IT MAY NOT FIT THE BILL for the Great Finds of the New Decade// Category, but I did discover this 1970s model retro-red National Panasonic R-72S in a storage closet this past weekend, and, as our calendar would have it, weekends in April 2010 are, indeed, part of the new decade, thus allowing me to write about the nifty contraption here. The radio, also known as the Panasonic Toot-a-Loop, does have a bit of a disintegrates-when-wet look to it; it was meant to be worn on the wrist, was manufactured to receive AM stations, and had to be opened to be tuned.

Despite these impracticalities, the radio’s design certainly transcends the stylistic whiteness of basic model iPods. As described in the Panasonic R-72’s fairly genius old-timey advertising jingle, “it’s an S, it’s an O, it’s a crazy radio! Toot-a-loop!” Unfortunately, the ad might be a bit too old-timey for the kids of the iGeneration. If Panasonic ever did bring back the R-72, then they’d probably need to update the jingle – perhaps something like: “You iPod, iPhone, iPad, but have you ever Toot-a-Looped?”

And no need to thank me for the above jingle, Panasonic Corporation. Seeing the hipster-polloi wearing the R-72 on the streets of Williamsburg will be all the thanks I’ll need.

LATE LAST NIGHT, while wandering the aisles of CVS during one of my pre-bedtime candy constitutionals, I made what may prove to be this month’s best confectionary find. Riding fresh on the heels of late January’s Great Fresh Cola Mentos Discovery, I was extremely happy to stumble upon, and am now excited to report, that Cadbury Crème Eggs are back in stores. I repeat: Cadbury Crème Eggs are back in stores. (If I ever used multiple exclamation marks un-ironically, there’d be several here.)

Admittedly, upon first seeing these ovoid delectables, I was also somewhat troubled in that I wasn’t sure if Easter had already come and gone. So go our days here at the Fictionarium. But no matter. At least my unconditional friends (i.e., Cadbury Crème Eggs) have decided to return home! If anybody needs me, I shall be in my apartment, devouring these succulent Easter-time morsels whole. Next, I shall be constructing a green, blue, red and gold tinfoil helmet out of the wrappers, lest somebody should try to steal the crème egg-thoughts from my mind-grapes. You may need a well trained psychiatrist—if not a forklift—to come get me.

Yesterday, I discovered what may prove to be the greatest candy find of this new decade: Fresh Cola Mentos. With all the fresh-making joy of Mentos, all the flavor of those Haribo Gummy Happy-Colas, it seems as though the treacly bonbon deities are finally smiling down upon us from their Good Ship Lollipop—though by us, I definitely mean those intrepid sojourners who tend to get stuck in very foreign Duty Free shops for two hours or more (e.g., me). 

In rareity, seconded only by sightings of the Energy Mentos (one roll provides two-cups-o’-Joe’s worth of caffeine), I wondered, late last night, if anyone else has happened upon these veritable unicorns of the confectionary world.