In addition to today's national news stories officially announcing that we've been in a recession since last year (SRSLY?), I've received a few emails in the past couple of days from other Chicagoanas who have projects and Websites dedicated to finding things in the trash. Several emails in 2-3 days means that "finding things in the trash" might be on its way to becoming an official and growing TREND, at least according to some mainstream media measurements. Certainly it will become more mainstream, if the economy continues doing what it's doing (fall apart) and people find themselves without enough money to buy brand-new stuff.
The Websites:
Perfectly Good actually has a project underway that involves photographing her finds as well as collecting people's stories about finding and leaving things in the trash. You can see some of her discoveries below (and at right -- lace camisole).
And today, Chicagoan Diana Durkes wrote to say she has been following this site for a few months, and recently created her own online shrine to the lost and found: FineDiving. She blogged about FoundClothing back in October. Because Chicago is actually a small town dressed up in skyscrapers, Diana has already heard about Perfectly Good, and has blogged about her (as well as other people who have been pursuing found item projects).
Get in on the action, folks! Set up your own found____.whatever.com Websites. Found = franchise/a potential pathway to microstardom. Some ideas for new "FoundWebsites" that a friend and I recently came up with, all free for the taking:
-- foundrawmeat.wordpress.com
-- foundcookies.livejournal.com
-- foundproblems.pitas.com
--foundbureaucracy.tumblr.com
-- The bacon grease one, which references The Grapes of Wrath; the Joads ate bacon grease in their gruel (foundgruel.typepad.com) "for strength."
In all seriousness, it's great that people are coming up with their own sites and spins on finding things in the trash. That's change I can believe in.
OMG. I didn't know diaryland still exists, just went there, and yes it does. Thanks for the mention FC. Let's meet later by our usual spot, 2nd alley in, third dumpster on the left.
Posted by: Diana | December 02, 2008 at 08:38 AM
What in the hell is wrong with people, throwing perfectly good things away? Do they seriously not know about Goodwill or Salvation Army??
Posted by: kcm | January 04, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Don't people know that there is something called the good will?
BTW, I just stumbled on your site - I love these types of blogs, hilarious. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Ed Hardy | January 04, 2009 at 08:33 PM