A quick note on something that would be interesting if I were in California, which I’m not: Chico State University (about 90 miles north of Sacramento) is holding a series of lectures, workshops, and art exhibits with the theme “Shojo Manga! Girl Power!” and focusing on “the recent success of female animators and the emergence of strong heroines as cultural icons.” The series will include talks by legendary director Hayao Miyazake (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away) and manga experts Keiko Takemiya and Yukari Fujimoto.