Bisquick Quietly Changed Its Recipe and Fans Are Swearing Off the Brand For Good

Bisquick is the star of many recipes, from easy pancakes to buttery biscuits, but the Betty Crocker brand just made a big change. Because the brand made the change without warning, some fans are swearing off the brand for good. The biggest adjustment is that the new — and so-called improved — Bisquick recipe now includes milk ingredients, meaning the product is no longer dairy-free or vegan. The updated formula features “real buttermilk” and is slightly higher in sugar and sodium. Many bakers report that the new mix behaves differently, leading to changes in texture — such as crumbly or gummy biscuits and pancakes. As for the buttermilk, it’s far down on the ingredients list, meaning there’s not a whole lot in the mix. To combat the change, you can try and stock up on the now “vintage” boxes with the original recipe. Some older boxes have been spotted at smaller grocers. You can also find a new favorite box mix. Jiffy and Pioneer have similar multi-purpose baking mixes.

 

 

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How “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” Originated

We’ve all had those it’s-a-small-world moments when we discover we’re randomly connected to someone else. You’ve most likely heard of the theory of six degrees of separation, which suggests that everyone on the planet is connected through a chain of no more than six people. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon demonstrates how surprisingly short the paths between people can be. In January 1994, three Albright College students — Craig Fass, Brian Turtle, and Mike Ginelli — were snowed in and watching television when two Kevin Bacon movies — Footloose and Quicksilver — aired back-to-back. While watching, they started talking about how many films Bacon had been in and how wide his network of co-stars must be, joking that Kevin Bacon was the center of the entertainment universe. Inspired by the social theory, the trio wrote a letter to talk show host Jon Stewart, leading to an appearance on The Jon Stewart Show and later The Howard Stern Show alongside Kevin Bacon himself. Bacon initially disliked the game because he thought it was making fun of him, but he eventually embraced it. The friends published a book called "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" with an introduction by Bacon himself. A board game was eventually released, and Google even built a feature into its search engine allowing users to calculate an actor's "Bacon number.” As an example, Elvis Presley was in Change of Habit with Ed Asner. Ed Asner was in JFK with Kevin Bacon. Therefore, Asner has a Bacon number of 1, and Presley — who never appeared in a film with Bacon — has a Bacon number of 2. The concept offers a great reminder that we’re all more connected than it may first appear.

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Brazil Strengthens the Right to Reach a Human in Customer Service

Consumers in Brazil have gained stronger rights to speak to a person when disputing bills, cancelling services, or seeking help from companies covered by new federal customer service rules. The new law took effect on Nov. 2, 2026 and covers qualifying providers in federally regulated sectors, such as banking and telecommunications. It doesn’t automatically apply to every business. Covered companies must offer human assistance by phone and through digital channels from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, including holidays. Chatbots and other automated systems are allowed but can’t block access to a human representative during those hours. At least one digital channel must operate around the clock. The telephone waiting limit for reaching a person is 20 seconds in at least 80% of cases, and 5 minutes for the rest. If a call with a representative drops accidentally, the company must call back within 5 minutes, using the information already provided. Cancellation must be available from the first menu and through the same channels used to sign up. Non-urgent requests require a conclusive response within 7 calendar days. The law also requires priority service for older people and accessible channels for people with disabilities.

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Yes, the $1,200 Medicare Grocery Card is a Scam

You may have seen the advertisements on TV for the $1,200 Medicare Grocery Card. The thing you need to know upfront is that the government doesn’t give out free grocery cards. The cards actually come from private insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. These are private-plan perks, not government handouts. To qualify, you usually have to meet strict rules, such as being enrolled in a specific Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) because you have both Medicare and Medicaid, or having a documented chronic illness. These benefits are rarely handed out as a single $1,200 lump some. Instead, they’re usually small monthly or quarterly amounts — such as $25 to $150 a month — that can only be spent on specific healthy food items at participating local stores. The national bait-and-switch advertisers often take a rare, high-value plan available in one specific zip code or state and market it nationwide. When you call, they tell you that specific card isn’t available where you live. The main goals of these commercials is to get your Medicare card number, phone number, and personal details. They then use this information to aggressively pitch you private insurance plans or sell your data to telemarketers, leading to endless spam calls. Never share your Medicare number or personal information over the phone in response to a commercial or cold call.

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