[Note from the proprietor: I realize this may be old hat to some of you. I get that.

But the fact is a large majority of folks who otherwise use the Internet may not know how to subscribe to a blog. If you're one of those folks, then no worries; this one's for YOU!]

When I was growing up, if I heard it once, I must’ve heard it a thousand times: If you don’t ask, you won’t know.

Ya gotta admit; it’s pretty good advice, don’cha think? But still… what if folks don’t ask? Then it’s up to me to tell ‘em, right? (chorus of affirmatives here)

Not Everyone Knows

If you love what you read here at the Middle Zone, lemme just say how much I appreciate that! Seriously. I mean, there’d kinda be no point to all this without you! I’d just be, y’know, talkin’ to myself. Again.

But, er, here’s the thing.

It’s easy for those of us who use RSS readers to believe that everybody knows about ‘em. The problem with that line of reasoning is… well, it just ain’t so! The good news, though, is I can help you with that! Just listen to the Doc.

So, if you’re among the millions one of the hundreds a close relative clamoring (sound of millions hundreds one or two folks clamoring) to automatically know when a new post shows up here at the Zone, well here’s not one, but two easy ways to accomplish that.

Use an RSS Reader

First of all, you could subscribe with an RSS reader. That way, all you have to do is click on the appropriate button (the middle one) right up there in the top of the sidebar on the right. It will take you to another screen where you can tell it which RSS reader you use. (Personally, I use Google Reader; it’s so easy even someone as, er, “dexterously challenged” as I am can manage it.) And if you don’t already use an RSS reader, no problem, it’ll even show you how.

The beauty is, once you do choose an RSS reader, you can subscribe to pretty much any blog you care to. (As long as the Middle Zone is, y’know, at least one of ‘em. I’m just sayin’.) Go to any website and search for the “subscribe” button (they come in a variety of forms) and click on it. It’ll lead you through the process.

That way, all the new posts from the blogs you’re interested in come to you automatically – you won’t have to hunt them down manually. I’m tellin’ ya; it’s better’n sliced bread! Plus, if you like leaving comments (and on behalf of all bloggers everywhere, I thank you!), you simply click on the post’s title in the Reader.

When you do that, then Voila! you end up on the post page (it should open in a new window so you don’t lose your place in your reader), ready to type something witty and profound. (Or come to think of it, dumb and thoughtless; hey, it’s up to you. Just remember the Law of the Internet: What you write stays on the Internet forever.)

What About Your Inbox?

On the other hand, some folks like to receive new posts directly in their inboxes. (Personally, I do my best to keep stuff out of my inbox, but hey, to each his own, I always say.) Well, if you fall into this category, then just push the other button up there (the one on the far right), and follow the directions. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait a few days for the next one to arrive.

There! Easy as pie, right? (Although I’ve always wondered… just how easy is pie, anyway?)

How Often?

One final word. (Uh, I mean, today. No way I’ve run out of, y’know, words.)

Generally speaking, here at the Zone there’s a new post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in months that end in an L, T, Y, E or an H, in odd or even years). Sometimes I’ll do more. – or less. (Depending on how busy I get out here in the real world, what I last had for lunch, and/or the current phase of the moon.)

Anyhoo – thanks for dropping by and making my day, y’all. Oh, and a tip o’ the hat to ya!

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