite show being removed. + +## Books + +Now, I'll admit that I don't read as much as I did in the past, but when I do, I just open the PDF in my browser. + +I know, I know, you were probably expecting me to say "I use [Calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com/)" or something like that, but I don't. + +I'm a simple man, and I like to keep things simple. + +Hell, even this blog post is just a Markdown file! + +If I have a physical book lying around, I just take it to a photocopy store and have them send me a PDF when they're done. + +Plus, there are plenty of free PDFs out there. Some of these have physical copies, you can buy if you want to support the author. + +Lately, I've been reading [Hypermedia Systems](https://hypermedia.systems/), and I have to say, it's a pretty good read. + +## Extra: Git + +Yeah, yeah, I know. Git is not really a content service, but it's a tool that I use every day. + +I know that GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are free, but I still like to control my own repositories. + +While I do use all three of them at work, I have a [Gitea](https://gitea.io/) instance running on my server, and I use it for all my projects. + +It's free, open-source and it even supports CI/CD pipelines, which is pretty cool. + +Like with [Jellyfin](https://jellyfin.org/), I have to take care of setting it up and maintaining it, but at least I don't have to worry about my code being removed or locked by GitHub, because some idiot used AI to find a bug, that's not even there. + +## Conclusion + +In the end, you have to decide what works best for you. + +If you like the convenience of Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Video, then by all means, keep using them. + +But if you're like me and you want to break free from the chains of subscription services, then I hope this list helps you.