Friday, April 30, 2004

Random thoughts for the day


It's the end of the week, yay! Midterms just passed and I think I did okay. One of my teachers seems to think that I can't write essays. This means that I'm spending all of my time trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. It's kind of strange to go to college and recieve nearly all A's only to have a teacher tell you that your work isn't worth more than a B-. (Yes, my essays are edited better than this site.) I wonder what Hermione would feel like if that happened to her (with the teacher being fair and Hermione trying her best).

In other news, Bush has done it again! *grumbles* Apparently salmon that comes from hatcheries are now considered "wild salmon". Why? So the government can claim that there are no problems with wild salmon dying out. Grrrrrrrrr. I'm not an extereme environmentalist, but some times I just have to scream at what we do to our land. I just hope Bush doesn't get re-elected. (Hey, what good is a blog if I can't express my own opinion?)

Sunday, April 25, 2004

NEW BURROW POST by Tazmy

Saturday, April 17, 2004

Cleaning House


I'm trying to figure out a new look for this site. Does anyone know of any free message board hosts? I hope to learn PHP eventually, but until I do I need to go with someone elses site (or find someone out there, who knows php, willing to make us message boards). I'm also looking into have seperate areas for my random posts, literature posts, and Harry Potter (which is literature, but needs its own area).

Until my next post, I suggest reading a book entitled Storming Heaven. It's got a lot of inappropriate scenes, so read with lots of caution. It's a fiction about the coal mining strikes in the early 20th century. It's amazing how horrible conditions were and what the companies were able to get away with.

Sunday, April 11, 2004

Slytherin Loyalty


I'm not going to do a full post tonight, but I feel the need to post some of my thoughts on Slytherin loyalty. Maybe later I will come back and make this a long, well-thought out post.

I believe that the movies have some hints that the books don't contain. I don't know where, but I believe Rowling has even made this clear in one of her interviews. The reason I mention this is because the end of the second movie always keeps me wondering about Slytherin loyalty. At the end banquet, when everyone is clapping for Hagrid, Crabbe stands up along with everyone else. Malfoy, annoyed, forces Crabbe to sit down. As I see it, there are two ways to interpret this information.

First, Crabbe is just stupid and wasn't thinking. I believe this is the explanation that Rowling expects us to believe. After all, we haven't exactly seen Crabbe exercise many intelligent moves. I admit, that this probably has more credibility than what I am about to say, but it lacks an interesting element to it. I still have a hard time believing people can be as one sided as most of the Slytherins are. Draco and his goonies have proven static throughout the books, and I prefer to hope that this will change in book six.

The other view is that, while Crabbe may have just been being stupid, Rowling was actually forshadowing dissension in the Slytherin ranks. Draco Malfoy is more than a bully to all non-Slytherins, he is a bully to Slytherins as well! Look at how he treats Crabbe and Goyle. When Harry and Ron take the PolyJuice Potion, they feel first hand Draco's iron fist. If one tells the wrong joke, or says the wrong thing, they get a harsh stare and or are ridiculed. If at any time Crabbe or Goyle started to grow any brains, I'm sure Draco would never have allowed them to really use it. Especially if any of their thinking was contrary to Draco's. How long can Draco hold them in this tight fist? Clearly, Lucius has strived on holding others in such a way, but I wonder if Draco is as strong or smart as Lucius Malfoy? But that is another story.

What I'm trying to say is that Crabbe's point of view may be very different than anything Harry can see. Will he be brought to a breaking point at some point? We know that the houses have to unite, so someone in Slytherin has to be a key to letting this happen. Why not one of Draco's top two cronies?

The books offer us some evidence of this as well, though be it highly interpretive and weak. The main reason I have been thinking so much about Crabbe and loyalty, is I still want to understand what Voldemort meant at the end of book four.

"'And here'--Voldemort moved on to the two largest hooded figures-'we have Crabbe... you will do better this time, will you not, Crabbe? And you, Goyle?'" (Page 651, Us Edition)


Again, this scene can have similar interpretations. Were Crabbe and Goyle stupid and they simply messed up one of Voldemorts plans, a plan which I also should investigate sometime, or was their loyalty questionable? Something tells me it is not as clear cut as the prior nor as clear as the latter. Whatever the two did, the address seeming to be aimed mainly at Crabbe Sr., I think perhaps a combination of the above had to come into play. As I have already stated, lineage is a big issue in Rowling's books. We can learn a lot about the sons by looking at the actions of their parents. Whatever happened between Voldemort and Crabbe may easily mirror whatever happens between Malfoy and Crabbe Jr.

As I said, this is not a full, well thought out post, but it is something to think about.

Monday, April 05, 2004

Well, it's back to the hectic life of school. Now I am a janitor and a student. Who knew people could be so messy? It's sad how much trash is left behind after one class.

I'm going to start revamping the site again. I'm hoping to put up some message boards to further general conversation, more links, and an altogether different format. I'll get back to you all on how this is going.

Thursday, April 01, 2004

The following was an april fools day post.

Rumors and Speculations


Am I the only one that thinks that Lucius Malfoy is the real hero of the Harry Potter books? I mean, he really is a kind man, just misunderstood. Remember the book he so kindly gave Ginny in book two? Or what about the kindness he showed his son by ensuring the hippogriffs death. You wait, in the end Lucius' unconditional love will save the world!

What do you guys think of the rumor that Draco Malfoy is really in love with Luna Lovegood? "Get out of my way," Draco said, sweetly pushing Luna out of the way. (Book 5, page 3000)

I wonder if McGonagall will ever grow back enough brains to teach at Hogwarts. Who knew that Pensieves could prove so dangerous? Remember when she stopped in the middle of her lecture because she couldn't remember the basic transfiguration spell? (Book 5 Volume III, Page 98 X 10^36) I mean really, why doesn't Professor Umbridge fire her?

Book Nine should prove interesting. Latest rumors say that Harry will drop his job as a professional auror to join the Muggle Circus. Apparently his apparating trick will be a big hit!