Articles On Information

Surprise! Incoming Packages!

Yesterday was a banner day in the Acquisitions Department; I received three packages in the mail, two of which caught me completely off guard. Now, I admit to overbuying certain "not quite necessary" things via mail order (e.g., writing instruments, silly key caps for mechanical keyboards, and Japanese tea), but I also try to buy everyday necessaries online to the extent possible and economically feasible. Basically, I'm lazy and don't want to waste gas driving around to brick and mortar stores even if doing so results in better deals. This means that I'll buy ordinary goods online from time to time, such as: dental floss; sunscreen; batteries; shampoo; aftershave; paper plates; and coffee filters. This also means that I could have any number of incoming packages in transit at any given time.<br /><br />Getting back to yesterday, package number one was a large box. I knew what it was as soon as I saw the box, but I was still surprised because I had forgotten about my online order. Although the item is not really relevant to this story, it was a framed canvas print of a digital photograph.<br /><br />The other two packages were nearly identical: small padded envelopes. This was interesting because I was expecting only one small package. Indeed, one of the envelopes contained a set of <a href="http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-switch-dampeners.html" target="_blank">40A-L o-rings</a> for my Filco keyboard, as expected. I kinda sorta explained o-ring use in the context of mechanical keyboards <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/2012/09/another-keyboard-facelift.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />The mystery item turned out to be a nice little care package from a friend who shares my interest in writing instruments and other miscellanea. Nothing beats a surprise package of interesting stuff. Unless it's a surprise package of FREE interesting stuff!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmGsGySTJf76k-vElNvvFg6RnkCHY5LdM2eMz0yzIaz83Pof8ZJuACxKKVZ6rEK6UST0jRZjMhvrDFTo1wt8j1mHxWUg8TTjhVZqIn5i7LIbupkp7rPDgYgQRzqZ8CZDzmb3iILpnh4Y/s1600/IMG_5592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmGsGySTJf76k-vElNvvFg6RnkCHY5LdM2eMz0yzIaz83Pof8ZJuACxKKVZ6rEK6UST0jRZjMhvrDFTo1wt8j1mHxWUg8TTjhVZqIn5i7LIbupkp7rPDgYgQRzqZ8CZDzmb3iILpnh4Y/s320/IMG_5592.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise! Free Stuff For Me!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So this is what my life has become: cheap thrills over a cheap pencil, a tiny pump mechanism ("I don't even know what this is! This sort of thing ain't my bag, baby"), and some string. Hey, it was free and as they say: "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" (I think that's the proper context). Rather than identify and explain the freebies, I'll simply show the note that I received in the package:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolwQNZLVL8TKcnx_pnJeUv-vMVsxBZutYoosAV6WgW_sFDDjQL8u78JtRfHncgEBCjhyphenhyphenirePhyMPMd2EQWY5ZOS5tl3ePEZ2G1mX-nrSYCkHJvjx18xBmsrtFVstQK3kQ8rkF3kr-RbI/s1600/IMG_5596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolwQNZLVL8TKcnx_pnJeUv-vMVsxBZutYoosAV6WgW_sFDDjQL8u78JtRfHncgEBCjhyphenhyphenirePhyMPMd2EQWY5ZOS5tl3ePEZ2G1mX-nrSYCkHJvjx18xBmsrtFVstQK3kQ8rkF3kr-RbI/s320/IMG_5596.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, What's In The Bag, Baby?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'm stoked about this acquisition, and can't wait to give items (1) and (2) a try. I'm not sure about item (5), but perhaps I can tie something together today out of respect and as a gesture of thanks.<br /><br />Let's summarize the new arrivals: a big framed picture; a set of o-ring keyboard dampeners; a Lamy refill thingy; a hacked Mont Blanc refill suitable for use in a Pilot G2 pen body; some pencil lead; a Zebra Color Flight mechanical pencil; and a useless length of paracord. Yesterday was a good day.