Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Progress
I've noticed a quiet yet important technological innovation in my breakfast cereal. It used to be that cereal boxes closed by means of a tab-and-slot mechanism on the top of the box. After opening the box for the first time and eating some of its delicious contents, you had to punch out the little slot to stick the tab into. Often, fumbling fingers with a little too much pressure would rip the area around the slot, and you wound up with a little cardboard flag on top of your Lucky Charms.
No longer. Modern cereal companies--without fanfare--have done away with the punch-out slot and replaced it with a pre-cut indentation. The tab still fits under the indentation like the slot, but without the risk of tearing up your box, and with a lot easier movement. Take a look at your own cereal if what I'm describing makes no sense. It makes me proud to be an American.
No longer. Modern cereal companies--without fanfare--have done away with the punch-out slot and replaced it with a pre-cut indentation. The tab still fits under the indentation like the slot, but without the risk of tearing up your box, and with a lot easier movement. Take a look at your own cereal if what I'm describing makes no sense. It makes me proud to be an American.
Comments:
I am glad to see somebody else has noticed the best micro-evolutionary manufacturing change since the boar hair toothbrush switched to nylon bristles (which subsequently lowered the cost of a toothbrush allowing family members to each have their own and not have to share).
Gosh, Anonymous. I had no idea toothbrushes used to be made out of boar's hair. Ew. But yes, it's noticing these little things that make me happy.
As long as we're talking about gross forms of toiletries, when was toiletpaper invented, and what did they use before then?
As long as we're talking about gross forms of toiletries, when was toiletpaper invented, and what did they use before then?
I saw a boar's hair toothbrush on the shelf in a shop in Argentina and bought it out of curiosity. It tasted and felt like it seems boar's hair ought to. It was even Colgate brand.
--John Mansfield (not the same Anonymous as above)
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--John Mansfield (not the same Anonymous as above)
