What's Up Wednesdays: Feedly Pro Edition

Let’s see what’s going on with the blogosphere (do people still use that term?) this week.

We all witnessed the death of Google Reader earlier this year and we questioned the relevance of RSS moving forward. Many of us made the switch to Feedly, including Tris Hussey, and now he’s decided that he will be paying for the annual subscription to Feedly Pro. Since he needs RSS to do his job, he will gladly pay for better service and more features, just as he does with Evernote Premium. I’m reasonably content with the free version for now, but $45/year for such an invaluable service is hardly unreasonable.

Calgary might have a great zoo, but Buzz Bishop and his family really miss the Vancouver Aquarium. And so, since he was in town this past weekend, Buzz went to Stanley Park to experience the “Jelly Invasion” at the Aquarium, snapping some photos of the floaty and elegant animals with his iPhone. They also checked out the new 4D theatre, watched the beluga show, and got up close and personal with penguins, sharks, turtles, sloths and butterflies. It is a little strange eating fish and chips at the aquarium though, don’t you think?

Heading out into much more open waters, Stacey Robinsmith has been documenting his journeys aboard the Holland America Amsterdam. Some people may discuss the excursions or activities on a cruise, but Stacey is walking us through each day of his culinary journeys instead. It is pretty great when all your food is included, but that buffet can be awfully dangerous if you’re watching your waistline. I haven’t been on a cruise for six years, but I’m heading back out into the water in a few weeks.

A college education is valuable, to be sure, but it can also be very expensive. I managed to fund mine with some scholarships, part-time jobs, co-op work placements, and a little help from mom and dad. While you would normally have to pay back a conventional student loan, Luke Landes asks whether college graduates are obligated to pay back their parents as soon as they have the financial ability to do so. I think it really depends on the relationship you have with your parents and the understanding you had when they provided you with that college fund.

I’m lucky enough to own my name as my domain name (michaelkwan.com), but other people aren’t so fortunate. “Super Affiliate” Zac Johnson dives into this topic by discussing some celebrities who don’t own their domain name. Golfer Zach Johnson doesn’t have his domain name and neither does Justin Bieber. While you could go for a different TLD, owning the .com version is obviously the most valuable and it is in your best interest to acquire your own name as your domain, even if only to protect your personal branding. I know my friend Ed has a distinct disdain for a certain ironworks company.