Helene Wecker’s The Golem and the Jinni: A Book Review

Helene Wecker’s The Golem and the Jinni spins a captivating tale, one I have been waiting to read, experience, and am eager to confront once again. While some disguise the novel as historical fiction, outside of the primary setting, late 1890’s New York City, the novel focuses more on the mythical and fantastical. Page after page, the reader confronts mythological precepts of both Arab and Jewish origins, yet these points come to us in a metropolitan era and in a city of cultural convergence. The fantastical becomes real, humanity converges and merges with it, and one becomes lost in the existential nature of those that lack humanity attempting to be human.

From the get go, we are introduced to the mythical, fabled creature made of clay: The Golem. This figure is lifelike and free to roam the world without a master after the man died at sea just moments after animating her. Unsure of her nature, prone to fits of anger she cannot control, the Golem seeks refuge in a world of confusion. She is cast into New York City after walking along the bottom of the sea floor to avoid immigration and comes out of the sea a lost newborn. Were the reader only privy to this tale: the education and acclimation of an alien creature to the world, then he may be happy, for she is soon seen for what she is by a skilled and learned Rabbi and thus taken in and groomed toward humanity.

But the reader is given a second tale, that of a Jinni, a creature made of fire that has been imprisoned in a flask for generations. The Jinni is released by a Syrian Blacksmith, Arbeely, who takes the organism, trapped in human form, in as his apprentice. The narrative then juxtaposes back and forth between the two plights as each creature creates a purpose and seeks to find its place in society. Ultimately, and begrudgingly, the two meet and begin a mutual narrative, one distrust and anger, one that seeks a Golem looking for a purpose, a Jinni looking for freedom, and the seemingly destructive force the pair is, turning everything they touch into either earth or fire before discovering that they share a bond more concrete than their fantastical nature.

The Jurek Endure: A Gear Review

The folks at Ultimate Direction asked if I would check out one of their products, and I was thus sent a new hydration belt, the Jurek Endure. Even though I live in Florida the land of heat and humidity, I have never been a hydration belt guy—they are always too big or too small or too hard to get to fit right. Often they chafe and bounce around, and on more than one occasion I have dumped them in the bushes (and not returned to get them willingly). Thus I will do long runs on loops with water bottles stashed and placed along a route. I have commonly used a handheld and gone into drug stores, hotels, and gas stations to fill up. While a hydration belt doesn’t preclude the stop and fill up method, if done correctly it should aid the endeavor.

Stretch Mesh Pocket

Enter the Jurek Endure. This belt solves a universal problem: belts are often unbalanced and prone to bouncing around. Countless times, I have craved up the side of my torso as hydration belt meets sweat line and frantically bounces to and fro, especially with a full bottle. Here, with two 10 ounce bottles, when full, the belt feels quite snug. The bottles bungee in, each with their own strap, and feel rather secure. While I am typically a water guy, I tried what Ultimate Direction suggested, and filled one bottle with an other: my mixture of honey, chia, and water, the other with straight water. Despite the liquid weight, the belt held steady and continued to do so even when one bottle was depleted.

Beyond the balanced design, the strap adjusts quite well. The front of the belt has an elasticity to it that allows it to be snug, a tight fit, more like my running shorts than a chaffing army of darkness. The stretch mesh pocket allows for stashing essentially anything: gear (think gloves in the winter), salt tabs, gels, phones, keys, money, etc. You name it and desire to have it, stick it in the pocket. While there is not a counter balance, you can slide this pocket around the strap, allowing for preferred placement.

Advertised as waterproof, the belt deflects moisture at a strong rate. My gels stayed dry, and while I have yet to put a tissue in there, I am fairly confident that the only moisture the will find its way into the pockets will drip from my hands when opening and closing the pocket. In between the bottle holsters, one can store more items, and even bungee in products for quick grabs. Once again, stash your Huma gel here, in plain view.

All in all, while I have never been a huge hydration belt guy, I have been pleased with this product and will continue to update this review as I use it more.

General specs (via Ultimate Direction):

    Two 10 oz bottles included

    Bottle holsters are stiffened with lightweight foam for quick access

    Front pocket is sweat resistant and moveable, with foam backing

    3/4 in. waist webbing with stretch panel

    Movable Race Bib clips

    Adjustable buckle fits all sizes

    Weight: 6 oz / 163g

    Pocket Size: 6.5 x 3 in / 16.5 x 7.6 cm

    Pouch Size: 4 x 4 in / 10.2 x 10.2 cm

    Fits to: 26 - 44 in / 66 - 112 cm

    

   Hex Mesh: The structure of this belt is totally breathable, while also being extremely strong,lightweight, and will not absorb moisture.

    Silnylon: Silicone impregnated for ultra lightweight and durable waterproofness

    Velvetex Edge Binding: Super comfortable and soft

Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion: A Book Review

As has happened recently with books, a copy of The God Delusion was put in my hands. Thus I ventured down Richard Dawkins’ road for the first time. Religious debates aside—they are not the point of this post, and as Dawkins points out, these debates tend to get heated fast—Dawkins makes a case against religion and the existence of God. For some, as already noted, this idea is controversial and sacrilegious, something that could place them in the depths of hell and brimstone, but for those with an open mind, give this text a look.

Dawkins lays out a case, like it or love it, and in this case he uses the biological perspective first, then he ventures into the philosophical. The latter allows Dawkins to questions the inner workings of both man, the universe, and God. He brings up physics, the creation of the universe, questions omnipotence and fairness, and even digs into the annals of human morality by bringing up study after study on the subject. Objectively speaking, the data here is great, shocking at times, but interconnected in a way that fits his case. Subjectively, some may be offended, but one need only see the Duckbilled Platypus to see that God has a sense of humor (Kevin Smith can be credited with that joke).

While many people will jump on the defensive from the get go here, the point of this text is to ask questions. Give it a read, do not get angry, and if you are not swayed, move on knowing that you now understand the thoughts and logic of those that are. Either way, Dawkins is active on social media, especially twitter, so you can engage him there.