gistfile1.py

def load_tumblr(user, tries=2):
    url = "http://" + user + ".tumblr.com/api/read/json?type=photo&num=20&tagged=project"

    try:
        result = urlfetch.fetch(url)
        """ tumblr outputs the json as a javascript var, so we have to remove
            junk at the beginning and the semicolon at the end."""
        content = result.content.replace("var tumblr_api_read = ", "")
        content = content[:-2]

        js_object = json.loads(content)

        return js_object
    except ValueError:
        if tries > 0:
            load_tumblr(user, tries-1)
        else:
            print "Attempts exceeded, failed to load tumblr."