RSS, Not Just Another Three Letters

What is RSS and why can’t I live without it?  Literally, RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication”.  At a technical level, it’s a group of web feed specifications that allow an end user to download frequently updated information.  Examples of the information downloaded include blogs (like this one!), podcasts, photos, and news sites.

That’s the technical description, but what exactly does it do?  Imagine opening your web browser and finding that while you slept, your butler carefully clipped all the new blog articles that interest you, collected websites with breaking news about your work, and rounded up the results from your favorite sports pages.  Now, come back to reality, stop thinking about butlers, and see the power that is RSS.



There are many different RSS reader’s available, but we’re going to look at Google Reader, a web based one.  First step, go here and either login or sign up for a Google account. 

After you’re ready, go to your favorite sites and look for the RSS symbol and click it to add to the reader:

No symbol?  No problem.  Just go to Google Reader, click on Add a Subscription and put in the site’s URL.  The reader automatically searches for a RSS feed.  Still no luck?  Email the site owner and complain.  Tell him/her to enter the 21st century.

Once you’ve found two or four or twenty feeds, start creating folders to organize them.  Move them around until you feel comfortable.  Now start reading and enjoying.  If you see something that deserves greater depth, click on the article and you’ll be whisked to the original.

Lastly, make RSS a part of your daily life.  Don’t let the feeds just sit there.  Take 30 minutes a day and stay on the cutting edge.  Oh, and don’t forget to add this blog to your list!