From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V5 #260 Reply-To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org Sender: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk chakram-refugees-digest Monday, October 24 2005 Volume 05 : Number 260 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] XWP in Encyc [KLOSSNER9@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Bats ["Cheryl Ande" ] Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Bats [KTL ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 11:39:09 EDT From: KLOSSNER9@aol.com Subject: [chakram-refugees] XWP in Encyc A friend sent me a photocopy of the one-and-a-half page article on XWP from The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works and Wonders (Greenwood, 205, 3 volumes). In my transcription, words which I put in all-capitols are in bold print in the article and refer to other articles in the Encyclopedia. XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (1995-2001) Summary The leather-clad warrior heroine Xena was introduced in a trilogy of HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS episodes as a fierce warlord whom Hercules converts to fighting for the good and innocent. Her spin-off series, like Hercules, was filmed in New Zealand and set in a SWORD AND SCORCERY version of the ancient world. In the first episode, Xena renounces WAR and buries her WEAPONRY, only to retrieve the weapons moments later to rescue peasants from slave traders. Among the peasants is Gabrielle, an innocent village girl who DREAMS of adventure. The two become friends and begin a six-year odyssey all over Greece, as well as Rome, EGYPT, India, Germany and the Far East. They befriend the inept warrior Joxer (see CLOWNS AND FOOLS), AMAZONS and the Christ-like Eli (see MESSIAHS), and feud with Julius Caesar (see ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES), the vengeful warrior woman Callisto, and the WITCH Alti. Xenabs relationship with the seductive war god Ares (see GODS AND GODDESSES) provides constant intrigue as he seeks to woo her back to his service. Among the major plot points, Caesarbs crucifixion of Xena and Gabrielle (b The Ides of Marchb [1999]) leads to their participation in a war between HEAVEN and HELL (see ANGELS; DEMONS) before being resurrected by a miracle (b Fallen Angelb [1999]). Lawlessbs pregnancy during the fifth season lead to a story line involving a prophecy that Xenabs miraculously conceived child (see BABIES) will bring the end of the gods. In the resulting war, all major Olympians except Ares and Aphrodite perish, most at the hands of Xena herself, making way for the worship of the pseudo-Christian bGod of Elib (see CHRISTIANITY); and Xena and Gabrielle fall under a spell-induced sleep. Hence the final season takes place twenty-five years after the rest of the series; Xena makes peace with her past in the series finale bA Friend in Needb (2001) by sacrificing her life (see SACRIFICE) to redeem the souls of 40,000 Japanese whose deaths she caused in her warlord days. Discussion In some ways the successor to television action heroines like WONDER WOMAN, The Bionic Woman (1976-1978) and Charliebs Angels (1976-1981), Xena stands apart from this earlier generation of heroines who were either partnered with or under the authority of men. As a female HERO independent of any male influence (see FEMINISM), she more nearly resembles film heroines like ALIENbs Ripley and the conflicted female warriors of Hong Kong martial arts movies, who were the original inspiration for the character. Central to the seriesb success was the FRIENDSHIP between Xena and Gabrielle. Viewers responded to the chemistry between series leads Lucy Lawless and Renee ObConnor, as well as the contrast between the archetypal jaded warrior and innocent YOUTH. This friendship is always dynamic rather than static, evolving from hero and sidekick to equals, and allowing Xena and Gabrielle to quarrel and even attempt to kill each other after Gabriellebs demonic daughter murders Xenabs son. This ESTRANGEMENT is resolved in the musical episode bThe Bitter Suiteb (1998) in which Xena and Gabrielle journey to a DREAM world. Before Xena, such an in-depth exploration of friendship between two women was almost unknown in the action-adventure genre. Because of their emotional intimacy, Xena and Gabrielle became lesbian icons (see HOMOSEXUALITY). While many scenes hinted at a lesbian subtext, producers and actors refused to specify whether or not the relationship had a homosexual dimension, preferring to leave the issue open to viewer interpretation. Xenabs struggle to atone for her past crimes and reconcile her use of VIOLENCE with her noble ideals is an ongoing theme, most deeply examined in the fourth season when Gabrielle adopts a Hindu-inspired pacifism. In bSeeds of Faithb (2000) Gabrielle promises Eli that she will not use violence to defend him, and then is aghast when Eli lets Ares kill him, rather than forsake his Way of Love. Xena later refuses to avenge Eli by killing Ares, thus accepting Elibs message that violence must end through individual choices. In other episodes, Elibs martyrdom is seen to foster the spread of his message; while Xena herself twice shows the miraculous power of LOVE by offering her own soul to save those of Callisto and her warlord daughter Livia. Like the Hercules series, Xena draws on Greek and Roman MYTHOLOGY and history, as well as the traditions of JUDAISM, Germany, India and JAPAN. In all instances, characters and events are freely adapted to serve the modern tone and the demands of the story at hand. The series also pays homage to modern film and theatre with genres like WESTERNS, slapstick COMEDY, and science fiction. This approach, especially in cultural borrowings, inevitably caused some controversy, most notably the Hindu-inspired episode bThe Wayb (1999). Conservative Hindus objected to the portrayal of Krishna, especially as his assistance to Xena and Gabrielle appeared to condone a lesbian relationship. After its initial airing, the episode was withheld from syndication for several months, then released with one shot edited out and a new disclaimer inserted to placate Hindus. Xena is that television rarity, a spin-off that became a bigger hit than the original series. The show quickly achieved cult status while Xena herself became a pop culture icon, as recognizable as Spock (see STAR TREK) or Darth Vader (see STAR WARS). Her success paved the way for a generation of action-adventure series with female protagonists, most notable BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and Alias (2002- ). Bibliography K. Stoddard Hayes, Xena: Warrior Princess. London: Titan Books, 2003. K. Stoddard Hayes. bAngels and Warriors.b Xena: Warrior Princess, 1 (September, 2000), p. 42-48. Elyce Rae Helford, bFeminism, Queer Studies and the Sexual Politics of Xena: Warrior Princess.b Helford, ed., Fantasy Girls. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000, p. 135-162. Jon Miller, bWorking in the Sin Trade.b Xena: Warrior Princess, 1 (November, 1999), p. 48-52. Joanne Morreale, bXena: Warrior Princess as Feminist Camp.b Journal of Popular Culture, 32 (Fall, 1998), p. 79-86. Jim Smith. bTwilight of the Gods.b Xena: Warrior Princess, 1 (January, 2001), p. 52-57. Eddie Summers. bRedemption Sons.b Xena: Warrior Princess, 1 (November, 1999), p. 22-26. Francis Tomaszyk. bLunatics with Lethal Combat Skills.b Femspec, 4 (2002), p. 38-46. Robert Weisbrot, Xena: Warrior Princess. New York: Bantam Books, 1998. - --- Karen Stoddard Hayes. I didnbt know that K. Stoddard Hayes, author of the 2003 book, was a woman until I read this article signed by her full name. Note that the editor permitted Hayes to carelessly refer to bLawlessb before giving her first name or explaining to the uninitiated that she is the actress who played Xena. Also, X and Gbs long sleep was drug-induced, not spell-induced. Boeotian ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 22:11:55 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Bats - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Daley" > > This is a problem! Unless you look at as an opportunity. Bat guano > is high in nitrates and was used as a raw materials in explosives and > ammunition propellents, refining their leavings in order to make the > propellent for ammunition to cause their demise is fitting. > Since my house has long been squirrel-proofed, bat's do not invade, > however would give Dog (Lab), Dog (Mastiff) and Cat (domestic > shorthair mouser) first dibs at them. They generally do a fine job > on, the assorted squirrels, moles, mice, rabbits, groundhogs, > muskrats, and possums, that choose to invade. Deer generally jump > the fence (and it is a beautiful sight to see) too fast. BTW I > live in central NJ, 1,000 feet from the NJ Turnpike, 1/8 mile from > I287, 2,500 feet from US RT 1, not exactly Rural) > I've always wondered why guano was valuable and now I know. Guano is also quite bad for your repiratory system that is why you hire people for a tidy sum to clean it up. However I wonder if perhaps there is a possibilty of a new career path for me - I could hire out to clean belfries and then sell the quano to small munitions companies. I just need a respirator and a shovel. > > I wish all bats long and happy lives as long as those lives > >are led away from me. > > Agreed! Owe you a Yuengling or two for your good work in "keeping > critters out of houses" > > > Come to Burbank and make good you offer (g) . KT owes me drinks and with your beers I could be nicely looped. Cheryl ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:19:06 -0800 (AKDT) From: KTL Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Bats On Sun, 23 Oct 2005, Cheryl Ande wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lee Daley" >> >> This is a problem! Unless you look at as an opportunity. Bat guano >> is high in nitrates and was used as a raw materials in explosives and >> ammunition propellents, refining their leavings in order to make the >> propellent for ammunition to cause their demise is fitting. Respectful snippage of the rampaging mini wildlife around Lee's slice of the American Dream. Cheryl answered: > However I wonder if perhaps there is a possibilty of a > new career path for me - I could hire out to clean belfries and then sell > the quano to small munitions companies. I just need a respirator and a > shovel. > Cheryl >>> I wish all bats long and happy lives as long as those lives >>> are led away from me. >> Lee >> Agreed! Owe you a Yuengling or two for your good work in "keeping >> critters out of houses" >> >> >> Cheryl > Come to Burbank and make good you offer (g) . KT owes me drinks and with > your beers I could be nicely looped. > > Cheryl Nicely looped!? How about drunk out of your mind and screaming at Lucy (and one of her most timid and self-effacing fans - uh--that would be me) for your own nefarious designs? Hmmm? Lee--do NOT give this woman any liquor. Yes she is a happy drunk, but truly a demanding one also. I shall be offering her Virgin Mary's at the next con. That's about all she can handle. Perhaps we'll find a nice little bat head on a swizzle stick to put in her drinkie-poo. No, wait that would just enrage her--I'll go with Moose nugget swizzle sticks. Moose nuggets are yes, moose poop (AMAZINGLY small little oblongs) that are dried, shellacked and yes, stuck with a stick and sold to put in your drinks. Tourists will buy anything! KT who squeaks from experience on Cheryl on overloaded embibment. ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V5 #260 **************************************