notes, updates, and personal news (Firefly squee!)

[eldritchhobbit]

First of all, happy birthday to two fantastic ladies, groovekittie and magicwondershow. May you both enjoy terrific birthdays, and wonderful years to come!

In general news...

* The Mythopoeic Society has announced the finalists for the 2007 Mythopoeic Awards (including the Fantasy Award for Adult Literature, the Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, the Scholarship Award for Inklings Studies, and the Scholarship Award in myth And Fantasy). See the list of finalists here.

* The pet food recall saga continues, as now acetaminophen has been found in various brands of cat and dog food that were not on the Menu Foods list. Here's a way to keep informed:


And in personal news...

* Next month I will be giving four lectures at UCLA as part of the Institute for Humane Studies' Cinematic & Literary Traditions of Liberty: A Workshop. I am very happy to say that last week it was confirmed: my first lecture will immediately follow a presentation by Tim Minear, co-producer and co-writer for Firefly, who will be walking the seminar attendees through one of his episodes, "Out of Gas," and talking about his experience writing for television. My lecture will dovetail with his presentation, as I will be discussing the political dimensions of frontier literature and film, focusing on science fiction and westerns. Needless to say, I am one very happy Browncoat.


Mal: "Inara, think you could stoop to being on my arm?"
Inara: "Will you wash it first?"
- "Heart of Gold," Firefly

Comments

[magicwondershow.livejournal.com]

first of all, thank you muchly for the birthday wishes! i was greeted this morning upon waking by one of my precious furry children who decided her birthday gift to me would be the chance to give her as much love and affection as she could stand.

how gracious my cats are!

secondly, thank you for the update on the recall. so far, i have been very fortunate in this, since we had to switch from iams a while ago to save a little bit of cash. my girls seem to be safe, for now, but it bothers me that so many of our beloved four-footed friends and family have been put at risk. hopefully this raises awareness in the world that our standards won't be lowered merely because these amazing creatures don't walk on two feet.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I hope you had a fantastic birthday (and your cats did, as well! *g*).

I agree with you 100% about how disturbing it is that this food crisis has put so many of our four-footed family members at risk. It breaks my heart. I'm glad to hear yours have been safe thus far. *hugs*

[vaklam.livejournal.com]

Wow! Have fun in LA. I wish I could attend. "Will there, perhaps, be transcripts available?" he asked slyly. =)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :) I will check about transcripts. They may also be taping some of the talks. *fingers crossed* I really appreciate your interest.

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the pet food link - I'm adding it to my profile.

I'm getting more frustrated by the day. The food I use and have stood loyally by through this (it's totally safe and ethical) has been pulled from my pet store's shelves... Not because they aren't safe, but because they acted like ass-hats when the pet store owner called and asked for a list of their suppliers. Gah! Now I have to find a new food and try and convince the store to re-stock Pet Guard. I'm so sick of this!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Augh! *headdesk* That's incredibly frustrating. I'm so sorry to hear it! This pet food crisis really is terrifying. Thanks for all the news you've passed along, as well - it's been of great help in keeping up with what to feed Virginia.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Nice music!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks! We obviously share excellent taste. *wink*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

What great news! Very cool to be a professional fangirl [g]

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! Thanks so much. :)

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

This is the only time I wish I was at UCLA :P I'm jealous and excited for you - please let us know how that talk goes!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :) I'll definitely report back. I appreciate your interest - and your kindness.

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

Wow, that last sounds cool, congrats on that! And thanx for the pet food link.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! And you're very welcome. (This ongoing pet food crisis is so frightening!)

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

It is very disturbing, yes.

[nekrokedeia.livejournal.com]

more recall?! you think they would run out of things to recall at some point...

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I suppose they can always make up things to recall, if it gets to that point. ;)

By the way, have I told you yet how much I adore the Magic Goblet cover? Because I do.

[estellye.livejournal.com]

That. Is so. Cool.

I have nothing more profound to say than that.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!! :) You can imagine my excitement. Your icon, by the way, has made my day. I hope all's well in your neck of the woods.

Congrats and...........

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

good luck with the lectures!

Re: Congrats and...........

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :)

[sittingduck1313.livejournal.com]

Out of Gas was IMO the best episode of the series. I also liked how he gave the Reavers a vaguely Lovecraftian vibe in Bushwhacked. When they got turned into a Blake's 7 homage in the film, I felt the same way Tolkien did about the coming of Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill in MacBeth.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Out of Gas was IMO the best episode of the series.

It's very hard for me to rank the episodes, but I do agree that this was at the very top of the heap. The writing was so tight, and each mini-story contributed beautifully to the larger narrative.

That's a great point about the Lovecraftian degeneracy perspective on the Reavers in "Bushwhacked" (another episode I love). "And if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order" is one of those great lines that really sticks with me. Great storytelling.

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

I know you'll wow them at the workshop, EH! I wish I could take one of your classes or hear you speak.

The pet food thing is so worrying and human food doesn't seem to be too much safer these days, just more of it to choose from. I don't think any dry Purina cat food has been recalled. At least, I haven't see that on any recall list I have seen.