My Commonplace Book

Back in the day commonplace books and journals and diaries were ubiquitous.

Now historical curiosities. they've been replaced by things like X, Instagram, Facebook, blogs, TikTok, YouTube videos, and their ilk.

Starting when I was in college I cut things out and wrote things down that interested me and put them into a folder for future reference.

When it got too thick I'd start another one. 

I must have a zillion such folders in my basement and attic, none of which I ever look at and all of which I'm sure will be trashed by those cleaning house after I crump.

But I digress.

I will say that those folders came in very handy back around the turn of the century when I wrote my last book: a good part of its content derived from references and quotations I'd amassed over previous decades.

Today my commonplace book equivalent consists of this blog, my posts to X and Hacker News, and uploaded YouTube videos a large majority of which feature my beloved, just recently turned 4-years-old calico cat Vanta (top).

Related — I regularly email items of interest to people who produce my favorite websites, paying it forward as it were; those peeps include:

• Charles Arthur of The Overspill

• Clive Thompson of The Linkfest

• Spencer Wright of Scope of Work

• Benedict Evans of Benedict's Newsletter

• Kai Brach of Dense Discovery

• Jason Kottke of Kottke

• Marcin Wichary of Unsung

One more thing: I stumbled on an Amazon page recently that said that I've given 660+ gifts since Amazon started — and received 3.

That sounds about right: I love giving presents but alas no one I know is like me so I never receive surprise gifts.

I just love doing stuff for people that makes their lives easier/better/etc.

If only I had a friend like that....