DAILY DIRT: What’s a few calories among friends?

Realistically, would a normal human being be able to consume more than one of the following sandwiches (at one sitting) in the top five? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 505 of The Daily Dirt.

1. If you have any aspirations to be a lean, mean fighting machine there are probably a few fast-food sandwiches you may want to avoid.

Here are the top 10 worst fast food choices you can make from the major chains that have outlets in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri.

And before you start inspecting the ensuing list, remember the recommended DAILY calorie intake is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men.

1. Burger King Triple Stacker King: 1,370 calories. BK has its fair share of high-calorie sandwiches, but this one is the king. It features three quarter-pound beef patties, bacon, cheese, special sauce on a sesame seed bun. And the calorie count does not include fries or an accompanying soft drink, which would push that calorie count to just under 2,200. Yikes!

2. Sonic Super Sonic Bacon Double Cheeseburger (with mayo). Must be the mayo, eh? 

3. Wendy’s S’Awesome Bacon Classic: 1,170 calories. Thelistwire.com, which compiled all of these calorie counts, tells us that this-pattie offering has 710 calories of just fat. The good news? That Super Sonic creation at No. 2 has 830 calories in fat.

4. Panera barbecue chicken/mac and cheese: 1,130 calories.I’ve never had one of these, but I read “it packs a lot of flavor, but also 36 grams of saturated fat — 180 percent of the recommended daily intake.”

5-tie. KFC Chicken and Waffles sandwich: 1,100 calories. And if you pour some syrup on, that will cost you another 80 calories.

5-tie. Hardee’s Double Beyond Thickburger: 1,100 calories. You would think you’re saving calories because you’re opting for two meatless burger patties. You would be wrong, according to.

8. Jimmy John’s Club Tuna on French Bread: 1,050 calories. I would never try this one anyway. Tuna is not high on my list of sandwich priorities.

9. Arby’s Triple Decker Club: 1,030 calories.All of the ingredients are great — turkey, bacon, ham, roast beef, two types of cheese, lettuce and mayonnaise between two slice of honey wheat bread. Must be that dreaded mayo.

10.Taco Bell XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito Beef: 880 calories. You may “run to the border” to get one, but you’ll likely be walking back.

Special mention: McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese: 780 calories. Throw in a large Coke (290 calories) and large order of fries (510) and you’re looking at a meal that will set you back almost 1,600 calories.

2. There was little fanfare earlier this week when former NBA player Chris Ford died.

Yes, he was part of three NBA championship teams, but his place in sports trivia is forever entrenched for another reason.

Ford made the first 3-point field goal in NBA history, back in 1979 at the Boston Garden.

Ford, who has 74 at the time of his death, averaged 9.2 points and 3.4 assist per game. Ford played in the NBA from 1972 through 1982.

3. This week’s birthday wishes go to:

• Actress Geena Davis will be 67 on Saturday. Memo to Geena: I’m still waiting for a sequel to “A League Of Their Own.”
• Comedienne/TV host Ellen DeGeneres turns 65 on Jan. 26. Did you now she appeared in the film “Coneheads?”
• Media mogul Oprah Winfrey will be 69 on Jan. 29. For those wondering, her middle name is Gail. (I just realized I’m the same age as Oprah. I wonder if she ever thinks about that?)
• Actor Gene Hackman reaches 93 on Jan. 30. It’s hard to believe his most acclaimed film, “The French Connection” was in theaters in 1971 — that’s more than 50 years ago for the mathematically challenged. Remember his character’s name? Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle.
• Singer Justin Timberlake turns 42 on Jan. 31. I wonder if he has stayed in contact with Janet Jackson over the years?

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I may have to give that Burger King Triple Stacker King a try.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Is anyone surprised Steve hasn’t already tried the Burger King Triple Stacker King?