Concept Sketches 02 - Ruins w Creep

Black tar goo is bubbling up from underground forcing skeletal remains from burial sites to rise to the surface. This stuff grows like vines to consume and devour any living thing that gets stuck in it. A small crow has recently discovered that fact.

Concept Sketch 01 - Post & Beam Rome

Well it recently dawned on me that I haven't posted any artwork of my own on this blog, so here's some stuff. This is a sketch of a Roman alleyway that I did for a Titan Quest 2 project. The TQ2 storyline was based on an alternate Roman time line with fantastical mythological creatures. The city of Rome had endured a number of mysterious earth quakes and as you can see, the citizens quickly constructed a framework of post & beam supports all throughout the city to help the weakened stonework. There are also some giant wooden gears and pulley contraptions that reflect the influence of the great engineer, inventor & astronomer, Archimedes.

Great MP3 Music Site.

www.skreemr.com

We have lost our way.

Now that the Iowa Caucus is over and done with, the focus is on the highly independent and irreverent state of NH. LIVE FREE or DIE! That's right, we're not messing around. My state goes "all in" when it comes to politics. I've lived in NH almost all of my life. I grew up here, moved away for college, but moved back as soon as I could to raise my family. NH is such a great state, the folks that have screwed up Massachusetts are moving to NH in droves. Over the past 10 years the population of Massachusetts has plummeted while the population of NH is growing like crazy. Folks in NH work hard, want a simple life, and want to be left alone. Politicians are the last people they want in this state. When we look at the candidates that come here to win our vote, many NH voters cast their vote on the person who will ultimately leave them alone and not mess up this great state.

It is clear after the Iowa Caucus, that there is a desire for change. I could not agree more. This country needs to clean house, hold a yard sale, pay off some credit card debt and get its ducks in a row. This country needs to re-think the roll of the federal government. Folks shouldn't have to look to far, it's pretty much spelled out in the Constitution. Has this world changed and does that document need to be amended to take into consideration todays issues and world events? Of course, why not. That's the whole point of the Constitution. Instead the President & Congress bend the laws and ignore the Constitution to go to war and violate citizens personal rights without batting an eyelash. Now is the time for a diversity of ideas. It is not the time to change from Vanilla to French Vanilla to use a tasty ice cream analogy. This country needs a candidate that will shake things up and make us think and re-think what the roll of government aught to be. The President is not a dictator. Congress can push back if certain ideas stretch the limits of the people. (whom they should be working for) It is our government that has lost its way. Both the Republicans & Democrats are to be blamed.

Ron Paul at the Red Arrow Diner.

Over the holiday break, I attended a small Ron Paul meet up at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, NH. The Red Arrow is one of those places that all of the candidates go to on their "Stumppin" through the state. On this particular morning, it was about 20 degrees and there was chance of an icy mix of snow and freezing rain. I showed up at the Diner at 7:50. It was reported that Ron Paul would be arriving at 8:30. When I arrived, there were about 5 people standing outside the diner. With-in minutes Ron Paul supporters started to pours out of the streets. There was around 35-40 supporters, some had traveled from Seattle, Texas, and South Carolina. All of the out of staters have come to NH to help for the primary. An older couple had traveled to NH to support Ron Paul. This couple had converted one of their hot air balloons to have the slogan RON PAUL REVOLUTION on the side. There were three news organizations there interviewing supporters and customers of the diner. Doctor Paul arrived before 8:30 accompanied by his son, some campaign people and a state trooper. He greeted all of us warmly, shaking just about everyones hands and speaking with us and the press briefly. After a quick hello, he proceeded into the Diner to meet with the locals having breakfast. The supporters of Paul remained outside to wave and greet early morning risers. After 20min, Doctor Paul exited the Diner to then speak to the growing crowd. He spoke of his message and vision for America along with Fox New excluding him from a round table discussion that was to be held one day before the NH primary. Fox news selected to not invite Ron Paul despite the fact that he is polling higher than Fred Thompson who will be attending. Bias media? Doc. Paul got the crowd all wound up then he was off to his next event. What is more interesting is that weeks prior to this event, the Paul campaign had made reservations at the Red Arrow for this event, however a night before the event, they got a call from the Diner canceling Paul's visit because Bill Clinton wanted to visit at the same time. Well, that didn't stop Doc. Paul and his supporters. We all showed up anyways. The funny thing is though...we never saw one Clinton supporter that morning.

THANK GOD...Christmas is over!

In true form I have not posted anything on my blog for a long time, but while I'm now enjoying some vacation time i figured it would be a good time for me to catch up on some thoughts I have had floating around in my head.

Thank GOD...Christmas is over. This time of year depresses me for so many reasons. I had wonderful Christmases growing up and have very fond memories of me and my brothers getting up at 5am (or earlier) and quietly sneaking down stairs to see if Santa left us some presents. My brothers and I could dig into our stockings and play with whatever we got in those but we had to wait for my parents to get up to open presents. Needless to say, we got pretty noisy around 5:15 to encourage them to get out of bed. Despite all of the wonderful memories I have as a kid, the holidays are much different to me as an adult. Sure there are some quite moments at night, while looking at the tree that I believe in the magic of Christmas, but unfortunately now it's a noisy, stressful, overly garnished, expensive, and fattening time. I know, I know...BAh Humbug. With all of that said, I bend over backwards to give my kids the most wonderful Christmas that I can while trying to teach them to be giving and humble human beings.

December 26th is the GREATEST day of the year. As far as I'm concerned, this is the day that truly kicks off the new year. Down comes the tree which is now a house fire waiting to happen along with all of the decorations and lights. This is a time of purification and simplification. Wiping the slate clean. Opening the windows and letting in some fresh air even if it is 20 degrees outside. I feel energized and ready to start the new year. The shortest day of the year is over and from this point forward the days are going to get longer which mean not getting up in the dark and driving home from work in the dark. I enjoy taking personal, financial, and mental inventory and getting rid of what I don't need, looking forward to what I would like to do in 2008 and plan on what I can do to make myself more of the person that I want to be. One of the first things on my 2008 agenda is to post more frequently on this blog.

Who is Ron Paul?

I didn't want to talk about politics in this blog however I feel so strongly that our government has become so incredibly corrupt, wasteful and inept from both republicans and democrats that I feel it necessary to stand on my virtual soap box and ask you to just listen to what Doctor Ron Paul has to say. He is like no other candidate that is running for President of the United States and his views and beliefs cross party lines. I have never felt this strongly about any political candidate before and for the first time, instead of voting for the lesser of two evils, I feel confident that I will be giving my vote to a citizen of the United States that will truly uphold the Constitution and bring dignity back to our country. Please check out the link.
Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA&eurl=http://www.ronpaulhq.com/2007_10_01_archive.php

You can also find out more about Ron Paul here.
www.ronpaulhq.com/
www.ronpaul2008.com/