Numbers

By Melissa August, Amanda Bower, Val Castronovo, Ling Minhua, Ellin Martens, Julie Rawe, Sora Song, Joel Stein, Josh Tyrangiel and Rebecca Winters

40 Executions this year in Texas, a record for the state, out of 83 so far nationwide

$25,100 Last bid on eBay for a used electric chair from Tennessee, before it was withdrawn and bought by Ripley's Believe It or Not! for "considerably more"

4 African-American coaches already signed for next year's NCAA Division 1A college-football season--less than 3.5% of the 115 total

50.5 Percent of the division's players who are African American

50 Percent drop in economic activity in the West Bank and Gaza since violence escalated in September

1 million Palestinians--a third of the population--now without regular household income

2.5 Average number of hours devoted by lawyers surveyed to find the right gift for a client

15 Average number of minutes spent by the same lawyers selecting a gift for their child

Sources: A.P., Death Penalty Information Center, eBay, Ripley's Believe it or Not!; USA Today; United Nations; FindWhat.com