Author: Rev. Joe Dirt

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Fair and Balanced…Not

There is so much I could say.  What scares me is that Fox News is the most popular cable “news” source.  What scares me even more is that those folks that watch Fox News seem to accept it lock, stock and barrel.  Plus they absolutely are clueless as to why someone would not.   I do not think it a coincidence that NASCAR fans are by and by, big consumers of Fox News.  There seems to a major dearth of critical thinking and self examination in this country.  I have no idea if it is a new phenomenon, but it feels like the extent to which it is happening does seem to have reached new bounds.

I’m not sure what their overarching goal is a Fox News, but it is not the long run good of this country or the majority of its citizens.  The country that Fox News and its bought and paid for political candidates envision is not a country I want to live in.   I doubt it is a country Thomas Jefferson would want to live in.

Below is a link to a commentary on the study.  Obviously from their headline they are a little harsher than I might be.  When I read the study the impression I get is that we are all sadly misinformed or captive to our belief systems.  My personal opinion is that for democracy to work really well, the voters should be informed and involved.  We really have neither.  And there are more than a few sources intent on spreading misinformation aka propaganda.

Study Confirms That Fox News Makes You Stupid

The full study from World Public Opinion.org

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Worthy Small Charities

Yes I did a cut and paste operation bringing in these links from an article in the New York Times by Nicholas Kristof:  The Gifts of Hope. Mr. Kristof is an advocate journalist. His whole professional career is devoted to reporting on issues like these, especially issues involving females.  If there is a man that can smoke out small worthy charities, I am betting on him.

Here is another of his editorials.  It details some charities that has gone astray:  When Donations Go Astray

If you are looking for alternative giving this year, consider these.

Panzi Hospital (panzifoundation.org) treats victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo, rape capital of the world.

Camfed (camfed.org), short for the Campaign for Female Education, sends girls to school in Africa and provides a broad support system for them. Continue reading “Worthy Small Charities”

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Troubadours Transcending

I have this new theory about musicians like Ellis Paul, Kevin Welch, Jimmie LaFave, Pete Morton, etc.  There are tons more.  I just mention these folks because they are on my mind from seeing them concert recently or listening to their CDs.

These folks never make it super big like say a Garth Brooks or a Reba McIntyre.  I would think having that much success and fame would be as much a burden as blessing.  I’m sure the money and adulation are wonderful.  But then you have everyone wanting a piece of you, wanting something from you.  I personally would find it a huge pain to walk down the street and have folks continually coming up to me, snapping pictures etc.  But then I value my privacy.

Musicians in the first category have a relative degree of success.  They can make a living doing what they love to do.  From having talked to a few of them, I know it is love for most of them.  They get to enjoy the company of liked minded individuals.  They get to travel as much or as little as they want in the support of their craft. At least the ones I have seen have mostly been in small often intimate venues with interaction between the musicians and the audience.  Most of the musicians really seem to enjoy this.   Of course, this is from the outside looking in, but they seem to be milking the most out of essential nature of life. Many that write their own lyrics seem have an amazing insight into the human condition, the human emotional state, a certain degree of wisdom beyond the norm.

My theory is this:  They are old souls.  This is probably their last go round in the physical plane.  They are on a farewell tours of sorts.  I really cannot think of many better ways to do such a tour.

Heck of a theory for an old agnostic.

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Vladimir Putin singing Blueberry Hill…

This is just too weird to not share.  First it has a totally surreal quality like that  feeling you get just before you ram your car into a telephone pole.  To add to the absurdity of  it there is a bunch of Hollywood stars playing along like they are really digging it.  It must have been some really good vodka that night, or maybe that is why they are called actors.

What clenches it for me though is looking at this guy singing this song, knowing that he is not what I am going to euphemistically call a “good person”.  I sat there watching him wondering how many folks he has personally whacked or had whacked.  Anybody rising to the top of the power heap in Russia did not do so with a nice smile and a firm handshake.  I’ll stop.  We all know what this man is about.

Enjoy!

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Frances Ginsberg – A Special Lady That Will Be Missed

FrannieWhenever I picture Fran entering a room, it is this presence riding in on the wings of an aria. Perhaps it was from being on stage all those years, she just filled whatever the space was with energy and a love for life.

Her life was a lot like the operas in which she performed — a series of crests and troughs. I suppose in many ways that could describe any of our lives. Fran just lived her life on a larger stage. She had had a successful opera career on two continents, alternating between Milan and New York for the last 25 or so years. Unfortunately, that has all come to an end.

She returned to Saint Louis 3 years ago to be treated for stage 4 ovarian cancer. While she was there she reacquainted herself with many old friends, including Robin with whom she had been a close neighborhood and school friend.  Robin likes to tell the story about the time they entered a talent contest together and did not even place. Robin still feels bad to this day as she is sure she is the reason. I am thinking Fran got over it.

The treatment seemed to be a success and Fran went back to Italy for a while. She had a relapse and returned to St. Louis for more treatment. Again the cancer seemed to go into remission. She returned to New York this time, but only to have the cancer return. Continue reading “Frances Ginsberg – A Special Lady That Will Be Missed”

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Kangaroo Care…KISS

A simple low cost solution for caring for premature babies in 3rd world countries, and in this country.   Holding the baby against the mother’s chest continually, termed Kangaroo Care.

It was developed (relearned?) by Dr. Edgar Rey  in Bogota, Colombia who lacked enough incubators.  Clinical trials has shown that it is effective.  The babies do well,  start breastfeeding earlier and put on weight quicker.  Besides the physical benefits there is the emotional and social benefits.  Mothers and other caregivers, who spell her, are bonding better.  This leads to fewer abandoned babies.

What is the old rule of thumb…”KISS – Keep It Simple Silly”

Below is a link to the article on the New York Times website.  It is well worth the read.

The Human Incubator – NYTimes.com

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The World/Life/Etc. Explained

We live in a ass-backwards world.

We are the mirror image of a good universe.

  • Evil seems to be rewarded beyond measure and no good deed goes unpunished
  • A few very rich or powerful folks get to make the rules and dictate how most folks live
  • Education is not about learning, but learning how to make money
  • We worry about the afterlife, more than we worry about the here and now
  • Brittany Spears is famous and Ellis Paul languishes in relative obscurity
  • War and violence are touted as manly pursuits and arts and humanities are for wimps
  • Poverty is considered a moral failure of the individual and not a moral failure of the system
  • A person’s skin color determines his opportunities not what is inside the person
  • Business has a separate set of morals that if  an individual acted on that set they would imprisoned

I’m going to go on, but later when I have more inspiration.  In the mean time I am waiting for Capt. Picard to send the Enterprise around the sun 10 times at Warp 9 and see if it will reverse the converse.


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Ellis Paul

I do not know why I even bother to think or talk about “it” anymore.  The”it” being why folks like Ellis Paul never really make it big main stream, but someone like Brittany Spears is a “super” star.  Ellis Paul is certainly very well know in folk and singer/songwriter circles, but you say his name beyond that audience and you get a blank stare.

Robin and I went to see him the other night at a small venue in St. Louis, Off Broadway. Check it out, they get a lot of fairly well know acts through their doors. They have a bar, but the chairs are arranged facing the stage without tables.  It makes for an intimate listening experience.  This is especially true with folk singers and singer/songwriter types.

Anyway we took an Italian friend who listens almost exclusive to opera.  He was very impressed by Ellis Paul’s talent and vocal range.  As always his lyrics just blow you away if you listen at all. Continue reading “Ellis Paul”

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Only 6% of Scientists are Republicans

This article is drawing the conclusion that because most scientist are Democrats (or at least not Republicans) it draws into question the science behind some big issues today.

Climate change is the example given. Whether you believe that climate change is happening splits down party lines. Which makes me wonder about how much our politicians are really examining the issues, but that is another topic. The article wonders if science is pushing science or perhaps politics (and funding) is pushing science.

I have another question. Scientists on the whole are a very well educated group. They are trained to look at most things in a critical and factual manner. If you do not know the answer they are trained to search for it, or say we really do not know at this time.

Given the above, I find it very interesting that only 6% are Republicans. But that is just me!

Article at Slate.com
Most scientists in this country are Democrats. That’s a problem.