Since Loc Kee requested me to explain RSS feed to his friend, Junior Tok, let me do a little favor by writing a post on RSS feed itself, with instructions and diagrams on how to fully utilize RSS feed.

If you have the time and interest, please click on these two articles for detailed explanations on “What is RSS?” and “How does RSS works?“. Else, do skip it and read my simple and lousy explanations on RSS.

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and it is widely used in the blogging world. There are a few versions of RSS feed being used by bloggers out there and it all has the same function – to notify a user about an updated blog / site. It is a little XML web page that contains the headline, date/time and a description of each new item that the blog is publishing.

This RSS feed is basically useless to users, as users do not understand what are the codes all about. Therefore, a program is needed to fully utilize RSS feed and make the users’ life easier. The program is able to read RSS feed and thus, notify the users that there is an update in certain blog / site. Below is a short description on how does RSS works.

1) Publish a new post.

2) RSS feed updates its code by keying the details such as headline / title, date, time and short description of the new post.

3) RSS feed program reads the RSS feed of the blog.

4) RSS feed program detects changes - the details of the new post in the RSS feed code of the blog, in the RSS feed code.

5) RSS feed program notifies users that that particular blog has a new post / update.

I hope these 5 steps are able to explain how RSS feed works briefly. For those who do not know, I have about 100+ blogs to read every day. It will be tedious for me to click on the links at my link page one by one. Imagine you have clicked on 100+ links but there are only 2 blogs with new posts. Besides, not all bloggers ping PPS. Therefore, PPS does not manage to notify me of all updated blogs.

Therefore, RSS program is my only solution to detect updated blogs in the fastest time and with the most little effort. I do not have to click on each and every 100+ links to check for updates and I save a lot of time in blog hopping. This also explains why you always see my comment 1 or 2 minutes after you publish your new post. –laughs cunningly-

There are many RSS feed programs out there and I am using FeedReader. Therefore, I will be showing you instruction on how to use FeedReader only. As for other programs, I think the steps are similar though.

1) Click here to download FeedReader version 2.90.

2) Install the program and run the program. You will see an interface like the picture below.

3) Click on the first icon at the tool bar to add new feed.

4) Type your desired blog’s RSS feed address and click next.

5) Type your desired name for the blog and click finish.

6) Repeat steps 3 to 5 for other blogs.

7) Click on the second icon at the tool bar to update your blog’s RSS feed address.

8) If there is an update in your desired blog, you will be notified.

Little notes on RSS feed address.

Blogs that use blogger’s or blogspot’s service, the RSS feed address ends with atom.xml. Example :
http://msau.blogspot.com/atom.xml,
http://planetj.blogspot.com/atom.xml,
http://wheregot.blogspot.com/atom.xml,
http://mariahlc.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Blogs that use own personal server / site, they are different and it is site dependent. Example :
http://www.drliew.net/index.rdf,
http://chanlilian.net/index.rdf,
http://www.kennysia.com/atom.xml,
http://www.kancilkiller.net/atom.xml

There are blogs that use different RSS feed address as well. Example : http://icequeen.mamakcorner.com/wp-rss2.php, http://edo.nierchi.net/xmlsrv/rss2.php?blog=2,
http://www.paulooi.com/?feed=rss2,
http://tokyotosho.com/rss.php

For Xanga’s, Tabulas‘ or Blogdrive’s blogs, I have no idea what are their RSS feed address. Can someone please enlighten me?

There, that is my secret of reading 100+ blogs every day, and yet able to be the first to comment minutes after you update your blog. I hope this little tutorial is able to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any problems or questions. If there is any mistake or misleading infomation in this post, do let me know.

I have revealed my secret. -sniff sniff-

P/S :

Blogs must have enabled the site feed option in their blog setting for this RSS site feed to work. It is enabled by default.

Other than feed readers, you can use blogrolling or the integrated feed reader inside FireFox.

Right after I blogged about the war of the stream-my-ass in my house, they finally got a router the next day. (I suspect they do read my blog or it could be someone has read my blog and told them about it.) Apparently, they borrowed the 4+1 ports router from another friend because they have not buy our very own router yet. They are still looking for a 7+1 ports router but it seems that there are no 7+1 ports router in the market anymore. If anyone of you has a minimum of 5+1 ports router for sale or know any shop is selling it (Malacca preferable), do not hesitate to contact me.

Msau was telling me that I do not blog that often already before she scrambled off as her boss came back this afternoon. (A very good worker indeed! Heh!) Months before my holidays, I used to blog almost every day and there were like endless topics to blog about.

However, since I came back to Malacca for my new trimester, things were slightly different from before. Not every thing seems to interest me nowadays, and that explain why I do not blog that often. Besides, with my parents reading my blog, not every thing, every incident and every topic are suitable for blogging. My dad just used a recent post to “attack” me in his email the other day. Not only that, if I blog too often, they might say I am putting more time in blogging rather than studying.

By the way, happy birthday to Cheng Yee and PPS!

Now, time for me to do my tutorials.

P/S : There are 5 people in the house and another 2 friends always come to our house with their notebook to online as well. Therefore, we need a minimum of 5+1 ports router.

With the opening of MMU’s new trimester for session 05/06, some#1 decided to move out from the house, so that some#1 can create a certain space between some#2. However, it has been nearly 2 weeks since they came back from their hometowns and yet they are still staying together. I have nothing against couples that stay together under the same roof. After all, it is normal for couples to do so, right? No? They get to spend more time together, share out living costs and well, cuddle in the room whenever they feel like to. Besides, it has got nothing to do with me.

However, things are slightly different when some#1 has decided to move out but yet still stay in the house, as if she/he is still one of the house tenant. I do not bother whether they are staying in the same room or different house, it does not matter to me. But, when some#1 keeps on hogging the stream-my-ass, it matters!

The house’s router is spoilt and we have yet to get a new one. Therefore, each of us has to take turn to use the stream-my-ass. All we need to do is to inform and get permission from him/her who is using at that moment. It was okay for the first three days, but on the forth day, things get a little bit out of hand. Whenever they come and ask me for the line, I will immediately disconnect the stream-my-ass so that they can use it. I will do so even if I am half way chatting with Hwa Yinn or Juliana, reading blogs or writing my blog. However, I have to admit that the line is connected to my computer most of the time.

Some#1 : “Jason, can I use the line to go online?”
Jason : -reading blogs / blogging / chatting- “Ok.” –disconnects without asking any questions-

Jason : -reading blogs / blogging / chatting- “……”
Windows XP : “Local Area Network Connection 3 has been disabled.”
Jason : “……” –walks to upstairs and sees the line is connected to some#1’s computer-
Jason : “Some#1, why you did not tell me before you unplug my connection?”
Some#1 : “Sorry.”
Jason : “Never mind.” –walks back to the room-

I was interrupted many times until I do not have the mood to continue with my stuffs once I got back the line. I have deleted 3 half completed post because of this. I never complain, but when it comes to my turn to ask the line from some#1…

Jason : “Some#1, can I use the line?”
Some#1 : “I am downloading my stuffs.”
Jason : “Ok.” –walks back to the room-
Jason : “Some#1, can I use the line?”
Some#1 : “I am chatting with my friend now.”
Jason : “Ok.” –walks back to the room-

Jason : “Some#1, can I use the line?”
Some#1 : “Some#2 wants to use the line later.”
Jason : “Ok.” –walks back to the room-

Jason : “Some#1, can I use the line?”
Some#1 : “I am downloading with bittorrent. It has been many days and it still has not complete.”
Jason : “Ok.” –walks back to the room-

Jason : “Some#1, how long do I have to wait?”
Some#1 : “Little while more.”
Jason : “Ok.” –walks back to the room and waits for another 2 hours-

Now, these are bothering me.

1) Some#1 is not a house tenant of this house anymore, albeit some#2 is still staying here.
2) Surfing / Reading blogs should have higher priority over downloading over bittorrent.
3) Little while as in 10 to 15 minutes, not 1 to 2 hours!
4) Do not unplug my connection without informing earlier.

I feel so much better now.

P/S :

I was interrupted at least 3 times while I was blogging this.

Since I have talked about the router, there is another incident which I might blog about it if there is still no improvement in the situation.

Click here to know more about router.

Today, 17/6 is my mum’s birthday.

P/S : You must be wondering

1) Why my mum’s birthday post is so short compare to my friends’, right?
I do not want to take the risk of getting my allowance being cut even by a mere RM10 just because I wrote something wrong. -lol-

2) Why there is no pictures of my mum, right?
Honestly, I do not have any pictures of my family members in my computer. -sweat-

3) What I bought for my mum as present, right?
Honestly, I have not and have planned not to buy any present for her. Even if I buy, she will say in sarcastic tone that the money that I use to buy the present is also her money. Chinese proverb says “羊毛出在羊身上”. She will be happy if I show her improvement in my results instead.

Today is Wednesday, which means there will be no classes for the whole day, not until 4PM though. (Click here to view my timetable.) There is nothing much to blog recently, as I am yet to get accustomed with my new lifestyle – waking up at 7.30AM in the morning, trying to stay alert and conscious in classes, making sure that I do not skip classes and sleeping before 2AM. Therefore, let me introduce somebody who is very important to me and plays an important role in my life.

We call her by the name of “Ah Li 阿梨”. (Simple yet nice.)

She joined the world on 23rd of May, 1984. (Mine is 23rd of February, 1984.)

She is the second child of the Low family, with 1 elder brother, 1 younger sister and 1 younger brother. (Her sister name is Low Suet Yi.)

She is my close friend since standard 1 until now, approximately 14 years. (It will last until we leave this world.)

She sat in front of me during primary school – Chung Hua Primary School.

She was in another class during secondary school – Pulau Sebang Secondary School.

She used to be a “candle princess” (Puteri Lilin) until she entered Form 4. She would scream or grumble if she was to stand under the sun for more than 2 minutes. (She would use an umbrella if she were to walk under the sun.)

She used to be called “Qin Gam Xiu Jie” (千金小姐) because she is from a quite very rich family and people usually associate her attitude and actions with it. (It does not make any sense, right? How rich, you ask? Her brother held a 110 tables wedding dinner in our primary school. Rumours said each table worth nearly RM800. Go figure.)

She managed to keep her skin so fair and smooth till it really shines and looks half transparent, well, literally. (It is very smooth, really! I swear!)

She was very fat during her secondary school, as her parents are very big in terms of size and height. (Let me go scan some of our old photos. Heh!)

She started to control her diet and do exercise during Form 3.

She had slimmed down tremendously at the age of 16 or 17, and managed to keep her body figure until now. (Body figure not bad, right?)

She was the only student who had a mobile phone during Form 2, at the age of 14. (Nowadays, kids have a mobile phone when they enter Standard 1.)

She is still using the same number until now.

She was the first student who got her own car during Form 5. (Other people were still driving their parent’s old car.)

She almost had a Toyota Altis, which costs about RM120k at that time. (So close, yet so far.)

She is driving a 1.6 Proton Waja now, traveling between Tampin, Nilai and K.L. (Her car registration number is ……)

She has her own style in every thing, although sometimes it does look weird. (Very weird, indeed.)

She is currently studying in Inti College, Nilai.

She was Inti College’s 2004 Prom Queen. (Heh! Who says Ipoh only produces pretty girls?)

She is quiet talkative, especially when we are having gathering with the remaining family members.

My girl friend will have to meet her, if I ever have a girl friend. (It would be great if that your best friends also like your boy/girl friend, right?)

Who is she?

She is one of my “好姐妹”, family members, close friend and soul mate – Low Suet Lei, Sherry.

P/S :

I wanted to blog about her during her birthday, but I am a procrastination king as well. Forgive me. Happy belated birthday! –hugs-

Photos are very blur due to lousy photography skill.

She took a RM300+ package to shoot an album of herself by professional photographer. It is quite popular nowadays.

The last picture created a big “hu-ha among” our friends. Not because I eat “tau fu”, its because they never see a guy hug a girl, who is not his girl friend and take picture. -shakes head- (Picture was removed. :P)