Breakaway News Volume No. 12 Issue No. 12 December 2007

Happy Holidays!

Breakaway wishes all of our clients Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. As always, Breakaway is standing by at Code Red (Alpha one-zero-niner Delta!) to help you with your holiday needs, large or small. See the reverse side for important holiday planning tips.

Messenger Relativity

How long does it take to bicycle from 42^nd street to 57^th street? Ten seconds per block, multiplied by 15 blocks, equals 150 seconds. How long does it take for a package to go from the mailroom to the 26^th floor? Five hours! Often, a package can languish for days in a mailroom, even rush packages. The solution: label the item with the contact’s name and number so they can be called when the package arrives.

Leaping Leopards!

We went to a Mac OS X launch party, and it was crammed with Mac maniacs, live jazz, free beer and real leopards (only two of the Mac faithful were eaten). Now that’s how you launch an OS! If your laptop needs a lift, or your computer must be carried somewhere, Breakaway’s messengers have a high data-transfer rate (i.e. we’re fast).

Leftover Love

Pavlov would be proud. We’ve become habituated to the baked goods that staffer MN brings in every morning. His wife runs Cheeks bakery in Williamsburg, so every morning he brings in leftover goodies like scones, muffins, and cake. The downside: each muffin is at least 2 more laps around Central Park.

Elevator Talk

“All I’m doing is running drugs for people. I don’t wanna run drugs anymore.”

Just one of the many conversations overheard by our messengers every day.

New Beginnings

Staffer and Newsletter editor RM is in school for acupuncture, and will be leaving in January to pursue it full-time. He’ll be an intern at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, so, if ever you feel the urge to be made into a human pin cushion, call the school and ask for Rob Martinez’ shift.

Coining a Phrase

Do you have that guy on staff who, while going to the store, asks if you want anything, but never gets it anyway? We had that guy, in spades. He once asked us if we wanted anything, and when we asked for a seltzer, he replied, without a hint of irony, “I’m not going that way.” This was years ago, but we still say, “I’m not going that way,” in fond remembrance of his recalcitrance.

Stump the Band

Last month, we asked you what fantasy series featured a ring of power and a leper as its hero. The answer: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, by Stephen R. Donaldson.

Trivia Question

What Manhattan street is laid out on a precise East-West orientation? The first person to call Robert Martinez with the correct answer will win a  coveted Breakaway Courier t-shirt.