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Steve Rubel's shared items in Google Reader

Google Reader for BeginnersYesterday

Have you ever had a friend or family member who you know would love using Google Reader? Have you ever had trouble explaining to that same friend or family member just how using Reader could make their lives easier (and more fun)? We sure have, so if you're anything like us then we have some useful tools in store for you.

The Google Reader Team is proud to introduce several new help resources designed specifically at introducing beginners to using Reader: Google Reader Help Videos and the Google Reader Getting Started Guide, both accessible directly from our Help Center.

Feel free to let us know what you think by commenting on the videos or by leaving feedback in our Help Forum. Although the videos are aimed at beginners, we're hoping to eventually cover even more advanced and lesser-known features in the same visual and step-by-step manner.

Now get watching, Readers! And don't forget to send the link along to your favorite beginner, newbie, or visual learner!

The First Wii: Obama brings video games to the White HouseYesterday

Filed under: Culture, Nintendo Wii

When Barack Obama takes office on January 20th, he'll not only be the most powerful man in the world, but also the most powerful gamer. (Nintendo did give outgoing President Bush a DS and Brain Age some years ago; it's up to you to decide if he ever played it.)

The New York Times reports that the President elect -- who even took his campaign to the streets of Burnout Paradise -- gifted his daughters, Sasha and Malia, with a Nintendo Wii for Christmas ... but the head of the First Family has been playing with it, too. Apparently, Obama has been working on his bowling skills by playing Wii Sports. The

Leo Babauta on <i>The Power of Less</i> [Exclusive Lifehacker Interview]Yesterday

Author of new book The Power of Less Leo Babauta advises readers to simplify and focus only on the essential. Today he stopped by to tell us more about his timely message.

Lifehacker: In a culture that encourages the acquisition of things like gadgets and the idea of "living life to the fullest," what kind of paradigm shift is required to move from the "more is more" to "less is more" ethos? How does one shift their life into working with less without feeling deprived or limited?

Leo Babauta: I think the "wanting more" mode of thinking is attractive, because of the pull of the media and advertising that give us these images of very attractive things. The paradigm shift comes when we realize that while we might want to do and buy everything, we simply can't. We might want to do a million tasks a day, and take on every project idea that comes our way, but we just can't — and what's more, our lives suffer from trying to do too much. Something is always sacrificed — whether that's time with loved ones, exercise and health, time for ourselves, or pursuing our dreams.

Generation OYesterday

Generation O

n. The generation of people approximately 18 to 35 years old who voted for or supported Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Example Citations:

Generation O is that college kid at the White House gate early Wednesday morning, lifting his shirt to reveal 'Obama' painted in red on his chest.

Or that stylized Obama T-shirt that makes irony look old, the 'Obama Girl' on YouTube, or the thousands of notes on Barack Obama's Facebook page: 'U are the best!!!' 'yeah, buddy.'

And, of course, Generation O is the president-elect himself. ...

These young voters and those slightly older, who together may forever be known as Generation O, were the ground troops of the campaign.
—Damien Cave, "Generation O Gets Its Hopes Up," The New York Times, November 9, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama has been very judicious thus far about mobilizing the vast coterie of supporters from his campaign. Generation "O," for Obama, is ready to do its part in putting the country on a more hopeful path.

The question is what Obama should ask of his supporters. Washington already expects 4 million people on the Mall for Obama's inauguration, but what will he say to activate his supporters?

As a dr

Are All These Face to Face Meetings Necessary?Yesterday

Business people the world over have generally extolled the virtues of face time. Going and seeing the client in person, having a direct interaction is seen as more effective than a phone call or email. True perhaps, but when all these meetings take away from your real work - are they really worth it? Especially when you can reach out and communicate with anyone via voice text or video easily - how necessary is face time anymore? And of course there’s the whole issue of the environmental impact of all this travel.

Frequent world traveler Hugh Macleod has some interesting thoughts on how he handles face time in an essay titled “The paradox of Face Time”:

The other part of the equation is knowing when face time will actually pay off. Sure, it’s nice to go visit Mr. Fabulous Client up in New York and have a great conversation over a fine, wine-enabled, three-course meal, but will that actually justify the cost, in terms of both travel expenses and lost productivity? Sometimes yes, but all too often, it sadly will not.

So I try to limit my face time to ONLY WHEN I have something very tangible to offer, something that can either deepen the relationshi