Just haven't been paying attention to this whole blogging/RSS stuff

[Doug Shepard]

So it's time to crawl out from under my rock and figure this whole blogging business out. Can anyone give me the reader's digest version of the difference between starting a blog, and just doing a standard forum thread? Benefits of one vs. the other?

And after seeing these little RSS icons all over the place I decided to do some Wikipedia research and think I understand what's going on with that. But it sounds like I need to download a RSS reader in order to subscribe to an RSS feed. So more research comes up with a list of no fewer than 72 for Windoze.
http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Internet/Clients/WWW/Feed_Readers/Windows/

Any recommendations as to which one to use?

[Rich Engelhardt]

Hello,

Can anyone give me the reader's digest version of the difference between starting a blog, and just doing a standard forum thread? Benefits of one vs. the other?

Blog = cyber version of graffiti &/or cyber soap box.
Forum = cyber version of CB radio. (FWIW - in the strictest amateur radio vernacular the old listserve was akin to Ham radio)(IMHO)
(10-4 good buddy - got your ears on? :D)


Oops forgot one about RSS.
An RSS feed is an overlay &/or insert - a cyber version of those annoying little boxes they put into the TV shows down in the corner.

[Doug Shepard]

10.4
So a blog is more of a driveby posting (unmoderated) vs a forum which is monitored?
Got a cyber version of peeing your name in the snow?:D It's a Michigan thing.

[Mike Henderson]

Like all things, blogs can be interesting or dumb. My wife follows a couple of cooking blogs and really enjoys them.

Recently, a friend went into the hospital for a serious problem (she's been there a month or more now). Her husband started a blog to let everyone know what's happening. Just about every day he posts a note saying what happened that day and her status. That way, everyone who wants to can keep up and he doesn't have to call people.

The advantage of RSS is that you see when a new posting has been made - so you don't have to go check - when a new posting is made you get a notice.

I use Microsoft Outlook for RSS and blog reading. It's really simple to set up and use. And since you only subscribe to things you're interested in (and can turn them off when you lose interest), you're in control.

It's been a godsend for the hospital situation described above.

Mike

[Randy Cohen]

how do you use outlook for RSS? I have Outlook 2002.

[Mike Henderson]

how do you use outlook for RSS? I have Outlook 2002.
I have the new Outlook (2007). I doubt if RSS is supported in the 2002 version.

Mike

[If you want to upgrade, I checked on eBay and there's a few listings for decent prices.]

[Craig Summers]

If you want to see a good organized listing (sorted by categories) of news and information in the blog world. try Alltop (http://alltop.com/)

The blogs i read regularly are:
Execupundit (http://www.execupundit.com/) -- Business consultant Michael Wade (also with great links to other business world blogs)
Primidi (http://www.primidi.com/) -- Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends. Mostly things still in labs, will be a few years before commercialization.
Defense Tech (http://www.defensetech.org/)-- an offshoot of military.com
Next Energy News (http://www.nextenergynews.com/) -- news listing of new energy technology

One of these days i might get around to starting my own blog ... But i need a theme & name to center it around.

[Dewey Torres]

As for blogs.. you have the answers above.

As for RSS feed readers there are RSS reader that are free. I use Snarfer for Craigslist and ebay but you can use it for news, stocks, weather, whatever (RSS wise).

Example:
I am looking for a table saw in Colorado Springs-
I set up Snarfer to search the RSS feed for C/L and Ebay and it shows me everything with out ever going to either of the sights.

Here it is if you are interested:
http://www.snarfware.com/

[Curt Harms]

I don't know how well it works but when I have a page of SMC postings, there's an icon on the right side of the address bar that's "click here to subscribe to this feed". Might be simple.:)

Curt

[Jesse Cloud]

Blogs tend to be single-author animals and not moderated.

I use the google portal for a homepage and it has a handy rss reader. I check craigslist for a couple of towns, so the rss automatically shows me what tools are for sale in albuquerque and santa fe.

If you start a blog and it becomes really popular, you can sell ads on the blog and make some $$

[Greg Peterson]

There are a number of blogs I read and post to. While some blogs are certainly little more than soap box / personal info / Stuff, the ones I read are contain very thoroughly researched and documented reporting. In many ways, the better known blogs fulfill the role our mainstream media use to fill.

Don't believe the pundits with an axe to grind or a bias. Blogs may (hopefully) over run the traditional corporate media.

[Chris Padilla]

As for blogs.. you have the answers above.

As for RSS feed readers there are RSS reader that are free. I use Snarfer for Craigslist and ebay but you can use it for news, stocks, weather, whatever (RSS wise).

Example:
I am looking for a table saw in Colorado Springs-
I set up Snarfer to search the RSS feed for C/L and Ebay and it shows me everything with out ever going to either of the sights.

Here it is if you are interested:
http://www.snarfware.com/

Snarfer has been a live-saver searching CL and eBay for things I want. You can bid on eBay stuff right from the Snarfer window. Pretty cool!

[Ed Baggett]

Thanks for the Post, I didn't understand RSS either.

I aalso got a couple good laughs from to responders - thanks guys