Category: Rev. Joe Dirt’s Ramblings

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

Posted on

Before you vote, write a letter to your grandkids…

I was listening to a Living on Earth podcast as I was doing yard work this afternoon.  On one segment they were interviewing the author of The Optimist’s Telescope, Bina Venkataraman.

She made a point that struck home with me.  We are a society much too focused on the short term.  We are builders of quonset huts and not of cathedrals. When people go to vote they are thinking of their own immediate issues, probably whatever issue or problem is most current.  Her suggestion was before you go to vote, write a letter to your grandchildren or even great grandchildren. Explain to them why you voted they way you did.  The whole point being to make yourself think more of the long term.

This harks back to a theme I have mentioned several times in this blog, usufruct. It is actually a legal term referring to (layman here) the right to enjoy and profit from real property as long as you do not alter or damage it.  For me, this invokes the concept of stewardship.  We were handed this earth by the stewards that came before us, our ancestors.  We have an obligation to be stewards for the generations that are coming after us.

Write that damn letter to your grandkids.

Here is a link to that Interview with Venkataraman.

Posted on

Zombie Apocalypse and Silver Linings

In my somewhat long and very circuitous life I have lived through several natural disasters, economic, spiritual and emotional crises. The current one of COVID-19 feels different on so many levels.   With natural disasters and to some extent with economic crises there is something physical to grasp onto, something to see.  Especially with natural crises, there is often something physical you can do.  Our physicality in this crisis is limited to sheltering in place. With a natural disaster you generally have a timeline.  You have an expectation Continue reading “Zombie Apocalypse and Silver Linings”

Posted on

Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #9,683

yeah I know you did not ask!

Okay… Drum roll please. We have a guest randomizer  from the greater Chicago area.  And now without further ado…

First of all;  I saw the price of gas was $1.499/ gal a couple of days ago. I filled up on March 11th when the price up here was $2.099. My car is still in the driveway with a full tank of gas, I’ve been in self-quarantine working on my house for 3 months, and I have no need to go fill up on the cheapest gas in 20 years. We all know the price will escalate soon, about the time I start driving again. That’s just rude.

Second of all: I saw the news yesterday that over 3.2 million people filed for unemployment last week. Of course our Sec of the Treasury doesn’t think it matters, but the “Markets” shot up over 1,300. It was the cap to the biggest 3 day rally since 1931. I vaguely remember this happening before so it begs the question; Why is it that when unemployment rises, so do the “Markets”?

Posted on

Exponential Threat and other short videos…


Continue reading “Exponential Threat and other short videos…”

Posted on

Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #4,230

yeah I know you did not ask!

Am I the only that finds it ironic that Republicans across the nation and in Washington, the PRO-LIFE party, are willing to sacrifice 1,000s of lives in their attempt to maintain the economic health of the US of A.

I suppose that most of those will be senior citizens makes it alright.  And these are the same folks that have been pushing the person-hood of unborn fetuses. A living, breathing person with a network of friends and families is expendable, and the other is not…until they are born.

The other irony in all this is that the religious right has embraced the Republican Party and Donald Trump with both arms and gone “all in” on their bet.  The Christianity I learned about was a religion of compassion and caring. That concepts seems to have gone missing from both Trump and the Religious Right.

Posted on

Open Letter to My Children and Grandchildren

Dear children, grandchildren and other assorted beings younger than I:

I am requesting that you start addressing me, in person, and in your correspondence (text??) as “Dear Disposable One“.

It will do two things.

First it will ease the transitional phase of my absence from this world of woes to whatever supposed metaphysical state exists thereafter.

Secondly, it will show your support of Donald J. Trump and the GOP as they “restart” the economy.  I am sure the $1000.00 or so you spend on my cremation will be a big help, especially after a long and costly hospitalization paid for with your tax dollars.

Thanking you in advance for doing your part.

With much love,

The soon to be dearly departed.

Posted on

Heather Booth: The most influential women you never heard of…

Heather has been married to my wife’s cousin for over 40 years. I met Paul and Heather at a Booth family reunion a few years back. I will have to admit I was a little overwhelmed with all the new people I was meeting for the first time. I do remember how proud my wife was of her two cousins.

The film is only an hour long, but details the incredible life of activism of this driven woman. Perhaps someday we will have a society that respects and supports all of us. Until then we need people like Heather Booth to fight the Dark Side.

The film is available on two sites that I know of:

HEATHER BOOTH: CHANGING THE WORLD from Women Make Movies on Vimeo.

And if you are impatient like us and cannot wait more than 2 days for a package and have Amazon Prime it is available there too.

Watch it on Amazon Prime

Posted on

Story about my wife’s brother’s family and their struggles with the coronavirus

Here is a link to the story in the  STL Jewish Light:

St. Louis Jewish family grapples with coronavirus

TV News Story about the family

Obviously positive thoughts appreciated.

Amazingly this story has gone viral globally.  I was talking to a lady in Ecuador via Skype and she was telling me about this.  I explained to her it was my brother-in-laws’ family.  After the Skype call, I put the terms Weinhaus coronavirus into a Google search.  It is CRAZY.  Who knew a story in the STL Jewish Light newspaper would have such legs.