Mannitol — not quite as sweet as sugar and poorly absorbed by the body. It contributes only half as many calories as sugar. Used as the “dust” on chewing gum, it prevents gum from absorbing moisture and becoming sticky.

You can have a birthday greeting sent from the President of the United States to anyone 80 years old or older. Send your request a few months in advance to your local congressman or senator.

Compound interest means earning interest on the interest in addition to interest on the principal (the total amount borrowed). To calculate compound interest: (Original dollar amount + Earned interest) x Interest rate x Length of time = Amount of Compound Interest. To determine the approximate number of years it will take for the principal to double, divide the interest rate into 72.

The most landed-on space in Monopoly is Illinois Avenue.

The United States is the only country that does not tip its flag to honor the host nation during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

Basic salt substitute — two teaspoons of garlic powder and one teaspoon each of basil, oregano, and powdered lemon rind. Put ingredients in a blender and mix well. Store in a glass container and add rice to prevent caking.

Neutering does not change a male dog’s personality or his instinct to protect his home and those he loves. It simply makes him less aggressive toward other male dogs and stops him from marking his territory with urine.

A jiffy is an actual measurement of time: 1/100 of a second.

There are nine different ways to pronounce the letters ough — A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed.

When mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is not feasible, mouth-to-nose breathing can be performed in a similar manner by placing your mouth over the victim’s nose and holding his or her lips closed between the thumb and forefinger.

States and districts that do not have capital punishment: Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Isaac Asimov is the only author to have a book in every major Dewey-decimal category.