Hunh. I was not away that one of the co-writers of "M.T.A." was a woman.

The Boston Globe reports today that Bess L. Hawes died Friday at the age of 88.

*ponders*

Since I was thinking about posting a song a day as a gift to all my peeps out there in L.J. Land, I guess I know what my first track will be.

In the meantime, please enjoy this video of the song from the Kingston Trio.

It's still November where I am, honest!

What's Good?  November's recommendation was "Soaring" (2005) by Kristen F., a canon-careful N&N friendship interlude, and a broad-brush illustration of the storytelling efficacy of the right perspective.

        Natalie blushed, her heart rate increased, and she dropped her eyes before she gave him an evasive, "Oh, just meeting up with a friend."  She started shuffling papers, refusing to meet his eyes.
        Nick frowned...

What's New?  In October, fkfic-l saw three new stories by three different authors:  ( list with links )

Sekrit Message to tv_elf: A year already. Miss you.

Table of Contents

• SWG News. We've begun planning for Back to Middle-earth Month 2010 (yes, really) and need volunteers, our ToS is now available in Swedish, and upgrades to the Reference Library are complete!
• Character of the Month Biography: Gilfanon, by Darth Fingon. Gilfanon is one of Tolkien's earliest characters and one of surprising importance to the existence of the books.
• Funny Pages: Gothmog and Draugluin, by Pandemonium_213. Manetur is newly arrived in Tol Eressëa and about to learn how it--and its inhabitants--have changed over the ages.
• Current Challenges. This month, we introduce a new challenge, revisit a past challenge, and offer a new quote for the month.
• Around the World and Web. Announcements and events from Tolkien groups beyond the SWG.

---

( SWG News ) ( Character of the Month Biography: Gilfanon ) ( Funnies: Gothmog and Draugluin ) ( Current Challenges ) ( Around the World and Web )

View Newsletter Archive

Title: If Only and Sometimes
Author: A Lanart
Character(s)/pairings: Gaius, Merlin, Arthur and Methos
Fandom and/or Prompt: Highlander/Merlin
Rating: G
Spoilers/Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Merlin as used here belongs to the BBC, otherwise he belongs to himself.
Methos belongs to Panzer/Davis productions
Title from the song of the same name by Rosetta Stone
Word Count: 1,998

Written for Day One at consci_fan_mo

If Only and Sometimes

Volume 63/Issue 13

Circulation: Eight hundred and eighty-four. Welcome all!

Hi, everyone! This is caras_galadhon, stepping in for your regular Monday editor, estelanui, who is off travelling the globe. Normal service will resume... eventually. ^_~

Note from the Mods: Please encourage friends on your friends list to join and send their news. If you have an announcement you would like to make, a fic you'd like to promote, a question you'd like to ask, we invite you to simply format it according to the rules on the info page and email it to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. You do not have to be a member to post but we are an open community and encourage everyone to join now. Only the mods may initiate new posts but comments are encouraged.

MEDIA NEWS:

• From TheOneRing.net:

~Hobbit Filming Delayed to Mid-Summer
Several reports are coming in that filming for The Hobbit will be delayed from the original estimate of March 2010 to mid-summer 2010, possibly July. The German site, moviereporter.net, reports that, as part of an interview regarding The Lovely Bones, PJ estimates filming will begin towards the middle of next year:


"We're currently working on the second script which we hope to have completed by the end of this year or beginning of next. When the scripts are completed, we can begin with the exact calculation of the necessary budget. We hope to start filming in the middle of next year. However, we've received no green light from the studio yet." (- translated from German -- read the original quote here).


PJ didn't elaborate on whether this will affect the proposed release dates of December 2011 and 2012. More than two years elapsed between the start of filming for The Lord of the Rings movies in October, 1999, and the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001. However, they are only tackling two films this time, plus the previous movies provide them a head-start on on a number of pre-production items such as some of the set and location designs (Bag End, Rivendell). This is sure to cause quite a bit of buzz! Be sure to join in the discussion in our Barliman's Chat or our Hobbit Movie message board.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

Note from the Mods: We would like to invite the moderators of other fandom communities to become 'reporters' or 'scouts' for middleearthnews. All we ask is that you send us formatted updates on your own communities for posting here.

• tolkien_weekly (drabbles) updates:

Family Honour (Old Man Willow; G) by kortirion

Tol Galen (Beren, Dior; G) by clodia_metelli

The White Tree (Boromir; No Rating) by just_ann_now

A Journey Through Trees: The Road North (Elrohir; No Rating) by jay_of_lasgalen

• lotr_community updates from the mods:

The November Challenge stories with the theme "Dialogue" have been posted. The Dialogue Challenge consisted of writing a story that was mostly, if not entirely, all dialogue, and each author received a set of elements to include.

Concerning the Matter of Tom Took, by Pearl Took (PG). Thain Peregrin I has to deal with a theft in a town in Tookland and discovers there was more involved than first thought.

Somewhat Better Than Ironmongery, by Dreamflower (G). Sam's in need of something a little more practical to wear...

The Message, by Wendwriter (G). Legolas and two companions discuss the message they must bring to Elrond before the Fellowship of the Ring is formed.

Hot Buns in the Morning, by Kaylee Arafinwiel (G). The heirs of Elessar and his Steward run amok before dawn. Catastrophe ensues.

Daughters of Jerusalem, by Celeritas (PG). A simple, natural act can have far-reaching consequences. Merry goes to apologize to someone he inadvertently hurt more than a year ago.

Believe It or Not, by Nautika (G). In Rivendell before the Quest, Pippin discovers a difference between Men and Hobbits.

Questioning, by Larner (PG-13). After Aragorn left Gollum in the keeping of the King of Mirkwood, Gandalf came to question the creature...

I hope you will check out the stories, and let the authors know how you liked them!

CHALLENGES/WORKSHOPS/AWARDS:

• From mome_awards:

~The Results Are In!
Once again, most categories were decided by just one vote, so a huge thanks to everyone who selected their favorites from this year's wonderful selection of stories...Congratulations to all the winners, everyone on the final ballot and all the nominations! [More]

• From mefas:

~Admin - Story focus: Pre-Ring War, Ring War, Post-Ring War and Beyond, Modern Times and Multi-Age
When a story is nominated, the author describes it as fitting into three groups that will eventually become the main categories. These include the race of the characters involved, the genre, and the time period in which it is set. Authors rank their preference for how they'd like their story categorized, and MEFA volunteers put the story into one of these three category choices...But perhaps you want to find all the stories involving a particular race, such as Hobbits, not just those competing in the main category for that race? Or all stories relating to a particular time period or of a particular genre, even if they're competing in another category. [More]

• From slashy_santa:

~My Slashy Valentine 2010 sign-ups now underway!
Have you always wanted to read a certain pairing or scenario, but couldn't write it yourself? Have it written for you -- specifically and especially for your own sweet self! And share your own fic gift in exchange -- That's right, it's time for the The My Slashy Valentine Fic Exchange, brought to you by the same folks who sponsor the renowned Slashy Santa and Ardor in August Fiction Exchanges.

This exchange will focus solely on the Elves, Men, Valar and Maiar of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. Maybe it's Gildor and Glorfindel you love, or perhaps Boromir-on-Theodred strikes your fancy... or maybe Manwë is your main man -- from the First Age to the Fourth, from sultry tales of the Silmarillion to romances in the Ring Wars -- spread the word, recruit your friends and fellow authors, and have some fun! [More]

• From tolkien_weekly:

~New Challenge!
This week's prompt, continuing with the "Trees" theme, is Oak.

• From orlijah_month:

~The Orlijah Month Prompt Table
The Orlijah Month Prompt Table for January 2010 has now been posted.

FIC/ART NEWS:

• Links from mews1945:

elanorfairbairn posted a story in which Merry and friends have formed a secret club and Pippin is being initiated. The Brandywine Swimming Society - Chapter 1 (No Rating).

For Tolkien Weekly, wormwood_7 posted a story of Aragorn and Eldarion. Lineage (G).

dreamflower02 shared a new chapter of Ancestress. Mirimë begins her story of how she met the Tûk. Ancestress: Chapter 13, "And So It Begins..." (No Rating).

gini_baggins posted an erotic Frodo/Sam drawing. Not Work-Safe. Frodo & Sam (NC-17).

For Tolkien Weekly, lindahoyland posted a tale of Faramir and Mithrandir. Tree of Life and Death (G).

For Tolkien Weekly, curiouswombat shared a story of Prince Eldarion and his new governess. W Is For Willow (G).

For Tolkien Weekly, kortirion posted a story of Aragorn and Legolas. Tasarion (G).

Thanks, Mews!

DISCUSSIONS OF INTEREST:

• From TOR.com:

~LotR re-read open thread: responses in fiction
"[L]et's go a little further afield this time, and talk about favorite (or otherwise interesting) responses to The Lord of the Rings in fiction...Of course in a broad sense the very existence of fantasy as a publishing genre is a consequence of the success of The Lord of the Rings. And I've heard more than one writer say that all English-language fantasy has to, in some fashion, come to grips with Tolkien's influence on the field. But I think it would be more interesting to talk specifically, about books or authors."

• From The One Ring Forums:

~The Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad
"This week we shall be discussing chapter no. 20 -- 'Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad'. This is truly a central chapter in The Silmarillion -- I don't think any other chapter connects so many different threads: Morgoth, Glaurung, Gothmog, Orcs, Dwarves, Swarthy Men, the House of Haleth, the House of Hador; the Kingdom of Fingolfin effectively falls, the sons of Feanor commit their last positive act, hence becoming mere vehicles of doom; the groundwork is laid for the betrayal and fall of the hidden realms of Doriath, Nargothrond and Gondolin; but the new hope for delivery is first hinted at." [Pre-discussion] [Part I - "Truly Hope Springs Eternal"]

CLASSIFIED:

• From lotrips_finders:

~LOTR Fic
"Looking for the fic where Haldir and Glorfindel hate each other in the beginning, but get together. All the elves come together for some party and Aragorn falls in love with Arwen there and he has to compete against various soldiers to win some title. I remember the twins making fun of Aragorn because he was being clumsy whenever Arwen came around. It was in The Library of Moria, but I can't seem to find it."

RESEARCH AIDS:

• From estelanui:

~"The Hobbit: Part 1" (2011)
Movie Record -- Overview, Production Notes, Additional Details, Fun Stuff -- at IMDb, The Internet Movie Database.

TRIVIA:

• Today's BOOK question: What was the name of Eomer's sword, meaning 'battle-friend'?

All comments are screened so that only the mods can see the answers. Comments will be unscreened when the next edition is posted. Any comments on a different subject will be unscreened ASAP.

SEND MATHOMS:

• HAPPY BIRTHDAY, galadrielgal!

The mods would like to wish anyone having a special day the very best. Please send your special wishes to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.

COMICS:
(Link contributions are welcome)

• From grimnir1:
( Cut for size... )

That's it for this edition. Please send your formatted post for Wednesday's edition by 8:00 a.m. Wednesday (Eastern time) to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. Thanks for joining us and tell your friends!

"Gandalf never watches where he's going in this place. Wait until he tries to sit on that stool! I'll just disappear and watch the fun."

Last night in my dream I was directing and starring in a play. It was a one night only performance at the Norm, and some of the other actors were people that I know from Film Soc. I woke up before we went on stage, but scenes from the play are still in my head...and it might need to be written...two days before the end of Nano...when I haven't finished my Yuletide assignment :P

For those of you who are interested, the first 3 seasons of Farscape are now streamed on Netflix.

*puts on party hat and fires up the Roku*

In other news, have felt like crap all day complete with gastrointestinal distress. Finally caved and drank a 12 ounce bottle of Gatorade and zonked for a half-hour.

I woke up actually hungry and feeling oodles better. Yay!

But in case this is nothing more than a brief upswing, I'm going to cancel the nature walk tomorrow.

Just the same, though, I'm freezing.

Title: This Side of the Truth
Author: A Lanart
Fandom/Genre: Dresden Files/Highlander crossover. TV verse Dresden with bookverse cameos.
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Pairing/Characters: Harry and McAnally from DF, Methos and Amanda from HL
Summary: McAnally has more in common with Harry's new friends than Harry realises.
Disclaimer: Dresden Files stuff is the property of Jim Butcher and the scifi channel.
Highlander stuff is the property of Panzer/Davies productions
No copyright infringement intended, no profit made.
Title nicked from the song of the same name by MELT

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Also can be read complete at my AO3 account from the series page.

http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/index.php/site/why_that_on-sale_date_is_so_important/

I’ve heard from several of you guys that two different sources in Canada have let you have Divine Misdemeanors this week. Bad Canadians! Why is it bad? Because every book that hits before the drop date on December 8th out will be one less book that will help me get higher and stay longer on the New York Times & other, Bestseller lists. Though in publishing when they say, The List, they always mean The New York Times List.

Now admittedly, the Canadian sales don’t count on the American lists, or sales, but Anita has placed on the London Times and the New York Times at the same time, though admittedly not as high in England. So again, if we hit it all at once then we have a better shot at everyone’s list. But more worrisome is that some of the Americans will order from Canada and that can hurt where we place on the Lists, and you have no idea how much importance is placed on The List standing in publishing. List standing and sales figures are the measure of a book’s success.

The more books bought in a single point of time the more likely we are to hit #1 on the Times List. I’ve hit #1 with Anita more than once, and its great, but my other girl, my Merry, has never hit #1. She’s got #2, but #1 still eludes us. I’d really like to hit that mark with Divine Misdemeanors, so the publishers and the authors that get all bent out of shape about the book being sold early aren’t being cranky, we’re trying to make sure the book gets the best sales figures and bestseller placement possible.

Hope that explains why we keep asking the early buyers where they purchased their books.

 

All that drumming, guitaring, and singing to The Beatles a few days ago reminded me of a sillyfic I wrote in 2004. Maybe it'll bring some of you a giggle? And who knows... those of you with the Frodo and Sam dolls and their growing wardrobes might get ideas from this. *grins*

"Can You Sing, Master Hobbit?"

When he's offered a recording contract in Gondor, why should Pippin return to the Shire? Starring Pippin, Merry, Frodo, and Sam.
385 words, Rated G

http://shirebound.livejournal.com/147660.html

I have to say one good thing about the Congressional delegation from MA:

They're very big on Tele-Town Halls.

And somehow, I got on the list of people who will actually drop anything for them and listen in which means that in the past two months I've ended up in two Tele-Town Halls — it would've been more except that I hadn't been home to answer the phone.

Anyway, it's no secret that there's a bruising fight going on here to replace the late Sen. Kennedy.

Lucky me, the candidates are calling me. And what do you know? A call tonight from candidate and Congressman Mike Capuano for a Tele-Town Hall complete with Q&A for voters.

Most of the people on the phone are asking questions I would ask, so I was just going to listen to the answers, when a question popped into my head:

Female veterans. Namely, lack of services for female veterans within the VA system itself.

I have a relative that runs a homeless veterans shelter and he's felt that he lacks the resources to help female veterans. THis, with Iraq and Afghanistan bringing in a lot more female veterans than past conflicts. Also, ginmar, herself a veteran of Iraq has mentioned this issue in her journal.

So, yeah. I hit him with the question: There are a lack of services for female veterans. I know people experiencing this first hand. Can you do anything about this?

There was a little bit of a "Humina, humina, humina" when I asked. *evil smile*

But, and this is the important bit here, I'm the first person to bring up the issue of female veterans to him. Period. Amen.

He acknowledged that the VA is under stress across the board. I also definitely got the sense that the idea that female veterans might require different services from their male counterparts was not an idea that actually crossed his mind. To be fair, the female moderator seemed to be taken aback by the question when I put my question into the queue as well, so I suspect that this simply isn't an issue too many people even think about, male or female.

According to Congressman Capuano is that a big part of the problem is simply that there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of information out there. (Keep in mind, this is the first time Congressman Capuano had even been asked about services for female veterans.)

Although he was very receptive to getting more information about the issue, the problem is getting the information to him (or to any congressman/senator who might be willing to do something about it, really) from a reliable source with hard data.

The other issue is that the VA tends to try out reforms in large urban centers before rippling out to smaller centers (which the congressman pointed out is SOP). So, the issue, based on the Congressman's answer seems to be this:

• Getting veterans' organizations to actually raise this as an issue
  
  
• Getting Congress-critters attention about the issue
  
  
• Getting a local large VA medical center to collect data and try something to address the issue
  
  

He was definitely intrigued by the question, though. And that's something

In short, noise needs to be made if attention is to be paid. A lot of noise.

My brain officially hurts. A lot.

And I can't even figure out where to begin. Also in my way: not a veteran, not a member of any veterans' organization. My family was mostly an Air Force family (the odd Army and Navy person aside), and the last conflict where any of them actually needed to fire a gun was in World War II.

My Air Force vet dad, for example, spent most of the Vietnam war decoding coded signals from Russian fishing trawlers in Japan. He was more at the military intelligence/geek end of military service, and not so much at the actual carrying of guns end of military service. Other post-World War II people in my family fell very much into that same category of "geeks" (although, it could be because they were more the geeky Air Force-type people as opposed to the front-line boo-yah people).

So, no juice there, either.

*sigh*

Of course, let me add that I feel like I've been run over by a Mac truck (I've been under the weather since yesterday morning) and I'm not firing on all cylinders mental-wise.

Well, at least I raised the issue. Lord knows what good it'll do. Maybe someone out there has ideas and can run with it with their own Congress critters.

ETA: To be fair to Congressman Capuano, he gave an honest answer to my question. Even if you had the hard data in hand, it's not an issue that would be resolved easily or soon. I also give him credit for taking it and trying to answer it without resorting to a pat answer and without fluffing me off.

I had been leaning towards him for the election anyway. His answer didn't really change that.

Volume 63/Issue 12

Circulation: Eight hundred and eighty-four. Welcome all!

Note from the Mods: Please encourage friends on your friends list to join and send their news. If you have an announcement you would like to make, a fic you'd like to promote, a question you'd like to ask, we invite you to simply format it according to the rules on the info page and email it to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. You do not have to be a member to post but we are an open community and encourage everyone to join now. Only the mods may initiate new posts but comments are encouraged.

MEDIA NEWS:

• From TheOneRing.net:

~Middle-earth Weekend and Staffordshire Hoard
A note from Vivienne Wilkes, one of the many organizers of the Middle-earth Weekend, with details of next year's event. This will be held as usual at:

Sarehole Mill in Birmingham, England
and will be open from 11.00am until 5.00pm on
Saturday and Sunday
15th and 16th May 2010.

Vivienne is not taking an active role in the organization this year since she is instead following in the footsteps of Rosie Cotton. Rosie's husband Sam Gamgee as, you will recall, became Mayor of Michael Delving in the years following the Hobbits' adventures in 'The Lord of the Rings'. By strange coincidence Viv is married to this year's Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Of course a major difference is Michael Wilkes will be Lord Mayor for one year only whereas Sam was Mayor for many, many years. [More]

~Video: Peter Jackson Talks Future Projects
Andrea writes: We met Peter Jackson today in Rome, and we asked him about his new projects [including The Hobbit]. You can see his answer in this video!

COMMUNITY NEWS:

Note from the Mods: We would like to invite the moderators of other fandom communities to become 'reporters' or 'scouts' for middleearthnews. All we ask is that you send us formatted updates on your own communities for posting here.

• tolkien_weekly (drabbles) updates:

Lineage (Aragorn, Eldarion; G) by wormwood_7

Tasarion (Aragorn, Legolas; G) by kortirion

W is for Willow (Eldarion, his new governess; G) by curiouswombat

Tree of Life and Death (Faramir, Gandalf; G) by lindahoyland

• gondorcest updates:

The Tower: Update 2009-11-26 and 2009-11-27 (Boromir/Faramir; Adult) by ithiliana

• sons_of_gondor updates from co-mod., caras_galadhon:
Friday, Nov. 20 through Friday, Nov. 27 inclusive.

Without Air, Fire Does Not Burn: Part 1/4 and 2/4 by hurinhouse
(Faramir/OMC/Boromir, Denethor; NC-17; Faramir meets a street rat with a questionable past.)

A Sting in the Tale by alex_quine
(Aragorn/Boromir; R; The Sisters know just what will ease Aragorn's stiffness.)

The Tower: Update 2009-11-26 and 2009-11-27 by ithiliana
(Boromir/Faramir; Adult; Dark AU, rape.)

While these are the LotR FPF and RPF fics/art that have been posted to sons_of_gondor this week, the mods would like to remind everyone that the comm also carries other FPF/RPF featuring the Gondorian actors in non-LotR roles.

• lotrips updates:

~Listing of LOTR RPS fics posted in October 2009 (3 of 3)
Both New stories and series and New stories in series and universes.

CHALLENGES/WORKSHOPS/AWARDS:

• From lotr_community:

~January 2010 Potluck Challenge
The mods at the lotr_community would like to announce the January 2010 Potluck Challenge!

Since December is a very busy month for most of us, what with RL holiday obligations, and the many fic exchanges that take place (including the GFIC Yule Exchange), we are not having a December Challenge. Instead, we are giving you a head-start on January's Challenge!

Once again we are having Potluck for the New Year! Posted at the community are the themes and unclaimed elements for ten months of 2009. (January and December are not included, as January is always "potluck" and December is always the Exchange). If you would like to participate in the January Challenge, look through the elements posted, and choose one. Comment to this post with the number of the prompt you have chosen, and I will strike it from the list. For June and July, you do not need to choose a prompt-- just follow the instructions for that month. This is your chance to take part in a challenge you missed. Also, if you claimed a prompt for any month last year and did not finish your story in time, you may enter that instead.

Stories will be due the weekend of January 15th, and will be revealed on Monday January 17th. Please remember to put your story title and your name on the subject line, and to use the header provided on the community profile page. Tag your story "010 january potluck challenge."

FIC/ART NEWS:

• hobbit_art updates:

Fall Leaves (Frodo; G) by wolfwalker47

• lotricons updates:

2 LotR Cast (Elijah, Ian M., Karl, Viggo, Orlando; No Rating) by lotrfreak21

32 Lord Of The Rings icons (Gandalf, Frodo, Elrond, Legolas, Arwen, Aragorn, Merry, Pippin, Galadriel; No Rating) by narco15

21-83 Lord of the Rings (Various; No Rating) by _childish_fears

23 Icons, 2 Banners/Headers (Arwen, Celeborn, Haldir, Elrond, Galadriel; No Rating) by now_i_am_there

DISCUSSIONS OF INTEREST:

• From The One Ring Forums:

~The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien, Part One [cont.]
"Well, here we go, finally a tale of a more personal nature after all the dramatic tales of the previous chapters. Also one which can puzzle me a bit, which is why I chose it!" [4] [5] [6 and General Discussion]

~The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien, Part Two
"B&L are free, now, and wander the forests of the north, while Huan goes back to his master Celegorm and the inhabitants of Nargothrond return from the dungeons of Sauron. I have to wonder what Celegorm thought about Huan now, especially considering what he's going to try to do with his bow very soon!" [1. C&C and their political plays] [2. Abandon all hope ye who enter here!] [3. The showdown!] [4. Meanwhile, back in Doriath]

CLASSIFIED:

Your friendly middleearthnews mods are constantly on the lookout for all things LotR-related, from fics to fandom events, comics to current news. Make them happy by emailing them at middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.

RESEARCH AIDS:

• From estelanui:

~Test Your Middle Earth Geography Knowledge!
Quiz. So you've read the books, but can you remember the places that were covered in the trilogy?

TRIVIA:

• Wednesday's MOVIE question: Most of the food appearing in the LotR films was edible. Which particular item was the least popular?

Answer: Lembas.

kycoo, addie71, namarielorien, garnet_took and gentlehobbit all answered correctly.

More next week!

SEND MATHOMS:

• HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, mlledefer, fidrich and mother2012! Enjoy your weekend!

• Much, much love and many thank yous to elanorgardner, abby_normal, estelanui and empy for the lovely birthday greetings! It's a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful mod team, and I'm so glad I know you all. ♥

The mods would like to wish anyone having a special day the very best. Please send your special wishes to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.

COMICS:
(Link contributions are welcome)

• From Hijinks Ensue:
( Cut for size... )

That's it for this edition. Please send your formatted post for Monday's edition by 8:00 a.m. Monday (Eastern time) to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. Thanks for joining us and tell your friends!

Recently in FK on my LJ Friends List and DW Reading Page:

On the Air!

On 11/22, abby82 alerted us to Chiller's exciting US Thanksgiving marathon events, in which Geraint Wyn Davies will host "his favorite episodes" of FK!  These air 11/24-11/25 and again 11/28-11/29!  And what are GWD's favorite episodes?  Season one: 5. Season two: 11. Season three: 0.  [I expected BM, which he directed, but I was surprised to see BMV on his list.  Interesting!]

In the News!

• On 11/24, abby82 shared her Google News alert that the New York Times mentioned the Chiller FK marathon as something all those Twilight and True Blood fans should clue into.
• On 11/06, gnosticdiva transcribed an article titled "Nick Knight, Vampire Cop" from the book Vampires (Fangoria, 1998).

Cast and Crew!

• On 11/23, abby82 pointed out another new interview with GWD, this time on Chiller's blog.  Among other fun things, there's currently a bulletin-board graphic with the text of a Ribena label on it.
• On 11/23, abby82 let us know that Sci-Fi TV Zone has a twelve-minute audio interview with Geraint Wyn Davies, in which he talks about the Chiller marathon, his current one-man play in New York, and other fun, current things.
• On 11/19, pj1228 created a collage in honor of Nigel Bennett's birthday, and is running a contest for us: win the original collage file by naming all the non-FK roles shown.

Fanfiction!

• On 11/25, pj1228 announced that she has cleaned up "PJ's Forever Knight FanFiction Archive" after the move to Google Sites.  If you've re-linked since the move from GooglePages, the URL is still the same.  If, like me, you're still catching up...  [Note to self: Update links!]
• On 11/15, Leela-cat announced that she has begun posting her long-unavailable-online old FK stories on her Archive Of Our Own account.  [She's right; she made me very happy. :-)] [Update: She has finished posting all her FK work, except one unfinished novel, and including "Broken Promises" -- last seen online in 1996.]
• On 11/12, pj1228 posted her well-conceived UF story "The Relapse," which I had the privilege of beta-reading.  Even if you're not inclined to the UF, she has a new approach to a specific canonical moment.
• On 11/06, gnosticdiva posted a piece called "The Letter," Nick to Natalie.
• On 11/05, elycia offered: "For every $5 you contribute to Fiver's Team (ALS Association of Georgia), I will write you 500 words of fiction, with the characters of your choice, on the topic of your choice," including in FK.
• On 11/03, ithildyn reposted her 1998 Lacroix story "In His Image."

Fests and Ficathons!

• On 11/07, abby82 noted that it was the last day of nominations for festivids, a vid exchange inspired by Yuletide for small and rarely vidded fandoms.  FK is nominated.
• On 11/03, oldschoolfic opened sign-ups for the December event.  Assignments went out on 11/17.  [I got an FK prompt!]
• On 11/02, gen_ficathon posted their round one master list, including two FK stories previously mentioned here when they released.

Miscellaneous

• On 11/08, pj1228 discussed her FK site's issues with the GoogleSites move, and her FK projects in progress.
• On 11/07, abby82 detailed lowered prices for the FK DVDs at many retailers.
• On 11/03, gnosticdiva mused on her NaNoWriMo project, based on a long-ago unfinished FK fanfic.

I had a new experience yesterday! Some of you know that I'm woefully, irretrievably behind when it comes to electronics. I've never used an iPod, iPhone, Blackberry, GPS, MP3 player, palm thingie, Tivo, Wii, or DVR, and my ancient cell phone is... only a phone. No camera or anything else fancy. I don't know what Blu-Ray means. I've never played a single video game or computer game, and only vaguely heard of things like Xboxes. Until last night! The house where mom and I enjoyed Thanksgiving was full of college-age kids, who had brought their Xbox and "The Beatles: Rock Band". What a marvel! We (all ages of folks) played with it for at least an hour, singing and drumming and guitar-ing. Even our friends' (rather low functioning) daughter with Down Syndrome had a great time singing with us, and I helped her follow the beat.

That's one of the coolest 'games' I've ever seen. And the best part? All those kids are totally into The Beatles! That makes my baby boomer heart go pitter-pat.

Wow, I've actually touched the 21st century. Can experiencing a Wii or iPod be far behind?

My plans for this day of leisure are to completely finish and polish chapter 18, plan chapter 19, make a looooong phone call I've been putting off, and putter around. Tomorrow is the semi-annual Scrabble Tournament with Mom The Ruthless, and I need all the rest I can get to prepare for it.