E-Mail This Article to a Friend QUOTES + NUMBERS Food or lack thereof

46

In years, the average life expectancy in Niger. A food crisis (brought on by extended drought and an invasion of locusts) has put 3 million Nigeriens at risk of starvation, according to Oxfam.

77

In years, the average life expectancy in the United States.

10 million

The number of people who die from hunger each year, according to the UN World Food Program.

96 billion

Pounds of food wasted each year in the United States, according to the us department of agriculture.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Now that the state has 7% more in tax revenues than expected, should we decrease the income tax or increase local aid?

Go to BostonPhoenix.com or send an SMS ("Less tax" or "More aid") to 2122 to weigh in.

Last week’s results: Would you sleep with someone you met on MySpace? "Sure" 71% "Um, no" 29% (29% said no! We are just as surprised as you are!)

"The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera serrasalmus and pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human."

_ Sentence contestants had to text message at last month’s SingTel SMS Shootout in Singapore. Kimberly Yeo, 23, set a new world record for TMing by typing out the 26-word sentence in 43.66 seconds on her cell phone.

"Where do I get my life savings back?"

_Asked by WorldCom employee Henry Bruen at the July 13 sentencing of the company’s former CEO, Bernard Ebbers, who presided over the largest case of accounting fraud in US history.