Mostly because I know Jenn loves this stuff, here's a series of photos taken in Pripyat. This town on the outskirts of Chernobyl was evacuated in two days in 1986 when the fire broke out at the power plant. It's safe to visit now, but the town is still abandoned.

Take a look.

Jenn is hosting my non-plussed with hot dog entry, along with lots of photos of the Blackwell v. Axelrod wedding. It has already earned my vote for Wedding of the Year, but I may be prejudiced by my inclusion in the wedding party.

I'm trying to find a single photo of the event where I don't look like I'm about to collapse from exhaustion. It's funny because I felt great that day. I'm beginning to wonder if my default expression is one of soporific stupor and I just never noticed before. Still, it adds to the brooding effect.

I missed the debate but I heard it went swimmingly. All the same, the desperation and despicable tactics of the opposition still sicken me. I need to put myself on news blackout again. Every time I see a republican talking head on TV, I hear a shakily sampled voice from the old Space Hulk video game ordering the space marines to "Cleanse this place with fire."

Halloween was a success around our place. A red-lit entryway, the post-industrial noise of Lustmord, two Silent Hill nurses flanking the doorway and me doing my automaton best to frighten children with jerky, mechanical movements.

Many a child was too afraid to approach and the adults egged them on but kept their own distance. Maybe they didn't want to upset their child by being seen as fearful. Maybe the child was the canary in the coalmine.

The high point for me was a passing mother and child on the opposite side of the street. The mother asked her child if she wanted to cross over and the girl replied "I don't want any more candy!" Mwah-ha-ha-ha . . .

jenniferrodgers took the art photos of our costumes and she'll have them posted. In the meantime, here are the quick snaps I got of our preparations.

( . . . if you gaze too long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. )