RIP Google Reader

Google Reader, one of the world's most popular RSS readers, is shutting down on July 1, 2013, Google announced...
A bit of late notice, but if you use Google Reader you should already be aware of this news.  My selfish concern in this is that those of you that follow Delta-Slider via Google Reader will drift away and leave me sad and alone.

So, here are a few alternatives to Reader that you can use.  The Mrs. and I are using Newsblur and she is quite happy with it so far.  I just loaded it up this morning.  Don't be fooled by the screen telling you 1,476 people in front of you are awaiting their free account.  We both got an email for a free account a couple days later.

Also in the running is Feedly.  The Mrs. is a huge blog junky and has been furiously testing alternatives, this one has been running side by side with Newsblur and it's a close race.  You can find info about it here:  Transitioning from Google Reader to feedly 

No doubt there are others be be cautious.  Even if you aren't using Google Reader, the one you are using may be running off Google's "backend".  I think that's some techno-geekology term that I only vaguely understand, but I think it means that once Google shuts down these other readers lose the connection to all your fav blogs.

So here's to hoping you will find a new reader and continue to follow Delta-Slider and all your other favorite blogs out there.  I know my posting has fallen off quite a bit as of late but you know how it is...life!  But the Slider ain't dead, no, just taking a break between sets.

Peace,
Scott

Thanks to You!

Hi folks,

I just want to say thanks so much for stopping by and reading the ol' Delta-Slider blog.  I've recently hit some good numbers, over 10,000 page views in a 30 day period, 300 feed subscriptions, 50 Google followers and I'm oh-so close to 100 email subscribers.  I know that in the wide world of the internet that is a pittance.  But for my little blog and the tiny little corner of music that it represents, well...I think it's just fine.

I enjoy this blog and I want to keep it that way.  I don't promise any sort of regular content nor can I promise regular posting every day or so.  It just flows where it goes and that is best for my sanity and for keeping it enjoyable.

Really the best part is getting to know all the great musicians that have been SO incredibly generous with their time and music.

THANK YOU!
 

Drop.io Drops the Ball

From the Drop.io blog:

The drop.io service will be closing onDec. 15. Until then, people will be able to use existing drops they’ve created, but won’t be able to create new drops. After Dec. 15, drop.io will be closing and all user data and content will be deleted, so please download files you have stored on the service before then.

Well that really sucks. Nearly ALL the downloadable content on this blog is on the drop.io servers.  Oh, and hey drop.io, you never ran out of effort when it came to sending me promotional emails.  But not ONE email warning me of this shut down.  Not one. 

Bite me, Drop.io

Good thing I visited the blog, just by coincidence. 

So...

Though I will try to get all content transferred to another host, undoubtedly I will miss one here and there.  So drop me a comment on the the post that doesn't have a working link.

Mean while I've been recycling some of the old posts as I re-link the music.  Hope you've found some old gems you didn't know were here. 

On the bright side I've actually shelled out some cash for the new storage site and this will enhance your download experience.  No more ads, no wait times.  Don't you feel special?  The d/l will now (90%) of the time just save the file to your computer and no more re-directs and all that crap!
  

Pete Seeger's Birthday! How could I have missed it?

John Fahey was attributed with the following quote about Pete Seeger; "I remember when you'd go into a folk store, there'd always be a big sign up, 'Should Pete Seeger Go To Jail?' I'd always say, Absolutely. Because he sings such lousy music."

Sounds like something Fahey would say! Apparently Fahey had a reputation for saying most anything to be outlandish, get attention, just get a reaction? Hard to know for sure.

But Fahey wasn't without his own political song, don't forget March! For Martin Luther King. Pretty cool song.




Ah...here is Pete at the feet of Woody Guthrie. Now Woody, he had an interesting life.

You could say Woody started all this singin' for change. Sit in, Sing out, march, march, march.

Woody was all about the labor movement.

No doubt Pete learned a lot for Woody, like how to write all over your guitar.





But...it looks like the stencil had been invented by the time Pete decided on his protest motto. So you could say that Pete improved on his mentor's style. Always good for the student to teach the master a thing or two, no?
Pete sorta took up the protest career and with all the labor problems solved he decided to focus on racism and wars. Excellent cause. Pete learned another thing from Woody, take a folk song and turn it into a "cause" song. Take an old spiritual and turn it into a "protest" song. Very effective. Everyone kinda knows the tune, add some timely lyrics and presto, the whole crowd sings along!
However, somewhat questionable when it comes to all the accolades the men receive for preserving American folk music. True, some of the praise is well deserved, but let's not lose site of the means to an end. Protesting, sitting in, walking out, march, march, march. And, the causes were noble and worthy, no doubt about that. But does one justify the twisting of the other?

How about the song "I Shall not be Moved"? Beautiful old spiritual, forever linked to sit-ins. Listen to Mississippi John Hurt sing that song. Man, that is something! Very popular song, lots of people did it as a spiritual, Johnny Cash, "Pops" Staples. Long list. Great song.