timmyjimi

Since I launched this blog a year ago, I have also started to read other blogs on a regular basis.  I use a very simple tool that helps me do this so that I do not have to visit every blog just to see if there is a new post.  Not only does it save me time, it also makes sure that I don’t miss news about my friend’s Ethiopian adoption or my cousin’s spontaneous trip to Morocco.  There are many utilities available, but since I have a Google account, I use Google Reader.  If you use the internet to keep up on friends and family but are not technically savvy, here is an easy step-by-step process to tracking your favorite blogs, using Reader as an example:

1) Create a Google account.  All you need to do is enter your current email address and the password you would like to use on your new account (not your e-mail account password).  If you use Gmail (Google e-mail), you already have a Google account and can skip this step.  Otherwise, click here.

2) Once you have created your Google account, you need to log into Reader by clicking here.  If you just created your Google account, you will already be logged in.

3) Now you are ready to create your personalized blog list.  Click on “Add subscription” on the left-hand side to enter the URL of the blog you would like to track.  You will be prompted to type in the address of the blog or website (such as http://timmyjimi.wordpress.com), and all new posts to that blog will then be displayed every time you view your Reader homepage.  Repeat this step for each of your blogs.

4) To make it even more convenient, I have set my internet browser homepage to my Reader account.  That way, every time I open the browser, I am guaranteed to see all new posts on any of the blogs I read.

Creating a Google account will also allow you to use other free Google services, such as Google Maps, but that is a tutorial for another day.

Tomorrow: More videos of Heather, the violin virtuoso.