Call To Arms

Kamikaze Girls

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More Live Action Goodness

Straight from Japan:
Awesome (anime-free) female artists... broaden your horizons & enjoy!

Samurai Champloo Rocks My Socks

The Danger of Raising Girls

The obstacles we face in this misleading, messed up, media-fed world...





Support Dove in their daunting quest!

Welcome, Eva Rose!

It's a girl! I got to meet my much-anticipated niece two days ago, and she's absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way. I am so proud of my best friends, Sarah and Caleb (mom and dad)--so proud that I have to boast about it on my blog! ;)

Here's Drew and I holding our little niece, Eva Rose.

And here's the happy mom and dad!

Princess Princess (Hime)

Is it fair that boys can be prettier than girls?

Birthday Extravaganza

Twenty-seven years down... who knows how many more to go. 

This year I took evidence that I didn't spend the entire time sulking. 

If you're ever in Napa, CA, go check out Don Giovanni's. Their grilled bifsteca with spinach and lemon (with a glass of Sonoma Reisling) is a beautiful thing.

OMG--Really?!?

Or "Welcome to the Apocalypse..."
I just heard (I'm slow in the news) that there is a live-action movie in production of Neon Genesis Evangelion scheduled to be released possibly between '09-'12. REALLY???? It's called the "Untitled Evangelion Project" thus far and will be designed by WETA, same folks who blessed our eyes in LOTR. lol I'm so excited and am hoping that it will provide more answers than questions--or at least remain the same in the amount of ambiguity ("Ambiguity only brings me pain" in the words of Shinji).

For those of you familiar with this apocalyptic (and at times, creepily cryptic) anime, you're probably already familiar with the excessive violence in the movie End of Evangelion--I'm a light weight so I was pretty squeemish through the whole thing. I much preferred the series' "tameness." I'll take the "revenge" theory on that one by creator Hideaki Anno...

Anyway, any one who knows my anime-taste knows fully well that I'm not big into sci-fi or metal monster things like Gundam or Voltron (!); it's the psychological and mental realms this series takes that really solidifies its genius. It's truly like no other anime out there--at least that I've seen yet (maybe Space Runaway Ideon which I refuse to watch?). Besides, the Evas turn out to be bodiless souls, anyway, so they're not really machines to begin with. There's so much real, raw human pain and purpose, so much anguish and turmoil--and hope and "rebirth"! This is clearly evident in each and every character who stands completely apart from the next (unlike many anime characters who all meld together lazily). Anno's personal battles with depression are beautifully chronicled through the characters' journeys, as well as his eventual freedom--loving yourself and others despite the pain of your past and the rejection of those you love.

(PS: I'm giving my boy Shinji-kun a shout out because gets absolutely no love from the fans! Hey-hoo! =^.^= )

"Shine and hold up the sky... Young boy become a legend..."

The folks at WETA say...

Sacramento couple who let lawn die to save water face $746 fine

by Matt Weiser-mweiser@sacbee.com

Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1

While a neighbor waters a lawn in the background, Anne Hartridge surveys her own east Sacramento yard. She has been threatened with a city code enforcement fine for letting her lawn die to save water. She spread mulch last weekend, but the city says that may not suffice. Randall Benton / rbenton@sacbee.com

If Sacramento wanted a poster couple for its "green city" aspirations, it would be hard to do better than Anne Hartridge and Matt George. The husband and wife bought a home in east Sacramento for easy biking to work and shopping. They installed solar panels and efficient appliances. Their laundry dries on a clothesline. They didn't own a car until four years ago, when their eldest son, then 18 months old, was being treated frequently for food allergies. They bought a Prius.

So when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought June 4, Hartridge decided it was only right to let her front lawn die to save water.

"The whole water conservation ethic is very important to me," said Hartridge, a state employee who bikes or rides the bus to work.

But that ethic didn't agree with her neighbors, or with the city. Before Hartridge could plan new landscaping, a neighbor complained to the city about her brown lawn, and the Code Enforcement Department slapped the family with a citation. Their small brick home was declared a "public nuisance" in violation of city code section 17.68.010, which states that front yards "shall be irrigated, landscaped and maintained."

A $746 fine will be next unless they correct the violation.

"In order to make the lawn go, I would have had to keep watering it intensely, and since the drought was declared, I decided that wasn't a good idea," said Hartridge. "Honestly, I think there's a disconnect within the city about priorities."

Two weeks ago, The Bee reported that Sacramento's per capita water use is among the greatest in the world. Later that week, the same day Hartridge got the citation, an audit revealed that the city has lost or misplaced nearly 5,000 water meters, out of more than 100,000 it must install citywide to comply with state law.

"On one hand they're mislaying their water meters, and on the other hand they going out and putting enforcement on people who don't have green lawns," Hartridge said. "And there's water running down the gutters of my neighborhood every day."

City laws forbid landscape irrigation on Mondays (code section 13.04.860), between noon and 6 p.m. (13.04.860), and to such an extent that water runs into gutters (13.04.850).

All these violations could be seen on Hartridge's street this week – one street among thousands in Sacramento.

Neighbor Lois Guy, a retiree, thinks the situation is "crazy." "It's private property, after all," she said Tuesday while trimming hedges at her home around the corner from Hartridge's. "They're in the process of doing something (with the lawn). So they should be left alone while they're trying to improve it."

Dennis Kubo, city code enforcement manager, said his department does not communicate with the Utilities Department about drought concerns or water efficiency. His department only enforces health and safety and "general welfare" codes.

"The zoning ordinance tells us that the property owner's got to have landscaping. So that's what we have to do," he said.

The city's landscaping rule is intended to maintain neighborhood visual standards to prevent one neighbor's tastes from harming another's property values. The rule was the subject of much conflict last year when amended to provide gardeners leeway to grow more than grass. Sacramentans can now grow large trees, shrubs and, yes, even food in their front yards without fear of reprisal. But the rules still require front landscaping to be irrigated, which means scores of homeowners could be penalized for growing cacti or other drought-tolerant vegetation.

"The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing when it comes to the city," said Karen Baumann, who triggered last year's controversy after she was cited in 2005 for inadequate lawn cover after she removed grass to plant vegetables and flowers in her front yard.

Hartridge was already having trouble keeping her lawn green when nature turned up the heat this spring. She watered every other day and even tried reseeding. But it didn't take. For her it was a natural decision to stop watering the grass after the governor's drought declaration. But she never got a chance to plan new landscaping before the lawn police arrived.

Last Thursday, the day after the citation came in the mail, she called Code Enforcement to find out how to correct the violation. She was told an e-mail with landscaping solutions would be forthcoming. It never arrived. She also called her city councilman, Steve Cohn, who did not respond. Cohn also didn't return a call from The Bee on Tuesday. Last weekend she decided to cover what's left of her small lawn with redwood mulch, which she spread around a few hydrangeas and azaleas that survive with occasional water.

Hartridge awaits reinspection by Code Enforcement. She does not know when that will happen or whether her yard will comply.

Probably not, Kubo said. Mulch is allowed only as one of the "design elements ... integrated as part of the landscape," according to code section 17.68.010(1)a(1)b.

"If it's just one tree out there, maybe a couple of plants and then the whole front yard is loaded with bark," he said, "then no, that's not going to meet the criteria."

Googley Eyed Botanist :)

Super Legacy... or Not?

Some guy I don't know says:
I'm sorry for those, like me, who felt that the Mario 3 video was one of the most amazing things they have ever seen. Truth be told, the video is fake.

There proof comes straight from the horses mouth. At the end of the video, there are url's to two different websites. The soramimi.egoism.jp one is the one with the proof. The site is in Japanese, but a translation done exposes the truth.

I QUOTE: ZURU is carried out. It is dropping and moving by the emulator till 1/30 second. Save and loading are repeated and recorded during movie record.
When a mistake is saved and made before a dangerous place, it is touch called loading. The translation is poor, but you get the point.

The video was done on an emulator FRAME by FRAME, with constant usage of save states to correct any errors. The only true feat in the whole video is that a person actually took the time to map out every level and know the patterns for all the enemies. Actually performing the task of playing took little skill, however.

The guy that did the video never actually meant for everyone to believe it was a person playing in real time. He also says: I think I am sorry very much so that the dream of the pure person who considered may be ruined.
It should have written beforehand. and I am very sorry to people considered to be a play by people's hand seriously


Also in the translation, it states that it took the guy 2 years to do it.

Reflections of Eternity

In breezy thought I remember—

Remember that you are gone

But will remain,

Though seasons call you hence,

Our spirits stay the same.

In love’s ardor glance,

A silent glimpse is seen—

A view from heaven,

Passions filled,

A glimpse of cries sustained.

Knowledge sweeps over me then—

That in the spring of heaven’s

Kiss comes ageless wonder—

The freedom of innocent days

Long since taken somehow

Regained.

No remorse then,

Or even pain.

In such loss comes heavenly gain—

And I know it will not be

Long standing—

No, eternity is at our feet

And reality in our hearts.

This time, this place,

This sight

Is nothing but seeking air,

For upon that day we shall rise

And greet the dawn.

copyright melanie faith 2008

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey

Name:	Melly
Birthday:	July 14
Birthplace:	Texas
Current Location:	Cally
Eye Color:	Hazel
Hair Color:	Who knows?
Height:	5'4
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Left-handed people rock!
Your Heritage:	All of the above
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Flip-flops, of course
Your Weakness:	Insecurity--and bread!
Your Fears:	Abandonment--and bears, oh my!
Your Perfect Pizza:	The speck pizzas in Italy!
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Finish my novel: B/M
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	OMG
Thoughts First Waking Up:	OMG
Your Best Physical Feature:	Eyes
Your Bedtime:	Whenever Drew tells me
Your Most Missed Memory:	Missed or lost?
Pepsi or Coke:	Pepsi
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Neither
Single or Group Dates:	I don't date
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	My own brew
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Swirl
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Both
Do you Smoke:	Used to
Do you Swear:	No, da***t
Do you Sing:	YES!
Do you Shower Daily:	Nope
Have you Been in Love:	I would hope so
Do you want to go to College:	Still there
Do you want to get Married:	Again?
Do you belive in yourself:	Sometimes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Yup
Do you think you are Attractive:	Er... not really
Are you a Health Freak:	At times
Do you get along with your Parents:	Si
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Si tambien
Do you play an Instrument:	Si , si
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	Does Listerine count?
In the past month have you Smoked:	Salmon?
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	Not my scene
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	Don't tell my hubby
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	Snackwells Devil's Food Cake... yum
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	Saturday! I love sushi
In the past month have you been on Stage:	Been awhile
In the past month have you been Dumped:	Let me ask Drew...
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	Er... no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	Negative
Ever been Drunk:	I suppose
Ever been called a Tease:	Not to my face
Ever been Beaten up:	Not really
Ever Shoplifted:	Yes!
How do you want to Die:	In sleep
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	The best ME I can be
What country would you most like to Visit:	Japan--Summer 09, baby!

Mother and Daughter Graduating From Vet School Together

June 2, 2008

Mothers and daughters share a special bond, and veterinary students build strong connections during four years of intense study. But Sharon Hunt Gerardo and her daughter Angelina share both distinctions as they prepare to graduate together June 13 from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

Sharon, a UC Davis alumna who earned a bachelor's degree in 1980 and a master's degree in 1982, wanted to be a veterinarian most of her life, but when she did not get into veterinary school after college, she went on to earn a doctorate in immunology from UCLA and pursue a research career. She married Michael "Mike" Gerardo, who earned his doctor of veterinary medicine from UC Davis in 1982, and together they began a veterinary business and a family, settling in Simi Valley.

Daughter Angelina and her brother Jimmie grew up surrounded by animals.

"We had a ton of pets, spent summers in the clinic and went to work with Dad when he had emergencies," Angelina says. "I didn't consider any other occupation."

Mike's unexpected death in 2000 caused profound family changes. Through troubled times, Sharon remembered the joys of her husband's practice and revisited her own career, determining that she still carried her dream to work with people, their animals and the community as a veterinarian.

From then on, it was a matter of timing. In 2003, both women applied to veterinary school. They talked about their unusual situation and even interviewed the same day at one East Coast college, but they never expected to enroll at the same school.

Angelina selected UC Davis. Sharon was considering another veterinary school, but at the last moment, she chose to stay in California, too.

Angelina admits she "wasn't that thrilled" about sitting next to her mom in class for the next four years. However, with separate homes, lab sections and friends, the two got along fine.

"We started studying together," Angelina says, "We found that we study at the same pace."

With veterinary school completed, Angelina has joined the Army Veterinary Corps for three years and is considering a military career. Her first assignment, after basic training, is Camp LeJeune, N.C., where she will care for 50-60 military working dogs and the small animals of service personnel.

Now re-married, Sharon will remain in Davis a bit longer. She will combine her experience in immunology and an interest in infectious diseases by pursuing a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree. Her ambition is to practice in a public research or diagnostic laboratory.

By choosing the same professional path, both women hope to carry on a double legacy from Mike Gerardo -- and an ever-stronger personal bond created by their veterinary school experience