DAILY DIRT: Want to live long? Move to Hawaii. Enjoy Mountain Dew? Thank Tennessee

May 31, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger MRN Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Hawaii is great ... if you can afford it. Photo by Troy Squillaci/pexels

Daily Dirt for Saturday, May 31, 2025

And stay away from those sand tiger sharks … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,301 of The Daily Dirt.

1. It’s safe to say most of us all know the major facts tied to our country.

You know, things like there is a person born every 16 seconds, July 4 is Independence Day and we use the Fahrenheit temperature system.

But here’s a few things you might not have realized about the land of the Red, White and Blue:

Alabama is where the first 911 call was ever made, back in 1968.
Hawaii has the highest life expectancy of any state at 81 years old.
Oklahoma is where the parking meter was invented.
Kentucky has more barrels of bourbon than people.
Nevada has more hotel rooms than any other place on the planet.
Massachusetts has the oldest lighthouse in America, built in 1716. (It’s still active today, with a keeper.)
Oregon has more official ghost towns than any other state.
Minnesota’s Mall of America is so big it has its own zip code.
New Jersey has the most diners of any state in the nation.
The geographical center of North America is located in Rugby, N.D.
Ohio has the only state flag that is not rectangular.
Rhode Island has the oldest operating tavern in the U.S., opening back in 1673.
Tennessee is the birthplace of Mountain Dew.

You’re welcome.

2. Did you know (Part 380)

That the jaw of a grizzly bear is so strong that its teeth could crush a bowling ball.
That wild cats like cheetahs, tigers and jaguars are all attracted to the cologne “Obsession” by Calvin Klein. So don’t wear it on your next safari.
That of the 400 to 500 species of sharks, only the sand tiger shark is known to fart.
That every panda in the world is owned by China. Those pandas seen in other countries’ zoos are there simply on loan.
That one teaspoon of honey represents the life’s work of 12 honey bees.

3. It’s time for our weekly happy birthday wishes to some of our favorite celebrities:

Former NFL quarterback Joe Namath turns 82 today. Can you imagine the impact he would have had as a player and personality in today’s world? Remember, when Broadway Joe was in college and for most of his NFL career there was no cable, no satellite TV, no ESPN. It was an entirely different world.

Actor/director/overall bad ass Clint Eastwood is 95, also today. Go ahead, make his day.

Actor Morgan Freeman will be 88 on Sunday. The Voice.

Guitarist Ronnie Wood celebrates No. 78 on Monday. And still going strong.

Actor Jerry Mathers turns 77, also on Monday. The Beave.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – We lost another star from yesteryear on Friday. R.I.P., Loretta Swit, who was 87. She was part of the magic of “M*A*S*H’s 11-year TV run from 1972 to 1983.