Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

Acute malnutrition among young children in Iraq has nearly doubled since the United States led an invasion of the country 20 months ago, according to surveys by the United Nations, aid agencies, and the interim Iraqi government.

About 20 billion hot dogs were sold in the United States this past year.

Dallas Vedic astrologer Joni Patry predicts that oil prices will come down in February 2005 because Jupiter will be aspecting the new moon, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune. On Feb. 22, she says, Ketu will change into Virgo and will conjunct Jupiter, which will bring a spiritual awakening to the planet.

Bob Keeshan, better known as Captain Kangaroo, died Jan. 23, 2004, at age 76. Keeshan was a receptionist at NBC-Radio's Manhattan office when he began getting offers for small acting parts.

The year 2004 marked the 30th anniversary of the game Dungeons & Dragons. Game publisher Wizards of the Coast estimates some four million people currently play D&D at least once a month.