DAILY DIRT: Ahhh yes, a penny for a postage stamp, a nickel for a Coke, a dime for a hamburger and a quarter for a pair of socks

Don’t miss that second “Did you know” today … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,005 of The Daily Dirt.

1. How times have changed in the past 100 years.

And there’s no pun intended with that “change(d)” reference. Let’s take a look at what some pocket change could have bought you in the 1920s:

• Penny: Piece of candy, a postcard, pencil or postage stamp, not to mention a matchbox car or gumball. 
• Nickel: Loaf of bread, newspaper, scoop of ice cream, a bottle of Coca-Cola, hot dog or access to public transportation. 
• Dime: A hot cup of coffee, a hamburger, bar of soap or even a movie ticket. You could also get a bottle of beer, pint of ice cream or a bag of popcorn.
• Quarter: Would you believe a gallon of gas, a dozen eggs, pint of milk or admission to an amusement park. Not to mention a can of shaving cream, pound of coffee or pair of socks.
• 50-cent piece: A full restaurant meal, gallon of ice cream, pair of shoes, 10 loaves of bread, gallon of milk, a week’s supply of vegetables or a toy doll.

2. Did you know (Part 64)

• That the U.S. cities with the highest obesity rates are Birmingham (81 percent of residents are considered obese), Memphis (76 percent) and Houston (62 percent).
• That out of the 400 to 500 known species of sharks, the sand tiger shark is the only one known to fart.
• That every panda in the world is owned by Chinese authorities. Those who appear outside China are there on loan.
• That there are more tigers held in captivity in the U.S. (5,000) than are running wild (3,200) in the rest of the world.
• That Mike Mussina (3.58), Greg Maddux (3.37), Randy Johnson (3.26), Juan Marichal (3.25) and Fergie Jenkins (3.20) have the greatest strikeout-to-walk ratios in MLB history. 

3. Reportedly, these are the five most expensive celebrity homes in the world:

• 1. Beyonce and Jay-Z, Bel Air, Calif.: $200 million. Well, if any couple could afford such a mansion it would be these two.
• 2. Pierce Brosnan, Malibu, Calif.: $100 million. The estate is “Thai-inspired”.
• 3. Sylvester Stallone, Beverly Hills, Calif.: $58 million. Hey, it’s got six bedrooms.
• 4. Ryan Seacrest, Beverly Hills, Calif.: $51 million. Seacrest bought this from Ellen DeGeneres a few years ago. 
• 5. Trevor Noah, Bel Air Calif.: $30 million. It’s referred to as a “castle”.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Those mansions are all nice I’m sure, but how many have a Hy-Vee just down the street or dirt-track racing only a couple of miles away?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Trevor Noah? Really? That’s some overcompensating to be sure.