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The 40 most recent articles where I left a comment
If you’d like to get updates to this list via twitter, follow my @mattscomments Twitter account. @mattscomments is focused solely on the comments on that I leave on articles across the internet.
Reflecting: July 2019 – Rebecca Rose Thering
How have you been feeling lately? Tired, thoughtful What is lifting you up? My six-week-old daughter What is weighing you down? Not enough sleep. Where will you place your attention in August? Oh wow. We are halfway through August. * I've been thinking about how to apply my new skills as a Wordpress systems developer. It's been fun learning how to import/export data into and out of Wordpress as part of my day job. I've been thinking about how I can make my own personal projects with these skills. Earlier this year I was building a website that catalogs all the baseball cards signed by baseball players with a Bible verse inscription. I might get into that again, and build the site so it can connect to the larger world of metadata vocabularies through Linked Open Data. * Building photo albums online * Design a birth announcement card
Stored on: August 13, 2019
Saving the Planet: A stroll with the boys | Jorge Garcia
I'd like to see the art project he makes! (I have a 3-year-old daughter and a six-week-old daughter, and I used to collect stuff found in public all the time to make art)
Stored on: August 13, 2019
New Stuff Tuesday — Aug. 13, 2019 | The Andersen Library Blog
This sounds like a first-rate book!
Stored on: August 12, 2019
Some recent projects | Michael J Donovan
I've been recently learning about Linked Open Data. How incredibly exciting it is that so many datasets are connected together. I immediately thought of how the Art Institute of Chicago recently redid their catalog, so I was curious if this revamp made the online collection into a LOD format dataset. I found your blog post here by doing a Google search. Does the Art Institute have their online catalog as Linked Open Data? Or maybe it's in the roadmap? (Side note: I've always loved the Art Institute's online catalog. I blogged about it a number of times https://www.spudart.org/blog/tag/artic-collection/)
Stored on: August 12, 2019
The Ramblings of a Chicagoan: Since March....
I've been lacking in posts on my blog too. I think part of it is wanting to write complete blog posts. Often times I need to get the images off my phone and into my post, but I don't have the time to connect all the images, so I let the blog post sit in drafts in my Evernote. I don't like the idea of my RSS feed publishing posts without an image. If I got back two days later and update the image, most people's RSS readers won't catch that update, because it already pulled the article as soon as I published it. I'm thinking about customizing my RSS feed to update only once a week. However, I might be over thinking it. Some days I think my blog might be better off as a wiki. Just a constantly updated website. Wikis are much more organized. And it might force me to organize my thoughts more. But then I would get into the trap of overthinking, instead of just writing and posting. So then I'm left stuck with unpublished posts.
Stored on: August 4, 2019
Ladies and gentlemen: This is Magnatype! – L.T. Hanlon
The smaller typeface is a bit like the internet in the late 90s, early 00s. The body text was set really small. Nowadays, the trend seems to be to use much larger font size for body text. The Mangatype would be very fitting for today's online readers.
Stored on: July 30, 2019
The Ramblings of a Chicagoan: 99% Invisible and An Episode on Sand
Instead of "Built on Sand", I felt like this episode should been called "Built on Concrete." Very interesting nonetheless.
Stored on: July 20, 2019
Top 25 1994 Sports Cards and Non-Sport Cards and Why They're Great
What a great autograph Mickey Mantle has. So legible and beautiful.
Stored on: July 17, 2019
2019 Baseball Hall of Fame Rookie Card Details and Gallery
Excellent point about how few rookie cards exist for this year's HOF class. I hope you continue to make a blog post like this every year. It's great seeing these cards collected together.
Stored on: July 12, 2019
1992 Fleer 7-Eleven/Citgo The Performer Baseball Checklist, Details
This 1992 Fleer set is so incredible with these bold names set along the vertical length of the design . Your post inspired me to buy a set online.
Stored on: July 12, 2019
Guinea pig snacks for everyone! – L.T. Hanlon
Oh yes, that ole trick of eating the rat. Dangling it down by your mouth, but the camera angle is conveniently shot from the side, so the actor could just drop it down on the side of his/her head. I was in third grade at the time of this miniseries, and I remember everyone doing that trick in the lunchroom. Maybe five or six years ago, I watched V again too. It was enjoyable to watch.
Stored on: June 9, 2019
Paper, rubber, imperfection – L.T. Hanlon
This paper looks fantastic. What sort of lighting do you use when photographing your typecasts?
Stored on: June 9, 2019
Learning one new foreign language word every day for a year - Spudart
The only thing with Ewokese is that Google Translate doesn't include it in their languages. I don't know why not. I mean, it's a rad language. I need to find some place to get audio recordings of Ewokese. I guess the Star Wars films. But that's too much work to try to clip out a word from that. Although, that might be kinda fun. Clip out every. single. Ewokese. word. spoken. in. the. movie. And then repeat each word over and over and over in an audio file. Each audio file has just one Ewokese word. That would be a fun collection of audio files. It could be a collection of podcast episodes. "Learn to speak Ewokese" BAM. That's fun.
Stored on: June 3, 2019
Sign of spring 2019: state flags return to Aon Center - Spudart
When using the plural of chrysalis, you can use either chrysalises or chrysalides. I choose chrysalides because it sounds more official.
Stored on: May 27, 2019
Stormy weather is portable – L.T. Hanlon
Convert your typewriter into a telegraph for wire transmissions!
Stored on: May 19, 2019
Oak Park’s Tile Stop Signs – Susie Trexler
I lived in Oak Park for a few years and have seen these tiles from time to time. Sometimes you see just a couple of the letters, like a S T. At first glance, I thought it was a street sign. (for ST being an abbreviation for street). Now I wished I photographed them whenever I saw ’em.
Stored on: May 19, 2019
How valuable is this typewriter? – L.T. Hanlon
The unexpected juxtapositions from AI are so fascinating. One the hand it’s like a human comedian, created funny connections in life. On the other hand it’s like a… oh man. I forgot the other one. I had two in my head. Maybe some day AI will help me uncover what I was just thinking.
Stored on: May 19, 2019
What typeface is this? – L.T. Hanlon
The buttons (keys?) in the top row are really cool.
Stored on: May 12, 2019
The photos are really nice. You get more of the quality of the paper in the photo. The alt text is really nice. I didn't know you did this! You could also do the trick that some webcomics employ—setting the title tag in the title tag of the image, so when you roll your mouse over the image, another set of text appears. I'd imagine that might be obnoxious with the full text. Webcomics use this to add a little extra Easter egg. https://xkcd.com is really good at that.
Stored on: May 12, 2019
Ancient Egyptian typewriters? – L.T. Hanlon
The notion of typewriter hieroglyphics reminds me of Lenka Clayton's typewriter drawings. http://www.lenkaclayton.com/work#/typewriter-drawings-4-1-1/
Stored on: May 12, 2019
Rare Children’s Books Digitized by the Library of Congress | Smart News | Smithsonian
Thank goodness for that bucket of ice cream in "The Rocket Book". Otherwise, that rocket would still be going.
Stored on: May 9, 2019
ArchitectureChicago PLUS: Longest bench in the world versus longest - and ugliest - bench in Chicago
Ten years later, and I'm glad that this picnic table remains. Now that I work in the nearby Prudential Center, I eat my lunch at this long picnic table nearly every day. Many people enjoy this table every day. It's fascinating how the long form influences how people use the table. The side of the table by the Bean is for people who wish to take a break. They often sit facing away from the table, facing toward the bean. The other side of the table tends to be for people who wish to sit down and have lunch.
Stored on: May 8, 2019
Finding Steve Stone's sweater for the Kerry Wood 20-strikeout game - 57 hits
Steve Stone was 50 years old at the time. He’s staying Coogi down to the socks, rings, and watch filled with rocks.”
Stored on: May 6, 2019
Why I keep Christmas envelopes - Spudart
As of today, I'm not *technically* keeping the envelopes. I scanned them in and then tossed them into the recycling bin. I really hesitated throwing them in. But I figured I have 600 dpi scans of them all (front and back)—so I am keeping a digital copy. And as seen by this blog post, I can do all sorts of fun collages with the envelopes.
Stored on: May 5, 2019
How green was my Hermes – L.T. Hanlon
This reminds me of the recently released Blackwing Volume 811 pencil. “It features an emerald gradient finish and gold ferrule inspired by the iconic green lamps that light the halls of libraries around the world. Each pencil is coated with a special phosphorescent topcoat, so it can be a literal light in the dark.”
Stored on: May 5, 2019
Stormchasing from home – L.T. Hanlon
Interesting how this one has the baseline warped. Was the paper curling while you photographed it?
Stored on: May 5, 2019
Shortwave listening in a highrise sucks – L.T. Hanlon
Imagine if you could use the antenna on the John Hancock Center!
Stored on: April 30, 2019
I’m going to be an indie author – L.T. Hanlon
What a great typecast! I'm looking forward to more. I hope you have lots of great typewriter jams.
Stored on: April 30, 2019
New Stuff Tuesday — April 9, 2019 | The Andersen Library Blog
This is so incredibly rad! I'm adding it to my three-year-old daughter's wish list!
Stored on: April 8, 2019
The Architecture of Lincoln Park Zoo – Susie Trexler
First I flipped through your photos in this post. I wondered what the brick pattern in the arched gateway was called. Now I know!—Guastavino Vaulted ceiling. Thank you!
Stored on: April 1, 2019
Ticonderoga Neon — the weekly pencil.
This might be a silly question, but does each individual pencil have its own serial number? Or is D8384, D8387, D8385, D8366, D8375 common among this particular series?
Stored on: April 1, 2019
Huge Collection of Famous 1990s Autographed Baseball Cards at Auction
One of my favorites from this lot has got to be the 1998 Donruss Elite Back to the Future featuring Cal Ripken emerging from a laser grid.
Stored on: March 20, 2019
2017 Topps Fire Baseball Video Box Break and Hobby Box Highlights
I love the Monikers cards. I'm glad you posted a couple box breaks here. Four Monikers per box. I think I'll save my $70 and buy the cards on eBay.
Stored on: March 12, 2019
There’s a Massive Untapped Market for Subscription Video Games – Chris Thilk
Just ten seconds ago, I was chatting with my brother about how I'd love to see college's e-Sports programs play the 1987 R.B.I. Baseball. I'd pay a subscription to have online access to this game to play with my friends.
Stored on: March 4, 2019
The Continued Evolution of Topps BUNT
How many cards are in the white base set of Topps Bunt 2018?
Stored on: March 1, 2019
The Ramblings of a Chicagoan: Trying to Learn Spanish
Tonight as I read books to Julia before bed, one of the books she selected was "1000 words in French". Not wanting to slaughter the French language, i told Julia that mommy is better reading this book to her. Now if she selected a German book, I'd be all over that.
Stored on: February 26, 2019
14 MLB teams stopped updating their official team podcast since March. - 57 hits
The Cubs podcast has new hosts. On 11/29/18 Dani Wexelman and Cubs reporter Jordan Bastian took over the podcast. Carrie Muskat did come back after the 2018 season to do a couple more podcasts on 10/16/2018, 11/1/2018, and 11/8/2018. I'm still getting warmed up to Dani Wexelman and Jordan Bastian. I miss Carrie Muskat's perspective and experience.
Stored on: February 10, 2019
Cubs postseason rally in Prudential lobby from 5am to 6pm - 57 hits
I love walking through the lobby with these memories.
Stored on: February 10, 2019
All the Twitter accounts with the letter t repeated - Spudart
This is one of those blog posts where you're like, "yeah, I clicked through all these profiles. I don't really want to make the blog post, because it's completely silly. But whatever, I'll just make the blog post."
Stored on: January 30, 2019
In Defense of the Chicago Pedway - Chicago Elevated
Well, I'm one Tribune employee who loves the Pedway. Nice point about the Chicago Tribune now being a part of the Pedway since we moved into Pru1 last summer. During the first couple weeks, everyone was a-buzz about the patio on the 11th floor. Instead, I spent my first two weeks of lunchtime exploring the Pedway system! I was already pretty familiar with it all. But it's really cool having your workplace be connected right to it. Today I had a doctor's appointment in Northwestern/Streeterville, so I used a combination of Pedway to Metra tracks to Illinois Center. Then outside walk to Northwestern's skyway! So cool! Underground connections and then skyway connections all on the same walk. I love how the Pedway connects me to within one block of Target on State. And how I can walk completely underground from the Tribune all the way to City Hall. One of my favorite lunches is to heat up my food in the Tribune's microwave on the second floor Mezzanine, I then stick the heated tv dinner back into the box, and carry it over to the Cultural Center to eat. Oh, and Walgreens across the street from the Cultural Center is handy too. I consider the Cultural Center building itself to be part of the Pedway. Certainly there is that elevator that goes to the Cultural Center, but the building is a great cut-through too. I'd always wanted to write a series about all of Chicago's "cut-through" buildings. • Like how you can cut-through the south end of Union Station and walk through the northbound tracks. • Or how the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel is a great cut-through from Lake to Wacker. • Nordstroms and Shops at North Bridge for Wabash to Michigan. • Chase Tower for Clark to Dearborn Say, you mention the "most excellent section under the Blue Cross building". That's very curious to me. I've seen that bridge from the underground. Soooo, let's say I want to get to Marianos from Pru1. Could I take the Pedway down to the Grant Park North parking garage, connect to the Millennium Park garage, then take this section/bridge to the Blue Cross building? (and then walk above ground to the Mariano's around the corner). This route would take me slightly out of my way, but is it possible? I don't know if Grant Park North and Millennium Park garage connect.
Stored on: January 29, 2019
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