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A library haul after months | Notes from my Reading

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Despite so much going on over here between work, house projects, yard work, and just daily living challenges in this pandemic era, I've been able to squeeze in time to read as well, which I'm thankful for, because the news has been abysmal these past few weeks for various reasons and I'm continually worrying about where humanity is headed, even more so than I did before.

A library haul after months...My biggest highlight in books this past week was that the library opened for holds pickup. I'd been checking their website every week to find if next week was going to be the week it opened. So when the notice finally came through last week, I was beyond thrilled. I was also very unsure what books to request from the library since I had gotten very used to reading online. Still, I had a few requested when they called me to schedule a one-hour window for pickup. I did request a ton of books after that though, so I expect a bigger bag this week. 

Some of these are books to rea…
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Feed woes: Question for you

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Like everyone else in this world, Google reader's shutdown news has been highly distressing to me. Even though Google had closed quite a few of its services in the past, I had never really worried about Reader because, hey, why would that ever be closed? Who doesn't use RSS? Apparently, not many, it seems. At least, that was the general consensus in the web. If Google doesn't have the whole world using one of its services, then they think it's a candidate for the chopping block. Really, this is ridiculous. If they're closing it because they want more people to start using Google Plus, then they are even more ridiculous. Killing off good products so that crappy ones can survive. 'Nuf said.

(Picture source)

On top of that, I've been having trouble with my feed, at least for my last two posts. I am still using Feedburner, even though many have moved out of it, thanks to strong rumors that Feedburner is also shutting down. After Google Reader, I don't doubt that anymore, and it was just laziness that kept me from shuffling out. Which brings me to the point of this post - which feed subscription service do you use? FeedBlitz? Feedcat? Something else? I checked out FeedBlitz but looks like you have to pay if you want to manage email subscribers, and last I checked my Feedburner page, I had about 80 email subscribers.

I am hoping to migrate during some time this weekend. As for Google reader alternatives, I don't think I like anything yet. I'm hoping that Google will come back saying "April Fool"!

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Jayme said…
I checked out several different sites and platforms and I am now using feedDemon. I am a creature of habit and it is the most like google reade with few more bells and whistles - and you can import all your other sites straight from google reader to get started.
Another plus is that it is not a search engine, but an app to your computer, so you don't have to download anything else to use it. Check it out
March 15, 2013 at 7:03 AM
Roberta said…
It seems that Wordpress blogs have native feeds. For those of you on WordPress and need step-by-step instructions like me,here is a detailed discussion of your options:

http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Feeds


Good luck, I feel your pain.
March 15, 2013 at 8:39 AM
bermudaonion(Kathy) said…
I don't know what to do but at least we have some time to figure it out. I used the feed services provided by wordpress.com
March 15, 2013 at 10:40 AM
Jaime said…
I hate to tell you, but I think FeedDemon is going to be shutting down once Google Reader does, since it just syncs with Google Reader.
March 15, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Jaime said…
As far as Google Reader is concerned, I've moved over to Feedly. Right now it's just syncing with Google Reader, but they are developing their own clone and hope for a smooth transition once Reader goes away.

As for a Feedburner substitute, for my own blog I'll just use the built-in Wordpress feeds. I don't think I have email subscription turned on for my own feed anyhow. But I have several feeds from my work that need that email subscription, so if you come across anything good, please let us know!
March 15, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Tina Reed said…
I tested out Feedly and NetVibes all day yesterday and I am going with Feedly. Easiest transition and still easy on my eyes. As for RSS feed stuff, I not using a service I just use point people to the RSS feed generated by WP. I know there is stuff you can do with a subscription service but I was using FeeCat and Feedblitz after the rumor hit and they both sucked. For me, anyway. Delivery was spotty and out of order when I subscribed using them.
March 15, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com said…
Regarding feed, I try not to worry about it. I'm hoping it won't go anywhere.
As for Google Reader, I'm soooooo sad about it. I want it back. Nothing I've found yet is quite the same. For the time being I'm using BlogLovin and Feedly.
March 15, 2013 at 9:24 PM
Vasilly said…
It would be nice if Google said April's Fool about shitting down Google Reader. I've started transferring my subscriptions over to BlogLovin and The Old Reader which looks just like GR.
March 16, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Aarti said…
I use Mail Chimp for my Feedburner replacement. Heidenkind had up a really great post on how to transition over. I don't think it's quite ideal as it shows your whole blog rather than just the most recent post in any newsletter update (at least, I haven't figured out if there is another way to do it). But it works OK.
March 17, 2013 at 11:47 AM
Marg Bates said…
I got the impression that this decision to close GR is about pushing people to use Google+ too, something that I have no intention of doing because I just don't see the point of it! I must confess I haven't actually thought much about the email subscription part ot if! Need to spend some time on it!
March 18, 2013 at 6:41 AM
Jason Brown said…
Aths -
It is all about Feedly.
seriously, go check it out.. i was unhappy about google reader, but Feedly won me over in about 5 minutes.
imports all of your info from Reader, so it is a cakewalk transition
March 25, 2013 at 11:11 AM
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