September 2009 Archives

The Aeron is the chair that seems to get all the great press. And it is a nice chair. But I'm not a big fan of the mesh. (If you like mesh, you should probably get the Mirra, which is basically the Aeron v2.0.) For long periods of sitting, I prefer firmer support.

For me it was a toss-up between the Leap and the Criterion. Both are excellent chairs. ConsumerSearch.com gives the nod to the Leap. I went with the Criterion because it felt just as good to me, and I was able to get an excellent deal on a refurbished one at a local office supply store.

Whatever you do, don't just buy the first cheap chair you come across at Office Depot or OfficeMax. I got my first chair at Costco for about $150, and I got what I paid for. The joints weren't solid so they shifted and squeaked as I moved, the padding quickly compressed, and the fabric easily stained.

 

Get  a Criterion chair from Amazon

I recently got back into chewing gum. I had my share of gum as a kid (Bazooka, Hubba Bubba, Big League Chew), but I gave it up long ago. Then I worked at a place that had really great snacks and gum. It turns out the gum has a lot less calories than the snacks. It was a great way for me to keep my mouth occupied without stuffing it with completely unnecessary calories.

When I started buying gum for myself about a year ago, I went out and sampled many of the popular brands: Orbit, Stride, Trident, Eclipse. Orbit was my clear favorite. It topped my list in all of the dimensions I cared about:

• A wide variety of flavors, many of which I enjoy
• The flavor lasts a long time
• The texture and consistency of the gum is practically perfect, and it doesn't degrade over time.
• You get a lot of gum for your money (it's < 10¢ per piece, and sometimes as low as 5¢)
  
• I like the branding and packaging (hey, this stuff matters to a design geek like me)
  

I've found the best price to be at my local Target. They often have 3-packs on sale for $2. As for my favorite flavors, I think the Citrus Mint and Bubble Mint. But I also like to mix it up with some of the more exotic flavors like Maui Melon and Sangria Fresca. Start off with a variety pack, and then branch out from there.

Get an Orbit variety pack from Amazon

Get Etymotic ER-20 from Amazon