The number one selling snack in the U.S.A. is potato chips.

Joseph Stalin refused a German request to swap prisoners in World War II.  His son, who was captured during the war, died in a prison camp as a result.

Douglas MacArthur's mother used to send letters to his military superiors suggesting that they promote her son.
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Why do knuckles crack?
Knuckles crack because the bones in your fingers are separated by small pads of cartilage, and in between these pads and the bones are small pockets of a thick liquid.  When the fingers are bent the bones pull away slightly from the pads of cartilage and a vacuum forms between the bone, the pad, and the liquid's surface.
As you continue bending your knuckles and the bones are pulled farther apart, the liquid's surface tension eventually gives way and this vacuum bubble bursts - making the cracking sound you hear. This process is similar to pulling a rubber suction cup off of a smooth surface.
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Edison's first lightbulb filament was made of cotton (1879).

The RCMP's first tracking dog was named Dale.

The word 'nerd' was first coined by Dr. Seuss in 'If I ran the Zoo'

In 1922, Pitcairn Airlines was the first to provide air sickness bags.

One in eight women and one in seven men will have an affair within the first two years of marriage.

The First episode of "Joanie Loves Chachi" (Happy Days spinoff) was the highest rated American TV program on Korean television.  "Chachi" is Korean for penis.

Boys who have unusual first names are more likely to have mental problems than boys with common names. Girls don't seem to have this problem.
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How are stoplights timed in order to keep traffic moving?  Well, if you're in Houston like I am you might questions this concept entirely. Traffic lights are timed in order to clear congestion (the traffic kind) and keep everyone moving along.  A traffic control department has to keep in mind how fast traffic should move when they are determining the
timing of lights in a certain area, as well as the length of a city block, are streets one-way or two-way, and the volume of traffic at different times of the day.
For example, the stoplights in downtown New York City are gauged for traffic moving at 23 to 30 miles per hour.  If a light on 40th Street turns green, the lights on 41st Street will change to green 6 seconds later - and the ones on 42nd Street will change to green 6 seconds after the one on 41st Street changed.
This system works great on one-way streets, as you will (in theory) keep moving along as long as you are maintaining the previously mentioned 23 to 30 mph speed - go any faster and you will be constantly beating the light, hitting your brakes and waiting for the light to change; go any slower, and eventually you will be caught at one of the following
lights. If you're traveling on a two-way street a group of signals (i.e., four at a time) will all change at once.  This type of system generally depends upon the distribution of stoplights and the length of the block.  The signals in our New York City example are based on a 90 second cycle: they stay green for 60 seconds on main streets and 30 seconds on side streets.
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Why do we knock on wood for luck?
Believing the old proverb, "He who talks much of happiness, summons grief," many people knock on wood to ward off evil. This superstition goes back to pagan times, when people believed that trees were the god's abode. To touch a tree
was to show respect to the gods.
The superstition was reinforced in people's minds by Jesus' crucifixion. Since Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross, many people believed that all wood was holy. Some even wore wooden crucifixes and touched them penitently when they
caught themselves gloating.
(Source: Every Wonder Why? by Douglas B. Smith)
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The American Red Cross was founded May 21st, 1881.

Neil Sadaka's 1959 hit "Oh Carol" was about singer Carole King.