Month: November 2015

Metal Tuesday – Brother’s Choice – Agalloch – In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion

As the weather turns cold (maybe? I don’t know, I wrote this weeks ago) (Derek, yes it got cold), I proffer up Agalloch, an ambient folk/doom/black metal band out of Portland, Oregon. This track is off of their album The Mantle, which is a strong album all the way through.

Refugees

America is a land of immigrants – and some of those immigrants have been people fleeing strife and persecution in their homelands. The Syrians are just the latest in a very long line of people coming to this nation because their homeland has gone to shit. With each new wave of immigration, there have been people who have screamed to close the borders, to limit the number of people coming in, that this new wave of immigration will be horrible for the nation. Look at what happened when the Irish, Chinese, Italians, Jews, Cubans, and Bosnians came to America over the last two hundred years. 

Each wave, most of the people settled peacefully and assimilated. They worked and raised families. They added foods, words, and traditions to their local communities and the nation as a whole. And a small portion became criminals and terrorists. Yet, the nation has survived. 

I don’t think most of the people opposing allowing the refugees in are doing so because of racism. They have legitimate safety concerns. For the other side to completely ignore those concerns is naive. However, I still believe that the good outweighs the bad, and that in a generation or two, the Syrians will just become another part of the American landscape. 

Friday Quote – Jack London

I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom in me a magnificent glow, then a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.

Jack London, author, personal credo

Uber Delivering Flu Shots

As if I didn’t love this company already for its shattering of taxi cartels, they are now going to be delivering flu shots on November 19.

Customers who normally use the Uber smartphone app to call for a ride will be able to request a flu shot — and a nurse in an Uber car will show up at their home or office in about three dozen cities across the country.

The charge is $10, but the nurse can give up to 10 flu shots at each location for no additional charge. So work colleagues can split the cost among themselves.

Unfortunately, it’s only one day, but I hope this is an annual program by Uber.

Metal Tuesday – Brother’s Choice – Kataklysm – Iron Will

FURY FROM THE NORTH! Who though Canadians could be so aggressive? Kataklysm is a long running act from Montreal and their output since 2001’s Epic (The Poetry of War) has been very good overall (their earlier stuff is pretty good too, but a lot more spotty in quailty). Today’s track is a single they released for their 20th anniversary tour.