HELLOmynameisHeather

Clickity-Twit

 
Okay, so Google Reader is the CLEAR winner.  I checked it out and you can easily export the feeds you're following in another aggregator and then upload them to Google Reader.  You can be all set-up and transitioned-over in less than 5 minutes.  Dead serious.  Then, if you install a Google Reader 'Next' button in your browser's bookmark bar, you can click from one new post to another and read each post in its original blog setting where it belongs.  All great tips from you guys -- thanks for chiming in!

Now I'm exploring Twitter.  Ya, I took my time getting around to it.  I think they invited me to the beta of Twitter three years ago or so.  I'm getting serious deja vu on their site.   Let me say, I love the simplicity of their concept.  'You know, for blogging.'  Have you seen The Hudsucker Proxy (one of my all-time favorite movies!)?  If not, then that's what you should do for fun this weekend.

So Basic - But So Helpful!

 
Years ago, when I posted a tutorial for My Favorite Knot, I thought it was a comically common thing to tutorialize.  But, as that knot has made my sewing much more pleasant, I figured, "Why not.  It's bound to help someone."  To my surprise, that knot tutorial has sparked the most passionate feedback.  Most of you probably already knew how to tie a tidy knot, but for those who didn't  - ah, what a lifesaver!

Today, my March of the Tools tool is similarly basic.  And though quite well-known amongst bloggers, it shouldn't go without lauding:  Aggregators.  There are bound to be a few dozen of you who don't know what you're missing out on.  This post is for you.

If you find yourself tediously entering and re-entering the URLs of your favorite blogs throughout the day, just hoping that someone has posted a new entry, read on.  You need an aggregator.  I currently use Bloglines.

Bloglines is a free, online service that allows you to organize and monitor your favorite blogs.  When you are logged into your account, you are able to see when new entries have been posted on each of the blogs you 'subscribe' to.  Subscribing to blogs is free and many blogs have a "Subscribe in Bloglines" or "Subscribe to this Feed" button in their sidebar to make the process even easier.  (I just fixed my Bloglines button - it wasn't working right for months -- yikes.)   Otherwise, you can click on a blog's RSS feed icon in your browser's address bar (usually looks like a little square with three curved 'sound' bars radiating outward - example to the right).  The RSS icon will take you to the blog's RSS feed, where there are usually some subscription options, including Bloglines.  Here is what my RSS feed page looks like.

There are many similar services to Bloglines, such as Google Reader, My Yahoo, NewsFire, and many others.  I've only ever used Bloglines, so I'm not too familiar with the alternatives.  All such blog-subscribing services are called aggregators (or feed-readers, rss readers, news readers, etc.).  Using an aggregator is an absolute life-saver if you're following a long list of blogs on a regular basis.  An aggregator enables you to compose a virtual daily 'personal newspaper' of all of your favorite blog 'articles' (aka rss feeds or posts) which you can read one after the other right there under your account -- or you can click on a link to each post if you prefer to read new posts in their original setting within a blog (my preference).

A lot of info?  Let me just say it is totally worth looking into.  The time you spend learning your way around Bloglines or another aggregator will easily pay off in spades.  One hour learning how to use an aggregator could easily gain you three hours more free time in the next week or two alone. 

I knew about Bloglines long before I set up my own account.  The day I finally did I was completely kicking myself for not doing it sooner.  A seriously good tool.

(I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here.  If you already use an aggregator, help me convince everyone else how great they are!  If you recommend a different aggregator than Bloglines, tell us about it.)

The Pen is Mightier than the Spatula

Isaac loves to cook.  His sister, Evie, gave him a subscription to Cooks Illustrated magazine for Christmas one year and now we're hooked.  I'm pretty sure I would never have picked up this magazine from the shelf of a bookstore.  But it's great! 

Cooks Illustrated covers the science of cooking in a fun, easy-to-follow format.  In any given issue, you might learn how to best hard-boil an egg so the yolk stays centered (helpful for deviled eggs), or which brand of stone-ground mustard is the most flavorful, or the science behind aged cheese.  Who knows -- all kinds of interesting things. Their test-kitchen cooks tirelessly compare techniques and recipes to arrive at the best methods and flavors.  Then they quickly outline their test results and make suggestions in the magazine.  Even better, their research and info is completely unbiased - like Consumer Reports for cooking techniques, food, & recipes.  The magazine doesn't have any ads and is illustrated in old-fashioned pen-and-ink-drawings, which I love.

Anyhow.  Yes, I'm recommending a cooking magazine as a favorite tool for March of the Tools.  Next time you're out shopping, stop by the magazine row and take a peek through Cooks Illustrated.  I love knowing the 'why' behind a good recommendation.  And Cooks Illustrated is full of 'whys' -- and good recommendations.

Pocket Mike

This gadget is awesome.  It's a Belkin TuneTalk™ Stereo voice recorder for iPods.  When you plug it into the bottom of your iPod, you can record voice memos in a snap.  And there's no set-up or anything.  When the voice recorder is plugged in, a new category called "Voice Memos" shows up right on the main menu.  To run the recorder, you simply use the iPod's scroll-wheel and select button to follow the prompts on the iPod's main screen.

I picked this device up at the Apple Store for a business need.  It wasn't cheap - maybe $60 or $70?  But, once we heard the recording quality (which is surprisingly fantastic), Isaac & I have since used it for video voice-overs and for recording our children's sweet little voices - while they're still sweet & little.  The voice files created are easy to move into the computer for storage as well -- they import right into your iTunes library.

I highly recommend it.  See your local Apple Store for more info.  And, here's a current list of iPod models this recorder should work with.

Pause the Pausing

I have been so sick this week.   I keep thinking I'll kick it and be back in action, but it's still dragging on.  After a good night's sleep tonight, I'm hoping to have my writing mojo back and start into a condensed March of the Tools.  Till then, make sure to visit the March of the Tools page where you can see who all is participating.  A lot of excitement for tools!