Percentage of native-born American citizens who failed the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization test, according to a survey from Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream: 33

Pass rate among immigrants applying for citizenship: 97.5

Source: Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream.

Percentage rise in the yearly costs to own and operate a sedan in the U.S., according to the results of AAA's annual Your Driving Costs study: 1.9

Based upon 15,000 miles of annual driving, average cost per mile in 2012, up 1.2 cents from 2011: 59.6 cents

Average cost per year: $8,946

Source: AAA.

Year of America's worst waterborne disaster when the wooden steamboat Sultana's boilers suddenly exploded and the boat burned and sank as it moved up the flooded Mississippi River near Memphis at night, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1865

Number of people who lost their lives: 1,700

Number of people who lost their lives in the Titanic disaster: more than 1,500

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Ranks of "a stronger economy in my country," "better living conditions" and "strengthening family relationship" on the list of the top three important factors for improving personal well-being, general health and quality of life, according to a survey of citizens in 24 countries: 1, 2, 3

Source: Ipsos Global Public Affairs.

Percentage of Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus test-takers who are female, according to L'Oreal: 46

Percentage of AP Computer Science test-takers who are female: 19

Percentage of all professional jobs in the U.S. work force that are held by women: 56

Percentage of IT jobs that are held by women: 25

Source: L'Oreal.

With 82 percent of U.S. consumers affected by the economic downturn, the percentage who are personally involved in a good cause, down from 60 percent in 2010, according to the 2012 Edelman "Goodpurpose" study: 53

Percentage of Americans who believe the responsibility of tackling society's issues falls most heavily on the shoulders of "people like me": 35

Percentage who believe the responsibility should fall on government: 22

Source: Edelman.

Percentage of young women ages 18 to 34 who rate "career" high on their list of life priorities, compared with 59 percent of young men, according to a Pew Research Survey: 66

In 1997, percentage of young women, compared with 58 percent of young men, who felt the same way: 56

Source: Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends.

Percentage of 17- to 25-year-old drivers who agree that smartphone apps are causing young people to be more distracted at the wheel, according to survey findings from Ingenie: 58

Percentage who admitted to answering their phones while driving without a hands-free set: 40

Percentage who said they had sent a text message: 44

Source: Ingenie.

Percentage of airline passengers across 40 countries worldwide who voted the front six rows of the plane as the most popular, according to a poll by flight comparison site Skyscanner: 45

Percentage of passengers who cited a preference for a window seat: 60

Percentage who preferred an aisle seat: 39

Source: Skyscanner.

Percentage less likely that women are than men to make time for physical activities they enjoy, according to a survey from the American Cancer Society: 10

Percentage of women who said they would be more physically active in their free time if it felt less like work and more like play: 40

Percentage of the women who do make time for physical activity they enjoy, who also say they do so because it is good for their mind: 63

Source: American Cancer Society.

Idle Thought

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play." -- Heraclitus, philosopher

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)

Ranks of family and multigenerational travel, river cruises, active or adventure trips, luxury cruises, and celebration travel on the list of the five biggest travel trends emerging for 2012, according to Virtuoso: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Ranks of Italy, France, South Africa, Australia and England on the list of the five most popular international destinations for travelers in 2012: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: Virtuoso.

Ranks of grocery shopping, household chores and cooking on the list of areas where men believe their role has increased over the last five years, according to a survey from Planters: 1, 2, 3

Ranks of exercise, eating home-cooked meals and choosing healthier snacks on the list of areas where men have taken steps to stay healthier over the last five years: 1, 2, 3

Source: Kraft Foods.

Percentage of all Americans who predict they will spend less than four hours total on this year's spring cleaning, according to the Stanley Steemer Spring Cleaning survey conducted by Kelton: 50

Percentage who say they will spend less than one hour or no time at all: 18

Source: Kelton Research.

Year that President Nixon signed a bill into law prohibiting cigarette advertising on the nation's airwaves, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1970

Estimated percentage of Americans who currently smoke: 20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Percentage fall in overall beer consumption in the U.S. last year, according to the Beverage Information Group's Handbook Advance 2012: 1.5

Percentage growth in spirits: 2.6

Source: Beverage Information Group.

When asked what one item they can't live without during travel, percentage of respondents who said a good book or e-reader is a must-have, according to a survey conducted for HomeAway: 24

Percentage who said they need the comfort of their favorite pillow: 18

Source: Home Away.

Ranks of Boston ($194), New York ($172), Philadelphia ($154), Washington, D.C. ($145) and New Orleans ($117) on the list of the most expensive cities for travelers to secure the cheapest available double room located in or very close to the city's center or its main attractions, according to CheapHotels.org: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Ranks of Orlando ($33), Las Vegas ($36), Anaheim ($45), Myrtle Beach ($51) and Atlanta ($52) on the list of the least expensive cities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: Cheaphotels.org.

Percentage of professionals who said their employers viewed international experience as important or very important, according to research commissioned by global specialist recruiter Hydrogen Group and conducted by ESCP: 72

Percentage of 2012 respondents who would at least consider relocating overseas, are currently considering it or have already relocated, recognizing international experience as a key factor in career success: 94

Source: Hydrogen Group.

Percentage of women in America who have used intimacy enhancement products, according to research conducted by Masque Sexual Flavors: 44

Percentage of these women who were in a committed relationship: 78

Source: Masque Sexual Flavors.

Percentage of respondents who report that they always proactively take steps to green their home or lifestyle, such as recycling, driving energy-efficient vehicles, weatherizing their home, using eco-friendly products, etc., according to an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of RetailMeNot.com: 25

Percentage of respondents who say that they are more inclined to buy a product if it is environmentally friendly: 46

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs RS.

Idle Thought

"If what you are getting online is for free, you are not the customer, you are the product." -- Jonathan Zittrain, professor of Internet law

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)

Percentage of women who say they have at least one girlfriend who needs to simplify her life but can't or won't, according to a Wakefield Research, Schick Intuition brand survey: 71

Despite busy schedules and never-ending to-do lists, percentage of women who are "yes" women and willing to accommodate everyone and everything: 59

Source: Wakefield Research.

Amount of money per gallon in hidden bank fees that drivers are paying every time they gas up, according to a study by the National Association of Convenience Stores: 6 to 10 cents

Estimated amount of money that convenience stores paid in card fees last year, a jump of almost 25 percent and an amount almost 90 percent greater than their profits: $11 billion

Source: National Association of Convenience Stores.

Year that the 16th Amendment to the Constitution gave Congress the right to levy income taxes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1913

Estimated number of returns that were filed that year: 360,000

Estimated number of returns that now are submitted annually: 142.5 million

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Percentage of workers who said they would be somewhat or very likely to leave their current position if they didn't feel appreciated by their manager, according to a survey developed by OfficeTeam: 49

When asked what type of recognition they value most, percentage who said they prefer tangible rewards such as financial compensation or gift cards: 38

Source: OfficeTeam.

Percentage of people who leave the door open while using the bathroom when they're home alone, according to a survey by Georgia-Pacific and conducted by Strategy One: 33

Percentage of respondents who read in the bathroom: 74

Percentage who talk on the phone: 47

Percentage who watch TV: 23

Source: Strategy One.

Average number of miles that motorists estimate a vehicle should go before it is sent into retirement, according to a national survey by Quaker State and conducted by Kelton Research: 200,000

Number of miles a vehicle will have accumulated before American car owners consider it to be "old": 147,000

Percentage of vehicle owners who are more concerned with engine upkeep than their vehicle's aesthetics on the inside or outside: 86

Source: Kelton Research.

Average amount of money that American families who have teenagers will spend on prom per child, according to a national survey by Visa: $1,078

Average amount spent by Northeastern families: $1,944

Average amount spent by Southern families: $1,047

Average amount spent by Midwestern families: $696

Average amount spent by Western families: $744

Source: Visa USA.

Percentage growth in annual U.S. wireless data traffic from 2010 (388 billion megabytes) to 2011 (866.7 billion megabytes), according to a semi-annual survey by the CTIA -- The Wireless Association trade group: 123

To put wireless data traffic of 2011 into perspective, if you were walking and listening to five songs per mile and each song lasted for four minutes in 2011, the number of miles you would walk: 173,364,056,929

Number of times around the world this represents: 6,962,132

Source: CTIA -- The Wireless Association.

Percentage of homeowners who are planning home improvement projects, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and Sherwin-Williams: 70

Ranks of painting, landscaping and remodeling a room on the list of the most-desired needs: 1, 2, 3

Percentage of homeowners who believe a room or area of their home is currently in need of painting: 70

Source: Sherwin-Williams.

Percentage of American adults who are currently "watching" their diet, according to Mintel Research: 52

Percentage who report dieting because they want to lose weight: 60

Percentage of U.S. consumers who claim that they "always" or "usually" consult the Nutrition Facts Panel and/or ingredient the list to assess sodium levels when considering a food purchase: 44

Source: Mintel.

Idle Thought

"A sound mind in a sound body, is a short but full description of a happy state in this world." -- John Locke, philosopher

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)