STIFF PUNISHMENT

Gin began its life around 1650 when a Dutch doctor used clear alcohol and oil from juniper berries as a remedy for kidney disorder -- by 1750, Londoners were drinking 11 million gallons a year

In 1983, Billboard magazine declared Madonna a "flash in the pan"

The average male ejaculation contains about 15 calories

From the moment of fertilization of the female egg by the male's sperm until sex differentiation, all mammalian fetuses within the same species look the same -- in humans, this period is about 14 weeks

First Canadian in space: Marc Garneau, in 1984

Men are four times more likely than women to sleep in the nude

The woman with the most appearances on the cover of Time Magazine: Virgin Mary

The first smoking ban on U.S. airline flights took place on April 23, 1988

Colorado is the only state in history to have turned down hosting the Olympics, in 1976

Germany's Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) was the first person to call himself a "psychologist"

In 1823, Charles Macintosh patented the waterproof cloth he would later use in making raincoats

In the 1860s, Americans set their clocks and watches in as many as a hundred different local times -- Standard Time was devised in 1883 by William F. Allen of South Orange, New Jersey

First U.S. state to abolish the death penalty: Michigan, in 1847

At any given time, there are about 100 million phone conversations taking place across the U.S.

If one places a tiny amount of alcohol on a scorpion's back, it will instantly begin to sting itself to death

Aardvarks are allergic to radishes, but only in the summer

Penalty for masturbation in Indonesia: Decapitation

Diet Pepsi was originally called Patio Diet Cola

Coca-Cola would be green if dye were not added

An apple, potato, and onion will all the taste the same if you eat them while plugging your nose

All swans in England are the property of the Queen

If you unfolded your brain, it would cover an ironing board

25% of American men are 6 feet tall or taller, compared to just 4% in 1900

Number of Americans on waiting lists for organ transplants: more than 87,000

Number of people in China who knew how to ski 10 years ago: about 500 -- Number of Chinese who will ski this year: over 5 million

Number of Americans arrested for driving while drunk each year: 1.5 million

Number of autographs from members of the Beatles in circulation that are authentic: 6%

The second largest item of international commerce: Coffee (Oil ranks first)

Number of Americans who do not believe we landed on the moon: 1 in 4

Romania ranks 15th among all nations for total medals earned at Summer Olympic games (283) -- in the Winter Olympics, Romania has earned one medal, a bronze, in 1968

Fasting growing language on the Internet: Arabic

Canada is the largest supplier of oil to the United States (2.3 million barrels per day), and Saudi Arabia is second (1.4 million barrels per day)

The length from your wrist to your elbow is the same as the length of your foot

Number of species of cockroaches worldwide: 5,000

The 4,600 kinds of mammals represent 0.3% of all animals

In the United States, 70% of Internet users are over 30 years of age, while worldwide 70% of Internet users are under 30 years of age

In ancient Rome, men convicted of rape were punished by publicly crushing their testicles between two stones