Completing this year's Hallowe'en graphics, which began with Graphic #1 and continued with Graphic #2, here is the third and last of the offerings for 2007.



This graphic may be reposted with attribute.


The Dark Wraith thanks readers for not running away screaming like a bunch of Democratic politicians.

Continuing my Hallowe'en tradition of delivering gruesomely ghoulish graphics, herewith is presented the second of this year's offerings.



Hallowe'en 2007 Graphic #1 was certainly decent, but this one, which may be reposted with attribute, should be a good reminder to people everywhere that no grave can hold the brain-dead as long as there is still misery, fear, and wretchedly incompetent policy to be visited upon the world of the living.

Remember to lock your doors tonight.


The Dark Wraith will deliver yet one more graphic for this Hallowe'en season.

Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, disclosed today that, while researching the geneology of the Cheney family for a book she's writing, she discovered that the Vice President is related to Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

The story about Cheney and Obama being blood relatives comes on the heels of a September report by the Chicago Sun-Times that Sen. Obama and President George W. Bush are 11th cousins.

The Dark Wraith herewith vows never again to ask, "Could things get any weirder?"

Continuing my tradition from Hallowe'en 2006, in which season of festivities I created and published Hallowe'en Politics Graphic #1, Halloween Politics Graphic #2, and Hallowe'en Politics Graphic #3, this small animated graphic launches the current round of fun-filled horror.

Pleasant dreams, readers.


The Dark Wraith will deliver further troubling images in the days to come, so be forewarned: it's not just your imagination; there really are things that go "BUMP!" in the twilight of Empire.

The Dark Wraith must attend a Saturday faculty meeting. Saturdays work because the night teachers cannot attend day meetings during the week, and daytime faculty members—usually the tenured crowd—don't want to hang around for evening meetings when the night-time teachers are present, so we have to meet on Saturdays every once in a while so everyone can attend.

To lessen the joylessness of the Saturday meetings, attendees are encouraged to bring in food for everyone to eat. Most people bring store-bought stuff: chips and dip; trays of sad, raw vegetables; boxes of cookies; and other barely edible treats. A few of the female faculty members prepare hot food: crock-pot fare, like those little weiners stewed in barbecue sauce, or swedish meatballs floating in gravy.

I, on the other hand, do desserts. Sometimes, I put together one of my very large (and appallingly heavy) white chocolate raspberry cheesecakes or a chocolate Texas sheet cake.

This time, I'm going to offer a couple of my French cream pies. I wouldn't have been able to do this save for a couple of glad events. First, I was able to borrow a mixer once again from Sunrock, whom I thank for the loan of equipment. I also have to (grudgingly, mind you) thank someone who somehow managed to notice a PayPal donation button I had buried in an obscure place where I didn't even notice it had gotten in when I redid the advertising frame to include a new ad for Harry Potter merchandise at Hot Topic. The donation allowed me to purchase the ingredients and get my good digital camera out of hock.

The recipe as readers here are going to see it made includes some cheating on my part. The topping on one pie will be made from scratch, but the topping on the other pie is store-bought. Also, the pie crusts are ready-made, although I do a little bit to them to make them work better for the recipe. Even with those cheats, the pies are pretty much homemade, and they are absolutely delicious. There isn't even any point in talking about calories for a slice of one of these pies, and that's because calories aren't supposed to be stated in scientific notation. As far as nutritional value goes, readers can see for themselves that a dessert like this is made from wholesome, healthful ingredients that are sure to extend your life, make you more attractive, and enhance your willingness and ability to endure this last year of the Bush Administration.

And if that doesn't make you want to read the recipe below and follow it carefully, there's a little something at the end that might be worth the while of at least a few regulars around here if they will only read and enjoy the exposition that now follows.


The ingredients are simple. This will be for two French cream pies, one apple, the other cherry.

• One eight-ounce package of cream cheese, warmed enough to be fairly soft.
• One cup heavy whipping cream.
• One cup confectioner's (10X) powdered sugar.
• One-half cup brown sugar.
• One-quarter cup granulated sugar.
• One-quarter cup lemon juice.
• Three small to medium Jonathan or Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thin.
• One-quarter teaspoon cinnamon.
• One can, at least 20 ounces, of cherry pie filling (the more cherries, the better in the filling.)
• Two pie shells, preferably shortbread.

Get your ingredients together and admire your culinary organizational skills.

more...

With thanks to Foiled Goil at Big Brass Blog for the information about the dramatically modern logo for the 2008 Republican National Convention being held in Minneapolis-St. Paul, presented below on the left is the official version of the Convention logo and on the right the suggested final version of the logo. Readers are encouraged to decide for themselves which is more representative of the Grand Old Party as it swings into the coming election year.



The Dark Wraith invites republication with attribute of the logo on the right, above, but herewith concedes that the Republican National Committee will undoubtedly stick with the convention logo on the left, unfortunate as that choice may be.