1 in 40 The odds a traditional Sweethearts� candy says “CRAZY 4U” are 1 in 40 (US, 2010). SOURCE(S) According to an email from Aimee Scott, Brand Manager, New England Confectionery Company (Book of Odds – Sweethearts follow up, NECCO. January 25, 2010). CALCULATION(S) BY BOOK OF ODDS BASED ON According to an email from … Read more
As if students applying to college and graduate school didn’t have enough to worry about—what with grades, test scores, activities, interviews, and essays—it turns out the weather can also affect admissions decisions, specifically when there’s an interview involved. A recent study from Canada showed that medical school applicants who interviewed on rainy days scored lower than those … Read more
1 in 26,960 The odds a person 5 or older in Colorado speaks Yiddish at home are 1 in 26,960 (CO, US, 2008). SOURCE(S) American Community Survey, 2008 [Internet]. U.S. Census Bureau; Available from: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Special/acsftp.html CITE THIS ODDS STATEMENT To properly cite Book of Odds please copy and paste the following into any document utilizing … Read more
In 1920, hemlines were short, whiskey illegal, and girls were named Mary. Or, at least 1 in 17.52. Other names that year, almost as fashionable, were Dorothy (1 in 33.95), Margaret (1 in 44.42) and even Ruth (1 in 47.65). But by 1950, when booze was legal again, but hemlines down, Mary dropped to second place … Read more
Many of the 2010 Best Picture Oscar nominees had something in common: a focus on language. Much of The Hurt Locker (the winner) is spoken in Arabic; some of District 9, in Afrikaans. The plot of Inglourious Basterds hinges on characters’ ability (or inability) to understand multiple languages. Up gives dogs the ability to speak, and both District 9 and Avatar feature made-up languages. District 9’s is … Read more
I know, it’s enough to shake your faith in humanity, but it’s the cold truth. Singles routinely fudge their height, weight, and age. Frequent online daters can also expect some surprises about income, education, number of children, and even marital status when they come face to face. It seems only natural for people to buff up their images … Read more
1 in 15.54 The odds an astronaut is divorced are 1 in 15.54 (US, 1941 – 2005). Sources & Definitions DEFINITIONS Astronaut includes astronauts, cosmonauts, Yuhangyuan and test pilots CITE THIS ODDS STATEMENT To properly cite Book of Odds please copy and paste the following into any document utilizing this Odds Statement: Odds Statement provided … Read more
The kiss is one of the most intimate forms of human expression, and there are myriad types. These include the affectionate kiss that parents give to children, the reverential peck that Catholics bestow upon the ring of the Pope, the platonic kind used to greet friends, and, of course, the vigorous cheek-pinch-and-kiss combo practiced by … Read more
Every evening we change out of our clothes, kiss each other good night…and head off to sleep in our separate quarters. That’s rarely the expectation most couples have when they say “I do,” or even “Let’s move in together!” Yet being estranged bedfellows is common to 23% of the population: According to the National Sleep … Read more
When my mother died in 2005, neither my siblings nor I thought my dad would last for long. To our surprise, he slowly reorganized his daily habits and moved forward with a steady, slow-paced life. Eight months after the funeral his furnace spat black smoke throughout every room in his house, destroying most of the … Read more