That’s the percentage of Americans who now support allowing gay persons to serve openly in the U.S. military. Only 32% are opposed.This represents significantly broader support for this inclusive policy than in 1994, when 52% favored allowing gays to serve openly and 45% were opposed.

That’s the number of states that will begin receiving royalties from oil companies drilling off their coasts under legislation passed by Congress in its closing days. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas stand to gain millions of dollars from the arrangement, which opens up 8 million more acres for new off-shore drilling.

That’s the percentage of married people who report being “very happy.” Married people are more likely than unmarrieds (24%) and all adults (34%) to say they are “very happy.”

That’s the number of Americans who favor a hefty increase in the federal minimum wage from its current level of $5.15 an hour to $7.15 an hour. The last time Congress raised the federal minimum was in 1997, but many states have now set minimum wage levels above the federal floor.

That’s the percentage of the U.S. public that prefers “Merry Christmas” to non-religious welcomes such as “Season’s Greetings.” However, given the choice, a 45% plurality says it does not matter much either way.

That’s the percent of online health seekers who do not consistently check the source and date of the health information they find online.

That’s the proportion of Americans who, in the wake of this November’s elections, want Democratic leaders rather than President Bush to take the lead in addressing national problems. Only 29% say the president should take the lead.