DAILY DIRT: Not sure which was worse, no bathing or eating the rotted porcupine

You’re going to want to take a shower after reading today’s first item. I promise … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 532 of The Daily Dirt.

1. R.I.P., Uncle Haji. 

I had read about Iran’s Amou Haji years ago, but somehow had missed his passing last fall. “Amou Haji” is Iranian for “Uncle Haji,” who was a fellow who had earned the title as the “world’s dirtiest man,” right up to his death at age 94.

For decades — many decades — Haji had avoided fresh food and believed that “if he would clean himself, he would get sick.” Haji, covered in soot and living in a cinder-block shack, was reported by local media not to have bathed with water or soap in more than 60 years. Villagers said he had experienced “emotional setbacks in his youth” that led him to refuse to wash, according to theguardian.com

In 2014, the Tehran Times reported that Haji would regularly eat roadkill, including rotted porcupine, and smoke a pipe filled with animal excrement.

Haji was easily recognizable by his grime-covered skin and matted hair. He lived in isolation for most of his life in an open brick hut, which villagers made after he started sleeping in a hole in the ground.

2. This should pick up your spirits following the news of the death of Uncle Haji.

These were our five favorite “Found Om Facebook” items from the past week:

“Someone ripped the fifth month out of my calendar. I’m dismayed.”

“Did you hear what happened to the Italian chef? He pasta way.”

“Did you know a piece of pie was $2.50 in Jamaica and $3 in the Bahamas? Those are the pie rates of the Caribbean.”

“Optometrists live long because they dilate.”

“I saw an ad for a coffin and thought, ‘That’s the last thing I need.'”

3. This week’s celebrity birthdays to celebrate:

Former boxer and NASCAR team owner Floyd “Money” Mayweather will be 45 on Friday.

If alive today, former Beatle George Harrison would turn 80 on Saturday.

Entertainer Josh Groban will be 41 on Monday.

Country singer Jason Aldean turns 45 on Tuesday.

NBA star Luka Doncic will blow out 23 candles on Tuesday. (Luka’s one of my favorites to watch, but he’s is going to have to work on turning away from some of those Slovenian pastries.)

Steve Thought O’ The Day — For the record, I showered today in honor of Uncle Haji.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Dirty old men need love too.