Debra Pickett

On my first day at the Sun-Times, I was given several black plastic items as a "desk set."

This, I should point out, is actually several more things than are usually given to new employees here. But I was hired by an editor (long since gone) who believed in really spoiling her writers.

So I got my own stapler, tape dispenser, letter opener, Post-It note holder, in-and-out box set, magazine holder, daily calendar and Rolodex.

Being enough of a geek to be fully committed to paperless-ness (not a popular attitude at a newspaper, but never mind that), I've never used either the calendar or the Rolodex.

If you can come up with a creative use for them, they're yours.