Uncle John’s
BATHROOM
READERS
®
EXTRAORDINARY
BOOK of FACTS
AND BIZARRE INFORMATION
Bathroom Readers’ Institute
Ashland, Oregon
San Diego, California
Uncle John’s Extraordinary
Book of Facts and Bizarre Information
is a compilation of running feet and selected feature
articles from the following eight previously
published Bathroom Reader titles:
Uncle John’s Unstoppable Bathroom Reader
, 2003
Uncle John’s Ahh-Inspiring Bathroom Reader
, 2002
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into the Universe
, 2002
Uncle John’s Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader
, 2001
Uncle John’s All-Purpose Extra Strength Bathroom Reader
, 2000
Uncle John’s Absolutely Absorbing Bathroom Reader
, 1999
Uncle John’s Giant 10th Anniversary Bathroom Reader
, 1997
The Best of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader
, 1995
Copyright © 2006 by Portable Press. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles or reviews.
“Bathroom Reader,” Portable Press,” and “Bathroom Readers’ Institute” are registered trademarks of Baker & Taylor, Inc. All rights reserved.
For information, write the Bathroom Readers’ Institute
P.O. Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520
E-mail:
[email protected]
ISBN 13: 978-1-60710-601-2
E-book edition: February 2012
Created in the U.S.A.
The Team
This compilation of intriguing information was put together by:
Gordon Javna, Publisher, Portable Press
JoAnn Padgett, Director, Editorial & Production
Jennifer Browning Payne, Production Editor
Jennifer Thornton, Managing Editor
Thank you
The Bathroom Readers’ Institute sincerely thanks the following people whose advice and assistance made this book possible.
John Dollison
Melinda Allman
Jay Newman
Angela Kern
Brian Boone
Thom Little
Stephanie Spadaccini
Michael Brunsfeld
Kaelin Chappell
Amy Miller
Bruce Myers
Ellen O’Brien
Julia Papps
Kris Payne
Sydney Stanley
Cynthia Francisco
Robin Kilrain
Christine Factor
Lynn Christel
Mary Lou Goforth
Quynh Nguyen
Nancy Toeppler
Kristine Hemp
Porter the Wonder Dog
Contents
AMERICANA
American Potpourri
Americans at Home
Miss Liberty
Your Average Kid
Average American
Average American
Average American
On the Road
United States
United States
Penny Wise
U.S. Cities
All-American Teen
Dollars & Cents
U.S. Cities
Average American
ANIMAL WORLD
Animal Briefs
A Fishy Tale
Creepy Crawlers
Pet Me
Down on the Farm
More Animal Briefs
Man’s Best Friend
Something’s Fishy
Safari
Whales & Co.
In the Woods
Fresh off the Farm
Creature Features
Animal Myths
Shark Attack!
Hello Kitty
Farm Fresh
AROUND THE WORLD
World Population
Latin America
Geography 101
Europe
Antarctica
Around the Globe
What People Believe
Lost in Translation
Europe
What’s in a Name?
Where in the World?
The Lighthouse
A Dog Says ...
Alphabets
Waterworld
Language Worldwide
Building Boom
Artfully Done
South America
The Rest of the United States
ASK THE EXPERTS
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts
BATHROOM NEWS
Bathroom Break
Bathroom Break
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Battle of the Sexes
Battle of the Sexes
Women Are From Venus
Men Are From Mars
BIRDS AND THE BEES
Bug Off!
Bug Off!
For the Birds
Bug Off!
A Spider’s Web
For the Birds
Itsy Bitsy Spider
BUSINESS WORLD
Brand Names
Patently Absurd
Custom Made
It’s Just Business
Auto Industry
Weird Plants
Founding Fathers
The Office
The Auto Industry
March of Science
9 to 5
Take This Job
CANADIANA
They’re Canadian
Eh Two, Canada?
Eh, Canada?
Blame Canada
FACT OR FICTION?
Myth Conceptions
Myth Conceptions
Myth America
Elvis Lives!
Myths About Mars
A Field Guide to Secret Societies
Moon Scam?
Who Killed Jimi Hendrix?
What Happened at Roswell?
FAMILIAR PHRASES
Word Origins
Familiar Phrases
Word Origins
Word Origins
Word Origins
Familiar Phrases
Familiar Phrases
Word Origins
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Founding Fathers
Famous Folks
Elvis
George
It’s a Living
Thomas Edison
Mr. President
Royal Gossip
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Ah, Caffeine
Bagel Bits
And the Wiener Is...
On Vegetables
A Food Is Born
Sweet Tooth
Processed Foods
Fruits & Vegetables
America Eats
The World Eats
America Eats
Ice Cream Treats
McDonald’s
Coffee, Anyone?
Soda Pop
Spice It Up
Sweet Tooth
America Eats
Bottoms Up!
FORGOTTEN HISTORY
That Was Then
Sounds Familiar
That Was Then
Firsts
Presidents, 1841–1929
Old-Time Treatments
Once Upon a Time
The Wild West
Murphy’s Law
Myth America
Colonial America
America at War
The Earth Is Round?
The Cost of Things
First Americans
Castle Grande
GREENHOUSE
The Plant World
The Plant World
The Plant World
The Plant World
GROSS ANATOMY
Nose & Ears
Skin and Bones
Bloodstream
Makes Sense
Baby Talk
Your Hair
Your Body
Skin & Bones
Fingers & Toes
The Eyes Have It
Brainiac
No Sweat
Say Ahh-h-h
Just for Dentists
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Mental Health
Call the Doctor
Fat & Fat Free
Food for Thought
Aches & Pains
Call the Doctor
Medicine Cabinet
