The beauty of XML syndication (part 1)

Wait! Don't stop reading! XML syndication is really cool - it only *sounds* super boring. We just need to come up with a better name for it ... um ... how about Captain Sizzle? That sounds pretty exciting. Ok.

The beauty of Captain Sizzle (part 1)

Right now, you probably use the following method to read your online news:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Open the "Favorites" menu in your web browser.
3. Open the "News" sub-menu from your favorites menu.
4. Click on one of the news sites in the "News" menu.
5. Attempt to read the news on that site while dodging popup ads and obnoxious graphics.
6. Open the "Favorites" menu in your web browser.
7. Open the "News" sub menu ...

I don't know about you, but I think this is a pain in the butt. With Captain Sizzle (a.k.a. XML syndication), you do this:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Push a button. (A program known as a news aggregator then goes out to all the sites you've selected and checks for new content.)
3. Peruse article headlines and summaries, and read the articles you're interested in.

Now the *really* great thing about XML syndication is that it makes it really easy to read THIS BLOG! No more sitting at your computer for hours on end, pressing the refresh button, hoping for new content on LiberalJesus. Now the news comes to you!

In my next post, I'll tell you how to save time and money with a free news aggregator.