Waiting for slow service at a restaurant can be frustrating, but that’s no excuse to go firing off your gun like Yosemite Sam. A frustrated Florida Denny’s customer was allegedly irritated past the point of reason when he stepped outside and shot off his gun three times. [More]
food
Domino's Pizza Ads Smack Of Desperation
By 3.11.11
Does Domino’s seem a little desperate lately? A little too eager to prove that they’re listening to your negative tweets about the pizza quality, and not putting boogers in the pies? Like that commercial where they talk all those customers who think they’re complaining about the ingredients inside a focus group room, but then they’re actually in the farmer’s field where the tomatoes come from! Because absolutely nothing happens in the process between getting that tomato to the local pizzeria. Nope, they just send it via pneumatic tube. The comedians at UCB have noticed the earnest tone and made a lil parody video to skewer Domino’s for daring to try to change. Free salad topoff via helicopter, anyone? [More]
Grow Your Own Everlasting Salad
By 3.3.11
It doesn’t take magical powers to make veggies sprout from your backyard – just some effort, knowledge and responsibility. Growing your own garden can save you money, ensure the food you eat is free of pesticides and harmful chemicals and provide a satisfying hobby. [More]
How To Shop For Free, Extreme Couponer Shares Her Secrets
By 2.28.11
Uber-couponer Kathy Spencer isn’t satisfied with just having a low grocery bill. She only considers it a success if she gets everything for almost free, or even make money off the transaction. She does this by looking for loopholes in the system, like “rolling.” This is where say toilet paper is on sale for $1 but buying it generates a $1 store credit coupon. Use that to buy another roll, get another coupon, buy another roll and pretty soon, you’ve got yourself a year’s supply of toilet paper and you’re handing it out to strangers in the parking lot. [More]
Color-Coded Plastic Ties Tell You Day Your Bread Was Baked
By 2.28.11
Turns out that the plastic tags and twists on loafs of bread aren’t just for looking pretty, they are coded to indicate what day the bread was baked on, writes Wise Bread. The most commonly-used code for 5-day a week delivery is is blue for Monday, green for Tuesday, red for Thursday, white for Friday, and yellow for Saturday. It’s a nifty “and now you know” factoid, though it probably won’t save you from getting a stale loaf, because the shelf stockers for whom the code was designed are already doing that for you. [More]
Food Activists Capture And Execute Ronald McDonald Statue
By 2.14.11
A bunch of food activists and artists in Finland kidnapped a Ronald McDonald statute from McDonald’s and held it hostage in a series of Al-Qaeda style ransom videos. They demanded answers to questions about how McDonald’s produces it food or they would guillotine the statue. Two members of the group were arrested by police and the statue was recovered, but the group went ahead and guillotined a replica anyway. [More]
These Ants Taste Like Bacon
By 2.11.11 — Updated: 3.13.13
Have you ever wanted to snack on giant toasted ants with a “nutty, bacon-like flavor”? Good news. In northern South America, you can find the largest leafcutter ants in the world–about two inches centimeters long–and thanks to Thinkgeek, you can eat them. [More]
Starbucks Recommends iPhone App Users Enable Password Lock
By 2.10.11
Reached for comment about concerns that people could steal your Starbucks Reward card by taking a screenshot of it as it appears on the iPhone app, a Starbucks spokesperson told Consumerist, “We definitely want our customers to have a good experience with mobile payment. We take security seriously.” They also recommended customers take additional safety measures and offered a solution for anyone who had their card stolen. [More]
If You're Going To Send Her A Bunch Of Expensive Cookies, Make Sure She Likes Cookies First
By 2.10.11
And now, a more cynical selection from the mailbag of Valentine’s Day Consumerist love stories. Gus plunked down a load of dough to buy up some fancy cookie dough products to try to impress a long-distance unrequited love, but reality failed to rise to meet his hopes. [More]
Crooks Can Make You Pay For Their Starbucks With Simple Screengrab
By 2.10.11
Researchers have discovered a security flaw in the new Starbucks Rewards Card iPhone app that could let someone else rack up a bunch of free coffees on your dime. All someone has to do is take a picture of your barcode and then they can use it to buy all the delicious black swill they want, draining your account to the last drop. [More]
Should Restaurant Refund Me For Edamame Appetizer With Free Giant Worm?
By 2.10.11
Some time ago, on an unknown farm, a worm crawled inside a soybean pod to eat the delicious bean within. The pod was harvested with the worm inside, cooked, and served to reader Sarah as an edamame appetizer at a local Japanese restaurant. Sarah was disgusted and wants a refund of the $3 or so she paid for the appetizer. The restaurant’s manager claims that business is slow and they can’t afford to give her a refund. [More]
Study: Feeding Babies Solid Foods Too Early Can Up Risk Of Obesity
By 2.9.11
By holding off on feeding their babies solid foods for the first four months, parents can decrease the odds their little ones will become obese. The American Academy of Pediatrics says kids who start on solids too early are six times more likely to be obese by age 3. [More]
4 Foods That Jumped In Price Last Year
By 2.9.11
Inflation can hit your refrigerator the hardest. Rising food prices amid stagnant salaries and a stiff job market can make it tougher to make ends meet. [More]
"Shocked" That It's Not Healthy, Mother Sues Nutella
By 2.7.11
A mother of a four-year old child has filed a class action lawsuit against delicious hazelnut spread Nutella. In her complaint, the mother says she was as “shocked to learn” from her friends “that Nutella was in fact not a ‘healthy,’ ‘nutritious’ food,” as advertised, “but was instead the next best thing to a candy bar.” [More]
Consumer Reports Warns Against Top 5 Super Bowl Party Fouls
By 2.2.11
Publishing pal Consumer Reports has got their list of top 5 Super Bowl party fouls to watch out for this Sunday. We’re not just talking double-dipping or seat stealing, but some important ways to make sure your party is safe and fun. For instance, you don’t want to get flagged for a “false start” by undercooking your meats! [More]
USDA's New Guidelines Finally Listen To Tyler
By 2.1.11
“If you read the document it really is what I’ve been saying for over 2+ years. The government realized, “What’s the point in recommending all this ultra-healthy Whole Foods type of food if NOBODY listens to us? Let’s just simplify it and listen to Tyler and what he’s been saying for two years: eat less of ANY food you’d like to start off with (and learn about nutrition as you go) and just move around.” – A tongue-in-cheek email about the USDA’s new dietary recommendations from Tyler Weeks who documented his weight-loss journey to less than 200 lbs on 344pounds.com. [More]
Shocking New USDA Recommendations: "Just Eat Less"
By 1.31.11
For the first time ever, the USDA came out and said that in order to combat obesity, you have to eat less. So just eat a single down, okay? [More]
Study: Bad Food May Spur Depression
By 1.28.11
While the idea of a giant, greasy fast food burger and a plate full of fries may put a smile on your face, actually ingesting the meal may damage your psyche. Spanish researchers who tracked the dining habits of more than 12,000 people over six years found that those who ate the most trans fats — which are found in some fast food and pastries — were 48 percent more likely to become depressed. [More]
