We've been thrilled to share the love and give away Neil Young concert tickets, books, posters, magazines and all sorts of other stuff. But the best of all is sharing what we call Neil Stories -- those which "emotionally resonate" with us all and make it such a joy to be part of the community of global rust.
Truly one the greatest highlights in the 18 years of Thrasher's Wheat existence was -- without a shred of doubt -- was taking Thrasher's Wheat Radio on WBKM.org to Europe last summer for the Neil Young & Crazy Horse Alchemy Tour.
for Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Tour - June 2013
As you may recall, earlier this year, we had Some Good News and Not So Good News. Essentially, Thrasher's Wheat last it's advertising partnership and the source of the majority of funding for running the Thrasher's Wheat blog.
But we harvest on here at Thrasher's Wheat undeterred because we have a job to do. So we formally invite you to join us in this venture: Support our blog, engage with us, and make your participation and support a reality. Find a level that suits you and slip into the groove.
We need ask for your financial support, at least at the most basic level of *just* $3 per year. Only $3 per year.
At less one penny a day, it’s less than your daily newspaper, cable television, subscription package or internet service. Less than a 6-pack of decent beer, even?! And you very well know the high quality of independent blogging, informed opinion, thoughtful commentary, wonderful and bizarre reader comments and warped humor you get here for that minimal contribution. Is there any other blog you read anywhere that provides you this much fun?
White House, Washington, DC
Photo by Hounds That Howell
Donations are the only model we can see as we look ahead at the media landscape that faces us. Without a corporate sell-out (that would limit our independence) and without a mega patron (ahem... who would likely impose opinions and views while probably also staking out No-Go areas of speech) we simply cannot continue onwards toward the New Media Paradigm we’ve become. In addition to this blog, we also have Twitter and Facebook stream feeds, as well as an email list all requiring daily maintenance.
As the people-powered, irreverent blog that Thrasher's Wheat is, we can only remain this way with your help. Your support will let us continue to do what Thrasher's Wheat tries to do as well as possible. Won’t you please donate now? (securely, safely, privately)
Walk with us.
Support us now, please. It’s really easy, almost painless. Your support matters: it’s the only way we can see our way into the future.
Which we plan to continue, with your help. Today. Now. C'mon just 3 bucks. Only $3 today for a year of Neil fun. Such a deal. Thank you!
This Blog's For You!
So Why Bother To Support Neil Young News on TW?
Our goal is simple: we create the best Neil Young blog we possibly can, refrain from contaminating it with nasty, evil corporate advertising, and then ask you to donate to us what you think it's worth. So far it seems to be working out sort of. We're not likely to break even on bandwidth and storage expenses (much less donated labor) this way, but that's not our goal.
Here at TW we're not just non-commercial. We're anti-commercial. We feel that quality blogs and corporate advertising just cannot co-exist. We also choose to refrain from forcibly extracting money from you by charging subscription fees. We want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed so generously over the past few years. We quite literally couldn't do it without you.
And, as always, we understand that contributing money is just not an option for some of you. That's fine. All posts, feeds and services at TW are open to everyone, and we will do everything in our power to keep it that way.
We’ve helped influence decisions on release formats and availability, we think, through our writing and your activism in response to it. We’ve exposed the hypocrisy of professional music critics and tried to speak out against the madness, fear and greed. All the while trying to find some hope in the future and have a little fun along the way!
But the basic underpinnings of our financial model haven’t changed: we’re often only one blog post away from pulling the plugs at any given moment.
So, here's how you can help.
Purchases via Amazon.com of *anything* (books, CD's, shoes, etc.) will provide Thrasher's Wheat with a small commission. All you have to do is click the banner above and shop. (Please shop locally and independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking image above. Thanks!!!)
United States - Amazon.com
Canada - Amazon.ca
United Kingdom - Amazon.uk
Germany - Amazon.de
(Please note: International Amazon orders (non-U.S.A., non-Canada, non-U.K., non-Germany) do not credit to Thrasher's Wheat unfortunately. Other international readers are asked to please use PayPal account or credit card to support Thrasher's Wheat.)
You have proven that Thrasher's Wheat matters to you, and that you support our mission: to bring free Neil Young knowledge to the planet, free of charge and as free as possible of advertising. You've helped make and keep Thrasher's Wheat available for the whole world. If you find this site helpful as a reference or news source, please help us continue to help all Neil Young fans. Hopefully, this will continue to work to help defray the costs of running Thrasher's Wheat. Any excess funds generated above and beyond operating expenses will be donated to The Bridge School.
Pulling the plug on TW simply cannot happen. After all, we've been implored to "Keep on bloggin' til the power goes out."
for Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Tour
Koln, Germany, July 2013
(Click photo to enlarge)
And if shopping for stuff isn't your thing, we understand.
Just spreading the word about Thrasher's Wheat is a huge help. If you have friends that you think might enjoy TW - please take a moment to drop them a note. Postings about TW on appropriate web forums are also a great way to spread the word. As a matter of fact, we have folks using our Thrasher's Wheat logo on their blogs!
So LIKE us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter and/or subscribe to our email list. (On occasion we pick random folks on the mailing list for little Neil treats. And no spam. We promise.)
In response to our semi-irregular
As some have suggested, "if there is a more balanced, fact based, deeply analytic, independent and proven insightful Neil blog, or voice than TW, better serving the relevant niche, than this one, we would like to see it. Whether you love or hate Neil, this blog is incredibly valuable for its depth and consistency of analysis."
We need your support as independent journalistic voices in the mass media milieu. Make no mistake, your support of all of our work here helps establish all of us as protected and respected bloggera, and we are thankful for the same.
If you are reading this, you either know, or should know, precisely what level of outstanding blogging that goes down daily here on TW.
So who is TW? We're a teeny, tiny non-profit that runs a popular Neil Young fan blog. We have only 1.5 staff but serve 1,000's & 1,000's, and we have costs like any other web sites: servers, power, programs, and ancillary costs. Folks think TW is special. We like that we're NOT behind a pay firewall but out in the open -- in public view --as it should be. Love all, serve all, as they say. It is like a temple for the mind, a place we can all go to think and learn. To protect our independence, we'll never *rarely* run ads. We take no record label funds. We survive on donations averaging about $5. Now is the time we ask. If everyone reading this gave $5, our fundraiser would be done within an hour. If Thrasher's Wheat is useful to you, take one minute to keep it online and ad-free another year. Please help us forget fundraising and get back to Neil news.
That said, this posting violates all our precepts here at TW -- it’s the time of year we do something we hate, which is asking for your support.
We hate it for two reasons:
One: many of our supporters are in dire straits economically and have no money to contribute. Even for those fortunate to have jobs and homes and food, it’s still been a tough of late. If you don’t have funds to spare, don’t even think about giving.
Two: Far more than we want people giving money, we want people taking action. That’s our first, second, and third priority -- that’s what we ask for 9 times out of 10. Videos, photos, reviews, comments. That truly supports TW.
But we’ve had so many people taking so many actions this year that this whole blog continues to grow -- those less crazy than those early days of the 21st century. It’s completely great. And it means we need the resources to coordinate it all, to make it more than the sum of its parts.
So today, we’re asking you to chip in what you can. So, if you can
These periodic blog fund-raisers, play a vital role in supporting the work we do here. Reader support in all its forms really is central to the work we do here, and it’s very appreciated, gratifying, and helpful.
The most vital attribute of our work, by far, is full-scale independence — the ability to write on any topics of importance free of concerns about offending potential advertisers or fear of other forms of implications — and it’s reader support that makes that possible. This model ensures that we have only one constituency that matters — our readers — and that, in turn, means we need only be concerned with producing work that is as informative, as consequential and, most of all, as honest as possible. Neil has always been faithful to his word in honoring our unfettered editorial independence while publishing this blog, which is one reason it’s been a great platform for our work, but it is reader support that permits us to spend a portion of our time voluntarily writing here every day and doing the work we think will do the most good without any fears or constraints.
There is widespread and always-growing concern about the inability of blogging endeavors to find a sustainable financial model, particularly with the ever expanding Internet. But we think the Internet has highlighted one of the best ways to enable independent blogging: through reader support. This is not a brand new approach, nor is it one confined to smaller outlets. But for us, this is the model that permits us to engage in the optimal form of independent blogging and generally maintain independence.
Those wishing to participate can do so via Paypal by clicking the button above.
As always, we genuinely appreciate all forms of reader involvement here; the communal nature of Internet writing is one of its most valuable characteristics, and an active, vibrant, supportive readership has been crucial to blogging the Neil scene since 1996 (and on a daily basis since 2003) in so many ways.
The Arkansas Girls(Click photo to enlarge)
Words, such as these, by the oh-so delightfully handled ShittyHorse:
Thrasher, what you provide to us Neil Fanatics is truly invaluable.Thanks SH! We appreciate your kind words of support. Always and sincerely.
I visit other "Neil Sites", and Thrasher's Wheat is by far my favorite, not to diminish others, just my personal preference. You've created a strong community here, where Neil fans can talk everything Neil- from news and events to albums, songs, concerts, personal experiences and feelings, band members and other musicians, but most of all you give us a place to gather, to show our numbers, and be with others who truly understand why Neil's music touches us in such a profound and meaningful way.
I think it's safe to say that we all, even the most critical fans, appreciate the hard work and dedication that you and Thrashette put into this site. Times are tough, which is why your site and others like it become more and more important- it provides a much needed escape at times, entertainment, information and always puts a smile on my face. Even Neil Young himself has recognized the importance of Thrasher's Wheat.
You are part of Neil history and, in turn, Rock n' Roll History.
From here on I'd say any definitive book written on Neil's life and career would be lacking if missing a Thrasher's Wheat reference- you've been a liaison between the fans and the man himself. What you do is important and appreciated. Never loose heart.
I've made a large purchase this morning on Amazon through this site, as I always try to do, which I hope helps out. Of course it is a small thing, but if all your readers did this same, one small thing I'm sure it would help out a lot.
Again, thank you for your hard work, and devotion, not only to Neil but also his fans.
Happy Holidays to you and Thrashette!
Again, thanks everyone for their contributions. But mostly thanks for all the reviews, photos, links, videos, and comments. And your kind and supportive words, especially. We truly enjoy sharing the Neil love around the world. We've been doing this on & off for 18 years on Rust/HH/RH and 15 years on TW and we'd really like to continue -- readers willing.
Author Dave Zimmer
On The Beach with Thrasher's Wheat Radio
So by helping us out, you'll also help out to spread the Neil love around the world. And -- maybe in some small way -- it all helps the Bridge School, Farm Aid, Musicares, and the LincVolt project. Because we all want to light a candle, make a difference, be the rain, and be the change.
Be the wheat.
peace and love,
thrasher & thrashette
"Keep on bloggin'
`Til the power goes out
The batteries dead
Twist and shout"
- "Fork In the Road"
ps - it keeps us searchin' for the vista and the muse. We won't Be Denied!
"Hold closely those true friends that fight and sacrifice for what is right."
ReplyDelete--Leonard Peltier
Thanks for everything you do! And keep on rocking and rolling as we all travel down that Twisted Road....
"But if there’s love, dear… those are the ties that bind, and you’ll have a family in your heart, forever. All my love to you, poppet, you’re going to be all right… bye-bye."
--Mrs. Doubtfire
And I'm leavin' my family
Leavin' all my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
Upon a new front page sky
And shiver me timbers
'Cause I'm a-sailin' away
--Tom Waits