You Can’t Rush Love

North American couples are waiting longer to get married. The average age for men is 31, and for women, it’s 28.

Slow Growth

The world’s population — estimated at almost 6.4 billion in July 2004 — grew at a rate of just over 1 percent that year.

Like Family

A 1991 study of convicted inmates in the United States, England and Wales found that one in three had a close relative — usually a sibling — who had also served time in prison.

Night at the Nickleodeon

The first movie theater opened in a Pittsburgh, Pa., storefront in 1905. The “Nickleodeon” had fewer than 100 seats, but patrons lined the streets for consecutive showings that started at 8 a.m. and didn’t end until midnight. The theater served more than 7,000 people each day.

On Vacation. Back by Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Draft Choice

A 2002 study found that 37 percent of the country’s college students would try to evade the draft if one were called that year.

Jemima or Nancy?

Nancy Green, born a slave in Montgomery County, Ky., later became the world’s first living trademark. In 1890, the Davis Milling Company hired the 56-year-old Green to represent its Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix, a job she held until her death in 1923.

Almost-constant Tremors

Seismologists estimate that there are more than one million earthquakes around the world each year. But of those tremors, little more than 100 are large enough that they can be categorized as destructive.

Aepyornis Eggs

The elephant bird or Aepyornis, originally found on the island of Madagascar, became extinct around 1700. But at least 19 eggs, belonging to the huge, flightless birds, were still around when the last survey was completed in 1933. And they’re bigger than the largest known dinosaur eggs, with a capacity of up to 2-1/2 gallons. That’s the equivalent of 180 large chicken eggs or seven ostrich eggs.

Hot Dam!

The Itaipu dam, located between Brazil and Paraguay, produces more electricity than any other of the world’s hydroelectric plants, up to a peak of 14,000 megawatts.

Mostly Christian

Survey respondents in the United States most often list their religious affiliation as Christian (more than 76 percent in 2001). Asked to clarify, respondents claim to be affiliated with Catholics or Baptists more than for all other denominations and religions combined.

Largest Seeds

The giant fan palm, found in Seychelles, has the largest seeds of any known plant. Each single-seeded fruit weighs up to 44 pounds and can take 10 years to reach maturity.

Porcine Survivors

Pigs know how to live off the land. When Hernando de Soto (pictured) began his exploration of Florida in 1539, he brought with him close to 1,000 soldiers, a dozen priests and 15 pigs. By the time that de Soto reached the Mississippi, three years later, he had lost many men. But the pigs had flourished, swelling their ranks to more than 700.

Medicinal Asparagus

Asparagus plants, members of the Lily family, can grow up to 10 inches in a single day. Ancient Greeks classified the plant as an herbal medicine, believing it could cure toothaches and prevent bee stings.

Cows Win!

The country of Ireland has more cattle than people.

Tuataras Slow to Mature

In most cases, the tuatara — a spiny-backed reptile in New Zealand — does not reach maturity until at least 15 years old, and it’s eggs take 12 months to hatch. During that time period, temperature is important because it determines gender. Eggs incubated at 21 degrees centigrade produce an even number of males and females. If the temperature is raised just one degree, nearly all the young will be male. Lower the temperature to 20 degrees, and the hatchlings will be female.

We’re Living Longer

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the life expectancy for a U.S. resident is 77.3 years. A century ago, that number was considerably lower — an average of 48.7 years for people who lived in states that kept track of deaths.

Tragedy in Paradise

English colonists founded Jamestown, Va., in 1607, making it the country’s first, permanent settlement. But not all was well in the colonial village. The winter of 1610 was so harsh that several residents dug up the recent-dead in order to avoid starvation. One man went even farther, killing his wife while she slept. He “fed upon her until he had clean devoured all parts saving her head.”

The Miracle of Wood and Graphite

The average pencil can record about 45,000 words or draw a line, 35 miles long.

The Love of Gymnastics

In the United States, bowling and fishing are the top-two recreational activities. But neither is a uniquely American pastime. Take the island nation of Japan, for instance, where bowling is the second-most-popular sport, and fishing is third. What could they possibly enjoy more than fishing and bowling? Gymnastics.

No Life Insurance for Christians

In the Middle Ages, pilgrims to the Holy Land were known to take out a kind of travel insurance. If imprisoned while on the way, the prisoner’s ransom would be paid. But if killed, the traveler was out of luck. No good Christian pilgrim could purchase life insurance because it conflicted with his belief that mortality was in the hands of the Almighty.

Parasitic Mates

Anglerfish may be the oddest of deep sea creatures. They are monogamous, but it is survival — not love — that brings each pair together. The tiny male cannot feed himself but is an excellent swimmer. He chases a passing female and hooks on for life, fusing his tissues with that of his much larger mate. He takes nutrients directly from her blood supply.

Out of town. Back by Monday.

There’s Work To Be Done

By the year 2000, biologists had identified and named about 1.5 million species of plants and animals. But most scientists agree there may be as many as 14 million species on the planet, leaving plenty of room for discovery.

The Value of a Diploma

U.S. Census figures from a 1996 survey prove the value of finishing high school. In that year, the average worker, who had not completed high school, earned less than $1,700 each month. A high school diploma raised the average monthly wage to $2,279.

The Biggest Jesus

Eureka Springs, Ark., boasts a white-mortar statue of Christ (pictured) that stands seven stories tall and weighs more than two million pounds. But the “Christ of the Ozarks,” completed in 1966, is not the world’s largest such figure. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, holds that honor with its Christ the Redeemer, which is almost 100 feet tall.