RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. To further simplify that, RSS takes blog posts and news updates (called feeds) and broadcasts them across the internet. RSS readers (websites or programs also called feed readers or aggregators) can then collect the feeds to which the reader has subscribed and present them in one, easy to read location.
So how does all this affect you?
Well, if my blog were the only blog you read, you may not have much use for a feed reader. However, over time, most people who read one blog will start to accumulate more blogs, and news sources, that they like to follow. It used to be a chore for me to go from blog to blog to check and see if my friends had updates. It was even frustrating, at times, to check a blog and see that they hadn’t updated. The feed reader allows you to subscribe to the blogs and news sources you love, and then read the updates in one location.
There are a number of different feed readers you can use: yahoo, newsgator, bloglines, netvibes, and pageflakes just to name a few. But my favorite is Google’s Reader. One of the things I like about Reader is it gives you options in how you view the posts: there are a number of sorting options, you can categorize the blogs, and you can quickly browse all the headlines or have it open up to show each article in full like a magazine.
How to Subscribe:
First of all, you need to set up an account with a reader. Here’s the link again to set up with Google’s Reader. If you already have a Google account (blogger and gmail both count as Google accounts) you can just sign into Reader using that account.
To subscribe to CoffeeJitters (process should be similar for most other blogs as well) look for the RSS button in the upper right hand corner. Mine says “Subscribe via RSS,” most blogs should have something along the same lines. Click the button.
It should take you to a page that shows you a list of readers from which to choose. Click the button for the reader you chose.
If you select Google, it may give you the option to choose between Google Homepage and Google Reader – select Google Reader. Bam! You’re there.
If you want to leave a comment on a post, just click on the headline and it will take you right to that blog so you can make your mark.
1.) What were you doing ten years ago? -ten years ago I was 27. I was living in Alaska working on a job that I absolutely loved. The interesting thing is that the subject matter of my work, telecommunications (packet switching, LATAs, BillingEdge, blah, blah, blah), completely bored the living daylights out of me. But this was the first time I’d really been given a big project and told to run with it. There’s nothing like having an employer exhibit such faith in your capabilities, and offer you such a meaningful challenge, to make even the most mundane topic engaging.
2.) What are the 5 things on your to-do list today? -essay on Ralph Ellison’s Battle Royal -clean house for graduation party on Saturday -workout -proofread Mr. H’s paper on Feminism in Iran (the only thing I actually accomplished so far) -study for exams
3.) What Snacks do you enjoy? -brownies -chocolate chip cookies -chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel covered pretzels -ice cream -did I mention chocolate?
4.) What Places have you lived in? -Eugene, Oregon -Kodiak, Alaska -Palmer, Alaska -Denali National Park, Alaska -Seattle, Washington
5.) What are the things you would do if you were a billionaire? -buy a house -adopt as many babies as possible -buy my mom a home -explore the world -travel enough that I have friends on every continent -get my hands dirty working on volunteer projects on every continent -find a cure for cancer -start a whole bunch of educational scholarships for people who can never qualify for scholarships or other financial aid because they have a job – even though they barely make enough money to pay their rent -buy a boat for my husband -maybe a whole fleet of boats -and the rest should make a dent in paying off our student loans
6.) Who are the People you want to know more about? -I’ve been on a genealogy kick lately. I’m completely fascinated by American history, and now that I’m learning more about my ancestors, I’d like to learn more about how American history played a role in their lives and how and why they came to America in the first place. Then of course, I want to know all about where they came from and who they were in that world and what life was like for them there.
Now the rules!
Answer all the questions. Tag 6 people, leave a comment on their blog to inform them that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog for rules. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answers. (No links for private blogs)
Ok, well this is just a little bit ridiculous. I’ve really got to clean up my flickr pool. I moved to this site because of the tags and sets and categories and now that I’ve got 1944 images uploaded, the vast majority are untagged, unsetted (I just made that word up) and uncategorized. I’m a lazy girl, which is a wonderful way to be when you want to lie in bed and watch tv while eating chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Not so much when you are looking for one specific picture.
On a side note, anyone have any idea what kind of flower this is? I don’t think I’ve seen this one before.
Now I’m going to curl up with a bowl of ice cream and watch Letterman and TV’s Craig Ferguson.
I’ve reverted back to my old format. I changed to the new format on Saturday night/Sunday morning and for some reason, suddenly today, blogger decided to freak out and it could no longer read my code. My blog has been down for most of the day.
Oh yes I know there are bigger, faster, sexier blog services out there, and someday I expect I’ll have me a bigger, faster, sexier blog, with tassels and a bell. But those things take resources like time, money, and know-how and at the moment I seem to be strapped for all three.
so instead, I give you this pretty picture I took on Sunday afternoon.
You may have noticed that I went through about 30 variations on blogger templates today. I’m still not satisfied with the results, but then I’m still learning, too. I suppose I would be a little more adept at this if I’d just break down and take a class or two on web design, but I much prefer banging my head against the wall. There’s something about finding a solution after trying 48 other possible variations that is so much more satisfying than just knowing what will work in the first place.
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To subscribe to CoffeeJitters (process should be similar for most other blogs as well) look for the RSS button in the upper right hand corner. Mine says “Subscribe via RSS,” most blogs should have something along the same lines. Click the button.
