Harpooned--A Continuing Series

Bullets from the latest "Harper's Index" in the November 2012 number of Harper's. Given as usual with little or no comment.

• Portion of the total U. S. corn crop that goes to make ethanol: 2/5
• Average number of square miles by which the Arctic sea ice decreased each day this summer: 36,400 [how often have you heard "global warming" during the current political debates?]
• Estimated number of gallons of raw sewage spilled off the coast of Tijuana following an August pipeline break: 5 million
• Portion of U.S. workers age 50 or above who plan to delay retirement because the financial crisis: 1/2
• Projected worldwide surplus of low-skill workers by 2020: 93 million
• Projected worldwide deficit of high- and medium-skill workers by that time: 85 million
• Portion of people residing outside the United States who say they like American pop culture: 2/3
• Who say it is a "good" thing that American ideas and customs are spreading: 1/4
• Percentage of Americans in 1992 who believed gun laws should be stricter: 78
• Percentage who believe so today: 43 
• Rank of "I don't know" among the most common answers Republicans give when asked why black voters support Democrats: 1
• Rank of "government dependents" want "something for nothing": 2