a new member of the family

Have you ever been to Silent Hill? If not I highly recommend a visit. Whether it is through the original title released in 1999 for Sony's Playstation, the four follow-up titles for the PS2 or the 2006 film release it is always a memorable journey. The basic story for any of these is that the main character is somehow called to this eerie town for reasons they can't imagine. Once there they encounter Alessa Gillespie, her mother Dahlia, a strange local religious group with questionable practices and, most importantly, the town itself.

There are two sides to Silent Hill and I don't think I am spoiling any surprises to briefly discuss them here. The first side is that of an abandoned town covered in a mysterious gray which is either mist, ashes or some other concoction. Most of the buildings are still standing and look as if they have recently been inhabited, but there is never anyone to be found. The story unfolds as you pick up clues that lead you from place to place in what never fails to be a VERY solitary experience. The second side is the pitch-black, rust-covered undershell of the town where the past is very much alive and manifests itself in the form of some very bizarre, twisted, fleshy remnants of beings that stalk you. It is here that much of the truth reveals itself. Your job is to unite the pieces from both sides and try to bring about some closure.

While considered a "survival horror" game, Silent Hill does NOT employ the gotcha tactics made famous by other such titles as Resident Evil. I remember the first time I played that one and the dog came crashing through the window and I almost lost it. Silent Hill doesn't surprise or startle you in such a superficial way. It is truly a creepy, unsettling experience. It is like you are walking through some sort of nightmarish hell. The only light in the darkness comes through the cone projected by your clip-on flashlight. You are always aware of approaching monsters because your transistor radio does NOT play music but turns up the static when danger approaches. The soundtrack, with its heart-pounding sounds definitely sets the tone for this dark, forboding town.

Anyway, the title of this entry deals with family. I got a kitten on Memorial Day with great help from my sister. She thought it was time, and I must have too.
Well, I have been dealing with a lot of hissing and swatting from Brunton, a cat who I have had for nearly 9 years and who, apparently, doesn't like kittens. This has disrupted the environment and it has been difficult to accept her as a family member. That has all changed recently.

While playing Silent Hill Origins, the newest PS2 release and prequel to the series, I had turned off the kitchen light. The music was turned up and I was just looking around at the decay, the rust, the blood and really just feeling the gloom created by this game when BAM! I was hit by something. I jumped out of my chair and looked down to see Ms. Hudson (as illustrated above). I very nearly pissed myself! Now it is a well-known fact that the late, great Musgrave had a knack for doing this. Being jet-black she moved silently through the shadows and would appear as if out of nowhere. It made the Silent Hill experience even more thrilling! Now it seems as if she has someone to carry on her legacy. It was at that moment that Hudson became a member of the elgarf family. Now I just need to convince Brunton.

Crabby

I found this on Topsail Beach in Surf City, NC and thought it was worth drawing. There are many more like it, as well as other shells, rocks sand etc. that I picked up. I do plan to make some sort of sculpture or at least a still-life to create more drawings.

HALF MAST???

I just heard a report that there is a proposal to name a bridge (or was it a stretch of highway?) after the late, great Tim Russert. This bit was followed by the report that flags were being flown at half-mast in his memory. The first thought that entered my mind was what you see in the title bar. Does this guy really warrant that kind of recognition?

As it sank into this thick skull (of which so many of you are familiar) I realized that, yes, indeed Mr. Russert has earned that honor.

I would be lying if I said I was a great fan of his and faithfully watched Meet the Press every week. I'm not and didn't. I don't even have cable! However, I cannot think of a week in the last ten years or so when I did not hear his voice, or the thought provoking questions he asked of EVERYONE. No matter where I got my news, I would hear that so and so had said on, "Meet the Press," this that or the other thing, and then the radio station would play the clip with that memorable voice. There is no denying that it was the most respected AND respectable of the weekend political roundup shows. I guess "freedom of the press" is easily taken for granted in a society that monitors the movement and reproductive habits of Britney and her kid sister, but, damn, if Tim Russert wasn't like a branch of government! Always well informed of his topics he would ask the questions we all wanted answered by our public officials, and to their faces! It didn't matter what party was being represented by his guest, Mr. Russert went for the truth on our behalf.

So, for what it's worth, I may not be a great fan but I will certainly miss Tim Russert. I guess he was just one of those things that you don't really appreciate until they are gone.

The Nominee

Well, I guess it is all over but the crying. Hillary is to make an announcement tonight. Mara Liason reports that Barack Obama's biggest job now is to unite his party. That hit me, HIS party.

She is absolutely correct. This is not the party that the Clinton's reclaimed in 1992 ending 12 years of Reaganomics. This is not the party that was beaten up and destroyed by Newt Gingrich in the following years.

This IS the party that rolled over and allowed the Republicans to carry out their vast right wing conspiracy, running for cover as the bogus impeachment unfolded. This party is the limp party that lost to the ignorant hick failed governor of Texas in the year 2000. They needed to distance themselves from the Clintons back then, and aren't we all glad they did? This is the party that let George Bush (still an ignorant hick but now a failed president) waltz to victory in 2004. He had nothing to his credit. He SAID we were safe from terrorists, but were we really? This is the party that won a landslide victory in 2006 because the ignorant fucking population of these glorious united states said, "you know what? Duh, this Bush isn't a very good leader." No fucking shit. Too little too late, asshole. All of a sudden EVERYBODY thinks the war was a mistake. They vote the Republicans out and vote the democrats in. What do the democrats do? With the historical first female Speaker of the House, Nancy Pilossi at the helm they rolled over and let the president continue to sodomize us.

Thanks, guys.

So, now Obama has to unite HIS party.

I'd say HIS party is united and ready to go - all of these "enlightened" first-time voters who were brought to the process by this beautiful, eloquent, HOPEFUL man. Believe me, all those assholes are united.

What happens to us, though, those of us who simply don't buy it? Believe it or not there is a solid block of voters like me who have voted for years before this guy came along. Now I know we can't disenfranchise the new voters, so I guess that means we disenfranchise the old voters. Once again, I tip my hat to the wisdom of this wonderful, all-knowing party. Should King Obama stoop down and offer the VP slot to Hillary? No. He simply can't. To do that he would have to announce "It is true. I am a whore. The Clintons are not as bad as all that. In fact, one of them might make a GREAT VP." If he does have the balls to do this, and she has the balls to accept, I will not write in a candidate (as I am now leaning), but will vote Republican.

Now, we know he's a whore, but should he really admit it to all of the people who actually buy his shit?

The first choice for VP needs to be Oprah Winfrey. Let's be honest, she helped that campaign in inestimable ways. That would take care of the female vote. The second choice should be Senator Edward Kennedy. By endorsing him at the high point of the campaign and giving him the blessing of all the Kennedys, living and dead, Teddy deserves a taste of the office that he could never achieve on his own merits. Now I know he is infirmed at this point, but reports today say that he is up and walking and listening to the news. I'm no doctor but I would say that in 4-6 weeks he could be on the campaign trail. The third choice should be Bill Richardson. Having risen to prominence through the help of President Bill Clinton who else could know the weaknesses that Hillary would bring to the table. By turning on the Clintons he greatly helped the Obama campaign.

There is a lot of talk out there about just how hard the Clintons are going to work for Obama. "If they truly love the party they will work their hearts out," has been said time and time again. But, clearly, the party wants nothing to do with them. I will be very disappointed to hear that either of them campaigns for this clown. If the party can do it without them then I wish the party the best of luck. This has been a disgraceful display by self-serving hypocrites.