The following continues the serialization of Chapter 5 on Religion from SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity:
Most religions feature miracles, especially the Christian ones. In fact,
C.S. Lewis has been quoted to say that without miracles there cannot be Christianity. What is a miracle? Merriam and Webster say, “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” In many, some scientific law of nature is seemingly being violated, and, therefore, if this “something” actually happened, we should be able to explain why. The incident is a lot more difficult to resolve if it happened two millennia ago.
If an individual with cancer of the liver is given three months to live, but completely recovers, is that a miracle? No doubt yes for a very religious person who knows that his family and friends prayed a lot for his recovery. However, any body, now and then, can cure itself. In my definition, this was not a miracle. Some people are luckier than or genetically superior to others.
Just to gauge some reaction as to how many get this far in this book, I have a miracle to suggest. About a year and a half ago, I bought a Schick Quattro razor (Amazon.com apparently sells almost anything, for I just noticed the one I have is available on that site--this one comes with four cartridges, but, you might never need to use three of them) and wanted to find out how long one razor set would last. A year went by, and my somewhat crudded up system still worked. So, to substantiate the first test, eight months ago, I went out and purchased a Schick Quattro Titanium package, where, if you tried to look behind the razor, you would have sworn that a full complement of 6 new blade-sets would have come as part of the $14 cost. It turns out that only one extra was included, with five blank spaces, but that is marketing for you. However, that was inconsequential, for, while the blue Teflon sheet has peeled off, the razor still worked. I have yet to use the replacement blades. Same as the first trial.
I got intrigued and went to Google. The consensus is that Schick Quattro works for about a month before you need to change the blades. But, they most probably gave up because their eyes told them it was about time to put in a new one. Or, by force of habit.
Gillette, controlling 70% of the market, was purchased by Proctor and Gamble for $54 billion in 2005, sued Schick, which itself was bought by Energizer (the Bunny) Holdings for $930 million in 2003, for this four-bladed product. Counter suits never went anywhere, but these two companies have been squabbling for about a century now on the $1.7 billion/year shaving counter. They also compete on the $2.5 billion/year battery market (Energizer versus Duracell).
Anyway, what I’m getting to is that it appears that these razors seem to work forever. That is a miracle! I have a traveling razor with two blades. I think it came from a hotel in Japan with no brand name. After a year of meandering, and considerable usage, the system still works. What is going on? What would happen if everyone suddenly realizes that they don’t need to regularly change blades and, thus, stops buying replacements? Will a Gillette share still be worth $54 (that merger means your share would today be worth about $60)? Now that would be another miracle. I can already imagine, though, some manufactured obsolescence entering the picture. Too bad!
Then, the week I was about to submit this manuscript to my publisher, late at night, I happen to see an infomercial ad for Infinity Razor, “the last razor you will ever buy.” For $19.95 you get two razors with double-edges and a fogless mirror, although other ads are known to only ask for $9.95. (
But now, Amazon.com has a selling price of $4.99.) I checked with infomercialratings.com and infomercialscams.com and saw mostly angry responses on how terrible the product was. Funny, but the first time I used my Schick, I had the same reaction. The shave was so bad that I was set to ditch the razor, but, then, I changed the angle of movement, and I’ve now been using the same two for almost two years.
Much of the online comments are actually generated by plants (on both sides), but, honest, I'm approaching this from just being a standard consumer, and I have not bought any razor product for two years now.
It sounds looney, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but a
true miracle is that urban legend: a bar of soap between the bedsheets will prevent leg cramps. There is something about getting older and lying horizontal. My wife and I, now and then, no, make it frequently, used to suffer from painful cramps. That bar was placed a few months ago, and, amazingly, no leg cramps. Place the unwrapped soap in a cloth bag under the bottom sheet at the bottom of your bed. For some reason, Dove and Dial, apparently, don't work. Ann Landers a long time ago mentioned this solution, and so do some doctors. What is the explanation? No one knows. There is no scientific proof. But it works. It’s a puzzlement, or
miracle. Maybe there is a God. Hopefully, this crack in rationality will lead me to an afterlife.
The University of Hawaii football team experienced a miracle in 2007. For the first time in history, it went undefeated, and was the only major one to do this that year. There are even religious implications, for the front page of the December 24 issue of
The Honolulu Advertiser article written by Michael Tsai was entitled “Their Spirit Carries Them,” extending through much of page two. From Coach June Jones to leaders of the team, terms like salvation, glory, savior and believe permeated the story and season. Well, they were trounced in the 2008 Sugar Bowl by Georgia, but many miracles do come to an end, for Coach Jones left for SMU and the entire state went into depression. But then, a hopeful miracle II: new Coach Greg MacMackin, who has yet to deliver.
About the book above, I just played at one of those charity golf tournaments, where prizes were given for just about anything. There was a bunch of Hawaii Warrior Football books provided as awards. These were treated as booby prizes, for the participants wanted golf drivers, TV sets and trips to Las Vegas. Anyone who won one those books became a laughing stock.
Why did I bother to write about shaving, soap and football? First, I just thought those were interesting stories worthy of sharing, not to be sacrilegious, but to see if I can get any reaction to this book. Again, don’t sue me if the two suggestions don’t work for you. These are not like doctors recommending the fentanyl pain patch, which has reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths. I’m merely transferring non-lethal personal advice that approaches miracle status.
In the EPILOGUE, ABC broadcaster Al Michaels is quoted to have asked, “Do you believe in miracles?” He responded himself, “yes!” That was the 1980 Winter Olympics hockey victory of the USA over the Soviet Union. The later discussion goes on to suggest that this triumph could well have been the one most important contribution to ending the Cold War and possible thermonuclear annihilation. But was God responsible for this miracle? No, but perhaps one mortal doing the right thing at the right time.
Next, biblical miracles. With scientific analyses.
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After a promising start, the Dow Jones Industrials plunged during the last two hours, and ended minus 69 at 9974, a 200 point drop from the daily high. All other world markets, however, went up today, especially Europe. The cause of this reversal was that the $1.21 to the Euro price was at close to a four year low. I guess this is a good time to visit Europe. A $300 hotel room in 2008 should now cost you $240, everything else being equal. Gold went up $7/toz to $1211 and crude oil rose above $70/barrel.
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