Blog Gives Detailed Account of New Laundry Basket Purchase!

If you’re like most people with a healthy sense of curiosity, you often find yourself whiling away the hours thinking about what type of laundry basket a successful creative director at a big-time New York ad agency uses and the reasons behind the purchase. Before the dawn of the information-rich Internet, quenching this thirst would be near impossible.

Now thanks to Micah Josten and his daily blog (No Sleep in Brooklyn Bee-atch), the average joe can now enjoy a no-holds-barred, insider view of not only what type of laundry basket Josten currently uses, but also a blow-by-blow account of the how, what, when, where and why he decided to purchase the white Rubbermaid Hip Hugger Laundry Basket and why the other baskets didn’t measure up.

Jansen puts in solid 10+ hour days at his agency, but still finds time to update his blog and let the world now how he “kicks it” in his Brooklyn neighborhood, detailing every facet of his life – from his love of the new Scissor Sisters CD, PBR cans and vintage tees to his fear of his “old-school” corner bar becoming too “trendy.” While these frequent missives are fascinating in their own right and viewed by “more people than you’d ever believe… my page views are insane,” they pale in comparison to the finely detailed treatment he gives to his acquisitions, both large and small.

Most recently, he sent shockwaves through the blogging community with a prolix post extolling his functional yet stylish white laundry basket, replete with a ergonomic, curved design, three sturdy grab-through handles and the heavy-duty construction and smooth finish that one comes to expect from a quality Rubbermaid product. Josten feels an immense sense of pride that his review will help educate all those contemplating buying a new basket. One reader comment posted 39 minutes after the initial post read:

“Cool. I’ll check it out if mine ever wears out… BTW, can I borrow your ‘Alias: Season Three’ DVD? - Sam”

Many bloggers would be content giving their faithful readers a passing mention that they picked up a new laundry basket at the local Bed Bath and Beyond after grabbing coffee and picking up some fresh clementines at their favorite Korean grocer, but that is where the normal “amateur” blogger and Josten differ. Josten describes his 02/20/05, 1,300-word entry dedicated to the purchase of his basket as “Just the way I do things, bro. I give it 100% or don’t do it at all.”

Sample text from Blog entry entitled “A Tisket a Tasket, A Brand New Laundry Basket”:

“After test driving some twenty-odd other baskets (don’t worry, I didn’t actually sit in them and steer them around the aisles!) in the five stores I’ve visited today, I have narrowed my decision down to two models. While I love the aesthetics of the Home Willow Laundry Basket with its rustic charm, I am a bit concerned the wicker will wear down in time and the edges might poke through, posing a threat to my clothes. Rubbermaid Hip Hugger Laundry Basket with its smooth finish will surely prevent any snagging of my delicate items. To really seal the deal, I went looking for a store associate to check on any warranty info he or she might have on the products.”

Despite the time and dedication it takes to write such exhaustive entries on his blog — six posts per day on average — do not be fooled. Josten is extremely busy and in no way does this activity get in the way of his day job or interfere with his social life.

“I’m just an expert at multi-tasking and optimizing my time,” Josten said as he types in a new entry, speaks on his cell and stirs his steaming cup of herbal tea at his desk. “That’s why the hip-hugging feature of my new laundry basket was so crucial in my decision-making process. This simple yet ingenious functionality allows me to hold a full basket of clothes with only one hand and my hip, freeing up my other hand to update my blog on my Blackberry.”

Jeff Lyons
Infotainment Reporter