Why Would I "Syndicate This Site"?

Along the sidebar near the bottom you'll see a link that says "Syndicate This Site (XML)". If you're wondering what the heck that means, this information is for you. If you see other web pages that have a little orange button that says "RSS" or "XML" then this is the same thing.

The special Web page that loads when you click on the link is used by news-reader computer software to 'subscribe' to multiple Web sites. Personally, I use NetNewsWire for Mac OS X. Check out this page or this page for a big list of programs that make use of these feeds.

Once you install a newsreader program, when you see a site that you want to subscribe to, you click on the subscribe link or orange button, then copy the web site address that appears in your browser's address bar. Or you can right-click (control-click with a one-button Mac mouse) and choose "copy link" or other similarly worded command.

Then in your newsreader, paste the link in the appropriate place. Usually, you have to click a subscribe button or choose a similar menu command. Refer to your program's instructions.

Using a newsreader allows you to read headlines and/or excerpts of any sites you subscribe to without having to open up a ton of web pages. Essentially, you're skimming articles and you can visit the web page for the full article if you wish. You save time and focus on reading that which interests you most. The best of both worlds!