Recently Purchased: Help, I Have Allergies

So there I was--my second time to Duane Reade in 20 minutes. Nose running, eyes watering, nervous about wether or not my co-workers have noticed me wiping my nose for the past hour. I had just bought Sudafed for my sinuses but I realized that I was just having allergies from something in the office building, possibly from the paint they’re using at the new office across the hall. Being an intern, I definitely didn't want to be perceived as the "sick guy" at work who uses the same tissue over and over again, but sadly I was slowly reaching that status. I needed to do something. So I returned to Duane Reade, grabbed a travel pack of Zyrtec for an over priced 8 dollars and searched for a single travel pack of tissues. For some reason the travel size tissues come in what seems like an 18 pack or something--all I needed was one. (This is something I will never understand as I refuse to buy 18 of anything besides beer.) Not giving in to their sales ploy I decided to just use toilet paper for the rest of the day. I didn’t care about the chapped discomfort my nose would soon be feeling, I most certainly didn't want to arrive back at the office with a plethora of tissues all for myself. Defeated and soon to be broke, I made my way towards the cashier when I came across this:


I didn’t want to get my hopes up though. Was it possible that there’s such a thing as a well designed, cleverly written, personable pharmaceutical product that seems like it’s made for design nerds? And for under 4 dollars? Am I seeing things? So I reached for it and thankfully, I was not hallucinating from the Sudafed--this product was real. I was as happy and thankful as an allergenic grade schooler with a new inhaler. I clenched it tight and walked towards the cashier. I placed my new product on the counter and what do you know, I even found a single pack of travel tissues. I was overjoyed. It seemed like my allergies had already been lifted out of my face and I hadn't even gotten past geeking out over the clever copy on the back. I returned to the office, proud to place my newly purchased allergy medicine on my desk. I popped a pill, and let it help me get through the rest of my day. I never thought I'd fully back medicine brand the way I do now, but it works. I guess they know their audience. And as it turns out, not only do they make a good product, they have a good website too. Cleverly written, fun stuff to do, t-shirts to buy, etc. Check it out and see what other products they have as well.
Thanks for the help, Help.

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Recently Purchased: Chemex Coffeemaker

The kitchen appliance I'm most proud of owning, which is also the only thing in my kitchen that I've ever purchased, is the Chemex Coffeemaker (That's steam in the photo. It's not dirty, I swear). Designed in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm, the Chemex Coffeemaker was named one of the "Best Designed Products of Modern Times" and is still pretty darn sexy. Below are some manuals I snapped photos of at the MoMA.


This bottom one I'm confused about. It reads "In this age of CANNIBALLISTICS these 100 products are one hundred rays of hope for the World's Youth." If you know what the heck that means, please comment. I don't get it.

Recently Purchased: People Who Deserve It (Socially Responsible Reasons To Punch Someone In The Face)

Just received this book in the mail this morning and it's been keeping me occupied all day. Written by copywriters Casey Rand and Tim Gordon, the book is full of illustrations and short blurbs about people who deserve to get punched in the face. Such as: "Impatient Subway Boarder". "Slow-Ass ATM User", "Faulty Coffee Lid", "Cries At Anything Girl", "Incessant Facebook Status Updater" and more. Personal favorite of mine is "Digital Camera Viewer Stealer", aka the guy who you show one picture to on your camera and then they wind up going through your whole life and never give the camera back. Good stuff. Oder the book here, and peep their blog.

Recently Purchased: New Order "Ceremony" 7"

Recently picked this up at a small record store for the mere price of $8, which is a steal. I love the type and how it being stamped makes it very reminiscent of a tombstone. Joy Division always had this sort of look to their album covers, but this seems even more fitting being that the song was written by Ian Curtis for Joy Division prior to his death, and then later released as New Order's first single after he died. Also a creepy, but cool addition, it has the words "Watching Forever" etched on the Ceremony side, and "How I Wish You Were Here With Me Now" on side two. The classic Factory Records logo is also present on both sides of the record which is a nice touch.

You can read more about it on the Wiki page.

Recently Purchased: Tabu Licorice

I picked up this tin of licorice full on knowing that I wouldn't like it because I generally don't like licorice, but I bought it anyway just for the packaging. Caffe Capri, located down the block from me, has a whole slew of imported products from Italy and this tin has been catching my eye every morning. Now this isn't a new cafe pretending to be euro and selling something over priced and imported just for the sake of it, these people are actually old and Italian and it feels like I'm hanging out with my relatives when I walk in there. Not to mention, they make the best iced coffee ever. But anyway, on to the licorice.

Great logo, color and type all around. Now it's time to open it up.

Turns out you have to twist it to open, and it has an opening just big enough to fit one or two pieces through. Clever.

And just like I thought, I didn't like them. Just not my thing. They look and taste a little like mouse turds, but I still love the packaging.

Edit: Also, just stumbled upon this ridiculously racist Tabu commercial on the YouTube: