Indypedia

THE INDEPENDENT, 2006

A little selection of some ‘facts and figures of modern life’.

ACCIDENTS
ANNUAL INJURIES (REQUIRING VISITS TO CASUALTY) INVOLVING SELECTED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:
Bottle openers……………………………………………185
Cardigans………………………………………………..964
Watering Cans ……………………………………………739
Trousers…………………………………………………5,310
Curtain pelmets…………………………………………..123
Cake and scones…………………………………………..493
Tea cosies……………………………………………….37
Vegetables ………………………………………………14,149

COOKERY & COOKERY BOOKS
Number of cookbooks owned in Britain: 171 million.
Number of cookbooks owned but never opened: 61 million.
Number of recipes (in cookbooks) in average British household: more than 1,000.
Number of recipes attempted in average household: 35.

FLATPACK FURNITURE
It is estimated that up to 10% of Europeans are now conceived on Ikea beds.

PORRIDGE
Sales of porridge in the UK have increased by 85% in the past five years. In 2005 they were worth £85m.

TOOTH FAIRY, THE
According o a 2006 study of British children for The Cartoon Network, the Tooth Fairy pays out an average of £1.24 per tooth.

WORDS, NEW
SELECTED NEW WORDS RECENTLY ADDED TO THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH (REVISED SECOND EDITION)
bindas (adjective; Indian, informal): carefree, fashionable and independent-minded.
boo (noun; US, informal): a person’s boyfriend or girlfriend.
cariad (noun; Welsh): darling; sweetheart.
clueful (adjective; informal): having knowledge or understanding of something; well informed.
dramedyo (noun) (plural: dramedies): a television programme or film in which the comic elements derive mainly
from character and plot development.
mitumba (noun; eastern and central Africa): second-hand clothing, especially that donated by aid agencies
in the West.
peedie (adjective; Scottish): little; small.
picturise (verb [with obj.]): adapt (a story or screenplay) into a film.
yebo (exclamation; South African): used to show agreement or approval; yes.