Subscribe To This Blog ...

Okay, I now have the 'subscribe widget' on this blog working as it should. If you find anything here of sufficient interest to induce you to want notifications when I've posted something new - there's now a way to do so.

For you technophiles - I'm using a feed service called Feedio - which is fairly simple and pretty easy to implement. As mentioned in an earlier post (that you probably didn't know was there) the default feed service that Blogger (owned by Google) uses is called Feedburner (also a Google product). Google hasn't really maintained or improved this for years and they took down the API in 2012. There's talk that they will discontinue it sometime soon. So I opted for an alternative service.

Unlike the older (though still valid) approach where a user has to set up a RSS (real simple syndication) tool to harvest all the content feeds that broadcast to/via RSS and that match their interest - an email subscription is considerably simpler for the user - in that you just receive an email notification when a blog you've subscribed to - posts something fresh. As I don't post anything close to daily - I don't think this will cause an undue load on your inbox - but that's your call of course - and you can always UNSUBSCRIBE. If inclined, check out this article on the subject of traditional RSS vs email subscription.

If the foregoing bores you to tears - don't worry, I will more frequently post things of a more pedestrian nature (meaning of life, literature, art, craftsmanship, faith, hope and charity, etc.). I will probably steer clear of abusing you with my overt political biases.

A couple notes (if you're inclined to subscribe - I can't believe I'm talking so long about this one tiny element of a blog. I'm sorry).

1. if you're reading this on a phone - know that you need to click the 'View Web Version' in order to see the subscribe option.

2. it wouldn't hurt at all to add the following to your email contacts list (in order for notifications not to end up in your spam folder): subscriptions@feedio.co (and that's .co not .com)

3. per normal there is an 'unsubscribe' option at the bottom of any email notification that you receive from feedio.

And I realize it's a 'big presumption' to think you have an interest here. If that's the case - well, my bad.

Email Subscribe WIDGET Appears Functional

There's some contrary press to the default (Blogger) FeedBurner service - essentially suggesting that owner Google hasn't updated it since 2012 and is likely considering dropping it. I sought alternatives and found that Feedio looked easy enough to implement

If all of this makes absolutely no sense to you or evokes zero interest - don't give it a moment's thought. It's a backend thing - and something I probably shouldn't abuse my loyal readers with. Apologies. Only included in case some of you are trying to figure out how to add an 'email subscribe widget' (which is a simpler way for users to receive updates when favorite blogs produce a fresh post - then the older method of using an RSS aggregator, etc, etc. zzzzzzzzzzz SNORE!)

Subscriber WIDGET In-Process

Folks - I'm in process of working out the bugs of a Feedburner or other feed service that handles the admin of subscriptions to this blog. When trying to subscribe you may see the following:

Thanks for your patience while I get this sorted.

\mf

Tech Takes - Epson Eco-Tank Successfully Transports Cover Stock

Ok, now - this is just too great not to share. Those of you who know me, know I'm kind of a (self-proclaimed) mashup of artist, philosopher, Ben Franklin-style scientist with hopefully a dash of 'bonhomie' thrown in. Well, today I attempted to pass a sheet of 'cover' stock (read: heavier than text-weight paper - sometimes incorrectly referred to as card stock) through my wonderful Epson EcoTank ET-3710 printer.

Guess what!!  It works.

Not all printers can accomplish this. So for me (who's constructing some small 'Make It Happen ' bound booklets (there may be a post later about this) -  this is huge. Another reason I fully recommend this brilliant (game changer) solution for printers.