Dinadirections

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

What a great idea! Combining a candy a lot of people love with another candy a lot of people hate to possibly create a candy that’s not so bad. (Spotted by Scott at Star Market.)

Sweet, salty, and Kettle Brand Chips? That is a ménage à trois my tongue would like to join to make it a foursome. (Spotted by Tammy at Fred Meyer.)

Hey Canada! Thought you were special because you had Rice Thins. Well, you are special no more! (Spotted by Michael at ShopRite.)

“The Taste That Takes You Home”? To be honest, the only chicken noodle soup I ate at home was Campbell’s condensed chicken noodle soup. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

These cakes must be super trippy when you’re high. (Spotted by SH at Vons.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

If you’re curious to know what we’ve already covered, check out our Spotted on Shelves Flickr set.

A little while ago the Cinnamon Snail food truck owner posted a photo on Facebook, showing a serendipitous moment where he happened to pull into a service station and park right next to his new competitor: The Green Radish. At the time, the Cinnamon Snail knew nothing of the Green Radish, but seemed to welcome the new vegan truck to the turf ("Lots of luck... May there be more vegan food to choose from in more areas everyday!"). But where is this mysterious Green Radish? [ more › ]

Ladies, ladies, ladies... just look at yourselves. Is this where you thought you'd be in your twenties? Digging through garbage on the side of the street for a Cronut? It's time to really take a look at some choices you've made in life, starting with the decision to dig through trash for a piece of discarded pastry. [ more › ]

Real estate blog Movoto did some research to find out how much the Ghostbusters Firehouse would be worth in today's market, and guess what they found out? Egon, Ray, and Peter would have a rough time paying the bills at Hook & Ladder 8... probably? Someone go figure out how much money Ghostbusters make. [ more › ]

A man has been arrested for allegedly secretly filming a woman who was masturbating in her Williamsburg apartment. According to police, Gabriel Carbona was arrested around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at the elevated Marcy Avenue J train platform after he allegedly was caught using his cell phone to record a woman masturbating in her apartment. "It's horrible. It's creepy and it's nasty," the 29-year-old victim told the Post. "I felt really safe in that neighborhood, but now that this happened I don't feel safe." [ more › ]

The next time you finish a pat of butter, toss the wrapper in a baggie in the fridge; it could come in handy next time you cook dinner.

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Well, I never thought the day would come, but lo and behold it has.

No, not that glorious day when the Buffalo Bills finally win the Super Bowl or me winning the Powerball jackpot with the numbers from the TV show Lost. I’m talking about the death of creative product development from the Nabisco research team.

What else can explain their new Limited Edition Banana Split Oreo, which seems like a rehashing of 2008′s Limited Edition Banana Split Creme Oreo? I mean after the debut of Watermelon Oreo I was fully expecting a Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Pesto Oreo or something, not an iconic American dessert that’s been tried before (and did so-so).

To be fair, the 2013 Banana Split Oreo cookies aren’t an exact clone of their 2008 predecessor. Unlike the previous version, which featured a drink-more-water pee yellow creme between two chocolate wafers, this year’s Banana Split Oreo cookies are pretty ambitious.

You’ve got your chocolate wafer as an homage to chocolate ice cream, of course, but also a vanilla wafer ice cream shoutout in addition to strawberry and banana creme fillings. Too bad they couldn’t make it a Triple Double Oreo with a top peanut butter creme layer, because that would’ve just put the icing on the cake sundae in Oreo decadence.

Generally speaking, there are two schools of thoughts when it comes to banana-flavored foods. There are the products made with real banana puree — like yogurts, smoothies, and other viscous treats — which make me say, “Well, screw evolution because I’m loving these bananas like a monkey!” And there’s also the dreaded Runt Syndrome. We’ve all been there, tearing through a bag of Runts one minute thinking, “Why don’t I buy these more?” only to come to the end of the bag, staring at the strongly artificial tasting dextrose banana pieces and remembering, “Oh yeah, that’s why.”

Unfortunately, these Oreo cookies smell very similar to those notoriously lambasted candies, and when eaten alone, the banana creme doesn’t do a whole lot to discourage the artificial banana flavor stereotype. It’s one-note and cloying, with an almost metallic faux-fruit taste that does a disservice to the actual fruit.

Worse yet, it tends to cover more surface area of the wafer than the strawberry creme filling, which isn’t bad, but isn’t as pleasant or strawberry-ey as the strawberry creme found in Limited Edition Strawberries ‘n Creme Oreo. Clearly, this is not a cookie for the kind of Oreo top twister who normally revels at the sweet vanilla creme that fills a standard Oreo.

I had higher hopes for eating the cookie in one complete bite, and to a certain degree, I think they’re better that way. The addition of a mild cocoa-flavored wafer, as well as the Golden Oreo, meld with the artificial banana flavor in such a way that your last taste isn’t the equivalent of a creamy banana runt. The problem is that the taste is not really a banana split flavor.

I realize packing the flavors of such an ambitious dessert into cookie form is one step below Willy Wonka-type food magic, but that doesn’t change the fact that Limited Edition Banana Split Oreo cookies aren’t that good. And while I’m tempted to go with the old “less is more” expression when it comes to Oreo cookies, there is still a part of me which wonders if the distinct flavors of whipped cream, peanuts, and yes, even that laboratory-red maraschino cherry wouldn’t have brought a more authentic flavor to the party. I guess we’ll never know.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 150 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat, 3 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 90 milligrams of sodium, 25 milligrams of potassium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.)

Other Nabisco Limited Edition Banana Split Oreo reviews:
Junk Food Guy

Item: Nabisco Limited Edition Banana Split Oreo
Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 15.25 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 4 out of 10
Pros: Perhaps the most ambitious Oreo flavor yet. Tasting distinct flavors. Has a little something for everyone. Probably healthier than eating an actual banana split sundae.
Cons: Missing the best flavor elements of an actual banana split, not to mention an authentic banana flavor. Makes you think too much about the flavor while chewing. No fun for twisters. Smells like banana runts.

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You've probably heard the advice that you should "make yourself indispensable" in order to avoid layoffs, get the biggest raises, and earn praise and promotion opportunities from your managers. It's great advice, but how do you go about it? It's easier said than done, but it's not impossible. Here's how.

Read more...

Cross your legs, male readers. We have some breaking fish news out of Sweden.

A local fisherman surprised animal experts in that country last week when he caught a pacu in the Øresund channel. This relative of the piranha is known as a "ball cutter" because, well...

"There have been incidents in other countries, such as Papua New Guinea, where some men have had their testicles bitten off,” said Henrik Carl, a fish expert at a Danish museum, speaking to an English-language newspaper in Sweden, adding:

"They bite because they're hungry, and testicles sit nicely in their mouth."

Man. And we thought Taylor Swift was a man eater.

Pacus can can grow to up to 90 centimeters and weigh 25 kilograms. This is the first time one has been caught in Europe.

In related news, we will now be canceling our snorkeling trip to Sweden.

Take note, One Direction fans.

And remember to buy your dad something extra special next Father's Day.

Jamie Lee Curtis Taete, West Coast Editor of VICE, has posted a handful of hilarious images to Instagram, each depicting a father who has taken his little girl (or boy, no judgment here!) to a One Direction concert... only to end up with his eyes closed or his head down.

And with ear plugs firmly in place either way.

Not even Harry Styles Twerking will turn this event into a pleasant one for dear old dad. Check out the following pics and video and, come on, young girls: You can do bette than a tie next June!

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Storytelling not only activates our brains, it's an essential skill for presentations, writing, and conversations—including job interviews. 99U points out the five steps or "beats" to make you a better, more interesting storyteller.

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Nothing will ever be as good as The Shining recut from 2006, but when someone sent us a link titled "Breaking Bad as Romantic Comedy" the sound of clicking in the office was deafening. [ more › ]

Dear Lifehacker,
I see all kinds of laundry detergent on the shelves, and you've mentioned some DIY options. Does it matter what kind I get, or can I just use anything? It just seems like it doesn't even matter.

Read more...

Are you a breastfeeding mom? Feel free to breastfeed outside the privacy of your home on Thursday (August 15). In support of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in August – and to fight the stigma against breastfeeding in public – TheBump.com is launching their second annual “Public Display of Breastfeeding” (PDB) campaign exclusively sponsored by The Boppy Company.

To make it even easier for moms to nurse in public on August 15, TheBump.com has partnered with local retailers in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and Denver to provide a place for moms to gather and breastfeed. Moms in these cities are encouraged to stop by the following local events to meet other moms and show their breastfeeding pride. Read on!

Yummy Mummy
1201 Lexington Avenue (between 81st and 82nd streets)
New York, NY 10028
12-3 p.m.

A Mother’s Haven Boutique & Educational Center
15928 Ventura Blvd, Suite 116
Encino, CA 91436
1-4 p.m.

Magic Beans
The Prudential Center
776 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
12-3 p.m.

Urba Baby Wicker Park
1751 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
12-3 p.m.

Right Start
3000 East Third Avenue, Unit 15
Denver, CO 80206
12-3 p.m.

The first 30 moms to arrive at each PDB local event will receive a gift bag full of must-haves from Boon, Boppy, BabyLegs, Earth’s Best, pediped, Kanga Care and more.

If you visit TheBump.com – you’ll find breastfeeding resources and online events to participate in too. Alyssa Milano, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Tracy Anderson, Ali Landry and Melissa Joan Hart are among the celebrity profiles featured on TheBump.com/PDB with real breastfeeding stories and star-studded mama advice.

If you show your support on Twitter – you have a chance to win a huge gift bag filled with breastfeeding essentials including a Medela Pump In Style Advanced breast pump and a variety of swag from Boppy, such as a nursing pillow, travel pillow, nursing cover, slipcovers and more.

Tweet @thebump with the hashtag #PDB between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET on August 15 to be entered for a chance to win.

These new grain-free versions of Linda’s (The Gluten-Free Homemaker) Date Balls look terrific to me! Not only are these cocoa and nut butter-based treats grain free, but Linda says the small amount of honey can even be optional. (Or an alternate sweetener like stevia can be used.) The dusting of coconut on these naturally sweetened...

(Visit the blog for the full post, complete with any recipes, photos, and links!)

Todd Korol/Reuters/Landov

Michael Bublé‘s first child– a boy — is due next week, and the nervous dad-to-be is a little jumpy about it.

“We had a false alarm a couple of days ago and she had about seven hours of labor so we know that it could happen at any time,” he told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

So the singer canceled plans to appear on Today last week and is staying close to home in his native Canada with wife Luisana Lopilato.

“I’m about 15-20 minutes away from home. Just in case anything happens, I’m there,” he tells ET Canada, in an interview airing Monday night.

He says that right now “it’s scary” for his wife, an Argentinian actress. “She’s in a country that’s not her country. People are speaking a language that’s not her first language, so I’m her whole family here, so she’s got a good support system.”

Bublé, 37, admits that it’s hard to focus on anything but the impending arrival.

“The truth is, I don’t know what to expect, because obviously I’ve never expected before, so I’m just really actually enjoying it,” he says. “Neither one of us are anxious, we’re just excited. We can’t wait to know what it’s like, we can’t wait to meet this little guy.”

– K.C. Blumm

Take this, Justin Bieber!

A day after nude pics of the singer hit the Internet, his ex-girlfriend went ahead and gave the world a more PG-13 look at her sleek body ...

... bikini photo style!

Selena Gomez blew off the typical post-even parties on Sunday night and went straight from the Teen Choice Awards to a hot tub with some friends, posing images from the gathering to Instagram.

In a nod to her Stars Dance tour kicking off tomorrow in Vancouver, she captioned the following with "Bye L.A."

Selena also went VERY sexy on the red carpet of The Teen Choice Awards this week.

Think someone is trying to send someone else a message?

Yes, THGers: it does get cuter than a Golden Retriever puppy being spoon fed by its owner.

But only when 222 Golden Retrievers mix and mingle in one place, as took place last month at the annual Guisachan Gathering.

The event is is run by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland and held at the ancestral home of this beloved breed.

It started in 2006 in honor of the organization's 50th anniversary and has grown in size since then from 188 golden guests to this year's mark of well over 200.

There's a dog show, there's dancing, there's frolicking among humans and animals.

But mostly there's simply a chance to bask in the adorableness of what many consider to be the world's best breed.

They really do love their pets in Scotland, as just last week a quartet of kittens was rescued from an air conditioning vent in that country. It's all rather AWWW-some if you ask us.

So Madonna is apparently rocking a grill these days.

Like the moment your mother and father joined Facebook, this makes one wonder if grills are officially no longer the hot, new "in" thing about celebrities.

Age is just a number. Even if that number is 54.

Always fashionable and forever young, Her Madgesty channeled her inner Lil Wayne and got her mouth blinged out in a shiny gold grill over the weekend.

We're not saying you can't pull off a certain look if you're a certain age ... but these images aren't making a compelling argument for the style. Just saying.

At least it's not Rihanna's gun grill?

Yes, it's basically a trojan horse, convincing you to buy stuff from Amazon's online store, but at least it's beautiful. HD display, stereo sound and decent hardware propelled the Kindle Fire HD to second place when it first came out, right behind the original Nexus 7. Still, this is "How Would You Change," where we ask you to pretend that Jeff Bezos is listening to your ideas and show the world your innovative ideas on where the company can improve matters for generation three.

Filed under: Tablets, Amazon

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It will be difficult for any animal to top the pitbull who sacrificed his leg to save his family from an intruder.

But a kangaroo in Australia did all he could to become a hero to one little boy and his parents earlier this month.

On August 3, a seven-year old named Simon Kruger wandered away from a picnic and ended up getting lost in the wilderness.

It's winter Down Under, so who knows what the freezing temperatures would have done to the child… if not for a kangaroo who fell asleep next to Simon and kept him warm, according to the boy's mother.

"I think it was a miracle," said Linda Kruger. "When I smell his jacket, it's bush and kangaroo."

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower just hit its peak last night, and since we all can't observe it from a quaint railroad crossing in Alabama, here's what you need to know about viewing it amongst the bright lights of the big city. [ more › ]

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

There’s a Milano cake and this Chocolate Chunk cake by Pepperidge Farm. I hope the next Pepperidge Farm cake is made with cheesy Goldfish. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Yawn. I mean, yum! No. I can’t lie. Yawn. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

I think Hidden Valley should change their name to Hidden Vegetables because when I was young I’d use their dressing to drown my vegetables to make them not look like vegetables. (Spotted by Charmi at Walmart.)

I wonder how long a Mexican tortilla had to simmer in a pot in order to make this broth. (Spotted by Lindsay at Meijer.)

Since 2011, Kemps Ice Cream has held an annual competition that gives Upper Midwesterners the chance to have their own ice cream flavor made. This is the 2012 winner. So in order to increase my chances of getting my very own ice cream flavor I have to either move to the Upper Midwest and try to win this competition or become a late night talk show host that Ben and Jerry enjoy watching. (Spotted by Andy at SuperTarget.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Lake Bell is naked for New York Magazine's Fall Fashion issue, wearing only elaborate rose ink designed by her husband Scott Campbell, an LA tattoo artist.

Her right hand strategically covers her unmentionables. Take a look:

The 34-year-old wed Campbell on June 1 in New Orleans, La.

Celebrity guests included Eva Longoria, Kate Bosworth, Alicia Silverstone, Josh Hartnett, Cameron Diaz, Justin Theroux and fiancee Jennifer Aniston.

But only Campbell saw Lake Bell nude ... until NOW.

Actually that's not true. She also got naked in How To Make It In America back when that was still on. The more you know, people. The more you know.

The driver of the Mercedes that struck a Staten Island family Friday night, killing 4-year-old Kyrillos Gendy, has turned himself in. John Sanjurjo, 33, is charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury and one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The Staten Island Advance reports that Sanjurjo was in the news in 2005 for helping save eight developmentally disabled children flee a burning bus. [ more › ]

Chopsticks are for more than just cheetos and Chinese take-out: they're practically tailor-made for salad consumption.

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Sick of seeing Justin Bieber shirtless?

What about Justin Bieber bottomless? Yes, readers, you read that correctly: Justin Bieber, totally and completely bottomless... birthday suit style!

TMZ has somehow uncovered photos of this singer at his grandmother's Toronto residence in October 2012.

Bieber reportedly overslept on Thanksgiving and figured he'd make up for the mishap by getting naked and serenading his grandparent with only a guitar covering his privates.

Seriously! See for yourself:

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No wonder Bieber's fans will defend him against (phony) charges of handicapped parking and flag peeing, huh?

Hot. Stuff.

Carlisa Brookins and Alexis Garcia will never forget Saturday night.

Nor will law enforcement personnel who saw Brookins perform oral sex on Garcia while transporting the duo and eight others to a Las Vegas Jail.

The male and female inmates were separated into rows and all of them had belly constraints, making the copulation they engaged in all the more impressive.

Officers saw Brookins allegedly bend over her seat to perform a sex act on Garcia while en route to the slammer, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

When the officer turned on the light, Brookins sat up and made several comments claiming she was not a prostitute because she didn’t charge Garcia.

Totally changes everything.

Garcia "was a complete gentleman" under the circumstances, telling Brookins, “I’ll get you off before we hit downtown," according to inmate Jessica Melaerts.

Melaerts also told police she didn't want to look at the live sex show because she thought it was "gross," according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Garcia's arrest record includes drug possession and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Brookins was arrested July 28 on drug charges.

Once they were caught in the act, they were both transported back to the Clark County Detention Center and booked for voluntary sex with an inmate.

If you're already headed to jail, might as well go out in style.