Fact of the Week: October 29, 2014

A total of 50,900 Acres of pumpkins were harvested in the U.S. in 2013.  Which had an estimated value of $149.9 million. Illinois was the leading producer of pumpkins in the country, with an estimated 547.6 million pounds of this vined gourd

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Page 9 and 38
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-03-27-2014.pdf

Fact of the Week: October 21, 2014

In Iceland names are regulated. Childrens first name must be of Icelandic origins. Also in the law is a provision that states a first name may not cause its bearer embarrassment.

http://eng.innanrikisraduneyti.is/laws-and-regulations/english/personal-names/

Fact of the Week: October 13, 2014

Frankenstein was the name of the doctor who created the monster, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and not the name of the monster itself.

Cite: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Fact of the Week: October 6, 2014

Joanne "Jo" Rowling published her books under a pseudonym because her publisher’s thought that a woman’s name would not appeal to the target audience of young boys. Jo got the “K” in J.K. Rowling, form Kathleen, her paternal grandmother’s name.

Cite: http://www.jkrowling.com/en_US/#/about-jk-rowling