RSS, known by a variety of names like 'Really Simple Syndication' or 'Rich Site Summary'... is a way of getting information to get to ur desktop, rather than u going to the web-sites carrying that information. This way, you can conveniently sit at ur desktop and view snippets of news from multiple web-sites simultaneously, without having to open multiple browser windows. In case, some particular news item particulary interests u, just click on it and u will be directed to the web-site carrying the complete article.
To get access to RSS feeds (the name given to these news streams), all you need a RSS reader / News aggregator. The one that I used, was Bottomfeeder (available at the URL - http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/BottomFeeder/). Once, a RSS Reader has been installed on your system, you can go scouting for RSS feeds. The RSS feed options available on any web-site can be viewed by clicking on the 'RSS' or the 'XML' button located on the web-site. Once, you click on this button, you will get a page full of raw XML stuff. It is the job of ur RSS reader to make sense out of that. Just copy the URL of that raw XML page into the "Add New Feed" section of ur RSS reader and u r ready to rock-n-roll. :)
NOTE - You might consider experimenting with the different settings in your RSS reader to change the 'check for updates' frequency, change the way the feeds are displayed in the reader and do a lot of other things... Another good idea would be to get a RSS reader that fits in as a plug-in to ur browser. That will help further reduce desktop clutter.
Will post more about RSS, as I become a more mature RSS user...
An update - A wonderful RSS Reader for Windows is FeedDemon. It is a trialware. You can download it from the URL - http://www.bradsoft.com/download/index.asp
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