'Solve the problem with what's in the room.'

Edwin H. Land, inventor of the Polaroid camera, among other things.

I've always liked his point of view.

FunFact: In the matter of U.S. patents granted, Land, with over 500 to his name, stands second only to Thomas Edison.

My admiration for things that have no moving parts but fulfill a function or do a job is a corollary to Land's dictum.

For many years, I was bedeviled by the problem of noting things of interest in newspapers or magazines.

Marking the spot with a pen or marker is annoying; putting a Post-It at each place gets old in a hurry.

Then, about a year ago, the solution occcurred to me in a flash.

Simply make a small vertical tear - an inch or so long - right across the words that interest me.

When I go back to the article later, I know just what to look at.

No moving parts; no additional implement/tool (pen, etc.) required.

"Solve the problem with what's in the room."

With books, it's different: I don't like tearing pages of books.

What to do?

Again, written notes/annotations or Post-Its just don't do the trick.

Bending a corner of the page in question helps, but doesn't direct me to the precise spot I want to refer to.

Then, about six months ago bingo, problem solved.

Simply bend the page so the folded corner points to the spot I want.

If there are two or more items, or places on the front and back of a single page, no problema: make more bends/folds, so that unbending/unfolding reveals them all.

Now why didn't I think of that?

Wait I minute... I did.