The Illuminated Dungeon

Oh Deer Oh Deer Oh Deer

2009-11-20T05:26:59Z

This must be the week for crazy deer stories!

Deer On the Grill = FAIL

(But this deer lived to tell the ~~Tail~~ Tale)

Deer Stuck in the Grill of a Car Survives

Doe Attends Breakfast at School in Russellville, Alabama

Angry Buck Attacks Man in Upstate New York

Deer Crash Windows of an Insurance Office in Plum, PA

Hundreds of Roadkill Deer Stacked Up In PA Man's Front Yard

Harry Potter Movie Fun

2009-11-19T21:00:02Z

Several rather enjoyable videos have been released. The first is a retrospective as some of the young actors try to describe their character's plotlines through movies 1-5 in sixty seconds. The second concerns the editing of the HBP scene in which Hermione smacks Harry on the head (Dan Rad says he was concussed at one point). Finally see the cast playing with Dark Mark Tattoos in the third.

Lemon Ashwinder in the News

2009-11-17T14:13:32Z

A Duluth, Minnesota, NaNoWriMo group is famous now, including our own lemon_ashwinder.who is their regional liason. Way to go ladies!

Lemon has her book A Shunned Man on Amazon, and the sequal is coming soon, which will be great!
Article Here if you are registered for that newspaper, but if not I've put it below:

Published November 16 2009

Writers try to finish novel in month

Amanda Sundin’s head is filled with humanoids, auto carts, digi mags and pygmies — and so is her two-subject Mead notebook. By the end of November, she hopes to have finished her first novel.

By: Christa Lawler, Duluth News Tribune

Amanda Sundin’s head is filled with humanoids, auto carts, digi mags and pygmies — and so is her two-subject Mead notebook. By the end of November, she hopes to have finished her first novel.

Finally.

It’s Sundin’s fourth go-round with National Novel Writing Month, code name NaNoWriMo to those in the know. The worldwide, Internet-based initiative challenges would-be novelists to crank out a piece of fiction at least 50,000 words long — about 175 pages of type. The free, no-pressure contest is in its 10th year.

In 2008, 120,000 writers from 90 countries attempted the feat, according to nanowrimo.org. There are about 150 writers in the site’s Duluth network — which includes surrounding areas. Not all of the listed participants will finish. Some don’t even start.

“I’ve always wanted to be a writer,” said Sundin, 27, a physical therapist’s assistant. “I’ve always set that goal — ‘By the time I’m this age, I’ll be a published author.’ I still have that feeling that I’m going to write a story. This lets you do that.”

Entrants have until midnight Nov. 30 to upload their content to the contest’s Web site, which will verify the word count. The prize is simply a finisher’s certificate, and a badge that can be added to personal Web sites.

“It’s kind of this huge challenge,” said Leslie Williamson White, who is writing about a woman on the verge of menopause. “Most people think ‘I could never write a novel.’ The idea is that novelists aren’t elite people. Anyone can do it. That’s the point of the ridiculous deadline.”

For Cindy Goustin, who is knee-deep in the third romance novel of a series, NaNoWriMo eliminated some of the pressure to create the great American novel.

“I used to have this idea that I wasn’t going to write anything unless it was going to be brilliant and was going to stun the world with my genius,” Goustin said. “I got over that and decided to just have a good time.”

Goustin is the local NaNoWriMo liaison. She organizes group writing sessions for participants interested in getting together for two-hour word-count boosting sessions. The local group has been meeting once a week at Bohemia Arts.

“Right now I pretty much told my family, ‘I’ll see you when I see you. Otherwise, I’ll be at the computer. Keep the cat boxes clean, and I’ll see you at meals,’ ” Goustin said.

Last November, Goustin wrote “A Shunned Man,” a romantic suspense story about a man raised in an isolated religious farming community who is shunned and must go into the modern world and figure out what to do next. She sent the story to a self-publishing Web site, and now her novel is available on Amazon under the pen name Thea J. Nilsson.

Goustin finished part two over the summer, and is working on the finale.

Not all pieces are for public consumption.

Elizabeth Reichert, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, is on her third novel. The other two — a piece of Star Trek fan fiction, and a young adult comedy — were printed out, put into binders, and stuck on a shelf.

“No one has read my stuff,” Reichert said.

This year, she has added a higher difficulty level: Reichert wants to finish 100,000 words.

“Just because I found the 50,000 words, in the past, was pretty easy,” she said.

Four-time entrant Sundin also added an additional layer of challenge: She uses notebooks because she’s writing her sci/fi novel out in longhand.

“I can pull it out anywhere and work,” Sundin said. “Waiting in the car, in the bathroom, just places where you wouldn’t have your laptop with you.”

She’ll still have to type out the final draft to enter, however.

“I’m not really looking forward to it,” she said.

Lots of Links

2009-11-17T14:09:05Z

Quick Link Post today, then back to writing. :)

The Star Trek Movie DVD comes out today! Later I'm going out in search of a copy. Target has it for $15.99.

Entertainment Weekly has the run down of the deleted scenes included on the DVD including little baby Spock's Birth on Vulcan!

The New Oxford American Dictionary picks Word of the Year ~ Unfriend As in Facebook

exhpfanhas a great essay on Perception. Don't we all have time to stop and listen to music? Let's take time to do that today.

His essay reminds me of this video:

WB Released Half-Blood Prince Script

2009-11-13T19:23:39Z

Happy Friday! WB has released the Complete Script of HBP, and it's quite fascinating because we can read the directions given to the actors as well as seeing lines that were left out of the movie:

4 EXT. MILL TOWN - LATE AFTERNOON 4
... tall grasses toss dreamily in a SLANTING RAIN. An *
OLD MILL lists like an ancient ruin against a charcoal
sky. A DARK FIGURE (NARCISSA MALFOY) MATERIALIZES. As
she turns for the town in the distance, another witch
materializes: BELLATRIX LESTRANGE.
BELLATRIX
Narcissa!
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 2.
2 CONTINUED: 2
5 EXT. SPINNER’S END - LATE AFTERNOON (MOMENTS LATER) 5
Like a rat in a maze, Narcissa makes her way through a
labyrinth of dilapidated brick houses. Bellatrix trails.
BELLATRIX
Cissy! You mustn’t do this. He
can’t be trusted.
NARCISSA
The Dark Lord trusts him.
BELLATRIX
The Dark Lord is mistaken.
Narcissa turns, shocked. Bellatrix looks shocked
herself, rain running down her cheeks. *
BELLATRIX
Or so I believe.
NARCISSA
Well, who can one trust these
days?
6 INT. MILL HOUSE - SAME TIME - LATE AFTERNOON 6
Grim and dark, lit by guttering candles. RAIN drums the *
roof eerily. A KNOCKER CLANGS. A SQUAT MAN SHUFFLES *
forth, something familiar in his gait.
7 EXT. HOUSE (SPINNER’S END) - SAME TIME - LATE AFTERNOON 7
The door cracks, spilling sallow light onto Narcissa and
Bellatrix. A face: WORMTAIL.
8 INT. HALLWAY - LATE AFTERNOON (MOMENTS LATER) 8
The sisters follow Wormtail down a narrow hallway.
BELLATRIX
He lives in this Muggle dunghill?
Wormtail glowers over his shoulder at her. They pass
into...
9 INT. MILL HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON (MOMENTS 9
LATER)
... a room where a MAN sits by the window running with *
RAIN, his face hidden by the Daily Prophet. *
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 3.
(CONTINUED)
On the front page is a PHOTOGRAPH of the MILLENNIUM
BRIDGE CRASHING INTO THE THAMES. But even more prominent
is the SILHOUETTE of a YOUNG WIZARD and a HEADLINE:
HARRY POTTER: THE CHOSEN ONE?
Young Wizard Destined to Kill You-Know-Who?
The paper drops and SEVERUS SNAPE eyes the women
curiously.
SNAPE
Run along, Wormtail.
10 INT. MILL HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON (MOMENTS 10
LATER)
Snape fills the last of three goblets with wine.
NARCISSA
I’ve nowhere else to turn,
Severus.
Snape hands her a goblet, extends one to Bellatrix.
BELLATRIX
You must be joking.
Snape smiles faintly, brings the goblet to his own lips.
NARCISSA
I know I ought not to be here.
The Dark Lord himself has
forbidden me to speak of this --
SNAPE
If the Dark Lord has forbidden it,
you ought not to speak.
(eyes shifting)
Put it down, Bella. We mustn’t
touch what isn’t ours.
Bellatrix, DARK CURIO in hand, glowers, sets it back
down.
SNAPE
As it so happens I’m aware of your
situation, Narcissa.
BELLATRIX
You? The Dark Lord told you?
SNAPE
Your sister doubts me, Narcissa.
Understandable.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 4.
9 CONTINUED: 9
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
Over the years I have played my
part well. So well I’ve deceived
one of the greatest wizards of all
time.
Bellatrix makes a scathing sound. Snape turns, eyes
hard.
SNAPE
Dumbledore is a great wizard.
Only a fool would question it.
NARCISSA
I... I don’t doubt you, Severus.
BELLATRIX
You should feel honored, Cissy.
As should Draco --
NARCISSA
He’s just a boy!
SNAPE
I can’t change the Dark Lord’s
mind. But it might be possible
for me to help Draco. To provide
some... protection.
Bellatrix eyes Snape keenly.
NARCISSA
Do you mean it, Severus?
SNAPE
I can try.
NARCISSA
Oh, Severus, please, if you
would... (I would be forever in *
your debt.) *
BELLATRIX
Swear to it.
Snape’s eyes shift, meet Bellatrix’s challenging gaze.
BELLATRIX
Make the Unbreakable Vow.
(as Snape looks away)
You see. It’s just empty words.
Oh he’ll try. He’ll give it his
best effort. But when it matters
most he’ll slither back into his
hole. Bloody coward...
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 5.
10 CONTINUED: 10
SNAPE (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)
Bellatrix goes on MUTTERING as she splashes some wine
into a goblet. Snape turns back, anger flashing in his
eyes.
SNAPE
Take out your wand.
Bellatrix freezes, goblet to her lips. As she lowers it,
a rivulet of red runs out of the corner of her mouth.
NEW ANGLE - MOMENTS LATER
Snape faces Narcissa. Bellatrix, hand faintly trembling,
places the tip of her wand over their LINKED hands.
BELLATRIX
Will you, Severus Snape, watch
over Draco Malfoy as he attempts
to fulfill the Dark Lord’s wishes.
SNAPE
I will.
A SINGLE STRAND of LIQUID FIRE issues from Bellatrix’s
wand and wends its way around their hands.
BELLATRIX
And will you, to the best of your
ability, protect him from harm?
SNAPE
I will.
A SECOND STRAND of FIRE intertwines with the first.
BELLATRIX
And should it prove necessary, if
it seems Draco will fail... will
you yourself carry out the deed
that the Dark Lord has ordered
Draco to perform?
Snape’s hand TWITCHES within Narcissa’s. Bellatrix
waits.
SNAPE
I will.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just then, Snape appears at the door, eyes the trio.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
Severus.
SNAPE
Is this it?
McGonagall nods. Snape takes his wand, lifts the
necklace like a dead snake. Eyes it with fascination.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
What do you think?
SNAPE
I think Miss Bell is lucky to be
alive.
HARRY
She was cursed, wasn’t she? I
know Katie. Off the Quidditch
pitch she wouldn’t hurt a fly. If
she was bringing that to someone,
she wasn’t doing it knowingly.
Snape eyes Harry levelly.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
Yes. She was cursed.
HARRY
It was Malfoy.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
That’s a very serious accusation,
Potter.
SNAPE
Indeed. Your evidence?
HARRY
I... just... know.
SNAPE
You... just... know. Once again
you astonish with your gifts,
Potter, gifts mere mortals could
only dream of possessing. How
grand it must be to be the Chosen
One.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEW ANGLE - PARTY - SAME TIME
Snape, looking bored, stands on the periphery of a
conversation, when he sees Hermione exit one side of the
hanging and Cormac enter the other.
NEW ANGLE - BEHIND THE HANGING - SAME TIME
HARRY
I think she went to powder her
nose.
Harry looks past Cormac’s shoulder, out past the hanging
and sees Slughorn laughing with a guest. Cormac plucks a
dragon blob off the tray in Harry’s hand, pops it.
CORMAC
Slippery little minx, your friend.
Likes to work her mouth too,
doesn’t she? Yak yak yak. What
is this I’m eating, by the way?
HARRY
Dragon balls.
As Cormac’s face freezes, Harry starts to head toward
Slughorn when the HANGING IS SWEAP ASIDE: Snape.
SNAPE
What’s going on back here?
Cormac SPEWS raw dragon all over Snape’s shoes. Snape
surveys the damage, then his eyes rise darkly.
SNAPE
You’ve just bought yourself a
month’s detention, McLaggen.
McLaggen dashes off. Harry makes to follow.
SNAPE
Not so quick, Potter.
HARRY
I think I should rejoin the party,
sir. My date...
SNAPE
... can surely survive your
absence for another minute or two.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 74.
71 CONTINUED: (2) 71
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
Besides, I only wish to convey a
message.
HARRY
A message...?
SNAPE
From Professor Dumbledore. He
asked that I give you his best and
that he hopes you enjoy your
holiday. You see, he’s traveling
and won’t return until term
resumes.
HARRY
Traveling? Where?
Snape merely stares a Harry silently, briefly, then
exits, taking Harry’s gaze with him, to Slughorn once
again, wildly gesturing with a full glass of wine.
MALFOY (O.S.)
Take your hands off me, you
filthy squib!
A frown overtakes Slughorn’s face and he turns toward the
source of the commotion, exits Harry’s view. Harry
emerges from the hanging, finds Malfoy in Filch’s rough
grip.
FILCH
Professor Slughorn, sir! I’ve
just discovered this boy lurking
in an upstairs corridor. He
claims to have been invited to
your party.
MALFOY
Okay, okay, I was gate-crashing.
Happy?
SNAPE
I’ll escort him out.
Draco’s eyes shift, regard Snape. He shrugs free of
Filch.
MALFOY
Certainly... Professor.
72 EXT. DARK CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER) 72
CAMERA GLIDES in the DARKNESS. VOICES are HEARD.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 75.
71 CONTINUED: (3) 71
SNAPE (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)
MALFOY (O.S.)
Maybe I did hex that Bell girl.
Maybe I didn’t. What’s it to you?
Two SILHOUETTES come INTO VIEW -- Malfoy, slumped against
the wall in lazy insolence, and Snape.
SNAPE
I swore to protect you. I made
the Unbreakable Vow --
MALFOY
I don’t need protection. I was
chosen for this! Out of all
others. Me! And I won’t fail
him.
SNAPE
You’re afraid, Draco. You attempt
to conceal it, but it’s obvious.
Let me assist you --
MALFOY
No! I was chosen. This is my
moment!
Malfoy exits. Then Snape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slughorn, with practiced ease, mixes a concoction of
powders and potions into a goblet while Ron peers into a
mirror. As he paces, Harry passes “the shelf” and finds,
front and center, a PHOTOGRAPH of himself and Slughorn --
the one taken at the Christmas party. In deep b.g. is
photograph of Snape, as a young student, clutching his
POTIONS TEXTBOOK.

SLUGHORN
I’d have thought you could whip up
a remedy for this in no time,
Harry -- an expert potioneer like
you.

HARRY
I figured this called for a more
practiced hand, sir.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MALFOY
Cruci--
HARRY
SECTUMSEMPRA!
BLOOD SPURTS from Malfoy’s face and SCARLET SLASHES OOZE
through the white of his shirt. He staggers, HOWLS again
and COLLAPSES. Harry glares at his wand in horror, then
slushes across the floor, the water running red with
Malfoy’s blood.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 101.

MALFOY
Don’t touch me! Don’t you dare
touch me!
Harry stops dead... transfixed by a FLASH of SOMETHING
DARK pushing through the wet fabric of Malfoy’s
shirtsleeve. Just then... Snape BURSTS THROUGH THE DOOR.
Seeing Malfoy -- and the nature of his injuries -- he
eyes Harry with keen curiosity. Kneeling, he traces the
TIP of his WAND over Malfoy’s wounds, MURMURING an EERIE
INCANTATION. Instantly, the skin begins to knit itself
together. Harry backs away, Snape’s ancient CHANT
ringing in his ears, blood floating like crimson flowers
on the floor, backing away until he reaches the door...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

120 EXT. ASTRONOMY TOWER - DYING LIGHT (LATER) 120
As Harry trots up the spiraling exterior stairs, he hears
VOICES coming from the topmost level and pauses, peering
up through the grid-like floor above: Dumbledore and
Snape.
SNAPE
Have you ever considered that you
ask too much? That you take too
much for granted? Has it ever
crossed your brilliant mind that I
don’t want to do this anymore?
DUMBLEDORE
Whether it has or hasn’t is
irrelevant. I will not negotiate
this with you, Severus. You
agreed. There’s nothing more to
discuss.
Harry stands poised, peering upward, where Dumbledore
squints toward the dying sun and Snape glares at his
back. Finally, Snape turns away and -- before Harry can
react -- is descending the stairs. Seeing Harry, Snape
falters briefly, then continues on without a word. As
his FOOTSTEPS fade, Harry ascends to the upper tier.
Dumbledore turns. Smiles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
To your Houses. No dawdling.
As they scuttle off, McGonagall looks back to the sky. A
VORTEX of CLOUDS swirls eerily in on itself. We PULL
BACK...
127 INT. CASTLE - WINDOW - SAME TIME - NIGHT 127
... out of a window, its glass prickling with ambient
light, and find Snape standing silently, staring at the
gathering storm, his expression inscrutable. The choir a
murmur.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Malfoy’s wand rises once again. Harry raises his own,
aiming through the grid, poised. Just then, a SHADOW
splinters through the columns to his right. He looks,
finds Snape, quiet as a ghost, peering upward.
Carefully, Snape draws his wand, then turns to Harry, a
finger to his lips: Shhh. Then he is drifting upward.
Silent. A ghost again.
GREYBACK
He doesn’t have the stomach. Like
his father. Let me finish him.
In my own way.
BELLATRIX
No! The Dark Lord was clear. The
boy’s to do it. Go on, Draco.
Now!
Once again Draco raises his wand, his hand trembling.
Harry’s own arm is stiff, sure. The vein in his hand
pulsates...
SNAPE (O.S.)
No.
Harry watches Snape come INTO VIEW.
DUMBLEDORE
Severus...
BELLATRIX
Well, look who’s here. Hogwarts
own Defense Against the Dark Arts
teacher. Come to see the
slaughter?
DUMBLEDORE
Severus... please.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 133.
132 CONTINUED: (5) 132
BELLATRIX (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)
SNAPE
I gave my word. I made a vow...
Harry’s eyes dart back and forth frantically, trying to
make sense of the scene playing out above. Snape’s arm
rises.
SNAPE
Avada Kedavra!
A JET of GREEN LIGHT hits Dumbledore squarely in the
chest. For a second he hangs, suspended upon the
ramparts, and then... the night swallows him.
HARRY SCREAMS in RAGE. Bellatrix raises her wand to the
sky and a DEAFENING BLAST shakes the castle, masking
Harry’s cry. The CLOUDS EXPLODE with GRIM LIGHT,
mutating into a SKULL. As the Death Eaters flee, Snape’s
arm drops limply to his side.
SNAPE
You can no longer stay here.
Draco, stunned, stares at the empty place where
Dumbledore stood only seconds before. Snape takes him by
the scruff of the neck, forces him through the door, then
follows.
Harry scrambles up the stairs and lurches to the
ramparts, BATHED IN THE GREEN LIGHT from above. He peers
down. Agony wrecks Harry’s face and he has to steady
himself. He looks up into the leering skull above. Rage
fills his eyes.
132A EXT. ASTRONOMY TOWER - SAME TIME - NIGHT 132A
Snape leads Malfoy and Bellatrix down the spiraling
staircase.
132B INT. SLUGHORN’S CORRIDOR - NIGHT 132B
Snape leads on, his face a mask as he rounds a corner.
STUDENTS in pajamas and robes peer at the emerald sky,
then turn, stare curiously at their teacher and his
companions. Snape sweeps past wordlessly. Draco averts
his eyes. Bellatrix leers at a TINY FIRST YEAR, leans
close:
BELLATRIX
Boo.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 134.
132 CONTINUED: (6) 132
132C INT. OUTSIDE GREAT HALL - NIGHT 132C
Hearing FOOTSTEPS, an AUROR turns, is BLASTED off his
feet as Snape and the others appear. Bellatrix lags,
then steps to the TOWERING DOORS of the Hall, peering
upward, past the FLOATING CANDLES to the vaulted ceiling,
solemn as a church. Raising her wand, she sends a FIERY
BOLT toward the GRAND WINDOW opposite. As it EXPLODES, a
BLAST of COLD AIR sweeps the room, EXTINGUISHING THE
CANDLES. Snape turns, looks back. Bellatrix simply
GRINS, a mad child.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXT. HAGRID’S HUT/GROUNDS - SAME TIME - NIGHT 132I
Quiet here. A VIEW TOWARD the castle. We HOLD. Slowly
FIGURES appear on the horizon. The Death Eaters.
Greyback. Bellatrix, Draco. And Snape.
133 EXT. HOGWARTS CASTLE - NIGHT 133
Harry bursts through the entrance doors, wand in hand.
Before him, the grounds shimmer eerily in the GREEN GLOW.
He sees the FIGURES FLEEING towards Hagrid’s Hut.
134 EXT. HAGRID’S HUT / GROUNDS - SAME TIME - NIGHT 134
Snape and the others race toward the edge of the grounds.
Suddenly, Snape pulls up, looks back. Sees Harry
sprinting toward him. Malfoy, looking edgy, is watching
Harry too.
SNAPE
Go on!

Just then a GIANT FIREBALL erupts into the sky. Snape
wheels, sees Bellatrix and the others silhouetted against
the flames. They’ve set Hagrid’s Hut ablaze. Malfoy
stands paralyzed.
SNAPE
Go on!
NEW ANGLE - HARRY
Running. Harry bolts forth, wand in hand, vengeance in
his eyes. Up ahead, Snape stands stolidly, tall and
black against the raging fire. Harry points his wand,
fires a JET of RED LIGHT. Snape doesn’t move, merely
lets it streak by his head. Harry stops, chest heaving,
and takes aim again.
HARRY
Cruciatus!
Snape raises his wand, parries the curse with ease.
HARRY
Incacerata!
Once again, Snape deflects the spell.
HARRY
Impedimenta!
Another lazy flick of the arm, another curse defeated.
Harry drops his arm in frustration.
HARRY
Fight! Fight back, you coward!
With staggering quickness, Snape’s wand whips forth and
Harry is off his heels and crashing to the earth.
SNAPE
Don’t ever associate that word and
my name again.
Harry raises himself up on one knee, points his wand
when... a JET of RED LIGHT sends him crashing back into
the grass. Snape wheels, sees Bellatrix standing behind.
SNAPE
No! He belongs to the Dark Lord!
Bellatrix eyes Snape levelly, then turns, trots off.
Snape glances at Harry, then turns away himself, walking.
Harry grimaces, pulls himself to his feet and aims one
last time.
HARRY POTTER... HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Rev. 11/6/07 135.
134 CONTINUED: 134
(CONTINUED)
HARRY
Sectumsempra!
Bang! Snape wheels and once more sends Harry flying onto
his back. Harry stares at the stars as they wheel over
him, when Snape comes INTO VIEW.
SNAPE
You dare use my own spells against
me, Potter?
Harry goes still. His eyes shift, meet Snape’s.
SNAPE
You may have gotten your mother’s
eyes, but you’re as dim as your
father. Yes. It’s me. I’m the
Half-Blood Prince.
Snape kicks Harry’s wand aside and turns away, joining
Malfoy and the others where they wait beyond the flaming
ruins of Hagrid’s Hut. They head for the darkness of the
treeline. And VANISH. Harry pounds his fist into the
ground, then stops.
HARRY
Hagrid... HAGRID!
Harry races toward the hut when the DOOR flies off its
hinges. Seconds later, Hagrid stumbles out, beard
SMOKING.
HARRY
Hagrid! You alright?
HAGRID
Take more’n tha’ ter finish me
off. Not sure about me ‘ouse,
tho’. But if anybody can put it
righ’, Dumbledore can.
HARRY
Hagrid, Dumbledore --
HAGRID
Only thing I can’t reckon is wha’
Snape was doin’ with tha’ lot.
Hagrid turns then, sees the HUGE THRONG of STUDENTS and
STAFF assembled outside the castle.

What Was WB Thinking? ~ New Snape Footage

2009-11-10T23:24:23Z

I wish WB would 'splain why they left out one of the most dramatic shots of Alan Rickman ever filmed for one of these movies? It's unbelievable. Are they just made of teh stoopid or what? That's a hypothetical question - I know the answer very well.

Snape IS

2009-11-09T13:45:59Z

Inspired by THIS (thanks to Boushh on Chamber of Secrets) I did my own Google Search for "Snape Is." Look at today's heading ~ The Count from Sesame Street!

This is pretty funny, too:

Young Dumbledore from Deathly Hallows

2009-11-08T04:07:10Z

Pictures of Young Dumbledore played by Toby Regbo from Snitchseeker. There are pictures and scans of an interview by Jamie Campbell Bower HERE in the Snitchseeker Gallery.

What do you think? Does this look like Young Michael Gambon?

NaNoWriMo ~ Inspiration or Diversion

2009-11-06T01:17:14Z

I've had a good day of writing, although tomorrow of course the well may go dry. If you are taking a break from NaNoWriMo or you need some inspiration, maybe these videos may help:

Mid-Week Linkage

2009-11-04T06:30:41Z

This will be short and sweet but hopefully entertaining. I'm trying to stay focused on NaNoWriMo and my erstwhile novel that is moving at a snail's pace. I realized tonight that I needed a map of my imaginary county in Tennessee before I could write some of the scenes. So I had fun drawing it out in Tolkienesque detail, but it doesn't add to my word count, damn it!

My gorgeous icon about House Unity is by bombottosa, who has made so many great icons of Snape over the years.

Snape Knew This: Lying Can Make You Sick
Hive Mind: Balloon Boy's Vomit and the Science of Lying

For Language Buffs: Supernatural Collective Nouns

Permuto: The Most Popular Christmas Toys By Year since 1960 and yes, the Rubik's Cube is on the chart as the most popular of 1980. But my son ( who wasn't born until 1995) is still fascinated with that toy. So here is my youngest child who has become Master of the Rubik's Cube. This is the son I call "Little Snape" and you'll understand why after you watch him. *Apologies to anyone who has watched this before on Facebook ~ I just had to post it here as well.*

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T08:38:10Z

Those are my Halloween decorations, and it's sad to think of putting them away for another year. I've only got one child young enough to go Trick-or-Treating this year, and he didn't decide to go until yesterday. *sigh* We are dropping him off with a couple of kids in a neighborhood a few miles away. He thinks he's old enough to go alone, but I'm not sure. As I wrote the other day, I have "Empty Halloween Syndrome." But I still love it and always will!

If you don't have anything planned for tomorrow, here are some fun things to watch on TV:

Starting 9 A.M. Saturday ~ NCIS Scare-a-thon on USA network
All Day Tomorrow ~ Boris Karloff and Halloween Marathon on Turner Classic Movies
All Day Tomorrow ~ Monsterquest Marathon on the History Channel

Nostalgia Friday ~ Canon Snape Fan Art

2009-10-30T04:58:28Z

I get nostalgic for Canon Snape sometimes, considering the ways people spin his character on the forums or feel the need to spread the Snape-Hate around. Luckily many artists understand book-Snape perfectly because they aren't in denial about what actually happens in Deathly Hallows.

Edited to Add: I intended this post to be some quick escapist fan art, and didn't realize I was expressing myself so badly.

After reading many of your comments, I realize that my view of Canon Snape may be somewhat different from the norm. I was actually referring to people who hate Snape's character in general and are stuck in the past around PoA when his character still seemed like a cardboard villain. I talk to people like that every day on the forums. They want to dwell on the dark side of his character rather than the redeemed man he became by the end of the series (with apologies to Mary J ~ we'll have to agree to disagree on that fact).

I don't know why fans of "Dark Snape" have a monopoly on the term "Canon Snape." I disagree with their view of Snape in the canon because I don't think of "Canon Snape" as just mean and cunning, and I shouldn't have used such a charged phrase. To me that is what Snape haters say when they accuse Snape fans of glossing over his faults - that we are missing Canon Snape and only seeing a romantic hero.

BUT ~ I see Canon Snape as a mixture of good and bad, with a bitter personality due to a tragic childhood. He's angry and he has a temper, but he's not a sadist. I can see the good side of Snape in the canon too - his willingness to protect Harry, his courage, and his healing ability.

These are some pictures from DeviantArt that have touched me lately. Follow the links to see more from each artist. And of course, all these are much better seen at full size, so check that out also. The first one especially may be one of the best fan art pics ever done. Cheers to Vizen for her brilliant use of color, the blurry plaid on McGonagall's clothing, thhe sense of humor, Dumbledore's cocktail glass with a tiny umbrella, and Snape's spectacular nose.

Pictured Intensive for those on dial-up. No Slash.

The Banes of Her Existence by *Vizen on deviant ART

Childhood Dreams by ~LadySarah on deviant ART

Young Severus by ~NinjaaKarii on deviant ART

Snape in the Kitchen by *liska-rediska on deviant ART

DH In the Forest - Collab by =lilyhbp on deviant ART

HP DH spoiler - Broken by ~DraconisCrescendo on deviant ART

The Death of Serverus Snape by ~RJBaudouin on deviant ART

Middle Name by *Gin-kyo on deviant ART

The Snape-Haters say they see him that way, but in reality they want to believe Harry's view of his least-favorite teacher. There's a guy I know who continually says that Snape "whipped" Harry with a lash and pushed him to the ground at the end of HBP just for the enjoyment of it. I don't see that at all - but it's the allegedly the same canon.

So to me, Canon Snape is the guy in the books with his many faults and his good points. In my opinion, he is a sympathetic character by the end of the series, and not just a baddie or a mean old schoolteacher. He's a well-rounded character, and a very complex character, which is why we are still talking about him years later.

WB to Halloween Cooks ~ No Soup For You! (UPDATE #3)

2009-10-26T04:12:55Z

One of my Anony-Mice from the previous post directed me to this headline in the Daily Beast: Muggles Ruin Harry Potter Dinner originally from The Guardian UK. It seems a restaurateur in London whose daughter is an "obsessive" fan wanted to host a fun Harry Potter themed dinner on Halloween.

She didn't count on the Zombie Lawyers coming out of the Crypt:

The owner of The Underground Restaurant, who uses the pseudonym Ms Marmite Lover, regularly holds themed evenings and for her latest event she had planned a menu of food and drink enjoyed by Harry Potter and his friends in the JK Rowling stories: from dandelion wine and pumpkin soup to Dumbledore's favourite sweets, such as mint humbugs. Guests were to be taken down Diagon Alley (the side of the house) before entering and would be met by a portrait of the "Fat Lady" to whom they would have to give a password.
However, Warner Bros has written to her warning that it owns all things Harry Potter: the "name, stylised logo, the name of the characters, themes, incidents and other associated indicia from the series of... books and films".
The letter from the company's legal and business department says: "Dear Ms Marmite Lover. While we are delighted you are such a fan of the Harry Potter series, unfortunately your proposed use of the Harry Potter properties... without our consent would amount to an infringement of Warner's rights."
Ms Marmite Lover has now renamed the event, as Warner Bros suggested, "Generic Wizard Night".
More at Link...
Shades of the Soup Nazi from the Seinfeld show! No Halloween Fun For You! Oops ~ I guess that's an instant "Godwin" but, oh, who cares. We're talking about WB!

I like the idea of "Generic Wizards" so I'm making a new tag for it, and I think we'll celebrate here with Generic Wizarding Terms used at Halloween that are not trademarked by WB, or even J. R. R. Tolkien's estate.

UPDATE : Here is the link to Ms. Marmite Lover's Blog with a copy of the complete letter from WB:
Generic Wizard Night
She points out in a comment below her post that she was not making any money off the dinner, and just wanted contributions to pay for the food. It was a Fan Night, and she wasn't trying to rip off WB. Good Lord!

UPDATE 2: Ms. Marmite Lover has quoted a comment I wrote on her blog in her new blog post on the Guardian UK. The comments there are really interesting! Plus, Ms. Marmite has joined us down in the comments section if anyone wants to talk to her.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Lawyers

UPDATE #3.This is really hitting the news now!

The BBC: Harry Potter Dinner Disappears

Sky News: Legal Warning Over HP Supper Clubs

Winnipeg Sun: Potter Party Runs Afoul of Warner Bros

That last one has a great picture of Ms Marmite Lover's cozy restaurant:

Soup Nazi: You want bread?
George Costanza: Yes, please.
Soup Nazi: $3!
George Costanza: What?
Soup Nazi: NO SOUP FOR YOU!
[snaps his fingers. The cashier instantly takes George's soup and gives him back his money]

Also, they can chew on this: Little Debbie Makes Pumpkin Pasties

Pages From the J. K. Rowling Comic Book

2009-10-23T12:41:49Z

Some pages from JKR's comic book have been released. It's a retelling of her biography.

Wow. I really want to know what you think about these. I can't wait to read the comments. Take note that these are random pages and while they are in order timewise, there are parts missing.

Mid-Week Linkage

2009-10-22T08:28:09Z

The stormchasers are back on Discovery Channel every Sunday night! I totally fear for their lives, but I guess they survived another tornado season on the Great Plains.

And the New Moon Trailer with Werewolf Action:

Links for some Light Reading...

Beliefnet: The Ten Commandments of Star Trek

Neatorama: Tales from the Muppet Show

Cinematical: Seven Great Horror Movie Theme Songs

The Internets may actually stimulate the brains of n00b users. ORLY? LOL

Strange blobby robot that can squish itself.

Jamie Campbell Bower Talks About Dumbledore and Grindelwald

2009-10-19T00:29:07Z

This is just a quick interview filmed interestingly outside the "Serpentine Gallery."

Pictures from the Gallery Party: Here on Fanpop

Transcript:

Q: Is it true that you've got a part in the next Harry Potter movie?

JCBowers: Yeah, Yeah - Deathly Hallows.

Q: What is your character?

JCBowers: I'm playing a character called Gellert Grindelwald, and um, he's sort of a young friend of Dumbledore's from way back when. And of course J. K. Rowling "outed" Dumbledore years ago so there's meant to be or possibly a thing between them. We don't know, and obviously it's not in the movie, but it's maybe there in the subtext. Who knows?

Q: You're doing, you're kind of into your ...

JCBowers: Dark

Q: No, with Potter and Twilight and - your sequels.

JCBowers: Yeah, I'm into my sequals. *laughs* Yeah, I'm into my franchises, one could say. I joked with someone last week that I"m a franchise whore and I truly believe that.

Harry Potter Movie Updates

2009-10-17T23:01:53Z

Snitchseeker has a Complete List of Half-Blood Prince DVD Release Dates, plus the news that footage from Deathly Hallows will be included on the discs. No word on what the footage will be yet, so stay tuned.

Also, Snitchseeker has a new Facebook Page if you want to become a fan and get Harry Potter News sent to your profile page.

Serbian Actor Rade Serbedzija will be playing Gregorovitch the Wandmaker in Deathly Hallows according to This Report.

Empire Magazine has added several of our favorite Potter stars to its list of 100 Sexiest Movie Stars. These include Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Robert Pattinson, and Helena Bonham Carter. But of course, there are two other guys on the list that I could easily vote for, so it will be difficult to choose (but I disagree that Snape is a bad boy - geesh, will someone give these people a clue?):

8. Alan Rickman
It's good to see that here, amid the chiselled cheekbones and perfectly coiffed heads, is a man who's sexy because he's smart, snarky and has a fine line in put-downs. Sure, everyone loves a bad(ish) boy, but Rickman's rogues' gallery is united by the fact that they're all strangely, unjustifiably sexy. Yes, even greasy-haired Snape. And as for his good guys, they're pretty irresistible.
Most alluring as... For Rickman as a good guy, as deceased cellist Jamie in Truly, Madly, Deeply (if you haven't seen it, it's like Ghost but better). For Rickman as a baddie, it's gotta be Hans Gruber in Die Hard.
Interests include... He's heavily involved in supporting theatre and lots of theatre causes, and holds a vice-chairmanship of RADA.

24. Jason Isaacs
Last time we ran a Sexiest poll, repeat voting by a hard core of Isaacs fans threatened to derail the whole thing. This time, he's in a slightly more sensible position, reflecting both the fact that he's not a hugely well-known leading man and the fact that he's devastatingly charming and handsome. Seriously, show us someone who doesn't fancy him, and we'll show you a corpse.
Most alluring as... Is it wrong that we fancied him as both Lucius Malfoy and Captain Hook in Peter Pan (2003)? It is? OK then, er, David in Friends With Money.
Interests include... Amusing all the Empire staff with scandalous anecdotes every Empire Awards night. Also, raising two children and speaking Spanish.

Warwick Davis, who plays both Prof. Flitwick and the Goblin Griphook in the movies, has been answering questions in the past week via Twitter.

"Could you possibly give us an insight as to why Flitwick's look was changed for the third HP movie?"
So many of you have asked me the 'New look Flitwick' question, so I will answer it here, once and for all. When it came time to shoot 'Azkaban', there was no mention of 'Flitwick'' in the script. However, the producer still wanted me to be in the movie, so he asked if I would play the role of 'Choir Master'. Of course, I said 'yes'. When it came time to shoot 'Goblet of Fire', the director, Michael Newell said he liked the look of the choir master, and from that moment, the character became known as 'Flitwick'.

Are you going to do the voice of Griphook in the new movies?
Yes...body too!

Which was your favorite HP movie to film?
Goblet of Fire.

How long does it take to get into makeup for Prof. Flitwick?
3 hours.

Is it true that you voiced Griphook in "Philosopher's Stone"?
Yes.

In HBP, Harry calls the choir master Professor Flitwick. Is this a mistake?
Nope.

QUICK QUESTION: What's your fav HP book??
Prisoner of Azkaban"...love the time-turning part.

If you could have one magical power what would it be?
The power of flight.

If you could play another Potter character which would it be?
Without doubt, Snape.

Interview with a Death Eater

James Williamson will play the role of a Death Eater in the final part of the JK Rowling series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The 25-year-old, from Peartree Farm in Wood End, landed the role after going for an audition at Leavesden Studios in Watford.

James is keeping tight-lipped about the name of his character but hopes to reveal it once filming starts next week. He said: “I’ll be playing a Death Eater, which is a bad wizard that follows the orders of Lord Voldemort by trying to destroy Harry Potter.”

At the moment James does not know if he will have any lines. He will find out only when he begins filming on Thursday.

...James said: “I’ve never played an evil character. I’ve done several comedy roles and usually get typecast as a well-spoken English man.” James admits that he only watched the first few Harry Potter films but says he has been doing his research.

He said: “I’ve been doing quite a lot of research and I also had to attend a boot camp, where we were taught how to do spells and some marital arts.

“I’ve had to learn the lingo JK Rowling uses and it’s been difficult grasping the language and technical words she uses.”

James has some experience of film and television after making appearances in The Bill and a BBC film called Dustbin Baby.

Mid-Week Links ~ Feathers and Fangs

2009-10-14T03:38:27Z

A great horned owl flew right in front of our car on Sunday night as we were driving through a wooded area. It was big and we missed it by scarcely a feather! It must have been swooping on a mouse or rabbit in the opposite lane, which was living dangerously. I even checked the front grill and light of the car when we got home to see if there was anything left behind, but there wasn't anything.

But it could have been a problem if our worlds had collided:

Pop-Fi Blog: Owl Versus Truck ~ Guess Who Won?

Also, you'll be glad to know the Whooping Cranes Began to Migrate today, following their "mother," an ultralight plane.

More Birding News on the HPN Bird Nerd's Blogroll.

Then there are the reptiles still on the move, even during the colder weather. Watch Out! This is why I don't venture into the woods until after the hard frost comes. And remember that the little baby ones have venom, too.

Atlanta Journal/Constitution: Grandson's Heroics Can't Overcome Rattler's Venom

Three generations of Ruperts entered the dense woods in rural Oglethorpe County last Saturday morning, rifles in hand.

Patriarch Dick Rupert, 68, loved these hunting trips with his son Russell and grandson Chad, though they'd spend much of the day apart, perched in their tree stands amid the familiar solitude.

Rupert, who lived in Winder with his wife of 50 years, escorted grandson Chad to the boy's tree stand around 7:30 a.m. With the 12-year-old safely situated, Rupert headed for his own quiet place in the woods. A sharp, shooting pain in his calf stopped him cold.

"I think I just got bit by a snake," he told his grandson. Chad heard the rattle.

He would later tell Oglethorpe County deputy corner Howard Sanders that he was scared to come down from the stand.

But with Chad's father out of earshot and cellular phone service unavailable, the 12-year-old knew that he was the only one who could help his grandfather, who was already drifting into and out of consciousness.

"The grandfather was a large man, and this is a 12-year-old boy,” Sanders said. Chad persevered.

They managed to make it to their four-wheeler, but Dick Rupert was fading fast, falling off the vehicle twice. Chad's father, Russell Rupert, heard them from his tree stand and helped his son drive to a nearby house, where they called 911.

The nearest ambulance was 20 miles away, Sanders said. Dick Rupert's son and grandson administered CPR, but he was non-responsive. Rupert was pronounced dead at Wills Memorial Hospital in Washington, less than an hour after he was bitten.

He is the second person to die from a snake bite in Georgia this year. On average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, snakes kill only 10 Americans a year. Oglethorpe County Coroner James Mathews said it’s possible Rupert suffered a heart attack after he was bitten.

Here's another story I missed back in September that has some macabre elements, especially for Snape fans! Eek!

Dothan, Alabama, Man Bitten on Neck by Rattlesnake

Henry County Coroner Derek Wright announced Larry D. Lewis, 65, of Brookhill Road, dead around 9 p.m. Wright said he initially thought Lewis died from heat stroke, but after taking him back to a funeral home he discovered two puncture wounds on Lewis’ body.
“I saw two little puncture holes,“ Wright said. “He was bitten on the right side of the neck and right hand.“

Wright said Lewis’ son found his father collapsed next to a tractor in the field on the family farm located about 5 miles east of Headland on Henry County Road 6. Wright estimated Lewis was likely bitten around 12 p.m. about eight hours before his son, Greg Lewis, found him.
Wright said Haleburg Rescue responded, and Lewis was taken to the Holman-Headland Funeral Home. Wright said he believes Lewis was bitten after he’d stopped the tractor to see if something was stuck in it while he worked on bailing hay. He said rescue workers did not find the snake, but believe it was likely a rattle snake.
Wrigth said he’s never responded as coroner to a death by snake bite.

“Most people can survive a snake bite, but this was in the neck that’s why it was so deadly,“ Wright said.

Seven Foot Long "Ratzilla" Diamondback Found in St. Augustine, Florida

Finally, this is just weird! A Dragon Throwback, perhaps?
A Bizarre Footed Snake with talons found crawling up a wall in China

It's Nearly NaNoWriMo Time

2009-10-13T03:00:52Z

I've decided this year to participate in National Novel Writing Month, fondly known as NaNoWriMo.

I've had a great deal of encouragement from lemon_ashwinder. who is a past "winner." ~ it certainly worked for her with her first book A Shunned Man for sale now on Amazon and great sequals to come!

But your first question might be: What are you talking about, SIP?

What is NaNoWriMo?
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.
This is all the work of a non-profit Office of Letters and Light organization in California that encourages writers of all ages. Donations are not required but are tax-deductible.

I'm extremely lazy so the idea of writing a novel in one month was terrifying at first. Then I realized that you can do outlines and character studies ahead of time so that you don't write yourself into a black hole. Speed is still the key to getting it done, but if the Muse is with you the creativity may start to flow. I'm actually having fun with it and it's almost hard to hold back the actual writing until November 1st.

It's still not too late if you think you have a great novel to write, or just a rambling rough draft. You can be solitary or join groups from your area who meet up at restaurants for write-a-thons. There is the NanoForum which is full of good advice.

On HPN, we are going to have our own small NaNo group, if anyone wants to join us for coffee.

So if you want to take the plunge ~ sign up! It's only a month out of your life, and time is going by fast. You will have the satisfaction at finishing a manuscript, as well as a nifty icon that let's you brag about completing the challenge. Oh, and Create Space may publish a free proof copy of your book when it's over!

Fair Use ~ Ralph Lauren Legally Threatens Bloggers over Manipulated Model Pic

2009-10-10T08:06:15Z

We just had a good discussion the other day about JKR at Paris Fashion Week watching the extremely thin model go down the runway. Then I saw a picture from Ralph Lauren with a model so incredibly emaciated it was posted on a website called Photoshop Disasters which inspired the perceptive observation from a blogger on BoingBoing who wrote,

"Dude, her head's bigger than her pelvis."

Photoshopped Fillipa Hamilton, Olive Oyl, and a more "robust" and real Hamilton.
Actually, poor Olive would need to lose weight for the runway these days.

Great Video Coverage of this by Rachel Maddow
"She sort of looks like she was shrinky-dinked, doesn't she?
Look at the ratio of her torso to her head.
That is not a ratio that exists in nature, at least outside the insect world....
It looks like whoever was in charge...was inspired by a combination of Barbie and those
giant-headed Bratz dolls. Actually those dolls
look more normal and more human than the model."

The picture was circulating around the blogosphere when the House of Lauren decided to do a Rowling and send out a bunch of threatening letters, as documented by BoingBoing:

It's obvious by now that Ralph Lauren *hates* being mocked. They hate being mocked so much that they ordered their attack lawyers to send letters trying to fool ISPs into pulling an "infringing" advertisement featuring a ridiculously skinny model (in fact, our posting of the image was fair use, not infringement; Ralph Lauren's takedown notices are bogus and they should know better).

It's also obvious that the photo of Filippa Hamilton used in the Ralph Lauren advertisement was digitally manipulated. But we still have three questions: 1) who, exactly, gave Ms. Hamilton the Olive Oyl physique? 2) If the photo was manipulated after it appeared in the advertisement, why didn't Ralph Lauren's law firm make mention of that in their silly DMCA takedown notice? and 3) Where's the original advertisement?

Note: For all these blog links, read the comments ~ priceless!

Eventually, Lauren did admit to Extra that the photo was manipulated:

"For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman's body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately."

Photoshop Disasters complied with the takedown request, much to the disappointment of many who urged them to fight, but BoingBoing is still railing at Lauren for threatening to sue over criticism of the horrible picture:

As Wendy Seltzer from the Chilling Effects project said, "Sounds like a pretty solid fair use case to me. If criticism diminishes its effectiveness, that's different from the market substitution copyright protects against. And I've rarely seen a thinner DMCA form-letter."

So, to Ralph Lauren, GreenbergTraurig, and PRL Holdings, Inc: sue and be damned. Copyright law doesn't give you the right to threaten your critics for pointing out the problems with your offerings. You should know better. And every time you threaten to sue us over stuff like this, we will:

a) Reproduce the original criticism, making damned sure that all our readers get a good, long look at it, and;

b) Publish your spurious legal threat along with copious mockery, so that it becomes highly ranked in search engines where other people you threaten can find it and take heart; and

c) Offer nourishing soup and sandwiches to your models."

Amazing ~ Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize and Alan Grayson Predicted It (Sort Of, LOL)

2009-10-09T13:54:35Z

President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.
CNN
AFP
Reuters

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called before dawn and woke Obama with the news that he had won the prestigious honor which was announced in Oslo at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT). "The president was humbled to be selected by the committee," the official said.

When told in an e-mail from Reuters that many people around the world were stunned by the announcement, Obama's senior adviser, David Axelrod, responded, "As are we."

Just as Amazing, my future second husband and current hero, Alan Grayson, D-Florida, the "Big-D" because he's larger than life in a group of often lackluster spineless politicians, made a whoop-ass speech about Health Care and presciently mentioned what the Republicans might do if Obama brought about world peace.

"(The American People) understand that if Barack Obama were somehow able to cure hunger in the world the Republicans would blame him for overpopulation"

"They understand that if Barack Obama could somehow bring about world peace they would blame him for destroying the defense industry."

"In fact, they understand that if Barack Obama has a BLT sandwich tomorrow for lunch, they will try to ban bacon."

Complete Transcript: HERE
Donate to Alan Grayson: Here on ACTBlue

Harry Potter News: Two Princes Vie for Harry, Cissy and Duddy Speak, Phlegm and JKR do Paris

2009-10-08T05:35:54Z

Robert Pattinson and Rupert Grint are both in the running to play Prince Harry (the real Prince Harry, not the Chosen One) in a movie.
The Improper.com: Who Should Play Prince Harry in "The Spare" (no joke - real title as in "heir and a spare" William & Harry)

Helen McCrory, our Narcissa Malfoy, says quite a lot about the Deathly Hallows Movies without actually saying anything at all, probably due to her cast-iron secrecy clause with WB. Good work, Helen - you won't get sued, and you sound so pleasant all the same!
UK Rotten Tomatoes: Exclusive ~ Helen McCory Updates on Harry Potter 7

Here's a nice interview from Harry Potter's Page with Harry Melling, who plays Harry's bad-boy cousin Dudley Dursley. Dudders may have to wear padding in the Deathly Hallows movies since Melling has suddenly lost his baby fat. And I don't think he had to use Petunia's wilted lettuce diet either.

Fleur in Paris!
Snitchseeker: Clémence Poésy attended the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week

And also JKR: According to the London Telegraph: J. K. Rowling dressed in black and purple was seen at Stella McCartney's show during Paris Fashion Week, and she made a statement about what she's writing these days. People who were excited by her Twitter last week that she was busy with pen and paper may be disappointed.

JK Rowling bid for three tickets to see Stella McCartney’s Paris show at a Gala Auction in London, in June, to raise funds for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation, and bought along two friends. “I’m working on something, but it’s not Harry Potter,” she said. “I need a Harry break.” A Stella McCartney fan, she said she loved the designer’s clothes because “they’re so wearable.”

Note: See JKR's Own Words about Stick-Skinny Models in This Rant on her Website

Picture Via Snitchseeker

Quotes of the Week 25 ~ Those Trendy Vampires

2009-10-06T09:35:15Z

This was inspired by a comment on Facebook by inkwolf_at_last

I won't even make any vampire puns or jokes because some of the quotes below handle that quite well.

Jacob and Edward from Twilight Have Twin Corn Mazes in Utah
Have Fun Kids!

EVERY new audiobook series the library system gets (is) about vampires. There's only so much you can write about sucking blood and fighting werewolves, dudes!
~ Inkwolf

“The vampire is the new James Dean ... There is something so still and sexy about these young erotic predators."
~ Julie Plec, the writer and executive producer of The Vampire Diaries a series on the CW network based on the popular L. J. Smith novels about high school femmes and hommes fatales.

Damon: What's so special about this Bella girl? And Edward is SO whipped. I miss Anne Rice...she had it right.
Caroline: How come you don't sparkle?
~ Dialogue from The Vampire Diaries found HERE

"If people want stories about girls who love vampires, they should have them," Whedon said. "It's not like I came up with it. It's always deeply romantic or deeply interesting or deeply scary, or all of the above, and that's going to be mined long after I'm gone."
~ Joss Whedon in an MTV article called Sinking Our Teeth Into Modern Vampires

"That's driving me nuts ... We've got 'Twilight,' which 16-year-old girls are going batsh—over. One of my big motivators for '30 Days of Night' was that vampires had gotten annoying and silly [by being romantic]. So I strip it back to where they look at you like cattle. They don't like humans. They don't spend time worrying about us."
~ Steve Niles, creator of 30 Days of Night a scary comic book series and now a movie about roving Vampires in Barrow, Alaska.

Starting in the early 70s, a new generation of kids learned to count from the helpful, vamp-fanged Count on Sesame Street. He may have looked and sounded like Bela Lugosi, but he had the heart and soul of a friendly teacher. Ca-ching! Just about the same time, General Mills put out its popular and very sweet kid's cereal, Count Chocula, featuring a guy with chocolate and marshmallows running through his tasty veins. Ca-ching, ca-ching. Let the morphing begin. Because vampires are so domesticated and appealing now, perhaps it's time to put True Blood's hunky vamp, Bill Compton, on the Wheaties Breakfast of Champions box. Ca-ching-ching-ching!
~ Tom Alderman in a Huffington Post Editorial called Vampires - Why Here, Why Now?

I'm afraid I have a simpler and more cynical reason for the vampire trend. The people who manage to get popular books sold and movies made aren't very creative. My daughter explained the story line of Twilight to me and I kept on saying "oh, so its just like Buffy" or really more of a lame rip off of Buffy which thanks to Joss Whedon actually was a fairly creative series that showed female empowerment. Twilight turns the grrrl power slayer into a whiny debutante who needs to be protected by her demon-man. And in general the vampire myth provides a predefined set of stereotypes and plot devices that everyone is familiar with, especially when you take the Twilight approach and don't just pick up the general myth but many of the main ideas that proved so succesfull for a popular TV series. Much easier than actually inventing a fantasy world that makes sense the way J.K. Rowling did.
~ a poster named RedDogBear, in the comments section about the Alderman Essay

“It’s teen angst living forever ... Wouldn’t that be horrible?”
~ Karen Kohoutek, librarian from Fargo, ND, and author of the horror movie blog Haunted Vinyl quoted in Vampires Have a Heart, but Are They Losing Their Bite?

Mugglenet Celebrates 10 Years of Magic

2009-10-05T04:15:39Z

Mugglenet.com is celebrating it's 10 year anniversary!

Congratulations, Emerson, Ben, and the staff!

It's rather fun to see how the website has changed from Back in 1999 until Now

Mugglenet also wants to hear from the fans:

MuggleNet's success is thanks in large part to YOU - the visitors. Do you have a story about finding MuggleNet? About what MuggleNet has meant to you? About what MuggleNet has done for you? Then we want your stories! Please e-mail them to
mn10stories@staff.mugglenet.com.
Please keep your stories limited to no more than 3 paragraphs.
We'll take as many stories as possible and post them on MuggleNet later this month. Thanks!

My own story is that I was reading Mugglenet one day back in 2003 and idly clicked the link to Chamber of Secrets Forum out of curiousity, or I probably wouldn't be here right now. I just passed 8,000 posts on CoS, whatever that signifies. And I have to add that although they are TWO SEPARATE SITES, I still feel a close connection to Mugglenet for obvious reasons.

It was my door into Fandom for the better, and sometimes for the worse.

Half-Blood Prince Concept Art ~ Dumbledore's Funeral

2009-10-03T05:48:48Z

Some interesting "concept art" done for the HBP movie has been released (see links below). The picture of Dumbledore's funeral makes me wonder why they didn't just go ahead and film the scene. It clearly shows a parallel to the death of Aragog in the movie with Hagrid standing over the dead body and the mountains behind them. Maybe that image was just too creepy of a parallel for the director, but in the book it's certainly meaningful that Aragog's children won't accept Hagrid anymore, while the Order members won't accept Snape anymore after the death of Dumbledore.

I'm biased. I loved Dumbledore's funeral and except for Dobby and Moody's eyeball, it's all we have of a ritualistic view of death. Eh, and the graveyards in GoF and DH.

From MasterofMystery in the Snitchseeker Gallery
More Art by Adam Broadbank on his Website