That’s Odd

46 Enter your email to sign up for the CNN Travel newsletter. Dallas/Fort Worth International The Jewish Home | APRIL 14, 2022 Airport in Texas was the second-busiest in 2021, with about 62.5 million passengers, and the international airport in Denver, Colorado, ranked third, with 58.8 million passengers. Chicago’s O’Hare (54 million passengers) and Los Angeles International (48 million passengers) rounded out the top five. In 2021, there were an estimated 4.5 billion passengers globally, according to ACI. That figure represents a nearly 25% increase from 2020 but more than 50% drop from 2019. The airports in Charlotte, North Carolina (No. 6); Orlando, Florida (No. 7); and Las Vegas (No. 10) are new to the top 10 this year. Interestingly, in 2020, airports in China took seven of the top ten slots on the list. This time around, the United States dominate the list. Additionally, airports that routinely landed in the top 10 of the world’s busiest airports list –such as Dubai International, London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle – had largely been absent during the pandemic.

U.S. Life Expectancy Going Down

Life expectancy in the U.S. is continuing to decline, a new study published by medRxiv shows.

The report noted that life expectancy in the U.S. dropped 0.4 years in 2021, following a drop of nearly 1.9 years in 2020.

According to the researchers, “Although the introduction and availability of effective vaccines were expected to curb U.S. mortality rates in 2021, slow vaccine uptake and the spread of the Delta variant produced large surges in mortality.”

COVID-19 has been one of the top three causes of death in the United States for the past two years, other than during a brief period in summer 2021, an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed.

During the decade prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. life expectancy changed by an average of less than 0.1 years annually, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show.

Meanwhile, life expectancy in the United States fell from 78.9 years in 2019 to 76.6 years in 2021, and now stands at over five years less than the average in peer nations. In 19 peer nations, life expectancy dropped in 2020 by only about a third as much as it did in the U.S. but rebounded in 2021.

Oh, Baby

We’re sure you have the cutest baby. As a matter of fact, we know you do. But does everyone else agree that he’s the cutest?

This month, Gerber’s baby food is conducting its 2022 Photo Search, in which eager parents submit photos of their smiling infants for a chance to be Gerber’s “Spokesbaby.” The contest launched on Monday.

The lucky winner, who will earn the title of “Spokesbaby” and “Chief Growing Officer,” will be featured on the baby food company’s social media channels and in its ad campaigns throughout the year. Oh, and they will also receive a $25,000 prize.

“This year, Gerber is searching for a candidate that can help share smiles and inspire joy in parents and his/her peers,” Gerber said on their website. “An irresistible giggle is strongly preferred, as well as an undeniable lovable personality.”

Children ages 0-4 are eligible to enter the competition. Parents and guardians can submit their child’s “smiliest” photos and videos to Gerber’s portal before Thursday, April 14.

That’s certainly something to smile about.

A Pony’s Pastry

We do-nut believe this story.

David Bosselait, a retired bull rider, lives in Florida and enjoys his daily Dunkin’ Donuts run. But David doesn’t go alone. He makes the 6 mile trek each day for his doughnuts and coffee atop his horse Jackson.

Jackson doesn’t just come along for the ride. The horse enjoys the time spent at the drivethrough and has become a sort of celebrity.

“It’s a half-a-day event,” David shared. “Once we make it over the bridge, we head right to Dunkin’ Donuts to get our coffee.”

David, who has documented some of Jackson’s Dunkin’ runs on social media, said he always gets a coffee for himself and treat for Jackson.

“His order is just a plain donut hole,” he said.

The Dunkin’ employees love the four-legged visitor.

“They like to pat him, they scratch him, they hand him his donut,” David said.

Aside from the pastry, David says that Jackson gains much more.

“It’s a good experience for Jackson to be around the vehicles and whatnot,” he said. “Really shows him patience and, you know, to stay focused.”

He’s not horsing around.

Skinniest Skyscraper

If you’re going to be living in Steinway Tower, you better hold your breath.

The building at 111 West 57 Street in Manhattan has been crowned the world’s skinniest skyscraper.

With a height-to-width ratio of 24:1, it is “the most slender skyscraper in the world,” according to the developers.

50 At 1,428 feet, it is also one of the tallest buildings in the Western hemisphere, falling short of two others The Jewish Home | APRIL 14, 2022 in New York City: One World Trade Center at 1,776 feet and Central Park Tower at 1,550 feet.

There are 60 apartments in the soaring building that is composed of 84 stories.

The architects said their main goal was to create a new and bold interpretation of the New York skyline, while also celebrating the location’s historic roots.

“Any preconceived notions that our team had about skyscrapers of New York City developments were replaced with an opportunity to do something that had never been done before,” architect Gregg Pasquarelli said.

The building is super-skinny, although you’ll need a fat wallet to pur-

$151 for a Burger

We know that ballgames are expensive, but this burger takes the cake.

The Atlanta Braves recently announced the addition of the World Champions Burger to the Truist Park menu this upcoming season. The burger comes with a jaw-dropping price tag: $151.

Lest you think it’s just a plain burger with ketchup, the patty is made with a half-pound of Waygu beef and is served on a toasted bun with Irish butter and cage-free fried eggs. Kosher it is not.

The burger is also topped with a grilled lobster tail and gold-leaf-wrapped Hudson Valley foie gras. It is finished off with Tillamook cheddar cheese, truffle aioli, tomato and lettuce.

Oh, and if you’re still hungry, there’s also a side of Parmesan waffle fries.

The Braves created the expensive burger to celebrate the team’s World Series title. The price reflects 151 years since the Braves franchise has been founded.

Truist Park will also be selling a version of the burger that comes with a World Championship Ring, but they will cost fans $25,000.

These prices are way out of the park.

When a Wrong Makes a Right

LaQuedra Edwards is lucky. A few months ago, Edwards had put $40 into a lottery ticket vending machine at a supermarket when “some rude person” bumped into her.

The bump caused Edwards to push the wrong number on the machine

“He just bumped into me, didn’t say a thing and just walked out the door,” Edwards said.

Edwards usually purchases cheaper tickets, but the shove meant she’d bought a $30 200X Scratchers ticket. She was annoyed because she had just dropped most of her money on a single ticket. That is, until she got into her car.

When Edwards was in her vehicle, she started scratching the $30 ticket and was amazed when she won the top prize of $10 million.

“I didn’t really believe it at first, but I got on the 405 freeway and kept looking down at (the ticket), and I almost crashed my car,” Edwards said. “I pulled over, looked at it again and again, scanned it with my app, and I just kept thinking this can’t be right.”

Hey, you never know.

Need to get away for a bit but want to earn money while exploring other continents?

Consider working for UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. The charity is looking for candidates who are willing to spend five months in Antarctica to run the world’s most remote post office. Aside from sorting mail, the ideal peron will also run the museum and gift shop on the Goudier Island.

“Dream of waking up & seeing Antarctica in all its glory? Penguins plodding around, the sun peeping over snow topped mountains. A job like no other. Join us & help protect Antarctica’s heritage & conserve its precious environment. Apply by 25 April,” UKAHT posted on its Twitter handle.

The successful candidates will have to be at the base from November 2022 to March 2023, during Antarctica’s summer months when the temperature is higher than the usual.

Lest you think that not much mail passes through the forgotten continent, consider that the post office gets about 80,000 pieces of mail a season, so you’ll be busy.

The staff members will also have to count penguins and other wildlife for the British Antarctic Survey and submit the report by the end of their employment.

Vicky Inglis, who previously worked at the base as a one of the postmasters, told CBC Radio that the job is an opportunity of a lifetime – but not for the faint-hearted.

“We did have to dig our way [through the snow] to get access for the first time when we arrived. We’ve got no flush toilets and nothing like that – none of the modern luxuries that we’re used to,” she said.

As such, candidates are required to have good level of physical fitness, environmental awareness and a knowledge of minimum impact living.

In other words: even though it sounds so cool, it’s not a vacation.