Blog Topic 5 - Customize This!

So I looked into the options to customize my blog via the Blogger settings and I think some things have changed since I started using it years ago for my personal use. 

First, there are a lot more templates available that allow you to customize the fonts (including web fonts), font sizes, backgrounds, colors, etc.  However, what I also noticed is that previously, I was able to access the HTML code itself and update it OR even use my own personal HTML.

Not sure if I overlooked the option or if its just not available anymore?!  

In any case, I did update the font for my text as well as the blog headers as well as the color scheme. It made the changes very easy and just about everyone could do it!!! 

I can definitely update the inline HTML when I create a blog post...but I didn't see a way to control it at a higher level any longer.  I'd like to customize my blog more....so stay tuned. More to come!!

Blog 4: What is RSS?

Previously when you wanted to follow a site or blog, you had to bookmark the page and check back to read new content (or find that no new content has been posted).  Now with RSS feeds, this technology provides everyone with the ability to "subscribe" to content and have it show up in a reader.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and can be sent to you via a Reader (aggregator) or if you don't want to download, then they feed will go to your email for example.

Once you subscribe to an RSS feed, in your reader - the topics will appear  as soon as new posts are available.  Then, you can read them at your own convenience. The aggregator or "reader" takes all your content from different sites, blogs, etc. and places it into one location.

However, there are some limitations to the RSS in that you cannot easily remove items from your feed or edit the items currently there.  There are also some connections that block RSS feeds from their servers. If that's the case, you won't be able to get update about the particular content on our feed.  Have more than one feed and want to combine them? Well, thats not so simple either.  For all these reasons, that is why man people continue to send their RSS feeds via email rather than install a reader that will limit their options.

I personally have my RSS feeds going straight into my Outlook into an "RSS Feeds" folder.  Until I read the feed, the content stays bolded and in its own folder so that it doesn't fill up my inbox.