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.

David Sedaris, and the stuff we do and don't buy ourselves

The New Yorker: Fact [MEMENTO MORI by David Sedaris]

Another, as usual, hilarious New Yorker essay from David Sedaris. Mentioned here, first, because of his opening paragraph, which reveals David's personal method for "ubiquitous capture":

For the past ten years or so, I’ve made it a habit to carry a small notebook in my front pocket. The model I favor is called the Europa, and I pull it out an average of ten times a day, jotting down grocery lists, observations, and little thoughts on how to make money, or torment people. The last page is always reserved for phone numbers, and the second to last I use for gift ideas. These are not things I might give to other people, but things that they might give to me: a shoehorn, for instance—always wanted one. The same goes for a pencil case, which, on the low end, probably costs no more than a doughnut.


For what it's worth, I have a similar "buy me stuff" capture device, but more for the purpose of outgassing my brain's frequently mindless consumer pollution. My file is called "crap I just don't need.txt," and I have fended off many ridiculous purchases just by parking the desired item there. Just viewing the long list of previous entries is an embarrassing exercise in aversion therapy. Not to say this always ensures a non-purchase -- consumer lust has a permanent apartment in my heart -- but at least it provides a satisfying speed bump on the race to the checkout screen.

Adding items to this file always reminds me of the story my Mom tells -- of the early, lean days of my parents' marriage -- when she would fill out catalog order forms, "buying" everything she'd ever wanted to have, and then just never mailing the orders in. A kind of Tantric shopping, I suppose.

I wonder how much of our (our at least my) rage for consuming could be mollified by this kind of pantomime spree. Worth a try, and it doesn't cost you a dime to find out.

[ Sedaris link via Mr. Kottke ]

crap_I_just_don’t_need.txt » Irregular Payments's picture

[...] But here’s one I...

[...] But here’s one I think I’ll add, one for all that rampant consumerism rolling around in my brain: a crapIjustdon’tneed.txt list. Got something you’re desiring continually pop into your head? Throw it in your crapIjustdon’tneed list, get it out of your head, and get back to what you need to be doing. And every now and then, go through your crapIjustdon’tneed list, and feel good seeing what hasn’t been wasted on impulse buying… Technorati Tags: lists, consumerism, impulse buying [...]

 
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. »