In Fact

Three quarters of young French people say they would like to become civil servants.
[The Economist, 1st April 2006]

The other quarter are on their way to London, capital of Europe
(Alison, 7th May 2006)

Charles Dickens created 989 named characters.
[The Guardian, 25th March 2006]

There are more British troops in Northern Ireland (9,200) than in Iraq (8,000).
[Prospect research]

74 per cent of the women passengers aboard the Titanic survived, compared with 20 per cent of the men.
[Weekly Standard, 10th April 2006]

The average IQ in Germany is 107, the highest in Europe. Serbs have the lowest IQ, with an average of 89. Britain is in the middle with 100.
[The Times, 27th March 2006]

The word "bible" does not appear in the works of Shakespeare.
[The Guardian, 3rd March 2006]


Daniel Dennett introduced the frisbee to Britain. [The Observer, 12th March 2006]
New York City's police force is nearly four times bigger than America's entire border patrol. [The Economist, 1st April 2006]

In 2005, the number of English families with second homes passed 500,000 for the first time—a rise of 10 per cent in a year. Of the almost 330,000 second homes owned in Britain, nearly 80,000 are located in Devon or Cornwall.
[The Guardian, 21st February 2006]

In the US in 2003, the total number of cancer deaths dropped for the first time since records began in 1930. The biggest cause was a decline in the number of people who smoke.
[New Scientist, 18th February 2006]

Starbucks bought 37 per cent of Costa Rica's entire coffee crop in the 2004-05 season.
[The Economist, 1st April 2006]

Starbucks are ubiquitous and a marketing wonder of the world. Brand over substance, they make the worst coffee on the Planet
(Alison, 7th May 2006)

David Irving's brother is chairman of the Wiltshire racial equality council.
[The Guardian, 27th February 2006]

Mostly from 'In Fact' - Prospect Magazine