Numbers in the news

61

A survey of about 3,000 single men and women found that 61% of them would not go out on a first date with someone they knew was a smoker. Of those, just under half said their top reason for avoiding a smoker is the risk of inhaling second-hand smoke.

2

Grade inflation, and the inexact nature of high school grading across the nation, has become a national travesty. A full 23 percent of applicants to college these days have a high school average of A or better. That figure was 14 percent in

1990. During that same period, high school average grade point average has risen from 2.68 to 2.94. Have our young people really become that much smarter over the years?

35,00

There are now 35,000 hired guns in Washington, D.C., whose sole mission is to persuade members of Congress to manipulate public policy to their employers' benefit. Even after the Jack Abramoff scandal and the empty promises of curbing "earmarks" that dole out federal funds without accountability, lobbying remains a growth industry. The figure was 11,725 a decade ago.

1.7B

Pennsylvania needs to raise about $1.7 billion to meet obligations for highway, bridge and mass transit improvements. A study group recommends raising it as follows: 12.5-cent gasoline tax, a one-percent increase in the realty transfer tax and higher motor vehicle license and registration fees.

640

The state prison built in Marienville in 2004 has met employment projections. The 640 jobs makes SCI-Forest the largest employer in Forest County. The prison holds about 2,000 inmates. Several years ago, Potter, Cameron and several other area counties were bidding for the prison.

3.6

Another misconception is that the number of people "telecommuting" (working from home, often with Internet access to the office) is rapidly rising, Just 3.6% of the workforce telecommutes, up only slightly from the 3.3% in 2000.

50

Donald Friedl was recently honored for 50 years of service as a member of the Crystal Fire Department in St. Marys. Nicknamed "Diesel,' Friedl, 77, has served as president, director and chief engineer. As a 40-year employee at Stackpole Carbon Corp., he has been an important liaison between that major employer and the fire department. He also served in the Army Medical Corps, stationed in Japan. Meanwhile, Jerome Jones was recently honored for 50 years of service with the Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department. Jones, 89, served in the Johnsonburg Fire Department for five years before he became a member of the Wilcox department in 1956. He is also a WWII veteran, serving in the South Pacific and receiving a Bronze Star for his service. He served for many years as a police office and a township constable.