Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wise Up! Read online

  Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wise Up!

  Bathroom Readers’ Institute

  * * *

  * * *

  The Bathroom Readers’ Institute

  Ashland, Oregon, and San Diego, California

  UNCLE JOHN’S BATHROOM READER WISE UP!

  Copyright © 2009 by Portable Press. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  “Bathroom Reader,” “Portable Press,” and

  “Bathroom Readers’ Institute” are registered trademarks of Baker & Taylor, Inc. All rights reserved.

  For information, write…

  The Bathroom Readers’ Institute

  P.O. Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520

  www.bathroomreader.com

  e-mail: [email protected]

  ISBN 13: 978-1-60710-673-9

  E-book Edition: October 2012

  10 11 12 13 14 6 5 4 3 2

  Thank You!

  The Bathroom Readers’ Institute thanks the following people whose advice and assistance made this book possible:

  Gordon Javna

  JoAnn Padgett

  Melinda Allman

  Amy Miller

  Jay Newman

  Michael Brunsfeld

  Jeff Altemus

  Angie Kern

  J. Carroll

  Dan Mansfield

  Chris Stuart

  Scot A. McKibbin

  Maggie McLaughlin

  Stephanie Spadaccini

  John Dollison

  Sydney Stanley

  David Cully

  Monica Maestas

  Amy L. and Lisa M.

  Ginger Winters

  Jennifer Frederick

  Brian, Thom, and Julia

  David Calder

  Karen Malchow

  Sophie, J.J., and Bea

  Porter the Wonderdog

  Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wise Up! is a compilation of running feet and selected articles from the following previously published Bathroom Reader titles: Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Golden Plunger Awards © 2008, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Great Lives © 2003, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into History © 2001, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into History Again © 2004, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood © 2005, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Music © 2007, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into National Parks © 2007, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into the Presidency © 2004, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Texas © 2004, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Takes a Swing at Baseball © 2008, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Tees Off on Golf © 2005, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wonderful World of Odd © 2006, Uncle John’s Curiously Compelling Bathroom Reader © 2006, Uncle John’s Fast-Acting Long-Lasting Bathroom Reader © 2005, Uncle John’s Great Big Bathroom Reader © 1998, Uncle John’s Slightly Irregular Bathroom Reader © 2004, Uncle John’s Triumphant 20th Bathroom Reader © 2007.

  Contents

  BIG STUFF

  BIG News

  BIG Debuts

  BIG Business

  AMERICAN HERITAGE

  Eleanor Roosevelt

  States of the Union

  American Politics

  On the Job

  The Nation’s Locations

  American Institutions

  Black History

  Living in America

  ARGHH! PIRATES!

  Talk Like a Pirate

  A Pirate’s Life

  GRUB & GROG

  Ancient Eating

  Food!

  Flour Power

  Global Gourmets

  Food Bites

  Espresso Yourself

  Presidential Dining

  Dear Dairy

  Food Stuff

  Confection-ately Yours

  Tasty Titles

  The Boozery

  Sauerkraut

  American Food

  BATTLE STATIONS

  World War I

  Facts of War

  Life in the Military

  World War II

  Military Miscellany

  More Military Miscellany

  Warriors

  5 Turning Points: WWII

  Facts of War, Part 2

  HOORAY FOR CANADA!

  Canada

  Canadian Firsts

  Canadian City Names

  O, Canada!

  Born in Canada

  BIRDS, BEES, & BUGS

  Loony

  I’ll Fly Away

  Ewww…Insects

  For the Birds

  Duck, Duck, Goose

  Creepy Crawlies

  A Bug’s Life

  Bees & Things

  For the Birds, Part 2

  ON THE MOVE

  Transportation

  Travel Abroad

  Historical Transportation

  Nautical Notes

  THE HUMAN BODY

  The Senses

  Body Parts

  Hair It Is

  Bodies at Work

  To the Teeth

  The Body

  Body Talk

  Dentistry

  Eyes & Ears

  RICH & FAMOUS

  Too Cool for School

  Impressive Feats

  Leading Ladies

  Leading Men

  Names

  Simons Say

  That’s Rich

  Ups & Downs

  Facts About the Famous

  Tough Guys

  Name Changes

  Say It in Quotes

  Young & Old

  Age Doesn’t Matter

  First, Last, & Once

  Nicknames

  Exceptional Talents

  Celebrity Gossip

  Can’t Win ’Em All

  Hard Workers

  Real Names

  Celebrity Hodgepodge

  Also Known As

  Cameos

  Bond, James Bond

  All in a Day’s Work

  More Celebrity Gossip

  Love, Sweet Love

  COLORFUL FACTS

  The Blues

  Reds

  Living Colors

  Green Things

  GLOBAL NEWS

  Around the World

  World Politics

  Kings & Queens

  World Leaders

  England & France

  Ancient Designs

  Ah, Britannia

  Leaders of the World

  International Landmarks

  Go International

  Indigenous People

  Worldy Matters

  Get Lost

  The Ruling Class

  World Leaders & Politics

  Came, Saw, Conquered

  BATTLE OF THE SEXES

  In the Name of Love

  Men & Women

  AWARD WINNERS

  World Records

  The Noble Nobel

  It’s An Honor

  More World Records

  At the Oscars

  And the Winner Is

  COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING

  Stars’ Common Ground

  Animal Comparisons

  Comparisons

  Uncommon in Common

  ENTERTAINMENT

  Dance, Dance, Dance

  TV Trivia

  Comic Relief

  Beatlemania

  Hollywood Prop-erty

  Survivor Realities

  Movie Price Tags

  Wheel of Fortune

  What Could’ve Been


  At the Movies

  Elvis Lives!

  Translated Titles

  Movie Miscellany

  Toon Town

  On Location

  Literary Lights

  Also Known As, Part 2

  GREEN SCENE

  Trash Talk

  Pollution

  Earth News

  CROPS & FARMING

  Cash Crops

  Cotton

  Agricultural History

  On the Farm

  FAMILY TIES

  Famous Siblings

  Motherhood

  Kid Stuff

  Kid Stats

  Sister Acts

  Love & Marriage

  Relatively Speaking

  Moms & Dads

  All in the Family

  Family Matters

  FIRSTS

  Female Flyers

  First Americans

  Firsts

  U.S. Firsts

  The First Woman to

  The First…

  PLANTS & ANIMALS

  Flower Power

  Trees

  Creatures Great & Small

  Foreign Flora

  Calls of the Wild

  Menagerie

  Animal Facts

  Plant Kingdom

  TRAVEL TRIVIA

  Rhode Island

  Welcome to California

  Place Names

  Ocean & Coast

  Range of Facts

  Land o’ Lakes

  Hawaii’s Spooky Spots

  Don’t Mess with Texas

  All Over the Map

  All Around Town

  A River Runs Through It

  Alaska

  Parks Great & Small

  Peculiar Places

  AMAZING HISTORY

  Everyday Inventions

  Death…and Taxes

  Fighting Women

  Inspired By

  Inventions

  People in the Bible

  Circus, Circus

  The Queen’s Titles

  1980s Milestones

  Jailbirds

  Counting Costs

  The Women’s Room

  Censored

  The Oregon Trail

  Historical Surprises

  By George!

  Ancient History

  Biblical Facts

  Women in Politics

  Costs in 1910

  Religion

  Banned!

  That Old-Time Religion

  Days & Times

  Huh?

  Random History

  Gold Rush

  HOLIDAY CHEER

  Special Occasions

  Easter in Sweden

  Merry Christmas!

  Happy Birthday to You

  Happy Holidays

  THE CLOTHES CLOSET

  Women’s Fashion

  Underwear

  Shopping

  What to Wear?

  It’s A Shoe-In

  Passion for Fashion

  BUSINESS & LAW

  Brand Names & Logos

  Celebrity Contracts

  Legal Roots

  Law & Disorder

  Laws Against Nature

  Crime and

  Punishment

  In the Olden Days

  Behave in Public

  From Our Sponsors

  Advertising

  International Law

  MIXED BAG

  It Would Take

  One & Only

  What’s In A Name?

  The Human Condition

  Water

  Patron Saint Of

  Tips & Advice

  8 Ways to Crack a Safe

  Myth-conceptions

  Real Headlines

  Mailbag

  Higher Education

  Hot & Cold

  More Real Headlines

  Found in the Ground

  Random Facts

  Page of Lists

  6 Ways to Spot a Lie

  People & Places

  Common Scents

  It’s True

  Spaces & Places

  All Mixed Up

  ORIGINS

  Why’s It Called That?

  Everyday Origins

  Random Origins

  Food Origins

  Underwear Origins

  ODDBALLS

  Dim Bulbs

  Quirky Folks

  Human Relations

  Sybil’s Personalities

  Dictator Dictations

  IN THE BATHROOM

  Bathroom Break

  Soap

  Bath Time

  MUSICAL MADNESS

  10 Strange Bands

  Music Men

  Music on TV

  Instruments

  They Write the Songs

  Anthems

  Opera Notes

  Music Milestones

  Music Notes

  Music Lessons

  THE SEASONS

  Winter Facts

  Spring Facts

  Summer Facts

  Fall Facts

  PLAYTIME

  Sports Milestones

  Sports & Games

  Toys & Games

  Have a Ball

  About Pitchers

  Golf Hazards

  Baseball Humor

  Sports & Leisure

  SCIENCE & WEATHER

  Science

  Scientific Numbers

  Scientific Streets

  For What Ails You

  It’s Elemental

  Under the Weather

  X-treme Weather

  Doctor! Doctor!

  Twister!

  Natural Disasters

  NOTABLE NUMBERS

  Random Thirteens

  Numbers

  Doubles

  And Now…Percents

  Money, Money, Money

  Money Matters

  THE MYSTICAL CORNER

  The 7 Chakras

  Dreams

  Basic Feng Shui

  A Mystical Potpourri

  HOW PRESIDENTIAL

  Hail to the Chief

  The White House

  Mr. President

  Presidential Pastimes

  Presidential Numbers

  George Washington

  The First Family

  The White House, Part 2

  STATISTICS

  Questionable Behavior

  That’s the Size of It

  Average Humans

  Body Numbers

  Everyday Americans

  An Average Page

  More Averages

  People, Statistically

  Notable Numbers

  WORDPLAY

  Words & Language

  Books

  Learning the Language

  It’s Called a

  All About Words

  A Way with Words

  Foreign Words

  Who Coined the Term?

  Alphabet Soup

  Vocabulary Builders

  GEEK SPEAK

  Technology Bytes

  Communications

  The Information Age

  More Communications

  ANIMAL KINGDOM

  Under the Sea

  Mating Rituals

  Animal Parts

  Speed Demons

  Man’s Best Friend

  Snakes & So On

  Animal Tales

  Go Fish

  Assorted Animals

  Amazing Animals

  Baby Animals

  The Circle of Life

  More Animal Facts

  A Dog’s Life

  One-of-a-Kind Animals

  Cats

  WATCH OUT!

  To the Extreme

  Ewww!

  Everyday Dangers

  Bad Luck

  Oops!

  Animals Attack

  Don’t Be Scared

  Hard Times

  THE FINAL FRONTIER

  The Planets

  Space Facts
<
br />   Star Trek & Star Wars

  To the Moon

  THE END

  Dead Ends

  Causes of Death

  Burial Grounds

  Grave Matters

  INDEX

  The Intro-duck-tion

  Here at the Bathroom Readers’ Institute, we’re suckers for cool facts, and we’re constantly quizzing each other: How many gallons of peanut oil does it take to deep-fry a turkey? What cartoon character is prohibited from running for elected office in Texas? Why did the game of bingo used to be called beano?

  So a few years ago, when Uncle John noticed that many of the letters we received from fans were asking for the same thing—an entire book of running feet (those fun factoids at the bottom of Bathroom Reader pages)—he called in a team of bathroom-reading writers and sent them on a fact-finding mission: search old Bathroom Readers for running feet and then organize the facts into interesting lists. The finished product turned out so great that even more readers wrote in asking us to do it again.

  We got right to work…diving into a whole new batch of Bathroom Readers and pulling out the running feet. We sorted the facts, organized them, argued (gently) about how best to arrange them, and then organized them again. We also came up with 50 new pages of facts.

  The end result is Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wise Up!, more than 380 pages packed with useful—and sometimes useless—but always interesting information.

  If you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! And if you’re on your second Bathroom Reader book of facts, welcome back! We’re really glad you’re here. And as always, go with the flow…

  —Uncle John and the BRI Staff

  P.S. We’re already gathering new running feet for the next Bathroom Reader. So email your favorite obscure bits of trivia and fun facts to [email protected]!

  It Would Take…

  …630 silkworm cocoons to make one silk blouse.

  …a chicken-plucking machine 14 seconds to pluck a whole chicken.

  …a drop of ocean water more than 1,000 years to circulate around the world.

  …a manned rocket ship 70,000 years to reach the next closest solar system.

  …about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.

  …a combine harvester nine seconds to harvest enough wheat to make 70 loaves of bread.

  …a car traveling at 75 mph 258 days to drive around one of Saturn’s rings.

  …a year’s worth of corks from all the wine bottled in France to circle the world three times.

  …Pluto 248.53 years to travel around the Sun.

  …every star in the Milky Way to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool (if each star were the size of a grain of salt).

  …the Milky Way about 200 million years to make one revolution.

  …about 600 grapes to make a bottle of wine.

  …70 separate pieces of wood to make a violin.

  …up to six gallons of peanut oil to deep-fry a turkey.

  …only one steer to yield enough ground beef for 1,000 McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.

  …the average American 40 days to earn enough money to pay for a year’s worth of food.

  One & Only

  Colorado is the only state to have turned down the opportunity to host the Olympics, in 1976.