While George has finally licked the Susan problem, the appearance of toxic adhesives was more eerie for me than Jerry's girlfriend was for Kramer.
As an environmental activist, I've been telling people alot about the toxic chemicals in adhesives.
3M, the maker of Post-Its and ScotchGuard, for example, is one of the country's biggest emitters of toxic chemicals. Predictably, 3M opposes the public's right-to-know about the amount of toxics it ships through it vast array of consumer products.
Construction workers and people employed in "sick buildings" can get poisoned by toxins in adhesives, waterproofing, caulk and sealants. We're seeing alot more of these cases as synthetic chemicals replace traditional building materials and fasteners.
The solvents in many adhesives can make you ill if you get exposed to too much at once. Perhaps more importantly, they may contribute to long-term environmental health problems such as cancer, birth defects, reproductive dysfunction and lung disease.
All this is NOT to suggest that the episode was realistic, heaven forbid. But it is a good example of Seinfeld raising a current issue (if not an event) in a silly sarcastic way. Ironically, it would have been more 'realistic' perhaps if they had bought the really expensive envelopes because then toxic solvents might have off-gassed from some newly applied adhesives or fresh ink. This is why brand new rugs can make you sick until all the il the toxic gases disperse.
Sorry for the long post. Your usenet toxic avenger, Hillel