43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

The Monthly Pimp: January '09 Edition

The Monthly Pimp Hat

Although it's been way more than a month, per our little agreement, here's some recent Merlin-related stuff that may interest you. Really good stuff this time around.

Today/Friday: Macworld PULSE

Macworld PULSE today

Like Chairman Gruber, I'm frustrated that it's crazy-hard to link to our session. But, basically today is one (wow, long) day of TED-ish 20-minute presentations from...

  • Dan DiPaola, Co-Founder, HD-encoding.com
  • Adam Engst, TidBITS
  • John Gruber, Daring Fireball
  • Craig Hockenberry, The Iconfactory
  • Andy Ihnatko, The Chicago Sun Times
  • Vincent LaForet, Photographer
  • Merlin Mann, 43 Folders
  • Chris Pirillo, Lockergnome
  • Rick Smolan, Photographer
  • Ge Wang, Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), Stanford University
  • Musical Group LIYANA

Great group, if -- yikes -- a total sausage fest. Come hear me make shit up about "Design Patterns" for creativity.

I'm pretty sure my session is at 11:20. Right after Gruber. So, if anyone asks, I'll be happy to do my impression of him. He loves that.


New Video Project: "Most Days"

Most Days


Most Days (2009-01-04) from Merlin Mann on Vimeo.

I'm trying my hand at a (close to) daily video. Basically, every morning, I turn on the camera and just start talking. With the barest of preparation, no script, no editing, and ideally no more than two takes. The primary goal is regularity over polish, and the ideal outcome is whatever the heck it turns into.

I'm only committing to doing it (daily) for a week. But, given what I'm hoping to do with video over the next year, I have a feeling it'll go longer. We'll see. It's an exercise in I'm-not-quite-sure-what, but I hope you'll enjoy it. Or at least tolerate it.

In keeping with that lack of certainty (and with a deliberate openness to whatever the project decides it wants to be), I've titled it, "Most Days."

I'm no Jean Shepherd, but, what the heck, it's a project.


CBC Spark "How to Blog" Series

Spark | CBC Radio | Full Merlin Mann Series: How To Blog

I do a regular bit on CBC's wonderful Spark radio program. If you enjoyed my "How to Blog" video, you'll like this 5-part series we did on the same topic. Man, I love working with Nora and Dan. They're just great people and total pros.

Here's a zip file of all the Spark segments in one place.


You Look Nice Today: "The Noises Rest"

"The Noises Rest" on Vimeo
The Noises Rest | You Look Nice Today

OK, I'll admit it: I'm really proud of this.

MoMA (yes: that MoMA) asked us "You Look Nice Today" guys to make a video response to some silent films that they screened the other night. So, Adam, Scott, and I got together in LA a few weekends ago, and made "The Noises Rest."

It's a short film about doing "Foley" for silent movies. We wrote and shot it ourselves, and Adam (as usual) did an amazing job with editing the final product. Supposedly Michel Gondry was at the screening. Which is terrifying.

Looks way better in gorgeous HD, but here's an embed for you:


"The Noises Rest" from lonelysandwich on Vimeo.

Don't tell anyone, but "You Look Nice Today" is my favorite thing I do. Love those magnificent bastards. And their car horns. Subscribe to YLNT on the iTunes.


Also


And, finally

You should totally hire me to speak to your company or group. I'm good at it, plus it's really fun and theoretically useful. Now booking Quarter 2 and beyond. Email Erica: speaking at merlin mann dot com.

As ever, thanks for your patience with the pimping. I appreciate your time and attention very much.

About Merlin

Merlin's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who created the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today, Back to Work, and Kung Fu Grippe. Also? He’s writing this book, he lives with this face, he suffers from this hair, he answers these questions, and he’s had this life. So far.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written in the past few years is an essay entitled, “Cranking.”

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »