delicious (formerly called del.icio.us) is a free social bookmarking service that allows you to save, organize, and share web favorites.  After creating an account, you can import your existing browser bookmarks or start saving new ones right away.  You can also tag your favorites, and organize them into tag "bundles," making them easier to find. Take a look at this example to get a better idea of how tags and tag bundles work: 

http://delicious.com/depaulstudent

Some other useful features include bookmark add-ons for Explorer or Firefox browser bars.  For fun, check out the "Most Popular" sites on the front delicious page. You might find something you'll want to bookmark! 

Launched a little over a year ago, Flickr Commons is a remarkable project in which a number of cultural institutions from around the globe contribute photostreams to Flickr. It was begun by the Library of Congress, but now includes the Smithsonian Institution, the George Eastman House, the Brooklyn Museum as well as other libraries and museums from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Scotland.

In an effort to promote it, Anna Graf launched a Flickr Commons group. Members can access images from the commons, tag them, share them with other Flickr members and create photo sets.

And now, a new blog called Indicommons has been launched to further enhance the sharing of images on Flickr Commons.

Broken links are so annoying. Suppose you email a link to a Time magazine feature, "50 Best Websites 2008." The original URL (web address) looks like this:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1809858,00.html

Because the address is a little long, your friend may get a broken, unusable link instead:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,
1809858,00.html

Thanks to TinyURL^TM, broken links can be banned forever! TinyURL is a free, web-based tool that allows you to create permanent "tiny" URLs for your link. The new URLs redirect the viewer to the original web page. The basic TinyURL for the article looks like this:

http://tinyurl.com/5jgc8o

You can also create a custom name for your new link, or give your recipients a preview of the original link, just so they know it isn't a virus or spam. Since spammers often use aliases for their websites, you should always exercise caution if you get an email with a TinyURL--or any link, for that matter. Because of this type of abuse, some social networking websites have restricted the posting of TinyURLs. Before you click a link within an email, make sure it is from someone you know for a legitimate reason and doesn't sound too generic.

TinyURL.com is definitely one of the coolest tools for helping you share your online discoveries. And, it's one of Time's "50 Best Websites 2008."

TinyURL.com

Do you read a lot of blogs? Do you have favorite websites you visit every day? Are you a news junky like me? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should definitely check out Google Reader.

Google Reader is a feed-aggregator that collects updates from websites you access regularly and conveniently displays them in a single location. It reduces the time spent visiting multiple websites and creates a personalized newspaper of sorts. In addition to the simplicity that feed-aggregators provide, Google Reader also makes storing and sharing information incredibly easy. You can put a star on articles you want to save for future reference and "tag" articles to keep similar pieces organized. Also, if you have really enjoyed something you've read, Reader makes sharing articles simple!

To give it a try, go to www.google.com/reader.

'Tis the season to make your own gifts! Homemade holiday gifts will save you a few bucks AND help save the planet--no plastic packaging or stuff made in sweatshops.  Instructables is a website where people share instructions for making almost anything.  The instructions range from the simple (how to fold an origami crane) to the complicated (build your own home security system), and are usually illustrated with step-by-step photos or video clips.  For the holiday season, Instructables has grouped some items into their Gift Ideas section.  There are a bunch of cool ideas that you won't see in a regular craft magazine: a sweet duct tape messenger bag,bath bombs,recycled paper bows, recycled can trays/candle holders and much more.  Instructables are tagged and searchable, and there's a community forum where you can talk to other DIYers.  We wish you a merry and creative December!

Today, the American people will elect a new president and vice president. Change is in the air! And it's all any one can talk about. No matter what the outcome of today's election, it will be historic.

Of course, our first president was George Washington, elected in 1789, and tonight, we will elect the 44th. Some other election fun facts:

• The 19th Admendment gave women the right to vote in 1920
• 18 year olds were first allowed to vote in 1971
• William Howard Taft, our 27th president, kept a cow at the White House 

Election officials are also predicting that a record number of people will vote in this 2008 presidential election, and this fact alone makes me proud of my fellow citizens today. Wait. What's that? You think your vote doesn't matter? Before you decide not to hustle down to your polling place, remember that in 2000, Bush beat Gore by just 5 electoral votes. That's the difference in winning or losing just one or two states. By the way, polling closes tonight at 7:00pm CST. 

One of the hardest parts of college is keeping organized – classes, assignments, social life, work.  Time management often seems impossible!  Many rely on a myriad of high tech solutions from synching up to Google Calendar to carrying around a heavy planner or datebook.  With so many options, finding a perfect balance between ease of entry and portability often becomes a huge problem.  Many of my planning difficulties, though, have been solved by one ingenious Internet application – the PocketMod.

Deemed the "ultimate" notecard, the PocketMod is a single piece of paper ingeniously folded into a tiny book.  On the web site you design your own PocketMod, filling its eight pages with an assortment of calendar, organizer, and reference templates.  I fill my "organizer" PocketMod with two sets of appointment time sheets and weekly calendars, two pages of to-do lists, and have my contact information and a 2008 calendar on the covers.  Paired with a pocket sized notebook with notes for futures events, I always have my time under control.

Design yours at: http://www.pocketmod.com

Feel like summer is passing you by way too quickly? If you're like me, you just realized that we are mid-way through August, and Autumn, unfortunately, is right around the corner. Want to take advantage of these great summer nights we're having while they're still around? Then grab a blanket and a picnic and check out Movies in the Park, sponsered by the Chicago Park District.

Movies in the Park are offered at most neighborhood parks, and best of all, they're free! Movies in the Park run from June through September, and more than 170 movies will be shown this summer, everything from summer classics, like Field of Dreams, to family favorites, like Shrek the Third. Now, get out there and have some fun already!

Going camping?  Need a tent?  You can rent camping gear from DePaul's Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center!  If you're not feeling that adventurous but are up for some outdoor fun, rent a bocce ball, croquet or horseshoe set and relax on the quad or in the comfort of your own backyard.  All equipment is available for the day, weekend or week to DePaul students, faculty and staff.  Pricing is affordable for all but students get discounted prices!  Check out the Ray's site at http://condor.depaul.edu/~rec/equipmer/checkout.htm and have some summer fun!!!

Sick and tired of paying too much for gas?  While I can't promise you low gas prices, I can at least help you find the lowest price around. Yes, GasBuddy.com lists the lowest gas prices available in your area!  Go onto the website, enter your zipcode or choose your location on a map to find the nearest and cheapest filling station.  With gas prices this high, every penny counts! 

*x-eyedblond. Green Gas Pumps II. Compfight <http://compfight.com>.