Author: Rev. Joe Dirt

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Sheer Hubris

The following video was passed on to me by one of my Spanish tutors who is Mexican and lives a little north of Mexico City in Querétaro. Apparently the United States is running this ad on Mexican television.  Having become skeptical of most things on da ‘Net, I did a search (on the da ‘Net) to see if it was real.  It is.  Kristi Noem’s TV Ad Calling to ‘Hunt’ Down Migrants Faces Ban

Besides the sheer hubris of this country running this ad in another country, my other thought was that if they have millions of dollars to run such ads why are they not spending those millions of dollars on US citizens??? My other question is, why are we arguing with our good neighbors, Mexico and Canada? It makes absolutely no sense anyway I dice it.  It is simplistic on my part, I am sure, but if you want to fight illegal immigration, one good way would be to help provide economic opportunities in their countries.  Most of these folks are just looking for work, for opportunities that are not currently available in their country. That too would be a better use of those millions of dollars.

But then on the other hand we have a similar situation here.  It is called Fox News which was started and probably still owned by a foreign national, Rupert Murdoch. I have never figured out if Fox News was one of the causes or a symptom of our current national malaise. Probably both.

And so it should not go.

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Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #9,192

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.

As I stumbled back to bed after yet another early morning visit to the bathroom, I glanced at the clock radio. It read 4:44 . “Well,” thought I, “three of a kind with two of those in the hole. It is time to press your bets.”

I wondered how many other folks were playing pre-dawn poker at that instant.

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50-Word Stories

Our friend, Jeanne Felfe, introduced me to the series of books of 50 word stories, micro-fiction.  She has one that was published in the 2024 edition.

Below is one story by Edward Di Gangi that especially talked to me:

It was the last time I would see her. She became one of a collection of women I had, without intention, strung together like a necklace of semi-precious stones and who, years later, I realized had loved me and that I had too carelessly discarded.

Perhaps why this piece of micro-fiction talked to me so was that I have, on more than one occasion, described exes as ghosts haunting my soul. This is especially true, as at least with a two or three of my former relationships, I do not feel like we worked out whatever karma it was we were trying to work out.  Long sigh, deep breath.

Link to the edition with Jeanne’s story: The 50-Word Stories of 2024: Microfiction for Lovers of Quick Reads (50 Give or Take)

Here is a link to Jeanne’s personal author page: Jeanne Felfe

And to her page on Amazon: Jeanne’s Amazon page

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Vanity Plate for the Day – HEYALL

Vanity Plate of the Day… not actually daily, but whenever I encounter one in the wild that I think worth sharing and there are not too many in sequence.  When I was commuting from my home to downtown St. Louis and back, I was spending anywhere from an hour and half to two hours daily in rush hour traffic. I used the exercise of deciphering vanity plates to help pass the time… plus sometimes they are very clever and worth sharing.

This one was on the back of a big, black SUV.  I did not catch the make or model.  Obviously a jammed up Hey Y’all.  I wish I had thought of it.

To see more Vanity Plates of the Day use this link: Vanity Plates of the Day

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Good Article: The world has a verdict on 100 days of Trump 2.0

From the article:

“But the lesson for Americans couldn’t be clearer, even at a moment when the domestic carnage inflicted by the Trump regime feels limitless and irreparable. To everyone else in the world, his first 100 days have been a flatulent self-own, and an unexpected boon for normie centrist politicians all over the democratic map who seemed, only months ago, to be facing Armageddon. Right-wing populists like Viktor Orbán and Marine Le Pen have begun to back away in embarrassment: Sorry, new phone. Donald who?”

Read the whole article here: The world has a verdict on 100 days of Trump 2.0: Wow, what a loser

No comments from me except that it is a good article worth the read.

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Arkansas vs. Arkansaw

As you probably know, Spanish is a phonetic language although it has its own peculiarities. For instance  the “H” is never pronounced, “B” and “V” for the most part sound the same, “Z” sounds like our “S” except in Spain where it has a more lispy sound, etc.

I bring this up as when I am visiting with folks in Latin America I sometimes will talk about Arkansas as I lived there for many years, and still visit there on occasion.  Spanish speakers always want to pronounce it as ar-KAN-sas,

Below you will find the rest of the story as Paul Harvey used to say:

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Quote of the Day – Pope Francis

A 3-fer today due his passing and the pertinence of the quotes to the current situation nationally and internationally.  The third one is especially apropos.

“When nature is viewed solely as a source of profit and gain, this has serious consequences for society.” ~~  Pope Francis

“The extreme right always reconstructs itself; it is the triumph of selfishness over communitarianism. … I am terrified of saviors of the nation without a political party history.”  ~~ Pope Francis

“Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting. To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others, or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor…” ~~ Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 2013

Anyone who is even an occasional reader of my absurd, obscure blog knows that I am no fan of religion.  However, wisdom is where you find it, and I truly believe Pope Francis was a good man trying to do the best he could given the hidebound hierarchy of the institution he led.   May he rest in peace.

To see more Quotes for Day, visit this link: Quotes for the Day

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Recognize this tune?

A cover/interpretation of one my favorite classic songs  from 1970… or any year for that matter. The way the voices of this group blend together reminds me of possibly my favorite group of all time, Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Enjoy Laredo singing El Boxeador.

If you enjoyed El Boxeador, try this one: LAREDO – El Último Guateque (1977). Even if you do not understand the words, it has a nice beat. The song title translates as The Final Party. I do wonder if the gentleman in the middle was going for a Frank Zappa look.

Currently, I am reading a novel in Spanish, Gatos Callejeros by Juan Fernández, set in the  period just after the death of the Spanish dictator, Franco. The chapter titles are songs that were popular in Spain during this period.  All of the book’s songs can be found on YouTube. It has been interesting delving into another culture from another time.

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I’ve fallen in love with a YouTuber

I’ve fallen in love with a YouTuber, specifically a German who uses the moniker of The Math Queen: Her YouTube channel 

It doesn’t hurt that she is easy on the eyes, but what I really love about her is watching her mind work.  Does not quite enter the realm of affecting my nitric oxide production, but close.

Above is a link to her YouTube channel, and below is one of her easier videos to get you started:

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Bumper Stickers from Etsy

A friend of mine fell down the Internet rabbit hole called Etsy.  He sent me the following:

Nothing is further from the teachings of Jesus Christ than the Republican Party. 

No one is an illegal on stolen land.

If illegal immigrants are “freeloaders” why is ICE always raiding work places?

No child wants to die for your second amendment rights.

If you are more concerned with making other peoples lives worse than making your own life better than you must be a Trump supporter.

Everybody has the right to be stupid. Republicans are abusing the privilege.

Disliking a fact does not make it fake news

We longer have a difference of political opinion, we have a difference in morality,

Try being informed instead of just opinionated.

Don’t like abortions? Ignore them like you do school shootings.

One day we will wake up to his obituary.

If only closed minds had closed mouths.

Imagine voting for a rapist then calling yourself a Christian.

Elect a clown, expect a circus.

https://www.etsy.com/market/annoy_a_republican_bumper_sticker?ref=pagination

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