Well, I thought saying Holy Jesus for Ryuusei no Gemini would be enough; but apparently I was wrong. I need to say HOLY JESUS many many more times. Because look at the trailer for the Ryuusei no Gemini OVA!!!

Right?!?! I want to watch it NOW!

If you don’t already know (yes, I’m really slow regarding information about things like this), the events of Ryuusei no Gemini (season 2) take place 2 years after the last episode of Kuro no Keiyakusha (season 1 – which I’m starting to miss due to the new, cantankerous Hei). BONES, the production stupio, has announced that Ryuusei no Gemini will be 12 episodes long, and that an OVA (!!!) will be released AFTERWARDS which covers those 2 years that we have to be clueless about for the remaining 4 episodes of season 2.

The OVA will be a DVD-only release, it will be 4 episodes long, and the first episode is being released with the Ryuusei no Gemini DVD on January 27.

!!! I’m having a bit of a fangirl moment here, and so should you!

I’d already heard about the OVAs on MAL, but from the way their summary is worded (“side-stories”, they said… “side stories”) it sounded like it would be a bunch of fillers. Um, apparently not!

On Jan. 27th, 1967, astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard their Apollo spacecraft at Cape Kennedy, Fla.

On this date:

In 1756, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria.

In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.

In 1901, opera composer Giuseppe Verdi died in Milan, Italy, at age 87.

In 1943, some 50 bombers struck Wilhelmshaven in the first all-American air raid against Germany during World War II.

In 1944, the Soviet Union announced the complete end of the deadly German siege of Leningrad, which had lasted for more than two years.

In 1945, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland.

In 1951, an era of atomic testing in the Nevada desert began as an Air Force plane dropped a one-kiloton bomb on Frenchman Flat.

In 1967, more than 60 nations signed a treaty banning the orbiting of nuclear weapons.

In 1973, the Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan greeted the 52 former American hostages just released by Iran at the White House.

Ten years ago: The Republican-controlled Senate blocked dismissal of the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton and then voted for new testimony from Monica Lewinsky and two other witnesses — but by margins well short of the two-thirds needed to oust the president.

Five years ago: John Kerry won the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary. A jury in New York heard opening arguments in the trial of Martha Stewart, who was accused of lying about a stock sale she was convicted in March 2004 and sentenced to five months in prison. Former “Tonight Show” host Jack Paar died in Greenwich, Conn., at age 85.

One year ago: Former Indonesian president Suharto, whose regime killed hundreds of thousands of left-wing political opponents, died in Jakarta at age 86. Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 97. Novak Djokovic fended off unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the Australian Open final, earning his first Grand Slam title. Evan Lysacek won his second straight title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in St. Paul, Minn.

Today’s Birthdays

Singer Bobby “Blue” Bland is 79. Actor James Cromwell is 69. Actor John Witherspoon is 67. Rock musician Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 64. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nedra Talley (The Ronettes) is 63. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is 61. Chief U.S. Justice John Roberts is 54. Country singer Cheryl White is 54. Country singer-musician Richard Young (The Kentucky Headhunters) is 54. Actress Mimi Rogers is 53. Rock musician Janick Gers (Iron Maiden) is 52. Sportscaster and political commentator Keith Olbermann is 50. Rock singer Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 48. Rock musician Gillian Gilbert is 48. Actress Bridget Fonda is 45. Actor Alan Cumming is 44. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 41. Rock singer Mike Patton is 41. Rapper Tricky is 41. Rock musician Michael Kulas (James) is 40. Actor Josh Randall is 37. Country singer Kevin Denney is 33.

Thought for Today

“There’s a difference between beauty and charm. A beautiful woman is one I notice. A charming woman is one who notices me.” — John Erskine, American author and educator (1879-1951).

__________

Full article: http://wcco.com/watercooler/today.in.history.2.915725.html

I saw the Monolators and the Voyeurs at the Echo. These are my pictures of the Voyeurs.

To view the rest of their set including my pictures of the Monolators go to my FLICKR or the SET.

Today is Vermont Writes Day. A day set aside to teach students (and everyone) the importance of writing. Everyone and anyone is asked to write for seven minutes today. The sponsor of the project is the youngwritersproject.org ”The aim is to get students, teachers, principals, school staff, guests and anyone else who cares to participate to write for just seven minutes.” A special website has been set up to showcase all the writing that took place. http://www.vermontwrites.ywpvt.net/ The site is being constantly updated as writers upload their writing. Check it out!

They're the only two people who ventured around our apartment building

It didn’t take long to get bored on my unofficial day off. With no one to call or interview or harass for a story, I went searching for one.

Even as I was shooting the ice continued to build up

Bekkah looked like she was having some dandruff issues

No BBQing any time soon

Already looking pretty scary, these icicles will probably only get longer as the storm continues

John Updike passed away today at the age of 76. The author of Rabbit Run and The Witches of Eastwick was not bald. In fact, he had a ton of hair. However, he was insecure about his own masculine frailty and his writing found root in the subject.

In a New York Magazine interview he describes drawing on his own old age for inspiration when writing of aging characters:

“…the physical oddities I notice in myself, the arthritic pains, the perennially imperfect teeth. I’ve been spared baldness, but in a strong hotel light, you suddenly see your awful head that you never had to look at before.”

Before utilizing skin lighteners and plastic surgery the King of Pop turned to baldness to alter his appearance. While filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984, errant pyrotechnics ignited his hair. Jackson was rushed to an area hospital with second degree burns to his scalp.

But hair loss was the least of Jacko’s problems. As soon as it began growing back his career began unraveling, culminating in sexual abuse charges, sham marriages, money problems, various health ailments, a dissolving nose, and a complete loss of musical talent. He probably would have been better off just being bald.

But baldness can’t ward off all freak disasters. Just ask the former French President Jacques Chirac (bald), who was hospitalized after being attacked by his pet Maltese, a miniature lap dog named “Sumo” that was being treated for depression.

1/27/09     7:10 AM    The Car

I am not feeling too hot right now. My stomach is still unsettled (although not NEARLY to the extent it was yesterday). I’m on my way to take the Math B Regents for the fourth time. I have never failed it– I just have yet to get the score I want on it, and it’s the one exam I don’t mind taking again.

I had a Kashi granola bar and a cup of coffee for breakfast. And now I really don’t feel so great. Oh, uhg. I thought it was better than eating nothing! which is what I wanted to do.

I just want to go home and head back to bed. I never don’t usually want this… but today it sounds perfect. Heavenly, in fact.

Alright, time to go. Here’s the school.

Oh; but my mom and sister are talking about the dentist, which reminds me– I had a dream last night that I was at school and there was a smiley poster for free dental care for one day only– the “Day of Smiles.” Strange!

PLAN A: Lil Wayne @ Cox Arena. Since when does spouting nonsensical monologues, collecting face tattoos and amassing drug charges qualify someone as “The Greatest”? Mike Tyson did it and people called him crazy; Wayne does it and goes triple platinum. Go figure. PLAN B: Magic Bullets, Spirit Photography @ Soda Bar. A reminder of how fertile and varied post-punk became throughout the years, these groups reflect opposite ends of the mood spectrum, from the wispy guitar pop of Orange Juice and Felt (Magic Bullets) to the paranoid din of Joy Division and Cabaret Voltaire (Spirit Photography). BACKUP PLAN: Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Party @ Anthology.   –Todd Kroviak

Well, when it comes to Lil Wayne, I believe the hype. Todd may think it’s “nonsensical,” and after seeing this, I kinda see where he’s coming from:

Or, is the above just proof that Weezy’s rhymes do, indeed, take a bit of talent?The kid in the video may have butchered it, but check out the original and you be the judge. Either way, I have heard that Lil Wayne’s live shows are pretty hype as far as rap shows go:

Honorable Mention:

Gray Ghosts, Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses, Swim Party, The New Archaic @ The Casbah–I saw Gray Ghosts at the Soda Bar a few weeks ago and they were great! Fun, poppy and may be even better than Kite Flying Society. Ryan Bingham just put out a gorgeous record on Lost Highway. Check it out!

Tommie Price & the Stillettos @ Henry’s Pub

The Spilljoy Ensemble @ The Loft at UCSD

Jackson & Jesus @ Mc P’s Irish Pub–I have no idea what this is but I’m putting it in because of the name.

According to the Midland Reporter Telegram, one person has been reported dead after a four-vehicle accident on Interstate 20 near Farm-to-Market Road 1788. The name of the deceased motorist has not been released pending notification of family. The condition of others involved was unknown as well at the time of this posting.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the accident occurred around 8:01 a.m. Tuesday morning, January 27, 2009. Three vehicles and a UPS 18-wheeler tractor trailer truck were involved in this accident. The 18-wheeler tractor trailer had flipped on its side and eastbound Interstate 20 between FM 1788 and Loop 250 were closed due to this accident.

I would respectfully request that you please keep these accident victims and their families in your prayers during this difficult time.

I would be personally interested to see the results of the investigation into this truck accident to see if the driver of the tractor trailer was at fault for the accident or if any other vehicles were the cause for this accident. It is likely that the horrible weather conditions contributed to this accident. However, in 95% of all weather related auto accidents, speed is the number one factor for accidents.

It is important that these automobile accident victims and their families immediately contact a highly qualified auto accident attorney to protect their legal options. We would urge the family of these victims to seek the counsel of an experienced auto accident attorney, who is well-versed with tractor trailer truck accident cases as well. A skilled personal injury lawyer will be able to look into the various factors that played a role in this horrific crash and immediately notify all parties who could be responsible for this devastating auto accident that injured these victims near Midland, Texas.

Attorney Scott Edgett is a civil trial attorney with the Humphreys & Peterson Law Firm in Dallas, Texas but handles cases throughout Texas. Mr. Edgett is licensed to practice law in Texas and Florida. Over the last decade, Mr. Edgett has emphasized on providing superior client representation in a professional and ethical manner, while experiencing high job satisfaction and trying to make the world a safer place for all. Mr. Edgett has been representing families and consumers whose lives have been devastated by reckless drivers, dangerous products and other negligent tortfeasors. When a tragedy occurs because of the irresponsible behavior of a tortfeasor, an insurance company, or a corporation, Mr. Edgett and the firm of Humphreys & Peterson are advocates for the people and will help pursue justice for all. To speak directly to Attorney Scott Edgett, please feel free him at (866) 259-0661, via email at Scott@TexasJusticeForAll.com, or visit our website at www.TexasJusticeForAll.com.

The impeachment trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois
began on Monday, January 26, 2009. Governor Blagojevich was
not present at the trial Monday, instead he continued his
road show antics of pleading innocence and being the victim
of a witch hunt. Anyone that followed the Tony Rezko trial,
read the indictments of Rezko, Stuart Levine, Dr. Robert
Weinstein and a host of others and compared those revelations
to the details of the Blagojevich criminal complaint knows
of Rod Blagojevich’s deep involvement in Chicago pay to play
politics. It is also clear that the case against Blagojevich
is not simply about selling Obama’s senate seat, but about
many years of corruption that ties Blagojevich to many Chicago
corruption figures as well as Obama.

One of the more flagrant cases of corruption involving
Blagojevich and Obama was their part in rigging the IL Health
Planning Facilities Board. Obama was in the IL Senate at that
time and was instrumental in reducing the number of members
from 15 to 9. Why is that important? Because the governor, Rod
Blagojevich, had the power to appoint up to 5 members.
Blagojevich, in cahoots with Rezko and Levine, appointed
members that would follow their wishes and consequently Obama and
Blagojevich received campaign contributions from the new
members. The board was involved in bid rigging.

Obama and Blagojevich and Health Planning Board rigging

Obama, Blagojevich and IL Teachers Retirement System
reveal more Chicago and Illinois corruption ties.

Obama corruption ties in IL TRS should lead to indictment

Blagojevich investigation should lead to Obama Indictment

Listen to Blagojevich Impeachment Trial

To:  All Registered Republicans in Oklahoma’s 77 counties

RE:  KEEP FOR REFERENCE — Republican statewide election on (or about) January 27, 2009

(NOTE:  This is written ONLY for registered Republicans in Oklahoma.  Registered Independents and Democrats CANNOT vote in Republican Party elections.)

1. As a result of the November 2008 election, some of you have asked us, “Where do we go from here?”  This e-mail will explain to you what you need to do, when you need to do it, and how to do it.  The purpose of this e-mail is to give you all of the information that you need to vote in the Republican statewide election on January 27.   The election on January 27 is a PARTY election (as opposed to a GOVERNMENT election).  The election on January 27 is the first step in a 3-step party election process for Republicans in Oklahoma.  It is important for you to understand that the Oklahoma State Election Board and the 77 county election boards only conduct GOVERNMENT elections – not PARTY elections.  The Oklahoma Republican Party conducts PARTY elections.  It is also important for you to understand that you CAN decide not to vote in the Republican Party’s precinct election – but there are consequences.  If you do NOT vote in the Republican Party’s precinct election, you AUTOMATICALLY LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN ALL OTHER PARTY ELECTIONS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR!   If you do not vote in party elections, you are missing about half of the elections that are available to you as a voter.

2. At this point (before going ANY FURTHER), we need you to find your precinct number in the county that you are registered to vote.  All of the information in the following paragraphs pertains to specific information about your precinct.  If you do not know your precinct number, please look on your voter ID card; everyone who is registered in Oklahoma will have a six digit number listed on their voter ID card.  (Please don’t confuse your Voter Identification Number with your precinct number.  The Voter Identification number is a nine digit number near the top right corner of your voter card.  Your precinct number is a six digit number near the bottom left corner of your voter card.)  For each county, the first three digits are simply the numerical representation of each county in alphabetical order (Adair County = 010, Woodward County = 770, etc.).  The last three numbers are what are commonly known as your precinct number.  If you cannot find your voter ID card, find your county election board on the attachment called “County Election Boards”.  Then call your county election board IMMEDIATELY and ask them for three things.  Ask them to tell you your precinct number, ask them to confirm for you your political affiliation (Democrat, Republican or Independent) and ask them to mail you another voter ID card.  Remember: the Election Board does NOT conduct party elections.

3. As a registered Republican, you now need the name and contact information for your Republican county chairman.  To find out who the Republican chairman is in your county, go to the web site of the Oklahoma State Republican Party. Once you are on the home page of the Oklahoma Republican Party web site, look near the top of the web site for the phrase “OKGOP Directory” (this phrase is just under the word OKLAHOMA – which is at the very top of the page).  Move your cursor over the phrase “OKGOP Directory” and then the phrase “Local GOP Contacts” will appear just below your cursor.  Click on the phrase “Local GOP Contacts” and it should take you to another web page that lists the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the Republican Party chairmen in most of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.  (Some counties don’t have a Republican county chairman; if you live in one of those counties, call the Oklahoma Republican party at 405-528-3501 and tell them that you want to be a delegate to the state convention.)

4.  Once you have the name and contact information for your Republican county chairman, you need to contact them ASAP to find out two things.  You need to first confirm that the Republican precinct elections in YOUR county are indeed on Tuesday, January 27 and are not on some other day.  (The reason we mention this is that a few of the county Republican parties have already agreed to conduct their precinct elections on some other day.  There may have been important reasons that a county Republican Party chose to conduct its precinct elections on a day other than January 27.  It is not necessarily a sinister action for a county Republican Party to conduct its precinct elections on a day other than January 27.  You just need to be aware that this may happen in your county.)  The second thing that you need to find out from your county chairman is whether your precinct already has a Republican precinct chairman.  Here are 2 suggestions as to how you can word your questions to your county chairman to find out these two things:

“I am a registered Republican in (name of your county) County; are the precinct meetings in our county going to be held on Tuesday, January 27?”

“I’m registered in precinct (your precinct number); do we have a precinct chairman for my precinct?”  If so, then ask for the name and phone number of your precinct chairman.  If there is not a precinct chairman in your precinct, you need to immediately volunteer for that position.

5. As a registered Republican, you need to call your precinct chairman IMMEDIATELY because your precinct chairman sets the location of your precinct election.  It is very important for you to understand that the place where you vote in government elections is NOT the same place where you vote in party elections!!!  At your precinct election, it is EXTREMELY important for you to make sure that you get elected as a delegate to your county convention.  At your county convention, it is EXTREMELY important for you to make sure that you sign up and get elected as a delegate to the state convention.

6. On the first page of the handout called “Party Election Packet”, we have included a voter guide for party elections, because many people have asked us what you vote on in party elections.  These sheets list the basics of what you are going to be voting on in each step of the process.  The second page of the handout lists all of the dates that we have at this time for 2009 government elections and party elections in Oklahoma.  As you can see, the Republicans have set the first step in the party election process as January 27.  (Some of the election dates on this page describe specific elections in Tulsa County, but ALL of the election dates apply to ALL 77 counties of Oklahoma.)  The third and fourth page of the attachment is a procedure for voting in party elections; we have included it because many of you will discover that you have never (UNTIL NOW) voted in a party election.  (If you have only voted in one place in your precinct, this is a good indication that you have not ever voted in a party election.)

7. If you have questions about anything in this e-mail or in the attachment, please contact your precinct chairman.

8.  Please note that this information is being provided for educational purposes only and is NOT being generated by any church or ministry.

Note on Attachments: attachments mentioned are now links to this document and may be downloaded as you deem appropriate.

[Editor's note:  Special thanks to Greg and Susan Hill for making this information available to all.  They are treasured friends to all in the Republican party and the conservative movement.  Please share with anyone interested in participating as information and for reference.]/sc

• Guerra anglo-boer: La cancillería alemana difunde una noticia no confirmada que el general británico Warren ha sido derrotado por los bóers en la batalla de Tugela-Spionkop y las bajas británicas son considerables.
• China, rebelión boxer: Los diplomáticos extranjeros en Pekín temen una revuelta. Las principales potencias involucradas (Estados Unidos, Reino Unido, Alemania, Austria-Hungría, Italia, Japón y Rusia) oficializan una petición al Gobierno imperial chino para que castigue a los rebeldes bóxers.
• Tropas brasileñas exigen el control de la región boliviana de Acre.
• Rusia reconoce que el transporte de sus tropas hacia la región fronteriza con Afganistán, es una “medida de precaución”.
• El Rey de Rusia, Nicolás II, ofrece enviar ayuda material al protectorado ruso de Finlandia, así como una indirecta promesa de nueva Constitución.
• Francia envía cinco mil soldados a Madagascar y aclara que esta medida no es motivada por temer un ataque británico, eventualmente derivado de la extensión del teatro de operaciones de la guerra anglo-boer que se libra frente a las costas de su colonia africana.
• La prensa británica y japonesa especula que Japón podría estar preparando un ataque contra Rusia en Corea y en la región china de Manchuria, debido a los intensos preparativos de rearme naval que se han desarrollado en los últimos meses. La especulación se acentuó debido a la botadura de poderoso acorazado “Shikishima” que partió hoy de Reino Unido con destino a Japón.
• En Estados Unidos el Partido Social Demócrata de América realiza su primera convención.

Y.Z. Chin’s “January 27,” published in the Summer issue of Flashquake, is a story of the limits of words. In spite of the power of incantations, words cannot reform the world to match our own desires.

Calling what has changed by its old name will not bring it back, Mike. It only distorts it, damaging not only what it is now but also reaching back to smear what it once was.

I have, at times, been prey to painful nostalgia, and have gone to great lengths to resurrect the past, returning to places, and people, that were best left alone. Always, I talked myself into this with words, and tried to catch other people in their spell, trying to get myself and those around me to believe, for example, that I never went away, and had been right beside them all along.

Words are dangerous when used this way, for exactly the reason Chin describes. Once it’s clear that words can’t retrieve everything I wish for from the past, the memories I once treasured turn out to have been sullied by my attempts. I can’t remember the perfect mood to my high-school romance in the same way, after having tried and failed so many times to resurrect it. The memory gets left in a Frankenstein’s-monster state, scarred by botched galvanization.

Considering the dangers of nostalgia, how does a writer handle looking into the past? How can the words be prevented from turning traitorous? To me, it’s a matter of being exact. I know the difference between remembering the way I want to remember and remembering with full detail.

For example: I want, sometimes, to go back to the time just before I returned to college, when I studied ancient Greek all the time, took road trips to Savannah, constantly worked on my novel, and copied quotes from old French serialized novels into a little flowered notebook.

But, to be exact, I often sat then on the porch, smoking out of loneliness. I was so nervous, I stayed up until all hours. I didn’t manage to make it through The Man in the Iron Mask, and I was spending all my savings.

As the two paragraphs show, it was both a lovely time and a miserable time. Truth is difficult. It’s so hard to avoid landing on one side or the other, especially if I use memory with an agenda. For this reason, I must take care with words.

Sarah:  “please pray that God will bless me with a vehicle.”

Ed and Lorinda:  “for Ed’s uncle, Pat, who has stage 4 lung cancer.  He is doing Chemo.”

Theresa:  “lead my daughter Emily, to God’s service for her, be it the Hefier Project, Americorps, or one of its affiliates.”

Miranda:  “healing for Jason’s foot.”

CJ:  “Please pray for my sister, Judy, who is having back surgery on the 31st.”

Randy:  “Monday I have 3 expulsion hearings and ask for God’s wisdom on the outcome.”

Julian and Marcia:  “healing on Michelle’s hand”

Hey Parents!  All month, we’ve been talking about orderliness- arranging things to make your day easier with our first through sixth graders.  This week, we’re learning that, just like God gives us changing seasons throughout the year, He also gives us different times in our lives.  We need to learn to make the most of every opportunity God gives us.  We are looking in the book of Ecclestiastes 3 and focusing on verses 1 – 8.  It’s definitely going to be one of those weeks that I learn as much as the kids do!

Let me give you some questions to ask your childafter Sunday during meal times, while you’re riding down the road, or picking up from school this week.  Talk to your child about a time in your life when you had to trust God.  Is it harder for you to trust God when you’re at a high point in your life or at a low point?  Ask your child what he or she enjoys about being a kid.  Encourage your child to enjoy the “season of life” God has given him now!

Also, don’t forget to ask your child for his GodTime card this week.  GodTime cards are great ways to get your child into the Bible each day.  Encourage your child to complete one day of the card each day throughout the week.  Help your child with his GodTime card this week.  It will encourage you as you watch your child apply what we learned Sunday to their lives through the GodTime cards all week!

This Sunday, preschoolers are learning that Jesus taught us to love other people.  Your preschooler will talk about how we can do kind things for others to show them that we love them!  Think of someone this week that needs encouraging.  Help your child make cookies for that person and take them to him or her.  When you take what we teach your child here at church and apply it, it really begins to “take root” and make a difference.

I’m praying for you as you parent your child this week!  We are here to help!  Let me know if we can help you and your child grow closer to each other and closer to your Heavenly Father this week!