A friend of mine has family visiting the clinic, and I heard this story and thought of them - I love bells, and ringing of bells.

The Rochester carillon is one of the largest in the country and one of only three in Minnesota. The musical instrument consists of 56 bronze bells housed in a tower. Carillon music is played on an odd-looking keyboard console and it's music that requires a lot of muscle.


http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/12/29/mayo-carillon/

March - This was a great moment for me, because Gackt could have chosen to speak to the Selection Committee on behalf of the 'main' competition, (the Olympics) but instead, spoke on behalf of games that bring an awareness to those who have disabilities, as a parent of a disabled child, I was very happy that Gackt made this choice.

Dressed in a dark suit, wearing glasses, Gackt addressed the members of the committee in English, Korean and Mandarin as well as Japanese.

*another personal note - most of the online fandom passed on this story, or morphed it into 'Gackt is performing at the Olympics' conversations, which completely missed the point of what he was trying to bring attention to. I am often asked, does Gackt have charities he supports? He developed the 'Save Our Dears' charity to assist victims of earthquakes in Japan and Asia, through sales of specific merchandise and funds from Orico Card. *check Gackt.com website

Gackt has also developed a relationship with his adopted home of Niigata, Japan, Gackt took part in two Kenshin Festivals, (because of his role as famed warlord Uesugi Kenshin in the drama Fuurin Kazan) to bring in much needed revenue to the city and countryside recovering from earthquakes. This year, Gackt has taken part in promotion and participation in a Niigata Asia Music Festival, to take place in 2010.

Gackt also makes a point to attend school graduation ceremonies at the requests of young fans, (those who have achieved a particular goal) performing in hopes of encouraging children.

Ganbatte, GACKT!

Oh my my my, some of my pals might not think so, but I thought THIS was fabulous, Gackt decides to do techo-dance song with naughty lyrics about hostesses, and then goes to the top clubs to recruit dancers.

'We are good girls yes?' just channel your inner Tom Jones, Gacchan.

(but Gackt still the prettiest!)

It's hard to pick from among so many great moments this year, but I particularly LOVED when GACKT appeared twice on VS ARASHI. Because if GACKT's my fave idol, ARASHI is my fave group! 

Not only did GACKT's appearance win one of the highest ratings for the show this year, it showed an easy-going side of our Gacchan to Arashi fans, making him more approachable and more loveable, if that's possible.


And if Ohno's response to GACKT giving him a ring for his birthday is anything to go by, we'll see more of this particular 'Team Arashi + 1'.

Artist  Karadin
Rating PG
Subject Gackt works out with AbRoller and Friends
Warnings n/a
Pencil on paper colored in Photoshop
Critique welcome yes

(click for postcard size)
DO NOT REPOST - arigato!


characters from left to right
Riderman- GACKT - Lau Wong - Yoshi - Kamui Gakupo - Gladiator - TakagamiTeijirou - Uesugi Kenshin - Genesis - Camui Lucy - Gundam Pilot - Sho -Gide Bellecourt - Camui Gakuen Student Council President - Zero - Proto- Eneru (GACKT's dog)

2 albums
(REBORN and GLADIATOR EVOLUTION)

9 singles
(GHOST, LOST ANGELS, KOAKUMA HEAVEN, FLOWER, FARAWAY, SETSUGEKKA, JOURNEY THROUGH THE DECADE, THE NEXT DECADE)

*56 Concert Tour Lives
(RR2 Visualive and Visualive Arena)
(*5 shows performed Dec 2008, 1 show canceled Ashikawa, added Birthday Concert Dears only)

14 Fanclub Tour Lives
(Camui Gakuen Paradise + Singapore Fanclub Event)

In 5 compilation albums
(Daremo Shiranai Nakeru Uta Official Gaiden, Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai Shocker Movie, Kamen Rider Decade Complete OST, Kamen Rider Theme Songs OST, Gundam song OST)

Produced and appeared in 2 Concert DVD's
RR2 Visualive, (in progress) and Animelo Live 2009

Produced DVD
Platinum Box X

Voice work
REBORN Drama CD.

Produced 2 photobooks
(GACKTIONARY, VISUALIVE Documentary 2009)

Produced 6 theme songs
Kamen Rider Decade, All Riders vs Great Shocker Movie, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles (airing in Japan) Sengoku Musou 3 (game) Gladiator Evolution (game) Kamen Rider Double Decade Taisen Movie.

Produced 5 official pvs
FLOWER (2 versions), SETSUGEKKA, JOURNEY THROUGH THE DECADE, THE NEXT DECADE, STAY THE RIDE ALIVE,

Took part in
Asia Song Festival Korea
Animelo Live
Thanks for Music WOWOW
Gundam Green Project and Gundam the First Stadium Event
All Riders vs Great Shocker Roadshow (premiere)

Appeared in
Mr. Brain drama
Tsutaya Discas Cm
All Riders vs Great Shocker Film
*119 magazines/newpapers
*48 radio shows (comments and interviews)
*87 televison appearances (clips, performances)

*these are approximates

Kidnapped Ethiopian girl saved by lions

http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/7523

Great for brunch, or some winter comfort food when you want a change of pace, wonderfully creamy - and gluten free!

1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 lb bag frozen cooked small shrimp, (shelled, de-veined, no tails, thawed)
1 cup half and half (or milk)
2 large eggs
4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (divided)
4 cups cooked brown short-grain rice
1 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


Heat oven to 350 degrees, spray glass casserole with cooking spray or butter. Saute onions with 2 tablespoons of butter and cayenne pepper until translucent.

In a large bowl, whisk together half and half and eggs. Add 2 cups cheese, rice, parsley, thyme, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour into prepared casserole dish and top with remaining 2 cups shredded cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. let custard set for at least 5 min before serving.

A nice side is freshly steamed corn.

Title: Scar Tissue
Rating: PG for now and likely eventually NC-17 (I'll note the ratings per individual chapter, if they change)
Pairing: ByaRen
Length: currently 13,150 and counting!
Warnings: Angst.  A fair amount of Renji angst.  Likely increasing violence/sexual content as the story progresses.
Summary: Traumatized in the aftermath of his trip to Hueco Mundo, Renji findssolace from an unexpected source - but before he can heal entirely, he's asked to return.
NOW COMPLETE.

http://rii-no-ame.livejournal.com/581.html#cutid1

A nice longer fic series that keeps both characters in character! Complex and masculine, with plenty of story to go with the relationship, and has a sequel in progress! ;D

I had not heard of this song! Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra



It's a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day
I wait for it the whole year round.

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the evergreen trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It's shining so your nose wont freeze.

The world is your snowball, see how it grows
That's how it goes whenever it snows
The world is your snowball just for a song
Get out and roll it along

It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts
Take a walk with your favorite girl
It's a sugar date, what if spring is late
In winter it's a marshmallow world