Wives Highly Trusted

Who can you trust? Seventy-five percent of Americans say wives can be trusted to do what’s right for their husbands; 58 percent say husbands can be trusted to do what’s right for their wives.

The respondents in a poll commissioned by the Shell Oil Company have flagging trust in husbands. Only 55 percent of all the women polled said in general husbands could be trusted; among the single women, only 30 percent said husbands could be trusted; and only 21 percent of divorced women trust husbands.

Give us time: A lot of working women covet more time. Even more than more money. Redbook magazine asked 665 women on its Web site if they would prefer a four-day workweek or a 20 percent pay increase. Nearly two-thirds 62 percent chose for the shorter week. (From the Wall Street Journal)

American history 101: The ‘60s sexual revolution actually began five decades earlier says cultural historian James Lincoln Collier.

He says the breakdown of Victorian sexual norms began in 1911 when a dance craze spread across the nation, along with the opinion that decent women could be seen in dance clubs. A rise in alcohol consumption followed, the feminist movement began in earnest, movies began the march toward mass entertainment and sexual mores began to change.

This trend culminated in the Roaring ‘20s and set the stage for the sexual revolution of the 1960s, says Collier.

It would have happened sooner if the societal changes had not been interrupted by the Great Depression and World War II. Once those were behind us, the good times rolled. (From May The Atlantic)

Think for a moment: If you have a brewski (or a latte) in your hand, pause before ridiculing others for wasting their money on bottled water. On average, bottled water costs 2 cents an ounce, carbonated soft drinks cost 3 cents an ounce and beer rings in at 5 cents (supermarket prices). Starbucks coffee sets the cash register spinning at 10 cents an ounce. (From May 24 Time)

Fast facts: Average duration of U.S. sex: 25.3 minutes. (From June Men’s Health)

Just say please: Most of the time workers ignore bosses who give orders, say researchers at Ohio State University who studied management decisions in 376 situations.

About 66 percent of the time, workers ignored the order.

However, when bosses explained the reasons behind their decisions and asked for suggestions, workers complied with the request 100 percent of the time. (From May Men’s Health)

What’s in a name? The number of places the name Monica has dropped in popularity among names given U.S. girls since 1997: 24. (From May Harper’s)

Signs of the times: Percentage of fifth- to 12th-grade girls who want to lose weight: 66.

Percentage of fifth- to 12th-grade girls who want to lose weight because of pictures in fashion magazines: 47.

Percentage of these girls who are actually overweight: 29. (From June Brill’s Content)