Heavy Metal Sunday gets dystopian.

This morning we feature San Diego's own As I Lay Dying. Never mind the coolness of a band named after a Faulkner novel, these guys have produced some incredibly good metalcore over the last decade. One label that has dogged them is that they are a "Christian band". Vocalist Tim Lambesis stated on the band's FAQ: "I'm not sure what the difference is between five Christians playing in a band and a Christian band. If you truly believe something, then it should affect every area of your life. All five of us are Christians. I believe that change should start with me first, and as a result, our lyrics do not come across very "preachy." Many of our songs are about life, struggles, mistakes, relationships and other issues that don't fit entirely in the spiritual category. However, all of these topics are written about through my perspective as a Christian.." Good attitude.

Today, we present Nothing Left off 2007's An Ocean Between Us

The story continues in the video for The Sound of Truth

Crashlanding: Not quite a dystopia.

No overwhelming shortage today, so click as you will!

Increase population http://crashlanding.myminicity.com

Increase industry http://crashlanding.myminicity.com/ind

Improve the transport network http://crashlanding.myminicity.com/tra

Increase security http://crashlanding.myminicity.com/sec

Improve environment http://crashlanding.myminicity.com/env

Increase business http://crashlanding.myminicity.com/com

After man.

23 years ago today the Chernobyl disaster got rolling. The Exclusion zone is still off limits, and visitors can see just how quickly nature can reclaim an area. I'd like to see the Ukrainian government leave the area permanently cordoned off except to people passing through. There have been several specials and series on Discovery about how quickly all traces of our existence would vanish if we all just disappeared one night. These pictures show how it is really happening.

Chernobyl, Pripyat. 23 years after atomic power station explosion (35 photos)

Writer's Block: LiveJournal Book Club

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A World Out of Time - Larry Niven

OK, now that was funny.

Phone rings.

"Hello?"

(heavy accent) "I am speaking with Kirsten Berry?"

"Excuse me?"

"I am speaking with Kirsten Berry?"

"Um, no. Kirsten is a woman's name. Do I sound like a woman?"

"Oh. You are the spouse of Kirsten Berry?"

We went around in circles for a few minutes. it was from our ISP.

Which evidently is based in Mumbai these days.