Sometimes are arms are too short to box with God

We have to realize our limitations and say: No mas. That's what is prudently being said in Utah were six men have been trapped in a mountain as a result of a mining accident. Even though it seems unlikely the six men still survive -- tests of air quality from holes drilled into several areas of the mountain indicated that the air was not sufficient to sustain life --heroic efforts were made to tunnel into the mountain to try to rescue them. And that effort claimed three lives last week, while injuring six others of the rescue team.

Family members of the six who were initially trapped are understandably disappointed that the tunneling has been stopped, upon the orders of federal safety officials. But why risk the lives of rescue teams when it seems so unlikely that the original six can possibly alive after more than two weeks?

At some point we have to be prudent and realistic, even if that brings little comfort or closure. The families of those who died when that bridge over the Mississippi collapsed in Minneapolis seemed to understand that and to exercise patience. They could see the danger in sending divers into the murky waters at night amid all sorts of hazardous debris while trying to recover the dead. That task has stretched out until now. The last known missing person was pulled out of the water yesterday.

Buckling Up and Battening Down

Maybe you know this, maybe not. But New Jersey's multimillionaire, impervious-to-rules-the-rest-of-us-must-follow and rather arrogant Governor Jon Corzine nearly died a few nights ago in a car accident because he did not use a seat belt. He's in critical but stable condition even as the governance of New Jersey is also in critical but stable condition.

Buckle up for safety. Buckle up. Whether in the front seat, the back seat, the middle seat.

And as the weather does its thing this week (as all those fancy-dancer meteorologists and their satellite gizmos are telling us it will) batten down the hatches -- that is to say, be prepared. Make sure you know how to reach key relatives and friends, and vice versa. Same with vulnerable neighbors. Do you have phones and radios that don't require electricity? Do you have batteries? Do you have water and juice? Do you have foods that don't require cooking? Do you have what your pets need? Do you have first-aid kits? Do you have waterproof boots and other gear? Do you know what to do in case of tornados and Nor'easters homing in on YOUR home?

Just asking.