usually if you right click on stuff like the microwave chip it says "other", which tends to be a euphymism for "something the gadgeteer needs to use with a second item to get a neat, cool third item".
sometimes they are just for use later on, tho. if you don't know what to do, stuff them in a chest somewhere and wait to see if down the line someone comes up to you and begs you for a bottle of goo.
notes in this game are usually to get you something. since that is a note with religious connotations, maybe you need to show it to some high church official? ::hint hint:: just thrust it in his face and see if he responds.
this game requires you to do a lot of stuff like that to get further along in the plot and/or aquire experience.
good luck!
V***V
ADDITION: Fireball is a Level 7 spell, and thats NOT your mage's level. its your Spell Level. she won't get that for quite a while. your manual has a list of what class levels correspond to spell levels. but i think she will have to be Class Level 18 to get it.
[ 01-16-2002: Message edited by: vesselle ]