DAILY DIRT: Think your job is bad? Maybe you should try being an odor judge or pet food taster

Daily Dirt for Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024

That snake milker thing doesn’t look too attractive, either … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,148 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Have you ever thought your job was the worst in the world?

If so, you may want to reconsider when scanning the following real-life occupations: 

Gold medal: Odor judge, United States: They work for companies that produce fragrances and deodorants. They are trained to detect and describe various smells from pleasant to pungent and rate them. This job often involves smelling armpits, feet and other body regions to evaluate the effectiveness of the products in question.

Silver medal: Pet food taster, United Kingdom. These people test the quality (and taste) of pet-food products to make sure certain standards are met. They sample the food texture and flavor, making certain the food is palpable for pets. Although the tasters do not swallow the food, a refined palate is needed to detect subtle differences.

Bronze medal: Snake milker, India. Snake milkers collect venom from poisonous snakes for research and to make anti-venom. The milkers have to handle the snakes carefully, getting them to bite into a container to collect the venom. This dangerous job is vital for treating snake bites. Some of the venom is also used to make drugs that help with high blood pressure and heart attacks.

Honorable mention: Professional mourner, Japan. These individuals, also known as “crying ladies,” are sent to attend funerals and express grief on behalf of the deceased’s family. The perform dramatic displays of crying and wailing to honor the deceased and show respect. This tradition is believed to help guide the deceased’s spirit to the afterlife.

2. Did you know (Part 200)

• That in 1957 Richie Ashburn of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a foul ball that struck a spectator named Alice Roth, who needed to be carted away on a stretcher. While Alice was being carted off by attendants, Ashburn hit another foul ball into the stands and — yep, you guessed it — hit poor Alice again.
• That McDonald’s sells beer in some countries. In Germany and Austria, beer is a standard menu item at McDonald’s in those countries.
• That a “merkin” is the name for a pubic hair wig.
• That every time you clean something, you’re making something else dirty. It’s all a transfer of mess.
• That you are the oldest you have ever been … AND the youngest you will ever be.

3. These were the top 10 songs in the country at this time of the year in 1980:

• 1. “Lady,” by Kenny Rogers
• 2. “More Than I Can Say,” by Leo Sayer
• 3. “Another One Bites The Dust,” by Queen
• 4. “Woman In Love,” by Barbra Streisand
• 5. “Master Blaster,” by Stevie Wonder
• 6. “(Just Like) Starting Over,” by John Lennon
• 7. “Love On The Rocks,” by Neil Diamond
• 8. “Hungry Heart,” by Bruce Springsteen
• 9. “I’m Coming Out,” by Diana Ross
• 10. “Dreaming,” by Cliff Richard

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Little Caesars was scheduled to bring back the stuffed crazy crust pizza at some point this week. If that’s your cup of tea, enjoy!

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. A pubic hair wig?