How do you subscribe to blogs so I can read them using an "aggregator" instead of clicking each one individually?

An aggregator is a place you can manage all your blogs with ease. It updates whenever any blog you subscribe to has a new post. It downloads the new content into "My Feeds" so that, at your convenience, you can read all your new posts, if you keep a constant internet connection. The updates are downloaded as linkable headlines. It saves a lot of time, in that you don't spend all your time visiting each blog's net address individually.

The service relies on an RSS feed, which is an XML file delivered directly to Google Reader or Bloglines. You really don't have to know any of this, but if you're interested, you can learn more about RSS by googling "rss wiki" or "bloglines."

If you don't really want to know about all the technical junk, but do want to speed up your blog reading, I've condensed the experience for you.

Step 1: Set up a Google Account if you haven’t already at www.google.com

Step 2: Create your “iGoogle” at http://www.google.com/ig On iGoogle, you can customize your personal Google Homepage. You can add things like news, weather, and a Google Reader Page by clicking “Add stuff” in the upper right corner once you signed in with your Google account.

Step 3: In the “Add Stuff Window” type “Google Reader”

Step 4: Click the “add it now” button.

Step 5: Go back to your iGoogle page. (www.google.com/ig)

Step 6: Click on your new Google Reader tab.

Step 7: On the left hand column, there is an “add subscription” link. Click it and type in the blog or podcast you wish to subscribe to. (For example, if you wanted to subscribe to this blog, you’d type http://stratsforcurriculumchange.blogspot.com

Step 8: Add blogs or podcasts that interest you and they will appear in Google Reader as they update on your iGoogle!

(Note: Other aggregators (sites that use RSS feeds to collect blogs include www.bloglines.com. Bloglines.com is a place you can manage all your blogs with ease.)

Step 1:

Register at www.bloglines.com

-You'll create a user name and password. The software you download will put the bloglines reader in your taskbar, and a red dot on it will signify new posts.

Step 2:

Pick your blogs

(See below)

Step 3:

Read your blogs

-This part is easy too. The service will notify you when your blogs have new posts. Upon opening the software, you can view all your feeds' newest posts. In fact, you can choose to clip the posts if they are really good or even post them to your bloglines blog.

In addition, you can use Google Reader or Bloglines to capture podcasts so you can download them to my mp3 player and listen to them wherever you go (car, gym, park, walking around the house, etc.). There is some really neat free audio out there. You can find anything from sermons, to free Spanish classes, to comedy shows, and political commentary.