what’s the buzz?

Bob Doran

Bill Seeks To Make Marijuana Legal On The Federal Level

While there are five states in the U.S. that have legalized recreational marijuana and about 29 others (including D.C.) that allow it for medical purposes, weed is still illegal in the eyes of the federal government. One lawmaker is trying to change that with a new bill that would legalize the drug nationwide. [More]

Consumer Reports

Don’t Bother Using These ‘Alternative’ Insect Repellants

You’re cruising down the drug store aisle when a pack of citronella candles catches your eye. “Hmm, these could be great to help ward off mosquitoes at my backyard cookout tomorrow,” you may think. But do these kinds of alternative insect repellants actually work? [More]

Amazon Patents Ridiculous, Terrifying Towers To House Delivery Drones

Amazon Patents Ridiculous, Terrifying Towers To House Delivery Drones

Because the notion of automated flying robots delivering dog food to your doorstep is something straight out of the Jetsons, it sort of makes sense that Amazon has a very retro vision for the towers that could house its Prime Air delivery drones. [More]

Comcast Doubles Down On Buzzfeed With Another $200M Investment

Comcast Doubles Down On Buzzfeed With Another $200M Investment

In its continuing quest to take over the content world, Comcast is once again splashing out with a big investment into journalism and listicle juggernaut BuzzFeed. [More]

Snapchat Has Reportedly Hired Itself Some Bankers Ahead Of Rumored IPO

Snapchat Has Reportedly Hired Itself Some Bankers Ahead Of Rumored IPO

The wheels of the rumor mill are busy turning once again, with a new report saying that Snapchat is hunting around for bankers in preparation for an initial public offering. [More]

YouTube

Here Are Some Of The Rumors Going Around About The Next Apple Gadgets

It seems like immediately upon Apple releasing new products, the rumor mill gets to chugging along again, with folks trying to predict what the company will come out with next. It can be hard to stay on top of those rumors, so we thought we’d help. [More]

Carbon Arc

Your Morning Cup Of Coffee Could Be Made With 9-Year-Old Beans

If the beans in your morning beverage could talk, they would probably use a first-generation iPhone to call up all their pals and tell them they finally made it out of storage and into the Big Show. After years of being socked away as the coffee market weathered hard times, arabica beans — some as old as nine years — are now on super sale and could wind up in your cup of java. [More]

Karen Chappell

Garden-Care Company Ortho Phasing Out Chemicals Linked To Declining Bee Population

Ortho, a major player in the garden-care industry and subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro, has tongues buzzing over the news that it will start to “transition away” from using chemicals in its pesticides that are believed to be harmful to honey bees. [More]

Theodore Scott

Maryland Passes Bill That Would Keep Pesticides Harmful To Bees Off Retail Shelves

Although some retailers have stopped selling pesticides that are thought to be harmful to bees, amid concerns over the declining population of honeymakers, Maryland will become the first state to have a legal measure barring the products. [More]

Peet’s Coffee & Tea Scoops Up Stumptown Roasters

Peet’s Coffee & Tea Scoops Up Stumptown Roasters

Two coffee companies are coming together in a caffeinated embrace, pledging to combine their beans and walk off into the sunset together: Peet’s Coffee & Tea has bought high-end coffee brand Stumptown Roasters that has created quite the buzz for itself among dedicated customers. [More]

(New Jersey Star Ledger)

We’re Glad Someone Else Was Brave Enough To Test Cicada Recipe On Camera Because Eww

It’s not that we’re a bunch of bug-phobic squeamish eaters here at Consumerist HQ, but we’ll be the first to admit that writing and thinking about cicada recipes caused a few tummies to roil. That’s why we’re super grateful that other enterprising and brave journalists took the hit for us, and cooked up a couple of cicadas on camera to see what all the buzz is about. [More]

A Swarm Of Bees Is Not Something That Goes Well With An Airplane's Wings

A Swarm Of Bees Is Not Something That Goes Well With An Airplane's Wings

We know bird strikes are a terrible inconvenience to planes, but what about a gang of marauding bees? So maybe they weren’t exactly marauding, but a beekeeper did have to be called in at Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday night to dislodge a swarm of honeybees that took to buzzing about on a plane’s wings. Quite annoying, as the plane was about to take off for New York. [More]