Craigslist, Mon Amour

Yet again, craigslist has done me right. Not only did it help me find my apartment, and the garage that keeps my car safe from maurading window-smashers, but it's gone a long way in helping me clear out my excess stuff.

It's amazing: post an ad (granted, it must be an ad for something reasonable people might actually want), wait an hour of so, and bask in the glow of replies from interested parties. Via craigslist, I've offloaded a futon, tv stand, desk, cd shelf, bike, non-functioning 9-year-old computer, and DSL router. The best things about said offloading are its quick and painless nature, and the fact that it requires of me only that I stick around my house until people come to fetch their desired goods.

But as if craigslist's supremacy as a bulletin board writ large were not enough, the site is also a most excellent source of entertainment. There are few better ways to waste half an hour than by reading the ads others post. To wit, these selections from the "goods wanted" section:

I'm looking for a male budgie (red or blue) for a lonely female budgie

*********FRIENDS OF PHIL McGOLDRICK*******

DOES * ANYBODY * HAVE * ANY * TIN * CANS??? I really need a tin can or 2 for my litchen. I usually keep mjy sugar and flour in them, but mine broke. Please email meif you have one I could have or buy for low cost.

I NEED THE HOOK UP ON 2 KEGS OF BEER FOR 44TH ANNIVERSARY
I NEED BEER/SODA ON TAP IF YOU HAVE THE HOOK UP PLS EMAIL ME NEEDED FOR WEEKEND OF OCT 18,03 ..PLS HELP ME PLS EMAIL YOUR CHARGE I DONT WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY SO HOOK IT UP .... DONT EVEN TRIP ,,,, PUFF

This isn't even to mention the post requesting a $200,000 loan ("serious inquiries only"), or the one penned by a man who appeared to be asking for a fridge in order to store either his recently deceased sister or his now-orphaned niece (though Isaac read the ad, likely from someone for whom English is a second language, as a request for a fridge because the author's sister had died, leaving behind a child to care for). It's all fascinating.

To craigslist, then, I tip my hat. San Francisco is better for having the site as a resource.