Oh, that we had gasometers to test, / What presidential candidate is best, / I mean the gassiest; for by such assay, / We might elect him in the shortest way, […]

In 1982, high fructose corn syrup production amounted to 8.4 billion pounds with a value well in excess of one billion dollars.

Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.

For tis the ſport to haue the enginer / Hoiſt with his ovvne petar, an't ſhall goe hard / But I vvill delue one yeard belovve their mines, / And blovve them at the Moone: […] For it's amusing to have the engineer / Lifted into the sky with his own explosive, and if I'm lucky / I will dig one yard below their mines, / And blow them towards the Moon: […]