diff --git a/de/xinitrc b/de/xinitrc
index 5fcfe53..b59063e 100644
--- a/de/xinitrc
+++ b/de/xinitrc
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ pulseaudio --start &
 
 xset s off -dpms &
 
+redshift &
+
 urxvtd &
 
 autocutsel -fork &
diff --git a/shell/bashrc b/shell/bashrc
index 174c15f..ff5dad9 100644
--- a/shell/bashrc
+++ b/shell/bashrc
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ if [ "$PWD" = "$HOME" ]; then
   cd "$NICE_HOME"
 fi
 
+_make_paths
+
 LS_COLORS='ow=01;36;40'
 export LS_COLORS
 
diff --git a/shell/funcs b/shell/funcs
index eccd54e..1806acf 100644
--- a/shell/funcs
+++ b/shell/funcs
@@ -46,11 +46,16 @@ editscrot() {
 
 n() {
 	SUBDIR="${2:-}"
-	mkdir -p "$NICE_HOME/doc/notes/$SUBDIR"
-	"$EDITOR" "$NICE_HOME/doc/notes/$SUBDIR/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)_$1.md"
+	mkdir -p "$NOTES_PATH/$SUBDIR"
+	"$EDITOR" "$NOTES_PATH/$SUBDIR/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)_$1.md"
 }
 export -f n
 
+s() {
+	"$EDITOR" "$NOTES_PATH/_scratch.md"
+}
+export -f s
+
 # save the current directory for later retrieval
 scwd() {
 	addon=""
diff --git a/shell/paths b/shell/paths
index ac26010..6af0847 100644
--- a/shell/paths
+++ b/shell/paths
@@ -18,3 +18,10 @@ fi
 if command -v ruby >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 	export PATH="$(ruby -e 'print Gem.user_dir')/bin:$PATH"
 fi
+
+export NOTES_PATH="$NICE_HOME/doc/notes"
+
+_make_paths() {
+	mkdir -p "${NOTES_PATH}"
+}
+export -f _make_paths