Comments on: Dirty? Perhaps “Pointless” Would Be More Apropos

By: Rufus

Rufus — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:01:55 +0000

That’s a great story, pshaw! My great grandfather lived to be 98. Everyday he got on his knees and prayed. Every day he drank schnapps. And every day he sang. The only time he didn’t have a smile on his face was when he was praying. He worked as a gravedigger well into his 70’s. He earned his living digging graves for many folks younger than he. I wish I had known more Polish so I could have talked with him more.

Resquiat im pace, Dziadek!

By: Enbrethiliel

Enbrethiliel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:30 +0000

+JMJ+

That’s a great story, Pshaw! =)

By: pshaw!

pshaw! — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:06:01 +0000

My “dirty” job was working my way through college as a nurse’s aide on the graveyard (literally sometimes) shift, 7-11 pm. I cleaned more bed pans and mopped up more urine and vomit than I ever would have imagined. I learned many times over that these “old” people deserve and require dignity and respect, and yet they are young at heart.

One of my favorite memories is working New Year’s Eve. I was 19 years old. A call light came on right before midnight, and I answered it right away. You learned not to wait because you don’t know what the situation is: someone has either fallen and can’t get up or she needs a bed pan. Anyway, I go to the room of this 97-year-old woman who usually doesn’t speak or interact with anyone. But here she is smiling with two plastic cups filled with brown liquid. I had no idea what it was, and it burned like hell going down. I was blown away by this woman who still celebrated life and was looking forward to the future.

I decided then and there that when I reach my 90’s I’ll be pounding down shots on New Year’s Eve. You all are welcome to come. I’ll leave the call light on.

By: fritz8945

fritz8945 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:57:03 +0000

There is also a certain profit to be had from electronics dismantling. There are those who make a profit from “mining” the gold from switches and contacts, and the copper from the wiring and circuit boards.

By: Rufus

Rufus — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:14:50 +0000

Raoul,

I agree there is a very different perspective driving. I think all Americans should drive coast to coast, at least once. It’s a great nation! I also love flying over it. You see a lot from the air you don’t from the road, and vice versa. I hope to one day ride a bicycle across from east to west and kayak the length of the Mississippi.

By: Rufus

Rufus — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:50:42 +0000

This may tie-in to the article Outlaw recently posted about “aviators” flying remote, pilotless attack aircraft. First, I agree that some of the spouses were way out of line, and second, I agree with Outlaw that those “aviators” had it made compared with their comrades in the field, and, not that there is anything “natural” about piloting a helicopter or fighter aircraft, but just like a grown man sitting at a desk typing on a computer or pushing paper, there is something unnatural about fighting a war through a joystick and computer monitor and maybe that un-naturalness will lead to more problems.

When the vast majority of our society have not experienced real labor what will our society be like?

I’m not sure if this is related or not, but awhile ago I saw a TV show about places in the city where you could take your dog so it could “herd.” They interviewed owner after owner whose dogs were going insane in apartments or homes with small yards. The breeds were natural herding dogs. Then, the owners discovered this place where they could pay by the hour and their dogs could herd and their dogs behavior completely changed at home. Herding dogs aren’t meant to live in apartments. They can, but it does things to them psychologically. Bad things. Aren’t there examples of troubled, urban teens being taken to ranches for forced labor and doing well?

“It’s no good for man to work in cages
Hits the town, he drinks his wages.”

By: Raoul Ortega

Raoul Ortega — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:42:30 +0000

Flying over is the problem. You just don’t get a sense of how big and empty parts of this country are until you do it at about 80mph. Flying means you start in a city, get on a metal tube for a few hours, then go into a different city.

A few weeks ago I drove several times between Salt Lake and Denver. Anyone who thinks we are running out of landfill needs to visit US 6 north of Green River, or I-80 anywhere between Evanston and Laramie. Turning those areas to landfill would improve their esthetics greatly.

And I think the only reason Nebraska exists is to keep Iowa and Wyoming apart, and add 8 hours to any drive from east to west.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:33:32 +0000

My Dad had more fun and felt more positive about life when he had a Gill net in his hands and was hauling Buffalo (yes that is a fish), Carp and or hauling out Mudcat and Car Fish up on Set Lines. Or running his trap line. When he went to management he became a herder of Squirrels. Politics replaced creativity.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:31:17 +0000

He accepted my friend request on facebook. I feel so happy now. I love Mike Rowe.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:47:03 +0000

I just love Mike Rowe…growr……….hottie. Hey Wanks Mike Rowe deserves a hubba hubba post.