Earth Day, and I’m off to the Northern Colorado Writers Conference

Grass
(Photo credit: DBduo Photography)

So for Earth Day today, I didn’t mow my grass.

Okay, so I probably wasn’t going to mow today, anyway. I have real grass, the grass that was here when the bison were still eating it, and it don’t need no stinking fertilizer and it don’t need no stinking water — during last year’s record-setting drought, it stayed green long past the time when most grass and many trees in central Indiana were dead or dying — and it’s tougher than most mowers. So it takes a bit of mental gearing up to challenge this grass.

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Japanese Folklore Panel in Indianapolis

Momijigari (紅葉狩, the demon-woman of Mount Toga...
Momijigari (紅葉狩, the demon-woman of Mount Togakushi) from the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi (今昔百鬼拾遺) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Did you ever want to know the difference between a mononoke and an ayakashi? Do you know how to escape a kappa, if one wants to eat you? Have you ever wondered if you were missing some in-jokes in your favorite anime or Asian film? (Yes, very likely.)

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Ben-Hur: Drama, Conflict, and Parody

Cover of "Ben-Hur (Four-Disc Collector's ...
Cover of Ben-Hur (Four-Disc Collector’s Edition)

I love Ben-Hur.

Yes, it’s become somewhat fashionable in recent years for critics to wave their hands disdainfully at the film which was previously held in such esteem. Fine, they can have their pretense of superior taste. And okay, sure, trends in acting have changed in the last half-century. But I still love the film.

No, seriously, I once calculated that I’ve spent maybe half a week or so of my life watching Ben-Hur. Step aside, amateurs.

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Catch a Kitsune at Anime Crossroads!

Tengu as a kite-like monster, from Toriyama Se...
Tengu as a kite-like monster, from Toriyama Sekien’s Gazu Hyakki Yakō (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can find the two-hour panel “Japanese Folklore & Mythology: A Primer for Anime, Manga, & Film” at Anime Crossroads on Dec 8. Admission is included with con badge.

We’ll talk about Japanese folklore, supernatural creatures such as tengu and dragons and kitsune, why it’s smart to fart at a kappa, and when to greet your friends with, “Moshi moshi!”