There were 2.5 million emergency-room visits related to drug use in 2011—half for illegal drugs and half for misused medication. A third of patients had taken two or more substances: multiple drugs or drugs and alcohol.
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An astonishing 40,000 Americans are injured each year by their toilet bowls.
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The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked more than 130 cities from most to least expensive, according to a survey of prices across 160 goods and services. Here’s a sampling: 1 – Singapore 2 – Paris 9 – Seoul 22 – New York City
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A Vancouver woman saw the bicycle that was stolen from her put up for sale on Craigslist. She called, met the seller, and asked for a test ride. “And then I just got on it and rode away,” said Kayla Smith.
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Jamie Fox, a 22-year-old from Great Britain with a degree in music, was given a job as a human scarecrow on a farm. Fox will make $400 a week scaring off partridges by playing an accordion, ukulele, and cowbell.
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$6 trillion – Upper estimate of the cost to the U.S. of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan
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For every deceased person who is buried, four are now cremated.
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The almost-bankrupt Italian city of Naples began DNA-testing dog feces on its poop-covered sidewalks, so it can prosecute residents who don’t pick up. “I know some people find it funny that with all the problems the city has, we would focus on dog poop,” said an official.
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Chance that a U.S. automobile accident occurs when at least one of the drivers is texting or talking on a cell phone: 1 in 4
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Number of reported cases in the past decade of an Antarctic fur seal having sex with a king penguin: 4 Then eating it: 1
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