For Buffy and well Angel fans...

For Buffy and Angel fans...or rather Tara, Anya, Spike, Cordelia, Dru and Giles fans, and fans of the actors who portrayed them?

Buffy Cast Reunion on Audible - Slayers by Amber Bensen and Christopher Golden

It's basically an interview with Golden, Benson, Marsters, and Chase.

Extensive Interview with Marsters about Spike for the 20th Anniversary with Radio Times

( excerpt )

And..
Inside Joss Whedon’s ‘Cutting’ and ‘Toxic’ World of ‘Buffy’ and ‘Angel’ (EXCLUSIVE)


"Interviews that Variety conducted with 11 individuals who worked directly on “Buffy” or “Angel,” or were closely familiar with the productions during their runs on The WB and UPN, painted a portrait of Whedon as a talented, collaborative writer-producer with a pattern of inappropriate, imperious and disparaging behavior toward those who worked for him. Whedon created a “cult of personality” around himself, according to these sources. Those on the inside of Whedon’s circle basked in his attention, praise and friendship; those on the outside got the opposite: scorn, derision and callousness. (Everyone Variety spoke with did so on condition of anonymity, either so they could speak freely or out of concern for their careers.)

Variety also reached out to 40 other actors, writers, producers and directors from “Buffy” and “Angel” — including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michelle Trachtenberg, Amber Benson, Eliza Dushku, David Boreanaz and Alyson Hannigan — all of whom declined to participate in this story."

Which is interesting - the actors declined to participate, but the crew and writers did on the condition of anonymity. Making it difficult to know how much of what they state is true? Except this happens a lot - most of Burn it Down - about similar allegations on various television and film sets in Hollywood - were all done with anonymity. However - if you listened to any of the Q&A's at the cons - the actors did verify most of it over the years.

***

I've only been an obsessed or huge fan of a few things in my lifetime, and not in the same way. And it's often fleeting.

We all have something that just jives with us. Don't we? But it also at some point disappoints - when we find out a touch too much about it. Which is too often the case in this day and age.

I find it interesting how fans and folks who worked on Buffy have reclaimed it as their own. They did it by writing their own fanfic.

(no subject)

1. Banned Books - Why you should read these 51 banned books now

As journalists, it's our job to seek out the truth even when it's uncomfortable. We value diverse perspectives, are open to new ideas and respect intellectual freedom. So it should come as no surprise that the thought of banning a book would make us riled.

What happens when a book is challenged in school boards and public libraries? Titles can be removed from school curriculums or library shelves. Most public schools and libraries have boards made up of elected officials or members appointed by elected officials. It is by the power of these officials that a book can go from challenged to banned in a school district or public library. Even if it happens only once, it is one time too many.

Sure, there is the argument that we can bypass places such as public libraries and purchase a book. But that is true only for those with the financial resources to do that. For many, particularly children and young adults, school and public libraries are the only means to access literature.

With that in mind, USA TODAY staff looked at challenged and banned books and chose those that are meaningful to them. In the books' defense, we've written why they deserve a place in our schools, libraries and society.

I've read roughly half of them. I really despise book banners.

2. "The News Today - Oh Boy..."

Mother: What's the name of your brother's friend who wears the jeans and white shirts? Brenda?
Me: No, Debra.
Mother: well, apparently she has several family members being held hostage in Gaza right now. They were over there visiting or something. It doesn't look like any of them will get out alive.
Me: Oh.

I've been avoiding the news on this.

But that's horrible. It kind of brought it home in a way that I'd not considered since well...COVID.
Six Degrees of Separation or but for the grace of god go I.

Meanwhile - NYC has upped its security and there's protests in Manhattan from both sides of the conflict.

Also? NYC went to the Federal government for help with the Venzeulan migrant crisis. We don't have the space of over 1 million migrants. They are sending two to three thousand people by bus to NYC daily. Keep in mind NYC is already getting over a thousand immigrants from every country around the globe. We could probably do it - if we barred entry to everyone else.
Which is hardly fair. So, the Federal Government - realizing they couldn't send more aid, agreed to deport the migrants back to whence they've come, and to reinforce the wall.

It's sad, because Texas and Florida do have space. New York and Massachutus does not. But they are selfishly sending migrants to NY.

Anyhow per the news this morning, our esteemed Mayor, Eric Adams, visited Mexico and Columbia (he can't visit Venezuela) to see their point of view.

As I speed walked from the train station to the subway in a bit of brain fog, I walked past a man, a woman, and I think a small boy holding up a cardboard sign, which they tried to thrust at me as I passed. They were sitting next to an old decrepit church, nicely clothed. The sign said - or what I saw of it, since I didn't have the energy to stop, and was exhausted from work - "I Just Arrived...can you help?" There was more, but I did not stop.

My church is a sanctuary for Venezuelans. I've given money to it multiple times, and to other places in the city. And every single day I pass these people. Sleeping in the crevices of stations. A woman was asleep in a fold out chair inside Atlantic Terminal with her bags next to her. Another was asleep on the concrete sidewalk outside the Air Plane building in Jamaica, a blanket over her, with bags next to her.

It's exhausting. If I had a magic wand, I'd evenly disperse all the wealth and food and housing across every human on the planet. But I don't.

3. I'm tired. Yawning most of the day. And my body aches. Maybe it's the weather? Also feel a general sort of malaise. I am looking forward to seeing my mother in South Carolina next week. (Note this journal will be on hiatus from October 14 to October 21, assuming everything goes well. I don't have access to a computer any longer at mother's - she got rid of hers and just uses her tablet and phone. And I'm not bringing down the lap top if I can avoid it. I need a week without the computer anyhow. This could help with the malaise actually. Also work burn out. I've not taken a full week off since well...December of last year? I need more than a week, but that's not doable this year. I will ensure it happens next year.)

Work is...sigh.

One of the projects got pushed out again.

And we'll see about the other two. I did manage to get Babs, CG, and MA to cover my projects when I'm gone. So there's that.