DAILY DIRT: Now that’s A LOT of pizza, not to mention pepperoni

Think about it, one-third of an acre. Well, I guess anything is dough-able … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,028 of The Daily Dirt.

1. We’ve always been fascinated with what is the biggest, oldest, longest, largest or smallest whatever.

Well, here are a few things that should help you win a few bets at the office this week:

• The world’s largest pizza was 14,000 square feet, or about one-third of an acre. It was made with 13,653 pounds of dough, 4,948 pounds of pizza sauce, 8,800 pounds of cheese and 630,000 pieces of pepperoni. The giant ‘za was built in January 2023 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. (For those wondering, after the pizza was assembled it was baked in pieces on site. Presumably, A LOT of pieces.)
• The world’s largest shopping mall is in Iran and covers 21 million square feet, or about the size of 365 football fields.
• The world’s largest cruise ship is the “Symphony of the Seas,” which can carry 6,600 passengers.
• The world’s largest ice hotel is in Sweden, which covers 59,000 square feet.
• The world’s largest cemetery is in Iraq, which covers more than 1,500 acres, or close to three square miles.
• The world’s largest hotel is the First World Hotel in Malaysiz, which has more than 7,300 rooms.
• The world’s largest dam is the Three Gorges Dam in China, a structure that is more than 1.4 miles wide (over the Yangtze River) and 594 feet high. 
• The world’s largest ketchup bottle is found in Collinsville, Ill., and stands more than 170 feet tall.
• The world’s largest residential building is the Princess Tower in Dubai, which stands more than 1,350 feet tall.

2. Did you know (Part 90)

• That car seats for kids were not required until 1971.
• That just 13.4 percent of adult Americans were classified obese in 1960. Today that number is 39.6 percent.
• That Lay’s has launched the following limited edition flavors of chips: Honey butter, Masala and Tzatziki. Masala chips are coated in a blend of sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, tomato powder, turmeric and paprika. Tzatsiki offers a “popping” dill flavor I am told.
• That there were no ATMs in America until 1969.
• That soft contact lenses did not exist until 1971.
• There were just 24 Walmart stores in the U.S. in 1967.

3. The staff of the Daily Dirt wishes a happy birthday to this week’s featured celebrities:

• Actress Halle Berry, who will be 56 on Wednesday. Where have the years gone, Halle?
• Former NBA great Magic Johnson, who turns 65, also on Wednesday. I remember the first time I saw him on national television when he was playing at Michigan State. I believe my reaction was simply, “Wow.”
• Actor Ben Affleck turns 52 on Thursday. Have you ever noticed he rarely smiles? The guy simply needs to stay away from J-Lo.
• Actor Robert DeNiro will be 81 on Saturday. He always needs a haircut.
• Actor Robert Redford celebrates No. 88 on Sunday. Happy birthday, Sundance!

Steve Thought O’ The Day — On the subject of birthdays, here are the top MLB players born in August:

• 1. Ted Williams (Aug. 30)
• 2. Roberto Clemente (Aug. 18)
• 3. Roger Clemens (Aug. 4)
• 4. Frank Robinson (Aug. 31)
• 5. Carl Yastrzemski (Aug. 22)
• Honorable mention: Mike Trout (Aug. 7), Cal Ripken Jr. (Aug. 24)

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Yes, he is the oldest Muddy Buddy.