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

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Hey, have you heard anything about how Project Download is doing these days? How many downloads are we up to now?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I was going to mention it on a less-crowded post--Neil mentioned it on his journal, but she's still at something like 45,000 hits, maybe. I'm not happy about this. If I can figure out where my damn computer microphone went, I'll see if I can't record something that she can upload. I almost wonder if that's how to bring people in--create multiple items of original content for them to download, to ensure that people who might not care enough to click every day (or for charity) will have something to lure them in.

[soleta-nf.livejournal.com]

I got this message today in my Facebook mail (from the I Support Project Download group):

"Hey all, just a reminder to get in as many clicks/downloads as you can! Current number of downloads is approximately 35,574 downloads. You can download the file and help spread the word here http://projecterin.com/help.html

Keep it up! :)"

How many downloads does she need to have, by when? :(

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

She needs a million downloads, and I don't know by when. However, to put that in perspective, she needs about 28 times as many downloads as she has so far. Unless there's some kind of change that gives more people reason to click (of the sort Cleo is suggesting, for instance), it's not going to happen.

[soleta-nf.livejournal.com]

Ouch. :(

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I seriously don't know that I have another 15M in me at this point, but it may take something on that level to attract enough hits. I wonder if we could get other folks to contribute something--download a piece of artwork or something.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Cleo, the more I think about it, the more the math on this just isn't working out. Your M15M list has around 14,000 members. If every one of them clicks for (say) a single M15, that's only another 14,000 downloads, compared to 35-40,000 so far. I think we could easily double or triple the current number of downloads, but I'm not sure we could push it much higher than 50-60,000 by ourselves. To really do this requires someone with an audience about ten times bigger than what we have available, OR, something that's continually updated.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I know it--I was hoping someone bigger, or at least someone substantial with a different audience, would pick it up from me. Neil Gaiman already mentioned it; I wonder if we could get it on Boing Boing. I may talk to theferrett--I'm pretty sure he has a larger audience than me, but more importantly, I don't think there's a huge amount of overlap.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Just had a thought:

You know, your original model for Black Ribbon, with the frame story about Primrose Publishers, is actually perfect for getting a bunch of hits repeatedly, as you release each "letter." If you were to re-write that frame story (or some other epistolary-type project) it could be a lot more effective than an M15M. And possibly drum up some interest in the book...