Year that direct-dial telephone area codes for transcontinental calling were introduced, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1951
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Number of exchanges there were at the beginning: 86
Average amount that American residential customers pay annually for their home telephone service: $434
Despite our familiarity with do-it-yourself calling, number of telephone operators still on the job: 28,000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Of the 2,325 billionaires globally in 2014, percentage who have tertiary education (bachelor's degree or higher), according to the recently released Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census: 65
Of the top 10 billionaire-producing business schools globally, number that are in the United States: 7
Of the 10 business schools with the most billionaire alumni, rank of Harvard, with 64: 1
Source: Wealth-X.
Percentage of airplane fliers who agreed with the statement, "A little small talk is fine, but I prefer to keep to myself during the flight," according to an Expedia survey: 78
Percentage of Americans who said they "use flights as an opportunity to talk to and meet new people": 16
Source: Expedia.
Overall male-to-female ratio among single adults ages 25 to 34, according to a Pew Research Center report: 115:110
When the number of young men is limited to those who are currently employed, male-to-female ratio becomes: 84:100
Ranks of San Jose, California, and Denver on the list of large metro areas having the best "marriage market" for women seeking a male partner with a job: 1, 2
Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
Percentage of Americans who have dinner with their family virtually every day, according to research by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship: 68.5
Percentage who see or hear from friends and family at least a few times a week: 76
Source: Corporation for National and Community Service.
According to the USDA, ranks of Thanksgiving and the Super Bowl game day on the list of the largest food consumption days: 1, 2
On Super Bowl Sunday, estimated number of pounds of snacks Americans will eat: 30 million
Source: Harris Interactive.
Percentage of adults who admit that they have used a dating site or app to cheat on a significant other or partner, according to a survey by YouGov: 27
Percentage of people who say they have been cheated on by a partner at least once in their lifetime: 44
Source: YouGov.
Percentage of Americans who believe "most workers' compensation claims are made by people who don't want to work," according to a survey commissioned by Summit Pharmacy Inc.: 37
Percentage of American workers who believe that if they were injured on the job, "it would be a nightmare process to get the pain medication(s) my doctor prescribed": 34
Percentage who agreed with this statement: "You need a Ph.D. to complete all the necessary paperwork associated with a worker's compensation claim": 35
Source: Summit Pharmacy Inc.
On average, percentage of all smart devices acquired in 2013 that were gifts, according to a survey by Parks Associates: 32
Percentage of U.S. broadband households whose members are unfamiliar with smart home products or services: 66
Source: Parks Associates.
Idle Thought
"Patience is also a form of action." -- Auguste Rodin
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.)