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!

( Read more - Threats, Takedown Notices, Excuses,Counterthreats, Mockery, Truth, Etc... )

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

There's a nice series of blog posts about Harry Potter and copyright from
Linda Austin of the St. Louis Examiner:

J. K. Rowling Copyright Suits Go Round and Round

Harry Potter The Lexicon Trial By Fire and Fair Use Implications

The second one is a follow-up after Roger Rapoport set the record straight that the Lexicon is indeed in print and you can buy it . What I liked about the second one is that she lists the books that were not singled out for lawsuits by JKR/WB including HAH, Harry Potter Should Have Died (about which I have more than a passing interest), and In Search of Harry Potter.

Next . . . for the Snape fans . . .  I don't usually link to the WB websites, but the Online shop has a really great T-Shirt that says "Property of the Half-Blood Prince" written in (allegedly) Snape's handwriting from the HBP potions book. And of course it is basic black!

WB Shop ~ Half-Blood Prince Merchandise

Or you can shop elsewhere ~ this page has even more Snape-related clothing items for sale with the Silver Doe, lettering that says "Snape is my Hero," and lots more:

Zazzle.com ~ Snape Gifts

Thanks to Serpentine for tossing me the next story:

Dinosaur named in honor of Harry Potter ~ Dracorex Hogwartsia

Check out the Telegraph UK Gallery of Crop Circles for 2009

And I'll end with a weird video of strange Toy Related Movies - pretty funny, but also too close to the truth!

I don't usually make two picture posts in a row but this is just too good to pass up.

J. K. Rowling attended the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala this weekend, and the pictures are just . . . . well, you just tell me what you think, OK? I'm not anti-cleavage - I've got plenty of my own, thanks. And I'm not saying her dress isn't pretty or anything, but . . . there's sort of a pattern here. Like maybe too much of a good thing? Also, what's with the blood-red fingernails against the pale blue dress? That strikes me as sort of a touch of Bellatrix flair.



Sources: Harry Potter's Page and The Daily Mail

JKR and Mikhail Gorbachev



( There's More! )

 

Poll #1278228 Project Runway Finale
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10

Who Will Win Project Runway?

( Read About the Finale - Who Won - And My Thoughts on the Outcome )