Percentage of workers who were laid off in the past 12 months who said they have changed their appearance to make themselves more attractive to potential employers, according to a survey by CareerBuilder: 28

Percentage who have, respectively, changed their hair color or style, or dressed to appear younger: 8, 5

FINANCIAL WOES

Percentage of Americans who owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth, according to the Bank-rate Financial Literacy series on Families and Finance: 25

Percentage of Americans who aren't sure how they'll save for retirement: 70

Percentage who fret about their ability to afford college for a family member: 50

SATISFIED WORKERS

Percentage of U.S. workers who are simply happy to have a job, according to survey by http://www.SnagAJob.com: 24

Percentage of U.S. workers who are happy because they gain personal satisfaction at work: 41

BETTER EDUCATION

When American adults were asked their opinion on what was the best way to improve kindergarten through 12th grade education in the U.S., percentage who said quality teachers/better educated/ more involvement/caring, according to a Gallup Poll: 17

Percentage who said we should go back to the basic curriculum (reading, writing, arithmetic): 10

TEXTING AT 60 MPH

Percentage of respondents who admit to having used a cell phone to text or e-mail while driving in the past 12 months, according to the results of a CarGurus survey of automotive consumers worldwide: 52

Number of states that ban texting while driving: 14

PALTRY PAYCHECKS

Percentage of American workers who are currently unsatisfied with their compensation as a result of pay cuts, lack of bonuses or stagnant salaries, according to the Adecco USA Workplace Insights survey: 66

Percentage of American workers who are not satisfied with their company's overall retention efforts: 87

IDLE THOUGHT

"No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be."

— Isaac Asimov

Contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.