Author: Rev. Joe Dirt

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A Sane Suggestion for Afghanistan

This has got to be one of the sanest commentaries I have ever read on the subject of our involvement in Afghanistan.

“Aid can be done anywhere, including where Taliban are,” Mr. Mortenson said. “But it’s imperative the elders are consulted, and that the development staff is all local, with no foreigners.”

Put yourself in their shoes.  Would you want some outsider telling you how to run your town?

“Mr. Mortenson says that $243 million is needed to fund all higher education in Afghanistan this year. He suggests that America hold a press conference here in Kabul and put just 243 of our 100,000 soldiers (each costing $1 million per year) on planes home. Then the U.S. could take the savings and hand over a check to pay for Afghanistan’s universities.”

Sounds like it would be money well spent to me.

Nicholas Kristof’s article in the New York Times can be found at the following link.

Dr. Greg and Afghanistan

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Rev. Joe Goes to The Big House.

My folks would never have been in the running for the Ward and June Cleaver Parenting Award.  The reason they had children, let alone 5, is unclear to me.  It seemed then and seems now that they felt as long as we were fed, clothed, and a roof was over our head they had fulfilled their parental duties.  They were more involved with the youngest two.

For reasons I will not go into here, I was estranged from my father since I was 13. What few interactions we had were never pleasant, and occasionally they were violent.   Continue reading “Rev. Joe Goes to The Big House.”

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Step Away from the Counter

When I was in college I clerked in a liquor store for a while.  It was a great job for a student. On weekends we worked hard, but during the week the store was not busy and I was able to study hard.

I had a legal responsibility to not sell alcohol to people that were intoxicated.  Not only did I face criminal action, but as it was explained to me I could also face civil liabilities.  It is not always easy to tell if someone was over the limit.  It is almost always an argument when you refuse to sell to them, but I did do so a few times.  Continue reading “Step Away from the Counter”

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Why Do I Write?

Why do I write?

Good question!  I am fond of telling folks that my blog has a dedicated readership in the low single digits.  That enumeration includes me, my girlfriend’s sporadic browsings, and couple of other folks that on rare occasions pursue my ramblings. At one point I had a fantasy that some of my articles would spark other folks to comment and generate some discussions.  Like so many of my dreams and aspirations in this life that has never really materialized.  I am okay with that at this point.

I suppose I write with an audience in mind, Continue reading “Why Do I Write?”

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May be one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard

Hallelujah – May be one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard.

While I have attended the occasional opera over my 5 decades, it is generally not my preferred entertainment.   I do love classical music though.  On one station I stream they played the Hallelujah track from this CD.  I had not heard of Renée Fleming (yes I know shameful) before, but I was an instant fan.  I ordered the CD within minutes.

As a programmer I spend a lot time in front of a computer.  During coding sessions I generally have headphones on listening to music.  Continue reading “May be one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard”

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Renée Fleming, Hallelujah

While I do enjoy the occasional opera, I am not a big fan of opera.  Outside of my girlfriend’s friend, Frances Ginsberg, I cannot name very many opera stars.

I do love classical music though, and listen to classical music stations frequently.    On one of these stations I discovered Renée Fleming.  She has been called America’s Soprano or The People’s Diva.   This station played Hallelujah from the pop album of indie rock songs that she has recently released, Dark Hope.   I bought the CD based one that one song.  The whole album is wonderful, but Hallelujah goes to a whole different plane. I have listened to it multiple times, and I alternate between having the hair on my neck stand up and wanting to tear up.  It is an absolutely wonderful piece of music, performed by a marvelous talent.

Below is from a BBC show and has Renée Fleming singing an abbreviated version of the song.  On the CD it runs a very, very short 7:39.  This version is enough to give you a taste though.  Absolutely marvelous…if I were in the audience I would be on my feet screaming bravo between the tears.

Plus she is just so damn beautiful it hurts.

Another wonderful Renee Fleming video can be found at Renée Fleming sings Amazing Grace at WTC

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“Hello…Hello…”

I was in line at Walgreens.  In the other line were a mother and her son who appeared to be around 5.  I first noticed them because the boy was yammering and his words were not quite making sense.  They were Asian, and I thought at first he must be speaking a western rim language.  As I listened closer the English came into focus.   I did have the impression that English was not the mother’s native language.

The boy was lobbying for some candy or toy.  One can only assume that marketers do not have children or are sadists.  Why else would they place such things at eye level of children?  It is Pavlovian destiny that the child will begin to try and close the sale when they see such things.

The mother had indicated several times that she was not going to purchase whatever item the son wanted.  At this point she was ignoring him and I had pretty much done the same to them.  My attention was suddenly jerked back to them by the youngster saying in a loud, obnoxious voice, “Hello…Hello…”

I decided right then I would have probably gone to jail as I would have backhanded the kid across the store.

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Test your religious knowledge redux

The wonderful editorialist, Nicholas D. Kristoff, wrote an editorial that encompasses an eye opening religious test.   His article was in response to the Pew Foundation’s test of religious knowledge.   See my posting Test Your Religious Knowledge

Mr. Kristoff’s editorial:

Test Your Savvy on Religion

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I see you smoke…

One story I have shared with many folks over the years is about my Aunt Peggy. She had some cards, may still have some for all I know, that she carried in her wallet.

Upon the cards were the words, “I see you smoke, well I chew. If you do not blow smoke on me, I will not spit on you.”

I never saw her hand it to anyone, but I am betting that she did from time to time. It was certainly a nice, humorous way to get your point across.

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Young Man vs. Old Man

What is the difference between a gray hair interacting with a woman and a young flat belly?

Young man says:  You’re a goose.  You woke up in a new world every day.
Old man says:  I love your sense of amazement.

Young man says:  You’re an f**** idiot!
Old man says:  I had not thought of that, may I consider it while?

Young man says:  You’re a know-it-all.
Old man says:  You are so knowledgeable, dear.