My Yahoo! Blog

With Earth Day around the corner, thoughts and plans turn to green. The annual commemoration on April 22 started 40 years ago, and its significance has grown beyond recycling and picking up litter.

Today politicians promote “green jobs” as part of the sustainable energy industry. Economists argue for greening the economy. Builders seek to have new homes and skyscrapers certified as green. And of course questions about climate change affect us all.

 These issues have become part of what Earth Day symbolizes.  If you want to green your My Yahoo! page to increase awareness, here are some suggestions:

• Yahoo! News: Climate Change: News develops rapidly on this broad topic, but you can stay informed more easily with this feed.
• Green Lifestyle: Load this app to enjoy daily quizzes, learn green facts, and find ways to make a difference.
• Green Dream Jobs: This feed from SustainableBusiness.com gives frequent updates on new jobs that involve some aspect of ecology or sustainable development.
• Green Reality Check: One blogger’s quest to discover what it really means to be green and sustainable — or not.
• Yahoo! Green Featured Topics: Analysis and consumer tips on everything from transportation and energy to food and health. This is just one of many feeds you can try from Yahoo! Green.

 Learning more about our planet and sustaining its life is one great way to start your commemoration of this historic Earth Day.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Yahoo! News: Climate Change
• Add Green Lifestyle
• Add Green Dream Jobs
• Add Green Reality Check
• Add Yahoo! Green Featured Topics

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

Spring is here: Flowers are growing, robins are singing, and baseball fans are flocking to stadiums to cheer on their favorite Major League teams. (Or maybe just to eat hotdogs and enjoy the outdoors.)

 Since you can’t always be at the ballpark to witness every highlight, these helpful feeds can keep you close to the action:

• Yahoo! Sports – MLB News: As the season progresses, stay on top of all the latest scores and news about your favorite teams and players.
• The Hardball Times: The blog from the New York Times features insightful commentary, player interviews, and more.
• ESPN.com – MLB: Another fine source for comprehensive coverage of that latest in professional baseball.
• Confessions of a She-Fan: Writer Jane Heller’s unique and often comic take on the MLB provides a fun diversion.

 Now you can stay in touch with “America’s pastime” anytime.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Yahoo! Sports – MLB News
• Add The Hardball Times
• Add ESPN.com – MLB
• Add Confessions of a She-Fan

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

Jobs are a hot topic right now, especially if you’re struggling to find a new one.

 But even if you are employed, you may want to keep your eyes open for new opportunities.  Or you may want to learn more about vital career issues that affect you, such as networking or asking for a raise.

• Yahoo! HotJobs – Career Articles: These features contain loads of practical advice that will help any job seeker. But you’ll also find items to help you in advancing your career, such as “5 Tips for Successful Telecommuting.
• Secrets of the Job Hunt: Anyone who’s looking for a job will benefit from resources here.
• Brazen Careerist: If you like a little attitude mixed with common sense, subscribe to this blog. You’re bound to find something that will help you in making that next career move.
• Forbes.com – Career News and Reports: These frequent articles about the job market and how to succeed in it are valuable resources for all.

 To get feeds of available local job listings to display on your My Yahoo! page, check out Craigslist or click on RSS buttons related to specific job searches you conduct on Indeed.com or Yahoo! HotJobs.

 Keeping your professional life on the right track suddenly became a little easier.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Yahoo! HotJobs – Career Articles
• Add Secrets of the Job Hunt
• Add Brazen Careerist
• Add Forbes.com – Career News and Reports

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

The historic health care reform legislation signed into law by President Obama may be a welcome landmark or a colossal disappointment, depending on your views. But I think nobody can deny that the mammoth bill’s sheer size and complexity — not to mention political drama — are enough to boggle the mind.

 Much time and effort is required to figure out what this new arrangement will mean for each of us and our families.  Will it affect your current health plan?  Should you prepare for additional costs?  How are “pre-existing conditions” defined?

 The questions will keep coming, but you can narrow your search for answers by checking out these sources:

• Kaiser Health News – Health Reform: This daily roundup of major news coverage gives you a quick survey of current reporting, with links that you can follow for more in-depth coverage of topics that interest you. An additional Kaiser feed, the Daily Health Policy Report (http://feeds.kaiserhealthnews.org/dailyreport) also offers useful summaries.
• New York Times – Health Care Reform: You’re likely to find daily articles on the topic, and many of these articles link to more informative resources on the NYT site.
• Health Care Reform Center: From the publishers of the New England Journal of Medicine, this feed takes a more academic look at the large issues involved in the new legislation and what they mean for the health care industry.
• FactCheck.org: This feed contains updates that focus on consumer advocacy and try to reduce political confusion; several of the recent posts relate to health-care reform.  The source: Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

 Following the intricacies of this important issue could give anyone a headache. But you’d be smart to brush up on some of the feed details above before calling the doctor.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Kaiser Health News – Health Reform
• Add New York Times – Health Care Reform
• Add Health Care Reform Center
• Add FactCheck.org

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial

Reunions of casts from classic TV shows like “Eight Is Enough” and “The Partridge Family” generated huge interest among Yahoo! users earlier this month.  I’ll admit to joining that crowd — both shows were favorites of mine as a youth. And as someone who remembers what TV was like before MTV, I’m still a sucker for news about the oldies.

 Whether you wax nostalgic for “The Waltons,” “The Jeffersons,” or countless other golden oldies, consider checking out these feeds for keeping the good old times alive. 

• Classic Television Blog: This blog is packed with interesting details on a wide variety of shows, with resources on how you can watch or buy certain episodes online.
• Classic Television Showbiz: If you have a taste for the really obscure and/or vintage moments in television, this blog is for you. Just scanning the titles of posts will start you on a great walk down memory lane.
• Brilliant But Cancelled: This blog from Television Without Pity has fun with shows that might become “classics” one day. And some of us like our shows on the cheesy side, despite what the critics say!
• TV Listings: This feed is essential for every TV watcher, no matter your programming tastes.  Browse listings for your favorites, and use it to plan ahead for some entertaining couch time. 

Bonus: With these treats on your My Yahoo! page, you’ll become a shoo-in to win Trivial Pursuit – TV edition.

 Apps mentioned in this post:

• Add Classic Television Blog
• Add Classic Television Showbiz
• Add Brilliant But Cancelled
• Add TV Listings

Tom
- My Yahoo! Editorial