RSS has revolutionized the way we use the internet. RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication. Simply put - RSS brings website updates to you. Imagine, logging into your computer in the morning, and reading the recently added news articles, blog posts or podcasts all on one web page. The cool thing is, you don’t need to be a programmer or tech geek to set up RSS feeds.

How does it work? On the web programmer side, xml code is strategically placed into the code of a website, which creates the feed. On the user end, we use what is called an aggregator - where we subscribe to the websites rss or xml feed. Each time the website is updated, the content is sent to the aggregator, kind of like an email.

Whoa! How can you set up an RSS feed?! For just three easy payments of $19.99, if you order now.. I’ll throw in a free spatula, and my 2 week course that will get you started in setting up your own RSS feed.. haha. Ok, just kidding.

Aggregator: The quickest and easiest way to set up RSS would be to go to Google.com. Google Personalized Home, acts as a very simple RSS aggregator.
At the top right, you see a link called “Personalized Home” - click on this. You come to a page that has news feeds, weather, calendar, etc., all of which is customizable. Click on the “Show My Page” button.

Lets set up a RSS feed: We’ll start by adding TechBox to your list.

1) In Explorer 7 and FireFox 2, find the little orange RSS button (seen above) and click on it. The url will change to: http://tech.blogsmonroe.com/?feed=rss2

2) Highlight it and copy it (control c). Back in your Google home page.

3) Click on the “Add Stuff” link you’ll see on the Classic Home page (right side). Google has a number of them preloaded, which you can go back and add later.

4) Up at the top, by the search field, you’ll see a link called “Add by URL.” Click this, and paste in the TechBox link (control v) - be sure not to only include the ‘http://’ once.

5) Click the “Add” button, and you’re done! Top left corner there is a “Back to homepage” button. Techbox feeds will now roll in each time I update the site.
From your computer, if you book mark this page, it should come up the same each time. I’d recommend signing up for a google/gmail account, this way you can access your RSS feeds from anywhere.

Sites: Like I said, now that you’ve seen this little orange symbol, you’ll start to notice it on a ton of web pages. All of the Blogs in BlogsMonroe.com are RSS-able, as is MonroeNews.com - yes, you can even RSS the obituaries!

Other aggregators: Browser based: MyYahoo, Bloglines, Newsgator - Program based: Sharp Reader, AmphetaDesk, AlertBear and for the Macintosh folks; NetNewsWire (my fav). Also, if you really get into it - check out the recently released xFruits - allows you to use RSS in multiple ways - imagine, RSS to your cell phone!! wow.

Surprise.com: This site is really cool. A website for finding the right gift for someone based on one of their likings. I’m going to bookmark this site and use it every Christmas!

Imagination Cubed: I hope this isn’t one of my many reposts, but it is pretty cool. A blank page for you to do with what you wish. Sort of like Paint, only in a browser. Draw something and send it to your friends.

Floola is a freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod. Like iTunes, only with no constrictions. My iTunes is buggy and I can’t seem to fix the issues I’m having (interacting with my ipod), so I’m going to test this software. I’ll post a comment after I get time to test it. Check it out for yourself, let me know what you think.

Calling all writers! Want to be creative but don’t have the time? Start a story on StorySquared and see where it goes. Friends and family contribute to a story thread that you create. The results can be funny, imaginative, or just plain strange. Try it out now and see!

BeeThere.net - This is simply amazing. At first I thought this was just another artist tour information center, but the closer I looked, the more impressed I was. After signing up for the free website, you can track your favorite artists to see when they are coming in concert. My initial thought was, well, I have so many favorites I wouldn’t know what to load - BeeThere does this for you. You can sync up the site with your itunes library. Never miss your favorite artist again!!

I so want this copter - I can see myself now, chasing the dog and cat around the house with it.. hours of fun!

Shiny Shiny - a girls guide to gadgets. Warning - site is very pink!

Black Coffee?! I’m trying really hard to like it. Some of these comments from ChowHound have been encouraging.

BS Watch - it flashes, it moos, it poops… it also tells time! Crazy.

Skull and Cross Bones toaster - what more could you ask for in the morning!

TV Remote fun - turn the channel on any television wherever you are, or turn off the tv to really see people get mad. The rest of this site - PrankPlace.com is pretty cool.

My favorite is: 7: NO, I DON’T want to fix your cousin’s brother’s uncle’s 10 year old computer.

Read the rest here. Good stuff.

FreeIndie.com - Choose from various genre’s, select an artist and listen to the tunes. If you dig them, you can download them for free. Free = good!

Build a Lyric: I clicked on the ad on FreeIndie, and found this neat little tool. Run through a serious of questions, and you can build a song and send it to someone. Another Valentine’s Day idea!

WngoVisio: is a Free Flash-based widget that you can embed in your blog / webpage to allow readers to call you when you’re online. No download, no subscription & no authentication are required for the caller. To host a widget, you need to signup for a Wengo account and give your site URL to generate the widget code and then embed in your website.

Dodge: A very simple and addicting game. You are the blue circle. Your goal is to touch your circle to the blue square. The square jumps to a new location each time you touch it. The tricky part is, with each touch of the blue square, red balls appear and are bouncing around the game area, so you have to avoid them. My high score was an 80!

Retro Junk: A collection of movies, tv shows and commercials all from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. See something you remember and it’s not in the list? Sign up and add it to the archive. The site also has active forums to discuss any of the topics on the site. Cool site - thanks to my good pal Chad for the tip.