Many websites these days have content that is updated on a consistent basis (such as news websites, blogs, audio podcasts, and video vodcasts). Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to keep up with all of the different sites you visit every day to read the updated content.
This is one issue that I have because there are several blogs I try to keep up with (like problogger.net, lifehacker.com, yfncg.com) and I like to keep up with the news (local, regional, national, etc.) because I don’t watch television that much. Trying to visit each site before going to work would become quite the chore if it weren’t for something called “RSS.” - check out the wikipedia article
RSS today is referred to as “Really Simple Syndication.” Basically, publishers of content can use this new(ish) technology to easily “syndicate” updates to make it easier for us to find and read it. The two major ways I like to read syndicated content is by receiving updates in my email box (made possible by services like feedburner using RSS) and a FEED reader.
A feed reader is a program, either local on your computer or web-based, that you use to “grab” the various feeds you read and let you know when they are updated. I personally prefer a web-based service like Google Reader because I can access it on whichever computer I like to (there are 2 laptops in my house and I’m occasionally somewhere without either of them). A feed reader usually does a good job of helping you organize your feeds into different categories and even have options of highlighting articles you’d like to find later.
I’ve personally tried several different online feed readers and have fallen in love with Google Reader. It is very quick, easy to organize by letting me drag and drop feeds into folders, lets me easily star articles for either sharing with friends or returning to later, and has been pretty user friendly and reliable.
As you can see in my sidebar, I have given 2 choices for keeping up with updates to this blog: via email and via RSS feed subscription. If you prefer getting email reminding you of updates, go ahead and subscribe that way. If you are sick of your email box constantly being inundated with stuff, try a reader and subscribe to the feed. Either way, I’d be happy to have you subscribe to my feed!
What’s your opinion? Would you rather receive email updates, subscribe using a reader, or actually visit every site you read from daily?
OK, the question came up once again for me today, which is faster, the fast food drive through? or going inside and ordering it to go? You’ve seen the lines of cars during the busy times and wondered, I’m sure. There have been times when I actually parked and went in just to see if it actually was faster. I have not, however, actually timed it.
Tonight I am asking for you opinion (or investigative results if you’ve taken it that far), which is faster? The fast food drive through or going inside and ordering to go?
Frivolous use of my blog, I know. But if I’m wondering, someone else HAS to be, right?
For whatever the reason, you end up with a gift card that either you cannot use or it’s from an establishment you don’t normally grace. Maybe an out-of-town relative mistakenly got you a card for a restaurant whose closest location is two states away, or you were mistaken for someone who loves seafood, but it can happen to you!
Well, I hopped on Yahoo.com (for you) and came up with a list of sites that allow you to buy, sell, or trade your gift cards until you get what you want or need! In fact, it may be a good way to buy gift cards at a discount saving you money! Check them out and see which one works the best for you:
Have a question? Most people will tell you to go Google it. Well, today there are many different places you can look to find answers. Today I would like to list a couple of the places I go to find answers. There isn’t any specific order and the list is not exhaustive or complete but hopefully it will be of some help to you.
Yahoo Answers - There are several answers communities out there but this is one of my favorites. You can obviously ask a question and receive answers from other members of the community but the easiest way is to do a search to see if someone else has already asked the same (or similar) question.
Yahoo Search Engine - The same way someone “Googles” and answer, I “Google” using Yahoo (or call it “Yahooing” something). I use different combinations of quotation marks and plus signs to help to narrow the results.
Yellowpages.com- I can’t remember the last time I actually used a physical phone book! For residential numbers, try whitepages.com or anywho.com (on the Reverse Lookup page, you can search by phone numbers and find the owners).
DIY (do it yourself) websites - On pages like Instructables.com and ehow.com, you can learn how to do almost anything yourself.
Wikipedia.org - As the best known, probably most used online encyclopedia, most of you have heard of wikipedia.org. Here we have a great source for information about almost any topic. Wikipedia is run by an army of volunteers and seems to be quite exhaustive.
Dictionary.com - need a concise definition, try a dictionary site and what better site is there than Dictionary.com?
Lifehacker.com - As the site itself exclaims, “Tips and downloads to get things done.” You can find all kinds of tips and tricks for computing and life in general and I am finding myself turning here more and more often in order to find answers. It’s fun to browse through too!
Techie friends - OK, I know this isn’t a specific website BUT it is a source of answers for me. Everyone needs some friends who are tech-savy to turn to when things get rough. I have many good friends that are computer nerds, geeks, or just all around sharp that are great places to turn when I need help. Find a tech-friend today (and show your appreciation!).
Well, here’s a few sources that I turn to when looking for answers.
While looking for answers online, always use good sense and investigative techniques. Obviously not all information online is reliable. Much of it is opinion and from specific viewpoints and sometimes is even outright dishonest or mistaken. Use multiple sources and try to view the information from the standpoint of the source.
All that said, where do YOU find answers online? I love to find great places for research and learning!
A few weeks ago I made a post about receiving free directory assistance and one of those ways was to call -800-GOOG-411. Today I came across another awesome service by Google: Google SMS for your phone!
The process is quite easy. All you do is text your search to 466453 (”GOOGLE”) and Google will text back an answer for you! First try texting “help” and you’ll get a list of helpful hits. Here’s the video demo from the site:
Note: As being one who finds text messaging in general to be pointless (until I found this), I do not have unlimited texting on my phone so I have not tried this yet (by the way, if any of my friends or family read this, I don’t mean to offend you but if you ever text me, I probably won’t reply).
That being said, please leave a comment if and when you DO try this and let me know how it worked for you!
I originally heard about this on the how2dostuff blog.
Please remember the last step to registering is checking your email and clicking the link to verify that it was actually YOUR EMAIL that you entered. Without verification, you won’t receive email updates OR be entered to win the $25 gift certificate.
Also, in case you are wondering, the contestants will be printed on tabs of paper and drawn from a hat (I know, old school). I’ll video tape the whole thing (I won’t publicize the winning email address of course - that would go against anything I believe as wrong in the area of email security. Also, the gift card will be sent VIA email to the address used in the registration process.
Enter away!
By the way, I will, in no way, EVER give your email away to someone else and I will NEVER SPAM you! All you’ll receive after registering is daily updates to my blog, on days I actually post. If the service I use, Feedburner, ever makes it possible to change the email frequency, I will be open with you about any changes! AND you always have the ability to unsubscribe by following a link at the end of each email.
I’m having a givaway to kick off the new year! Entering is easy! Subscribe to receive updates to this blog in your email and you’re automatically entered!
Registering for email updates is easy, too! Just click the icon in the sidebar labeled “Updates In Your Email”, type your email, enter the code provided (confirming you are a human), check your email and click the confirmation link and tada!
I’ll run the contest for the first two weeks of January, 2009, to end at 12:00AM, January 15th. At that time, I will choose a random winner!
A win win situation, get blog updates in your email PLUS get entered to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card!
Happy New Years from Central New York and TimmyJohnBoy.com! I just stopped by ProBlogger.net and noticed that he posted a “Happy New Years” post highlighting 10 of his most popular posts from 2008 (from statistics with Google Analytics).
Great idea, Darren! Great way to both take a review of which post topics brought the most visitors AND to perhaps show new visitors some of your best stuff from the year! No good idea should go un-copied, right? So, without further adieu, here are some of the most popular posts from TimmyJohnBoy.com since signing up with Google Analytics:
In the tradition of all things free and cheap, I’d like to announce that I just heard on the radio that people traveling the New York State Thruway this New Years have the opportunity to pull over for a free coffee or tea at Thruway Travel Plazas!
The free beverages will be provided at all 27 travel plazas along the Thruway from 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, until 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, New Year’s Day (January 1, 2009).
Thruway officials are trying to help to curtail drowsy driving noting that popular tactics such as blaring music and lowering the window are ineffective. Frequent stops and caffenated drinks, however, offer better short-term advantages. So drink more coffee and stop often - and enjoy the free coffee!
Many websites these days have content that is updated on a consistent basis (such as news websites, blogs, audio podcasts, and video vodcasts). Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to keep up with all of the different sites you visit every day to read the updated content.
