Archives for January 2005

Yes, it is true, I am stuck in a funk. I don’t know how I fell into this funk. I am not even sure that I could describe the funk for you. If the police asked for a description I would tell them that it was a hazy shade of winter because I haven’t the foggiest idea how else to put it.

This happens to Old Jack sometimes, I get taken by these funks the way aliens take farmers out of Cleveland. Sometimes they last a spell and sometimes they last less than a spell. Don’t ask me how long a spell is because I can’t tell you with any certainty, any more than I can describe said funk.

And if I tell you that something smells funky don’t ask what it smells like because I am not sure how to describe that. It is kind of a burnt Hampshireish road type thing.

All I have to say now is bleah.

I just finished speaking with a woman in my office about Valentine’s Day. She wanted to know my position on it. Here it is: it is a fake holiday created by Hallmark and other greeting card manufacturers that is guaranteed to cause fights, ill will and will inevitably lead to a break up and or encourage suicide.

As such it should be banished from the lexicon, doomed to spend eternity as some forgotten holiday that is not of use to anyone, anymore.

Check her out. She is sweet like molasses, but not quite as slow. 😉

Stacey’s Shmata

Still trying to figure her fascination with the simian folk.

A short while ago I was virtually hanging out with the Shmata Queen. We engaged in a discussion regarding the latest post over at Treppenwitz which discussed the irresponsible behavior of parents who do not use car seats for their babies and the issues surrounding it one of which is the question of faith in G-d.

Dave made a comment about this that resonated with me when he said:

“What I was trying to say is that we can’t place all responsibility for our safety in His hands… we have to take prudent measures to safeguard ourselves and our children.”

This is an issue that has always bothered me. It is one thing to say that you are going to trust G-d to provide for you and it is another to engage in activities that force the issue.

I have a hard time believing that people can be so stupid. The G-d that I believe in is one that believes in being proactive. That means that you can and should take steps to protect yourselves and your families. You work so that you can provide, shelter, clothing, food, healthcare to protect your family. You don’t jump in front of a bus and hope that a mighty hand stops the bus or shields you from harm.

When you do not take the proper measures to protect yourself and your family you are not being noble, you are being selfish. You are trusting society to take care of you. You can try and call this “care” acts of “divine providence” but the reality is that you are asking people to take on a burden that they should not have to.

It is one thing for an accident to happen when you are prepared. Things do happen, it is another when you have done nothing to protect yourself and allow things to happen to you. Be accountable for your actions and be responsible.