Author: Rev. Joe Dirt

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Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #6,573

yeah I know you did not ask!

You should so be blessed – well cursed at times actually – with a mind such as mine, making all these weird connections between my rumored neurons. Just be thankful that I do not share all of my random thoughts.

 

El cascarrabias

I wish I could draw.  If I could I would create a cartoon and label it: The Typical American.

It would feature a grossly obese person of whatever sex, one whose gender was  indeterminante might even be more to the point. Our typical American would be sporting shorts, regardless of the season, that were much too big, a screen printed t-shirt pushing a political opinion, religion, vacation destination or sports team, the ubiquitous sneakers or flip-flops, and a baseball cap, more than likely worn backwards. They would be in a mega warehouse store, like Sam’s or Costco, pushing the oversized shopping cart mandatory at these venues.  The cart would be filled to overflowing with soft drinks and junk food. And, of course, teetering on top of all, there would be a brobdingnagian bail containing a two year supply of toilet paper.

Yup, I was recently in one of these stores. Yup, guess what I saw.

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It’s Not That Hard Folks | Golden Rule

I came across this cartoon this morning.

Which reminded me of a story I had read about Rabbi Hillel…

The Talmud is the second most important book of the Jewish faith. As described at the website Sefaria.org:

“The Talmud is the textual record of generations of rabbinic debate about law, philosophy, and biblical interpretation, compiled between the 3rd and 8th centuries and structured as commentary on the Mishnah with stories interwoven. The Talmud exists in two versions: the more commonly studied Babylonian Talmud was compiled in present-day Iraq, while the Jerusalem Talmud was compiled in Israel.”

There is a story attributed to two second century rabbinic scholars of this book , Hillel and Shammai. As recounted at the website Forward:

“[They were]…contemporaries paired together by Jewish tradition as archetypical opposites: Hillel the tolerant and liberal ‘loose constructionist’ of the Law, Shammai the exacting and inflexible ‘strict constructionist.’

In one story about them, a gentile comes to both and asks, with the obvious intention of provoking them, to be taught the whole Torah while standing on one leg. Shammai is indeed provoked and gives the man an angry whack with a measuring rod. Hillel replies, ‘That which is hateful to you, do not unto another: This is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary — [and now] go study.’“

How hard can this be people? Apparently too damn hard.


To see the Golden Rule as expressed by many other religions follow this link: The Universality of the Golden Rule in the World Religions

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Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #323

yeah I know you did not ask!

You should so be blessed – well cursed at times actually – with a mind such as mine, making all these weird connections between my rumored neurons. Just be thankful that I do not share all my random thoughts.

Indubitably, you are aware of the old saw, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”  Contemplating the recent drama in my abode, Matrimonial Log – Star Date 5784.304, I decided that we have had this prosaism  wrong all these long centuries.  I am thinking a more accurate platitude might have been, “An onion a day keeps the doctor away.”

Bear with me, here is my reasoning.  If you were to eat an onion everyday, then the likelihood of the majority of folks being close to you diminishes rapidly.  You would thus keep the opportunity for them to transmit any number of human illnesses to you at a very low percentage.  Thusly preserving yourself in a healthy state.  Ergo, the doctor would be a stranger. Without a doubt, a proof my logic professor would be proud of.

Just to be on the safe side, if you were to throw a couple cloves of garlic into the mix, then vampires would be out of the picture, while also eliminating those final few hardy souls not put off by your force field of onion infused belches.

Just saying.

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Matrimonial Log – Star Date 5784.304

“Matrimony… the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Casamiento Segundo, its until-death-do-us-part mission… to explore a strange new relationship… to seek out a new life and new adventures… to boldly go where no sane couple has gone before.”

This is an ongoing problem in what would otherwise be – I am sure – a blissful bout of matrimonial fever.

Señora and I ran some errands this morning, returning home just about at noon, both of us were hungry. She opted for her favorite standby, a bowl of her home-made soup.  I had an urge for one of my favorite sandwiches that I only eat rarely for reasons I am sure you can fathom, sardines and onions on toasted bread with a brush of mayonnaise on one piece of the toast.

Now Señora is pontificating from her soap box, declaring she will not kiss me for the next several hours. It probably did not help my cause that I ate the rest of the sweet onion like it was an apple.

Ahh… the romance has fled from our once rapturous relationship.

And so it goes.

And yes JMR, this was a bit of a recycle.  I just find it humorous the way she reacts to my consuming this delicacy.

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Paradise Now | Revisited

I originally posted an article on Paradise Now, the 2005 Golden Globe Winner – Best Foreign Film, in 2009. With the conflict between the Israelis and Hamas, it might be time to revisit the movie. It allows you to consider the world from a point of view that is not often taken into account in the West, the Palestinian.

Disclaimer: One should not be necessary, tis not the world we live in, though.  I have written a few sharply clever – IMHO – satirical pieces that a small number of folks took way too seriously. This led to a  smattering of vile comments as they did not appreciate my finely honed sense of ironic humor. While I approve most comments, a few went across the line.

This article deals with a movie that tells the story of two  young men from the West Bank recruited to become suicide bombers.  I am in no way condoning terrorism or violence of any sort.  There is never a valid reason for it, although many groups and individuals will jump through intellectual hoops to do so.  The movie explores why someone would be so radicalized as to commit such an action.  It is something that we need  to think about, what pushes people  over this horrendous edge that they become terrorists.

I don’t quite remember why this Continue reading “Paradise Now | Revisited”

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Can We Talk About Israel? by Daniel Sokatch

Why I Read This Book

This book, Can We Talk About Israel?, is subtitled, A Guide for the Curious, Confused and Conflicted, which is a good summary of most folks position and feelings about Israel.  We received two copies of this book as part of the pre-tour preparation of our now cancelled two week visit to Israel with side trips to Jordan and Egypt. What is it they say?  Timing is everything.  Also as part of that preparation Señora and I watched two Wondrium courses that I can whole-heartedly recommend:

    • The World of Biblical Israel taught by a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Cynthia R. Chapman, Th.D. Using the Bible as a framework Chapman ties in historical and archeological records to support its narrative.  She also points out when they do not support the Biblical story.  She also ties together the varied religious influences, including non-Abrahamic religions, that influenced those who wrote the Bible. I learned a great deal about the Babylonian exile of the Jews, a subject of which I had only sketchy knowledge.
    • The Holy Land Revealed taught by Jodi Magness, Ph.D. Using mainly the Bible and the works of the Roman historian Josephus as source materials,  Magness explores various archeological sites around the Holy Land and their significance to the Biblical narrative.

Not a Book Review

This is not so much a review of this recently published book, but more of a recommendation of something to read if you are indeed curious, confused or conflicted about Israel. Sokatch has a very accessible Continue reading “Can We Talk About Israel? by Daniel Sokatch”

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Curmudgeon Certificates | Now Purchase by Credit Card

You can now purchase Curmudgeon Certificates using your credit/debit card.  Quick run and shout it from the mountain top.  Stop the presses, we have a new lead story. Tell everyone you know. Scribble it on the job johnny walls.

Can there be a more perfect gift for your favorite curmudgeon for Christmas, for their birthday, for… well, just any occasional what so ever?

While every true curmudgeon is self-aware enough to know they are a curmudgeon, having official validation via a gold embossed, letter size, suitable for framing piece of card stock, is just icing on the cake.  Who knows, it might even elicit a smile.

Check it out @ Curmudgeon Certificates

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Cousin Perry Nailed Señora

My cousin Perry, whom we sometimes insult by calling him the sixth Rush boy, sent this to me with the comment “For Robin.”

Señora and I were on a camping trip a few years ago. I did not think my Tacoma was going to make it back home due to all the rocks she loaded on to it. Her many flower beds are bordered with rocks she has collected from various places, a couple of which are almost big enough to be classified as boulders.

Since I “borrowed” their cartoon for my blog, let me add a link to their online store: Luna’s Spiritual Shop

And so it goes.

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The Global Impact of Curmudgeon-Alley

The Global Impact of Curmudgeon-Alley

Okay, please be so kind as to pick yourself off the floor from laughing so uproariously at the title of this posting: The Global Impact of Curmudgeon-Alley.  It is not seemly to make such a display of yourself.

What Does It Signify

The above is a global hit map of the various places a page of my blog has been opened.  I did not add this little app to my website until I had been blogging for a few years, so many hits from my “early period” are lacking.  I did find what it says Continue reading “The Global Impact of Curmudgeon-Alley”