I got an unexpected Christmas present from a favorite author. She doesn't realize she sent it, but I'm grateful nonetheless. The author is Olivia Judson--her book Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation is one of my all-time favorites. Don't worry, Kelley, it's not creepy. The gift? In a recent column she confessed to an organizational obsession quite similar to mine, and she recommended a FireFox plug-in, Zotero, that helps organize research.
You may be saying to yourself "I have no research to organize" but think of research a little more broadly. For example, I'm using it to keep track of all my online purchases. You know when a site says "keep a record of this confirmation"? Zotero can take a snapshot of that page with one click and store it in a file you create and name "Purchases." I'm also using it to log sites I want to revisit but don't have time right now. Zotero saves the link with any name I want in a file I've titled "Check when Bored" (I know I could bookmark it, but my Favorites file is a freaking black hole of death). All those great outfits and household items Kelley's been recommending? Zotero snapshots of the webpage go in my file called "CI's Personal Magazine" which I can leaf through anytime I want inspiration. One of the coolest capabilities is Zotero's ability to search your stored files and their attached notes; very helpful when you forget the logic you used when you organized everything so well.
Unfortunately the designers at Zotero thought they were creating software for scientists so the interface is overly complex and includes features you'll never need (to their credit, they have an excellent tutorial). But if you've got papers piled around your desk, digital files saved all across your computer desktop and half a dozen "To Do" lists littered around your house, this site could be Nirvana for you.
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