Author: Cortlyn McCarthy

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Just Dropped Bacon-Flavored Cereal

If your breakfast routine feels a little too normal lately, this should weird things up. General Mills and Hormel have joined forces to throw a sizzling curveball our way.

Bacon-flavored Cinnamon Toast Crunch is now officially a thing. You can grab a bag at Walmart for a limited time. (I know… it’s tragic this can’t be a permanent fixture in your breakfast rotation.)

Cinnamon + sugar + bacon?

The sweet-and-savory mashup is the latest experiment in cereal innovation that’s raising some eyebrows (and a few stomachs). It still has that classic cinnamon sugar crunch fans know and love, but now with a layer of bacon flavoring added to the mix. Before you get too excited (or horrified), there’s no real bacon in there. Just “artificial bacon flavor,” whatever that is.

Not their first rodeo.

Why thrust pork cereal upon the American public? Because we want it! General Mills claims fans were into last year’s cinnamon-flavored bacon collab between the two brands, and this was the logical next step.

Pizza-flavored cereal too?

The new hog-infused Cinnamon Toast Crunch comes on the heels of an arguably even bolder concoction from earlier in the year. In January, the brand teamed up with Totino’s for a pizza-flavored cereal giveaway. Their excuse that time was the Super Bowl. Their excuse (or potential apology) for pork-flavored cereal is still pending.

So, how’s it taste?

Snackolator got early access and called the taste “not terrible.” So… high praise. But hey, not everyone’s taste buds are ready for porky-sweet cereal fusion at 7 a.m. (I bet the leftover milk at the bottom of your bowl tastes interesting.)

@snackolator

Would you try bacon flavored Cinnamon Toast Crunch? This one is wild but it’s fun… definitely worth a try. Huge thanks to @CinnamonToastCrunch for the early taste! #cereal #cinnamontoastcrunch #foodreview #snackreview

♬ original sound – snackolator

You actually want to try this?

If so, get your butt to Sam Walton’s cute lil’ mom-and-pop store down the street. They’re only selling it at Walmart, where six-ounce bags run you $5.84 a pop. That’s a hefty price for something you may only eat on a dare, or serve to guests as a prank.

So, is bacon-flavored cereal a bold new frontier in breakfast? Or just a weird flex we didn’t ask for? Only your spoon can decide. But one thing’s for sure. If you’ve ever wished your cereal tasted more like brunch at a state fair, your moment has arrived.

Should Left Turns Be Illegal? One Expert Thinks So—Here’s Why

It might feel like a small thing, but that dreaded left turn across oncoming traffic could be one of the most dangerous moves you make behind the wheel.

Now, a civil engineering professor at Penn State is making the case that we should rethink left turns entirely – and ban them at busy intersections.

His reasoning? The stats don’t lie.

Intersections are already danger zones, accounting for 40% of all crashes.

More than 60% of those wrecks involve someone trying to make a left. Worse yet, half of those left-turn crashes result in a serious injury, and one in five ends in a fatality.

But it’s not just about safety. Left turns can also be a huge time suck for everyone who’s not turning left.

Left turns are huge time wasters.

Left turn signals make things safer. But it means the rest of traffic has to wait just so a few cars can inch across. That stop-and-go inefficiency adds up, especially during high-traffic times.

That’s why the professor is calling on more cities to limit or ban left turns altogether, at least during peak hours. The goal? Make intersections flow more smoothly and reduce the risk of deadly crashes.

While banning left turns en mass might sound unrealistic, the idea isn’t without precedent.

Cities like San Francisco, New York, and parts of Michigan already use strategies to reduce or reroute left turns. UPS even uses routing software that avoids them entirely, not just for safety but to save time and fuel.

So before you grumble about the extra loop around the block, just remember: ditching left turns could mean a safer, faster commute for everyone.

If nothing else, getting stuck behind that person turning left would be one less thing to road rage about.

Our Favorite Summer Activity Isn’t Grilling—It’s Ice Cream

If you’ve got a popsicle in one hand and a scoop of rocky road in the other… I’m not sure how you’re also browsing the internet. But congrats – you’re living your best summer life!

A new poll confirmed that eating “ice cream or popsicles” is America’s #1 favorite summer activity. A full 60% of people love it, and another 35% say they like it. Only 1% admitted to hating it, and we assume they’ve been reported to the proper authorities.

Here’s the full top 10 rundown of summer favorites, based on what Americans actually enjoy most:

  1. Eating ice cream or popsicles
  2. Going on vacation
  3. Grilling
  4. Road trips
  5. Going to the beach
  6. Hiking or nature walks
  7. Swimming in pools
  8. Stargazing
  9. Watching fireworks
  10. Picnics

A few honorable mentions that just missed the top 10: boating, lounging in a hammock, roasting marshmallows, and amusement park adventures.

The biggest surprise? Sunbathing ranked low. Only 14% of Americans say they love laying out in the sun, while 18% outright hate it. Apparently, SPF and air conditioning are winning the culture war.

So if your summer checklist includes ice cream, beach days, road trips, and maybe a little stargazing, you’re officially doing it right.

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: July 6-12

Jared Fogel is a creep, NFL players vs. fireworks, and Oreo Thins make their debut. Here are 10 things that happened 10 years ago this week.

We found out Jared from Subway was a perv.

The FBI raided Jared Fogle’s home in Indiana on July 7, 2015 as part of a child pornography investigation. Subway immediately dumped him as their spokesman. Even worse, his cameo in “Sharknado 3” got cut! He agreed to a plea deal a month later that put him away for 15 years. He won’t be eligible for parole until 2029.

Two NFL players lost fingers playing with fireworks.

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated on July 8, 2015, four days after a firework mangled his hand. Bucs cornerback C.J. Wilson also lost two fingers in a fireworks mishap that same Fourth of July. The injury ended Wilson’s career. Pierre-Paul missed half a season and went on to make the Pro Bowl in 2020.

Your odds of winning the Powerball got worse.

They added 10 more balls, but also dropped the number of Powerballs from 35 to 26. All told, it lowered the odds of hitting the jackpot from 1 in 175 million to 1 in 292 million, but the odds of winning smaller prizes increased. The changes led to the first $1 billion Powerball jackpot winner just six months later. ($1.59 billion in January 2016.)

Oreo Thins made their debut.

ABC News noted the thinner, snappier version took longer to soften when dunked in milk – 37 seconds vs. 19 for the O.G. (They also reported Thins were only 7 fewer calories, but it’s actually 18 fewer.)

The Women’s World Cup Final was the most-watched soccer match in U.S. history.

26.7 million Americans tuned in to watch the U.S. score four goals in the first 16 minutes and beat Japan 5-2. The ratings record stood for seven years until the Men’s World Cup Final between Argentina and France narrowly topped it with 26.73 million in 2022.

Meek Mill had his first #1 album.

“Dreams Worth More Than Money” went on to become the first platinum album of his career. His 2018 album “Championships” also went platinum.

A kid passed his driving test, then his mom crashed into the DMV.

It happened at a DMV in Huntsville, Alabama. She claimed the brakes didn’t work, but her son had just passed his test in the same car, so…

Taylor Swift gave $50,000 to an 11-year-old fan with cancer.

Naomi Oakes’ cancer went into remission a year later. She graduated from high school in 2022. 

LucasFilm announced a Han Solo spinoff was in the works.

“Solo” came out in 2018 and made $393 million, but cost $275 million to make. By “Star Wars” standards, the $118 million profit was considered a modest success.

“Minions” was a massive hit.

The “Despicable Me” spinoff outgrossed the original, raking in $336 million. “Minions: The Rise of Gru” made even more in 2022, leading to a third Minions movie that was announced in July 2024.

Joey Chestnut Wins Again, Gets Another Epic Hot Dog Intro

I never watch the puke-inducing Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The competition itself is the grossest 10 minutes of wiener-related content on the internet… and that’s saying something.

But without fail, competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut’s intro is must-watch TV and was an unmatched level of epic once again this year. Who in their right mind starts a monologue about hot dogs with this line?

We are humbled by age in preparation for the great insult of death. But there are those who stand immortal.

@espn

Joey Chestnut is ready to go for a chance to win his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title 👀 #joeychestnut #hotdog #glizzy #4thofjuly #july4th

♬ original sound – ESPN

Chestnut – who according to his 2025 intro was “formed from the shards of shattered angels” – returned after a year off to once again dominate the competition, horking down an insane 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. That’s one dog every 8.45 seconds! 🤮 (2nd place was 46.5 hot dogs. #pathetic)

@espn

Chestnut downs 70.5 hot dogs to win his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title 🏆🌭 #hotdog #eating #joeychestnut #july4th #challenge

♬ original sound – ESPN

But again, I choose not to focus on the absurdity of eating nearly six dozen hot dogs in 600 seconds, and instead honor the absurd level of drama that consummate hype-man and Major League Eating co-founder George Shea brings to the event each year.

George delivered these words about Chestnut in 2019 but deserves to have them echoed about himself:

He is the silent warrior who stands where land meets horizon, steadfast and unshakable, a city on a hill lit for all to see. A poem, written using every word of every language of every country in the world. He is a bead of light floating in the dark oil of night. For he is the very vessel of our freedom – the champion of the 4th of July.

Thanks for the irrational level of drama, George. We’re here for it.

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: June 29-July 5

Joey Chestnut loses, Ben Affleck gets divorced, and Donald Trump hears, “You’re fired.” Here are 10 things that happened 10 years ago this week.

Joey Chestnut lost the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

It was the first time in nearly a decade that he didn’t win. Competitive eater Matt Stonie ate 62, while Chestnut only managed 60. It’s the only time Chestnut lost between 2007 and 2023. He won eight straight, lost to Stonie in 2015, then won another eight in a row before sitting out in 2024 due to a sponsorship issue.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced their divorce.

“After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce.” The announcement came one day after their 10th anniversary. He eventually got back together with former flame Jennifer Lopez, and married her in 2022. They split up two years later.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis secretly got married.

They tied the knot on July 4th, 2015, 17 years after first meeting as cast members on “That ’70s Show”.

Donald Trump heard “you’re fired” over and over again.

NBC, Macy’s, NASCAR, and others dumped Trump after he launched his presidential campaign and made disparaging remarks about Mexicans: “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Diddy fell in a hole at the BET Awards.

He was performing with Lil Kim, Mace, Faith Evans, and others while celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bad Boy Records.

Rihanna did something no other artist had done.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced she was the first artist to rack up more than 100 million gold & platinum song certifications.

“The Tonight Show” was on hiatus after Jimmy Fallon almost lost a finger.

His wedding ring partially ripped his finger off when he tripped on a rug and grabbed a countertop to catch himself. He suffered a “ring avulsion” and was in the ICU for 10 days. They had to take a vein out of his foot and rebuild the digit. “The Tonight Show” resumed taping two weeks later in mid-July.

“Crypto” was giving people diarrhea.

A disease called cryptosporidium – or “crypto” for short – was infecting pools and hot tubs and making people ill. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies wouldn’t take off in a big way for another few years.

People were wondering if “South Park” would make it to 20.

In the lead up to Season 19, co-creator Matt Stone calmed fans’ nerves by saying, “We won’t stop until we get canceled. We’re renewing. They have to f*cking cancel us, goddammit!” Season 27 of the show (which premiered in 1997) is set to start July 9th, 2025.

The trailer for “Creed” was released.

Fans of the “Rocky” franchise were wondering if the spinoff – starring Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son – would even work. It ended up grossing $174 million at the box office, leading to “Creed II” in 2018 ($214 million), and “Creed III” in 2023 ($276 million).

The Surprising Psychology Behind “Just Keep It” Returns

Ever had Amazon tell you, “Just keep it,” when you tried to return something? That tiny thrill might be more than just a lucky break. It can also be the ultimate marketing move.

It creates brand loyalty.

A lot of the big-name retailers have adopted the “just keep it” return policy for certain low-cost items over the past few years, largely because the return shipping costs more than the item itself.

Now, a study from the University of Notre Dame found that letting customers keep those unwanted or defective items – known as “returnless returns” – actually makes them more loyal in the long run.

It fosters “brand warmth.”

Researchers found that those “keep it” returns trigger something called “brand warmth.” Basically, we start to think of the company as more generous, friendly, and trustworthy. That warm and fuzzy feeling sticks, and it can turn a one-time buyer into a lifelong customer.

The effect gets even better when the company frames it as the most eco-friendly option, or suggests you keep it and give it to someone else. That little nudge can make us feel like we’re part of something bigger, and keeps the brand in our good graces.

But there’s one thing that can ruin it.

Even when the product is defective, the goodwill isn’t completely lost – unless the company demands proof. Making a customer jump through hoops to prove something doesn’t work is where the good vibes go to die.

Normal Amount of Clumsy? Average Adult Racks Up 35 Injuries a Year

Think you’re more accident-prone than your friends? You might be totally average.

A new poll commissioned by bandage brand Curad has revealed that the typical adult suffers 35 minor injuries – like cuts, bruises, and scrapes – every year.

That’s almost three a month. So, if you haven’t stubbed a toe or cut yourself slicing into an avocado lately, you’re overdue.

Lifetime total: 4,000

Curad’s study also took a look at the lifetime total. Over the course of your life, the average person will tally up about 4,000 little injuries. So yes, it’s entirely normal to have a few mystery bruises at any given time.

4,000 would be 50 a year if you make it to 80 years old, much higher than the average of 35 for adults. But remember, not all age groups have the same injury risks. Anyone who’s raised a five-year-old knows they average way more than three boo-boos a month.

Think back to when you were a kid and all those times you bumped your head, got stung by bees, twisted an ankle, or skinned a knee. Those cuts and scrapes from your prepubescent years really add up.

The most common causes?

Unsurprisingly, the top culprits for adults are distraction, clumsiness, and kitchen mishaps – a trio responsible for most of our everyday injuries. Yeah, we’re basically walking slapstick routines.

And speaking of distraction, technology is making it even worse. A whopping 80% of people say they’ve had a near-miss accident while using their phone. One in three admit to close calls while walking and texting, and nearly one in five have gotten into trouble just from scrolling social media.

So if you’ve ever walked into a pole while checking Instagram, you’re not alone.

We’re oddly proud of our injuries.

There’s also a surprising amount of social pressure tied to injuries. One in four people say they feel judged when they wear a band-aid, and are worried others will think they’re weak. But not everyone feels that way.

A solid number of Americans are into the attention and can’t wait to brag about it. One in eight people want you to ask what happened, because every injury has a story.

The TL;DR? It’s a dangerous world out there. Life’s hard, and no one gets through it unscathed. (Especially if you’re walking around staring at your phone.)

Too Many Nightmares Can Literally Scare You to Death

Having nightmares once in a while is normal, especially nightmares where you’re being chased down a beach by a sentient flock of angry toupees. (No? Just me?)

A study presented at the annual European Academy of Neurology conference in Finland found that having bad dreams regularly could cause more than just a poor night’s sleep. People who frequently suffer from nightmares are significantly more likely to die young.

Yes, too many nightmares could be deadly.

Researchers tracked participants for nearly 20 years and found a disturbing link. Those who reported having nightmares at least once a week were three times more likely to die before the age of 70.

They think it’s tied to how our bodies respond to stress. Just like in real life, your system goes into panic mode during nightmares, pumping out cortisol – a stress hormone strongly linked to faster cellular aging.

“Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. That’s why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.”

Okay, maybe you’ll live. But bad dreams make you age faster too.

The study found people with frequent nightmares tend to age faster as well. So, nightmares that your hair turned gray could actually make your hair turn gray! They say the sped-up cellular aging is 40% of the reason you’re more likely to die young.

Sleep well… your life might depend on it.

The results of the study point to a close connection between disturbed sleep, chronic stress, and long-term health. So if you’re waking up in a cold sweat more nights than not, it might be time to take your sleep hygiene (and stress levels) seriously.

If you’ve been brushing off your bad dreams as no big deal, you might want to rethink that decision.

Maybe sleep on it. Sweet dreams!

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