I don't know if you want us to answer that question. But I would say no. You've informed, educated and made us laugh and smile and I think that's pretty special. You are not replaceable, along with the tech we watched for the Fran! And when you're gone I don't think I'm alone in knowing I will remember this channel. I never comment on YT videos except for today. Take care!
Fran you sound very unhappy, please don't think you have wasted anything. You have been very prolific in this relatively new medium of the RUclips Channel. You have many many people who love what you do and respect you immensely for your talent and intelligence. I just want to say thank you and I will miss you if you go. ❤️☮️🎼
@@adambowman1161 it’s nice to watch RUclips videos but that’s exactly why I don’t watch RUclips all day watching it all day would just be draining because you would get bored of it
Getting 289,000 people to enjoy your content so much they clicked Subscribe to see more, is not a waste of your life. You also have made a big name for yourself, and that's important in life and something few people achieve.
It wouldn't vanish with a single button click if you had uploaded them to the other platforms like Odysee. LBRY in particular allows individuals to host your videos and keep them going on the public platforms. If RUclips nuked my channels my videos would still be publicly available on half a dozen different platforms, including my own server. As for books, art, music etc, the same fate awaits the obscure. RUclips is no different. The longevity of appreciation of your work depends upon your popularity, unless you build a giant pyramid or something.
True, its why people over on the datahoarder subreddit back everything up. Sadly, we lost Boyd from Trekworks this summer so his will potentially be deleted in 2 years then. We've all started to back them up. Odysee is good and is a good idea to sync. However, the syncing has been turned off now because of RUclipss monopoly practices that they are doing to prevent the syncing.
So much this. It's honestly tiring seeing so many creators put all their eggs into RUclips's basket and then when RUclips doesn't act within creator's best interests they act as though there's nothing that can be done because RUclips is the only place on the entire internet that you could possibly post a video and have an audience.
@@TheStevenWhiting The Odysee syncing is still going for major channels like mine, they just lack the resources to do it for all channels now. If Fran requested it I'm sure she could get that too.
At 75, I have come to understand what many have learned: 'No one wants your stuff”. I did a Public Radio program for 21 years that will eventually drop off the archive for the same reason RUclips purges videos. Sad for sure, but 100 years from now, no one will care what you or I have done during this point in time we value so much. Still - I enjoy your here and now.
Fran, your videos have done three important things for me: 1. You taught me a bunch about electronics that not only helped me graduate as an automation engineer, but helps me every day during my work. Since that work involves building machines for producing medical devices, by extension, your videos are playing a small part in making minimally invasive heart surgery possible and affordable. 2. You taught me to appreciate where we've come from, and ultimately where we're going. Even if that's just older tech, and seeing the beauty in the future is often seeing beauty in the past. 3. You made it pretty clear that I don't have to accept what I've allowed myself to become, and instead I should allow myself to figure out what I want to be. Even if it seems that your employment options are limited, and your future uncertain, try to take solace in the fact that you've helped at least one person not only become an engineer, but helped them make some pretty important decisions on how they intend to seek a happier life. May not seem like a whole lot, but to me, that's something I can't possibly thank you enough for.
Nope, you've been endlessly entertaining, it's been an insight into your life and what you've been doing and given us an introduction to technology now lost to us ...... and through it all you've been a delight, thank you !!
You have touched, helped changed so many life's with your vids , You will be remember for a very long time. I think the best gauge of how one had lived there life is in the number of people they have helped , and you have helped so people more then any of us could ever hope to.
What is anyone's life going to show once we're gone? One of my favourite quotes ever is from The Terminator where Sara's having a bad day as a waitress and one of her colleagues says to her "Look at it this way, in a hundred years, who's gonna care?" We can't all be a Beethoven, or Julius Caesar, or Mahatma Gandhi. What we can do though is try to influence others. Share our knowledge and have an effect on those around us. Hopefully that'll help them and they'll share with someone else and someone else. In that way you become immortal and you have shared so many ideas you will have echoes in eternity! Also remember that if you don't squash a spider, that spider's offspring could end up ruling the universe so everything you do has some purpose in a billion year's time, even if we don't see it right now.
What I have come upon is that people tend to not do very much in their lives, and even though I wanted to do something more meaningful, doing youtube is better than doing nothing. I'm unsure if youtube distracted me from other things, I think I wouldn't have had much without it. Even when I worked at Apple I still did youtube, and It didn't get in the way. It's easy to worry youtube has taken your attention away though.
Fran, not only have your contributions helped me understand electronics in general but you help keep our history alive, making legacy systems accessible to the younger audience, i cannot state how important your work here is, and not under any circumstances has your effort gone to waste, keep uploading!
Uh, really? Welcome to the great masses. 99.9% of us are not going to be remembered for any significant time. I have 3 kids. Once they die, I doubt I will be thought about it at all. Maybe one more generation if my kids have children (not looking promising as of this writing). It is just the way it is. I'm self employed too. I have had no vacations in over 15 years. It is just life.
Many artists spend their life time painting, or composing, or writing, and never publish or sell anything. At least you have been perfoming infront of an interested audience. It's not unusual to want to re-evaluate your life, later in life. I'm 66, I've thrown out many potential projects, because I don't believe I have the time left in my life to complete them. But I also believe that I still re-create myself, and do something new and different.
Thank you for your hard work Fran. You have made so many interesting videos over the years about various projects. I really enjoyed your recent videos about the alarm clock.
Im the same age as you Fran and I too am facing a similar crisis. I am divorced, kids are grown and live in different parts of the country, Im doing a job I enjoy but I honestly dont see what the future holds for me. The job doesnt pay very much so Im constantly stressed about money. The hurricanes hit me hard, I lost my car (I only had the minimum insurance), waiting to hear if FEMA can help, and I just dont have the drive and ambition to deal with this anymore. Waiting for Social Security to kick in next year. Im exhausted and just dont want to do this anymore.
I'm glad you're here, you make my life better so I don't think you're wasting your life, unless you are unhappy. If you're unhappy then find something that lights your fire!
Almost all creators whether YT, painters, sculptors, writers etc will be forgotten. There were dozens of writers, playwrights & poets who were the contemporaries of William Shakespeare but only a handful are still remembered (Marlowe, Johnson...) and only because Shakespeare is still mildly relevant today. When you walk into a medieval cathedral there are hundreds of works of art in wood, stone and glass made by unknown and long forgotten artisans. Your YT videos are artistic creations just like the books, songs and paintings that you wish you had created. You have created them and shown them to the public like any artist and accepted the praise and suffered the criticism (or worse indifference). All I can say is that your videos have engaged my interest, entertained me and sometimes made me think which is all an artist can ask for. Thank you.
You have brought joy and whimsy to so many people. So much of life is transient interactions that dont have a lasting record.. Do what you can as long as you can. I met you in passing at VCF east and just that brief interaction brought me joy
Hi Fran, I wish I had money to put toward your Patreon account, but I am also old and retired without much income other than SS and one pension. To your point about being old and completely unemployable - I totally get it. I have a BS degree in computer engineering, and for the most part I was in R&D for most of my career. I can't even get a tech support job. Usually if an employer is interested, they do some sort of facetime as part of the first interview. As soon as they see me, that's the end. They never call back for a second interview. It seems people my age are expected to pursue jobs as a Walmart greeter, or grocery store bagger. I love tech and programming, and am still mentally and physically active. I live in a state that is screaming for qualified technical people yet no one will hire me. Now, I'm really worried. After last night, we have people in charge that want to get rid of entitlements. It's a scary time, and the older you get the more you vanish. No one gives a shit. (sorry for the language)
RUclips is merely one chapter in a whole life of Fran that existed way before youtube and will after youtube. I feel lucky to have gotten to catch a glimpse of Fran's life here. And never have I seen Fran as a youtuber even though that is the medium that introduced me to Fran's work.
The way you've impacted me is by showing me old cool retro tech I would never have known about, honestly some of this stuff is really cool! Thinking along the same line, I'm still young, and apart from working on a few projects I want to do, and the generic stuff (friends, relationship and experiences) I'm not really asking for anything that is memorable/impactful to other people after I go Like would be nice to be able to stand up and fix the world's problems but demonstrated by recent events that's incredibly hard. I think the only chance the average person has to do that is to fix the world in their area of expertise, if they have the time to do it as well. e.g if you're working on material science and spend your time working towards something that doesn't Pollute as much as plastic for example
Hi Fran. I consume a large amount of RUclips videos. I have some background in making many RUclips videos for a band I participated in and also understand the amount of effort that goes into creating a video presentation. I recently retired and am dedicating time back to music and things that matter to me. I also have other interests, one being electronics and trying to understand how to fix things or at least understand how things work. Your channel has added to my understanding in this regard and I will say there are people like me who have been enriched by your sharing of knowledge but are more silent. You will figure out you as we all do and thanks for everything so far. I have to believe at the very least, quality content will continue to be available and of interest far in the future. Sadly, at the very least because they want to make money from us as long as possible... Not encouraging you to stop but if you did, my opinion is your channel will leave a very positive legacy.
Google will be Google, but it would seem that unless the channel owner wished the content to be deleted after their passing, that RUclips would be served by preserving public video content. Could you imagine descendants being able to browse old culture videos from 50, 75, or hundreds of years ago?
You have to find the meaning in what you do, of which there is a lot in what you do. I am a field technician. Most people don't like what I do. There are no videos of me, no recordings of me, no paintings of me, no permanence of me of any kind - other than myself and my family until they are gone. That's all I need. I don't require time's remembrance of me to feel fulfilled, I require the time to work and provide, and have some semblance of fun. The grass is always greener as they say - you didn't waste anything. You're just in a slump. Take a break - Make a chirpy intro that presents a re-post of old content. A grab from the archive while you are away. Then slap that on the front of 10 or more videos that you think were particularly fun or popular from the past, Upload and schedule them to release over the week - and take a break. I hope you find whatever clarity you need to find the happiness you need!
These old channels need to be archived. Even if it is 18 years old, it still has value. I've saved a lot of videos over the years that I still go back to. I hate when they get deleted.
This is a story of wisdom & understanding about your life your describing, it’s universally approachable, you’ve recognised your wormcast. I hope this treadmill you feel your on , is not made worse by renting space? Many wished you might have bought your own space at the last move point, so that rent was not a burdensome factor, your channel is art it’s a poetic expression of you, RUclips must preserve such channels for human posterity always, bits are the cheapest form of information to preserve, if we can’t preserve bits we can’t preserve anything.
I really hope your archive will be archived and kept up somehow! And of course the whole archive of all the nice parts you have collected. For sure, I would not have seen and sponsored you with books or 'just' pictures but do love watching the video's both in the past and nowadays. And, I am pretty sure no-one could be doing the same thing on the way you do and have done things in this channel.
I hear ya Fran - “The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then - to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.” ~T.H. White
If you have enjoyed what you have been doing, knowing you have impacted other people's lives positively, I hope you are able to feel pride for what you have accomplished.😊😊 I know I appreciate what you have done.
Every video you have made has added to the world, you are such an interesting and talented person and I know things now about many things that I didn't before especially all your fantastic space and Apollo content. You'll always be remembered by a very large number of people whereas most of us won't
Fran, long ago I was able to download and archive videos from RUclips....I have long since forgotten the process for doing so....but I'm hopeful that is something that is still possible....I've loved your show from the first time I saw you repairing a classic old electronic typewriter or delved into a Saturn V. Launch Computer....you have a great show that never be forgotten .....much thanks....R
I put videos out there (17 years so far on RUclips) because I know my kids and grandkids will be able to connect with me far past my death!! Who knows, maybe with this content, they will be able to recreate me using AI and be able to talk to me.
I often ponder on the insane amount of time I put into music, wondering if, say instead, I'd picked up returnable bottles & cans, I'd be a millionaire now (all tax free). It's been 100% non profit endeavor, in fact it actually costs me money & opportunity costs
I’m sorry you no longer get the satisfaction you once did, and that it’s far more demanding and time-consuming than we see. Thank you for the enjoyment you’ve brought me, and the techy talent you have that’s reminded me of my father. I love Philly, originally from South Jersey, would love to buy you lunch sometime!
You may have not written books, painted paintings or recorded all those songs, but you sure as heck made an impact on many of your viewers. It’s not about the legacy you leave behind, instead it’s about the things you did while being alive. Rembrandt made lovely and famous paintings, yet died poor and alone. His fame and praise came when he himself was no longer around to enjoy those spoils. So no, after a 100 years nobody will remember Fran, of her channel. But in the present day many people know and enjoy what you do. You bring value to their lives in some form or another. And that’s something you should cherish and is way, way more than the majority of people on this earth have been able to do. Whatever you do, follow your heart and choose wisely. But remember, what you did up to now was not wasting your life. Or at least, not as I see it.
Oh Fran. Of course you're prolific and you've added knowledge and enjoyment to your subscribers and others for years and years. It is not wasted time. But we can't expect RUclips to archive every video ever uploaded in perpetuity when the person is no longer active on the platform. (Though two years does seem just a bit quick.)
Facing the same question with my own channel. Turns out, karaoke singers aren't very concerned about the time and effort it takes to make their instrumentals. 20hrs/each video. I've never tried, but I know that if I put up a Patreon, I'd be lucky to see $1/mo from my ungrateful audience. RUclips is dead.
It's just the morning after the fall. We all feel it. You've wasted nothing when you've enriched curious minds for years. Don't make YT and bots and naysayers decide your life. Keep doing what you've been doing because we all love it.
I know you said around 5:20 that your RUclips works are ephemeral and you'll be forgotten, but I think that's selling yourself short. I understand things come and go from people's attention all the time, but there really is meaning in sharing with the world in whatever form including RUclips, and yes, you will be remembered regardless of the fate of your channel.
You were earning a living, like all of us. Wanna know what it's like to work all day and night as a computer programmer, knowing that if you make a mistake you can end someone else's business? I'd like to have spent my life doing something more rewarding and creative, too.
Relax, everything is ephemeral, just to a different scale. Videos are the best medium to reach your audience. Books are getting a niche product, for example. We love you Fran.
There is a saying "I have wasted my whole life, just playing Computer Games. Luckily I have Two More Lives !" (LOL) ... and no I don't really play computer games, this is just a quote I got from somewhere else.
Fran. You are Brilliant. Wonderful. Engaging. Fun. Smart. Sassy. Follow your heart. We really love your videos here in the UK, but if its not enough for you, do something else. Scary we know, but if this is important enough for you to ask your audience, clearly its a matter of deep concern. We love you Fran. ❤❤
NO! No, no, no! NO!.... No! In fact, I came here, as an electronics/arcade tech, because of your digit display boxes from old. Inspired a bday present for my son, who is taking electronics in high school, a 4 digit clock kit. ❤
I think it's reasonable to step back, but you will have to decide on your own. If you think that a book or any production could outshine and outlast RUclips, then go ahead and do it. But don't forget that some things you have made are actually really special and have informed or impacted people. I've loved how informative about things you are when you are passionate about them, but if RUclips isn't where your passion lies, then I'd find another way. There are many ways to impact people, so go for it and look for them. And before you doubt the point of the last 10 years, you have people that trust you and care about your input. That isn't worthless.
No: You've become part of the historical record of the era you live in. You've represented a view that nobody else can: Yours. If you do other things, back up the channel. run ytdl and back it up, then move onto other things. some day, upload it to an archive.
I disagree with the YT videos not having as much value as music or books. You're essentially a teacher that has a ton of eyeballs that actually show up to class. I guarantee you that some younger people saw things that inspired them or got them more interested in STEM topics from this channel. No book can do that nowadays. For non-musicians, music has impact, but more in the form of enjoyment. Sharing good knowledge/experience and teaching has far more impact and returns dividends when they pass that on to another. Even if the vids go away after 2 years of no activity, I'm sure you've changed the trajectory of many. No doubt you've made the world better with your vids. 😊😎👍
You've put so much into it and you have achieved a lot. And maybe you've exhausted what you can or want to do with this? I think you should pursue what feels of value to you, and what fulfils you while you are alive, not solely for the sake of keeping that same engine running. And it sounds like what you need to put into it doesn't give you enough back to enjoy it. Some people like to work like that but the personal cost is important. And I think the long term value needs to be considered. A work of musical, literary, or visual art will give you a larger sense of creative purpose than a video. And your videos are great, but the algorithm makes those videos only for the short term for making money, and for niche seekers after the fact who have a specific interest. RUclips is wonderful for making the niche available, and it's a wonderful thing to have access to, but it is less the money spinner than what the algorithm enables. I feel like there is no answer there... but you only get one life so fight for the fulfillment in it.
You are not wasting your life. Your videos are forever in my memory. I will additionally download this video to save it and remind myself in 10-20-30 maybe even 40 years from now.
What happened to the idea that everything on the Internet is Forever? I knew long ago that was NOT going to be the Case. Everything moving to the Digital world was a setup for the Mass deletion of History, Wisdom, Art etc. I've recorded about 130 songs in the last 15 years. I have 30 on my other YT channel but I also have ALL of them collected on Digital storage devices.
We all wish we had time to do things, we all wish our lives had "meaning" (whatever that nebulous term means). There are people doing what you WANT to do, hundreds, thousands of them, they churn out book after book after book after book on Amazon, and sell their books in 8 book box sets for next to nothing because otherwise no-one would buy them, they're "prolific" authors but it's lightweight average content, it's entertaining at the time but their books aren't going to be remembered when they're gone. RUclips is FULL of very very VERY talented drawing/painting artists but they're not recognised because there are so many many many other very talented artists. There are thousands of "indie" music artists churning out content on RUclips, Apple Music etc, and they're earning enough to pay the rent but nothing more. You're just burnt out, and lost the passion, which you need to find again, your story is nothing new, I have seen so many videos like this from other RUclipsrs who after years producing videos and it's become a never ending thankless factory production line. The grass is always greener right? Ask most people under 25 who Burt Reynolds is and they wouldn't have a clue, ask them who Fred Astair is and they'd give you a blank look, ask them who Mickey Rooney was and they'd say "who?" and they were amongst the pinnicle of their time, but people, time, and tastes move on, unless you're someone like Shakespeare or Dickens then it's just how things are. But don't sell yourself short, we don't just subscribe to "a tech channel" we subscribe to "Fran Blanche" of "Fran Lab" specifically because of YOU, other tech channels might make similar content but there's only one Fran, and it's YOU that makes the channel and it's YOU that we subscribe for, your genuine nature, you calming voice, the interesting content with YOUR spin on things. Find topics for your videos that excite you and your excitment will show through the videos you make and be infectious for your audience. For a few minutes every few days you bring joy into the lives of thousands of people, possibly up to 289,000 people, I wouldn't call that insignificant, and I would definately call it meaningful.
As enjoyable as they are Fran, you've got to answer for yourself, do I have enough when I get old & can't do things like before. And if something in the back of your mind is calling for a change, you may have to. (?). You're a good person Fran & talented in many ways. Hugs of encouragement in whatever you do. All the very best to you.
P.S. You tube making a terrible move by deleting them. There is a lot of great stuff & how to do things on those old videos that can't be found elsewhere.
Your channel is great. I have invested in a number of stocks pre-ipo, I will be happy to include you in a few of my ideas for small businesses in a few years. I live in a Philly suburb.
Forget Kamala Harris, what about Fran Blanche for the next president of the United States of America? 🇺🇸 🤔 Remember to Vote Fran Blanche for the next presidential campaign. ☝️😮 As for what will happen to Fran's RUclips channel❔️ Fran should set up a foundation so that future citizens may enjoy her works to advance Humanity, similar to Liberace and his museum. Fran Blanche will never be forgotten. 🖐🤤
PS. Welcome to how all our brain's work as we reach that age. Stuck in the machine grinding it out for what it isn't even printed in books now , But if we had had options to be more to feel we had contributed . Your stuff needs cataloguing and archiving for all in the future. It's a view of social ,tec and honest open opinion of the Boomer/Gen X/ Gen Z wars. Admirer you for your honesty Fran. I'm in the UK but it's the same here the slow trickle of money ,big businesses , time and change for the worse when it could of been so much better .
I sympathize with you. I am a bit younger (not by much) and suffer the same. I have gone through plans B through....H, and am just hoping for the best but expecting the worst at this point. Maybe we should all live together and share the misery? Oh, I love your channel BTW. Wish I could be one of your wealthy benefactors...
5:14 Datahoarders is what will happen. They WILL have backed them all up and they WILL become available for everyone to see still. So you're legacy will continue, like EEVBlog's will as not only has he backed his own up, I know others have as well :)
I’m past retirement age. There are too many people close to me that are falling by the wayside and although I enjoy my work, it’s time for me to do something else, like fishing. When I’m gone, I’ll leave nothing behind, but the memory of, hopefully, all those fishing trips. I’d better get started. You have a delightful warm voice. Maybe you could read books for people. No videos, read the book and enjoy, or something. This was not easy to share with you, but I stayed to the end, I wish you all the best.
If I recall correctly, you told us about "Mr. Wizard" who was an inspiration to you. I suspect that Mr. Wizard likely had a particular person who inspired them also! Yet, would there be any complete or significant record of those people as sources of inspiration going back in history over time? I'd suspect not! Yet that magic, that spark, it carries through over time person to person. You are a Wizard Fran!🧙🏻♀You've created a spark in thousands of people! 🪄 That said, I am sorry to hear of not having enough life balance and enjoyment!
Now I believe you are a painter and want to subscribe to your Frangallery channel, and at the same time do not wish you more stressfull shovels full of work on your life.
Well, we all have an existential crisis now and then. As for 'wasted' life, sure there are many ways to live a distinguished life, or to have done great charitable work, or to have written books etc. but no life can really be said to be wasted. As for the book idea.... there's still time 🙂
There are 8 billion people on the planet. They're all going to die. Most of them are unknown to each other and all their moments wil be lost in time, like tears in rain.
Every time I watch your videos, I look at the background and wonder why you need to rent a lab? Just spend the money on a house and record in a room. Many tech youtubers broadcast from their homes.
you have no choice but to waste life.. cos there's always something better to do at all moments, even when you think you're being productive and think you are enjoying yourself.. how's them apples?
Fran, most of everything is forgotten pretty quickly. People are already forgetting the Beatles. How many brilliant people from antiquity are remembered? I mean, really remembered? Compared to the amount of people who lived then? Very few. What will be remembered from the 20th century 500 years from now? Hitler and war. That's it. Then even that will fade. History books will list the names of the presidents, just like they list the names of the Roman consuls or the pharaohs, but no one reads history books. Humanity has a terrible memory. Don't worry. So do birds. This is normal. If you want something to stay, carve it into rock. That'll last for a while, but it'll fade eventually, or people will use it to build a house or whatever. The only thing that really matters is here and now.
![Kodak Black - Catch Fire [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A4ch-olIuZo/mqdefault.jpg)
I don't know if you want us to answer that question. But I would say no. You've informed, educated and made us laugh and smile and I think that's pretty special. You are not replaceable, along with the tech we watched for the Fran! And when you're gone I don't think I'm alone in knowing I will remember this channel. I never comment on YT videos except for today. Take care!
how many of you is there in this account?
Fran you sound very unhappy, please don't think you have wasted anything. You have been very prolific in this relatively new medium of the RUclips Channel. You have many many people who love what you do and respect you immensely for your talent and intelligence. I just want to say thank you and I will miss you if you go. ❤️☮️🎼
Better than wasting your life watching YT videos ....
Yeesh, you calling me out? 😳
Lol
yeah. i'm unemployed and spend a few hours a day watching bloody youtube !!! lol.
and i'm 49. i will find another job though .
@@adambowman1161 it’s nice to watch RUclips videos but that’s exactly why I don’t watch RUclips all day watching it all day would just be draining because you would get bored of it
@@mUbaseSounds like we're in the same boat.
Getting 289,000 people to enjoy your content so much they clicked Subscribe to see more, is not a waste of your life.
You also have made a big name for yourself, and that's important in life and something few people achieve.
It wouldn't vanish with a single button click if you had uploaded them to the other platforms like Odysee. LBRY in particular allows individuals to host your videos and keep them going on the public platforms. If RUclips nuked my channels my videos would still be publicly available on half a dozen different platforms, including my own server.
As for books, art, music etc, the same fate awaits the obscure. RUclips is no different. The longevity of appreciation of your work depends upon your popularity, unless you build a giant pyramid or something.
How does Fran not answer you? That bothers me, I understand that she can't answer all of them, but EEV?
True, its why people over on the datahoarder subreddit back everything up. Sadly, we lost Boyd from Trekworks this summer so his will potentially be deleted in 2 years then. We've all started to back them up.
Odysee is good and is a good idea to sync. However, the syncing has been turned off now because of RUclipss monopoly practices that they are doing to prevent the syncing.
So much this. It's honestly tiring seeing so many creators put all their eggs into RUclips's basket and then when RUclips doesn't act within creator's best interests they act as though there's nothing that can be done because RUclips is the only place on the entire internet that you could possibly post a video and have an audience.
@@TheStevenWhiting Wye Tee Creeps!
@@TheStevenWhiting The Odysee syncing is still going for major channels like mine, they just lack the resources to do it for all channels now. If Fran requested it I'm sure she could get that too.
At 75, I have come to understand what many have learned: 'No one wants your stuff”. I did a Public Radio program for 21 years that will eventually drop off the archive for the same reason RUclips purges videos. Sad for sure, but 100 years from now, no one will care what you or I have done during this point in time we value so much. Still - I enjoy your here and now.
Fran, your videos have done three important things for me:
1. You taught me a bunch about electronics that not only helped me graduate as an automation engineer, but helps me every day during my work. Since that work involves building machines for producing medical devices, by extension, your videos are playing a small part in making minimally invasive heart surgery possible and affordable.
2. You taught me to appreciate where we've come from, and ultimately where we're going. Even if that's just older tech, and seeing the beauty in the future is often seeing beauty in the past.
3. You made it pretty clear that I don't have to accept what I've allowed myself to become, and instead I should allow myself to figure out what I want to be.
Even if it seems that your employment options are limited, and your future uncertain, try to take solace in the fact that you've helped at least one person not only become an engineer, but helped them make some pretty important decisions on how they intend to seek a happier life. May not seem like a whole lot, but to me, that's something I can't possibly thank you enough for.
Nope, you've been endlessly entertaining, it's been an insight into your life and what you've been doing and given us an introduction to technology now lost to us ...... and through it all you've been a delight, thank you !!
Not wasted. Many people enjoy your videos, you often show us very interesting things, and you seem to enjoy it. Thank you.
You have touched, helped changed so many life's with your vids , You will be remember for a very long time. I think the best gauge of how one had lived there life is in the number of people they have helped , and you have helped so people more then any of us could ever hope to.
Once I won't be able to watch your videos anymore I still remember the joy watching and listening to you. You spent your time enjoying many people.
I'm glad to have "known" you and heard your message. Whether through music, art, or visual media, you've made an impact on the world.
If you enjoy what you are doing, you’re not wasting your life. 👍😊
What is anyone's life going to show once we're gone? One of my favourite quotes ever is from The Terminator where Sara's having a bad day as a waitress and one of her colleagues says to her "Look at it this way, in a hundred years, who's gonna care?" We can't all be a Beethoven, or Julius Caesar, or Mahatma Gandhi. What we can do though is try to influence others. Share our knowledge and have an effect on those around us. Hopefully that'll help them and they'll share with someone else and someone else. In that way you become immortal and you have shared so many ideas you will have echoes in eternity! Also remember that if you don't squash a spider, that spider's offspring could end up ruling the universe so everything you do has some purpose in a billion year's time, even if we don't see it right now.
What I have come upon is that people tend to not do very much in their lives, and even though I wanted to do something more meaningful, doing youtube is better than doing nothing. I'm unsure if youtube distracted me from other things, I think I wouldn't have had much without it. Even when I worked at Apple I still did youtube, and It didn't get in the way. It's easy to worry youtube has taken your attention away though.
My friend, you have not. I enjoy this channel. Thank you.
Fran this is so heartbreaking. Sending you a big Green hug from Ireland. You have touched so many people Fran. Peace.
Fran, not only have your contributions helped me understand electronics in general but you help keep our history alive, making legacy systems accessible to the younger audience, i cannot state how important your work here is, and not under any circumstances has your effort gone to waste, keep uploading!
Like we used to say Keep on Trucking.
Uh, really? Welcome to the great masses. 99.9% of us are not going to be remembered for any significant time. I have 3 kids. Once they die, I doubt I will be thought about it at all. Maybe one more generation if my kids have children (not looking promising as of this writing). It is just the way it is. I'm self employed too. I have had no vacations in over 15 years. It is just life.
Many artists spend their life time painting, or composing, or writing, and never publish or sell anything. At least you have been perfoming infront of an interested audience.
It's not unusual to want to re-evaluate your life, later in life.
I'm 66, I've thrown out many potential projects, because I don't believe I have the time left in my life to complete them. But I also believe that I still re-create myself, and do something new and different.
Thank you for your hard work Fran. You have made so many interesting videos over the years about various projects. I really enjoyed your recent videos about the alarm clock.
Im the same age as you Fran and I too am facing a similar crisis. I am divorced, kids are grown and live in different parts of the country, Im doing a job I enjoy but I honestly dont see what the future holds for me. The job doesnt pay very much so Im constantly stressed about money. The hurricanes hit me hard, I lost my car
(I only had the minimum insurance), waiting to hear if FEMA can help, and I just dont have the drive and ambition to deal with this anymore. Waiting for Social Security to kick in next year. Im exhausted and just dont want to do this anymore.
Your efforts have touched our lives and appreciate all you have shared
I'm glad you're here, you make my life better so I don't think you're wasting your life, unless you are unhappy. If you're unhappy then find something that lights your fire!
Almost all creators whether YT, painters, sculptors, writers etc will be forgotten. There were dozens of writers, playwrights & poets who were the contemporaries of William Shakespeare but only a handful are still remembered (Marlowe, Johnson...) and only because Shakespeare is still mildly relevant today. When you walk into a medieval cathedral there are hundreds of works of art in wood, stone and glass made by unknown and long forgotten artisans. Your YT videos are artistic creations just like the books, songs and paintings that you wish you had created. You have created them and shown them to the public like any artist and accepted the praise and suffered the criticism (or worse indifference). All I can say is that your videos have engaged my interest, entertained me and sometimes made me think which is all an artist can ask for. Thank you.
You have brought joy and whimsy to so many people. So much of life is transient interactions that dont have a lasting record.. Do what you can as long as you can.
I met you in passing at VCF east and just that brief interaction brought me joy
Hi Fran, I wish I had money to put toward your Patreon account, but I am also old and retired without much income other than SS and one pension. To your point about being old and completely unemployable - I totally get it. I have a BS degree in computer engineering, and for the most part I was in R&D for most of my career. I can't even get a tech support job. Usually if an employer is interested, they do some sort of facetime as part of the first interview. As soon as they see me, that's the end. They never call back for a second interview. It seems people my age are expected to pursue jobs as a Walmart greeter, or grocery store bagger. I love tech and programming, and am still mentally and physically active. I live in a state that is screaming for qualified technical people yet no one will hire me. Now, I'm really worried. After last night, we have people in charge that want to get rid of entitlements. It's a scary time, and the older you get the more you vanish. No one gives a shit. (sorry for the language)
RUclips is merely one chapter in a whole life of Fran that existed way before youtube and will after youtube. I feel lucky to have gotten to catch a glimpse of Fran's life here. And never have I seen Fran as a youtuber even though that is the medium that introduced me to Fran's work.
The way you've impacted me is by showing me old cool retro tech I would never have known about, honestly some of this stuff is really cool!
Thinking along the same line, I'm still young, and apart from working on a few projects I want to do, and the generic stuff (friends, relationship and experiences)
I'm not really asking for anything that is memorable/impactful to other people after I go
Like would be nice to be able to stand up and fix the world's problems but demonstrated by recent events that's incredibly hard.
I think the only chance the average person has to do that is to fix the world in their area of expertise, if they have the time to do it as well. e.g if you're working on material science and spend your time working towards something that doesn't Pollute as much as plastic for example
Hi Fran. I consume a large amount of RUclips videos. I have some background in making many RUclips videos for a band I participated in and also understand the amount of effort that goes into creating a video presentation. I recently retired and am dedicating time back to music and things that matter to me. I also have other interests, one being electronics and trying to understand how to fix things or at least understand how things work. Your channel has added to my understanding in this regard and I will say there are people like me who have been enriched by your sharing of knowledge but are more silent. You will figure out you as we all do and thanks for everything so far. I have to believe at the very least, quality content will continue to be available and of interest far in the future. Sadly, at the very least because they want to make money from us as long as possible... Not encouraging you to stop but if you did, my opinion is your channel will leave a very positive legacy.
Google will be Google, but it would seem that unless the channel owner wished the content to be deleted after their passing, that RUclips would be served by preserving public video content. Could you imagine descendants being able to browse old culture videos from 50, 75, or hundreds of years ago?
You have to find the meaning in what you do, of which there is a lot in what you do. I am a field technician. Most people don't like what I do. There are no videos of me, no recordings of me, no paintings of me, no permanence of me of any kind - other than myself and my family until they are gone. That's all I need. I don't require time's remembrance of me to feel fulfilled, I require the time to work and provide, and have some semblance of fun. The grass is always greener as they say - you didn't waste anything. You're just in a slump. Take a break - Make a chirpy intro that presents a re-post of old content. A grab from the archive while you are away. Then slap that on the front of 10 or more videos that you think were particularly fun or popular from the past, Upload and schedule them to release over the week - and take a break. I hope you find whatever clarity you need to find the happiness you need!
These old channels need to be archived. Even if it is 18 years old, it still has value. I've saved a lot of videos over the years that I still go back to. I hate when they get deleted.
This is a story of wisdom & understanding about your life your describing, it’s universally approachable, you’ve recognised your wormcast. I hope this treadmill you feel your on , is not made worse by renting space? Many wished you might have bought your own space at the last move point, so that rent was not a burdensome factor, your channel is art it’s a poetic expression of you, RUclips must preserve such channels for human posterity always, bits are the cheapest form of information to preserve, if we can’t preserve bits we can’t preserve anything.
I really hope your archive will be archived and kept up somehow! And of course the whole archive of all the nice parts you have collected.
For sure, I would not have seen and sponsored you with books or 'just' pictures but do love watching the video's both in the past and nowadays.
And, I am pretty sure no-one could be doing the same thing on the way you do and have done things in this channel.
I hear ya Fran - “The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then - to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.” ~T.H. White
Thank you for being there. It has helped!
If you have enjoyed what you have been doing, knowing you have impacted other people's lives positively, I hope you are able to feel pride for what you have accomplished.😊😊 I know I appreciate what you have done.
not a waste. you have been a companion to me weather you know it or not. not everything is resilient to time.
Every video you have made has added to the world, you are such an interesting and talented person and I know things now about many things that I didn't before especially all your fantastic space and Apollo content. You'll always be remembered by a very large number of people whereas most of us won't
Fran, long ago I was able to download and archive videos from RUclips....I have long since forgotten the process for doing so....but I'm hopeful that is something that is still possible....I've loved your show from the first time I saw you repairing a classic old electronic typewriter or delved into a Saturn V. Launch Computer....you have a great show that never be forgotten
.....much thanks....R
Most of us will not be remembered after we are gone. Hopefully if we have an afterlife, we can meet all the people that we ran across that we value.
No, you havent been wasting your time, Fran. You've enriched my 67 year old life and no doubt youve done the same for many of us.
RUclips should have a way to memorialize a page or channel the same as face book does after the creator/owner passes.
I put videos out there (17 years so far on RUclips) because I know my kids and grandkids will be able to connect with me far past my death!! Who knows, maybe with this content, they will be able to recreate me using AI and be able to talk to me.
I often ponder on the insane amount of time I put into music, wondering if, say instead, I'd picked up returnable bottles & cans, I'd be a millionaire now (all tax free). It's been 100% non profit endeavor, in fact it actually costs me money & opportunity costs
I’m sorry you no longer get the satisfaction you once did, and that it’s far more demanding and time-consuming than we see. Thank you for the enjoyment you’ve brought me, and the techy talent you have that’s reminded me of my father.
I love Philly, originally from South Jersey, would love to buy you lunch sometime!
You may have not written books, painted paintings or recorded all those songs, but you sure as heck made an impact on many of your viewers. It’s not about the legacy you leave behind, instead it’s about the things you did while being alive.
Rembrandt made lovely and famous paintings, yet died poor and alone. His fame and praise came when he himself was no longer around to enjoy those spoils. So no, after a 100 years nobody will remember Fran, of her channel. But in the present day many people know and enjoy what you do. You bring value to their lives in some form or another. And that’s something you should cherish and is way, way more than the majority of people on this earth have been able to do.
Whatever you do, follow your heart and choose wisely. But remember, what you did up to now was not wasting your life. Or at least, not as I see it.
Oh Fran. Of course you're prolific and you've added knowledge and enjoyment to your subscribers and others for years and years. It is not wasted time. But we can't expect RUclips to archive every video ever uploaded in perpetuity when the person is no longer active on the platform. (Though two years does seem just a bit quick.)
Fran, I can't answer that question for you, but I'm grateful to you for making the videos that you have. Cheers.
The sad truth is the internet is all ephemeral, tough pill to swallow if you zoom out far enough.
Facing the same question with my own channel. Turns out, karaoke singers aren't very concerned about the time and effort it takes to make their instrumentals. 20hrs/each video. I've never tried, but I know that if I put up a Patreon, I'd be lucky to see $1/mo from my ungrateful audience. RUclips is dead.
It's just the morning after the fall. We all feel it. You've wasted nothing when you've enriched curious minds for years. Don't make YT and bots and naysayers decide your life. Keep doing what you've been doing because we all love it.
I know you said around 5:20 that your RUclips works are ephemeral and you'll be forgotten, but I think that's selling yourself short. I understand things come and go from people's attention all the time, but there really is meaning in sharing with the world in whatever form including RUclips, and yes, you will be remembered regardless of the fate of your channel.
Don't quit. You are the best thing to come out of Phila. Since Rocky!
You were earning a living, like all of us. Wanna know what it's like to work all day and night as a computer programmer, knowing that if you make a mistake you can end someone else's business? I'd like to have spent my life doing something more rewarding and creative, too.
Relax, everything is ephemeral, just to a different scale. Videos are the best medium to reach your audience. Books are getting a niche product, for example. We love you Fran.
There is a saying "I have wasted my whole life, just playing Computer Games. Luckily I have Two More Lives !" (LOL) ... and no I don't really play computer games, this is just a quote I got from somewhere else.
Fran. You are Brilliant. Wonderful. Engaging. Fun. Smart. Sassy. Follow your heart. We really love your videos here in the UK, but if its not enough for you, do something else. Scary we know, but if this is important enough for you to ask your audience, clearly its a matter of deep concern. We love you Fran. ❤❤
Fran, "Don't worry be happy"
"You are loved❤ all is well"
"Keep calm, carry on"
NO! No, no, no! NO!.... No! In fact, I came here, as an electronics/arcade tech, because of your digit display boxes from old. Inspired a bday present for my son, who is taking electronics in high school, a 4 digit clock kit. ❤
I think it's reasonable to step back, but you will have to decide on your own. If you think that a book or any production could outshine and outlast RUclips, then go ahead and do it. But don't forget that some things you have made are actually really special and have informed or impacted people. I've loved how informative about things you are when you are passionate about them, but if RUclips isn't where your passion lies, then I'd find another way.
There are many ways to impact people, so go for it and look for them.
And before you doubt the point of the last 10 years, you have people that trust you and care about your input. That isn't worthless.
No: You've become part of the historical record of the era you live in. You've represented a view that nobody else can: Yours. If you do other things, back up the channel. run ytdl and back it up, then move onto other things. some day, upload it to an archive.
I disagree with the YT videos not having as much value as music or books. You're essentially a teacher that has a ton of eyeballs that actually show up to class. I guarantee you that some younger people saw things that inspired them or got them more interested in STEM topics from this channel. No book can do that nowadays. For non-musicians, music has impact, but more in the form of enjoyment. Sharing good knowledge/experience and teaching has far more impact and returns dividends when they pass that on to another. Even if the vids go away after 2 years of no activity, I'm sure you've changed the trajectory of many. No doubt you've made the world better with your vids. 😊😎👍
You've put so much into it and you have achieved a lot. And maybe you've exhausted what you can or want to do with this? I think you should pursue what feels of value to you, and what fulfils you while you are alive, not solely for the sake of keeping that same engine running. And it sounds like what you need to put into it doesn't give you enough back to enjoy it. Some people like to work like that but the personal cost is important. And I think the long term value needs to be considered. A work of musical, literary, or visual art will give you a larger sense of creative purpose than a video. And your videos are great, but the algorithm makes those videos only for the short term for making money, and for niche seekers after the fact who have a specific interest. RUclips is wonderful for making the niche available, and it's a wonderful thing to have access to, but it is less the money spinner than what the algorithm enables. I feel like there is no answer there... but you only get one life so fight for the fulfillment in it.
You are not wasting your life. Your videos are forever in my memory. I will additionally download this video to save it and remind myself in 10-20-30 maybe even 40 years from now.
If you don’t spend 2hrs a day in your car going back and forth from your job, don’t tell me about wasting your life!
What happened to the idea that everything on the Internet is Forever? I knew long ago that was NOT going to be the Case. Everything moving to the Digital world was a setup for the Mass deletion of History, Wisdom, Art etc. I've recorded about 130 songs in the last 15 years. I have 30 on my other YT channel but I also have ALL of them collected on Digital storage devices.
What does the plant earth have to show in a m/billion years from now? Probably nothing. Be happy and keep pedaling! : )
they absolutely dont care, they lose interest when no money comes in from your videos. its a statement on the world
We all wish we had time to do things, we all wish our lives had "meaning" (whatever that nebulous term means). There are people doing what you WANT to do, hundreds, thousands of them, they churn out book after book after book after book on Amazon, and sell their books in 8 book box sets for next to nothing because otherwise no-one would buy them, they're "prolific" authors but it's lightweight average content, it's entertaining at the time but their books aren't going to be remembered when they're gone. RUclips is FULL of very very VERY talented drawing/painting artists but they're not recognised because there are so many many many other very talented artists. There are thousands of "indie" music artists churning out content on RUclips, Apple Music etc, and they're earning enough to pay the rent but nothing more. You're just burnt out, and lost the passion, which you need to find again, your story is nothing new, I have seen so many videos like this from other RUclipsrs who after years producing videos and it's become a never ending thankless factory production line. The grass is always greener right? Ask most people under 25 who Burt Reynolds is and they wouldn't have a clue, ask them who Fred Astair is and they'd give you a blank look, ask them who Mickey Rooney was and they'd say "who?" and they were amongst the pinnicle of their time, but people, time, and tastes move on, unless you're someone like Shakespeare or Dickens then it's just how things are.
But don't sell yourself short, we don't just subscribe to "a tech channel" we subscribe to "Fran Blanche" of "Fran Lab" specifically because of YOU, other tech channels might make similar content but there's only one Fran, and it's YOU that makes the channel and it's YOU that we subscribe for, your genuine nature, you calming voice, the interesting content with YOUR spin on things. Find topics for your videos that excite you and your excitment will show through the videos you make and be infectious for your audience.
For a few minutes every few days you bring joy into the lives of thousands of people, possibly up to 289,000 people, I wouldn't call that insignificant, and I would definately call it meaningful.
As enjoyable as they are Fran, you've got to answer for yourself, do I have enough when I get old & can't do things like before. And if something in the back of your mind is calling for a change, you may have to. (?). You're a good person Fran & talented in many ways. Hugs of encouragement in whatever you do. All the very best to you.
I don't think it matters what you do as long as you enjoy it and it's legal. And, I don't think people who look for notoriety are ever satisfied.
P.S. You tube making a terrible move by deleting them. There is a lot of great stuff & how to do things on those old videos that can't be found elsewhere.
Your channel is great. I have invested in a number of stocks pre-ipo, I will be happy to include you in a few of my ideas for small businesses in a few years. I live in a Philly suburb.
Forget Kamala Harris, what about Fran Blanche for the next president of the United States of America?
🇺🇸 🤔
Remember to Vote Fran Blanche for the next presidential campaign. ☝️😮
As for what will happen to Fran's RUclips channel❔️
Fran should set up a foundation so that future citizens may enjoy her works to advance Humanity, similar to Liberace and his museum. Fran Blanche will never be forgotten. 🖐🤤
PS. Welcome to how all our brain's work as we reach that age. Stuck in the machine grinding it out for what it isn't even printed in books now , But if we had had options to be more to feel we had contributed . Your stuff needs cataloguing and archiving for all in the future. It's a view of social ,tec and honest open opinion of the Boomer/Gen X/ Gen Z wars. Admirer you for your honesty Fran. I'm in the UK but it's the same here the slow trickle of money ,big businesses , time and change for the worse when it could of been so much better .
I sympathize with you. I am a bit younger (not by much) and suffer the same. I have gone through plans B through....H, and am just hoping for the best but expecting the worst at this point. Maybe we should all live together and share the misery? Oh, I love your channel BTW. Wish I could be one of your wealthy benefactors...
5:14 Datahoarders is what will happen. They WILL have backed them all up and they WILL become available for everyone to see still. So you're legacy will continue, like EEVBlog's will as not only has he backed his own up, I know others have as well :)
Did you have fun doing it? If you did then it was worth it.
I’m past retirement age. There are too many people close to me that are falling by the wayside and although I enjoy my work, it’s time for me to do something else, like fishing. When I’m gone, I’ll leave nothing behind, but the memory of, hopefully, all those fishing trips. I’d better get started. You have a delightful warm voice. Maybe you could read books for people. No videos, read the book and enjoy, or something. This was not easy to share with you, but I stayed to the end, I wish you all the best.
There are plenty of us that appreciate what you do, and on a morning like today, it helps take ones mind of the current political stress in the US
If I recall correctly, you told us about "Mr. Wizard" who was an inspiration to you. I suspect that Mr. Wizard likely had a particular person who inspired them also! Yet, would there be any complete or significant record of those people as sources of inspiration going back in history over time? I'd suspect not! Yet that magic, that spark, it carries through over time person to person. You are a Wizard Fran!🧙🏻♀You've created a spark in thousands of people! 🪄 That said, I am sorry to hear of not having enough life balance and enjoyment!
Dear Fran , I appreciate all you do and it's not a waste to me. Thanks for everything you do!
Now I believe you are a painter and want to subscribe to your Frangallery channel, and at the same time do not wish you more stressfull shovels full of work on your life.
The difference between an Engineer and a artist is that a artist needs no 'point'. You are a Engineer artist and there-in liaise the conflict :)
Well, we all have an existential crisis now and then. As for 'wasted' life, sure there are many ways to live a distinguished life, or to have done great charitable work, or to have written books etc. but no life can really be said to be wasted. As for the book idea.... there's still time 🙂
I thought it was just me that felt like that seems I'm not alone
And remember folks you herd it here first from Fran Blanche. We all are getting much older more sooner than later but I love the content of your show.
Thank you Fran! I love your videos.
Your videos will be preserved for future. Many are really great documentary quality!
Ah an artist at heart. You're discovering the impermanence of digits (of us all really :). I must agree.
There are 8 billion people on the planet. They're all going to die. Most of them are unknown to each other and all their moments wil be lost in time, like tears in rain.
I don’t feel like I’m wasting my life watching you, I enjoy sharing space with you.
Every time I watch your videos, I look at the background and wonder why you need to rent a lab? Just spend the money on a house and record in a room. Many tech youtubers broadcast from their homes.
you have no choice but to waste life.. cos there's always something better to do at all moments, even when you think you're being productive and think you are enjoying yourself.. how's them apples?
I have the same story except I couldn't make videos like I want because of this pesky day job that takes all my time
I have always enjoyed your videos and think of you is intelligent and about a sane as any of us. so my answer is no not wasted.
Fran, most of everything is forgotten pretty quickly. People are already forgetting the Beatles. How many brilliant people from antiquity are remembered? I mean, really remembered? Compared to the amount of people who lived then? Very few. What will be remembered from the 20th century 500 years from now? Hitler and war. That's it. Then even that will fade. History books will list the names of the presidents, just like they list the names of the Roman consuls or the pharaohs, but no one reads history books. Humanity has a terrible memory. Don't worry. So do birds. This is normal. If you want something to stay, carve it into rock. That'll last for a while, but it'll fade eventually, or people will use it to build a house or whatever. The only thing that really matters is here and now.
Never look at what you don't have. Look at what you DO have.