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Archive for the 'rampant consumerism' Category

Review # 287: Chaser Plus

Monday, May 11th, 2009

I always wanted to try these. My friend Josh tried them years ago but he was already drunk, and you’re supposed to take the pill with your first drink. After I bought these recently I tried them but then didn’t drink enough to get a hangover anyway. This weekend i think was a real test. Now I had more than one or two drinks when I took two pills, but I’m sure that was fine. I had more drinks and later took two more pills. The instructions say to take two every 4 to 6 drinks.
How did it work? Was I hungover? Yes and yes. I still had some hangover symptoms…nausea mostly, low energy. But I really feel that I would have been feeling much worse if I hadn’t taken the Chaser. Between that, a bong hit, and a few Mother’s Day pancakes from Jeremy, I was prepared to coast through a mind-numbingly slow work day.

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Review #285: Mattress in a Box

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

The king size mattress came in a box the size of, um…a big trunk. To see how in God’s name a king-sized mattress got into that box, watch this video. It has a twin or something, though.

It was awesome, quite mesmerizing. And the mattress itself is pretty nice. It’s a real-life mattress. A little firm at the moment, but it’s still brand-new. Maybe it’s just the size of the thing that gets me, but I really like it and I’m sleeping better. It was very affordable too. Less than $400 from Overstock.com.

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Review # 284: Butterfinger Buzz

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

When KC first told me about this I wasn’t sure if it was a drink or not. Honestly, I hoped it was. But alas it was still a candy bar and it tasted just like a Butterfinger. Shortly after eating it my stomach didn’t feel so hot but later in the day I was feeling pretty good. That could have been the caffeine from the candy, but I can’t confirm that. Odds are if you want a Butterfinger bar you’d like a boost of energy as well so I’d just say go for it.

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Review # 281: Things I got at Walgreens

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Crackers - Much like Better Cheddar crackers but in a long crescent shape like macaroni.

Hershey’s Thingamajig Candy Bar- Like a cousin of Whatchamacallit, it’s chocolate and rice crisps with a layer of peanut butter on top. It’s delicious but it’s a limited edition thing. Boo!

Walgreens brand Cupcakes- Like Hostess cupcakes but the icing is hard and the cake is dry.

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Review # 279: Jeff Foxworthy Beef Jerky

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

I’m not a huge jerky fan, it’s too tough for my taste. I like it when it’s all soft and moist, almost to the point where it’s no longer considered jerky. Nonetheless, I had to try Jeff Foxworthy’s Jerky because I figured the gimmick would justify it, especially if I reviewed it. It automatically gets a point for being less expensive than the other jerky at my store. Aside from that, it’s pretty good jerky. It’s not too dry but still gives my poor, wussy teeth a workout. It tastes pretty good and I enjoy chewing on it. I don’t think I’ll ever get it again since I don’t generally buy jerky.

Posted in food, rampant consumerism | 2 Comments »

Review # 277: Orville Redenbacher’s Natural Buttery Salt and Cracked Pepper popcorn (mini bags)

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

The size of these mini bags is perfect. The usual size of microwave pop-corn bags is way too big for one person. I assumed that with the “natural” theme of the product the butter and salt aspects would be played down. I was right and that’s fine with me since most microwave pop-corns are way too buttery. What I did not expect was just how much they over compensated for it with the pepper! Holy Cow! I thought “Gosh, this is spicy,” but, since it’s pop-corn, I kept munching on it. Naturally. All the while my mouth was all a-tingle with pepper. It was way too much. I will finish the other three bags of the four pack of course, but I might choose a different flavor if I ever buy these mini bags again.

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Review #275: Tropicana’s new design

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Tropicana orange juice has recently started using a new design including the popular, plain, sans-serif font that many other brands like Quaker Instant Oatmeal have been using lately. It gives the package a more modern look, and the incorporation of the juice glass is subtle and well done.
But the thing I love most about this package is that nowhere on it does it say “Great New Look, Same Great Taste!” Tropicana gave the consumer the benefit of the doubt and decided that they are intelligent enough to know that the new packaging is just that and that it’s not a new product all together. I looked all over the carton, in all the fine print, and nowhere on there does it even mention a new look. I often feel that most package redesigns, especially for well-established brands, are unnecessary but I’m glad that Tropicana didn’t feel the need to draw attention to a pretty obvious change. Kudos to you, Tropicana.

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Review #273: Bags of Gold

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

bags o gold This holiday season we went through a lot of appetizers. Jeremy, after weeks of vigil, was finally able to purchase Pillsbury’s Savorings from Safeway, although they can’t seem to keep the spinach ones in stock and have yet to carry the buffalo chicken flavor. Bags of Gold caught my eye while scanning the frozen section for some alternative. They’re a lot like a crab cake, but instead of cheese crab and won ton, it’s cheese, spinach and Fillo dough. the bag part around the filling is softer than the top, which gets toasty and crunchy in the oven. As much as I like the spinach Savorings, these tasty bags are bigger and have a satisfying crunch to them.

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Review # 270: Campbell’s Select Harvest soup-Chicken and Egg Noodle

Monday, October 6th, 2008

When I saw Campbell’s Select Harvest soups on sale at Safeway for a buck a pop I thought I’d get a few decent meals out of them, as I had from Progresso soups a few weeks prior. I’m guessing these soups are generally better for you than most others, if not from the packaging or ad campaigns, then from the taste. Talk about bland! I added salt to it and it still didn’t help. It’s filling, I’ll give it that. Unfortunately I have another can of this that I’ll end up saving for a rainy day. I also have a can of Italian Wedding. I hope that one’s better. I’ll let you know.

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Review # 267: Hunt’s tomato product cans

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

Dear Hunts,

I find it hard to believe that whoever designs your cans has been oblivious to the innovations of the twenty-first century. I’m not referring to your label, which is certainly modern enough for anyone’s taste, but rather the rigid clunkiness of the actual cans you use. My main gripe? They do not stack.

In one sense I can understand. It’s probably much cheaper to keep the same can design that you’ve had for however many decades you’ve been around. Nonetheless, you should reconsider “getting with the times”. Even Spam, with it’s ever-familiar, trademark key, now has a peel back lid on it’s can. It’s very disrupting to the flow of life when a can is placed on top of another and the top ring is met with a bottom ring of the same size, rather than a receded bottom that would fit nicely behind the lip of the top ring. Del Monte has done it. Muir Glen has done it. Now it is time for you to step up to the plate, and save us all the grief of canned food toppling off of shelves in our grocery stores.

Thank You,
Phil

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Archive for the 'rampant consumerism' Category

Review # 287: Chaser Plus

Review #285: Mattress in a Box

Review # 284: Butterfinger Buzz

Review # 281: Things I got at Walgreens

Review # 279: Jeff Foxworthy Beef Jerky

Review # 277: Orville Redenbacher’s Natural Buttery Salt and Cracked Pepper popcorn (mini bags)

Review #275: Tropicana’s new design

Review #273: Bags of Gold

Review # 270: Campbell’s Select Harvest soup-Chicken and Egg Noodle

Review # 267: Hunt’s tomato product cans