DAILY DIRT: Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys … send them to anesthesiology school instead

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022

1. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow an impressive 16 percent by 2030, which is expected to add about 2.6 million new jobs.

This growth “is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services,” according to the agency.

That’s why healthcare professions dominate the highest-paid occupations, according to the BLS, in a study released earlier this year.

The following rankings are based on salary data from the BLS. Instead of using median salaries for each occupation, which signify the annual wage of a typical employee in that role, the BLS uses mean, or average salaries in the annual report.

These are the five highest-paid BLS occupations for 2022:

• 1. Anesthesiologist, $331,190: The BLS defines anesthesiologists as physicians who “administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.” Following four years of medical school, aspiring anesthesiologists in the U.S. typically complete a four-year residency in anesthesiology and possibly even more, depending on the subspecialty. 
• 2. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, $311,460: The specialists treat a wide range of diseases, injuries, and defects in and around the mouth and jaw. Among the more common problems they’re likely to manage are problematic wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, tumors and cysts of the jaw and mouth. They may also perform dental implant surgery.
• 3. Obstetricians-gynecologists, $296,210: These are doctors specializing in vaginal, ovarian, uterine, and cervical reproductive health and childbirth, known as obstetricians-gynecologists, or OB-GYNs. They make slightly more than the annual wages listed for general surgeons.4. Surgeons, $294,520: Although becoming a surgeon requires several years of specialized training, these elite physicians are rewarded with one of the highest-paying careers. 
• Surgeons may find themselves working long, irregular hours, depending on their specialty. While those focusing on preventative and elective surgeries may have a more predictable schedule, surgeons working in fields such as trauma or neurosurgery often work extended, even overnight, shifts.
• 5. Orthodontists, $267,280: They specialize in corrective measures for the teeth and are often referred out by the patients’ dentists. These doctors frequently take X-rays, apply braces, create mouth guards and perform other procedures as needed.

Information for this thought was provided by investopedia.com.

2. Fast-food lovers, take notice. 

A new survey from QSR magazine shows Taco Bell has the fastest drive-thru service among America’s fast-food restaurants.

QSR surveyed more than a thousand people, finding Taco Bell’s drive-thru was the fastest with the average order-to-completion clocking in at just under 3 minutes, 42 seconds. Dunkin Donuts and Kentucky Fried Chicken came in second and third, respectively.

In terms of accuracy in orders compared to what the customer received, the survey said Arby’s took the No. 1 position, followed by McDonald’s and Burger King.

3. Speaking of food, here’s the disgusting food item of the week. Enjoy.

“Andouillette” is a French specialty sausage — their term, not ours — made with pork meat and intestines, onions, wine, pepper and other seasonings. 

The sausage contains parts of pig’s colon, which is the reason why it is considered to be an acquired taste. It has an intense, unusual smell that is described by some as reminiscent of urine.

Yep, that would be an acquired taste.

(PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Do not confuse “Andouillette” with “Andouille”. “Andouille” is a must to make proper jambalaya or gumbo, is delicious and smells devine. “Andouillette” is a smaller sausage and, yes, it is stinky. JRG)

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Whenever I read that a proposed meal has the words “intense” and unusual” describing its smell, that should be a clue — actually, two — to move on to the next menu item. And if there is a third word in the description — say … urine? — that would be final deal breaker. Gimme a burger and fries, please.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Notice how he always falls back on burgers and fries?