ftp.pasteur.org/FAQ/

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ ftp.pasteur.org/FAQ/ / ftp-pasteur-org-FAQ.zip / FAQ / tv / xena-wp / About next >

Wrap

Internet Message Format | 2002-05-25 | 28.1 KB

Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: <tv/xena-wp/About_1022235344@rtfm.mit.edu> Supersedes: <tv/xena-wp/About_1016963989@rtfm.mit.edu> Expires: 6 Aug 2002 10:15:44 GMT X-Last-Updated: 2000/02/15 From: "Paul Hilling" <p.hilling@bigfoot.com> Newsgroups: news.answers,alt.tv.xena,alt.answers,alt.tv.xena-subtext.misc Subject: Alt.Tv.Xena FAQ, (Part 1/5): About XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS Followup-To: alt.tv.xena Organization: University Of Life Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Reply-To: <p.hilling@bigfoot.com> Keywords: Xena, FAQ, Gabrielle, Warrior Princess X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 24 May 2002 10:16:41 GMT Lines: 760 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1022235401 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3926 18.181.0.29 Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu news.answers:231057 alt.tv.xena:148319 alt.answers:62095 alt.tv.xena-subtext.misc:7300 Archive-name: tv/xena-wp/About Posting-Frequency: Bi-weekly or whenever Last-modified: 15th February 2000 Version: 3.1.2.3 Copyright: (c) 1997-2000 Paul A Hilling Copyright: (c) 1997 Edward T. Smith Copyright: (c) 1997 A. J. Firebaugh Copyright: (c) 1996 Michael L. Martinez Maintainer: Paul Hilling (p.hilling@bigfoot.com) URL: http://www.bigfoot.com/~p.hilling/atx-faq.htm URL: http://members.xoom.com/AtxFAQ/atx-faq.htm NOTE: This document is not intended to infringe upon MCA or Universal Studios or Studios USA in any way. ================================================================= Portions of this document are Copyright (C) 1996 by K. Wieczerza and used by permission. This file may be freely copied and redistributed. All I ask is that it remains whole and intact and that this notice is not altered. ================================================================= This document is intended to provide answers to certain questions that come up regularly on the alt.tv.xena news group. People who are new to the news group are encouraged to read this document before posting questions to alt.tv.xena. Michael Martinez originally created this FAQ in accordance with the prevailing traditions and customs of the Internet, which place high value on the free dissemination and exchange of information. It has since been trashed and rearranged it into multiple smaller documents. This is a living document. As new information is made available by the producers of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS I'll try to update this file. Also, corrections will be made as I discover them or I am informed about them. Please feel free to notify me of any errors that you find. Paul Hilling <p.hilling@bigfoot.com> ================================================================= This FAQ is available via ftp from: ftp://ftp.rtfm.mit.edu To get a copy of this FAQ by e-mail, send an e-mail to p.hilling@bigfoot.com with "ATX-FAQ REQUEST" in the subject. ================================================================= This document uses the following conventions: Names of television shows are given in ALL CAPS. Names of episodes are given in "quotes". X:WP is an acronym for XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS. H:TLJ is an acronym for HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS. X is sometimes used for "Xena", especially in making reference to both Xena and Gabrielle (as "X and G"). LL is sometimes used for "Lucy Lawless". ROC is sometimes used for "Renee O'Connor". ATX refers to the newsgroup Alt.Tv.Xena ================================================================= ================= Table Of Contents ================= Section I: About XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS 1. How did the show get its start? 2. Where and when is the show available? 3. Okay, so what can you tell me about the main character, Xena? 4. What can you tell me about Gabrielle? 5. Are there any other reoccurring characters? 6. Where does XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS take place? 7. When (in history) does X:WP take place? 8. Does X:WP jibe with "traditional" mythology and actual history? 9. How is X:WP like HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, and how is it different? 10. Where is X:WP filmed? 11. Do X:WP and H:TLJ share the same writers and production team? 12. Was there ever a real Xena? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Section I: About XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ How did the show get its start? ANSWER I.1 ~~~~~~~~~~ Xena was introduced as a character in an episode of HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS in the 1994-5 season (the first season). Lucy Lawless played an evil warlord who decided she needed to take out Hercules before she could conquer the territories he normally protected. So she pretended to be a maiden in distress, seduced Iolaus into joining her army, and nearly tricked him into killing Herc (and Iolaus had a good shot at killing his friend). The name of this episode was "The Warrior Princess". Although there was nothing redeemable about Xena's character, the fans loved her and demanded to see her again. The show's producers brought Xena back for two more (back-to-back) episodes that season. Hercules and Xena were brought together as allies by Salmoneus to fight Darphus, Xena's former lieutenant who had taken over her army. They destroyed the army and Xena decided to reform herself. These episodes, forming a two-part story, were called "The Gauntlet" and "Unchained Heart" ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Where and when is the show available? ANSWER I.2 ~~~~~~~~~~ Xena is now available in most (but possibly not all) cities in the US and Canada via broadcast stations. It is now being broadcast in New Zealand and over 85 other countries. The USA Cable Network also shows episodes of the series on Sundays. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, so what can you tell me about the main character, Xena? ANSWER I.3 ~~~~~~~~~~ The following is a composite description based on two documents at the official MCA website (http://www.mca.com/tv/xena/). It also contains other information gathered from assorted sources including the show itself. Xena was a peasant girl from Amphipolis, a village in Thrace. Her parents are named Atrius (we think) and Cyrene. She has an older brother, Toris, and a younger brother, Lyceus. Atrius was impersonated by Ares in the episode "Ties That Bind" when he tried to get Xena to serve him again. Raiders attacked her village, killing her younger brother, Lyceus. Since no one else would stand up to the raiders, she learned the arts of war, built an army, and defeated the raiders. To make sure no one would be able to attack her village again, she conquered the surrounding lands. Eventually, she began fighting for no more than love of power, and her ruthless army caused her name to be held in fear by the known world. Then she ran across Hercules. See Question #1 above. Xena is capable of amazing skills in the arts of combat and warfare. It is not clear where and how she received this training, but to defeat her foes, she uses strategy, agility, acrobatics, martial arts, and several weapons. Most often we see her with her sword and chakram, a razor sharp discus-like weapon. She is skilled in the use of pressure points and has been known to carry a whip. All in all not a woman to be trifled with! Xena also has a son named Solan. Solan's father was named Borias. Dagnine, one of Xena's warriors, murdered Borias. Xena gave the infant Solan to a centaur named Kaleipus to raise as his own son. Many of the answers to Xena's origins are answered, at least in terms of how she became an evil warlord in the second season's two-part episode "Destiny" and "The Quest". ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ What can you tell me about Gabrielle? ANSWER I.4 ~~~~~~~~~~ Gabrielle comes from a walled village of simple people, Poteidaia. Gabrielle's parents are both alive, as well as Lilla, her sister. Xena saved Poteidaia from destruction by the forces of Draco. It was one of Xena's first "village" rescues after her conversion to good. Gabrielle wanted to go with Xena to lead a "more exciting life" and gradually insinuated her way into Xena's company. Gabrielle is a talker. She has turned this into a skill and is quite a storyteller. She has earned money as a bard and even won the right to study at the Academy for Performing Bards. She turned it down to "live the stories" with Xena. Originally Gabrielle had no fighting skills, but in the "Hooves and Harlots" episode she became an "Amazon princess" and chose to learn the staff as her primary weapon. Gabrielle and Xena are now "the best of friends" in the highest and best ways that we can understand this phrase. Gabrielle also plays an increasing role in helping Xena to see the good and the light in all they encounter. Gabrielle was engaged to a farmer named Perdicas when she met Xena. He showed up later in the "Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts" episode as an officer in the Trojan Army. In "The Return of Callisto", Perdicas tracked down Xena and Gabrielle. He asked Gabrielle to marry him and when she saw how sickened he was by killing she consented. Callisto killed Perdicas in an attempt to draw Xena into a final confrontation. Perdicas was played by Anotn Bentley in "Sins of the Past", but he was played by Scott Garrison in "Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts" and "The Return Of Callisto". ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Are there any other reoccurring characters? ANSWER I.5 ~~~~~~~~~~ Marcus (Bobby Hosea): A mercenary companion from her dark days, Marcus encounters Xena (this is the first time the fans meet him) in "The Path Not Taken". He obviously feels strongly for Xena. At the end of this episode Marcus is turning to the "good" -- but is killed. We meet up again with Marcus in "Mortal Beloved". Xena travels to the underworld to help Hades get things in order again. Marcus is temporarily brought back to life to help. It is in this episode that Xena and Marcus express their love for each other. The end of this episode is VERY powerful. Salmoneus (Robert Trebor): Salmoneus is everyone's favorite travelling salesman. He is always looking for a quick way to turn a buck -- or in this case, a dinar. He is not very strong or very brave, but has proven trustworthy when it counted. Salmoneus considers himself a good friend to both Xena and Hercules (especially when he's in trouble!) and they find it hard to stay irritated with him for long. He went from being strictly comic relief, to being many viewers' favorite reoccurring character. Robert Trebor reprised his role as Salmoneus on X:WP in the second season despite rumors to the contrary. He was in, "Here She Comes ... Miss Amphipolis." Meanwhile, the character of Joxer has been added to fill the comic relief role the character of Salmoneus performed. Ares (Kevin Smith): Ares is the God of War, a major hunk. Ares wants nothing more than for Xena to lead his armies and go back to her good old villainous warlord days. He posed as her father in "Ties That Bind" trying to manipulate her. Watch out. Ares shows up again in "The Xena Scrolls," wherein the God of War finds himself locked in a tomb in 1942 with a descendent of Xena's. Ares later persuaded the Furies to punish Xena for the death of her father in the episode "The Furies". Ares might (or might not) be Xena's father. Kevin Smith also plays Hercules' brother, Iphicles, in HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS. Charon (Michael Hurst): Under all that make-up it is Michael Hurst (whom we all know as Iolaus in H:TLJ) playing this hilarious role. Charon's job is to carry the dead across the River Styx, but Xena and Hercules have both crossed when they were still alive and didn't even pay the customary coin! Listen to Charon's constant muttering and occasional song -- he is wonderfully funny! Autolycus (Bruce Campbell): The wily, the charming, the borderline egomaniac...yes...the one, the only, King of Thieves. Autolycus is basically a good guy. He is always trying to look out for number one, but has shown himself to be a valuable ally to both Xena and Hercules on separate occasions. He might even have a light crush on Xena. A skilled thief and fighter Autolycus succeeds in being both charming and humorous. Autolycus appears on XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS in "A Royal Couple of Thieves", "The Quest", "King of Assassins", "Tsunami", "Vanishing Act", "A Key To The Kingdom" and "Takes One To Know One". Hades (Erik Thomson): Hades is the God of the Underworld. The character comes off as being pretty wimpy for a god. Both Xena and Herc have had to help him out. The best thing about Hades (other than the actor playing this role) is that he seems to admire/appreciate Xena. Joxer (Ted Raimi): A wanna-be warrior who first appeared in "Callisto," this character reappears most often in the series. Appearing in about 30+ episodes so far. For more information about Ted Raimi, visit (http://www.tedraimifan.com) Cyrene (Darien Takle): Cyrene is Xena's mother. She appeared in "Sins of the Past", the series opener, and now also has appeared in "Intimate Stranger", "The Furies", "It Takes One To Know One" and "Lyre, Lyre". Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings): The Goddess of Love, last made an appearance in X:WP in the episode "Punch Lines" (she was a popular regular on H:TLJ). Aphrodite is a self centered and somewhat spoiled and vain god, who has been known to turn the head of every man who sees her. Cupid (Karl Urban): Unlike the valentine's day version of Cupid, the Cupid that appears in both X:WP and H:TLJ is an adult with a bad five o'clock shadow (he needs a shave). Cupid is married to a mortal who was made into a god by Aphrodite in a H:TLJ episode. Cupid also has a son called Bliss, who caused all sorts of love problems in "A Comedy of Eros". Karl Urban also plays Julius Caesar in "Destiny", "The Deliverer", "When in Rome", "A Good Day" and "Ides Of March". Karl also played the character Mael in "Altared States". Eli (Timothy Odmunson) We first saw Eli, as a street magician in "Devi", but he's more than a magician. He's actually the Avatar (a manifestation of a god), whose main goal was to spread a message of love to the world. Some of the villains have recurring roles, although they may not appear in more than two episodes. Myzantius was an arms merchant in "The Path Not Taken". He was brought back for an "alternate reality" check in "Remember Nothing" along with "Krykus", the evil warlord from "Hooves And Harlots". "Mortal Beloved" had several men whom Xena had killed in previous episodes. Callisto (Hudson Leick): Callisto has appeared the most often of Xena's villains (except for Ares): "Callisto", "The Return of Callisto", "Intimate Stranger", "Ten Little Warlords". Hudson really played Xena-in-Callisto's body in most of "Intimate Stranger" and all of "Ten Little Warlords". Lucy played Callisto-in-Xena's body in "Intimate Stranger". We think a body double for Lucy played Callisto-in-Xena's-body-in-Tartarus and Xena-with-Gabrielle-on-the-beach in "Ten Little Warlords". Callisto also makes an appearance on H:TLJ during it's third and fourth season. Callisto has since been several episodes of Xena including "The Furies" (briefly), "Maternal Instinct", "Bitter Suite", "Sacrifice I", "Sacrifice II", "Ides Of March", "Fallen Angel" and "Seeds Of Faith". And the H:TLJ episodes "Surprise", "Armageddon Now : Part 1" and "Armageddon Now : Part 2". Hudson also plays the part of Liz Friedman, in the H:TLJ episodes "Yes Virginia, There Is A Hercules", and "For Those Of You Just Joining Us". For more information on Hudson visit (http://www.hudsonleickfan.com) Hope (Renee O'Connor): Hope is Gabrielle's daughter. Hope was conceived when Gabrielle was impregnated whilst she was on the altar of Dahok in "Deliverer". After a very short pregnancy and birth, a 'Knight of the Pierced Heart' died under suspicious circumstances. Xena suspecting Hope wanted to kill her, but Gabrielle set her free (al la Moses). Hope was alleged to be a force for evil in the world and has appeared in "Gabrielle's Hope" and "Maternal Instincts". She's also appeared in the H:TLJ episodes "Armageddon Now : Part 1" and "Armageddon Now : Part 2". She was last seen in "Sacrifice I", "Sacrifice II" and "A Family Affair", in all of which, she had taken on the appearance of her mother, Gabrielle. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Where does XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS take place? ANSWER I.6 ~~~~~~~~~~ The official MCA website (http://www.mca.com/tv/xena) says that X:WP is: "...set in the 'Golden Age' of myth, long before ancient Greece or Rome, on the distant frontier of known civilization far away from the land of mighty Hercules". **BUT** there is also this information that was taken directly from Arbiter's original FAQ. (Special thanks to rcarter@indirect.com for the following information): X:WP is set in Ancient Greece - but they do move around... Lacking graphics for a map, think of the ancient Greek world as an upside-down "U". The left leg represents the Greek peninsula, and the right leg represents Asia Minor (currently Turkey) -- number and letters are included as very rough guides. E XXXXX XXXXXX 5 XXXXX D XXXXX 4 6 XXXXX F XXXXX XXXXX C XXXXX 3 7 XXXXX G XXXXX XXXXX B XXXXX 2 8 XXXXX H XXXXX XXXXX A XXXXX 1 9 XXXXX I For reference: Athens is a little north of (1) Sparta is a bit southwest of (1) Troy is in the neighborhood of (7) Xena was born in Amphipolis (5) What happened to her between her leaving Amphipolis, and her resurfacing in the Hercules episode "The Warrior Princess" is a little vague. We do know that she fought many wars in or around Corinth (1-inland) which is in Arcadia (A/1) -- including one against the Centaurs ("Hooves and Harlots"). This placing of the centaurs is a little odd being that the centaurs are from the state of Thessaly (3). We first meet Xena somewhere around Hercules' hometown of Thebes(2), and from there she takes Iolaus to Arcadia before Hercules ruins her plans. Soon after she turns to good, Xena returns to Amphipolis. Since Gabrielle followed her, presumably mostly on foot, Gabrielle's home village can't be too far away from Amphipolis. It is certainly no farther away than Thessaly (3/4). In "Death in Chains", X & G are once again in Corinth (1-inland), where Sisyphus is King. In the next episode shown, X & G are in the realm of the Amazons (east of G). However, since Centaurs are nearby, it implies they are still near Corinth, or possibly now somewhere in Thessaly -- maybe this is a rogue group of Amazons.... Other observations include: In "Orphan of War" we learn that Xena's army fought a second group of Centaurs led by Kaleipus. On that occasion she had been seeking the Ixion stone, a Centaur relic which possessed all the evil of their race. In "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" we learned that Xena's army fought Bacchus and was apparently almost wiped out (and yet she seems to have won the battle). For an extensive examination of Xena's history, review the "History of Xena", available on the web (http://www.xenite.org/xenahist.htm). ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ When (in history) does X:WP take place? ANSWER I.7 ~~~~~~~~~~ The official MCA website (http://www.mca.com/tv/xena/) says that X:WP is: "...set in the 'Golden Age' of myth, long before ancient Greece or Rome..." **BUT** there is also this information that was taken directly from Arbiter's original FAQ. (Special thanks to rcarter@indirect.com for the following information) The time frame is difficult to pin down since the series presents contradictory material. Since so much iron is used in weapons (we'll assume it's iron and not steel), the time can't be significantly earlier than about 150BC -- as that is the time when iron started being produced in quantity. The latest historical reference made in the series so far (Dec. 1995) was in the episode "Death in Chains", where there is mention of Sophokles (496-406 BC). This places the series probably no later than about 380 BC There are several mentions of heroes of the Trojan War (e.g. in "The Reckoning"), and this places things sometime after c.1184 BC (the traditional date of the end of the Trojan War). We could be comfortable with this except for one thing: Herakles (Hercules) is computed as dying some 79 years before the start of the Trojan War -- and obviously Xena and Gabrielle are contemporaries of the legendary hero. This places the time period somewhere between 1300-1250 BC At of this writing, if we ignore the Sophokles reference, the series probably takes place sometime between 1300-850 BC Other observations include: Not to get to technical, but the writers of X:WP have now thrown in Julius Caesar and a holiday episode which appears to portend the birth of Christ. Suffice it to say, Xena goes where Xena wants to, and it doesn't matter what time line we go by. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Does X:WP jibe with "traditional" mythology and actual history? ANSWER I.8 ~~~~~~~~~~ In some cases yes and in many cases no. Read the two answers above this (I.6 and I.7), and you will understand. The show plays around with actual places, events, people, and myths, but the producers, writers, etc., choose to be bound to or by them. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ How is X:WP like HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, and how is it different? ANSWER I.9 ~~~~~~~~~~ This is VERY rudimentary -- any helpful rephrasing, comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated! How the shows are alike.... 1. The characters know each other and "exist" in the same time frame. 2. Each show incorporates mythological tales/concepts. Both have a primary star/character who roams the countryside righting wrongs with their best friend, who usually travels with them. Xena and Herc are both capable and accomplished fighters who are brave and true. 3. By the way have you noticed that both Iolaus and Gabrielle are shorter, more light-hearted/carefree, and of lighter complexion than Herc and Xena? How the shows are different... 1. Let's get the obvious out of the way: Hercules and Iolaus are very male. Xena and Gabrielle are unquestionably female! 2. Hercules is half god. Xena (as far as we know) is not. 3. Xena is much more the warrior -- complete with armor and weapons. 4. Herc is in lots of fights, but he doesn't seem to "enjoy"/revel in it as much as Xena does. (Although more and more it seems Xena is trying to avoid unnecessary confrontations.) 5. Xena usually kills or maims a minimum of 2-3 people per show. (Note: There is an apparent decrease in this kind of behavior in the 2nd season.) Hercules will knock a half dozen heads together but seldom actually kills or seriously wounds anyone. 6. Xena rarely takes on monsters. She focuses on warlords. Hercules usually takes out the monsters, gets embroiled with the gods, and generally deals with situations where mortals (except for Xena) are outclassed. Xena DID defeat a very nasty Titan, and she and Herc together helped to free Prometheus. As noted above, she has also gotten involved with Ares and Hades a few times. 7. She definitely has a dark and horrible past/side that she is trying to live down and deal with. Herc has had some bad things happen, but *he* has always been a good guy. I think that it is this darkness, their very different pasts, that helps the writers to create the distinct tones/moods/environments that makes the two shows more different than I have been able to put into words here. 8. Finally, the sidekicks differ tremendously. Iolaus is a warrior and hunter. Gabrielle is just learning to find her way through the world but is trying NOT to become a warrior. The Gods took Iolaus down a notch on a couple of occasions because of his tremendous ego. Gabrielle has not developed that problem. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Where is X:WP filmed? ANSWER I.10 ~~~~~~~~~~~ It is filmed on location in and around Auckland, New Zealand. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do X:WP and H:TLJ share the same writers and production team? ANSWER I.11 ~~~~~~~~~~~ No. There is very little crossover, same company with different staffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION I.12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Was there ever a real Xena? ANSWER I.12 ~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you mean a person who actually lived "way back when" with the name Xena? Who knows? Do you mean a female warrior whose life resembles *our* T.V. Xena in some way? No. The T.V. Xena is not based on historical accounts and/or myth. "Xena" resounds in the souls of her fans. There is something there we recognize and gravitate toward. The strength, the courage, the beauty, the challenge of righting your past misdeeds, the struggle to trust and care, Lucy Lawless and the whole production team bring to us these things, and it appeals to us in a way that goes beyond the sum of the parts. So yes, we like to "pretend" that Xena existed and still does in many of us. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aethelrede <aethelrede@worldnet.att.net> Amita Guha <amita@amarex.com> A. J. Firebaugh <Bluesong@aol.com> Hudson Leick Fan Club (http://www.hudsonleickfan.com) K. Wieczerza -- aka "Kicker" <wieczek@telalink.net> Kevin Smith Official Fan Club (http://www.inetworld.net/zepgirl2/fanclb.htm) Kym Masera Taborn <ktaborn@lightspeed.net> Michael Martinez <michael@xenite.org> Pat Casciano <pcascian@niagara.rivier.edu> Paul Hilling <p.hilling@bigfoot.com> R. Carter <rcarter@indirect.com> Renee O'Connor's Official Web Site (http://rampages.onramp.net/~rocweb/) Ron Murillo <tegan@uclink4.berkeley.edu> Ted Turocy <arbiter@nwu.edu> Tim Smith <tim.smith@omnidssi.com> Ted Raimi International Fan Club (http://www.tedraimifan.com) Whoosh (http://www.whoosh.org) (My thanks goto all of the other contributors not listed) The original FAQ was written by Ted Turocy (arbiter@nwu.edu) and K. Wieczerza -- a.k.a. "Kicker" (wieczek@telalink.net). Kicker maintained the original FAQ on her web site, http://www.telalink.net/~wieczek/Xwpfaq.html, which now says something like: NOTE: This FAQ (by Kicker) has been turned over to the people at WHOOSH! The new URL is http://whoosh.org/faq/index.html. This version of the FAQ has been written and formatted specifically for distribution on the Usenet. Why are these documents is so long? I don't know, except we're quite involved with the show and believe in what we do or some such thing :-) ---------------------------END OF FAQ---------------------------- Paul Hilling :- Alt.Tv.Xena FAQ Maintainer Alt.Binaries.Multimedia.Xena-Herc FAQ Maintainer New to ATX? Read the FAQ @ http://www.bigfoot.com/~p.hilling/atx-faq.htm [Paul's Gabby Grotto http://www.bigfoot.com/~p.hilling/xena.htm] No computer components were harmed during the creation of this e-mail, however several billion electrons were abused to ensure its safe delivery.