Sunday evening already?

[cleolinda]

So, here's what's new in the world of L'affaire Lexicon:

soleta_nf remembered Steve Vander Ark saying at Convention Alley 2004 that "his real reason for starting the lexicon was that he knew JKR would be publishing an encyclopedia someday, and he hoped that, by having already created one, he would be the person she approached to help her with it." Apparently this ambition goes back as far as 2000 as well. vorpal_blade at JF also recalled SVA saying at Prophecy 2007 that "Jo didn't know her world as well as the fans did and that they owned it now, not her," of which we also have video ("I'm going to teach you a spell: expelliepilogus!"). He's also on video comparing JKR to Umbridge. The reference on RDR Books' website to Hiroshima was removed, but not before it was screencapped. The book may have had a British publication date of tomorrow, November 5, but since I also read that the British publisher is cooperating with WB, it's unlikely that it'll go on sale tomorrow.

And then... Steve released a statement.

Meanwhile! Wearable Sculpture is now Wyrding Studios, Stardust illustrator Charles Vess needs your help proving that a statuette without "big muscles, big breasts or big guns" can sell, and we have a few reader requests:

foresthouse created a Flickr group for Neil Gaiman-inspired costumes and creations (which Neil himself mentioned on his blog).

unheardpublic: "Chipotle, the mexican fast food restaurant chain, hosted a 30 second commercial spot contest for universities around the nation and they just announced the 12 finalists. Well, I happen to be one of them. The rules are that the video with the most views on youtube wins, so if you could link my video in your spam, I would SO appreciate it (you have no idea how much more I will love you). Enjoy and thanks so much."

arielchan has one last sociology poll, if you could help her out.

Back at the ranch, an excellence of linkspam:

Shia LaBeouf arrested at Chicago Walgreens.

Teacher who ran away with student arrested in Mexico, boy released; Teen turns out to be illegal immigrant, stays in Mexico after teacher seized. "This was a mutual agreement to flee after the story came out that they were having sex."

Judge booted for flipping coin to decide.

Creature ID'd as coyote, not chupacabra. But did it have mange?

Face of King Tut unshrouded to public.

Autism ‘epidemic’ may be in label.

Not much left of Robin Hood's Sherwood.

What would you ask fantasy writer George R.R. Martin?

Several non-Lexicon HP stories: Confirmed: Dan Radcliffe, Richard Griffith in "Equus" Broadway Production Fall 2008; Dawn French talks to Daniel Radcliffe about his "lovely wand." Meanwhile, in book news: The Tales of Beedle The Bard!; J.K. Rowling Expands ‘Potter’ Universe For Charity. And back over on the filming front: Radcliffe on HBP: Gambon "Camping it Up." He means off-screen, fortunately: "Well, he's been camping it up around the set like nobody's business... Not in the film, though we did actually film a scene the other day, and I would like emphasise at this point that the script was written before this revelation and I don't think Steve Kloves had any prior knowledge, but there was a scene the other day when Michael had to come in and tell another character how much he loved knitting patterns! Which he just adored saying that." It kind of sounds like the scene where Dumbledore excuses himself from the room to let Harry and Slughorn talk at Slughorn's house--doesn't he come back from (ostensibly) the bathroom and say he was looking at something? Knitting patterns ring a bell for some reason. And we know they've been filming Slughorn's house, so it does make sense.

The Golden Compass Character Posters; Exclusive Photo: ‘The Golden Compass’; New Golden Compass Stills; “Film sells atheism to kids: Major protest launched”; ‘Golden Compass’ Author Starts Fantasy-Author Beef; Lord of the Rings ‘trivial’ says Pullman. Why? Whyyyy? Why do you make it so hard to support you against the atheism-panickers by attacking beloved fantasy writers? Whyyyyyyyyy?

(Also: Mrs. Coulter dolls are here!)

Two more costume pics from Keira Knightley's The Duchess.

New Joker pic revealed. (Ever so slightly related: Ledger Enters Gilliam's Imaginarium.)

New Watchmen Movie Updates.

Wolverine Story and Scene Spoilers.

Cinematical Exclusive: 'The Orphanage' Poster.

New Poster and Artwork for Gerard Butler's 'Game'; Now Gerard Butler Escapes the 'Escape from New York' Remake.

Donnie Darko's Richard Kelly Talks About 'The Box'; James Marsden Joins Diaz in Richard Kelly's 'The Box'; Kelly's Box Is '70s Piece.

James Marsden Has a Wicked 'Sex Drive.'

Paul Giamatti Blurs Reality For Philip K. Dick Biopic ‘Owl In Daylight.’

Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" Being Reimagined Under Ridley and Tony Scott.

trailer_spot: Pride and Glory, There Will Be Blood, National Treasure 2, Kung Fu Panda, Cassandra's Dream, Alvin and Why Hast Our God Forsaken Us? the Chipmunks; Wanted, There's Only One Sun, Kung Fu Panda, Band's Visit, Untraceable.

'Jumper' Poster Features Exotic/Dull Cocktail.

Fans Choose Villainy for (The) Rock.

The Killer Graphic Novel Being Developed for David Fincher.

Natalie Portman Directing Love and Darkness.

First Lost Boys 2: The Tribe Photo.

"Shrek 4 Title Fills Me With Untold Rage."

Alan Cumming is One Matt Hatter.

Gillian Anderson Loves 'The Smell of Apples.' (Somewhat related: The X-Files 2 Set for July 25, 2008.)

Guy Pearce Hits The Road. Aww, not Viggo Mortensen after all?

Meryl Streep Wins Preemptive Oscar as Julia Child; Amy Adams to costar.

Julia Roberts and Clive Owen Re-Team for 'Duplicity.'

'Cloverfield's' Mysterious Title Revealed as ... 'Cloverfield'? The possibility of a last-minute fakeout is acknowledged, however.

Oprah Winfrey chops off Hilary Swank's hair.

From 1999: Kevin Smith Protests 'Dogma.'

Seriously, it's a really, really good linkspam. A five-day backlog'll do that for you.

Comments

[karadin.livejournal.com]

I was slightly annoyed at the article on autism because it implies there were always this many children with the disability, it was just diagnosed differently, and parents only seek the diagnosis to get services, well, I didn't want any diagnosis of my child in any disability, and as for getting services, I've waited two and a half years and am only now getting a social worker, yippie.

[idrach.livejournal.com]

It isn't an Edgar Allen Poe adaptation unless Vincent Price is in it chewing the scenery.

Also, I thought you might appreciate this story:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/05/jedi_speak_out_on_uk_sword_law/

[quasar360.livejournal.com]

Words cannot describe how much that article amused me.

Also, thank you for using the phrase "chewing the scenery" in a sentence. It never fails to make me lol, mostly because of the visual. Hee!

[cosette-esk.livejournal.com]

Your icon= massive win.

[cosette-esk.livejournal.com]

Pullman,I love your books, but you seriously gotta lessen up on the cherished author bashing or I WILL sic the Christian fundies on you.

[jennnk.livejournal.com]

haven't read the comments, so someone probably already answered this, but in case not: It kind of sounds like the scene where Dumbledore excuses himself from the room to let Harry and Slughorn talk at Slughorn's house--doesn't he come back from (ostensibly) the bathroom and say he was looking at something? Knitting patterns ring a bell for some reason.

Yes. He says he was reading knitting magazines. the line is something like "I do so love a good knitting pattern." I remember this because I'm a knitter & it made me squee a little. It also made me wonder if it was a nod to Allison Hansel's harry potter knitting blog, which was a precursor to her book Charmed Knits (http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780470067314-0), published May of this year.

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

LOST BOYS 2? Meh- without Dianne Wiest and *both* Coreys, it's got nothing.


I'd ask George R.R. Martin for the ten years of sleep back he took from me when I read his novella "Sand Kings".

Thanks for the two stories relating to Jimmy Marsden, aka the Fantasy Husband I'm Gonna Fall Back on if Seann William Scott Says No *g*

[floatingpencil.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I'm not interested without both the Coreys. I'd prefer to have as many of the original cast as possible, actually.

Of course, it's about surfing vampires, so the chances are it'll be a big old pile of flaming poo anyway.

[lyrainverse.livejournal.com]

Where's Kaisa? I know witch daemons can travel distances away from their humans, but the poster makes it seem like Serafina doesn't have a daemon.

Has anyone made a countdown for this movie yet?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I noticed that--weird, innit? I haven't heard about a countdown yet, although I wouldn't be surprised if Bridge to the Stars had a widget or something. They seem to be the TLC of the HDM fandom.

[wmetoile.livejournal.com]

Hey, Cleo, in your next round of spam, do you think you could pimp my friends' website in the Weblog Awards? They have a TV blog called TiFaux (http://www.tifaux.com) that is awesome, and they're nominated for the second year in a row, but are currently getting clobbered by Pop Sugar, just like last year.

Anyone who loves TV (and freedom) can vote once a day till Thursday. Vote here (http://2007.weblogawards.org/polls/best-culture-blog-1.php). Thanks!

[joyous-trouble.livejournal.com]

Was happy to spot this:

(http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/429B15D6-2E5D-4589-98BB-DB6466FC4FCE/)clipped from somethingpositive.net (http://somethingpositive.net/index.html)

Project Download (http://projecterin.com/) - Neil Gaiman
mentioned this on his blog and she contacted me right after (and I have
a soft spot for girls named Erin). Erin suffers from two neurological
disorders that are going to require a few brain surgeries (dear Jesus)
but may have found a way to shoulder the cost. She's putting out a plea
for aid.

Over at one of my webcomics. My aren't you on top of things! Go Erin Go Erin, get your surgery!

[blackdiamants.livejournal.com]

King Tut?
*snif*
I'd hit that.

For what it's worth.

[nimlotbradamant.livejournal.com]

I'm a Christian. I kind of get to expect people writing books about how deluded and/or evil the Church is. I have never read Philip Pullman's books. I refrain because I have a bad temper, and because having what I hold most dear mercilessly (and probably ignorantly) attacked isn't my idea of a pleasant afternoon's reading. I don't want to have impassioned mental theological arguments with people who can't hear me, y'know?

So I don't read the books. I've heard a lot about them. I've heard they descend into almost childish levels of anti-Church raspberry blowing. I've also heard that they contain magnificent flights of imagination and are undeniably good. So I've decided to respect his artistic gift from afar. So far it's worked fine.

But he's making it hard. Calling Tolkien 'trivial' is, as much as I hate to call people names, an act of startling idiocy. I can take his anti-Narnia ravings. After all, I'm a raver myself. But don't knock Tolkien.

To those children of God who have their knickers in a twist about the fact that the books are being made into movies, I have the same two replies as to those who went apoplectic over Harry Potter.

1. Nobody's forcing you to take your kids to see the movies or read the books.
2. And if they do pose a serious threat to your kids' faith it's not a giant leap of logic to say that it's your fault as a parent and not the moviemakers' fault.