Category: Rev. Joe Dirt’s Ramblings

The unsolicited, unreasoned, uninformed, unapologetic opinions of Rev. Joe Dirt

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How different are dog fighting and football

A recent article in The New Yorker, Offensive Play How different are dog fighting and football? By Malcolm Gladwell, explores the effect of extreme contact sports like football and boxing on the human brain.

For an American male, I’m a bit of an anomaly.  I do not really follow sports, except professional golf mildly.  There are several reasons for this.
 
One would be that for me personally sports are more for the doing rather than the watching.  I engage in several at a fairly incompetent level, but I enjoy them nevertheless.
 
Secondly, a while back, I just got bored with them.  Continue reading “How different are dog fighting and football”

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Objective should be to make the U.S. self-sufficient in marijuana

marijuana-leafHere is the link to the article in the Wall Street Journal Saving Mexico

I’m not a big fan of drugs.  I’ve seen them ruin too many lives.  I’m also not a big fan of keeping drugs illegal.  That is also wrecking too many lives.  Add to that the amount of energy and resources being wasted enforcing the  criminalization  and it equals crazy.  The energy/resources could be better used elsewhere.  

We tried alcohol prohibition and that did not work. It created vast criminal enterprises.  It is the same with drugs.  I appreciate that there is a moral argument here.  Continue reading “Objective should be to make the U.S. self-sufficient in marijuana”

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The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam by Yahiya Emerick available at Amazon.com

ig_islamI read this book for two reasons. First, I’ve appointed myself the task of learning about the various world religions. Secondly, I have an Arabic friend (stay away Homeland Security) who is Muslim, and I wanted to understand where he was coming from a little better.

I wanted to give this book 3 and half stars, but that is not an option. I gave it four because the author fulfilled his primary mission of teaching the reader the basics of Islam. He also threw in a brief history Islam and Arabs that was interesting. When they talk about Sunnis and Shiites on the news, now I understand the difference. Continue reading “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam”

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A Question of Etiquette

Let me see if I can set the situation for you.   Relatives of mine were making a trip, and they needed a place to stay overnight.  My girlfriend has a large home and was more than willing to accommodate their request. 

My girlfriend is Jewish, but is definitely secular.  Her spiritual beliefs tend to be more towards Continue reading “A Question of Etiquette”

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Eating Animals – Jonathan Safran Foer

Eating Animals – Jonathan Safran Foer available at Amazon.com

eatinganimalsThis is an easy book to read. This is a hard book to read. It is easy in that it is well written, not overly dense, and well researched. It is hard in that if you have not thought about this issue or have and attempted to compartmentalize it away, some of scenes and practices depicted will not sit easy.

I love a good steak and usually like it grilled “medium moo”. Sometimes I just have to get my KFC on. And, boy howdy, do I my like bar-b-queue.

But then I think back to another life time when I was Continue reading “Eating Animals – Jonathan Safran Foer”

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Outside my window on a rainy day

Heard outside my apartment window on a rainy day.

There was the patter of little feet running.

Then a woman’s voice commanding loudly, “Stop, don’t do that.”

This was followed very quickly by the sounds of splashing and a little girl’s voice softly saying, “Ooops.”

Nearly simultaneously following was the woman’s voice even louder, ”OoooooooAGGGGGHHHHH…Damn!”

Next the little girl’s voice saying meekly, “Now what?”

Now the woman’s voice with a frustrated tone, “We have to change your shoes and pants. We need to leave in 10 minutes.”

Finally, the little girl’s voice asking/saying brightly, “It’ll be alright?”

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Best Deal Auto Repair

Best Deal Auto Repair
5260 Elmore Road
Memphis, TN  38134

Dear Gerald,

I have used your services twice now.  I want to tell that I have been well pleased both times, especially so the last time.

As you know, a young woman with less than optimal driving skills damaged the front right portion of my 97 Ford F150 pickup.  Besides the obvious cosmetic damage there was extensive damage to the suspension.  Compounding the damage was the insurance carrier that this woman utilized.  Let us just say, that their business practices were less than optimal and in my opinion, borderline unethical.  Continue reading “Best Deal Auto Repair”

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Love Means

 Rev. Joe, would you put this on your site somewhere?

“To love means not imposing our own powers on your fellow man but to offer him your help.  And if he refuses it , to be proud that he can do it on his own strength.

To love means to live without fear and anxieties about tomorrow.
 
To love means never to be afraid of the windstorms of life: Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never so the true beauty of their carvings.

Expose yourself to these windstorms, so that at the end of your days, you will be proud to look in the mirror and see the carvings in your own canyon. ”

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and Robin W

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Stewed Dog, Wedding Style

A traditional Filipino recipe.

First, kill a medium-sized dog, then burn off the fur over a hot fire. Carefully remove the skin while still warm and set aside for later (may be used in other recipes). Cut meat into 1” cubes. Marinate meat in mixture of vinegar, peppercorn, salt and garlic for 2 hours. Fry meat in oil using a large wok over an open fire, and then add onions and chopped pineapple and sauté until tender. Pour in tomato sauce and boiling water, add green pepper, bay leaf, and Tabasco. Cover and simmer over warm coals until meat is tender. Blend in purée of dog’s liver and cook for additional 5 – 7 minutes.

From the book Eating Animals by Safran Foer