Feed Me!

In the theme of expounding on the wonders of the Internet I wanted to introduce RSS Feeds. I had noticed the little icon on web pages and heard about feeds but I didn't really understand how to use them. I finally got curious and looked into it. What I found was a fantastic way to experience the Internet.
RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication but don't worry about remembering that. Like Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http) or Uniform Resource Locator (url) it really only makes sense to programmers. What you do need to remember is that RSS feeds give you the ability to view updates to your favorite blogs and websites all in one place.
To use RSS feeds you need a website that has a feed and a feed reader. For those with a Gmail or a Google account Google Reader is a quick and easy solution. Pick a blog or favorite website and look for the RSS icon. Click on it and then click subscribe (see the video below for visuals).
When you subscribe to an RSS feed you are signing up to be notified when new things are posted. These updates are then sent to your reader. Once you subscribe to all your favorite sites your reader becomes the only stop you have to make on the Internet.
I use my reader to keep up on all my friends blogs, learn about travel deals, get my daily workout, and read thought provoking content. It also gives you the ability to organize and share your information. You can use keywords to tag articles and share articles with friends. This has been great for Melisa and me as we prepare for our Europe trip. When I find an interesting article about travel I share it with her. When she gets onto her reader she can read it even if she isn't subscribed to the same feed.
In short RSS feeds are a fantastic way to organize the Internet. If you don't have one I recommend trying it out. Why not try subscribing to this blog for instance!

That Tunnel to China

I I often wonder what people did before Al Gore invented the Internet. Being online from the age of ten makes imagining a world without a web difficult. For instance how did you stay in contact with that random person that sat next to you in ECON 101? How did you discover your IQ, buy plane tickets, comparison shop, watch television, or plan a trip?
Living in such a geographically isolated area my Wi-Fi connection has become my metaphorical tunnel to China. Let me explain:
Every kid has that phase where they imagine they can get to China (or some other undiscovered country) by digging through the Earth or entering a magic wardrobe. Eventually we all grow up and realize the impossibility of such travels but that doesn't stop us from continuing to reach outside ourselves for new experiences. Enter the Internet. The world wide web allows me to escape the confines of my physical location; becoming that mystical tunnel to China.
With my computer (and now my Ipod and cell phone) I can expand my knowledge of languages and cultures. Buy almost anything. Use a wiki to plan my Europe trip with my sister. Edit and print pictures. But most importantly I can stay in contact with friends and family from Alaska to Iraq, Mexico to New Zealand.
So although we are physically seperated this blog allows my friends and famliy to experience my amazing-ness and travel with me on my Internet adventures.

BTW: The above image is just one example of a map of the Internet. Click here to read more.