| 3181/
Number of human olfactory receptor cells = 40 million
Number of rabbit olfactory receptor cells = 100 million
Number of dog olfactory receptor cells = 1 billion
3182/ A study of 237
second grade children used piano keyboard training and newly
designed maths software to demonstrate improvement in maths
skills. The group scored 27% higher on proportional math and
fractions tests than children that used only the maths software.
3183/ In an analysis
of U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary
school students (NELS:88, National Education Longitudinal
Survey), researchers found that students who report consistent
high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the
middle and high school years show “significantly higher
levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12.” This
observation holds regardless of students’ socio-economic
status, and differences in those who are involved with instrumental
music vs. those who are not is more significant over time.
3184/ Students with coursework/experience
in music performance and music appreciation scored higher
on the SAT: students in music performance scored 57 points
higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the maths, and
students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on
verbal and 44 points higher on the maths, than did students
with no arts participation.
3185/ Physician and biologist
Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school
applicants. He found that 66% of music majors who applied
to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of
any group. 44% of biochemistry majors were admitted.
3186/ In the Kindergarten
classes of the school district of Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin,
children who were given music instruction scored 48 percent
higher on spatial-temporal skill tests than those who did
not receive music training.
3187/ In 2001, 16.3 percent
of American children lived in poverty, a lower rate than 1993
(22.7 percent), but higher than the 1973 rate of 14.4 percent.
3188/ In 1998, the top
1 percent of Americans owned 47.7 percent of all stock, while
the bottom 80 percent owned 4.1 percent. Between 1989 and
1998, nearly 35 percent of all stock market gains went to
the top 1 percent of shareholders. 64 percent of American
households have stock holdings worth $5,000 or less, or own
no stock at all.
3189/ 64 percent of U.S.
workers say they would rather have more time than more money.
Even in households earning less than $25,000, 49 percent said
they would still prefer time over money.
3190/ Most Americans
in the highest-earning one percent of the population (median
annual income: $330,000) don't consider themselves rich according
to a Worth-Roper Starch Survey.
3191/ As of 1998, 48
percent of American households owned stock either directly
or through a mutual fund or some sort of retirement plan.
Over 86 percent of the value of all stocks and mutual funds,
including pensions was held by the top 10 percent of the households.
3192/ The Pentagon -
a building, institution, and symbol was conceived at the request
of Brigadier General Brehon B. Sommervell, Chief of the Construction
Division of the Office of the Quartermaster General, on a
weekend in mid-July 1941. The purpose was to provide a temporary
solution to the War Department’s critical shortage of
space. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on September
11, 1941. The building was dedicated on January 15, 1943,
nearly 16 months to the day after the groundbreaking.
3193/ In 2003 there were
60,847 appeals to the US Courts of Appeals (excludes Federal
Circuit).
3194/ It is estimated
that the annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI), not
including those who die at the scene of the accident, is approximately
40 cases per million population in the U. S. or approximately
11,000 new cases each year.
3195/ Fifty-three percent
of SCIs occur among persons in the 16 to 30 year age group,
and the average age at injury is 32.6 years. Since 1973 there
has been an increase in the mean age at time of injury. Those
who were injured before 1979 had a mean age of 28.6 while
those injured after 2000 had a mean age of 35.9 years. 81.2%
of all persons in the national database are male
3196/ The State Flag
of Virginia bears the Great Seal of the Commonwealth on a
field of blue. The seal depicts the goddess "Virtus."
She is dressed as an Amazon, armed with a spear and sword,
and stands over a defeated despot. The seal displays the State
Motto,"Sic Semper Tyrannis," which is Latin for,
"Thus Always to Tyrants."
3197/ Consumers spent
$687.5 billion for food that originated on U.S. farms in 2001,
according to the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
3198/ Of that $687.5
billion. About 19 percent, or $123.3 billion, went to farmers
(farm value) and the remaining $557.5 billion (marketing costs)
covered all the costs to bring food to consumers — including
labour, processing, packaging, storage, displaying, marketing,
advertising and interest. The total marketing bill also includes
food-away-from-home sales — the cost of the highly processed
meals at restaurants.
3199/ How $100 is Spent
on average in the supermarket.
Perishables
$50.69
Beverages
$10.87
Staples, Condiments, other
$5.30
Non-Food Grocery
$8.66
Snack Foods
$6.19
Main Meal Items
$8.11
Health & Beauty Care
$3.85
General Merchandise
$3.52
Pharmacy
$2.69
Unclassified
$0.13
Source: Progressive Grocer,
April 2004, pg. 36
3200/ On September 27,
1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference (CPPCC) approved the proposal for
using the red five-star flag as the national flag of the People's
Republic of China (PRC). The red color of the flag symbolizes
revolution and the yellow color of the stars the golden brilliant
rays radiating from the vast red land. The design of four
smaller stars surrounding a bigger one signifies the unity
of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist
Party of China (CPC).
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