What are RSS feeds and how are they used?

RSS is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication and Rich Site Summary. RSS is an XML-based format for content distribution. Webmasters create an RSS file containing headlines and descriptions of specific information. While the majority of RSS feeds currently contain news headlines or breaking information the long term uses of RSS are broad.

RSS is a defined standard based on XML with the specific purpose of delivering updates to web-based content. Using this standard, webmasters provide headlines and fresh content in a succinct manner. Meanwhile, consumers use RSS readers and news aggregators to collect and monitor their favorite feeds in one centralized program or location. Content viewed in the RSS reader or news aggregator is known as an RSS feed.

RSS is becoming increasing popular. The reason is fairly simple. RSS is a free and easy way to promote a site and its content without the need to advertise or create complicated content sharing partnerships.

RSS Uses

RSS started out with the intent of distributing news-related headlines. The potential for RSS is significantly larger. Consider using RSS for the following:

New Homes - realtors can provide updated feeds of new home listings on the market
Job Openings - placement firms and newspapers can provide a classifieds feed of job vacancies
Auction Items - auction vendors can provide feeds containing items that have been recently added to ebay or other auction sites
Forum Headlines - support forums can provide a listing of new forum threads
Product Sales or Specials - one look at Amazon opens the mind to the endless product sale potential using RSS. Currently Amazon is delivering a headline-view of the top 10 bestsellers in that category or set of search results.
Airlines - report flight delays
Schools - schools can relay homework assignments and quickly announce school cancellations.
Entertainment - listings of the latest tv programs or movies at local theatres
Press Distribution - feed for press with new releases
News & Announcements - headlines, notices and any list of announcements
Document listings - lists of added or changed pages, so that people don't need to constantly check for updates
Bookmarks and other external links - perfect for sharing lists of external links
Calendars - listings of past or upcoming events, deadlines or holidays
Law Enforcement - let the community know of location and status of sex offenders as they move into a community.
Search results - to let people track changing or new results to their searches.

What programs do I need to create and/or edit a basic web site?

Beginners should probably start out with free programs to design and publish their first web site. Netscape Composer (available in versions prior to Netscape 8) is a good way to get familiar with designing a web site. Composer is very user-friendly and doesn't require a lot of knowledge of HTML code (the language used to write web pages). Once you have designed your site, you can publish it very easily with a simple program called CoreFTP. You can view and manage both the files that are viewed on the internet and the files that are stored on your computer. You will need a web host (server) to store your files for viewing online. We use Nitrotek, a very good local web host.

How do I know if I have a firewall?

If your operating system is Windows XP, then you have a firewall. Windows XP has it's own firewall that is turned on by default. If you are using an earlier version of Windows (98, ME, 2000) then you would have to install a firewall program yourself. Some anti-virus packages include a firewall, such as Norton Internet Security Suite, or you can download a free firewall, such as Zone Alarm.

I hear so much about email not being safe because of viruses and other bad stuff. Is there any way that I can enjoy using email without feeling like I am under attack?

This is one of my most frequently asked questions and I am happy to tell you that, yes, you can enjoy your email in safety. I have listed below some very good tips on email safety:

1. Don’t open attachments that seem strange or suspicious.
2. Use a firewall. A firewall will block most of the bad stuff from getting into your computer.
3. Use your anti-virus software regularly. If you don’t have an anti-virus program, get one.
4. Take advantage of Microsoft Windows Update feature to make sure that you have the latest security patches.
5. Use anti-spyware software regularly. This “badware” stuff seems to be constantly on the move into our computers - cleaning it out daily is a good idea.
6. Don’t use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express unless you have no choice. Alternative email programs are Thunderbird, Eudora, or Pegasus Mail.
7. Never share your passwords or use Password Manager programs.
8. Never respond to unsolicited emails (spam). Deal with spam like you do with the junk mail that comes to your home - throw it away.

I have WordPerfect 10. I am trying to print business cards. I have typed all the info on to the ONE card showing on the Avery #8371. How do I get it to show 2 columns of 5 cards down so I can print them?

This feature is available in WordPerfect but it's not easy to find unless you know it's there. Open the business card file that you have created and then click the Tools menu. Click Merge. In the Merge box, click Form Document then Create Form Document. Make sure "Use file in active window..." is checked and click OK. Select No Association and click OK. Click Options and set the "Number of copies for each record" to the number of labels on the page (Rows x Columns). Click OK then click Merge. Your document should now show a full page of the same label.

What is the difference between "web mail" and email software, such as Outlook Express or Eudora?

The best way to explain the difference betweeen web mail and email software is to use a post office analogy. Web mail is a mail box address located on a remote server - Hotmail or Yahoo Mail, for example. To read your mail and send messages you have to go to the web mail server and access your mail box while you are there. This would be like going to the post office to get your mail from a P.O. box.

Email software is more like the letter carrier who delivers your mail to your door. You tell the email program where your mail box is located (in the account settings of the program) and it goes to your mail box and fetches the mail back to your computer where you can save it for future reference.

Web mail is great when you are traveling because you can access your email from any internet-connected computer anywhere in the world. For collectors, like me, having email come to your computer where you can manage your email without any space restrictions is the way to go.

We have Outlook Express and are able to receive pictures but we cannot forward them, all that is sent is the type and those boxes with the star in the middle. Also sometimes we cannot receive what we presume are pictures and sometimes there is sound and sometimes not?

Go to the Tools menu and click Options. Click the Security tab at the top and you will see several options listed. Remove checkmarks from "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus" and "Block images and other external content in HTML email". That should allow all attachments to come through. Be wary, however, not to open suspicious email attachments as they are likely viruses. You can also change the "Zone" setting to Internet zone from the Restricted Sites zone if you are having any trouble viewing web sites.

Make sure that you have an anti-virus program running on your computer. This program will monitor all your incoming and outgoing emails for virus activity.

Outlook Express is the primary email program targeted for virus activity (since it is the most widely used and is a Microsoft product). If you are feeling adventurous, you may want to try Eudora. It is a nice, easy-to-use email program and allows all of your folders to be imported from Outlook Express. It is a free program (in sponsored mode) and can be downloaded at www.eudora.com.

How do I select more than one non-adjacent paragraph at a time in Word XP? I want to move several paragraphs of a letter to a new letter at the same time and I can't find the answer with the paperclip help.

You are in luck, the Word XP version has a new feature that allows you to select more than one thing at a time. To use it, simply select the first word, phrase, or paragraph then hold down the Ctrl key and select the next word, phrase, or paragraph. When you have made all your selections, release the Ctrl key and you can perform any action you want on the entire selection. You can cut or copy the selection to move to a new document or change the font, size, colour, or any other formatting you like.

How do you restore your taskbar on your screen from Windows XP if it disappears?

Generally when your taskbar disappears it is hidden. Hold your mouse near the bottom of the screen (or whichever side your taskbar disappeared from) and the taskbar should reappear. To prevent it from disappearing again -- right-click on the taskbar and select Properties. Uncheck the AutoHide the Taskbar box and check the Lock the Taskbar box. Your taskbar will never disappear on you again.

How do I send a document in Word 97/2000 text? I need to email a resume and they told me to send it in Word 97/2000 text. I have windows XP, I created the resume on Word and sent it and they sent it back saying they couldn't read it.

Open the file in Word and click File then Save As. Click the down arrow on the right of the Save As Type box at the bottom of the dialog box. Scroll through the list until you find Microsoft Word 97/2000 (if it is not the default file type). Make sure it has .doc at the end of the file name and click Save. Attach this file to the email and it should work ok. If it does not, you will need to find out exactly what program and version the recipient is using and change the file type as required.

How do I adjust the volume on Windows 98? When I go to start, accessories and entertainment and click on volume, nothing happens.

There are several possible solutions to the volume problem. First, check that the speakers are plugged into the computer correctly and ensure that the speakers are on (if they have their own power button) and that the volume on the speakers is turned up.

Some keyboards have a mute button that may have been pushed accidentally. Speaker problems are very difficult to diagnose and solve via email, perhaps you could have a computer technician look at it. I would be happy to refer you to a very good computer service company.

I've just bought a Sony Vaio which has Windows XP, and I'd like to change the Windows start up and log off music, but I can't figure out how to do it. Can you help please?

You can change the start up and log off sounds in Windows XP very easily. Click the Start button, click the Control Panel and then click Sounds and Audio Devices. A small window will open with tabs at the top. Click the Sounds tab. There is a list in the middle of the window with the events to which you can assign sounds. Scroll through the list (under Windows) until you see Start Windows (just under that is Windows Logoff and Windows Logon). Click Start Windows and the box below will light up with the name of the sound. Scroll through the list until you find the sound you want, click it, and click Apply. You can also preview the sounds before you close the window.

Windows XP has very few sounds available for you, you may have to collect (or make) some sounds of your own. These sounds are stored in the Media folder under Windows on your local hard drive.

How can I get Excel to automatically fill in data that I have to rekey over and over?

You're referring to AutoFill which does exactly what you are looking for. The first place to try AutoFill is with basic entry of sequential information, such as days of the week, months, or years. To enter the column headings for a spreadsheet that reports monthly sales results, for example, just type January in the cell that will be the first in a row of headings. Then point to the box in the lower-right corner of that cell's border. Make sure your pointer looks like a thin crosshair (a fat crosshair and a crosshair with arrows on each point perform different functions). Then drag the handle across the cells that will have the names of the other months.

Excel displays the text it will place in each cell as you pass over the cell. Drag as far over as you want the series to go and release the mouse button. The tool works in reverse, too. If you type January and drag the handle to the left, Excel starts filling cells with December, November, etc. You can even drag left, then go back to the original cell and drag the handle right, quickly filling in cells in both directions. This process works the same when you want to fill cells vertically.

AutoFill can fill in a variety of lists. If you type 8:00 AM, it AutoFills with 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, etc. Type Salesman 1 and it AutoFills with Salesman 2, Salesman 3. AutoFill is one of the sleeper functions in Excel. Once you understand how it works you'll find it's a great timesaver.