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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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Halloween humbug

Uploaded: Oct 28, 2021
From a weather standpoint, October is my favorite month of the year.
The fall weather, with crisp nights and warm days after the summer heat, is a wonderful change of the seasons. Throw in the non-native trees that turn vibrant colors and it’s a great month.
Of course, it’s also the prime fire season month—danger that last Sunday’s atmospheric river storm ended.
It’s not the same when I watch broadcast television and see endless commercials for Halloween horror shows. I don’t hate much and I’m sparing in my use of that word, but all about Halloween gets pretty close for me. The thought that it’s now second only to Christmas on retail spending says something sad about our culture.
I never have gone to horror films—they disgust me and I don’t get the attraction—maybe my blind spot but there’s nothing entertaining about being frightened.
Because we grew up in the country—there were only two neighbors—trick or treating is something that I have little or no recollection of and I cannot recall any parties as kid around Halloween.
It’s one thing to carve a pumpkin—it’s entirely another to go blithely about “celebrating” Halloween without realizing there is an unseen spiritual world and there’s a battle between good and evil that is ongoing. God and Jesus eventually triumph, but the devil likes nothing more than to play with unsuspecting people.
So be careful with what you do and with your words this weekend lest you unintentionally invite an unwelcome spirit to come your way.
It’s been a good month for 10x Genomics of Pleasanton. The company received an East Bay Innovation Award from the East Bay EDA in life sciences that celebrated its robust growth and the important equipment its team makes.
The company also announced the opening of a new hub in Singapore that marks a major Asia Pacific expansion. It is the first manufacturing facility outside of the United States and will provide consumable products for single-cell and spatial analysis on 10x machines.
The hub covers more than 53,000-square-feet in the [email protected] 164 complex and includes automated production areas for the consumables as well as a Biosafety Level 2 lab to train customers and partners on the technology. The site started operating in 2020 and currently employs more than 80 workers, according to the press release.
The Asia Pacific region represented one-quarter of 10x Genomics’ sales in the first half of 2021. The release noted that Singapore has a thriving life science ecosystem and that the Singapore Economic Development Board welcomed the firm and was a helpful partner.
Local Journalism.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Rich Buckley, a resident of Livermore,
on Oct 28, 2021 at 8:38 am

Rich Buckley is a registered user.

Every year from 1944 through 1947 Mom would arrange a garage party with the neighbors around Halloween where Dad held two 8 hour shifts back to back during the War, one job for Alameda County, one job for Marchant war production in milling oxygen regulators for pilots. For celebration festivities, my older brothers always created a scary wagon ride through our coal bin at 3440 Hannah Street, Oakland, we kids would then bob for apples after a sit down meal, followed by trick-or-treat on our own as we choose, after dark (imagine that). Mom said, you can go this far around the block but no further. This was the same route I would take my red wagon full of fresh fruits and vegetables from our ample back yard Victory Garden calling out from the side walk, "Vegetables - Fresh Vegetables" The Moms would come running out to buy whatever I had because I paid nothing for my inventory and had no idea what to ask. I took whatever they offered.

So like you Tim, I can't stand senseless horror films unless they include humor and my memories of Halloween seem similar to your own. As the child I had no idea we were fighting a global world war. Today, I am very aware we are fighting WW4 and huge segments of our population are as oblivious as the 4 year old kid selling Victory Garden vegetable off the sidewalk in the mid-1940's Peace be upon us.


Posted by KG, a resident of California Reflections,
on Oct 29, 2021 at 7:20 pm

KG is a registered user.

Yes, there is a war of good against evil. I don't agree with your definition of who is on the good side and who is on the evil side. The so-called evangelical Christians who are mainly Trumpsters represent the evil. It is not their fault because they are brainwashed by Fox, public bloggers, etc. they represent a loud minority. The good people are not perfect - just like David, Solomon and the Apostles were not perfect. But they have good in mind and intentions. They may not have the perfect path to god but they don't discriminate, they want to help the poor and needy. The Trumpsters want to take power so they can make more money and build more wealth for themselves and powerful.


Posted by D, a resident of Danville,
on Oct 30, 2021 at 9:50 am

D is a registered user.

@KG-I am not a "evangelical Christian", nor a "Trumpster", but I take offense with your characterization and labeling of these groups as "evil" and "brainwashed". How is your labeling and stereotyping of them any better than what you perceive as their labeling and stereotyping of you and what you identify with? Could they not make the same argument about you being "brainwashed" by CNN and liberal bloggers?

You miss the irony when you advocate for "diversity" and "inclusion" but yet spew hatred and venom against others with different opinions and beliefs that are not like yours. True "diversity" and "inclusion" means you accept and celebrate "evangelical Christians" and "Trumpsters", even if they are different than you, rather than grossly labeling and persecuting them for their beliefs.

Hatred is wrong and "evil", whether it is coming from Conservatives or Liberals, and do not "throw stones if you live in a glass house".


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