Fun Facts Past

A trifling of trivia from posts gone by:

Healthy Aging week

49% women age 75+ live alone.

About 475,000 grandparents aged 65 or more had the primary responsibility for their grandchildren who lived with them. 

Happiness Happens week

Legend Judy Garland sings "C'mon Get Happy". Ironically, during filming she was facing many pressures in her personal life, including a heavy reliance on prescription medication.

What country has the happiest inhabitants? Viva Venezuela -- the US ties with Turkey and Australia at #7.

This musical about miserable people has been making people happy for more than 25 years:

Statistics report Starbucks regulars are 2% happier than McDonald’s regulars.

2% doesn't only apply to milk fat

Your grandparents may seem crotchety....

... but older people report being 18 percent happier than young folk.

If you have a happy friend living within a half-mile radius, you are 42 percent more likely to be happy, too.

In the film The Pursuit of Happyness, Will Smith portrayed Chris Gardner, depicting his personal struggle of establishing himself as a stockbroker while managing fatherhood and homelessness.  

Since 2006, Gardner has served as CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co, based in Chicago, Illinois. He is also a sought-after motivational speaker.  Gardner credits his tenacity and success to the "spiritual genetics" handed down to him by his mother, and to the high expectations placed on him by his children.

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Getting Ready for Kindergarten week

The Lunchbox Museum was founded by collector Allen Woodall in the early 1990's and now contains over 3500 lunchboxes and matching thermoses. Nostalgic pieces include Disco Fever, Family Affair, the Brady Bunch, the Land of the Giants, the Land that Time Forgot, Daniel Boon, Batman, Star Trek, and Bonanza themes. In 2005, a mint condition 1954 Superman lunchbox sold at auction for $5000.  

"Kindergarten" was developed by a German educator, Friedrich Froebel. His theories stressed the importance of music, nature study, stories, and play. Froebel opened his first kindergarten in Germany on June 28, 1840 to mark the four-hundredth anniversary of Gutenberg's invention of movable type.

The first kindergarten in the United States was founded in Watertown, Wisconsin, by Margarethe Meyer-Schurz in 1856. It was based on Friedrich Fröbel's educational model. Margaterthe's sister founded the first kindergarten in London, England.

St. Louis was the first public school system to begin a kindergarten in 1873, and by World War I most major urban school systems had a kindergarten class available. Today, only 14 states require kindergarten attendance.

Susan Blow, credited with opening the first
district-wide kindergarten in the United States

By the end of the 19th century, the field of child development was growing and started to have an influence on the structure of kindergarten. Free play was encouraged by psychologists, and the focus of kindergarten classes became developing the whole child. By the 1930s, kindergarten had become centered around social sciences, natural and physical sciences, and creative arts, and informally touched on reading, writing, and arithmetic. Kindergarten had become a publicly funded program by this time.

The subjects now taught in kindergarten include, math, science, reading, writing and social studies. Children spend time in small groups, whole class instruction, reading on their own, and even working on computers. Today kindergarten children may have homework, and it is common to see little 5-year-olds with heavy backpacks. It is hoped that students come to kindergarten with a few skills already, such as the ability to identify the letters of the alphabet, count to 10, recognize numbers 1 to 10, recognize basic colors and shapes, use scissors, hold a pencil, and be aware of rhyme. There are even programs to prepare children and parents for kindergarten.

Favorite crayon colors of celebrities include:  robin’s egg blue - Britney Spears, red - Courtney Cox, wild strawberry - Tiger Woods, pig pink - Mario Andretti, caribbean green - Al Roker, burnt sienna - Billy Crystal, blue bell - George W. Bush, magenta - Whoopi Goldberg, cerulean - Katie Couric, blue - Mike Myers, dandelion - Candice Bergen, and lemon yellow - Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Jack Nicholson, Bill Murray and even Danny DeVito turned down the role, enabling the Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger to play the eponymous Kindergarten Cop.  

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Vacation week

How many National Lampoon Vacation movies are there? Five. National Lampoon's Vacation, National Lampoon's European Vacation, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Vegas Vacation and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure.

Can you figure out which one is missing?

Now playing -- the popular play Death Takes a Holiday (later made into a 1934 film starring Fredric March, with a subsequent remake entitled Meet Joe Black, starring Brad Pitt) is now an Off-Broadway musical produced by New York's veteran Roundabout Theatre Company For years Orlando, Florida and San Francisco, CA have battled it out for the title of America's top getaway destination.  The attraction in Florida being Disneyworld, the attraction in California being Alcatraz Island, home of the most notorious prison in American history. Here is a little pictorial getaway for your viewing pleasure - the planet's Most Unusual Beaches:  Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, NC The average employed American worker earned 18 vacation days last year, but only used 14 of them, according to a 2010 survey by Expedia.com.  Alternatively, workers in France got 37 vacation days last year and used 35 of them, while the average worker in Great Britain received 28 vacation days and took 25. Those forfeited days of vacation per American add up quickly. Altogether, Americans gave up 448 million earned but unused vacation days in 2010. Considering the average wage of $39,208 for a full-time worker -- that's $67.5 billion worth of time. The world's most expensive cruise, and also one of the longest, is the 121 night around-the-world cruise in a grand suite on theQueen Elizabeth 2 that costs £270,099 (that's $481,191) Because you've earned it.... ~ What Will Be Your Legacy week Legacy week fun fact - One of the greatest musical legacies of all time: "The Beatles are the best-selling band in history, with sales of over one billion units estimated by EMI Records. They have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act. According to the RIAA, as of 2012 they have sold 177 million units in the US, more than any other artist, and in 2008 they topped Billboard magazine's list of the all-time most successful Hot 100 artists. As of 2012, they hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with 20." [source: Wikipedia]  What happens to Safe Deposit Boxes that are no longer paid for? They are "drilled" open and their contents removed. According to a site where former bank employees share "war stories," one drilled box was found to contain a single red high-heeled shoe... and nothing else. Here's a Legacy week's rock 'n' roll brainteaser for you. Know who wrote the lyrics to the theme song for the granddaddy of all teen dance shows, American Bandstand? Was it Buddy Holly? Or some one-hit-wonder four-part harmony group? What's your guess?

According to a poll conducted by AskMen.com, America’s all time favorite car is the Chevrolet Corvette -- and has been so for more than 6 decades... talk about a legacy!

Perhaps the greatest legacy in modern music is the catalogue of songs by The Beatles. Years ago when Paul McCartney tried to purchase the publishing rights to his music, he was outbid by the eventual owner, Michael Jackson.

The World's largest inheritance is revealed. On 22 March, 2010 Elizabeth Ann-Marie Sassoon, an archeologist, philanthropist, and financier died after a four year battle with cancer, leaving behind $38 billion estate to her only heir, David Gad de Rothschild. Waddesdon Manor Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America conducted a survey of over 2600 baby boomers and elders. According to the survey, participants felt a non-financial legacy was 10 times more important than money and other assets, values over valuables.  "10 Unbelievable Inheritance Stories" - Reading is believing  Eleanor Ritchey Heiress to the Quaker State Refining Corporation, Ritchey left about $14 million to her 150 stray dogs. When the last dog died, the remainder was to go to Auburn University Research Foundation with the funds dedicated to research on canine disease. ~

Wheelchair Beautification week

The earliest record of wheelchairs dates back to 6th century China

Depiction of Confucius in a wheelchair, dating to ca. 1680. 

Theme of the week Fun Fact: Started in 1960 in Rome with 400 athletes representing 23 countries, the Paralympic Summer Games are the second largest sporting event in the world today, the traditional Olympic Games being the first

1960 Paralympics - Rome, Italy

The most expensive ‘tricked out’ wheelchair sold for a cool $387K+

iSwing Chair

Theme of the week Fun Fact: Ever heard of Sledge Hockey? It's a sport designed to allow participants who have a physical disability to play ice hockey. The game was invented in the early 1960s in Stockholm, Sweden at a rehabilitation center and requires incredible skill and finesse.

Sledge Hockey!

In keeping with this week's whimsical theme: Grand-Ma In a Wheelchair - Ingredients (4) : 1 Part Jose Cuervo® Tequila, 2 Parts Grand Marnier®, 1 Part 7-Up, 1 Splash Lime Juice, Add ice. Shake. Strain. Shoot.

Paralympian Trischa Zorn is the most decorated competitor in the history of the Games. From 1980 to 2004 she won a total of 55 medals, 41 of which are gold, in blind swimming events

What better way to close out this week's theme than with the incomparable innovative artistry of Axis Dance Company

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Share a Sunset with Your Lover week

The scientific name for the study of kissing is philematology. Philamamania is the compulsion to kiss, and a philematophobe is one who dislikes kissing

as of Valentine's Day this year Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher have been wed 86 years and hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage of a living couple

In his/her lifetime, the average person will spend an estimated 20,160 minutes kissing!

 The expression, "tying the knot" dates to Roman times, when the bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots - which the groom then had the fun of untying

Romance Novels are more popular than ever. 53% of all mass market paperback books sold in this country are Romances. They earn more money in the USA yearly than baseball! Talk about a national pastime...

A fairly passionate kiss burns an average of 9 calories

For Valentine's Day 2000, a liqueur manufacturer created the world's largest box of chocolates. The heart-shaped box, assembled in New York City, measured 15 feet high by 15 feet wide and weighed some 1300 pounds. It held the record until November of 2002, when Marshall Fields broke the record with a 2,002 pound box of chocolates in Chicago

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Make a Difference to Children week

From Kim Ratz, chief advocate for Make a Difference to a Child month: "Thinking back to your childhood, who are the adults you remember-teachers, neighbors,...relatives? Could you be that kind of adult who makes a positive difference to a child today? You can involve children of any and all ages, and it can be with one child, or groups large or small. The possibilities are endless and timeless & you'll have fun too!"

Child prodigy Mozart was 5 yrs old when he performed for the first time, 7 when he composed his first serious piece and 12 when he composed his first full scale opera

Good news! The percentage of adolescents who smoke regularly has reached its lowest level since monitoring began in 1980

Keeping their feet firmly on the ground, Gaza's children stormed into the Guinness Book of World Records for the third year straight on July 1, 2011, as they broke the record for the world's biggest parachute game.

In 1973, Tammy Wynette had a number one country hit with a song titled, "Kids Say the Darndest Things"

according to TIme magazine the best animated film of all time is Pinoochio

Tatum O’Neal holds the title of youngest Academy Award winner, which she earned at the tender age of 10

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Family Reunion week

What is the most popular time of the year to host a Family Reunion? Summer - 65.8%, Fall - 12.6%, Winter - 11.2%, Spring - 10.4%

The largest reunion ever boasted #2585 guests!

The oldest reunion in the US has been going strong since 1853

Most Popular Family Reunion Activities:
#1 - Kids/Parents/Grandparents = Casual Chatting
#2 - Kids/Parents/Grandparents = Taking Family Photos
#3 - Kids = Outdoor Sports & Games, Parents/Grandparents = Sharing 

the Top 10 most prevalent surnames in the U.S.: 

1. Smith

2. Johnson

3. Williams

4. Jones

5. Brown

6. Davis

7. Miller

8. Wilson

9. Moore

10. Taylor

For the current week's theme trivia please visit our Fun Facts page