Wednesday evening, rumors of cake abounding

[cleolinda]

So the Oven People came and restored our Powers of Baking, and I'm rereading Order of the Phoenix (will I reread the entire series in backwards order by Friday? Only time and really strange whims can tell). Also, I have a new Bellatrix icon, and I think the reason I love Movie!Bella so much is because she is just complete, childish, spiteful id. She's every nasty thing you've ever wanted to do and enjoy while you were at it. I mean, I totally want her to get her ass kicked in the seventh book/movie, but, you know... for an icon, she's fun, in a Halloween at Hot Topic kind of way.

Meanwhile, I have been getting dangerously close to rogue spoilers, and I don't like it. TWOOOO DAYYYYYS.


Potted Harry for beginners (BBC).

Harry Potter spoilers proliferate (Yahoo).

Online leaks could ruin 'Potter' magic ("I'm just not going to get on the Internet or watch TV" for the next three days, says Potter fan Jeff Chambless of Birmingham, Ala. "If I did find out what happened, it would not be the end of world, but it's more fun to enjoy a book as the author intended us to read it") (USAToday).

Distributor mails final Potter book early. Levy Home Entertainment, and DeepDiscounts.com. That's who you want to stone is responsible for the leaks. Although I've also heard that the 720+ photographs leak was from a library copy.

Rowling: 'Help preserve the secrecy' of Potter (CNN).

Is Potter's foe, Severus Snape, good or evil? Or is he just in it for himself? (Warning: spoilers for the sixth book) (MSNBC).

‘Harry Potter’ Redux: Which Other Role Would Radcliffe Want? (MTV Movie Blog).

Top 10 Possible Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Endings (#2: "Ewoks sing") (IGN).

Via Bookslut: "It is time to make a stand against Harry Potter" ("Oh yes, that hasn't been done before") (Guardian.co.uk).

Bloomsbury Updates With More on JKR "Deathly Hallows" Reading and Webchat (Leaky Cauldron).

Of Centaurs and Kreacher, re: creature effects (Leaky Cauldron).

Muggles come out for one last party (USAToday).

Deathly Hallows called 'greenest book' in history (ONTD).

6 Questions The Last Harry Potter Book Had Better F#@king Answer (the title is self-censored; God knows I have no problem saying fuck this and shit that). "It's expected that the main narrative of The Deathly Hallows will be about Harry's hunt for the remaining Horcruxes before his final confrontation with Voldemort. If this is true, it means that the final Harry Potter Book will have the same plot as basically every RPG ever made, what with Harry having to 'collect the Seven Important Things' to defeat the 'loosely explained magic barrier' which will allow him to access the 'final dungeon,' and in the end he'll still be a 'massive nerd' " (Cracked.com).


Man calls 911 to save him from police. "A 38-year-old man was arrested after he called 911 and told a dispatcher he was surrounded by police officers and needed help, authorities said." To no one's surprise, alcohol was involved.

Bestest pillow evar.

I think I may actually print and post this macro on my door.

The best movies of the half-year.

That Sneaky J.J. Abrams and His 1-18-08; Cloverfield Sites Clarified.

Ron Howard Directing Emperor's Children.

DiCaprio to Maybe Play Hefner.

Warner Bros. Makes Feeble Attempt To Hide Chicago 'Batman' Shooting.

New Batch of 'Bourne' Pics.

New Edition of Controversial 'Caligula' To Be Released, including "newly recorded, no-holds-barred commentary tracks by McDowell and Mirren," which should be fun.

Linda Fiorentino Will Produce, May Star in Russian Poet Biopic.

'Shrek' Will Probably Stop at Five Films. Well, thank God.

Famous face Steve Buscemi knows 'casting is everything.'

Stuffing The Ballots: Oregonian Congressman Cries Election Fraud In 'Simpsons Movie' Premiere Contest.

Q&A: ‘The Dark Is Rising’ Star Gregory Smith. So how does it feel to star in a movie that thousands of fans already hate? Thoughts?

Comments

[scornedsaint.livejournal.com]

(will I reread the entire series in backwards order by Friday? Only time and really strange whims can tell).

Aw, now I feel like such a wimp for thinking that I can't finish 5, 6, and 1 by Friday. You rock on with your reading of five books.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, see, I'm almost done with OOTP (the longest), and I read HBP (second longest?) earlier this week. GOF is really the only heavy lifting left; I can read the other three in a single afternoon, since they're written "younger" and they're a lot shorter.

[lauramcvey.livejournal.com]

I started re-reading them right when the OoTP movie came out (bet you can't guess which book I started with :) and just finished HPB last night. Now al I have to do it wait . . .

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

I'm rereading OotP now too. I'm not sure there's any way I will get through it and HBP by the time Deathly Hollows ships..

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hey, it can't hurt to try.

(Awwww, your icon!)

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

True! I didn't want to read OotP before I saw the movie, because I knew it would ruin it for me. I'm enjoying reading it now. But there's lots to go, and I know I'm going to have to read DH as fast as humanly possible because of the spoilerage.

(And I miss I Harth Darth, it was the cutest comic ever!)

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

So how does it feel to star in a movie that thousands of fans already hate? Thoughts?

Why do you say this? Because his character says "Awesome!" and is called "bro" by his crappy brothers? Because none of the signs his character seeks has anything to do with heathen pre-Christian symbolism? Because Merriman is short and fat? Because his Will pretends to be a third-rate Valley boy Harry Potter? Because this whole movie is so WRONG I feel like screaming?

Issues? What issues?

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. You seem to be indicating that somebody is making a bad movie based on one of my favorite books. But fortunatly for us all, that's not true! No, not true at all.

Now please stand aside, I'm trying to look at all these pretty pyramids we're sailing past.

[notemily.livejournal.com]

your username wins at life.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Oh god, I saw the trailer today... and here I was so excited with Christopher Eccleson (sp, I'm sure) as the Rider. WILL. CANNOT. BE. AMERICAN. Also, he isn't supposed to have friends with him. He is supposed to be alone and British, like all great boy heroes.

[bandersnatch42.livejournal.com]

Don't forget that Max is now a "karate-wielding agent of The Dark".

[jennnk.livejournal.com]

Oh, and be sure to avoid newspapers, too. The LA Times, NY Times, & WaPo had a photo of the last 2 pages of the "epilogue" (I still maintain it's fake) in their print versions, and who knows how many others ran it today or will run it tomorrow.

[camisado.livejournal.com]

I don't really get what people have against adverbs. Aren't we always told a problem with the Internet and emails is that people might misinterpret our words or meaning because they can't hear our tone of voice? So don't adverbs help the reader understand the character's tone or intent better? Of course you'd hope context would illuminate but even then sometimes things can be ambiguous, right?

[lauramcvey.livejournal.com]

Judging from the tone of that article, that guy is one of those irritating people who are Way Too Intellectual for something so *gasp* mainstream. I actually found the adverbs helped establish the characters better. But I'm a lowly former nine-year-old, what do I know?

P.S. I solemnly swear that I am not an HP fangirl who gets hissy when the books are criticised, but intellectual snobbery annoys the hell out of me.

i heart bella as well.

[to-no-avail.livejournal.com]

i very much agree with you about bella. i felt that it was great that she wasn't as subdued/calm evil as lucius is. i think it's the fact that she acts like a child and has no inhibitions is what makes her menacing. i can't wait to dress as her on fri.

oh speaking of icons...for you!!!
(http://photobucket.com)

happy 2 days to deathly hallows!!

the niki

[jrs1980.livejournal.com]

It's got to be a library book. It's got the...you know, threaded tape? With the fiberglass strips holding the cover on. I've only ever seen that in library books.

Good luck on your reread. I went the chronological order with the UK audiobooks and became hubris-y after PoA. "Dude, I'm getting through a book a day! This'll be a snap!" Took me almost a week to get through GoF.

[greyduck.livejournal.com]

That Cracked.com article was, even for a non-HP-fan like myself, one of the best things I've seen all week.

"...with his last bullet, fired from a wand taped to his back."

Ded from teh funney, here.

Dropping a hint (not a spoiler)

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

You know what would make a really awesome "Heroine Addict" icon? A OotP picture of Ginny with her wand out blasting stuff to smithereens. It would. I'd offer you a link to a picture if I'd been able to find one. C'mon folks, Hermione is NOT the only kick-ass girl at Hogwarts.

Re: Dropping a hint (not a spoiler)

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

Hey, make one for Ginny and Luna. Luna's tough.
And she and Neville are going to get married and have a genius baby.

Wishful thinking (not real predictions)

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

Oooh... you hit on my "happy ending"! In my perfect Potter finale:

Neville and Luna hook up (with hints that it will last long term)

Remus and Tonks say "Screw it" and have a quickie wedding attended by the Order

Neville takes out Bellatrix. If Neville can't end up with Luna, I'm okay with him dying in a blaze of glory avenging his parents. Sad, but someone's got to go and at least Neville could have a good death.

Fred and George do something responsible and heroic

Crookshanks decides to spend a lot of time cuddling up to Ron-after all, cats love best those who don't love cats.


In the end, I will be okay with deaths as long as we don't lose *one* Weasley twin. Both I could stand, one left alone would slay me.

Re: Wishful thinking (not real predictions)

[evilsimon.livejournal.com]

Crookshanks decides to spend a lot of time cuddling up to Ron-after all, cats love best those who don't love cats.

That would be awesome.

Re: Wishful thinking (not real predictions)

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

I'm lovin' the Crookshanks idea.
I agree re: the Weasley twins.

My vision for the post-Book-7 Potterverse is that Ron and Hermione get married and have a bunch of red-headed, brilliant children, preferably with a pair of twins thrown in for good measure. Maybe all girls just to drive Ron insane. And of course at least one of them has to idolize uncles Fred and George and get into more mischeif than Filch ever thought possible. Harry marries Ginny and so they're all really actually related.
Neville and Luna get married, and their daughter (catch the feminist spirt JKR) turns out to be a wizard so brilliant and gifted that she makes Voldemort and Dumbledore (and Harry) look like Hogwarts first years in comparison.
I like the world inside my head.

[word-herder.livejournal.com]

Although I've also heard that the 720+ photographs leak was from a library copy.

FIE ON THEM. This LIS grad is IRATE. Publishers and authors have been trying for years to eliminate advance copies to librarians who populate readers' advisory panels.

[lumaria.livejournal.com]

Icon <3

[junipar.livejournal.com]

I work for a book wholesaler, and we are all abuzz with Harry Potter this week. It's frustrating because it's almost impossible for spoilers not to get out; we had to start shipping the book almost two weeks ago simply because we have literally millions of copies sitting in our warehouses. (Note: we ship to booksellers, libraries, etc....only customers who signed a strict affidavit from Scholastic saying they wouldn't open the boxes until July 21st. We don't sell to any individuals and weren't the cause of the leaks!) But at the same time, some idiot somewhere is going to open one and put out spoilers. (Because he/she has no soul.)

Also, I know for a fact that my copy is already IN MY OFFICE and yet I can't have it until Saturday! It's driving me crazy but it's also exciting.

TWOOOOO DAAAAAYS!

[junipar.livejournal.com]

D'oh! Just read that one is probably a library copy. I'm pretty sure it wasn't from us, though (because we would've definitely heard about it). This is why it's so frustrating: people can sign the affidavit, yet it still won't stop everyone from opening the boxes early. Yet it would be impossible to print and ship the books one day or even one week before.

Sorry for my blathering...it's an interesting conundrum.

Please no one stone me. :) Here's to a spoiler-free rest of the week!

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

Cleary what is needed is some sort of magical charm that makes it impossible to open the books before their appointed time.

[jaded-lady.livejournal.com]

I work in a bookstore, and we got DH in today...I helped bring them inside and allowed myself a little peek at them all lined up and pretty (and i might have taken a picture...) but that was all i allowed myself.

TWO DAYYYYYS.

[girlsetsfire345.livejournal.com]

Um, yeah, Mister Oregon Senator? Vermont will come and fuck you up. We don't mess around; we won fair and square. Suck it, West-Coaster.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Never mind the fact that there were more votes than there are people in Springfield... ^_^

(I'm a native VTer, I don't think they cheated, etc. I just find it amusing.)

[megmatthews20.livejournal.com]

I think Oregon probably felt they had the right to it because Matt Groening hails from Portland and Springfield Oregon is less than 2 hours from Portland...and...I'll shut up now...

I'm from Oregon...been to Springfield many times, and I'm really not miffed about it...

cheers here's to Vermont

[kismeteve.livejournal.com]

Ron Howard Directing Emperor's Children.

Which makes me less eager to finish it. I have enough issues with the yuppie angst without knowing Ron Howard's gonna get all Ron Howard-y with it.

[ironclad1609.livejournal.com]

Damnit, I've only seen Zodiac from that list of Best Reviewed (and well deserved to be on it)...but Ratatouille didn't come out yet...
I am still surprised Knocked up gets such great reviews, it looks so...normal.

Snarkfest

[wearejustducky.livejournal.com]

Hi Cleo,

I had an off-topic question to ask you - one of the only places I've been letting myself read lately has been the non-spoiler HP thread at Snarkfest. I decided to register, so I could keep my place better, but registration is closed. Do you know when it will open up again?

Also, OOTP in Imax? Is beyond awesome. My theater had the last 30 minutes in 3D. Tiny children were alternately jumping up and down in glee and hiding under the seats in panic.

Re: Snarkfest

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Awww, the registration--I feel bad now. I was the one who actually suggested that it be closed this week, so random trolls couldn't register just to post spoilers and run. We were going to reopen it on Saturday--can you wait until then?

Re: Snarkfest

[wearejustducky.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I can definitely wait until you reopen it.

I have really enjoyed reading the non-spoiler HP threads. I like being able to indulge in obsessive worrying about it while not constantly living in fear of being spoiled. I feel like everywhere, (including real life at times!) is a minefield of potential spoilage, so I appreciate having a clean well-lighted place to panic.

You know, after I sent the comment, I thought to myself, I bet they closed it so no one can register with a name like UmbridgeMarriesSnapePage456 and just bomb the place with spoilers.

Thanks for letting me know!

Re: Snarkfest

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. I'm still a bit proud of thinking of that.

Let me know when you register and what name you choose--I like keeping up with SFers on LJ. : )

Re: Snarkfest

[wearejustducky.livejournal.com]

Hey there,

They reopened the registration over at Snarkfest today - I registered as Ailine, which is/was my name at TWoP/Fametracker. I think I was registered once upon a time on the original Snarkfest, so I am happy it it still around and healthy!

[daemonnoire.livejournal.com]

New Edition of Controversial 'Caligula' To Be Released, including "newly recorded, no-holds-barred commentary tracks by McDowell and Mirren," which should be fun.

"And here's an awesome performance by myself and McDowell. Notice the subtle posturing we do in this scene to emphasize the political commentary we're making on both Roman debauchery and the excesses of the American government. And oh look. The 'sex machine' that the director EDITED INTO THE MIDDLE OF OUR SCENE, THE BASTARD."

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

I was doing a reread of all the books in prep, but I'm stalled out on 4, because despite my "weekend" (Tuesday-Wednesday, the joys of working in the tourism field) just having past, I wound up spending my days off actually interacting with other people via the 'net and even (gasp) in real life. I am very pleased with the results of that interaction, but quite cranky that I might not get to finish my reading in time for the release Saturday.

[are-there-stars.livejournal.com]

30 hours to go!

I have no scruples against beating little kids in trivia games at Barnes and Noble.

[paradise-loved.livejournal.com]

cleo, are you going to do a predictions for dh post? i am just wondering because a bunch of other people have been doing them and i genuinely enjoy your opinions. i've heard snippets here and there of what you think, but yeah, just wondering if you were going to do this.