RSS (Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary) is a lightweight XML format used for a quick and easy way to create and view"syndicated content" such as news headlines and announcements mainly from news sites, blogs (weblogs) and other content rich sites. Some websites (like this one) use RSS to inform of new updates, special content and article previews to readers who are simply too busy to browse websites and dig up the content they are interested in. Other sites use RSS to alert customers of new products and upcoming events.

If you click an RSS link or button (such as: , or in my case ) you will see XML (or eXtensible Markup Language) code in your browser. This is to be expected, since you do not view RSS content through your browser. You view the headlines through an RSS news reader (also called an RSS aggregator). In your Reader, you can pick & choose which headlines or sites you actually want to visit or just pass over & delete the ones you don't care for. Plus the software notifies you thru sound or small message on your screem when your rss feeds are updated.

As an RSS reader or aggregator I use: RSS Reader It's FREE & really simple to use! If you're using another OS besides Windows, here's a HUGE list of most of the top RSS aggregators for the more popular OS. Other Readers List There's some realy cool ones, but you also have to pay for some of them too.
(I HAVE NO AFFILIATION W/ ANY OF THESE SITES OR THEIR SOFTWARE)

Since the web has finally recovered from the Dot Bomb, there's more & more interesting sites popping up everyday! I don't know about you, but between work, family & other responsibilities....there's not much time to surf for your own enjoyment. Not to mention weeding thru all your favorite sites picking out the things you actually want to see. RSS solves that problem, plus many more!
100% OPT-IN & FREE
You can view anyone's feed without ever having to join anything! No personal info is required & if you don't like the feed or no longer want to subscribe it's as simple as pushing the delete button & you'll never recieve anything from that feed again. None of the usual hassles of TRYING to unsubscribe from an email newsletter.
NO SPYWARE, ADWARE OR VIRUSES
In your reader/aggregator, there are no spyware, adware or any kind of viruses. I'm not saying that you may or may not get an advertsiement from time to time, but it's simple to skip right over & delete them.
NO PERSONAL INFO REQUIRED
With RSS, you never have to give any of your personal info to subscribe to any feed or website. This means know one will ever know what feeds you subscribe to or what feeds you have deleted from your reader. This also means, no email spam & no annoying webmasters trying to get you to subscribe to their feed/site again.

Actually the only drawback I can think of is that most sites do not offer this service yet...but they will soon. Outside of the blogs, most major news outlets are offering RSS feeds. I put together a small list of mainstream feeds you can check out below.

Hell no! If you know how to click your mouse, you will know how to add, remove & browse your feeds without a problem. In fact, I think controlling your RSS reader/aggregator is easier to use than email!

RSS Reader has a quick crash-course in adding & removing your feeds in order to view them. It's pretty cut & dry.

Here are some popluar Feed directories:
Feedster
Syndic8