Cleaning Google Reader

Just over a year ago, I started using Google Reader daily for quick updates on news. I didn't think it'd become such a bother, nor did I know that it could be used for learning and finding good reads for the end of each day. After thinking about the way I use the service, I decided it was time to rethink each of my subscriptions and keep only the stuff I care about.

Starting with The Verge, my favorite technology news site, I began dusting the corners of my account. I then removed Ars Technica, The Next Web, The Mac Observer, and many other news publications. I don't have anything against any of these publications, and I still enjoy reading them, but there wasn't a reason to keep them in my Reader subscriptions. I want to use the service for reading, not browsing.

Even though I'm not an advocate of link-blogs, I kept Shawn Blanc's in my subscriptions because he shares interesting things. I removed MacStories, though, because I prefer the nice-looking website rather than read the content in an RSS client. This process continued for a good half hour, until I was satisfied with my 14 remaining feeds. Now things didn't seem so cluttered, but I felt there was one more thing to do: add those bookmarked websites.

Continuing my activity, I added Colossal and Think Simple Now, and other interesting blogs to my subscriptions. Right now I don't have any "news" feeds left and everything is either editorial-based (Dustin Curtis' blog) or full of photos (Fly Sleepy by Michael Flarup). I'm much more satisfied with Google Reader now and I actually want to read again.