My Yahoo! Blog http://www.myyblog.com/blog News and Tips About Your Personal Start Page Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:03:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Your Summer Reading Selections http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/07/26/your-summer-reading-selections/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/07/26/your-summer-reading-selections/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:03:06 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7999 Reading is especially fun in the summer, sitting outside — whether on a beach, in a park, or nestled in a deck chair. The challenge is deciding what to read.

Many publishers time their new releases for summer readers, and you can always find lists of recommended summer books in magazine and newspapers.

If you enjoy reading as much as I do, chances are you’ve got your own list of books that you’d like to get through this summer. If you want some new titles to add to your list — or start a new one — try exploring these apps to enhance your summer reading pleasure:

 

  • weRead Books — This handy tool lets you organize the books you’ve read and share that list with friends.  You’ll also find more books and authors with the built-in search tool, and see what other weRead members recommend.
  • NYT: Books — This feed from the New York Times is an excellent source for new reviews by professional book critics. You’ll also find some related news about happenings in the publishing industry.
  • Review-A-Day — You can find some real surprises in this daily feed from the great used book emporium Powell’s in Portland, Oregon. The reviews come from a variety of sources and include books that might not otherwise get much attention.
  • So Many Books — This fun blog, subtitled “The Agony and Ecstacy of a Reading Life,” chronicles the adventures of a voracious reader whose tastes go beyond current best-sellers. Most readers should be able to find something here that will generate new ideas and stimulate discussion.
  • NPR Topics: Books — Readers of all kinds can find commentary on new books and a variety of literary issues.

 And don’t forget about rereading the oldies but goodies. I’ve been inspired to reread “To Kill a Mockingbird” as a way to celebrate the novel’s 50th anniversary this month, and it’s the kind of delightful summer reading experience I wish for you all.

 – Tom
My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/07/26/your-summer-reading-selections/feed/ 0 Wading Through the Oil-Spill Chaos http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/07/16/wading-through-the-oil-spill-chaos/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/07/16/wading-through-the-oil-spill-chaos/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:13:41 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7994 The massive gushing of oil beneath the Gulf of Mexico since April has become an economic and environmental crisis that keeps sprawling with no immediate end in sight. Wildlife, sensitive wetlands, ocean habitats, and coastal businesses are all suffering as BP, the oil giant that owns the exploded well, struggles to stop the ongoing damage.

The crisis has many dimensions — environmental, economic, and political, to name a few — and it’s tough to get a handle on its magnitude. The suggested apps below can help you keep tabs on it.

 

These are just a few ways to stay informed and possibly get involved. In the meantime, let’s hope, pray, and keep the pressure on for stopping the massive oil leak.

– Tom
My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/07/16/wading-through-the-oil-spill-chaos/feed/ 0 Twitter, Facebook on My Yahoo! http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/29/twitter-facebook-on-my-yahoo/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/29/twitter-facebook-on-my-yahoo/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:54:35 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7990 If you are one of the millions of people that checks multiple social sites daily to stay on top of what’s going on, we have some fantastic news for you. Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo! Updates have come to My Yahoo!.

Historically, My Yahoo! has been anti-social. It’s been your own personal sanctuary… your filter on the world… a place for your interests and passions devoid of any tweets and status updates or any likes and commenting. Until now.

If you use Facebook or Twitter, or want to find out what all the fuss is about, we have some really great apps for you. You can add the individual apps or add the Yahoo! Updates app which aggregates several social networks in one place with even more coming soon.

 

  • Yahoo! Updates: Aggregate all your social networks in one place.
  • Facebook: The best Facebook app out there.
  • Twitter: Tweet directly from My Yahoo!. Search for trending topics.

 Michael,

– My Yahoo! Team Lead

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/29/twitter-facebook-on-my-yahoo/feed/ 0 Everything but the Groceries http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/23/everything-but-the-groceries/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/23/everything-but-the-groceries/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:11:48 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7983 Summer is a great season for eating. Strawberries and asparagus and corn on the cob are some of my favorites, but what’s the best way to prepare corn on the cob on the grill? I need help with that every year.

 If you need cooking tips, answers to food questions, or just ideas for what to eat next this summer, check out some of these apps you can add to your My Yahoo! page:

  • Simply Recipes: This feed is like a constant fountain of great new ideas for creating tasty dishes.
  • Healthy Picnics Blog: Everything you need to enjoy a great picnic season with family is right here.
  • Barbecue Blog: Find tips and tricks here, as well as plenty of recipes to enhance your next cookout.
  • Healthy Dinner Tonight: You’ll find great seasonal recipes here with an emphasis on health. Each recipe features complete nutritional information.

Looking over those four apps makes me hungry.  Time to find some good summer food and chow down.

 Tom
– My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/23/everything-but-the-groceries/feed/ 0 The World Cup is Here http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/11/the-world-cup-is-here/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/11/the-world-cup-is-here/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:46:24 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7976 The month-long sporting extravaganza known as The World Cup is here, with action starting June 11 in South Africa.  National teams compete in the fast-paced sport of soccer — or football or futbol, depending on your location — as citizens around the world cheer them on. Which country will have bragging rights for the next four years?

 Live TV coverage of all the matches may not be convenient, depending on your time zone and work schedule. But you can stay current by checking out these apps for your My Yahoo! page:  

  • FIFA.com: Get all the official updates and previews from the sport’s governing body, the Federation International de Football Assocation (FIFA).
  • World Soccer News: Get all the scores and important news stories from the tournament.
  • Dirty Tackle: Great behind-the-scenes blog coverage of the players and hoopla that you won’t find anywhere else.
  • Soccer Fanatic Blog: Another fine blog that lives up to its name; it’s a definite must-see for soccer fans.

Like the Olympics, the World Cup seems to bring the world a little closer together. And even though South Africa is half a globe away, you’ll feel a lot closer to the action by using the apps listed above.

– Tom

My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/11/the-world-cup-is-here/feed/ 0 Signed Out Settings on My Yahoo! http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/04/signed-out-settings-on-my-yahoo/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/04/signed-out-settings-on-my-yahoo/#comments Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:26:12 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7972 My Yahoo! will be making a change to the amount of time we save changes that a signed out user makes to a My Yahoo! page from two months to twenty four hours. We will continue to allow you to use My Yahoo! to its fullest extent whether you are signed in or out of your Yahoo! account but if you wish us to remember all of the customization choices you make on any device or computer and across Yahoo!, then you must sign in to your Yahoo! account to save those choices.

 Every time you visit My Yahoo! when you are signed in to your Yahoo! account, we display all of your added content & pages, themes and personal customizations you’ve done. Regardless of which computer or device you use to access My Yahoo!, as long as you are signed in to Yahoo!, we’re going to display your personal My Yahoo! pages and your customizations.

 For those of you that utilize My Yahoo! when you are not signed in to your Yahoo! account, you have likely experienced a time when some of the applications you’ve added or customizations you’ve done have “disappeared”. This is because signed out personalization choices you make are tied to the browser you are using to view My Yahoo! and saved in “browser cookies”. If these cookies are deleted, either by choice or accident, you lose the personalization. Also, if you do not access My Yahoo! for an extended period of time, those browser cookies eventually expire.

 In addition, since signed out personalization is tied just to the computer or device you are using at the time and not saved to your Yahoo! account, you will not be able to access these personalization choices when accessing My Yahoo! from another computer or device.

 In short, if you wish to save customizations you make on My Yahoo! for longer than 24 hours and access them from any device or computer, sign in to save your settings.

 Michael
- My Yahoo! Team Lead

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/04/signed-out-settings-on-my-yahoo/feed/ 0 Take Me Away! http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/01/take-me-away/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/01/take-me-away/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:48:34 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7962 “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is a fine book by Dr. Seuss that inspires many graduating students at this time of year. It’s also a great phrase to motivate your next travel adventure.

 Vacation season is kicking into gear, and many of us start asking the common questions: Where should I go? When is best to take off? And will I be able to find an option that’s fun, relaxing, and affordable? 

 To help with planning, try these four additions on your My Yahoo! page.

  • New York Times – Travel: The frequent articles in this feed are full of information that all savvy travelers want to know — from local tips and convenient destination guides to hidden discounts and best attractions.
  • Best Fare Trackers: This app from Yahoo! Travel offers a great way to keep tabs on airfares to your top destinations of interest.
  • Travel Plan Ideas: You may find some surprises on the Travel Plan Idea Blog that shape your next trip
  • SmarterTravel.com – Deals: Learn about special fares and exclusive, limited-time-only sales on flights to great destinations around the world.

 Start planning an exciting vacation journey this year. Bon voyage!

 – Tom, My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/06/01/take-me-away/feed/ 0 Missing ‘Saturday Night Live’ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/21/missing-%e2%80%98saturday-night-live%e2%80%99/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/21/missing-%e2%80%98saturday-night-live%e2%80%99/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 22:33:24 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7957 “Saturday Night Live” had some great momentum this month: Betty White, then Alec Baldwin, then… repeats.  Momentum stalled. I’m not sure the new “MacGruber” film will be enough to fill the void most of us fans will feel until the fall.

 But I have found some fun related sites that you can add to your My Yahoo! page that will keep the laughs coming this summer while keeping you in the loop with any new SNL developments that happen.

 

  • Hulu clips from Saturday Night Live: You can spend hours with this collection, reliving the best and funniest skits.
  • Saturday-Night-Live.com: Catch up with news about the show and view Web exclusives (like Alec Baldwin’s faux commercial for “Scrotox.”)
  • Hilarious.net: This collection has some great SNL spoofs, but it also highlights items that are good for a laugh any day of the week.
  • KristenWiigfan.com: Clips and tidbits about one of the most talented SNL cast members (in my humble opinion), who also costars in “MacGruber.”

 Speaking of Kristen Wiig, I’ll leave you with one of the clips that crack me up from the hulu.com feed:

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/21/missing-%e2%80%98saturday-night-live%e2%80%99/feed/ 0 A Geek Squad Whenever You Need It http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/14/a-geek-squad-whenever-you-need-it/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/14/a-geek-squad-whenever-you-need-it/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 00:04:45 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7943 Our lives intersect with personal electronic gadgets more and more every day. Even if you have a flat-screen HD TV, iPhone 3G S, Kindle, and a Pentax Optio M90 camera, I’ll bet there are times you feel intimidated by all the rapid innovations and updates.

 You’re not alone. Compared to the hypothetical consumer mentioned above, I’m a Luddite with my habits of reading books and watching a boxy, TiVo-less, 15-year-old television.

 While I’m in no hurry for upgrades, I am thankful for this CNET app. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to having all the relevant info you need in one place. In addition to the daily top features, you get four handy sections that can help nearly all your tech needs: 

  • Top Technology News
  • Popular Gadget Reviews
  • Up-to-Date Tech Videos
  • Deals of the Day

 The sections have a simple presentation that doesn’t intimidate. But that’s not to say you can’t find really comprehensive information on any of the items that interest you.

 If that’s not enough geekiness for your My Yahoo! page, check out these more specialized feeds: 

 Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

]]> http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/14/a-geek-squad-whenever-you-need-it/feed/ 0 Basking in the Summer-Movie Fun http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/05/basking-in-the-summer-movie-fun/ http://www.myyblog.com/blog/2010/05/05/basking-in-the-summer-movie-fun/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 17:31:37 +0000 My Yahoo! Team http://www.myyblog.com/blog/?p=7934 The big summer movie season kicks off with “Iron Man 2,” and fans can expect a steady stream of high-profile films that are packed with action and stars.

Surveying the latest reviews, celebrity interviews, and red-carpet action is all part of the summer-movie fun. Will Tom Cruise’s latest film bomb? Can a fourth “Shrek” find box-office gold? How will Julie Roberts look in her latest movie?

The following apps can help you enjoy all the details:

 

With all these features for keeping tabs on the summer film season, you’ll always have the best seat in the house.

Apps mentioned in this post:

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

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