I added a few new RSS feeds to the site this week. For example, each post with comments, now has a comments feed. And each category also has a feed. Take a look at the comment storm caused by my reporting on the demotion of Pluto from planet to minor planet two years ago.
Here’s a link to the post:
Should Pluto Be a Planet?
And here’s the comment stream in RSS:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/should_pluto_be_a_planet_comments.xml
Which brings up the following question: do you use RSS feeds? I have written about RSS many times, but am still not sure how widely they are used and by whom.
Do you use them? Please take a moment to vote, and then to post a comment telling us how you use RSS feeds or why you don’t. For example, do you read them in Google Reader? Do you syndicate them on your home page? Do tell. Inquiring minds want to know 
P.S. My favorite RSS tutorial is this one.
I’ve spent parts of this week so far cancelling enewsletters and switching everything to MyYahoo in RSS feeds. I think I’m getting 20+ newsletters a week and end up skipping half instead of opening them. The MyYahoo tool seems to work better for me than a few RSS readers that I’ve tried. I can drag things around and lay them out in an order that makes sense for a quick read.
I also use them on my own sites so that people can do the same!
All good–but too much good information…
We are just getting started with RSS so I am trying to catch up and get to speed with it. There are some very good ones on Discovery.
I use Google Reader to keep track of the tech world mostly, because it’s constantly changing. I also get funny news stories delivered to me, the most interesting pictures on Flickr each day, optical illusions and Harry Potter stuff. I’m subscribed to about 45 feeds, which means I often get nearly 100 items to read a day. (When I go away, and don’t read them for a while, it often amasses to over 1000 unread items) It’s a great time waster, but also one of the best things on the web. I’d hate to go back to checking my favourite ‘blogs four times a day.
RSS feeds are great for keeping content alive on your web site .. but do you really need them directed to you (unless of course you are a specialist in an area that does change minute by minute). A blog or web page is sufficient where the ideas and comments are developed in larger sections and you can move back and forward through the content.
I can’t think of anything that I’d need minute by minute (well, perhaps the new initiatives that the UK government think up for its schools- then they’d all fit on one continuous feed)
Yes – I use them on my website.
They are a great way of keeping fresh content on the site w/o having to do anything!
I use it with Google Reader. Usually for blogs and crafting sites and for things to do with the children. My husband uses it for news and sports related things.