He’s got a mug for radio: the CJSR 25th Anniversary Edition Mug

At the behest of Kendrick, I’m writing one of these mug reviews. I expect that my paycheque and per diem are in the mail — until then, please enjoy this review of a mug that I found on my desk.

A prelude

Every year, CJSR, the U of A’s campus radio station, does a pledge drive in order to get money. You see, unlike her sister campus media organization, the Gateway, CJSR doesn’t subsist on the three dollars per term every student pays for the dubious privilege of having hippies broadcast their “eclectic” music across Edmonton, nor do they manage to sell ads properly in order to further finance their operations. Instead, they rely on this “FunDrive” to fund the majority of whatever the heck they do, and just like any public radio station, there is swag to be had.

Enter: the CJSR 25th Anniversary Edition Mug.

It’s a stunner

Despite the fact they’re a bunch of hippies, they managed to get a surprisingly good mug for a pledge reward. Unlike the standard Joe Stupidface mugs that have previously been reviewed on this blog, there was actually some effort put into making this mug not look like someone glued a handle onto a simple ceramic tube. It’s got an attractively curved base, and a matte finish around the body to give it that “I didn’t buy this mug for $15 at Spencer’s Gifts” look. The logo is etched onto the front, as opposed to your regular screen-printed jobbies.

Feels good man

However, it doesn’t only look good, it feels good. It definitely has some heft to it; you can pound this guy on your desk for dramatic effect, and finally get some respect in your newsroom at a moment’s notice. Its handle is also sturdy, in a more ergonomic half-heart shape as opposed to the usual C-clamp. The vessel of the mug is slightly larger than most, making it good for soups as well as the usual teas and coffees. And, of course, it’s black, making it easier to conceal that you’re just drinking some Fanta instead of the aforementioned hot beverages.

And finally

I got this mug back in the summer, and it’s been a mainstay of my desk ever since. I think that’s what a truly great mug should be: one part beverage holder/deliverer, one part office ornament. It doesn’t have any sentimental value, but I’d rather have a mug that’s objectively great than some average dollar-store beverage-bucket that has “personal reasons” for being my favourite mug ever.

The verdict: best mug. Stop reading, this mug blog is finished. No more reviews need to be done.