Mirthe.org

Ordered a bunch of CD's last week (yes, some people still buy those), which arrived earlier today. The one I was looking forward to most was the new Amorphis album, Skyforger. I already picked up a copy as a Torrent, but I'm glad to enjoy the real thing. Check out the video for the single Silver Bride.

Browsing a bunch of old MetaFilter entries, I found Going Dutch. After a year and a half of living in the Netherlands, American writer Russell Shorto compares the Dutch welfare state to the tax, health care and social security systems of the United States. Very interesting to see an outside perspective.

Also on Metafilter, an article on whether or not optimism is uniquely American. Contains some great comments, one in particular I'd like to quote.