Illinois produced 496 million pounds of pumpkin in 2008, the most of any state in the U.S.
Source: Census Bureau
Stories by FactCheck.org
November 7, 2009
Ninety-three percent of U.S. households with residents considered their neighborhood to be safe, according to 2003 Census data.
Source: Census Bureau
November 6, 2009
Americans consumed 23.8 pounds of candy per capita in 2008.
Source: Census Bureau
November 5, 2009
The World Series began as a best-of-9 championship in 1903, but was changed to a best-of-7 in 1905. It reverted to a best-of-9 briefly, in 1919-1921.
Source: MLB.com
November 4, 2009
In a 2008 survey of teenagers on their cell phone use, 42 percent of respondents said they could text while blindfolded or without looking at the keypad.
Source: Harris Interactive
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2
This week, readers sent us comments on cap and trade, "Obama phones" and insurance coverage for abortions.
In the FactCheck Mailbag we feature some of the e-mail we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
November 3, 2009
The first words stored on a hard drive were: "This has been a day of solid achievement."
Source: Computerworld
November 2, 2009
Originally, indigenous people in what is now Mexico celebrated the Day of the Dead around August. The Spaniards moved it to Nov. 1 and 2 to coincide with the Catholic All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Source: Arizona Republic
November 1, 2009
In the 800s, Pope Boniface IV declared that Nov. 1 would be All Saints’ Day, a designation that is seen as an attempt to supersede a Celtic celebration marking the beginning of winter, when ghosts were thought to roam the earth.
Source: History.com
October 31, 2009
The Catholic Church’s All Saints’ Day ( "Alholowmesse" in Middle English) was called All-hallows and the night before, All-hallows Eve, which became the word Halloween.
Source: History.com