Post by Todd on Jul 27, 2016 8:27:41 GMT -5
My dear fellow members of the Mysterious Package Company,
It is with great dismay that I must relate the following tale. The new intern descended into our warehouse a few days past, and discovered to their horror that every single copy of the most recent issue of Curios and Cunnundrums had been defaced.
The strange grafitus that marred every issue seems to be nothing more than childish iconoclasm, the random scribbles of a boorish youth (although one of the employees was heard to remark that it seemed to them to be the initials S and Z).
Luckily no one was harmed, and while the local constabulary goes about the unpleasant business of determining the truth behind this act, I am assured by the staff that replacement copies of the quarterly publication are being printed with all possible haste, and after a regrettable but unavoidable delay, they shall wing their way to your postal delivery officer.
By way of apology for this unpleasantness, I have been informed that a small special insert will be included with this edition for your further entertainment. It is hoped that this will reward you for this extra demand upon your patience.
Yours truly,
Bernard Wright
Bernard Wright
Posted 10 months ago
Bernard, thank you for letting us know about the delay. The extra wait, will make the arrival of the C & C that much more exciting.
enaxor
Posted 10 months ago
Goodness me! Perhaps some security cameras would not go amiss after all, since it seems there is a weakness in your current system. I do hope the full weight of the law is brought against the culprits. In the meantime, we shall have to content ourselves with grasping at whatever flimsy straws remain thus far untouched. I, for one, will certainly need another drink to see me through this interminable wait...
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 10 months ago
Perfection can not be rushed! Nor should it be defaced much luck with the finding of the graffiti fiends.
The Beard
Posted 10 months ago
Perhaps that is why my delightful Curio Catch Up kit was missing the latest paper, although the Curator had informed me in an email that my kit would indeed contain the latest issue. Now that I know of this vandalism, I am relieved to know my catch up kit will be completed post haste.
Mina H.
Posted 10 months ago
It was with some glee that I noticed, when last I visited the hallowed halls of the Mysterious Package Company, the local postal serviceman groaning under the weight of the reams of Curios & Conundrums that had been reprinted and were on their way. You should be receiving them shortly.
Bernard Wright
Posted 9 months ago
My copy of C&C arrived today! Very interesting stuff, lots of fiddly bits. Wonder if everyone else receives the same things with it.
Mike Rotch
Posted 9 months ago
Good afternoon my dear Pionono.
As a fellow member of this most remarkable club, I can say that while in general most club members do receive more or less the same inclusions in the Curator's quarterly missives, there are often subtle variations between them. For example earlier this year there were a few semi-precious cut gems included in our package. I myself received a garnet, smokey quartz and a clear quartz gem. Other members reported receiving different gems - which created a degree of interest and conversation!
I must comment that the postal services used by this organisation is remarkably efficient. I currently abide in regional Australia, about 1/2 a day's drive west of the nearest city of any size and my package arrived this morning - barely a week after yours. An impressive achievement considering that I am as close to being on the other side of the planet as the location of The Company's alleged headquarters.
Michael Coombes
Posted 9 months ago
Hi Michael, I've noticed the variations in what members receive and subtle is indeed what they are. I have often wondered whether such difference is important, or whether they're simply a variation on the same theme. What I mean is, whether the difference is actually a clue as much as the similarities obviously are clues. In such situations, I'm reminded of that oft referenced song from Sesame Street; 'One Of These Things is Not Like The Others', do you know it? The lyrics are quite fun:
One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others By the time I finish my song?
Did you guess which thing was not like the others? Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong? If you guessed this one is not like the others, Then you're absolutely...right!
Perhaps, I'm over-thinking the issue, but it's quite clear, MPC goes to levels of detail that's literally astonishing. And, it would be remiss of me not to say here that I am very excited by such challenges even if, on occasion, I pull my hair out in utter frustration at my apparent lack of progress in solving them!
I don't know much about their postal options and speed of delivery to the rest of the world, but Canada Post has had an ongoing financial crisis that threatened to end door-to-door delivery of regular mail and have the customer pick up their own mail in depots, while at the same time crown corporation (the operator) began increasing the cost of its postage rate. I guess you're lucky to have gotten your packages so quickly in the land of Oz.
Mike Rotch
Posted 9 months ago
I actually had a loose theory on the differences in the items, in particular the tickets. It might mean nothing but each of the tickets have different numbers. These tickets are OUR tickets; tickets to the ferry, to the Orient Express and so on. It might be nothing...then again it could be everything.
Kevin C. Johnson
Posted 9 months ago
It'd be good to take a survey of everyone's ticket numbers, just in case. I'll put them up on the Wikia page when I update that for the new issue.
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 9 months ago
Hi Chelsea, my ticket number -for what it's worth- is 00397 and the name on the ticket is Randolph Sinclair, the year is 1898. (scan of Orient ticket and telegraph reel messages is here: tinypic.com/view.php?pic=20jdwj&s=8#.VJnmqwpAJA)
Mike Rotch
Posted 9 months ago
Hello, Brethren,
My ticket is 297... Working on the crossword now.
Let the journey continue...
mskimie
Posted 9 months ago
Please find herein the ticket issue number for a Personal Ticket for the Orient Express (1898) as sent to me, for one Randolph Sinclair with the signatory of the Director General of said enterprise, Mihiary?. Ticket No.: 00225
Noted elsewhere was the receipt of a postcard adorned with a hand stitched fez. The previous notes had stated that it had a Sanskrit text upon it, and while there is much conveyance between the two languages, it is actually Arabic (of a simplified tourist variety) on the postcard. It translates to (roughly) Marrakesh, an apparent indicator of the original location of the postcard, as is custom. Further it is written left to right rather than right to left, as well as an expanded isolated alphabet, rather than the condensed form that would normally read as: مراكش
floodriptide
Posted 9 months ago
It is readily apparent that I failed to note the difference between ' and the backtick character. I will endeavor not to fail my fellow travelers and scholars in the future. If there is some methodology for modifying or editing a previous missive, I would be grateful to any insight that I might be directed to in the interest in doing so. I may be reached at: floodriptidie@optonine.net My humblest,
floodriptide
Posted 9 months ago
The Postcard could also be translated as: al maghrib; make of this what you will. My reference to Marakesh may have been a supposition as Marakesh resides within the Maghreb region.
floodriptide
Posted 9 months ago
I have added my ticket number to the wiki page as well.
'Mouse' -DeathofaLemon
Posted 9 months ago
It is with great dismay that I must relate the following tale. The new intern descended into our warehouse a few days past, and discovered to their horror that every single copy of the most recent issue of Curios and Cunnundrums had been defaced.
The strange grafitus that marred every issue seems to be nothing more than childish iconoclasm, the random scribbles of a boorish youth (although one of the employees was heard to remark that it seemed to them to be the initials S and Z).
Luckily no one was harmed, and while the local constabulary goes about the unpleasant business of determining the truth behind this act, I am assured by the staff that replacement copies of the quarterly publication are being printed with all possible haste, and after a regrettable but unavoidable delay, they shall wing their way to your postal delivery officer.
By way of apology for this unpleasantness, I have been informed that a small special insert will be included with this edition for your further entertainment. It is hoped that this will reward you for this extra demand upon your patience.
Yours truly,
Bernard Wright
Bernard Wright
Posted 10 months ago
Bernard, thank you for letting us know about the delay. The extra wait, will make the arrival of the C & C that much more exciting.
enaxor
Posted 10 months ago
Goodness me! Perhaps some security cameras would not go amiss after all, since it seems there is a weakness in your current system. I do hope the full weight of the law is brought against the culprits. In the meantime, we shall have to content ourselves with grasping at whatever flimsy straws remain thus far untouched. I, for one, will certainly need another drink to see me through this interminable wait...
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 10 months ago
Perfection can not be rushed! Nor should it be defaced much luck with the finding of the graffiti fiends.
The Beard
Posted 10 months ago
Perhaps that is why my delightful Curio Catch Up kit was missing the latest paper, although the Curator had informed me in an email that my kit would indeed contain the latest issue. Now that I know of this vandalism, I am relieved to know my catch up kit will be completed post haste.
Mina H.
Posted 10 months ago
It was with some glee that I noticed, when last I visited the hallowed halls of the Mysterious Package Company, the local postal serviceman groaning under the weight of the reams of Curios & Conundrums that had been reprinted and were on their way. You should be receiving them shortly.
Bernard Wright
Posted 9 months ago
My copy of C&C arrived today! Very interesting stuff, lots of fiddly bits. Wonder if everyone else receives the same things with it.
Mike Rotch
Posted 9 months ago
Good afternoon my dear Pionono.
As a fellow member of this most remarkable club, I can say that while in general most club members do receive more or less the same inclusions in the Curator's quarterly missives, there are often subtle variations between them. For example earlier this year there were a few semi-precious cut gems included in our package. I myself received a garnet, smokey quartz and a clear quartz gem. Other members reported receiving different gems - which created a degree of interest and conversation!
I must comment that the postal services used by this organisation is remarkably efficient. I currently abide in regional Australia, about 1/2 a day's drive west of the nearest city of any size and my package arrived this morning - barely a week after yours. An impressive achievement considering that I am as close to being on the other side of the planet as the location of The Company's alleged headquarters.
Michael Coombes
Posted 9 months ago
Hi Michael, I've noticed the variations in what members receive and subtle is indeed what they are. I have often wondered whether such difference is important, or whether they're simply a variation on the same theme. What I mean is, whether the difference is actually a clue as much as the similarities obviously are clues. In such situations, I'm reminded of that oft referenced song from Sesame Street; 'One Of These Things is Not Like The Others', do you know it? The lyrics are quite fun:
One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others By the time I finish my song?
Did you guess which thing was not like the others? Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong? If you guessed this one is not like the others, Then you're absolutely...right!
Perhaps, I'm over-thinking the issue, but it's quite clear, MPC goes to levels of detail that's literally astonishing. And, it would be remiss of me not to say here that I am very excited by such challenges even if, on occasion, I pull my hair out in utter frustration at my apparent lack of progress in solving them!
I don't know much about their postal options and speed of delivery to the rest of the world, but Canada Post has had an ongoing financial crisis that threatened to end door-to-door delivery of regular mail and have the customer pick up their own mail in depots, while at the same time crown corporation (the operator) began increasing the cost of its postage rate. I guess you're lucky to have gotten your packages so quickly in the land of Oz.
Mike Rotch
Posted 9 months ago
I actually had a loose theory on the differences in the items, in particular the tickets. It might mean nothing but each of the tickets have different numbers. These tickets are OUR tickets; tickets to the ferry, to the Orient Express and so on. It might be nothing...then again it could be everything.
Kevin C. Johnson
Posted 9 months ago
It'd be good to take a survey of everyone's ticket numbers, just in case. I'll put them up on the Wikia page when I update that for the new issue.
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 9 months ago
Hi Chelsea, my ticket number -for what it's worth- is 00397 and the name on the ticket is Randolph Sinclair, the year is 1898. (scan of Orient ticket and telegraph reel messages is here: tinypic.com/view.php?pic=20jdwj&s=8#.VJnmqwpAJA)
Mike Rotch
Posted 9 months ago
Hello, Brethren,
My ticket is 297... Working on the crossword now.
Let the journey continue...
mskimie
Posted 9 months ago
Please find herein the ticket issue number for a Personal Ticket for the Orient Express (1898) as sent to me, for one Randolph Sinclair with the signatory of the Director General of said enterprise, Mihiary?. Ticket No.: 00225
Noted elsewhere was the receipt of a postcard adorned with a hand stitched fez. The previous notes had stated that it had a Sanskrit text upon it, and while there is much conveyance between the two languages, it is actually Arabic (of a simplified tourist variety) on the postcard. It translates to (roughly) Marrakesh, an apparent indicator of the original location of the postcard, as is custom. Further it is written left to right rather than right to left, as well as an expanded isolated alphabet, rather than the condensed form that would normally read as: مراكش
floodriptide
Posted 9 months ago
It is readily apparent that I failed to note the difference between ' and the backtick character. I will endeavor not to fail my fellow travelers and scholars in the future. If there is some methodology for modifying or editing a previous missive, I would be grateful to any insight that I might be directed to in the interest in doing so. I may be reached at: floodriptidie@optonine.net My humblest,
floodriptide
Posted 9 months ago
The Postcard could also be translated as: al maghrib; make of this what you will. My reference to Marakesh may have been a supposition as Marakesh resides within the Maghreb region.
floodriptide
Posted 9 months ago
I have added my ticket number to the wiki page as well.
'Mouse' -DeathofaLemon
Posted 9 months ago