mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
It’s time for another whimsical Tuesday Turnip Google search wherein I type a random phrase and we see what kind of interesting factoids “turn-up.”
Many moons ago, I typed in “six out of every ten,” unearthing the following (yes, this is a Turnip oldie… but a goodie!):
In the US, six out of every ten couples buy a diamond ring for their engagement.
Six out of every ten Americans are overweight.
Six out of every ten apples you eat are grown in Washington
Six out of every ten new jobs are computer-related.
Nearly six out of every ten Protestant churches now have a website. That is up from just one-third of all Protestant churches in 2000, an increase of 68%.
Six out of every ten commonly-used English words are derived, directly or indirectly, from Latin.
About six out of every ten US smokers started smoking before age 14. Nine of every ten smokers became addicted before reaching age 19.
Six out of every ten children killed in crashes are unbelted.
Six out of every ten Americans live in areas that violate federal air quality standards.
Only six out of every ten… children will graduate from high school in New York – the third highest dropout rate in America.
Any my personal fav, only ’cause it’s so darn controversial (drum roll…):
According to a survey conducted by Barna, about six out of every ten adults (59%) favor teaching creationism while less than four out of ten (38%) do not want it added to the public school curriculum content.
What do you make of that? (”Why, I could make a hat, or a brooch, a pterodactyl…”) Bragging rights to the first person who can name that quote, WITHOUT GOOGLING IT! Honestly, people, what would you do without Google?
Browse through more past Tuesday Turnips here
The quote is from Airplane.
posted by Bruce on 12-25-2007 at 8:26 am
AIRPLANE!
Love that movie, still use that line!
posted by Christy on 12-25-2007 at 9:03 am
Surely you didn’t think that quote would actually stump anyone? =0)
posted by Will on 12-25-2007 at 10:50 am
great airplane quote! also try, “i picked a hell of a day to stop sniffing glue”. Lloyd Brides is a genius.
posted by Bagel on 12-25-2007 at 3:01 pm
I love the quote about the plane - “It looks like a big Tylenol.” We used to say that about the new Astrovans that came out in the early 90’s.
posted by Jill on 12-25-2007 at 6:50 pm
[Will Says:
December 25th, 2007 at 10:50 am
“Surely you didn’t think that quote would actually stump anyone? =0)”]
It might stump a few people, and don’t call me Shirley!
posted by Tdave on 12-26-2007 at 3:00 am
Yipee skippity doo… Im 6 outta 10… I graduated in NY!!!! too bad 63 of the other kids in my class didnt…
posted by Loo on 12-26-2007 at 7:41 am
Awesome. I don’t think religion should be taught in school like evolution shoudn’t be taught in my church. Church and state are seperate. It’s one of the first things in our Bill of Rights. Get over it.
posted by John P on 12-26-2007 at 9:44 am
Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.
posted by Kevin on 12-26-2007 at 11:41 am
“Timmy, have you ever seen a grown man naked?”
posted by Aliceson on 12-26-2007 at 2:48 pm
i didn’t get the quote… how sad. of course that’s not to say that i’m not stocked with other lovely quotes from that movie. i love the guy with the “drinking problem..” gets me every time.
it’s a big pretty white plane, with a stripe down the middle and curtains in the windows, and WHEELS! it looks like a big tylenol!
the 6 out of 10 who are overweight is no surprise. it’s actually 66% of adults who are obese, and by 2015 ‘they’ say it will be up to 75%. of course, this is assuming we continue our unhealthy/unconcious eating trends. i’m hoping we dont… but knowing human nature, i’m sure we’ll all be dead by 2012, so it doesn’t even matter! who wants to split a pie and a quart of ice-cream?
posted by Holly on 12-28-2007 at 7:31 am
hahahaha! i recognized that quote immediately! and then laughed even more with the challenge of naming the source!
posted by Ted on 1-2-2008 at 8:24 pm