Benjamin Franklin wanted to live in London but his wife, Debbie, refused to move.

Just 10 years ago, China was self-sufficient in oil and actually exported small quantities to other Asian nations. It’s estimated that China could have nearly 30 million automobiles by 2010. By 2030, China is expected to have more cars than the U.S. and import as much oil as the U.S. does today.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s surname is the Gujarati word for “grocer.”

The word “dunce” is an eponym derived from the name of the philosopher John Duns Scotus, a Franciscan who lived from about 1265 to 1308. Among his beliefs was that neither the existence of God nor the immortality of the human soul can be proved by reason alone.

“Buster” is military slang for “Fly at maximal continuous speed (or power).”

This article appears in September 24 • 2004.

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