A TECHNICAL PSA. I know this will seem dreadfully behind the times to the more technically sophisticated readers of this blog, but since most journalists I know are not yet using RSS readers, I'd like to heartily recommend the technology. Not having an RSS feeder to help you manage your blogs in 2006 is almost as bad as listening to 8-tracks in 1986, or not having a CD player in 1996. A simple, low-cost program like NetNewsWire (for Macs) or any of these (for PCs) can give you control over how you experience the Internet. After all, one of the biggest questions people in old media have about the new media is, "How on earth am I supposed to keep up with all of this?" The answer is: You're not supposed to -- your program is. Get yourself an RSS feeder and let it do the work for you. It will change your life. Once you can read 75 blogs and newspapers on one page you will kick yourself for not making the change sooner. (Also, if you are still using IE on a Mac -- unbelievably, I keep meeting people who still are -- it's time -- past time, really -- to upgrade to Safari or Firefox. And lastly: Skype. Free international calls any time and free domestic long-distance through the end of the year. Check it out.)
--Garance Franke-Ruta
