Astonishing Facts From Around The Globe #1

• Ten years ago, only 500 people in China could ski. This year, an estimated 5,000,000 Chinese will visit ski resorts.

• McDonald's restaurants will buy 54,000,000 pounds of fresh apples this year. Two years ago, McDonald's purchased 0 pounds of apples. This is attributed to the shift to more healthy menu options.

• 60.7 percent of eligible voters participated in the 2004 presidential election, the highest percentage in 36 years. However, more than 78 million did not vote. This means President Bush won re-election by receiving votes from less than 31% of all eligible voters in the United States.

• G-rated family films earn far more money than any other rating. Yet only 3% of Hollywood's output is G-rated.

• More than 2,500 left-handed people are killed each year from using products that are made for right-handed people.

• The busiest shopping hour of the holiday season is between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Christmas Eve.

• Actor Bill Murray doesn't have a publicist or an agent.