Author Archives: web gangsta

Still relevant: Millennials love to shop at the mall


By web gangsta | Published:

Sure, Robin Sparkles may have made LET’S GO TO THE MALL a big hit in Canada, but that was a long time ago.

When was the last time that YOU, Web Watch reader, went to the mall on your own just to wander around?

Chances are, you haven’t.  Most malls and major mall retailers appear to be losing retail sales — except Apple Stores — primarily due to online retailing.   But should malls still worry?

Continue reading STILL RELEVANT: MILLENNIALS LOVE TO SHOP AT THE MALL

How old are you that you still get an allowance?


By web gangsta | Published:

Think back: if you did receive an allowance from your parents when you were growing up, at what age did they stop giving it to you?

Did they stop as soon as you got your first job?

Did they stop giving you a weekly allowance and switch it to “payment for services rendered”, as you completed chores around the house?

Continue reading HOW OLD ARE YOU THAT YOU STILL GET AN ALLOWANCE?

25 Tornado Survival Tips


By web gangsta | Published:

From the NOAA:

  • At night, keep looking at ground level for tell-tale signs that a tornado is snapping powerlines, such as quick, bright flashes of either blue-green to white.
  • Not all tornadoes are funnel clouds. Some have no clouds at all, making them nearly invisible from a distance, save the flying debris and dust that may be seen underneath a set of low clouds

From the OLD FARMERS ALMANAC:

  • While they could occur at any time of day or night, tornados most typically form in the afternoon
  • Check out the color of the sky.  If the sky is a pale green color, that’s a common tornado possibility indicator
  • Other common indicators include large hail and dark low-lying clouds.  Approaching tornadoes sound like oncoming freight trains.

From NATIONWIDE INSURANCE:

  • No matter where you are, get as low as you can and get down. Get covered with a blanket, sleeping bag, or other heavy material that can protect you from flying debris.
  • Have a battery-powered (better yet, a hand-crank powered) weather radio that can also pick up your local news radio or TV station audio.
  • Don’t open all your windows “to alleviate pressure inside the house”. You may be hit by flying glass if you choose to do this at the wrong time
  • The southwest corner of your basement may not be the best choice to take cover in, as most tornados come from that direction
  • Caught while out driving? Don’t park under an overpass or bridge, as that can be more dangerous than taking cover in a nearby ditch.

From ABC NEWS

  • Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls
  • If you see a tornado while you’re driving, don’t try to out-run it.  Leave your car and find shelter immediately instead

From NATURE’S FURY:

  • If you’re taking cover in the basement, be sure that you’re not underneath anything heavy from the first floor, such as a piano or refrigerator, in case the floor above you weakens
  • After the tornado has passed, avoid going near down power lines.
  • Avoid lighting candles or using anything that could generate a spark, until you’ve confirmed that there aren’t any nearby gas leaks

From FEMA:

  • Make an emergency kit, consisting of extra batteries, food, water.  Try to have enough to last you at least 72 hours.  Think about the essentials you may be without during that time (power, heat, clean water, etc)
  • If you think a tornado is approaching, grab and wear appropriate clothing for after the tornado has passed – sturdy shoes, jeans, work gloves, jacket/sweatshirt (depending on climate).  These may be clothes you’ll need to wear for a few days in uncomfortable conditions
  • Have a contact plan with friends, family members, co-workers. Cell networks may be out of service temporarily, so don’t assume you can rely on your cellphone

From SECRETS OF SURVIVAL:

  • Half of all tornadoes each year happen during April, May, and June
  • On a regular basis, take an inventory of your possesions for insurance purposes, have that list documented and secured in an off-site location, such as a bank’s safety deposit box
  • When taking cover, stay away from corners as they tend to attract flying debris. You’ll be better off in the center of the room, underneath a sturdy piece of furniture.
  • Most injuries occur from flying debris, building collapses, or when trying to outrun a tornado in a car

From FIRST AID on ABOUT.COM:

  • Tornadoes usually travel about 30 MPH, but can reach speeds as high as 70 MPH. Note that travel speed is different from the rotation speed of the cyclone itself.
  • Try to get to the center room of whatever structure you’re in, preferably in the basement

From POPULAR MECHANICS:

  • While you can consider building a SAFE ROOM in your home, one tornado researcher says that if he’s caught in a tornado situation that he’s going to head for the nearest covered culvert outside. Stay away from grocery stores, gymnasiums, warehouses, or anything else with a large roof span.

How much money has Cards Against Humanity earned?


By web gangsta | Published:

By now, hopefully you’ve played that game that Web Watch told you about last year, CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY.

Yes, it’s a sick game, for sick people.  And funny as hell.  Web Watch ends up giving away copies of the game to friends who want to take it with them immediately after Game Night is over. We’re single-handedly keeping CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY in business, it seems.

Continue reading HOW MUCH MONEY HAS CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY EARNED?

Video Fun: Drunk Girl Voicemail


By web gangsta | Published:

Drunk voicemail messages can be funny.

Well, perhaps not for the person leaving them – but for the person receiving them? Hilarious.

Now, the ones that get posted onto the Internet may or may not be staged. They may or may not be fake.  Ones that include a note of “hey, leave me a message at ###” are almost definitely fake, one would think.

‘Cause if it’s a real drunk voicemail, then you went ahead and posted your actual real-for-real phone number? That’s one of those THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T POST ON THE INTERNET.

Ah well. True love is blind.

Continue reading VIDEO FUN: DRUNK GIRL VOICEMAIL

Video Fun: How to eat a Live Octopus


By web gangsta | Published:

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Some people don’t venture far from their own personal comfort zone when it comes to trying new foods. It’s why any FOOD CHALLENGE episode of any SURVIVOR season is always so much fun, as we watch people who are much hungrier than they normally would be throw their inhibitions away to get something – anything – into their stomachs.

Continue reading VIDEO FUN: HOW TO EAT A LIVE OCTOPUS

Survey: Brides aren’t wearing matching underwear on their wedding night


By web gangsta | Published:

Planning what to wear for a wedding can be stressful enough — the dress, the shoes, the reception shoes, the post-reception shoes, the pre-party outfits, the hair and makeup outfit, etc.

But can you believe what the bride doesn’t panic about?

Continue reading SURVEY: BRIDES AREN’T WEARING MATCHING UNDERWEAR ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT

How much money do sign twirlers make?


By web gangsta | Published:

You see them everywhere you go as you drive through your local suburbs, cruising by the strip mall shopping center:

The sign twirler, sign spinner, human directional sign, sign waver, sign flipper, living sign, or a casual sign holder on a stick .  And you always do the same thing as you drive by:  “hey, look at that idiot with the sign!”

Continue reading HOW MUCH MONEY DO SIGN TWIRLERS MAKE?

13 money-saving ideas to cut wedding costs


By web gangsta | Published:

If you were to get married again, what are some things that you would do differently to save a little money?

Would you elope instead of throwing a large reception?  Would you do a destination wedding in order to cut down on the guest list?  Would you use eVite or social media in order to make your invitations affordable?

Continue reading 13 MONEY-SAVING IDEAS TO CUT WEDDING COSTS

How big is the average parking space in a parking lot?


By web gangsta | Published:

One of the perils of living in suburbia is having to drive everywhere you go to reach your desired destination.  Public transit is not an option for you.

So when it comes time to travel to The City for dinner and a movie, families in the Giant Mom-mobile are often stuck trying to find an adequate parking space for their larger-than-it-needs-to-be vehicle.

Continue reading HOW BIG IS THE AVERAGE PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT?

35% of Americans will not go to the dentist


By web gangsta | Published:

When was the last time you went to the dentist?

Do you go once or twice a year?  Or have you avoided going to the dentist unless it’s absolutely necessary to pay a visit to have a cavity filled or a root canal?

Continue reading 35% OF AMERICANS WILL NOT GO TO THE DENTIST

The one piece of information you should never share on social media


By web gangsta | Published:

It’s time for Web Watch to get a little serious for a moment.  We just want to help you be a better social media user.

You can share photos of food, rant away about customers sitting next to you at a restaurant, or poke fun at the latest celebrity’s post-rehab hijinks.

But there is one item that you should avoid posting in social media at all costs.

Continue reading THE ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU SHOULD NEVER SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Average cost of attending a wedding: $539


By web gangsta | Published:

How many weddings do you expect to attend this year?

If you’re at the age where all your friends are getting married seemingly every other weekend all summer long, perhaps you should think again about saying “yes” to every RSVP that comes your way.

Putting on a wedding can be costly, as everyone knows.  But attending a wedding has costs of its own.

Continue reading AVERAGE COST OF ATTENDING A WEDDING: $539

How much does it cost to book a band?


By web gangsta | Published:

A while back, Web Watch told you HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO BOOK THE DAN BAND, as seen in The Hangover.  Or, if you really want to relive the entire HANGOVER movie trilogy, Web Watch mentioned how much it would cost you to BOOK ZACK GALIFIANAKIS or KEN JEONG.

But maybe, just maybe – you’re a bit more sophisticated than that.

Maybe you have $20,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you don’t know what to do with it.

Continue reading HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK A BAND?

Let’s play a game: Race Horse or Song Title?


By web gangsta | Published:

Let’s play a game: “Race Horse or Song Title”?

It’s a fun game to play during TRIPLE CROWN season, where gamblers everywhere turn to the KENTUCKY DERBY, PREAKNESS, and BELMONT to crown the fastest horse in the land.

But while we all chuckle over the wacky names that horses are given, one does have to wonder where those names come from, right?

Continue reading LET’S PLAY A GAME: RACE HORSE OR SONG TITLE?