I am slightly irked by your bringing Capone’s massacre or St. Valentine’s grisly martyrdom into the presence of my fragrant love-in-song bouquet, but, to so bring in the J. Geils Band!?!?! THAT is not right, my friend–if it were back in the day I might have to challenge you to a duel.

For if transhumanism means that I could pay Itunes to remove all memory of J. Geils Band songs from my mind, then I’m all for it!

The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was the day that Al Capone eliminated all his rivals in one fell Godfather-likle swoop of violence in the Chicagoland days of illicit booze and other illegal rackets. Capone decided in favor of a “Carthaginian solution,” and he established himself as preeminent. To a point it worked for him and his racket, even if the Untouchables eventually got him on tax evasion.

I mentioned this story in the name of lonelihearts and in a typical manner of professorial humorous irony, but one student would have nothing of it. She expressed her disgust that a day celebrating such important things like the exclusive loyalty to each one in terms of one’s own should be associated with such brutality as Al Capone.

I agreed, but this led us to a conversation of the actual St. Valentine. She had knowledge on this issue. She noted that for St. Valentine’s divine devotion, he had his limbs severed and had his heart placed on stake.

I responded, who is more morbid and bloody–”me” or “you?” The story of Al Capone or the story of St. Valentine? But I suggested that perhaps Valentine had a good reason despite his bloody fate, while on the other hand it is hard to justify the actions of Al Capone.

It was a useful example of the importance providing reasons for the actions we take.

That said, as a lonelyheart myself, I am dismayed that Carl did not list “Love Stinks” by the J Geils Band as one of his Valentine’s Day songs.

It is a perspective of love that ought not to be neglected.