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WHY DO THEY CALL POLICEMEN "COPS?

THE ANSWER TO THIS IS NOT DEFINITE. THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT THEORIES.

ONE SAYS THE TERM DERIVES FROM THE FACT THAT THE NEW YORK POLICE FORCES HAD COPPER BADGES. ANOTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT SAYS THE TERM DERIVED FROM THE LONDON POLICE FORCE, WHOSE UNIFORMS HAD COPPER BUTTONS.

A THIRD, ACCEPTED BY MANY BUT PROBABLY INCORRECT, SAYS THE LETTERS STAND FOR "CONSTABLE ON PATROL".

BUT THE MOST COMMONLY ACCEPTED VERSION IS THAT THE WORD DERIVES FROM THE OLD ANGLO-SAXON WORD "COP". "COP" LITERALLY MEANS "TO CATCH, GRAB OR CAPTURE", AND IS STILL USED IN ENGLISH TODAY.

IT DATES BACK, AT LEAST, TO THE 1100'S. "COPPER", THEREFORE, WAS "SOMEONE WHO CATCHES, NABS, ETC." SO, "COPPER", IN ENGLAND, BECAME A TERM FOR A POLICE OFFICER.

THE TERM WAS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED VERY DEROGATORY. IN THE 19TH CENTURY, CALLING A POLICE OFFICER A "COP" WAS KIND OF LIKE CALLING A WOMAN "A BROAD". IT WAS ACTUALLY ILLEGAL TO USE THE TERM IN ENGLAND.

THE FIRST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE TERM "COPPER" WAS IN 1846. THE FIRST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE SHORTENED "COP" WAS IN 1859.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT

"THE "UPPER CRUST"

THE TERM THE "UPPER CRUST" REFERS TO THE UPPER CLASS OR THE ARISTOCRATS.

IT DERIVES FROM OLDEN DAYS, WHEN COMMUNAL BREAD WAS BAKED, IN THE FORM OF LARGE LOAVES, IN A BIG OVEN. WHEN THE BREAD CAME OUT OF THE OVEN, THE BOTTOM PART WAS OFTEN BURNED OR CHARRED.

OF COURSE, THIS LOWER, LESS SAVORY PART OF THE BREAD, WENT TO THE POOR OR THE PEASANTS.
THE RICH GOT THE TOP, UNBURNED SECTION OR "THE UPPER CRUST".

FIVE MOST HATED HOUSEHOLD CHORES

  ****************************************
ACCORDING TO A GALLUP POLL, THE FIVE MOST HATED HOUSEHOLD CHORES IN AMERICA ARE:

1) WASHING DISHES

2) BATHROOM CLEANING

3) IRONING

4) VACUUMING

5) WASHING WINDOWS

ARE BARKING DOGS DANGEROUS?

A BARKING DOG MAY, SOMETIMES, BE DANGEROUS- BUT THAT IS NOT WHY THEY BARK.

DOGS IN THE WILD NEVER BARK.

AND NEITHER DO WOLVES, THEIR CANINE COUSINS.

BARKING HAS EVOLVED IN DOGS IN CAPTIVITY AS A MEANS OF WARNING THE "MEMBERS OF ITS PACK", WHETHER CANINE OR HUMAN.

IT IS A WARNING THAT THERE IS DANGER NEARBY.

A GROWLING DOG IS ALWAYS MUCH LIKELY TO ATTACK THAN A BARKING ONE.

U.S. PRESIDENTS WHO OWNED SLAVES

GEORGE WASHINGTON OWNED 216 SLAVES IN 1773

THOMAS JEFFERSON OWNED 185 SLAVES IN 1809

JAMES MADISON OWNED 116 SLAVES AT ONE TIME

JAMES MONROE

ANDREW JACKSON OWNED 160 SLAVES IN 1829

JOHN TYLER

JAMES K. POLK OWNED 18 SLAVES

ZACHARY TAYLOR OWNED 300 SLAVES IN 1848 (AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!)

ANDREW JOHNSON

ULYSSES S. GRANT WAS THE LAST U.S. PRESIDENT TO OWN A SLAVE. IN 1858, HE BOUGHT WILLIAM JONES. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, HE GAVE THE MAN HIS FREEDOM. GRANT'S WIFE, JULIA DENT, OWNED AT LEAST 3 SLAVES, BUT GRANT RETURNED THEM TO HER FAMILY BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.

STEPS

THE AVERAGE PERSON WALKS 10,000 STEPS DAILY (ABOUT 5 MILES).

PER PERSON, EACH MILE RANGES BETWEEN 2,000 AND 2,500 STEPS (MEN ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE BIGGER STEPS AND LONGER STRIDES THAN WOMEN).

NUMBER OF STEPS IT TAKES TO BURN OFF.........

A CHEESEBURGER: 7,590
A DOUGHNUT: 5,750
A CAN OF SODA: 3,450
A 12-OZ. CAN OF BEER: 3,220
A GARDEN SALAD WITH FAT-FREE DRESSING: 1,160

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT

HERE ARE FEW INTERESTING DERIVATIONS OF COMMON EXPRESSIONS, WORDS AND THINGS...............

"I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE"
(EXPRESSING SHOCK, INCREDULITY OR JUST PLAIN SURPRISE)
ORIGINATED IN THE 1920'S. REFERRING TO CHARLES DARWIN'S CONTROVERSIAL THEORIES IN HIS BOOK THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, WHERE DARWIN POINTED OUT HOW CLOSE HUMAN BEINGS ARE TO MONKEYS IN PHYSICAL APPEARANCE. THE IDEA THAT WE DESCENDED FROM OUR FURRY FRIENDS WAS SCOFFED AT BY MANY, AND THE PHRASE CAME AS A SARCASTIC RESPONSE TO REFER TO ANYTHING UNBELIEVABLE.

"DON'T BUY A PIG IN A POKE"
(REFERRING TO MAKING VERY SURE OF WHAT YOU BUY, BELIEVE OR ACCEPT BEFORE BUYING IT OR AGREEING TO IT)
THOUGHT TO DATE FROM THE 1500'S AND BEGAN AS ADVICE TO LONDON TRADERS. A POKE WAS A SMALL SACK OR BAG THAT WAS USED TO CARRY GOODS TO MARKET. IT'S SIZE MADE IT PERFECT TO CARRY PIGS OR PIGLETS HOME. THE PHRASE ADVISES BUYERS TO FIRST OPEN THE SACK AND INSPECT THE GOODS WITHIN BEFORE PURCHASING BECAUSE TRADERS COULD GIVE YOU A SACK CONTAINING SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS WRIGGLING THAT WASN'T ACTUALLY A PIG, A STRAY PUPPY OR A CAT, FOR EXAMPLE.

"PIPE DREAMS"
(DESCRIBING A PLAN OR SCHEME THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN)
HAS IT'S ROOTS IN THE 18TH CENTURY. THE PIPE IN THIS CASE IS AN OPIUM PIPE, AND THE DREAMS ARE THE THOUGHTS AND THEORIES THAT ONE HAS AFTER SMOKING THE PIPE. THESE THOUGHTS ARE, OF COURSE, NARCOTICALLY INSPIRED AND SO ARE ABLE TO SIDESTEP RATIONAL AND PRACTICAL CONFINES.

"HOCUS POCUS"
(MEANING BABBLE DESIGNED TO CONCEAL THE TRUTH)
INTERESTINGLY, THERE WAS ACTUALLY ONCE A MAGICIAN CALLED HOCUS POCUS, WHO PERFORMED FOR KING JAMES I. HE DERIVED HIS NAME FROM AN INCANTATION HE USED. IN FULL, IT WAS "HOCUS POCUS, TONTUS TALONUS, VADE CELERITER JUBEG!" THIS IS PRETTY MUCH LATIN-SOUNDING NONSENSE, BUT AS HIS FAME GREW, IT MUST HAVE DONE THE TRICK.

"BIKINI"
(A TWO-PIECE SWIMSUIT WORN BY WOMEN)
THE ISLAND OF BIKINI WAS DEVASTATED IN 1946 BY U.S. MILITARY NUCLEAR TESTING. THAT SUMMER, JAQUES HEIM AND LOUIS REARD BOTH PREMIERED A DARING NEW TWO-PIECE WOMEN'S SWIMSUIT IN CANNES. BOTH CLAIMED TO HAVE INVENTED IT, AND IT LEFT LESS TO THE MALE IMAGINATION THAN THE GENERAL POPULACE WAS USED TO. WITH THE NUCLEAR TEST STILL VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS, THE UNFORTUNATE ISLAND LENT IT'S NAME TO THE NEW APPAREL. THE EFFECT THE SWIMSUIT HAD ON THE MALE PSYCHE WAS THOUGHT TO BE SIMILAR TO THE EFFECT THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES HAD ON THE ISLAND OF BIKINI.

"GEEK"
(A NERD, A SPAZ OR SOMEONE WHO HAS ALOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND/OR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT A CERTAIN THING)
THE ORIGINAL GEEK WAS IN NO WAY LAUDABLE, AND WAS VASTLY MORE UNATTRACTIVE AND UNHEALTHY THAN IT'S MODERN VERSION. HE WAS A PERFORMER IN A CIRCUS OR CARNIVAL SIDESHOW, WHOSE FUNCTION WAS TO BE DEPRAVED & DISGUSTING. HE WOULD DO THINGS LIKE BITE OFF THE HEADS OF CHICKENS AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS, AND THE CROWD WOULD BE APPALLED, REVOLTED AND THRILLED. THE WORD POSSIBLY COMES FROM THE SCOTTISH "GECK", WHICH MEANS "FOOL". THIS CONTEMPTIBLE ODDBALL WAS ON THE MARGINS OF FAIRGROUND SOCIETY, WHICH WAS ITSELF ON THE MARGINS OF ACTUAL SOCIETY. IN MORE RECENT YEARS, BULLIES DUBBED THE WORD ON CLASS MISFITS AS AN INSULT. IT CAN REFER NOT ONLY TO A NERD-TYPE, BUT ALSO TO AN OVERLY INTELLECTUAL TYPE, WHO HAS AN OVERLY EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF A SUBECT OR WHO IS GOOD AT FIXING THINGS.

(IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT GEEKS, I REFUSE TO ANSWER ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT MAY INCRIMINATE ME!)

WOULD YOU LIKE SOME 3 POUND CAKE?

WHY DOESN'T A POUND CAKE WEIGH A POUND?

TRADITIONALLY, A POUND CAKE WAS MADE FROM A POUND OF FLOUR, A POUND OF SUGAR, AND A POUND OF BUTTER. SIMPLE, HUH?

THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THREE POUNDS- BUT WHO'S COUNTING?

INTERESTINGLY, A CUPCAKE DERIVED IT'S NAME FROM THE SAME SIMPLE FORMULA, CUPCAKES ORIGINALLY WERE MADE FROM A CUP OF BUTTER, A CUP OF FLOUR, AND A CUP OF SUGAR.

HOT DOG

WHAT'S REALLY IN A HOT DOG?

ALL MANUFACTURERS OF HOT DOGS MUST LIST THEIR INGREDIENTS ON THE LABEL.

BEEF, PORK, CHICKEN, TURKEY, ETC. CAN ONLY BE USED IF THE MEAT COMES FROM THE MUSCLE TISSUE OF AN ANIMAL.

HOWEVER, IF YOU SEE THE WORDS "MEAT BY-PRODUCTS" OR "VARIETY MEATS", THE HOT DOG MAY CONTAIN SNOUTS, STOMACHS, HEARTS, LIPS, SPLEENS, ETC.

FRANKFURTERS ONCE CONTAINED ONLY BEEF AND PORK, BUT CAN NOW LEGALLY CONTAIN SHEEP, GOAT, AND UP TO 15% CHICKEN.

HOT DOGS ARE MADE PRIMARILY BY GRINDING THE MEAT WITH WATER, SEASONING, SWEETNERS, PRESERVATIVES, SALT, AND BINDERS.

KA-CHING!

THE ONLY 3 TRADEMARKED SOUNDS......................

1. HARLEY-DAVIDSON'S V-TWIN ENGINE ROAR
2. NBC'S 3 CHIMES
3. MGM'S LION ROAR

MOST CONSUMED FOODS IN THE WORLD

(SOURCE: THE UNITED NATIONS)

1. WHEAT
2. STARCHY ROOTS
3. RICE
4. MEAT
5. SUGAR
6. CORN
7. TOMATOES
8. FISH AND SEAFOOD
9. ORANGES AND MANDARINS
10. BANANAS

OUCH!

IN 1993, THE AMERICAN ORTHOPEDIC FOOT AND ANKLE ASSOCIATION REPORTED THAT 88% OF WOMEN WEAR SHOES SMALLER THAN THEIR ACTUAL FOOT SIZE.

IT'S TRUE!

ON THE BEATLES' FIRST RECORD, LOVE ME DO, JOHN LENNON IS PLAYING A HARMONICA HE SHOPLIFTED IN HOLLAND.

DAVEY CROCKETT NEVER WORE A COONSKIN CAP (DISNEY MADE THAT UP).

CLEOPATRA DYED HER HAIR RED TO MAKE HER LOOK SEXIER.

THE ORIGINAL SKETCHES FOR BUGS BUNNY WERE SUBMITTED BY BEN "BUGS" HARDAWAY. HE MARKED HIS DRAWINGS "BUGS" BUNNY. AND OF COURSE, THE REST IS CARTOON HISTORY.

IN 1946, AN FBI MEMO DENOUNCED THE MOVIE IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE AS COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA.

IN 1999, RESIDENTS OF MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, ERECTED A 40-FOOT STATUE OF BARBIE.

A MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ORDINANCE BANS FROGS FROM CROAKING AFTER 11 P.M.

MAGICIAN HARRY HOUDINI COULD OPEN CANS WITH HIS TEETH.

SHARKS ARE THE ONLY FISH THAT CAN BLINK.

A SINGLE DAY'S TRASH FROM NEW YORK CITY WOULD FILL UP THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT'S PET COW, "PAULINE WAYNE", WAS THE LAST COW TO BE ALLOWED TO GRAZE ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN.

IN 1981, TURKISH SCIENTISTS CONCLUDED THAT DISCO MUSIC MADE MICE HOMOSEXUAL.

FOR CENTURIES, MANY EUROPEANS REFUSED TO EAT POTATOES (THEY WERE NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.

I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW

ODD FACTS

JOSEPH STALIN WAS A BIG FAN AND LOVER OF LAUREL AND HARDY MOVIES.

HUGH HEFNER ALWAYS DRINKS A GLASS OF MILK WITH EVERY MEAL HE IS SERVED. THE MILK IS SERVED IN A CHILLED CRYSTAL GLASS.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WAS THE ONLY PRESIDENT TO BATHE IN ICE WATER IN THE WHITE HOUSE BATHTUB. (HE WOULD SCRUB HIMSELF DURING HIS CHILLY BATH WITH A HORSEHAIR MITT UNTIL HIS SKIN WAS RAW).

ADOLF HITLER, IN HIS FITS OF ANGER, WOULD OFTEN GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND CHEW ON THE CARPET.

WHEN MARILYN MONROE WAS A YOUNG HOUSEWIFE, HER FIRST HUSBAND SAID SHE ONCE TRIED TO BRING A COW INTO THE HOUSE TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE RAIN.

DURING WORLD WAR II, AMERICANS TRIED TO TRAIN BATS TO DROP BOMBS.

IN HIS WILL, STAN LAUREL LEFT HIS DERBY TO DICK VAN DYKE.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SPANK YOUR CHILD IN GERMANY.

O.J. SIMPSON HAD A SEVERE CASE OF RICKETS AND WORE LEG BRACES WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.

IN THE 1940s, THE BICH PEN WAS CHANGED TO BIC FOR FEAR THAT AMERICANS WOULD PRONOUNCE IT "BITCH".

JIM MORRISON OF THE DOORS WAS THE FIRST ROCK STAR TO BE ARRESTED ONSTAGE.

BUGS BUNNY FIRST SAID "WHAT'S UP DOC?" IN A 1940 CARTOON CALLED A WILD HARE.

GRASSHOPPERS HAVE WHITE BLOOD.

THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO BE FEATURED ON THE COVER OF TV GUIDE WAS BILL COSBY (1966).

THE MOST POPULAR "LAST MEAL" ITEM REQUESTED BY PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW IS FRENCH FRIES.

BUZZ ALDRIN WAS THE FIRST MAN TO PEE HIS PANTS ON THE MOON.

SECOND IS FIRST

MOST COMMON STREET NAMES IN AMERICA........

1. 2ND STREET
2. 3RD STREET
3. 1ST STREET
4. 4TH STREET
5. PARK STREET
6. 5TH STREET
7. MAIN STREET
8. 6TH STREET
9. OAK STREET
10. 7TH STREET

IS THIS YOURS??

ODD ITEMS FOUND IN THE LONDON TRANSPORT'S LOST PROPERTY OFFICE.............

2 HUMAN SKULLS IN A RUG
A VASECTOMY KIT
BREAST IMPLANTS
A 14-FOOT BOAT
AN URN FILLED WITH ASHES
DEAD BATS IN A CONTAINER
A JAR OF SPERM FROM A PRIZE BULL
A STUFFED EAGLE
A LAWN MOWER
A SKELETON
A DOUBLE BED
A BOX OF FALSE EYEBALLS  (CLAIMED BY A HOSPITAL AFTER SIX YEARS)

THE DEATH OF JACK DANIEL

REMEMBER JACK DANIEL?

YES, THAT'S RIGHT- HE WAS THE GUY WHO GAVE US "JACK DANIEL'S TENNESSEE WHISKEY". HE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FEW GUYS TO EVER DIE BECAUSE HE WENT TO WORK EARLY.

THE STORY GOES THAT IN 1906, AT THE AGE OF 59 OR 60, JACK DANIEL ARRIVED IN HIS OFFICE VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR WORK. OF COURSE, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE. JACK TRIED TO ACCESS THE COMPANY SAFE AND REALIZED HE HAD FORGOTTEN THE COMBINATION. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF FAILING AND FUMBLING, HE GOT ANGRY AND KICKED THE SAFE. THE KICK CAUSED HIM TO BADLY INJURE HIS LEFT FOOT.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER, HE TRIED WALKING ON THE INJURED FOOT AND REALIZED HE COULD ONLY WALK WITH A LIMP. THE LIMP REFUSED TO HEAL AND GREW WORSE WITH TIME. THE BADLY INJURED LEG EVENTUALLY LED TO BLOOD POISONING. THEN CAME GANGRENE. AMPUTATION SOON FOLLOWED.

JACK DANIEL DIED A FEW YEARS LATER, A SAD AND RIDICULOUS DEATH TO A GUY WHO DEFINITELY LEFT HIS MARK ON THE WORLD.

(JACK DANIEL'S TENNESSEE WHISKEY WAS ALWAYS FRANK SINATRA'S DRINK OF CHOICE.)

BASEBALL'S STRANGEST GAME

BILL VEECK WAS ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL OWNERS IN BASEBALL HISTORY.

  IT WAS VEECK WHO, ON AUGUST 19, 1951, SENT A MIDGET (EDDIE GAEDEL) UP TO BAT IN AN OFFICIAL GAME.

  THE EVENT GOT HIM ALOT OF PUBLICITY (AND LAUGHS).

  ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, VEECK ALSO BROUGHT UP THE AMERICAN LEAGUE'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PLAYER IN 1948- LARRY DOBY.

ODDS AND ENDS

LOUIS PASTEUR DEVELOPED PASTEURIZATION FOR BEER MORE THAN 20 YEARS BEFORE HE DID IT FOR MILK.

THE RECORD SPEED FOR A SLUG IS 0.2 MILES PER HOUR.

JAMIE LEE CURTIS PLAYS A MARRIED LADY WHO DOESN'T KNOW HER HUSBAND (NAMED "HARRY") IS A SPY IN THE 1994 MOVIE "TRUE LIES".
IN 2001, SHE APPEARS IN THE MOVIE "THE TAILOR OF PANAMA", IN WHICH SHE PLAYS A MARRIED LADY WHO DOESN'T KNOW HER HUSBAND (NAMED "HARRY") IS A SPY.

CATHY RIGBY IS THE ONLY WOMAN TO POSE NUDE FOR "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED".

IN PARIS IN 1740, A COW WAS HANGED IN PARIS FOLLOWING IT'S CONVICTION FOR SORCERY.

ANDORRA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WITH FREE POSTAL SERVICES.

ARMADILLOS ARE THE ONLY ANIMAL BESIDES HUMANS THAT CAN CONTRACT LEPROSY.

IN THE MIDDLE AGES, JAPANESE WOMEN PAINTED THEIR TEETH BLACK TO LOOK MORE BEAUTIFUL.

"THE COMEDY OF ERRORS" IS THE ONLY PLAY IN WHICH SHAKESPEARE MENTIONS "AMERICA".

"THE PLUTO PLATTER" WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME FOR THE FRISBEE.

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, OUR 36TH U.S. PRESIDENT, WAS ONCE ENGAGED TO THE DAUGHTER OF A TEXAS KU KLUX KLAN LEADER. JOHNSON CALLED OFF THE WEDDING WHEN HIS FUTURE FATHER-IN-LAW CALLED HIS FAMILY "SHIFTLESS DIRT FARMERS AND GRUBBY POLITICIANS".

THE ONLY BEATLES SONG ON WHICH JOHN LENNON PLAYS AND SINGS WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANY OF THE OTHER THREE BEATLES IS A SONG CALLED "JULIA" FROM THE ALBUM "THE BEATLES" ("THE WHITE ALBUM"). THE SONG IS LENNON'S QUIET TRIBUTE TO HIS BELOVED MOTHER, WHO WAS KILLED WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER. 

OUR U.S. PRESIDENTS

RICHARD NIXON, LIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER 20TH CENTURY PRESIDENT, LOVED THE MOVIES. HIS FAVORITE ACTOR WAS JOHN WAYNE, BUT HE ALSO LOVED CLINT EASTWOOD. ONE OF HIS FAVORITE FILMS WAS "PATTON", WHICH HE SAW SEVERAL TIMES. BUT HIS FAVORITE FILM WAS "AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS".

ULYSSES S. GRANT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO GOLF, BUT HORSEBACK RIDING WAS GRANT'S FAVORITE ACTIVITY. GRANT'S GREAT LOVE FOR HORSES BEGAN WHEN HE WAS A BOY, WHEN HE DEVELOPED A GREAT SKILL FOR SENSING THEIR MOODS. GRANT WAS AN EXPERT AT "GENTLING" DIFFICULT HORSES. HE SPOKE TO THEM SOFTLY, HE STROKED THEM, AND HE NEVER RESORTED TO PUNISHMENT WITH THE WHIP. HORSES WOULD SENSE THAT HE WAS THEIR FRIEND, AND THEY TRUSTED HIM.

WHAT WAS JOHN TYLER DOING WHEN HE WAS INFORMED HE HAD BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
     -- PLAYING MARBLES (!!!!!!!)

JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS AN AVID SWIMMER AND AN INCREDIBLE SPEED READER (1,200 WORDS A MINUTE). KENNEDY WAS A HUGE MOVIE FAN AND WATCHED SEAN CONNERY IN THE JAMES BOND FILMS. OTHER FAVORITE FILMS WERE "RED RIVER" WITH JOHN WAYNE, "BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK" STARRING SPENCER TRACY, AND "SPARTACUS" WITH KIRK DOUGLAS. J.F.K. ALSO LOVED "CASABLANCA". KENNEDY WAS NOT A WELL-PUBLICIZED GOLFER, LIKE SO MANY OTHER PRESIDENTS, BUT HE WAS A VERY GOOD ONE. HE OFTEN SCORED IN THE HIGH 70'S AND LOW 80'S.

DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND HIS WIFE, MARY TODD LINCOLN, REGULARLY HELD SEANCES TO CONTACT SPIRITS, IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, ONE OF THE MOST PHYSICALLY ACTIVE U.S. PRESIDENTS, WAS VERY SICKLY AS A YOUNG BOY. HE WAS STRICKEN WITH ASTHMA. ONE DAY ON A STAGECOACH, AT THE AGE OF 14, SOME BOYS TEASED HIM, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO FIGHT BACK. THEN AND THERE, ROOSEVELT RESOLVED TO NEVER AGAIN "BE PUT IN SUCH A HELPLESS POSITION". ROOSEVELT BECAME AN AVID BOXER AND, MANY YEARS LATER, ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS INAUGURATION, HE INVITED A HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION HE KNEW IN WASHINGTON TO DROP BY FOR A FEW LIVELY ROUNDS. ROOSEVELT HAD BOXED WHEN HE WENT TO HARVARD AS A YOUNG MAN. HE ALSO WRESTLED, RAN, ROWED, WORKED OUT IN A GYM, AND SKATED.

WARREN G. HARDING SUFFERED A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AT THE AGE OF 24. HE SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS IN A SANITARIUM IN MICHIGAN.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S PRIZE WAS ALWAYS HIS STAMP COLLECTION. BY THE TIME HE BECAME PRESIDENT, HE HAD FILLED 40 ALBUMS WITH 25,000 STAMPS. ROOSEVELT WAS ALSO AN AVID BOOK COLECTOR. HE ENJOYED READING POPULAR FICTION, INCLUDING "GONE WITH THE WIND," BUT F.D.R. HAD A SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR DETECTIVE STORIES. WHAT BOOK WAS F.D.R. READING JUST BEFORE HE DIED?
     --"THE PUNCH AND JUDY MURDERS" BY JOHN DICKSON CARR.
HE ALSO HAD A PENCHANT FOR COLLECTING FIGURINES- LITTLE DOGS AND PIGS, AND OF COURSE, DEMOCRATIC DONKIES.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS HAD A PET ALLIGATOR AND PET SILK WORMS.