So, I figured I’d do a quick tutorial of Google Reader. I use Google Reader because I can access it from any computer. If you’ve got a Google account, you’ve already got a ready-made RSS reader just waiting.

Step 1:

Go to http://reader.google.com and log in.

Step 2.

Go to a site you’d like to receive feed from (I picked English Fail Blog), and find the RSS button. Most blogs have either a button (like the one pictured) or a text link to a RSS page. Best places to look are in the content bar and on the bottom of the page. (Yes, sometimes they can be a little bit tricky to find.)

Step 3.

Next you have to add it to Google Reader. There are a couple different formats for these pages, but just find the option for Google Reader

Step 4.

You want to click “Add to Google Reader.” Unless, of course, you want it on your homepage. But since this is a Google Reader tutorial, I’ll assume that’s what you want to accomplish.

Step 5.

And, you’re done! Wasn’t that easy? Or should I say, really simple? You can see your feed listed in the sidebar, with the number of unread posts next to it. (Feeds with unread posts are bold.)

You can view all your unread items by clicking “All Items,” ironically enough.

These are just the basics. Google Reader has lots of other cool features if you poke around it a bit.

And, if you’re looking for some feeds, here are a few of my favorites:

• Digg
• Failblog
• Ecogeek
• Prince Des Enfers
• Soul Pancake
• PassiveAgressive Notes
• Found Magazine
• Lifehacker
• A Homeboy’s Life

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the conversion rate is outrageous. For example, if I pay $5 dollars to Mafia Wars, I get 21 Godfather points. That can get me one (1!) “experimental crate” that has a 60% chance of being a common item. If I wanted to waste $5 that way, I’d go get a grab bag at the Sanrio store. At least maybe then I’d get a Hello Kitty notepad.

In all honesty, I don’t understand how these things make any money at all. The people who have that sort of extra cash would seem to be the sort of people who would not have an interest in that sort of game in the first place. It’s not like they generally unlock mini-games, or are even particularly helpful in the game you’re playing.

Seriously, people. What is this?

A nerdfighter is someone who is a fan of John and Hank Green, and the web following they have created. I say fan, but it’s more of a community they’ve created of likeminded people (who have nerd-ish tendencies).

The infamous duo

The whole thing started when John and Hank decided at the beginning of 2007 to go an entire year without communicating textually. Instead they posted videos on YouTube every weekday, alternating days. Every email, text, etc. required a “punishment,” which was usually performing some gross and/or embarrassing task and posting the video.

They say they did not expect the series to take off the way that it did, but Brotherhood 2.0 became a YouTube hit, due to their humor mixed with interesting debate on topics ranging from Marshmallow Peeps to raising money for charity. Not to mention the success of Hank’s song Accio Deathly Hollows, which hit the front page of YouTube from all the fellow Harry Potter fans who  understood his frustration at the time it was taking for the last book to be released.

Two years and 100,000 subscribers later, the Vlogbrothers  continue to make videos on their account. The Nerdfighters have become an internet army of sorts, helping John’s third novel Paper Towns make it to the NYT Young Adult bestseller list and even talking Ashton Kutcher into following him on Twitter. They’ve taken over YouTube for charity twice, and eaten innumerable peeps.

All in all, they never forget to be awesome.

Key Phrases:

An Abundance of Katherines: John’s second book
Decepticon: Evil person
DFTBA: Don’t Forget To Be Awesome
In Your Pants: The theory that every book title becomes more awesome once you add “in your pants” to the end. ”
The Katherine: Hank’s wife
Looking for Alaska: John’s first book
Paper Towns: John’s third book
Puppy-Sized Elephant: John’s dream of evolution
So Jokes: Super cool, awesome. Also the name of Hank’s album.
The Yeti: John’s wife. I don’t think her face has ever appeared in a video.
Zombies vs. Unicorns: A question for the ages.

Want More?

Nerdfighters.com ( FAQ )
John’s Twitter
Hank’s Twitter
DFTBA Records
Ecogeek.org

This is the first in a series of nerd/geek/fandom explanatory posts that I hope to make. If you’ve got a question you’d like answered, or a “nerd thing” you’d like clarified, leave a comment! If I’ve left anything out, feel free to let me know.

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin police can attach GPS to cars to secretly track anybody’s movements without obtaining search warrants, an appeals court ruled Thursday.

However, the District 4 Court of Appeals said it was “more than a little troubled” by that conclusion and asked Wisconsin lawmakers to regulate GPS use to protect against abuse by police and private individuals.

As the law currently stands, the court said police can mount GPS on cars to track people without violating their constitutional rights — even if the drivers aren’t suspects.

The article from the Chicago Tribune, bothers me to no end. I am one of those few people still very skeptical of GPS. I don’t like the idea of anyone being able to find me wherever I go, and the concept that this is no difference than what could be achieved through surveillance is complete bull. It’s not the same, because they can monitor any number of people without being out on the streets. I could have one on my car, and not even know it.

I could say a lot more things about it, but I really need to stop looking at Digg, and get some homework done.

I’m trying out this new Flock Browser, and so far it’s pretty spiffy. The premise is a browser that’s focused on social media. Still working on it, so we’ll see how much I like it in the future.

Flock Browser – The Social Web Browser