Percent of U.S. pumpkins that are available in October: 80
Weight, in pounds, of the world’s biggest pumpkin, grown by Joe Jutras of Rhode Island in 2007: 1,689
Year Alabaman Brian Adkins founded Scripture Candy, which produces Halloween lollypops, candy corn and other treats wrapped in bible verses: 1996
Minimum age one must be to buy fog-producing dry ice at a Kroger store: 21
Number of vampire-theme, young-adult, Twilight romance novels that have been sold: More than 42 million
Months computer-graphics artist Chris Horvath spent developing the simulation of a fiery tornado surrounding Harry in the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: 8
Number of colleges that went to Middlebury College, Vermont, in October 2008, to compete in the quidditch intercollegiate World Cup, a down-to-earth version of Harry Potter’s favorite airborne sport: 11
Percent of Americans in the 1980s who believed humans may have been abducted by aliens: 25
Percent who believe that now: 40
Teacher Tidbits
Year World Teachers’ Day, Oct. 5, was initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): 1993
Number of countries that observe World Teachers’ Day: More than 100
Average number of hours teachers work per week, including grading assignments and other tasks at home: More than 50
Average amount of their own money teachers spend each year on their classrooms: $443
Sources: Pumpkin-patch.com, Backyardgardner.com, Scripturecandy.com, The Virginian-Pilot, Gainesville Sun, Wired, Sports Illustrated Kids, Newsweek, Teacher-appreciation.info, Suite101.com
