In the News

Elementary School students in Georgia will be weighed 2 times per year. It is a new state law to keep track of the body mass index on the students.

A new invention to keep sharks away, call the Shark Shield, was reported in a pre-sale test that the device itself had actually been eaten.

Some 55% of new mothers are back to work by the time their baby is 6 months old. Four decades ago it was only 17% - San Francisco Chronicle

For the first time in history more than 1 in 100 American adults are incarcerated. - New York Times

While more than 12,000 Americans are shot to death, far more are wounded *duh*, 53,000 people were seen in Emergency Rooms in 2006. Associated Press

18% of workers borrowed money from their 401k or other retirement account last year, up from 11% in 2006 - Wall Street Journal.

More than 1/2 of all Americans are unable to save because they live paycheck to paycheck. - Marketwatch.com

Since the US dollar is so low, California wines sales overseas are on the rise. LA Times.

1/3 of workers have said they have fallen asleep, or are very sleepy at work. - Associated press

Vegetarian activists are protesting the plan to make Kentucky Fried Chicken the official picnic food of Kentucky.

To get ready for the Beijing Olympics the city has stared a campaign to cut down on spitting. Before the campaign 5% spat openly, now only 2.5% do.

A teacher in California recently admitted that after 17 years he was unable to read or write. He is now retired.

If currently smoking trends continue on billion people worldwide will dies of tobacco related illnesses this century. China now accounts for more than 40% of all smokers. - New York Daily News.

John McCain has missed 57% of the Senates votes in the last year. Obama , 40%, Hillary 27%. Associated Press

With warmer temperatures the number of US Ski resorts has dropped from 727 in 1985 to 485 today. USA Today.

By the end of this year more than 50% of the worlds 6.6 Billion people will own a mobile phone. The Wall St Journal.

Wal Mart is reporting that thousands of shoppers are actually redeeming their gift cards, but instead of DVDs or what have you, they spend it on food and diapers. Associated Press.

A preacher in Florida has issued a 30 day sex challenge for married congregants to fool around - with their spouses - every day for a month in an effort to reduce the divorce rate.

If the November election turns out to be McCain vs Obama it will be the largest age gap between candidates. McCain is 71, Obama 46. - MSNBC.com

The fastest growing producer of Kosher foods? China. - LA Times.

Haagen-Dazs has warned it may have to cut back on some of the ice-cream flavors it offers, due to the declining bee population. Less bees mean less, fruits, nuts etc.

The best tasting tap water, where you can find it? Los Angeles.

A Wisconsin man used a blow torch to clear snow and ice from his driveway accidentally set his garage door ablaze.

Consumers spent 9.7 billion at movie theaters and 23 billion on DVDs. - Wall St Journal.

Mitt Romney spent 42.3 million dollars of his own money on his failed presidential run. - Boston Globe.

Rudy Giuliani spent 60 million and only won a single delegate - Newsweek

An estimated 20% of drivers send and receive text messages while driving - US News and World Report

There are 3.3 billion active cell phones around the world, one for every 2 people on the planet. Washington Post.

Due to the high price of gold, the recent round of Oscar statues each went up $100.00 on cost from 400 to 500.00 each. = Financial Times.

More Americans now die from misuse of prescription drugs than cocaine and heroin. - LA Times.

Americans eat about 10 billion cows, chickens, pigs and other animals each year. - NY Times

Out of the 97 billion dollars in gift cards purchased last year, nearly 8 billion have gone unused. BusinessWeek

For every 1 million Americans there are now 65 video stores, 17 movie theaters and 1 drive in theater. - USA Today