In fact

October 19, 1999

In the US, 64 per cent of gay people drink sparkling water, compared to 7 per cent of all Americans. [The American Prospect, Sept/Oct 1999]

In Japan, there is one vending machine for every 30 people. [The Guardian, 11th August 1999]

In Cambodia, 53 per cent of the work force is female-the highest percentage of any country in the world. [The Statesman's Yearbook 2000]

In 1995, 13 per cent of American employees worked for firms which did not exist in 1990. [Philip Lader, US ambassador to Britain]

There are more than 1,000 chemicals in coffee. Of the 27 chemicals actually tested on rodents, 19 were carcinogenic. [BBC Radio 4]

There were six Indian restaurants in Britain in 1950. Today there are 7,500. [The Economist, 4th September 1999]

The Pentagon estimates that the bombing of Serbia cost $1.8 billion. Jane's Defense Weekly estimates it cost $5.1 billion. [The Nation, 9th August 1999]

In Newfoundland, one in six people have had a ghost-rape experience. [Sex and the Paranormal, Paul Chambers]

In the US, 32 per cent of professors are married to an academic. [Chronicle of Higher Education, 3rd September 1999]

In Britain, 5 per cent of fathers expect to return to having regular sex with their partners within a week of them giving birth-28 per cent within a month. [British Public Opinion]

In the US, more than 45 per cent of artists earn less than $3,000 per year from their art. [The American Prospect, Sept/Oct 1999]

In England, the entire turnover of the game of cricket is £75m-smaller than the turnover of Manchester United football club at £88m [The National Wealth, Dominic Hobson]

In the US, 79 per cent of people would vote for a presidential candidate even if he was Mormon, 59 per cent if he was homosexual and only 49 per cent if he was an atheist. [Roll Call]