Husky Gutterbun

Rap

2007-10-13T20:24:00.001-05:00

The Loyola student-run radio station plays underground rap at night. Why is underground rap so tedious? I mean worse than normal rap?

Rap is officially dead to me. Only rap created before 1995 is allowed to continue existing. The rest of it is banished from the planet.

Social Security Animation

2005-05-09T11:43:00.000-05:00

MoveOn just put out a great Flash animation explaining the Social Security "crisis" and a potential solution.

Link

Backpack from 37signals

2005-04-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

If 37signals' new web service Backpack is anywhere near as cool as they describe in their preview, then I am going to be really excited.

They describe it as a simple service that lets you keep notes for yourself, store files, create "to do" lists and publish a blog. There will be controls to make each published item private, contacts only, or public. Best of all, it can all be uploaded via email. Also, you will be able to set alerts that Backpack will email to you at a future time.

I have been trying to do all these things with Yahoo Notepad and Yahoo Calendar and a few other web services, but none of them ever worked smoothly enough to be excited about. Based on my experiences with Tadalist and Basecamp, I am predicting that Backpack should solve all these problems.

Let's hope it's free!

37signals, backpackit, myyahoo, yahoo

Yahoo! Search has RSS in results

2005-04-27T09:58:00.000-05:00

Wow, I just noticed that Yahoo! search results will find RSS feeds and link to the XML file and also provide a "Add to My Yahoo" link.
Example: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=gutterbun

I've noticed it doesn't work for every site, though. I wonder what determines if it finds the feed or not.

Is this a new feature? This is a wonderful addition.

UPDATE: I just noticed that Yahoo also includes an RSS feed for each search, although I see no mention of it on the search results page. The feed is in the format: http://api.search.yahoo.com/WebSearchService/rss/webSearch.xml?appid=yahoosearchwebrss&query=[YOUR SEARCH TERM]

yahoo, rss

Yahoo Feature Wishlist

2005-03-28T15:28:00.000-06:00

I'm a big fan of recent changes at Yahoo, but I have a longish list of features that I wish they offered. Here it is:

1) Yahoo Calendar -- they need to have an webcal feed so calendars are readable with Mozilla Sunbird. There should also be an easy way to publish a Yahoo calendar to a blog. Maybe this will come when Yahoo!360 is unveiled.

2) Yahoo Tasks -- This is a small feature on the calendar page, but should be a module available for the My Yahoo front page. It should also be awesome like Tadalist, with quick add/delete and an RSS feed. I tried using Yahoo tasks, but it was much too clunky. Hell, Yahoo should just buy 37signals and incorporate their whole product line.

3) MySearch -- This one is so close to being a good alternative to del.icio.us for private bookmarks, but has a few frustrating problems. The first one is that it doesn't check to see if I've already bookmarked a URL when adding a new bookmark, so there is nothing to stop me from accidentally bookmarking the same site multiple times. Second, there is no way to edit URLs after they are entered, so if a URL is wrong or changes, a new entry has to be made. They're on the right path, though.

4) Notepad -- This could be a nice feature, but now it's more like something they just threw together. I would love a place to leave notes to myself rather than trying to keep track of paper scraps or constantly emailing myself. The problem is that the only way to search notes is from the main Notes page. This should be integrated with MySearch so that notes are automatically bookmarked on Yahoo! MyWeb. Then they could be categorized with multiple categories (the current system only lets you put a note in a particular folder).
I've tried to do this manually, but notes do not have a static URL. If you bookmark a note then update the contents of the note, it breaks your bookmark because the URL changes.

So, there they are, my major frustrations with Yahoo. Obviously Yahoo understands the benefits of Web2.0-style features since they purchased Flickr, so I assume these types of features are coming--it's just hard to wait when I know these could be available today.

If you have other recommendations for Yahoo, leave them in the comments.

yahoo, myyahoo, web2.0

Illegal Bean Photos

2005-02-07T09:08:00.000-06:00

For awhile I felt bad about calling Chicago's Cloud Gate "the bean", but now that I hear that it is illegal to take pictures of it, I don't mind disrespecting it. So ridiculous. (via Gapers' Block)

Social Security: There Is No Crisis

2005-01-20T13:46:00.000-06:00

Looks like Bush is going to make a hard push to make sure I can't retire before the age of 90. Read here for the facts:
Social Security: There Is No Crisis

The little optimist that hasn't totally died in me was hoping that now that Bush doesn't have to worry about re-election, he could stop appeasing the neo-cons, and he would make less of a mess of things for his next term. Ridiculous, I know.

socialsecurity, politics

Black Thursday

2005-01-20T13:38:00.000-06:00

The ol' Gutterblog is black today in *honor* of the Inauguration. Bleah. I'm still not ready for four more years.

inauguration, bush, politics

ABC News: Democrats Force Debate on Election Mishaps

2005-01-06T16:26:00.000-06:00

ABC News: Democrats Force Debate on Election Mishaps
Thank you, Representative Tubbs Jones and Senator Boxer. I know the media and the Republicans want to pretend we don't have any voter problems, but at least someone is paying attention.

Sad passing

2004-12-22T11:15:00.000-06:00

I can't believe this day has come...The Plug has issued it's last update. I will begin the mourning process now.

Jolie Christine Rickman

2004-10-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

It's time again to highlight a singer that is totally overlooked. I started listening to Jolie Christine Rickman about five years ago after being lent her CD Sublime Detonation. That cd was a joyful folk-music experience, like Dar Williams, but quirkier. Jolie's voice is expressive, and the music, while rooted in folk, is creative and sustains the listener's interest. Standout songs are "Out of Air" and "Fly", both songs about the power of individuality. "Fly" especially is a song I can listen to on repeat, getting carried away by the mandolin backing.
Jolie's themes are personal("Being Small"), political("Love Song for Newt", an anti-Gingrich song), and humorous("I Don't Speak Lithuanian", a wonderful song about learning and folk song from her grandmother).
Jolie's next album, Suffer to Be Beautiful, is darker and weirder but just as powerful, and also highly recommended. Definitely, check her out.

* * *
Update: I just found out Jolie passed away on January 19, 2005 after a fight with cancer. My condolences to her family. She was a true and moving artist.

Google Desktop + Google Deskbar = ??

2004-10-15T15:51:00.000-05:00

By now you've heard that Google has released the beta version of Google Desktop, their new tool to search your local drive, Outlook email, AIM chats, and browser history. It is a slick tool for free, and it makes Microsoft's built-in search feel like using a card catalogue.

What I haven't read in all the Google blogs is how to combine the Google Desktop with the Google Deskbar. The Deskbar sits in your taskbar and lets you do a Google search regardless of what application is open. Alone it is a pretty powerful tool. But combine it with Google Desktop, and it will completely change your computer experience.

It is pretty easy really. Once both tools are downloaded and installed, go to Google Desktop and do a search on the word "test". Copy the URL from the results. Now go to the Google Deskbar options menu, where it allows you to add customized searches. Paste the URL you had copied, and replace the word "test" with {1}. Assign it a control letter, and you're done.

Now you can instantaneously search all your files conveniently from your taskbar.

Goooooo Google! Now if they'd only come out with URL tagging tool like Yahoo My Web or del.icio.us.

Keeping America Scared

2004-10-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

Be very afraid.

Yahoo My Web Search Bookmarklet

2004-10-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

Here is a bookmarklet to Search Yahoo My Web. If you have a Yahoo account and have saved websites to Yahoo's My Web, this is an easy tool to search the sites and notes you have saved. In Internet Explorer, you just drag the link above up to your "Links" bar.

Special thanks to Merriam-Webster, who provided the original bookmarklet that I edited to get this.

UPDATE:
The bookmarklet above works in IE, but not Firefox. Here is the Firefox version:
Yahoo MySearch Search Bookmarklet

Yahoo pulling ahead of Google, A9, and Jeeves

2004-10-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

Yahoo has finally come out with the tool I've been looking for, MySearch. The web has been too big for bookmarks for a long time. Google was a nice alternative--instead of bookmarking, just search for it. But that meant you had to remember what search you used to get to a particular site.
Recently, A9 and MyJeeves have come out with diary interfaces that let you store notes about webpages you visit, but A9 forces you to download an invasive toolbar (I am tired of tools that force me to install yet ANOTHER toolbar) and for MyJeeves, well, you have to use Ask Jeeves (gag).
Yahoo's new MySearch tool seems to avoid these problems. They let you store a web address and add notes about that page with a bookmarklet called Save to Y! My Web, and then you can go to My Web and categorize or search your saved URLS. Awesome.

Now when is Google going to get on it and release their competing tool?

Fair Warning For Pedestrians

2004-10-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

Pedestrians, I know you want to jaywalk and cross against the light. That's fine, I do it to. Just realize that a bicycle is a vehicle. If I am pedaling hard to cross the intersection while MY light is green and you decide to cross in front of me, don't be surprised if I run you down.

Kerry Won the Debate

2004-09-30T22:29:00.000-05:00

Well, round one of the presidential debates is over, and Kerry didn't let me down. He was concise and strong-willed, and didn't let Bush trip him up. Dubya on the other hand was stammering and incoherent. How did we ever elect this guy?? Oh that's right, we didn't.

PSA

2004-09-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

Public Service Announcement time, kids. FLOSS YOUR DAMN TEETH. Seriously. I just had to get a scaling and root planing procedure on my mouth because I wasn't taking care of my gums. It requires local anesthetic, and what seems like a Dremel tool. And my insurance only covers a tiny portion of it, so I had to pay almost $400 to get a sore, swollen mouth. Really, just floss your teeth.

Open letter to Jimmy Swaggart

2004-09-29T15:17:00.000-05:00

Dear Jimmy,

I read about your recent remark threatening to kill gay men. Due to it, I have decided to make a donation to the Human Rights Campaign (http://www.hrc.org/)in your honor. HRC is an organization that fights for gay rights.

Thank you,
Husky

Funky Treadmill-Bike hybrid

2004-09-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

Can't decide between walking or biking? Imaturation posted a photo of a crazy treadmill/bike hybrid that will let you compromise between the two.

Arguments against gay marriage and why they're wrong

2004-09-22T19:35:00.000-05:00

I have been hesitant about posting about gay marriage because so much has been said already. But with states threatening to create constitutional amendments banning it, I should say something.

Arguments Against Gay Marriage, and Why They're Wrong

Argument 1) My church says homosexuality is a sin.

Why it's wrong: We don't live in a theocracy, and our rules aren't based on your beliefs. Laws should be based on keeping people from harming others, not based on what a particular religious book says. No one is harmed by gay marriage. If you want to live in a theocracy, move to Iran.

Besides, we are talking about civil marriage, not religious marriage. Your church can go on banning gay marriage even if gay people could legally marry. If it is the semantics you have problem with, we should end civil marriage, and just give all couples civil unions.

Argument 2) If gays can get married, then pedophiles can marry children and weirdos can marry their pets.

Why it's wrong: The missing piece in this argument is consent. Gay marriage would be between two consenting adults. We already ban children from getting married, just like we ban them from smoking, drinking, and voting. That wouldn't change. And that crazy pet-lover won't be able to get his goat to consent, so that's out, too.

Argument 3) Gay marriage will weaken the institution of marriage.

Why it's wrong: What?? I don't even understand this argument. This isn't property value we're talking about--gay marriage isn't the equivalent of your neighbor putting a junk car on blocks in his yard, devaluing your house. Your marriage will be just fine.

If you can think of more reasons gay marriage is wrong, leave a comment, and I'll tell you why they are ridiculous.

Smokers' intelligence

2004-09-22T19:13:00.000-05:00

I'm not saying that all smokers are idiots, but I get the feeling that if you gave intelligence tests to everybody and compared the smokers to non-smokers, on average, the non-smokers would be smarter. I wonder if anyone has ever researched this.

And I'm not saying you shouldn't smoke. Just don't smoke around me. Don't stand outside of public buildings and cloud the air. Only smoke inside your house. Thank you.

Emusic Revamp

2004-09-22T11:11:00.000-05:00

Emusic.com just finished their site overhaul. I am excited to see them improving the site, but they are not quite there yet. The new site takes forever to load, and the design could use some tweaking. Most of all, there are a few indie labels they havent scored yet: Subpop (this would be huge), Merge, Drag City, Bloodshot. Oh well, at least we have Matador, 4AD, and Kill Rock Stars.

Best of all...they dont have all those crazy restrictions on the music you buy that the other digital music stores have.

Revamped EMusic Targets Indie Market

Category: music

ROBOTS!

2004-09-21T16:33:00.000-05:00

I love the new Flickr.com slideshow feature. Check out the slideshow of robot tags.

Category: Photography

Renegade Craft Fair this Weekend

2004-09-16T15:21:00.000-05:00

The Renegade Craft Fair is happening this weekend at Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen, between 10:30am and 5:30pm, both Saturday and Sunday.

The fair has grown this year, and should have an exciting array of Chicago and national artists and designers. You'll see creativity here that you won't get at many of the other Chicago art fairs.

Categories: chicago, art

Bike to work on September 22nd!

2004-09-16T14:52:00.000-05:00

World Carfree Day is coming up. Get your bike ready.

http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

Category: Biking, Politics

Bush Facts

2004-09-13T17:45:00.000-05:00

Daily Mislead
McSweeney's Daily Reason to Dispatch Bush

Category: Politics

Uberhottie in Chicago Magazine

2004-09-12T00:09:00.000-05:00

Uberhottie Jewelry got a mention in Chicago Magazine!

Category: Chicago

A word about categories

2004-09-07T17:31:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, Blogger doesn't support categories yet.

So, until they do, I will be adding category listings to the bottom of some of my posts. Hopefully, once Google has crawled my site, you will be able to use the Google search at the top of the page to search for a category name, and those posts will be in the results. We'll see how it works.

Category: General, Google

Overlooked Bands

2004-09-07T16:44:00.000-05:00

It kills me that some terrible, terrible musicians make piles of money, but many of my favorite bands can't pay the rent.

To remedy this(yeah, right), I've started a section called "Overlooked Bands" to link to bands that are:
a) brilliant
b) have very little publicity

The first two entries are World/Inferno Friendship Society and Palaxy Tracks.

World/Inferno Friendship Society *might* be called caberet-punk, but there isn't a label that would truly describe them. They are full of energy, emotion, and personality. All their studio album tracks are available as mp3's at their website, but I recommend their live album available at Emusic.com.

Palaxy Tracks have a sound that would be what the The Church would sound like if they were just starting out this millenium.

Go buy their albums!

Category: Food

Heavenly Hearth

2004-09-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

I don't make it out to the Chicago suburbs often, but
I just found an excuse to go to Wilmette.

The Heavenly Hearth Bread Company (1101 Central Ave,
Wilmette, IL) serves wonderful bread made fresh daily.
My favorite is Cinnamon Swirl, which is like a sticky
roll in loaf format. Delicious.

Best of all, it is locally owned, so you can keep your
money in the community.

Category: Food

The Gutterbun Weight-Loss Plan

2004-09-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

I'm tired of hearing about Atkins, South Beach, and
all the other diets. People shouldn't have to count
points every time they eat. So, I am unveiling for
the first time the Gutterbun Weight-Loss Plan. Lucky
you.

1) Have Realistic Expectations.
You aren't going to look like Paris Hilton
(yikes!) or Brad Pitt, so don't try. Also, don't
expect to lose weight quickly--it is going to take
months.

2) Exercise...
...but not so hard that you just want to give
up. Walk for 30 minutes a day minimum. Walk or bike
to the grocery store or work if possible. Do 10
sit-ups and 10 push-ups every morning. Add 1 sit-up
and 1 push-up per week.

3) Eat Natural Foods.
Avoid pre-processed foods. Watch out for foods
that include the words "hydrogenated" or "corn syrup"
in the ingredients. Bring extra fruit and vegetables
to work for snacks to avoid hitting the vending
machine.
Drink more water and less soda.
When buying bread products, make sure the
ingredients include whole grains.
Eat half the dessert you usually do. One way to
do this is to buy higher quality desserts that have
more flavor, so you don't need as much to be
satisfied.

Now wasn't that easy? And you don't even have to buy
a book.

Category: food

RNC Protest Pictures

2004-08-30T15:22:00.000-05:00

Gothamist has a good list of RNC Protest Photoblogs.

Categories: photography, politics

Fred Wilson Show

2004-08-28T22:11:00.000-05:00

The mother of one of my friends in high school would scour flea markets for those ghastly mammy dolls, and I could never understand why. Finally, the artist Fred Wilson gives the dolls a much deserved beating in his show at the
Chicago cultural Center.
In the show Wilson examines how museums shape stereotypes in such displays as skeletons labeled "someone's mother" and "someone's brother" and a display of Pre-Columbian Colombian (does that make sense?) artifacts next to a display of cocaine production paraphernalia. And the smashed mammy doll? The pieces get glued to the bat that smashed it.

Category: art

RNC Protest Map

2004-08-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

As a map fanatic and a protest fan, I love this New York map to help RNC protesters.

Category: politics