Iced Earth’s debut album was called Night of the Stormrider. It weaves a pretty dark tale of a mans betrayal by religion, subsequent turn to the dark side and final regrets over the course of nine tracks (46 minutes).

Queensryche’s (arguably) best album Operation: Mindcrime. It tells the tale of a young malcontent who becomes involved in an underground revolution as an assassin. This is another that is not just one song, but a story that spans fifteen tracks. One of the best rock operas that was ever pulled off in my opinion.

Manowar’s album The Triumph Of Steel has a first track called Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts. It is essentially a telling of the tale of Hector and Achilles. It’s nearly 30 minutes over the eight unique sounding parts.

Ice Nine Kills has now (2) entire albums with tracks inspired by horror movies, but I wouldn’t call them long. Their song Meat & Greet would be a great example. It’s a retelling of “The Silence of the Lambs”.

Animals Without Leaders has a song called CAFO that I just adore. Its pretty long and although it speaks no tale, it’s so sonically unique that it feels like it does. Some of those ultra technical metal bands feel like that (to me at least).

You know, I left Reddit because I didn’t like what was going on. Banning US presidential election posts to a political forum makes me not like what’s going on. What’s next on the ban list?

I’ve been killing an easy 50 a day (maybe more) for at least a month and not really gaining any ground at all on them. I live next door to a conservation area in the Pittsburgh, PA subarbs. Killing them on Grapes, Virginia Creeper and some ash looking weed.

Just to share it, I’ve noticed at this point that if disturbed, the bug will try to leap away. If it is successful, it seems to return to that very same point in space.

Its a real shame too. I’m a pro bug guy. I really wish I didn’t have to kill them, and honestly, they are kinda dapper looking.

Professional geologist Shawn Willsey posted a graphic of the approximate location of the newest fissure on his livestream. This fissure and flow is not likely to be a threat to the town of Grindavik, but it is a threat to both the blue lagoon and the powerplant.

I am from Pittsburgh and it’s a huge party at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania. Shut down the town kind of party. An absolute sea of people. It’s been like that long before the movie, but then there’s not much to do in February.

This years Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring but do note that marmots are not exactly qualified to make to make meterological forecasts. It’s a mostly cute tradition with a hint of madness, kinda like sticking a tree in your living room and hanging up socks to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Makes total sense when you’re drinking.

For the record, Groundhogs (or woodchucks) are pretty docile and cute. They are also excellent climbers. This little fellow was quite curious about me, and why I was hiding in his field (taking pictures of birds).

The conservatives need the babies alive so they can be sent overseas to be killed. It’s the new american way.

Disgusting pigs. All of em.

Oh, I’d get the entire barrel of salt, but it feels right this time, unlike the others.

I find it encouraging nonetheless. I’m excited for Russia. They may soon get a chance to rebuild their nation.

Congratulations on all your hard work India. Ride the wave. It’s a great accomplishment.

Well there is supposed to be a 4-sided pyramid (similar to Gaza but bigger) and also some kind of large underground base for UAP.

What is there? I dunno. Sometime after Operation Highjump, It was decided that folks like us are no longer permitted to go there. It could be an intergalactic puppy farm for all I know.

But I do like the mystery.

There’s supposed to be quite a few things down in that ice. Some encased. Some not so much. Some natural. Some not so much.

The chemical reaction that binds concrete in a matrix takes place after you add the water and continues until you dry it out. Anything you put in the crack will be a temporary fix only. The material will work itself out over time, and you will additionally be trapping a certain amount of moisture in the crack with it. You will now have a concrete pad with a ‘pocket’ and a ‘plug’ made from different materials. Materials that are likely to expand and contract at different rates exposing an opening for moisture and debris at least once through the year.

You only get (1) chance to successfully pour concrete i’m afraid. Your pad is damaged for all time. The crack will certainly grow from thermal conditions alone. It’s incapable of healing itself. What you need to stave that off is good chemistry for binding and something that expands and contracts at approx. the same rate as the concrete. I’d call the company that poured it. They’ll know what repair product best matches their chemistry. If you put the wrong products in it, it’s going to accelerate the degradation.

I am a refractory designer, and the company I work for makes several ‘patch’ type products of different chemistries. They all have a use. Temperature, application, chemistry, elevation even. While these do work, they are again only temporary.

They come in different consistencies. One of those is what we call a plastic. It is very much like a putty until it dries. It does contain some moisture so it will shrink as it dries out. It does not contain as much moisture as a self flowing castable would.