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.

RSS of Public Library Check-outs and Requests Available for SF

ELF | Your Personal Email Library Reminder Service

Following-up on my earlier LazyWeb request for library account RSS feeds. Just last night, I requested that ELF add San Francisco’s public library to their collection of systems, and, bang, there it is when I wake up this morning: free RSS feeds of (and emails about) checked-out and on-request books with configurable reminders, mobile messaging, and a nice, simple interface. Looks pretty cool to use so far, and how fast was that service?

I still believe this is the sort of thing that ought to be built-in to almost any conceivable service, going forward. Grateful as I am for the hard-working folks who build things like ELF, it seems to me that consumers shouldn’t need to seek out third-party software, hacks, scraping, and clever chicanery to bubble up their important information in a smart, contextual way.

But, until it is truly ubiquitous among vendors and services, it seems like there’s a small but viable market for folks like ELF, RSS Calendar, and others to gobble up here.

Syndication ain’t just for kitty photos any more.

clock -- watching time, the only true currency's picture

Book: Sharpe's Fortress The San Francisco...

Book: Sharpe's Fortress

The San Francisco Public Library came through with flying colors, sending me email notice that all three of the Sharpe novels I had requested were awaiting my pickup a couple of weeks ago.

 
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. »