If you haven't switched to Firefox yet, it's even easier now with version 0.9. It imports all of your settings from whatever browser you're using now. There are some really cool extensions available, too. I'm going to start using one called Adblock. It blocks ads from web pages. I don't mean pop-up ads; Firefox already takes care of those, I mean regular image and text ads, even the Google text ads you see everywhere. The new extension manager makes it easier to customize your browser. And the download size for Firefox keeps getting smaller, too. It's down to 4.7 MB. Go ahead, give it a try.

I just got some Gmail invites. If anyone wants a Gmail account, email me.

I'm enjoying my two days home from camp. Thanks to Brendan for the Gmail invite. Gmail is Google's new email service and it's in beta testing, so accounts aren't available to the public yet. I redeemed Brendan's invite and so far I really like it. It works a lot better than hotmail, and it gives you 500 times the storage space. I really like the way it keeps your exchanges with a person all together so you can see the conversation at a glance. Once this is public, I would recommend switching to this if you're still using Hotmail.

RSS: What it is, why you need it

Perhaps need is putting it a little strongly, but RSS can add some power to your web browsing. RSS stands for 'rich site summary' or 'really simple syndication.' It's a way to read what's on a web site without actually going to it. An example may help: Let's say you have a handful of weblogs you like to read every day. You load each page by typing the url or clicking a bookmark, but sometimes the blog has been updated and sometimes it looks the same as it has for the last 2 weeks. If a blog has an RSS feed, then you can subscribe to it with your RSS reader and with one glance you can see what sites have been updated. With a few clicks you can read all of the new content. So now that you're not clicking through several sites every day (or every 2 hours) you can add more subscriptions and read them all very quickly and efficiently. I have 79. RSS can save you lots of time and help you read more content than you would have been able to. Now you just need a good RSS reader . . .

Bloglines: The best reader I've tried

Since I learned about RSS I've been trying to find a good reader. I've tried FeedDemon, SharpReader, NewzCrawler, NewsMonster RSSOwl, Pears, FeedReader, Abilon, Akregator, AmphetaDesk, PocketReader and NewsIsFree.com. I finally found one that I like: Bloglines.com. I've already posted about this twice now on Brendoman.com. Brendan has switched to it, too. Basically, Bloglines is a free web service. You sign up, add a few feeds and then you can read your subscriptions from any web browser. It keeps track of what you have and haven't read, so you can quickly see which content is new to you. It's easy to add and manage you subscriptions. It's even easier if you're using Firefox and you download the Mozilla Toolkit. There are all kinds of little features I could talk about, but you'll just have to take my word for it and give it a try. If you must see what it's like before signing up, you can take a look at my subscriptions, which I've made public. It won't remember what you've read, but you'll get the basic idea, and you might find some feeds you want to subscribe to. RSS + Bloglines + Firefox can make you a power surfer, so what are you waiting for?

Hopefully you're not using MS Internet Explorer anymore. If this didn't convince you to switch to Firefox or Mozilla, then perhaps this will:

101 Things you can do with Mozilla that you can't do with IE

via linkfilter.net

Sasser Worm Strikes

You've probably already heard about this worm on the news. It's a result of yet another security hole in Microsoft Windows, and it's hitting pretty close to home. A couple people I know have already had it, including my mom's company. Here are some things to do to protect yourself from Sasser and other security threats.

1. Run Windows Update often. You have to do this in Internet Explorer (it's one thing that Firefox can't do). Run this about once a week or set your computer up to do it automatically.

2. Never open attachments from people you don't know.

3. Get DSL and a modem/router with a hardware firewall. If you live in Adrian, MO, it's available now.

Numbers one and two are the most important, but it's also a good idea to install a personal software firewall and some Anti-virus software (which you must also keep updated). Excepting DSL, all of these tips are free.

Here's a fun and potentially useful little program. Neotrace Express lets you put in a domain name or ip address, and it will map the path that data takes from your computer to that address. For instance, I put in brendoman.com and the map shows my data going from Kansas city to Dallas to Anaheim to Baltimore to LA. I've often wondered what path data takes from a server to my computer, and this program can show you. There is a paid version, but Neotrace Express is freeware.

I'm posting this from my computer running Mandrake Linux. All I had to do was plug the network cable from the router into the back of the computer and it was online. It's so easy that I'm almost disappointed. I remember hooking this very same computer to the ethernet in Centennial Hall at Truman State. It was my sophomore year and they had installed the network over the summer. I went to Staples and bought a $30 network card and a $15 cable. I plugged in all the cables and . . . nothing. I spent the next 5 hours installing protocals and tweaking settings. Now it's so easy that it takes the fun out of it. Next project: install Firefox on this computer.

I'm sitting at my kitchen table writing this post sans wires. Our SBC dsl is running and the wireless router is working fine. Next project: Getting my Linux computer online. Huzzah!

I could really use some help on this one. I want to read my news from an rss program, but I can't find one I like. My favorite so far was SharpReader, but it doesn't work on my computer anymore. Please, recommend some good programs.