Please Don't Hoard Gas Because It Will Catch Fire And Burn Down Your Apartment [Bad Ideas]

Listen, we know gas costs more than $4 a gallon, and may go even higher, but that doesn't mean you should start stockpiling gas. Two Dartmouth natives learned this the hard way when the 45-gallons of gas they were hoarding in nine plastic jugs ignited, nearly burning down their eight-unit apartment complex.

"If it had not been for the sprinklers, this building would have probably burnt to the ground," said Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.

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The jugs were covered by cloth rags and stacked in a hallway closet that housed the air conditioning system, Chief Arruda said.

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The husband jumped from the second-floor balcony to escape the fire and sprained his ankle, he said. Everyone else escaped the building without injury.

The Fire Marshal's Office determined that the fire was accidental, resulting from a heat source — likely the natural gas water heater or a propane-powered cooking appliance — igniting vapors from the stored gas, Ms. Mieth said.

The couple, who have yet to be named, can expect a letter from the Darwin Awards reading, "We like your style, but try harder next time."

Grocery Shrink Ray Hits Dawn Soap [Grocery Shrink Ray]

The grocery shrink ray continues firing unabated, this time scoring a direct hit on Dawn soap. Reader Courtney reports that Dawn containers, once a proud 740 ml, have now shrunk to a mere 650 ml—a loss of 90 ml of bleach-alternative cleanliness!

Even worse, the new containers are elongated, giving consumers the false impression that they are receiving more soap. It goes without saying that the price remains the same. Very dirty, Dawn.

7 Ways To Have A Gorgeous And Inexpensive Wedding [Weddings]

Blowing $100,000 on a wedding is still in season, and there's no better way to show up your over-spending friends than by throwing a lavish affair without bankrupting your parents. Inside, seven tips to have a lovely and affordable wedding.

"All these things add up," [Alicia Rockmore, CEO of Buttoned Up Inc] said. "I think it's just remembering that at the end of the day, people are there to celebrate your wedding. They're not there to see what $500 flower arrangements you have on every table. Just remember that people, your guests, are never going to notice the details that you do … Don't get overwhelmed on every little, tiny thing that you need to spend money on. The most important thing is that they're going to be there to support you."

Bridezillas seriously scare us. Before you get carried away with wedding plans, sit down and read Rebecca Mead's One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding . It'll save your sanity, and the down payment on that house you're going to want in a few years.

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