Pick Your Poison: Monday 4-15-13

Today was a bit of a tough day if you’re an American. As I’m sure you’ve heard (because it’s everywhere), two bombs went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon earlier today. Three people were killed and around 175 others were injured. It was the worst attack on U.S. soil since September 11th. At this point authorities still don’t know who was behind the attack and they’re working on determining the composition of the bombs that went off. While we certainly can’t put an official timetable on this, I suspect that it’ll be a matter of weeks until the perpetrators are discovered and caught, provided they haven’t fled to the series of caves in Afghanistan where Bin Laden hid for years. That doesn’t matter right now though, because the number one priority is to care for the wounded and make sure the city of Boston gets all the help it needs in this time of crisis. If you can donate money or blood to the Red Cross, it would be a big help. I’m sure there are other ways you can give with time or money that would help as well, and I encourage you to seek them out as well. As many have also already said, please pray for Boston and the victims of this senseless act. If you’re unable to do anything else, a prayer costs you nothing but a couple minutes out of your life. What’s incredible to me is that while an explosion like this is viewed as a major tragedy in America, in some countries it’s something that happens on a daily or weekly basis. So though our comfort and safety may feel threatened all of a sudden, other people live with such fear constantly. I don’t know what I’d do if that were my reality. It makes you think and causes you to step back to look at the bigger picture in all this. That’s important to do, but even moreso during times when we aren’t struck with unspeakable tragedy. Suffering, terror attacks and death don’t stop simply because they’re not happening in our neighborhood or country. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, help at home now, and then do what you can to provide aid to other countries when they need it most too. This has been your tragedy update PSA for the day. Sorry if things got a bit dark and depressing – it’s been that sort of day. Maybe some music will provide its own help and comfort right now? I know it helps put me in the right frame of mind no matter what I’m experiencing. In today’s Pick Your Poison, don’t miss tracks from Double Dagger, Matt Kivel, Polytype, Teenage Kicks, Touche and TWRK. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new songs from Eluvium, Holograms and Wise Blood.