Born in China, Die in Syria — And the Hell with You

I bought the Western Digital My Book external hard drive about ten months ago, to make automatic backups on my Mac. I just wanted the little blighter to sit there, and record backups every four hours or so. That’s not a tour de force in today’s computer world. Earlier this week it gave up the ghost. The disk is still spinning, but it’s no longer talking to the computer. I tried everything an owner could do, but no luck. Fortunately, my Amazon sales document said it was under warranty, so I navigated the Western Digital website from hell, establishing an account, finding out that I already had an account, going back and retrieving my long lost password, learning the model number by applying a magnifying glass to the microprinted codes on the product cabinet, and eventually coming to a mutual agreement with the manufacturer as to the date of manufacture, and the fact that the drive was in fact still under warranty.

I had already established all this on my own on the website, but now it was official. I was entitled to get a replacement — but not so fast. I was now in communication with a real human, Richard. Before proceeding further, I was to attempt a few self-care items. Try using Apple Disk First Aid (tough to do if you can’t mount the disk). Now download the special Western Digital troubleshooting software to attempt repair. Also, replace the power supply and USB cord with a high quality, factory USB cord.

That hissing sound Rose heard from the other room was me, lifting safeties.

I stopped to consider for about ten seconds; I unplugged and re-plugged the power cord. I could hear the thing still spinning, but nothing more. I walked into the other room and found another, identical USB cord. Plugging it in, I detected no difference. My safeties stopped lifting as the steam pressure in my head went down.

I sat down at my computer and answered the email to Richard: “Let me get this straight,” I wrote, “before replacing the unit under warranty, you want me to purchase from you a new power supply, and a new USB cable, all at your premium price, just to test, in order to see if the drive, which is obviously spinning, might have a power problem. Is that correct?”

Before I spent my own money acting like a trained monkey for those guys, I’d simply take this disk drive to the dump, and buy a different brand. Buying a new power supply and cable would get me into them for almost a third the cost of a new drive. It's a bit like building a new car from the parts department — not recommended.

I need not have worried. I was busy all the next day, but by the time I got around to reading my email in the evening, Richard had answered. He wanted my address and phone number so he could replace my sick drive with a new one. One small victory for common sense.

BUILDING MEN OF CHARACTER

The following is a column by my wife, Rabbi Rose Lyn Jacob, in this week's Culpeper Star-Exponent:

It takes love and courage to build a boy into a man. It takes a lot of perseverance, guidance and mutual respect to build that boy into a man of character. I’ve been dwelling on this since listening to an interview with author Anna Malaika Tubbs on her new book, “The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.”

The book acknowledges that, while we know a great deal about these three men and their legacies, we know almost nothing about their mothers; it is as if these women who were, in each case, an integral part of shaping her son’s life; Alberta Williams King, Berdis Baldwin and Louise Little, were erased from history. Her description of Alberta Williams King is that of a college-educated woman with a teaching certificate, who lead the choir, played the church organ and served as a proud member of the NAACP. She was an outstanding role model; active in several organizations that focused on social justice and passed on a commitment to social justice to Martin as part of her Christian faith.

She was extremely close to Martin, and he was known to say that he had “the best mother in the world.” She took her passion and talent, and translated those into her mothering, which Martin shared with the world. Although few today know it, Alberta was also assassinated, shot in the head at age 69, while playing the organ at Ebenezer Baptist Church, six years after MLK, only yards away from the graveyard where her son was buried.

It is 2023, and we have grown wearily accustomed to reports of viscous and unrestrained acts of war, terror and bloodshed. Yet we are struck repeatedly by acts of crime and savagery perpetuated by young men, regardless of color or ethnicity, or nationality. We ask, “How is it possible for young men to take lives so recklessly, brutally and callously?” We also wonder how they can walk into a subway, or a classroom, or a Walmart and just open fire?

We’ve grown immune to unethical behavior, lying, or cheating in business and politics perpetrated by young men who have no compunction about embezzling, cheating, or misappropriating funds of those who can least afford the losses, and defrauding the elderly who have no time or means to recoup their life savings. Our magazines and social media are rife with stories of poor behavior, often by men of privilege, or fame, who behave badly, but with no remorse.

This is America. So how can we, going forward, bolster for this and future generations of young men the idea of a free society of justice and compassion that respects the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human individual? Once upon a time, these values were conveyed in Sunday school lessons, or, if you were fortunate by role models in your life. These methods are rarer and rarer, and bad behavior is flaunted in the multiverse. As parents, grandparents or special people in their lives, we only have a few years to lay the foundations of good character in our sons. Some of these values and behaviors can be taught and reinforced starting at about age three, others by age five, and they all can pretty much get it down pat by age seven, with constant reminders and boosters for the next ten to fifteen years. No list of virtues can ever replace good role modeling. “Do as I say, not as I do” has never been a good strategy for building and toughening up moral behavior! Take a look at some of these ideas, and imagine when and how they might bolster your son’s self-worth, and confidence, and put him on a sure footing when life throws a curve ball his way, and send him in the right direction once he fledges from the nest.

Always give a firm hand shake and look ‘em in the eye.

When it comes to women of any age, CHIVALRY IS NOT DEAD! Treat all women with respect and courtesy. Hold the door open even if it isn’t necessarily the fashion.

Work hard. Give it your best, whether working for yourself or someone else! Whether it is academics or sports or working as a barista at Starbucks. The discipline and value of what you learn will last a lifetime. It’s called “hard work” because it is HARD!

According to Mahatma Gandhi, “The simplest acts of kindness are far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” Combat the tendency toward selfishness by modeling generosity. Teach him that helping and giving can make him feel good!

Starting in the sandbox, teach him how to play fair, be humble when winning and graceful in defeat, and never use performance enhancing drugs.

Try to think of the consequences of your actions before you end up in the hospital or jail. Only act after careful consideration, and if things go wrong, accept responsibility and try to set things right. And please, don’t blame others for your mistakes!

Consequences can be much worse than you might imagine. Especially if what you do is amazingly stupid.

Parents, please only occasionally use this phrase ,“What Were You Thinking?” You will only get a blank stare from which you can imply that he wasn’t. The male brain doesn’t mature until the mid 20’s, which means there will be too many opportunities to question their thought process.

Remember to hug and kiss when he is little. Say “good job, good job” when he deserves it. Don’t give praise for just showing up!!!!!

Wishing you all a good week. Be careful at your Super Bowl party and remember not to be caught double-dipping into the seven-layer dip! It will set a bad example for your son!