Water Cooler might be on vacation until August, but you can get your fix right here! We’ve picked Water Cooler entries from throughout the year for your reading pleasure. So take a stroll down memory lane and remember to check back at the end of August for all new Water Coolers!
Are You Defined by What You Google?
Or can you define an entire country by what they Google the most? According to statistics proved by Google, Inc. to Reuters News, these are some keywords and the countries where they were most searched (in order from first to third place):
“Sex” – Egypt, India, Turkey
“Botox” – Australia, United States, United Kingdom“Love” – Phillippines, Australia, United States
“Viagra” – Italy, United Kingdom, Germany
“Hangover” – Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
“Britney Spears” – Mexico, Venezuela, Canada
“Gay” – Chile, Mexico, Colombia
“Terrorism” – Pakistan, Phillippines, Australia
“Marijuana” – Canada, United States, Australia
Read the Reuters News article at AOL to find more keywords and the countries that searched them the most!
Boyfriends Do More Housework than Husbands
Ladies, why buy the cow when you can get more housework for free? A new international study shows that married men do less housework than live-in boyfriends. But let’s not jump for joy just yet. There still is a gender bias, with women doing more housework than both hubbies and boy-toys. The study was sparked by the increase of non-married cohabitating couples. This trend is increasing not just in the U.S. but around the globe, and sociologists want to learn the dynamics of couples who live together but are not married.
Talk to a Real Live Human Being
The website these major companies don’t want you to go to! We all know how annoying it is – trying to call your credit card company, a big business, or even the government is an annoying maze of automated voices. But gethuman.com can give you tips to get you to a real person! Companies are listed alphabetically and contain phone numbers and instructions on what to enter to get right to a human being!
Tailgating Foods by Sign
Football fans and the people who love to eat their food rejoice! A new season of tailgating is about to begin. But with so many delectable munchies out there, what should you serve? Take the no-nonsense, practical sense approach and pick your tailgating treats by zodiac sign! Have a Leo you are partying with? Some fried chicken should hit the spot. Chili, black coffee, and beer? Get it ready for the Aries football fans in your life. Feed Sagittarius a traditional comfort food – mac ‘n cheese. Watch out for those Pisces – they like to drink Sangria while cheering on their favorite team – and lots of it. Find out more astrology tailgating tips at AOL Horoscopes.
Are You Smarter Than a Third Grader?
Put your geography skills to the test by filling in a blank map of the United States. Sound easy? Maybe I forgot to mention it is a timed quiz! See if you know Minnesota from Montana and Utah from Nevada. If you don’t you’ll fail the third grade! (But don’t worry, you can try again.)
As Seen on TV Products: Do They Actually Work?
You’ve seen the commercials. An exciting new miracle gadget that seems too good to be true. But is it? The editors of AOL’s Money & Finance put twenty of these well-known products to the test. Some live up to their hype but others fall short. Go to AOL now and see a complete starred rating for twenty different products, including cost, product claims, and pros and cons for each one. Some of the products tested were the one-touch can opener, dryer balls, George Foreman grill, Auto Vent SPV, the Go duster, and Hollywood smiles tooth whitener.
What Movie Do YOU Belong In?
You might not have a chance to be on the big screen, but you can find out which movie you most belong in by taking this fun (and quick) personality test here. Captain Jack Sparrow, here I come!
Your Chocoholic Excuse Doesn’t Fly Anymore
Thanks to a British researcher who had to ruin it for everyone. Peter Rogers, a psychologist at the University of Bristol, suggests that while chocolate might be a very desirable food to eat, it is not physically addicting. But take heart! He did also say that the more we try to fight off a craving for chocolate, the more our desire for it grows. So if you want chocolate, eat it immediately. (Okay, that last piece of advice didn’t come from the psychologist. It’s what I’m taking away from his report!)
Teacher Crush Spells Good Grades
Having an innocent crush on your teacher can translate to better grades and a lifetime love of learning. We’re not talking about the inappropriate student/teacher relationships that have been making headlines the past few years, rather the sweet and innocent adoration of someone the student sees as a role model. And psychologists say students who have a crush on their teachers are more likely to work harder in class, too. Go to the msnbc article by Melissa Dahl to read more and vote on whether you ever had a crush on one of your teachers.
I’m a Pomeranian. What Dog Breed Are You?
If you were a dog, would you be a Doberman or a Chihuahua? Take this fun quiz at funquizcards.com and find out!
Ten Nutritional Nightmares
If it tastes good, spit it out immediately! It seems everything that you crave is terrible for your health. But while we know some treats are okay in moderation, some foods should be avoided at all costs, according to registered dieticians and other health experts. The new trend at state fairs and carnivals of deep frying everything from Twinkies to coca-cola? Don’t even think about it! The Outback’s popular Bloomin’ Onion? It will give you a bloomin’ heart attack! Read the WebMD article to find out more food no-nos.
Have You Been Brainwashed?
Advertising and marketing companies – they are pretty sneaky. See if you’ve got information in your head that you never even knew about by taking the CramerSweeney Smart Marketing IQ test. See if you can match brand icons, taglines, and more with the companies they represent. You might be surprised!
Obama and Clinton Related to Brangelina!
The two Democratic presidential candidates are each related to a member of Hollywood’s biggest power couple – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie! Barack Obama is a distant cousin of actor Brad Pitt, and Hillary Rodham Clinton is related to Pitt's live-in love, Angelina Jolie. Researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society have been tracing the candidates’ genealogy for the past three years. They also discovered that Clinton can count among her distant cousins Madonna, Celine Dion, and Alanis Morissette. Obama is related to six U.S. presidents, including George W. Bush!
Not for the Squeamish
Warning: this photo of a pack of dogs attacking an alligator in Florida is not for the delicate, but be brave and check it out – you’ll be glad you did! (Trust me!)
Best Celebrity Blogs
Blogging. It’s the wave of the future. Whether it is your next-door neighbor, a political commentator, a CEO, or a celebrity, this easy way to share your thoughts with the world is catching on. But which celebrities have blogs that are really worth reading? Go to switched.com and found out why Rosie O’Donnell, Valerie Bertinelli, Jenna Fischer, Lily Allen, Gilbert Arenas, Al Roker, Zach Braff, Allison Mack, Will Wheaton, Mia Farrow, and Moby have blogs worth reading!
I Hope I Die Before I Get Old
Rockers Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend of The Who coined the famous phrase, but at the time they didn’t know that because of their profession they were twice as likely to die a premature death as ordinary citizens of the same age. (Or maybe they had an inkling when fellow band mate Keith Moon passed away at the age of thirty-two.) Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University studied 1,064 stars from the music world in the "All Time Top 1,000" albums book published in 2000. They compared each artist's age at death with that of European and U.S. citizens of similar backgrounds, sex, and ethnicity. The average age of death was forty-two for North American stars and thirty-five for European stars. It’s no surprise that live fast and die young has been a rock ‘n roll motto for years.
Do You Want to Save Time?
After a long day of work or school, you most likely want to go home and relax or have a little fun. But unfortunately, returning to your home often means returning to a pile of chores. Slash the amount of time you spend on grunt work in half by checking out the MSN article “8 Ways to Save Time at Home.” From stocking up on the basics to getting rid of junk mail right away, you can make more time for yourself.
