“With an earful of foam, rush hours become office hours, but quieter still”

To use Mack’s Soft Foam Earplugs, you roll them like boogers between your thumb and forefinger and stuff them in your ears. As the foam expands, creating a seal between your brain and the world, you’ll experience the sensation of falling into a dreamland, where everything is the same as before except thrillingly dampened. Stock up on reading material and philosophical concerns, for the world is your sanctuary now. Con­sider the fleetingness of existence while you treat Times Square like your living room. Unpack Judith Butler in a crowded bar. With an earful of foam, rush hours become office hours, but quieter still.

Jamie Lauren Keiles, “Mack’s Earplugs”, The New York Times Magazine (18 October 2015), 26-27.