Tazmy's Pensieve

2008-05-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

The original concept for this blog was that it would be a place for dialog on literature. At the time I created it, I was minoring in English and still studying Political Science. Those days seem so far away now.

In just a few short months, unless Murphy decides to show up and wave his law around, I will be graduating with a masters in mathematics. Later this summer I will be celebrating my second wedding anniversary, and next year I will be attending my sister's wedding. Isn't it amazing what a few years will do?

For the past few years, I have been tied up with my studies. Let no one say that a masters in mathematics is an easy degree. It meant lots of sacrifices including not writing and less reading. Yet that chapter of my life is drawing to a close, and I find myself returning to this blog. It will be a few months before I write anything here, but already I am ogling my bookshelf. I want to reread Harry 7 and then start in on Neal Stephenson and Neil Gaiman and of course more Dumas.

Since I can only be who I am, I believe this means I will return to writing and all of the wonder it provides. Just a month and a half from now, I will be back.

2007-07-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been commenting lately. :) In answer to your questions, yes, I have read the seventh book and I am debating writing a review. Without spoiling anything, there is a lot of great imagery in this book and I think I won't be able to help but write on it. For now, have fun reading! If you have read, leave a comment and let me know what you thought.

2007-07-22T12:01:00.001-07:00

I placed the seventh book on the shelf today, feeling a slight pain in my stomach as I did so. I was saying goodbye to my good friends, until I returned to visit them once more. As the Three Musketeers had stolen my heart, so had Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

There are many who are quick to point out the Harry Potter series is not brilliant, nor is its plot entirely original. Many who do not understand the wonder that the world has found in this saga. Yet it is not the story itself, but rather how the story is told, that captured our imaginations. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are the best of friends, bonded together by love and hope in an unending testament to loyalty, bravery, and self-sacrifice. They are our friends, too, as we turn each page, and Hogwarts is perhaps even our second home. Dumbledore, Neville, McGonagall, and all the other characters that so enthralled us are there, waiting for us to visit them once again.

The wonder I found in these books goes beyond what I find in most. They are of a rare variety, the book that so captures us that we cannot help feel entwined in each word, each laugh, each tear. For a few days I might feel a loss after finishing a final page in a regular book, but for Harry, I shall always feel that burning to return to his world and life--to return to my friends and the love that dwells with them.

2007-07-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

I just saw the Harry Potter movie and it's the first one I really loved since the first came out. The director perfectly meshed the fantasy/wonder element with the dark world that Harry must face.

Every bit of it was perfect except for Michael Gambon. He was a better, more believable Dumbledore in this movie, but there were moments that were so un-Dumbledore like I cringed and I was thrown out of the story. There were others complaining about it after the film as well. I know a handful of people that like him as Dumbledore, but to me he is the antithesis of what Dumbledore is all about. Gambon plays an emotional, often surprised or taken aback character, while the Dumbledore I read is a calm man that is seemingly always in control. Much of his power actually lies in his ability to take things seemingly in stride. Unlike Gambon's Dumbledore, he would never yell at kids to get back to studying, especially not out of his own frustrations. (Just as in the fourth movie, my Dumbledore would never have taken Harry and started shaking him while asking if he put his name in the goblet). Still, in the ending scene, Gambon was the Dumbledore I would have expected, and that was when it was most important.

The whole movie just wowed me. There were clearly many in the theater that hadn't read the books and they were loudly enjoying it/showing their shock at different scenes. I think this enhanced the whole experience. Tonks was pretty cool, Luna was perfect, Voldemort was just as I envisioned.

Most important, however, was the strength of love and friendship in this movie. The possession scene is especially well done on that front and more frightening than how it was written in the book. In the end the Harry Potter books are not about the darkness Harry must face, but about the strength he finds in love. This movie shows that in all its pain and glory.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Umbridge. She was more powerful in the magical sense in the movie than the book, but this served only to make her that much more dangerous. She had the "hem hem" down perfectly and was exactly how I had pictured the character.

All in all a great movie that I plan to see again and again.

**SPOILERS**
What they didn't show was the animosity between Harry and Snape when Harry finds out Snape was the one that had turned his parents in. I don't know how they'll recover that for the sixth movie, since much of the foundation of the second to last book was that hatred and anger between Snape and Harry.**/SPOILERS**

2007-07-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

Bumper Sticker and more thoughts

Potter for President 2008! Buy a bumper sticker and enter to win the book. I just think the bumper sticker looks cool.

Since these comments don't seem to have a nifty reply feature, I want to wave hi to the most recent readers/comment makers. I'm glad you're enjoying the ideas here!

I personally don't think she will kill Harry if only because the coming of age theme seems stronger than the epic theme. A sacrifice will have to be made, but I'm not convinced it is Harry. I do, however, worry about Neville, Ron, Luna, etc. I guess we'll know soon enough!!!! I'm really worried about Ron because of the unicorn hair and the willow wand, but he's my favorite character so I'd rather he lived.

2007-06-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

So it is no secret that I don't exactly update this site very often. I am always surprised when someone leaves a comment. It is especially a laugh when someone reads one of my outdated articles and comments how stupid I must be to not have seen in one of the later books how my ideas were clearly contradicted. Um, it would help if the commenter paid attention to when the essay was written. I'm also awed when someone uses my work for reference or just stops by to read. It is sad that I have lost most comments due to not being able to access my haloscan account.

I do actually love this site, which is why I haven't taken it down yet. Some of my ideas may be antiquated, but many of them are still holding true. A part of me knows that when I delete this site, I will deleting a chunk of my life in a way. The part of me that used to write essays on literature. Somewhere along the way math took over English and here I am.

Harry Potter. I still can't believe the final book is almost here. So much has happened to me since I first picked up The Philosopher's Stone. I've finished school, on no less than three occasions! I've gotten married. I've been pregnant then miscarried. I've lived more than I ever could have expected. There's still more ahead of me, and much behind, but finishing this last book...it feels so strange. Like me, Harry has grown so much. He went from being a miserable child that was lost in a dark world, to a young man that, though in a different sort of dark world, found his purpose. He has loved just as he has hated. He has laughed and he has cried. He has grown with me, and I fear our time to say goodbye is here.

In most epics, I read the story knowing the main character will die. I may grow with them, but they usually lead a full life before I have to turn away. Would Rowling dare kill Harry at such a youthful age? I don't think so, if only for the reason that he is our friend and companion, we need to have hope in his future. However, I fear that she might kill others. Is Ron safe with his willow wand and unicorn hair? What of Neville or Hagrid? Part of me dreads picking up this last episode in Harry's life, because I am bound to say goodbye to someone. Just as in life, I have had to say goodbye to many.

As the seventh book draws closer, I thank all of you who ever read one of my essays or gave me input, you made the Harry experience that much more entertaining. I hope that the last and final book ends on a solemn chord of hope, begging us to return to the many volumes again and again, as though visiting an old friend. For Harry, Rodney, Hermione et. all, they are my friends in my heart, no further away than my own imagination.

2007-06-27T16:20:00.001-07:00

I'm rereading book five of the Harry Potter series and I'm realizing what a terrible way to end the books it would be if she killed Harry. From a literary sense, actually it would fit in well with the whole sacrificial love idea, but from a reader's point of view...I don't know. It almost would feel like cheating. She introduced us to a kid who had nothing and found himself a world where he was special, and while Harry has had to live through quite the ordeals over the last few years, I want to see him succeed. I want him to be an auror or a professor or among the next greats. I want to be able to imagine him eventually getting married, having kids, and continuing the cycle of love that was started with his family. If he dies, I'll be robbed of this unless I decide to let my imagination run AU. I think Rowling knows this so I'm thinking she won't kill him. It's her books to do as she wants, but I can hope.

In a similar light, I really want Snape to be good. I know, I know, it could go either way and it really is up to her, but I always saw these books as having a tone of redemption in them. In earlier books, I read Snape as a figure that had gone as dark as dark could get then realized that even power wasn't worth it. Was he still evil in his own way? Probably. But he had chosen a better way at some point and it spoke to his character. I don't know if this is the route she will actually go, however, and if she is basing a lot of this on Machiavelli's The Prince as it seems, well, I wouldn't be surprised if Snape was working for no one but himself. But I need him to have some good inside of him. I need her to show that as Sirius said, the world isn't divided into just deatheaters and good guys.

I guess that's enough rambling for now.

2007-03-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

The new Harry Potter book covers are out!

American Edition

UK Edition

Looking at the UK version, I'm thinking the Stargate looking circle is actually a vault at Gringotts and that's why all of the treasure is in there. Does this mean we'll see the dragons that guard the lower areas?

2006-12-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

So the new title is out for the latest and final Harry Potter book. When I first read the title Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I immediately did a retake. "Shouldn't that be hollows?" I asked. I suppose in many ways hallows is still appropriate. Hallows roughly mean to make something holy and I suppose vanquishing Voldemort would qualify as a purification of the wizarding world. By adding the word deathly, I suspect Rowling wants us to start speculating on whether or not she's willing to kill off Harry. I don't doubt someone major will die and I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of the trio.

So why would I have wanted it to be hollows? To run full circle, I suppose. To a cerain degree, everything started in Godric's Hollow and a return to the hollow in this book is more than called for. I have no doubt the final battle will take place there, but then again, I'm not the writer so I could be wrong. So I should say, I think the final battle should take place there. Everything should culminate in a full circle, and Godric's Hollow would be the most logical place for that to happen.

But maybe she chose hallow for just that reason. A word that calls to mind hollow but then has it in it the deeper meanings of purification and holiness. The title doesn't exactly roll on the back of the tongue, and for someone who is accused of over using adverbs, I find it hilarious she uses 'deathly' in her title.

Either way, I'm now juiced up and ready for the final book. I've picked up book five again, and I've forgotten nearly everything. I really don't remember book six at all....

I think I'm finally to a point where I'm okay with the fact these books are going to end, even though I will miss them greatly.

2006-12-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

I switched back to blogspots comments since I couldn't access my haloscan account anymore. All previous comments have been deleted as a result. *sigh* Oh well.

2006-04-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

I started reading QuickSilver finally. So far it is very well done and I'm enjoying the style a lot. It took me a while to get past the present tense and the general wordiness, but now the whole book has grown on me. It's historical fiction, so definitely not up my normal route of books.

The book takes place in the 18th and 17th centuries and focuses on the development of the Royal Society. So basically, it centers on the developments of math and science in that time period. I'm a mathematician so it is right up my alley. :)

2006-04-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

I am sick today. Being sick is not fun. But I suppose you all already knew that. I wrote a story to cheer myself up, but I haven't much energy to do anything else. Peter says I should take the time to read. He wants me to read Quicksilver and I still need to reread book six of Harry Potter. I am going crazy waiting for book seven at the same time as not wanting it to come out. I am particularly interested to see what happens with Draco and Snape. Are they redeemed? I sure hope so. I also want Viktor Krum to appear in the next book.

2006-04-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

Some Ramblings In Order To Appear As Though I Am Posting Something

One of the things I appreciate about the Harry Potter books is that J. K. Rowling doesn't shy away from large words. It bothers me when I don't recognize the language used in a children's novel, but I'm still not convinced Harry Potter if for kids anyways. So yeah, it's not a bad thing. I means I have to pick up a dictionary and learn a few things.

One of my new goals, shall we name it 5,000,003, is to pick up a decent vocabulary. At the very least it will help out my GRE scores.

2005-11-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

Review of the Fourth Movie

I walked into the theater with low expectations. I wasn't a fan of Cuaron's style, and I knew the Goblet of Fire director planned to follow movie's three lead. I didn't want another fake artsy movie and I didn't want a 2 1/2 hour show that couldn't fit in the necessary key details. By the time the movie was half-way through, all my worries had been put aside. Sure, the acting wasn't great, but the intensity was there and so was the old Hogwarts joy. I left the theater feeling both somber and excited, feelings that the novel had originally left me with. In short, Goblet of Fire was beyond my wild expectations. The director was brilliant, the graphics were well made, the soundtrack was aweome, and some actors gave a superb job.

I can't put my finger on any one thing that made me love the show. I just know I enjoyed it. Rupert Grint did an amazing job as Ron and the Weasley twins added just enough humor to keep the movie light hearted. The movie was, however, the darkest yet. This is fitting since book four really was a dark book. But where the novel felt over structured, the movie flowed effortlessly from scene to scene.

I can't say I like Emma Watson's acting in this one, but she wasn't necessarily bad either. There were moments she was exceptional and then there were moments her acting was so far over the top it had left the atmosphere. I still don't like that they made Hermione pretty as early as movie two because it cheapens the moment when she is supposed to shine, the moment when Ron doesn't even recognize her because she has emerged from her shell. The book pulled this off wonderfully, but the movie just couldn't capture it with all the previous changes that had been made.

By far the worst part of this movie was Dumbledore. The Dumbledore I read in the books was an infinitely patient man with wisdom beyond human comprehension, and a loving tenderness that could make anyone feel at ease. Yes, he had his stern moments, but above all he is as a father figure to Harry and a deeply caring man. The Dumbledore in the movies seems far too stressed out and angry to be the same man. What happend to that gentle, knowing look that always brought hope into Harry's life? I miss the Dumbledore that had mastered that look.

I also liked that the director didn't work too hard to keep everything a mystery. Most fans coming to see the show have read the books, they know where things are going. Understanding this, the director simply switches the focus from a mystery to the trials and affairs of teenagehood. From Ron's beautifully acted rows with Harry, to the dance, and all the jovial events, this movie captured the Harry Potter universe in a way Cuaron never could. Yes, things are dark but there is still hope and there is still joy.

I was skeptical about going to see Goblet of Fire. Afraid of what mutations might be uncovered before my eyes, but I was pleasantly surprised. The ending left me nearly in tears. As the climax reached a chilling peak, Daniel Radcliffe decided to act and to act well. His emotion is honest and it plays out well for the audience. I also love that the movies ending does not pretend that everything is happy or that all is back to normal. Instead, it remains true to the painful reality of what has happened and how everything will change.

2005-10-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Stargate

Yay! Stargate has been renewed for season 10. :)

2005-10-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Serenity

Serenity is an awesome movie. Go see it. Even if you haven't seen FireFly, go see it. As far as character development, plot, and depth goes, Joss Whedon is the master. I've seen it three times now, and I've loved it each time. I should write a post on it when my life is less crazy.

I will write some HP posts, I just have a crazy life right now. If anyone has something they would want me to post, your welcome to send it to me and if it is good, I will put it up. Until then, I hope you all keep checking the site until I can post more thoughts.

2005-10-19T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Second Read Through

I'm finally starting Harry Potter 6 again! Harry and Dumbledore just reached the Dursleys and Dumbledore is talking to Harry in the broom cupboard. Why is the closet outside the house? It just seems odd to me. Well, on this read through I have a mission. I want to see what is happening with Draco and with Snape. How long do we have to wait out to learn the truth behind him????

2005-10-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

In Remembrance of
Chester Gregorich

I don't have a picture to post here, but one of my old friends died on October 7, 2005. He was a good friend to many and a good man. He will be missed. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

2005-09-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Still Here

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'm still around. I just need to reread book six before I can write much of anything. In the mean time, I say it is time for a new discussion topic.

What questions do you want Book Seven to answer? Which questions are satisfied not recieving an answer for?

Seeing as how I doubt she can fit everything into Book Seven, I think we have to face up to the fact that not everything will come together.

2005-08-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Forgettable

It is about time I cranked out another Harry Potter post. I was thinking something along the lines of Book Six and interesting. This shouldn't be a hard task, but it is quickly becoming difficult. The more I think about what to write, the more I realize that I don't remember Book Six. Wait a minute, didn't I just read it last month?

As much as I hate to admit it, my hind site indicates that The Half-Blood Prince was less interesting than I previously believed. Oh yes, there is a lot to say about Snape, but I've already had my words on that subject. Draco became a bit more interesting, but there isn't exactly a lot for me to say in that respect. Then there is always the "Is Harry a horcurx" question, but other authors have pondered that to exhaustion.

What it comes down to is that I need to read Book Six again. I know there was more to it than I am remembering at the moment. For instance, Harry went through some major changes that are worth exploring and I'm worried about the choices he has made. I have some time off for the next month so I'm just going to sit down with the book and ponder a few things. Hopefully some grand concept will pop into my mind. Until then, feel free to suggest any topics you wish.

Maybe I could also take this opportunity to write more carefully. It's not quite enough for me to write down ideas, I want to write well. (Yes, I'm brooding after discovering that there are those don't think I write well. I guess the bad grammar doesn't really help matters.)

2005-08-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

I'm still alive

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been in Superfan girl mode Stargate style. :)

Lots of great comments on the Harry beign a horcrux thing. I have to agree that there are many problems with the idea, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Rowling chooses that approach. However things go down, it should come back to the room in the Department of Mysteries where love is kept. Remember, first and foremost, Harry must defeat Voldemort with love. Yes, even sacrificial love.

While I keep buying time from writing posts, it's time for a new topic:

In your opinion, what is the most important theme in the Harry Potter books?

2005-08-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

DISCUSSION TIME:

Hey, I still don't have time for a post. I thought that we could all have a discussion in the comments section on the following topic: Is Harry a Horcrux?

I'll write up something on this later, but I'm interested to hear what you all think?

2005-08-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

Serenity Trailers

Next month Serenity will finally hit theaters. I had the good fortune to see it back in May and I'm still anxious for its realease. Why? Because the movie is awesome. Seriously, before the film hits theaters do yourself a favor and go buy the FireFly DVD set. Catch up on all the back story and then go see the marvel that is Serenity.

Check out this shiny trailer for the movie.

2005-08-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

GLARING ERROR OR EVIDENCE?

My friend Jess brought it to my attention that there is either a glaring error in the book or an obvious clue. I'm afraid to say that I wouldn't be surprised it is an error, but it would be interesting if it is not. I remember thinking about it when I first read it and then decided I must be mistaken, but now that Jess has pointed it out I have to address it.

Snape walks in at the end of the prophecy in Book Six. So why in Book Five does Dumbledore say that the person who heard the prophecy only heard the beginning.

I don't have the books infront of me to double check. I'm sure you'll let me know if this wrong.

So yeah. I have finals right now so I really can't do a full post on this. IF, and that is a big IF, it is not a mistake it could be more evidence for why Dumbledore trusts Snape. Although this theory does have its issues as well.

I keep thinking back to the wand fiasco in Book Four when Harry's dad came out before Lily. It would have meant a lot, had it not been a mistake.

2005-08-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

AIM

Not for the first time, someone tried to contact me on AIM when I wasn't around. I just want to make it clear that I do enjoy getting IM's, I'm just often not around to recieve them. My computer stays on and I forget to set my AIM to away.

Just a silly FYI since I have no time to do a real post today.

2005-07-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

Insanity

An example of what comes out of boredom... Insanity.

Read with Caution... not fully suitable for children.

TazmyOhki: *stretch*
hikarikodachi: All right, then. Snape is actually Harry's son
TazmyOhki: LOL
hikarikodachi: You asked me to stretch... and if that's not a stretch, dunno what is ^_^
TazmyOhki: Dumbledore and Snape are secret lovers and Voldemort became evil becasue he wanted Dumbledore
hikarikodachi: Now that's a stretch
TazmyOhki: Thank you, thank you very much
hikarikodachi: Behind the scenes, Neville is the biggest player in Gryffindor
TazmyOhki: LOL
hikarikodachi: Is that a stretch? ^_^
TazmyOhki: hmmm yes
hikarikodachi: Okay
TazmyOhki: Snape's real master is Neville Longbottom
hikarikodachi: Meh. If I were Neville and capable of that, I'd have Parvati and Cho as my minions ^_^
TazmyOhki: well he is the biggest player behind the scenes, right?
hikarikodachi: Hmm, good point
hikarikodachi: Let's see.... Dumbledore is actually not dead, but has been transmuted into a Canary Creme destined to be consumed by Goyle
TazmyOhki: *raises eyebrow* now that is a stretch
hikarikodachi: Good ^_^
TazmyOhki: Voldemort only wants to take over the world so he can fill it with fresh flowers and sweet candies
hikarikodachi: Candies or candles? Imagine a Voldemort Brand Vanilla-scented Candle
TazmyOhki: yes. he's sending his deatheaters after Harry not to kill him but to present him with a free sample
hikarikodachi: A sample basket!
hikarikodachi: And Lily and James are actually crossdressers!
TazmyOhki: "Dark Lord brand candles. Fresh scent guranteed to make your house warm and comfortable. Now on special, candle with smoke in the form of the dark mark"
TazmyOhki: James Potter -- Prom Queen
hikarikodachi: ^__^
hikarikodachi: And does that make "Lily Evans - Prom King"? ^+^
TazmyOhki: no, prince charming
hikarikodachi: Sirius Black's real first name is actually Rigel
hikarikodachi: Ahhhh
TazmyOhki: ooo Voldemort as Prince Charming
hikarikodachi:
TazmyOhki: too much of a stretch?
[22:47] hikarikodachi: Rita Skeeter is an objective journalist!
TazmyOhki: okay, that is a stretch
hikarikodachi: And Dolores Umbridge is a fine educator!
TazmyOhki: Professor McGonagall is a cat that transfigures herself into a human
hikarikodachi: Ahhh! She's a Magianimus!
TazmyOhki: lol
TazmyOhki: Hermione Granger is the Dark Lord
hikarikodachi: And she would use Lord instead of Lady
TazmyOhki: Well Ron is the Dark Lady
hikarikodachi:
TazmyOhki: now doesn't that just pop images into your mind
hikarikodachi: Yes, and I'm trying to purge them! ^_^
hikarikodachi: Through an accident with the Time Turner, it is revealed that Harry and Ginny are actually James and Lily
TazmyOhki: eeek
TazmyOhki: Lucius Malfoy and the Coat of Many Colors
TazmyOhki: ( i shoudl paste this on my site)
hikarikodachi: It's just like with his Patronus!
hikarikodachi: Yes, you should ^+^
hikarikodachi: Neville and Luna have actually been married in secret since her second year, and she is hiding their twins in her dorm room closet
TazmyOhki: *raises eyebrow* Dudley Dursley is the most powerful, wisest wizard alive
hikarikodachi: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
hikarikodachi: Vernon is Harry's father
TazmyOhki: noooooooooooooooooooooo
hikarikodachi: Moaning Myrtle is nicknamed that for an entirely different reason
TazmyOhki: yeah and Hagrids shorter that Colin Creevy
TazmyOhki: he just has stilts
hikarikodachi: And Colin Creevy is actually an agent of Voldemort sent to kill Harry
TazmyOhki: Professor Snape's life long dream is to become a ballerina
hikarikodachi: Professor Trelawney was a professional breakdancer in her youth
TazmyOhki: Hermione is pregant with alien babies prophecied to destroy the great madrake
hikarikodachi: Dobby and the other house-elves must take Gryffindor's sword and cast it into the fires of Mount Vesuvius
TazmyOhki: Kreacher enjoys long walks on the beach and love poetry
hikarikodachi: Barty Crouch liked to get down and get funky
TazmyOhki: Draco's favorite show is My Little Pony
hikarikodachi: Parvati and Lavender are actually capos in the Mafia
TazmyOhki: Crabbe adn Goyle go on to win genius grants and become great aurors
hikarikodachi: The Weasley twins settle down and become attorneys
TazmyOhki: and Percy runs their joke shop
hikarikodachi: Fleur likes action flicks and professional wrestling
TazmyOhki: Harry grows up to teach potions and become head of slytherin house. Takes a sudden fancy to dark dungeons
hikarikodachi: And he marries Pansy Parkinson
TazmyOhki: he has a harem
hikarikodachi: Ginny elopes with Professor Flitwick
TazmyOhki: whoa
hikarikodachi: And Neville becomes captain of the Quidditch team
TazmyOhki: Dumbeldore gets all his information from the Junior Wizards Encyclopedia
hikarikodachi: Lupin gets bitten by a werecabbit, and once a month can fly thru interstellar space
TazmyOhki: kudos
hikarikodachi: ^_^
TazmyOhki: But you forgot the great war between the cabbits and the house elfs
hikarikodachi: No I didn't. No one wants to talk about that. Especially considering what the cabbits did to them after they won
TazmyOhki: Cabbits defeat voldemort with their cuteness
hikarikodachi: That I'll buy ^_^
hikarikodachi: McGonnagal is a veela
TazmyOhki: Voldemort ceases his plans to take over the world when he finally wins a beauty competition and goes on to become Mr. UK
hikarikodachi: Nagini is actually Bertha Jerkins in her illegal Animagus form,
TazmyOhki: Pettigrew is the brains behind Voldemort's schemes
hikarikodachi: Gah!
hikarikodachi: Voldemort is Pettigrew's b****
TazmyOhki: Now that is just wrong
hikarikodachi: It should be
TazmyOhki: Harry must us a herring to defeat Voldemort.. after picking a shrubery of course
hikarikodachi: And Neville ends up in Castle Anthrax
hikarikodachi: And he doesn't leave ^_^
TazmyOhki: On second thought let us not go to Hogwarts, it is a silly place
hikarikodachi: King Dumbledore?
TazmyOhki: Arthur, king of the muggles

2005-07-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

Spinner's End

I was wondering why Rowling named Chapter Two "Spinner's End". I realized that a connection definitely exists between Snape and the name. Images of spider webs and deceitful tales instantly came to my mind.

The question is still, who is Snape deceiving? Why "Spinner's End" as opposed to "Spinner's Alley" or "Spinner's Way?" Is the end significant to Snape finishing his web of deceit? Why did he agree to the Unbreakable Vow? Curious... Very curious.

This isn't a full post, but I wanted to share with you with the following definition's of "Spinner" and "End" from Webster's Dictionary:

spin spinner, n.:
1. to make by drawing out and twisting fibers.
2. to produce ( a web, cocoon etc.,) by extruding a viscous filament that hardens in the air.
5. to produce or fabricate slowly and bit by bit: to spin a tale. [hence the connection with deceit]
15. Slang: a viewpoint, or bias, esp. in the media.

end
2. a point that indicates the full extent or limit of something.
3. a part or place at an extremity.
4. termination, as of life; conclusion.
6. an intention or aim.
7. an outcome or result.
8. destruction or ruin.
9. a remnant or fragment.
10. a share or part.
end as a verb:
12. to bring or come to an end.
14. to kill or die.

Interesting... I do think "Spinner's End" is a carefully fashioned title.

Another thought: If Voldemort trusts Snape as much as the book claims, could a horcrux be at Spinner's End? (Just a thought anyways. Yes, even without Snape knowing it.) It will be most useful in pulling the plot strings to have Harry face Snape.

2005-07-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Where do Snape's loyalties lie?

I keep going back and forth while I weigh all the evidence. In the end, it comes down to the message Rowling chooses to get across to her readers. Peter and I discussed this at length, and in many ways I agree with his assessment. One, the interview with Rowling could be seen both directions. Second, if Snape remains a Death Eater than we have no character left that has made a dramatic change against who they were. I know many of you will disagree on this point, and I do in some ways myself, but in many ways it is true. I'll write an article on that sometime this week.

I believe this book is about the choices we come to make, not the choices we are destined to make. Therefore, some character has to make a dramatic switch from the choices they originally made. I find Snape's redemption to be a far more powerful story than Snape's deception. Maybe Rowling doesn't see it this way, but I do believe authors pass on messages without meaning to. If Snape is a Death Eater, her message seems to be that people are destined to make certain choices and there really are no dividing lines. In short, Dumbledore is wrong to believe that people can change. Maybe this will differ with other events in Book Seven, but so far this is the message I will recieve by Snape's betrayal.

Maybe she is giving us a lesson in politics only to deny the greater story of redemption.

Dumbledore trusts Severus Snape, and for the sake of humanity I too trust Severus Snape. If I am wrong, perhaps I am wrong about the power of the Harry Potter story in and of itself. For now, I will choose hope. Even if it is against the odds.

2005-07-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Machiavelli's Prince Severus

A few years ago I used an excerpt from Machiavelli's the Prince as evidence that Snape may kill Dumbledore. At the time, I didn't think too much of the parallel, only that it was an interesting coincidence that should be taken into account. Given Snape's actions in Book Six, I feel it is important to go back to this example and see what it may tell us about Severus Snape.

The Severus to whom Machiavelli refers is Severus Septimius. (The last name sounds suspiciously like the spell that Snape created, doesn't it?) While Snape is by no means the Septimius in Machiavelli's work, the similarities are striking. Machiavelli portrays a man who aspired to be a great emperor. He knew that only two men were a danger to his power. One man had already declared himself a ruler, the other was named Albinus.

Yes, Albus and Albinus both mean the same thing!

Machiavelli writes:

"Judging it was dangerous to show himself hostile to both of them, Serverus decided to attack Niger and to trick Albinus." The Prince, pg. 64, Penguin Classic, 1999

I don't think I have to work too hard to show the similarities here. Severus aligned himself with Albinus as a means to hide his true goal and work behind the scenes to rid himself of both leaders. The story goes on and Severus eventually has Albinus killed. Severus becomes a powerful emperor.

The story does have its differences, especially if one were to look up the novel and read it for themselves , but I think that Rowling may have recieved some of her inspiration for Snape's character from Machiavilli's work. Besides the interactions between Severus and Albinus, there remains much more evidence as to the connection between Septimius and Snape.

For example, Snape fashions himself the name the "Half Blood Prince". Yes, Prince comes from his mothers maiden name, but it may go deeper than that. Machiavelli does hold Severus up as a great prince. Is Rowling whispering in our ears the origins of Snape's character? Maybe she is warning us about politics? I don't know, but I wouldn't doubt it.

Most important of all, is why Machiavelli shares the story of Severus in the first place. Machiavelli's goal is to show the qualities that a prince must have. He raises Severus as an example of how a prince must be in order to attain and keep power. Namely, a prince has to know how to act.

"...I want to show briefly how well he (Severus) knew how to act the part of both a fox and a lion,..." The Prince, pg. 63

Was this not a large theme in book six? Did not Snape continually say that he would not get very far if he didn't know how to properly act?

"So whoever carefully studies what this man (Severus) did will find that he had the qualities of a ferocious lion and a very cunning fox, and that he was feared and respected by everyone..."The Prince, pg. 64

There is no doubt in my mind that Snape is cunning and ferocious. How well he does act his parts.

Now that we have seen that the name "Prince" may actually be a reference to Machiavelli's work, it remains to show why we care. What does this say about Snape?

If Septimius inspired Snape's character then this goes along with the theory that Snape has been playing the middle, maybe waiting to see which side would win out. Does Snape aspire to greater things? Is he awaiting Voldemort's demise only to replace him? Does Snape serve no one but himself?

Machiavelli's Septimius was not only a good actor, but he knew when to let others fight the battle for him.

I still say there are many unanswered questions as far as Snape goes. Either he acted on Dumbledore's orders when he killed the headmaster, or he did not. Either he serves Voldemort or he does not. He may prove the greatest ally to Harry in book seven (a theme I much prefer and believe makes for a much more powerful book) or he may prove Harry's greatest enemy. Only Book Seven will tell. Until then, we would do well to keep Machiavelli's work in mind when we ask how well does Snape act and to whom is he loyal? A cunning fox indeed....

2005-07-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

The sad truth is that evidence does go both ways on the truth behind Snape. The theory I have below is what I hope happened.

Maybe I don't want to read the final novel. Maybe I want to just go on believing Snape is good. HPB leaves some room for this, but will book seven?

2005-07-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Betrayal

There is no denying that Albus Dumbledore died at the hands of Severus Snape. What remains to be seen, is whom Snape was really betraying in carrying out the death of the Hogwarts' headmaster. There are only two concrete ways to see this scene, either Snape betrayed Dumbledore or Snape did not.

The prior assertion is less interesting. Maybe Snape managed to stay a Death Eater while working for the Order of the Phoenix, bidding his time to rejoin Lord Voldemort. As this is the most transparent idea, there is little need for a full analysis. Therefore, I will concentrate on the latter position.

Snape did not betray Dumbledore. To some, the idea may seem ludicrous. To others, this is the obvious and most likely solution. I will present evidence throughout book six, as well as some of the predecessors, to show that we do not know as much as we may think.

First, let's examine the scene where Harry learns about the argument between Dumbledore and Snape.

“'I – well, I was comin' outta the forest the other evenin' an' I overheard 'em talking – well, arguin'. Didn't like ter draw attention to meself, so I sorta skulked an' tried not ter listen, but it was a – well, a heated discussion an' it wasn' easy ter block it out” ... “Well – I jus' heard Snape sayin' Dumbledore took too much fer granted an' maybe he – Snape – didn' wan' ter do it anymore --”... “I dunno, Harry, it sounded like Snape was feelin' a bit overworked, that's all – anyway, Dumbledore told him flat out he'd agreed ter do it an' that was all there was to it. Pretty firm with him. An' then he said summat abou' Snape makin' investigations in his House, in Slytherin.” - Hagrid, Book Six, Page 405-406 US Edition

Given Snape's promise to Narcissa and how this book ends, this quote probably shows more than meets the eye. Is Snape upset about being overworked, as Hagrid suggests? Probably not, doesn't sound like the Snape I read about. But what if Snape had told Dumbledore about the Unbreakable Vow? Was this what Snape had agreed to do and was uneasy about? Did Dumbledore know that he was going to die and wanted to protect Draco from the dark path, even if that meant Snape would have to do it in the end?

Evaluating this quote we can see that Dumbledore and Snape did have an argument of some sorts. Snape believed Dumbledore was taking too much for granted and Snape wasn't sure he wanted to do something anymore. Perhaps the key to understanding the argument, is to understand what Dumbledore would take for granted.

In reading this line I couldn't help but think of Dumbledore telling Harry, on many occasions, that everything was just speculation and he could easily be mistaken about his Voldemort related theories. Perhaps Dumbledore's assumptions about Harry's role to come in fighting Voldemort were making Snape nervous on how things would play out. Mix this together with his unbreakable vow to protect Draco and, if need be, carry out the dark deed himself, and you have Snape in a very dark and dangerous position.

The truth is that Dumbledore seemed to know of his impending death from early on. He started having lessons with Harry to discuss the prophecy and Voldemort's true self. He even gave Snape the Defense against the Dark Arts job, knowing that no teacher had held it for more than one year after Voldemort was denied the position. (46 -- though didn't Quirrell have it longer?) Had he, Dumbledore, bidded his time, waiting to put Snape into the DADA slot until the very last possible moment. Why give Snape that job in the first place? There has to be some reason and I believe it is a significant piece to solving this puzzle.

We know that Snape made at least one vow, that being the one about Draco. But we still do not know the full reason Dumbledore trusted Snape. Yes, Snape wound a tale of remorse, but more than that would be needed to get Dumbledore's unshakable trust. After all, Dumbledore may give people chances but he continues to keep a close eye when need be. He had to have some reason to fully trust Snape. Perhaps an Unbreakable Vow to protect Harry at all costs? Or an Unbreakable Vow to do everything in his power to stop Voldemort? Agreeing to protect the son of the man he hated, or agreeing to stop his old master would definitely make Dumbledore put far more trust in him than just remorse.

Up to now, I have mainly been speculating with only so much evidence to offer. Now I turn to the night of Dumbledore's murder. I believe there are far more concrete happenings here that point to Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore versus Voldemort.

First, Snape only stuns Flitwick and then runs out and tells Hermione and Luna to take care of the unconscious teacher. Okay, here we have Snape who has shown his dislike for Hermione Granger since day one. He knows there are Death Eaters in the school and it's prompted him to knock out a faculty member. What's more, Hermione is a muggle-born, a perfect target for a Death Eater. But Snape doesn't attack her, he doesn't ignore them, instead he has them take care of Flitwick. A distraction to keep them safe? He's trying to move fast, why stop to talk?

Continuing on, Snape reaches the top of the Astronomy tower where Draco and the Death Eaters have surrounded Dumbledore. After some discussion he finds out that Draco will not kill Dumbledore as Voldemort had bid him to do. Snape is bound by his promise to finish the job, and turns to Dumbledore. Then Dumbledore seems to beg... Begs? That doesn't sound like Dumbledore. No, he is the type of wizard to stand till the very end. He does not fear death as others do, and I believe he even knew his death was imminent. So maybe he's not pleading for Snape to keep him alive, but rather to fulfill the job and kill him?

“But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly. 'Severus...'
“The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading. Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the wereworlf seemed cowed.
...
“Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
“'Severus...please...'” -Book 6, Pages 595-596, US Edition

Notice Dumbledore never once says, “Spare me” or “Have mercy.” He just says, “please”. An echo of the argument in the forest perhaps? Is Snape revolted not by Dumbledore, but by the vow he must keep?

And then Snape kills Dumbledore.

Severus rushes away with Draco, almost as if to keep him away from the other Death Eaters. But for what? Will not Draco die for his failure? Is Snape to protect him at the cost of evading the Dark Lord himself? And was it me, or did Snape seem to be protecting Harry as well? Keeping the twins at bay, using Voldemort as an excuse. Even in the duel between Snape and Harry, Snape doesn't try to torture him or use a painful enough curse that he could just escape. (although he does do something when Harry calls him a coward.) No, he mainly only uses blocking curses and one disabling curse to keep Harry back. He doesn't even really try to injure him it seems. Something here just doesn't seem right. Yes, Snape needs to escape... but still...

And why did Snape care so much about being called a coward?

The truth is that there is a lot of speculation to be had on Snape still. We do not know if he is good or bad, why Dumbledore fully trusted him, or what he and Dumbledore argued about. In the end, it is at least likely that Snape remained true to the headmaster and a plan we don't fully comprehend yet.

If what I have laid out is true in anyway, Snape keeping his vow was important to Dumbledore. Why? What role does Snape have to play that Dumbledore could not? Or was it an example of Dumbledore preparing a plan, fully aware of his imminent death? Whatever the case, we should not assume that things are exactly as they appear. Snape still has a roll to play, be it for good or evil.

(Also: Why does Snape make the vow about Draco in the first place? and doesn't this complicate things if he is a Death Eater? How can he protect Draco and serve Voldemort? Draco did what was right, but in Voldemort's eyes that has to be a fatal mistake.

Also note: the promise could be read as either promising to protect Draco until the act, or to watchout for Draco while he was in still in danger from the Dark Lord. The second partof the vow was never specified. If he's not bound to this promise, Snape is in a good position to betray Voldemort.)

2005-07-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well I sent off my editorial on Snape to Mugglenet. Hopefully they'll publish it. If not, I'll post it here.

2005-07-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

My review for HP6 is up one the about.com site!

2005-07-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

Finished the Book..... wow....

2005-07-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

Finished Book Five again

There was so much there that I forgot! I'm glad I read it again before picking up Book 6. I have so many thoughts running on the subject! I still don't understand Snape and I really want to understand what he's doing for the Order and how he is pulling it off. I also am anxious to see what roles Neville and Luna play in the next book.

Mostly I want to hear more about Ron. His character is in the perfect position for a lot of change! Without his brothers there he's bound to be more confident. After his final save at Quidditch, he may still be on the team and happy about it. I'm hoping Harry will get back on the field as well and we wil get to see Ron and Harry working together on the Quidditch team when Ron is actually competent. I wonder what job Ron is trying for?

Will McGonagall live up to her promise to make sure Harry becomes an auror? Is he going to regret having chosen a difficult subject? And how did he do in Potions? He wasn't sure he did the best and if he didn't get Outstanding... Boy, Snape will be pissed if he has to keep him in his class... LOL. I don't see Harry dropping potions but I do see the struggle between him and Snape reaching a climax.

I also see a replay of the last book with Harry's heroics going wrong. Now that he knows better, how will he react when he believes a close friend needs saving? What if it is Ron or Hermione or both? Will he have learned caution from book five or will his need to help cause him to fall into similar traps? Being a coming of age story this will be most intereting to see.

2005-07-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

ONLY ONE MORE WEEK!

I can't wait. I'm loving re-reading book five although I'm very disturbed by the whole Umbridge detention thing still. She was using dark magic and the plot was never truly drawn out, grrr... Maybe it will have some closure in Book 6.

I CAN'T WAIT!

2005-06-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

The new cover

So I just saw that mugglenet had a full jacket of the British HP 6 up. It looks good.

What can I tell from the cover?

The action packed end scene typical to her books looks like it may take place at the lake. Should be interesting. There are two hands locked around some kind of ring of fire? I wonder what that is about... Maybe a pact of some kind?

Eeek.. I can't wait for the book!!!!!!

2005-05-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Emerging From My Cave

(Anonymouse will be embarrassed that I posted this, but....) I have emerged from the nether region of the internet to say: Peter proposed last night! I, of course, said yes!

2005-05-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

Time to start conjecturing

We are only about two months away from Harry Potter awesomeness! With that in mind, I've gotta start writing down some Harry Potter thoughts and ideas. I'm restarting the fifth book. It's been so long since I last read it, I really don't remember too much from it.

Questions I can't wait to have answered:

Will Percy fulfill the role as Prodigal Son?

What is Snape doing for the Order of the Phoenix and what role(s) does he have to play in the coming war?

Who is the Half-Blood Prince and does he have something to do with Godric Gryffindor or with the so-called pure bloods?

2005-05-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

Serenity

I get to go to the Serenity Screening on May 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't know what Serenity is, it's the FireFly movie coming out. If you don't know what FireFly is, well.... Shame on you! Go buy the DVD set and find out.

2005-05-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hey, the preview for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is out! What do you all think of it? (If anyone is left here)

I think it looks good. Still wish we had a different Dumbledore though...

Haven't seen it? Click here or go to mugglenet for lower resolution trailers.

2005-04-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I've been a lazy butt and I haven't updated anything in a while. I did however start a live journal so I could organize my thoughts better. Nearly all of the entries are private or friends only, but I do but some of my thoughts on the public page.

The next stage of my ultimate plan is to create a site exclusively for browsing my previous articles. Come June I'll begin bloggeing again about what to expect from Book VI and in July I'll start writing as much as I can. Check back once in a while till then, I may find my muse and some time I wasn't expecting.

2005-04-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Great April Fools Day Jokes

I don't have any jokes to play on you today, but Startrek.com has a cute joke on their site. You should check it out.

2005-04-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

miya miya

2005-03-28T21:48:00.003-08:00

NEW ABOUT.COM ARTICLE

It's finally up on the about.com site. Go check out my fourth Harry Potter review!

2005-03-28T21:48:00.001-08:00

NEW ABOUT.COM ARTICLE

It's finally up on the about.com site. Go check out my fourth Harry Potter review!

2005-03-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

NEW ABOUT.COM ARTICLE

It's finally up on the about.com site. Go check out my fourth Harry Potter review!

2005-03-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

QuickSilver

Peter has convinced me that I have to read Quicksilver by Neil Stephenson. I started the first chapter and I have to say it has promise. The book takes place in Boston during the early 18th century. It's loaded with historical facts and reads much like a Dumas book so far.

The best part is that the book is long! I need something to keep me going to till Harry Potter VI comes out in June.

2005-03-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it! I finally turned in my fourth Harry Potter review. I am not the happiest with it, but at least it is turned in now. Now i have the rest of break to myself! Yay!

2005-03-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

Relaxation? What's that?

It is going to be an awesome year for movies. Hitchhikkers and Serenity (FireFly movie) are more than enough to keep me happy!

Well, I think I am on Spring Break now. I couldn't actually tell you because I have yet to find out whether or not I should take an exam tomorrow. The point of the post isn't to complain about lack of information, but rather to cheer. My Harry Potter article is definitely going out today, I only have to work for two hours, and I'm home free for the rest of the night. Resting, ah, a simple pleasure I had nearly forgotten. Oh rest, how I have missed thee.

Either way, my life seems to be coming together nicely. Now that Peter got the job at the University, I am going to have a shot at attending teaching licensure classes at a grand total of about $1200. When you consider this as four terms attending graduate classes at the UO, this is a substantial difference. I couldn't afford over 10,000 for just three terms. I can figure out $1200 for four. (Of course this is all contingent on us getting engaged and then married in the near future.)

What is more, Peter is happy in his new job. This is important. I don't think I would want him to keep a job just for my graduate school. He needs to be happy.

Goals for Spring Break:
*Read a Neil Stephenson book
*Relax
*Relax
*Relax
*Anxiously wait for Harry Potter VI
*Relax
*Blog
*Relax

Now that is a goal list I can handle.

2005-03-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

Our Rita Skeeter

It's finals week, and I still haven't sent off my Harry Potter article. It is nearly done, I just never seem to find a second to put the finishing touches on it! Agh! Now my tonsills have swollen up once again!

While reading the fourth book, I payed careful attention to Rita Skeeter. She is there as a foil to the truth. (See my about.com article once it is written). People read what she says without any way to check her facts. Her articles are biased, but how many people recognize that that have not had the misfortune of being interviewed by her? So where am I going with this?

I thought I would throw out a post about the news. I was reading the New York Times this morning and they had a lengthy article on video news. I've been hesitant to get any of my news from the television as I always felt it to have a certain bias that the written paper never incorporated. I'll watch the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but only after I read at least the New York Times. The article this morning confirmed my suspisions that the media was controlled in a large part by the government in the sense that money exchanges hands and the news is then given certain slants, it also explained how this was done.

Apparently what happens only sometimes involves money changing hands. However, the larger key is that the government is producing the actual news segments, keeping down broadcasting costs for the actual media. Now I understand why the news so rarely reported on the troubles accompanying the Bush Administration (and the Clinton one as well). It was because the Administration was creating the clips with no regard to the criticisms on controversial subjects.

If one reads the whole article, including pages 5 and 6, they will see how such segments were used to affect how people thought about the war in Iraq post 911.

When the American people don't know who is feeding them information, we leave ourselves open for manipulation (can you say brainwashed?). We deserve to know the sources of news stories and this is a necessity in becoming well-informed voters. When we are denied the right to know these things, our democratic process is reduced to that of a joke. For how can one have a fair election if a good portion of the population is being fed propaganda mocked up as news stories.

I am reminded of the pamphlets sent to many American's that said that if Kerry was elected he would ban the Bible. Kerry is Catholic; he is not about to ban the Bible. Yet people believed the pamphlets because they didn't pay attention to the source or ask themselves why they would receive such pamphlets. Imparticular, much of the less educated folk in our country were targeted by these pamphlets because those whom made it knew that the people wouldn't ask enough questions.

That too makes a mockery of our election. I think that the news and the government are not the only ones at fault in this game. We need to learn to check where we are getting our information, and we need to be granted the right to know where all information is coming from. I personally try to read the New York Times, glance through the Economist, watch the BBC world news, and learn from Jon Stewart's the Daily Show (That man is a genius). This means that I notice when something is missing when I happen to glance at the local news. Getting informed takes time, but it does mean that I'm harder to manipulate and I can vote on the facts.

FYI, the article also discussed how there were payoffs involved to some who wrote commentaries in favor of the Bush Administration policies.

Rita Skeeter, as a foil of truth, is in our media. If we get our news from a single source, we will rarely find the whole truth. If we don't pay attention to the sources, we rarely see the whole picture.

Seek truth, but know your sources. It is a lesson found in the fourth Harry Potter book and it is this same lesson that the New York Times presents us with today.

2005-03-11T15:22:00.000-08:00

I took down the forum. It will be back up again soon, but not on phpbb2. It is not secure enough.

I just saw the new Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy trailer. Wahoo. It looks absolutely awesome!!!! That has to be the most creative preview I have seen yet.

2005-03-09T06:49:00.000-08:00

New Book Covers

The new covers for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince were released yesterday. I'm shocked that we are so close to getting our final installment of the book! If you want to see the covers, they have them over at Mugglenet.

I think that some of the covers are revealing. Clearly, since all three covers seem to center on a potion looking substance, or a potion book, potions are going to be important to the general theme of the book. The adult UK cover shows a tattered book called "Advanced Potions Making". Does this mean that Harry will be spending a lot of time in Snape's advanced potions class? The United States cover has Dumbledore and Harry surrounded by what looks to me like a potion (with fire in the UK edition). Is Dumbledore helping Harry with potions? What are they up to? I am still convinced this all ties into Godric Gryffindor somehow, don't ask me how.

I also want to know what the pedestal is that Dumbledore and Harry are in back of in the US cover. Is that actually a potion coming out of it, or something else? Why a pedestal?

2005-03-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

Eccentricities

There is a black spider outside my house. I know this statement comes out of nowhere, but it's a little worrisome when you consider that it has an hour glass on its back. Now I realize that if it were a widow it would be a red hour glass, so I shouldn't worry about it. But what kind of a black spider has a white hourglass complete with two triangles at the bottom? It is somewhat disconcerting.

Speaking of worries, Peter seems to think I'm a bit eccentric in how much I worry about things. He is trying to convince me to create a list of all my worries and agree to cut it down in half. I suppose my fear of dirty napkins should be the first to go. I've been dealing with that one better since I decided to become a janitor. Still, I'll take a cloth napkin every day and I still don't see the point in using a napkin and wasting the paper. You can use the napkin, just don't let me see it? Okay, okay... definitely gotta get rid of the napkin phobia. Perhaps my fear of vacuum cleaners is unnecessary as well. *sigh* Maybe Peter is right. I'm going to drive myself crazy with all these eccentricities.

Moving on... It's been a crazy March, and it's only just started! Peter just got hired full time at the UO library and my life is slowly starting to come together. It sounds like I will be able now go to graduate school at a drastically reduced rate! It's amazing how much school one has to pay for to become a teacher and then only receive a terribly low salary. Still, I would rather do a job that payed a minimal amount that helped the maximum amount of people than a job that payed a maximum amount and helped a minimum amount of people. Did that make any sense?

My about.com article will go out to my editor today, so if your tired of the dry spell of no posts, one is short coming. I'm hoping spring break will give me more time to write!

I've decided that I update this blog out of selfishness. There is just something about writing down the thoughts in my head on a blog as opposed to a journal. I realize the only difference is that anyone may read it. It's nice to know that I have little to hide because I put it all up here. I'll probably start puting my thoughts up here on a daily basis now. Don't worry, I'll put a link at the top to the latest articles so you don't have to wade through my messy thoughts to get the HP stuff. That is part of why I am so anxious to get a new site up. Alas, if only I had more time.

Let's see, what else happened this week? Oh yes, Peter bought me some furniture. I can finally watch tv while lying on a couch as opposed to a coffee table. It's an amazing difference. I also bought pot holders today... It's amazing how long I have gone without owning a decent pair of pot holders.

2005-03-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

UPDATES

Hey all! Bet you thought I disappeared for good? It's getting near exam time and my classes are more challenging every term. I am loving mathematics as much as I love tutoring it. One of my tutoring groups likes Harry Potter and we had a discussion on Sirius while everyone was doing their math homework.

The site is starting to change over time. I'm thinking of moving away from blogger everything but a blog where I put my thoughts. I want to create a website where my articles are indexed and the forum and blog are linked. Peter said he would help me, but he just got a job at the University of Oregon library (Congratulations to Peter!). He will be busy and I don't know how much of a page I can get set up. This may be more of a long term project than I would like.

I don't have the time to do too many articles; I think that much is clear. But I do want to update. I have decided to set an update deadline, promising that a new article will come out at least once every two months. I plan to update my blog daily with random stuff.

If you have any articles you would like to fill up the void with, contact me and let me know!

2005-02-26T07:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately. It's beeen super busy. If anyone is still out there, my next about.com article should be out soon.

2005-01-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

Illusions in Book Four

I am in the midst of reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire once more. I'm at the Quidditch World Cup, perhaps the first Quidditch scene within the Harry Potter universe that I enjoyed. There is a lot of meat in the chapters devoted to the cup. Here we see Fudge's laughable attempts at foreign relations, Crouch's sneering attitude, and Winky's plight as a house-elf. We are also warned about the illusions that will follow us throughout this book.

Two of these illusions come in the form of magical creatures.

The veelas illusion is obvious; they dance and men are enchanted by their beauty. A man would do anything for a Veela when taken under her charm. However, if one makes a veela angry, beware. Her beauty will fade and he will see a ghastly image of what lies within.

Instead of dancing, they launched themselves across the field and began throwing what seemed to be handuls of fire at the leprechauns. Watching through his Omnioculars, Harry saw they they didn't look remotely beautiful now. On the contrary, their faces were elongating into sharp, cruel-beaked bird heads, and long, scaly wings were bursting from their shoulders--
Page 111

Leprechauns are creatures of illusion in what they promise. Fools Gold, Leprechauns Gold, is only an illusion that quickly passes away. As a mascot for Bulgaria, leprechauns offer money to appease the crowd, but where has the money gone when the game is over?

The illusions brought forth from the leprechauns and the veela open the ground to the mysterious incidents within Book Four. Is anyone as they appear? Who can Harry trust when so many things around him are based in illusion?

(The rest of this is based on memory from reading the book a while ago. It is not as fresh in my mind as the above.)

In the second and third tasks, Harry must face illusions in battle.

In the second task, Harry must race past some mermaids in order to save his friends trapped at the bottom of the lake. Will they die if he doesn't make it there on time? Or are his friends simply trapped within a different illusion?

The meraids that Harry must fight look nothing like the enchanted picture he had seen earlier in the Prefect's bathroom.

The merpeople had grayish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They leered at Harry as he swam past; one or two of them emerged from their caves to watch him better, their powerful, silver fish tails beating the water, spears cluched in their hands.
Page 497-498 US ed.

At the end of the the second task, Harry has failed and succeeded at the same time. He did not manage to fight the illusions long enough to save both of his friends, but they were never in any real danger. Ron and Hermione awake from the enchanted sleep. Harry has technicaly lost the second task but has gained points for valor.

In the Third Task, Harry must fight illusions both great and small. While many illusions exist within this third task, I would like to center on the most drastic. First, Harry watches when Krum attacks one of the other champions. Does this follow with what Harry knows of Krum? How much does Harry actually know of the Bulgarian Quidditch player? Harry races to help Cedric, wondering if something more is happening within this third task. Harry knows someone is out to kill him, but what motives lie in Krum attacking Cedric? Could the two be connected somehow?

Harry continues through the maze, facing challenge after challenge, until faced once more with Cedric. The two of them race toward the one thing Harry has dreamed of the entire book. The Triwizard Cup lies at the center of the maze, just waiting for Harry to touch it. Both Harry and Cedric put their hands on the cup, not realizing that the cup was the greatest illusion of all.

"Instantly, Harry felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel. His feet had left the ground. He could not unclench the hand holding the Triwizard Cup; it was pulling him onward in a howl of wind and swirling color, Cedric at his side."
Page 635

The cup was a Portkey. More than a transportation device, a portkey is based in illusion. It looks like an old tire, a bit of rubbage, or a championship cup. The illusion is used to keep muggles away from suspecting what the object really is, but now it has fooled two young wizards. Harry and Cedric are swept away to a graveyard, where everything becomes real. Illusions are shattered as Cedric is killed and Harry watches Voldemort rise to power.

Worth noting, it is the shadows and illusions of people past that help Harry, not defeat, but escape the dark villain.

Illusion after illusion continues to break open and reveal the truth when Harry returns to Hogwarts. His trusted teacher turns out to be another person, the son of Crouch and the fiend behind the Triwizard Cup machination. It was he that had enchanted Krum into attacking Cedric. We also see the Minister of Magic show his true colors as he refuses to believe in Harry's tale.

To Fudge, Harry must still be trapped in a world of illusion. Even as Snape reveals his Death Eater mark, Fudge refuses to budge. He would rather stay in fantasy than become disillusioned.

Fudge stepped back from Snape too. He was shaking his head. He did not seem to have taken in a word Snape had said. He stared, apparently repelled by the ugly mark on Snape's arm, then looked up at Dumbledore and whispered, "I don't know what you and your staff are playing at , Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. I have no more to add. I will be in touch with you tomorrow, Dumbledore, to discuss the running of this school."
Page 710

And Fudge himself is an illusion proved false. He is not a high magistrate capable of handling affairs of state, as we have grown to expect he is a bumbling fool and a coward. Only now, he is becoming the enemy.

The Fourth Harry Potter Book is not the only book of the series based in illusions, but it is the first book where illusions are shattered, not only for Harry, but for all the wizards. Many choose to remain ignorant. Still, many wake up to the horrors that they will have to face in the coming books.

Other interesting Questions and Articles:

Why are veela and leprechauns treated differently by the magic community than other magical creatures? After seeing what the veela turned into, I'm sure they would fall under the prejudice Ministry of Magic's definition of a creature. Yet a veela is allowed to attend school as a witch. Is it because she is only a half-blood veela? Why the differential treatment? How can this affect the entire picture?

If you want to hear more about breaking illusions and how they affect individual characters, read Reconciling Percy

2005-01-25T14:06:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday, Mackenzie!

Last Sunday, J. K. Rowling gave birth to her third child, Mackenzie Murray. Congratulations!

2005-01-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

Acute Tonsillitis

As if I wasn't busy enough before, I now have acute tonsillitis during midterm week. Everyone say "Joy!" My teachers have been kind and some are allowing me to take exams next week instead. Oh well. For all the money I have lost with sick days it will be a miracle if I can pay rent. At least Anonymouse/Peter has been kind enough to take care of me.

It's on days like this that I need to curl up with a nice book and ignore the outside world.

2005-01-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

Firefly

Today I am getting some friends together to watch Firefly. For those who have never heard of this obscure show, know that you are not alone. It was taken off the air some years ago. You may now be asking yourself, "Why are you getting anyone together to watch a show that didn't even last a full season?" Good question.

First of all, Firefly didn't last a season because of Fox. Fox executives were clueless to the gem held under their sleeves. They moved around the time slot and thus murdered the show before it ever had the chance to catch a geeks eyes. Yet, some loyal geeks still managed to catch a glimpse of the show, and what they saw thrilled them. One geek showed it to another geek, who showed it to another geek, and so on and so forth. Much like the original Star Trek, Firefly became a hit only after the show had been taken off the air. When Firefly reached DVD it sold in record amounts.

Why do you care? Well, it's not a far stretch to assume that a large population of this blogs minimal viewership is composed of geeks. It's not a name to feel degraded by, but a name to raise proudly. Therefore, seeing as how you are very likely a geek, and into geek culture, you should know that Firefly has become an intricate part of the science fiction geek paradigm. You should watch this show. Don't miss out just because some brainless git at Fox cancelled the show. Go buy the DVD and show it to your friends. Most importantly, mark your calendar for the Firefly release date, coming later this year!

That is right. Geek culture has finally got it passed a few hard skulls that Firefly is a good show with a decent following. They won't bring back the television show, but at least we get a movie!

Two other cancelled shows to buy on DVD:
Invader Zim
Family Guy (Yes, they are now making new episodes)

2005-01-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

Lost and Intuition

Last night on Lost they did a fantastic fake death of one of the characters. I caught that something wasn't right early, and when they did the death I told my boyfriend that if they really did kill her it would be a bad literary move. I was so proud of my thinking when it turned out that she did not die at all. At any rate, this has rekindled my spirit into analyzing things. As many of you may have noticed, I have been in a bit of a dry period. If I can find time during this three day weekend, I will try to post up something about the Harry Potter books!

For those of you that want to know my view of the Pensieve, I agree that it is objective once someone is inside of it. The real question is what are the limits of what the Pensieve sees? Is it a clue to why Dumbledore always seems out of time?

For those of you that have not watched Lost, you have no idea what you are missing. There are many questions to consider and much to guess about!

2005-01-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

Many of the emails I have recieved have asked me about the Pensieve. Is it biased? Is it subjective or Objective? How much can we trust the events taht we see in the pensieve?

I was thinking this would be a great question to discuss in comments or on the message board. I have my own ideas, but I want to hear yours!

2005-01-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Book Review: Speak

My sister convinced me to read a young adult book called Speak. It was a short read with a transparent plot, but it was a well told story with true characters. I have to say that I was impressed enough to rush to Amazon and order the other two books by Laurie Halse Anderson. My goal in life is to write about characters that are as realistic. There is nothing like a good book where the main character is as a good friend.

I also appreciated that the book wasn't sappy. The book deals with teen issues that are always treated with a touch of unreality. I'm happy to say that Speak does no such thing. It recognizes the seriousness of its message, but allows the reader to understand that seriousness slowly as we grow to understand the psyche of the girl affected.

I really don't have that much more to say about the book, guess you will just have to read it for yourselves! It's a good read while we all wait for HP6!

2004-12-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

As my winter vacation slowly comes to a hault, I find that I didn't do nearly enough posting! I still have write some scholarship essays, read Book IV for the five hundredth time, and somehow find time to write about Snape, etc. I have a hard time getting around to answering my emails as well. For this reason, I was thinking that I might start posting up some questions that I recieve and letting everyone here have a crack at them. I just need to get permission from the authors. If you have a question you are yearning to have discussed here, just send it in!

For those who didn't notice, my third about.com Harry Potter review has been up for a week.

Other than that, not much to say. Anonymouse just got back from Hawaii so I'm happy. He has a bit of a cold though.

Anyone have any big New Years plans?

2004-12-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

Remembrance and prayers for the victims of the Tsunami and earthquake. death toll up to 50,000 now.

2004-12-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Jesus and .....

One of my dear friends and loyal reader of the blog went into labor yesterday (Christmas Eve)! I don't know if the baby was born yesterday or today, but Happy Birthday to her!!!!!!!!! I don't even know the name yet, lol.

Edit: That would be Happy Birthday Moira! She was born on December 25th in the early morning!

2004-12-24T21:49:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHISTMAS and GOD BLESS!

2004-12-21T09:27:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter Stuff

My latest About.com article is up! It's a review /analysis of the third Harry Potter book .

And for those who have not heard, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will be released on July 16, 2005.

2004-12-18T01:01:00.000-08:00

I sent my latest About.com article off a couple of days ago. It still hasn't gone up on the site, but I will let you all know when it does! Meanwhile, I will be returning from Hawaii this coming Tuesday. It has ben a great vacation, but I think I am ready to go home and see my family. I will start posting again when I get back!

2004-12-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hawaii Once More

Well Anonymouse and I are heading off to Hawaii once more on a surprise and completely spontaneous trip. I will still write my about.com article tonight, so keep a look out for that.

2004-12-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Finals!!!!

Hey, if you can't tell by the silence, it's finals time again. Tomorrow I will be finished and Anonymouse has made me promise that I will finish my about.com article for the third Harry Potter book. Until then, you can always have Harry Potter conversations on the forums!

Also, mugglenet has started an editorial message board for people to talk about specific editorials. Three of my articles, Reconciling Percy, The Sorting Hat's Ideology, and The Bright Side of Life, all have their own conversation thread. Feel free to go there and talk about my articles and maybe intice people to come back here and get lost in the vast array of articles! (Okay, now I'm being selfish).

I will be posting more on Snape and why he was NOT in the circle of Death Eaters as things begin to calm down. If you want to see any particular topics discussed, let me know in the comments section!

2004-12-01T21:47:00.000-08:00

LOST

Among one of the only shows worth watching right now is a show called LOST. It's amazing in plot, character development, and suspense. The basic idea is that a plane crashes and the survivors end up on a mysterious island where things are not as they should be and changes are made within each person. However, they are not alone and there is more to the island than meets the eye. Where are they and how are the mysterious events goign to unfold? It's another one of those shows that will keep you guessing.

Each story focuses on the life of one of the survivors, who they were and who they are. Through flashbacks the audience learns about each character, but the rest of the island inhabitants do not. There's the pregnant lady, the one running from the feds, the korean couple with the wife trying to escape the husband, the drug addict, and the con artist among others.

Lost can't really be described, it has to be watched. I highly suggest watching this piece of literature. Study up on what you've missed and watch the next episode. You won't regret it.

If you would like to learn more about Lost, here are some links:
USA Today Article
Main Site

2004-11-30T13:48:00.000-08:00

In the News

I read the New York Times every morning. I find that it's helpful to be informed and to know what is happening before the story disappears from people's minds. Most interesting right now is what is happening in the Ukraine with elections. I love that they are finally refusing to stand for stuffed ballots and other corrupt politics. I also love that the media went on strike and some that still aired refused to show the current regime's bias. They bypassed censors and showed the protestors. That is awesome. Check out the NY Times for more.

However, the most distrubing article I read today was on the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Apparently speaking out against the president now takes away an organizations right to tax-exempt status. Now that is not cool and could have MAJOR lasting effects. That, in my opinion, is the first step to an oligarchy or dictatorship.

The lesson being, read the news. Some of it might inspire you and some of it may anger you, but all of it will educate you.

2004-11-23T13:15:00.000-08:00

Why Snape is NOT Loyal to Voldemort
OR a DIRECT Spy
Reviewing Evidence from the First Book

For those of you that missed the introduction to this section, be sure to check it out below before reading this article. The general idea this week is to debunk the theory that Snape is a "loyal" death eater to Voldemort and that Snape was in the circle shown in Book Four. These posts are in response to the many comments I have received regarding my original article, "What is Snape Doing for the Order of the Phoenix". You should read that article before continuing.

In my article on Snape and his role for the Order, I said that Rowling has led us to believe that Snape is acting as a double or triple agent either for or against the Order. I believed, and I still believe, that Rowling has made Snape one of the most interesting engimas in the books because the evidence does not add up in the direction she would like us to think, nor in most directions that we can comprehend. Is it possible that Snape is directly spying on the Death Eaters for the Order? The evidence points otherwise, as I believe that Snape was the person Voldemort referred to as the one who has left forever and I do not believe that Voldemort would take such a promise of killing Snape lightly.

However, many people have asked me whether or not the evidence can be read in different ways. Maybe Snape was not the object of Voldemort's threat, but an agent that Voldemort believes to be working on his side. Let's go back to Book One and see why this theory is highly unlikely.

As we have all read, Snape protected Harry in Book One against Quirrell. It is not clear whether or not Snape knew that Voldemort was on Quirrell's head, only that Snape knew that Quirrell was after the stone. However, it is clear that Voldemort knew about Snape's actions in Book One. For whatever reason Snape had for his actions, it makes little sense if he is working for Voldemort to try and stop Voldemort from getting the very object that would again make this Dark Lord rise. There are only so many reasons that Snape would have taken such action and there are less responses that Voldemort would have to such treachery. Yes, I mean that it is definitely treachery as Voldemort has nothing to be served by losing his path to the Philosopher's Stone.

The expected interjection here is that Snape may not have known that Voldemort was on Quirrell's head and thought he was only acting against Quirrell. There are a number of replies to this statement, here are the top two:

First, the Dark Mark shown on Snape's arm in Book Four would probably have been a good indicator that Voldemort was near him whenever he was near Quirrell. It seems to be that this marker would be a guide to letting Snape know about Voldemort's whereabouts. Still, this is only speculation and hardly proof that Snape knew about Voldemort. It does, however, lead me to conclude that Snape suspected.

Why not tell the Headmaster then? There is evidence in the books that Dumbledore did know about Quirrell and Voldemort and was giving Harry a chance to face Voldemort on his own.

"Do you think he meant you to do it?" said Ron. "Sending you your father's cloak and everything?"
"Well," Hermione exploded, "if he did - I mean to say -that's terrible - you could have been killed."
"No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me the chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how that Mirror worked. It's amost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could..."
Book One, 218-219, UK edition

Therefore, even if Snape's mark didn't give Voldemort away, Dumbledore still had a good idea and would probably have elicited some of the teachers' help, especially Snape, as Dumbledore has made it clear that he believes in Snape's loyalty. Isn't it interesting how much effort Snape put into trying to stop Quirrell, and how covertly it was handled. Amost as if Snape and Dumbledore had been watching the entire situation closely.

If this is the case, you might argue that it was then beneficial for Snape to help stop Quirrell and Snape would never be able to help Voldemort in order to keep his cover. However, where would Voldemort's priorities lie and how would he see such prudence? Which brings us to point number two.

Second, it does not truly matter whether or not Snape knew about Voldemort for it to be treachery in Voldemort's eyes. Remember the temperment of the Dark Lord. He is quick to anger and nearly, if not completely, vacant of mercy. He does not seem to me the type to say "You made a mistake, I forgive you" and rather the type to make an example out of anyone who stopped him from coming to power, for whatever reason. Yes, he does offer some consolation to his circle of death eaters for not coming to find him, but this is a far cry from actually trying to stop him from rising to power. Not to mention how forgiveness in the way he gave it to his circle was in a form of power over the death eaters. He appears merciful while treating them horribly.

In considering Snape in the first book, pay attention carefully to the words that Snape uses in Book One, especially when talking to Quirrell.

"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat when you've had time to think things over and decide where your loyalties lie."
Book One, 166, UK Edition

In some ways it sounds as if Snape is asking the reader where we think his own loyalties lie. At this point in the book we may be thinking that Snape is the bully forcing Quirrell to help him get to the stone, a fact Quirrell denies later when talking to Harry. If we believe Snape is waiting for Voldemort to return, or planning to return to Voldemort when he shows himself again, why would Snape ask this question to Quirrell. Does it have to do with loyalties to Dumbledore, or is Snape trying to hint at understanding exactly for whom Quirrell is working. If Voldemort trusts Snape, here they are in the Dark Forest having this conversation, why not reveal himself and enlist help? If he does not fully trust Snape, why let him back in the circle as a spy? To use him? Maybe, but would Snape fall for this with his calculating mind? Snape knows Voldemort well enough to know what would happen if he stopped him, for any reason, and then tried to come back into the circle. It would eventually mean death.

Maybe that is why Snape shivered at what he had to do? But then why believe that any information he recieved from Voldemort would be correct? There is some deep game theory happening in book one with Snape's actions, and I think his calculating mind can figure out what is going on enough to know how returning to Voldemort would be very dangerous. I will examine this more in the Book Four evidence post.

In conclusion, I claim that Book One leaves little room for Snape to not know about Quirrell and Voldemort's alliance. I also claim that Snape's actions in Book One make it nearly impossible for him to spy directly on Voldemort.

2004-11-20T04:07:00.000-08:00

Severus Snape and the Death Eater Theory

One of the first posts for this site was one on Severus Snape and what he was doing for the Order of the Pheonix. Of course I wrote this post after only one read through of the fifth book, but I still stand by most of what was said in the post. However, I have recieved numerous comments on the suggestion that my hypothesis may be incorrect on to whom Voldermort was referring in the fourth book when he addressed the circle of Death Eaters. Some point to Rowling's vagueness in Voldemort's statement as a strong possibility that Snape was there and "loyal" to Voldemort.

(Quote to be inserted here when I unpack my books)

Let me just say that I did cover that base in saying I was only 87% sure that Voldemort was referring to Snape as the one who left forever, so I did allow that Rowling had made it vague and that we may not know the true identities yet. However, I still stand by my original hypothesis at 87% as I will show evidence of throughout the week. I could always be wrong, of course, but I stand by that Snape is NOT a "loyal" Death Eater. If he was in the circle, it was as a spy. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if Snape is a "loyal" Death Eater than Rowling is going to have to do a lot of work to cover all of her bases and the story will lose believability in my eyes if she fails to do so. Perhaps this is a bit egotistical of me, but I still stand by what I have just said.

This is not to say that Snape was not in the circle as a spy, though I put that possibility at a measley 35% as I believe that evidence points the other direction.

That being said, I must go unpack my house and rescue my Harry Potter books. Keep checking the site this week as I will do a number of short posts debunking the "loyal" Death Eater theory.

Can't Wait? Visit the forums to discuss your own ideas.

2004-11-15T06:49:00.000-08:00

New Apartment, New Posts

Hey Everyone! The good news is that I have now moved into my new apartment! It is a beautiful place and it comes with free ethernet! That means that I am back online, and likely to post more often.

For people who only check the site occasionally, be sure to check the side bar to make sure that you haven't missed any big posts! I recently wrote a post on Lily's eyes and a short blurb on Lupin and mental illness.

Once again, I apologize for the horrendous grammar and spelling mistakes. I can never sit still long enough to fix them. Anyone want to help edit the site?

2004-11-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

Remus Lupin and Mental Illness

Quick thoughts:

After reading the third book once again, I have come to believe that Lupin and his werewolf tendencies are a statement about mental illness. I've come to this conclusion after weighing the different ways society treats him. Afraid that he might lose control or miss his medication (potion), society backs down from offering him jobs or interacting with him in any way. Instead, Lupin is treated as a second-class citizen that no one knows how to deal with. In order to keep his mental faculties, Lupin must take a potion that's medicinal value keeps him from losing all control. This parrallels well to someone who does suffer from mental illness having to rely on medication to keep them "normal" and alert to the social world.

Note: In the comments, Sarah mentioned the stigma from mental illness and that is exactly where I wanted to go with this. Way to go folks. Don't forget to visit the forum as well to talk about your own Harry Potter theories!

2004-11-05T15:50:00.000-08:00

Three Chapters in Harry Potter

For those of you that haven't noticed yet, JK Rowling's door opened once again on her site. The title of three chapters were given away. Any ideas as to what they mean? Sounds like a great topic for the forum!

2004-11-05T09:40:00.000-08:00

Wisdom

I finally wrote Lily's post, so look down a bit to find it.

In light of the election results, I thought now would be a good time to post this prayer again. Maybe if we each take it to heart we can help make this world a little brighter. It is easy to get lost in despair with so much wrong in the world, but we have to remember not to depend on our leaders to change everything. We have to do our part to change things. The wisdom that St. Francis offers us is the reason and faith needed to look beyond the darkest parts of the world to the parts that are good. And that good comes when we help each other out and refuse to let all the evil bring us down. I have a hard time taking this to heart myself, but may this prayer remind me that I must.

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hate that I may bring love,
Where there is offence that I may bring pardon,
Where there is discord that I may bring union,
Where there is error that I may bring truth,
Where there is doubt that I may bring faith,
Where there is despair that I may bring hope,
Where there is darkness that I may bring light,
Where there is sadness that I may bring joy.

O Master, make me not so much to be consoled as to console;
not so much to be loved as to love;
not so much to be understood as to understand;
for it is in giving that one receives;
it is in self-forgetfulness that one finds;
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned;
it is in dying that one finds eternal life."

-St. Francis of Assisi.

2004-11-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

(Lily Post below this one)

Voting in America

Today is the day to vote! Go out there are keep in mind the issues. Remember, you are not just voting in a president, you are voting in an entire administration.

My thoughts on voting:

1.) I agree with Jon Stewart; I don't want the president to be someone I can have a beer with. I don't want the president to be a common man. I want the president to be better than the average American in his intelligence and decision making abilities. I want someone who can run this country and handle the burden well.

2.) The last few masses I have attended have mentioned that neither candidate actually takes on a pro-life position. On one side there is one for death penalty and not helping the poor while the other is for abortion. There is no way to win in this election on this count. Therefore, vote your conscious weighing everything together including social justice and all life issues. Then take what you believe beyond the ballot box by standing up for what you believe in through movements and actions. Don't just depend on the politicians to fix everything.

3.) Download Jon Stewart interviews from C-SPAN and Cross Fire. They are available on the websites owned by C-SPAN and Cross Fire. He's more than just a funny man. He is knowledgable on the issues with a cynical but accurate view of how things are now a days. DL them and you may just learn something about this election. Afterall, it's not as if the debates taught us anything.

2004-10-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

What Lies Behind the Eyes

In reviewing the latest Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I decided that the movie was not as unfaithful to the spirit of the books as I once believed. Sure, Cuaron definitely does not share my particular outlook on what is the spirit of Book Three, but now I can see his point of view. More than this, I believe that Cuaron hinted at the answer to what lies behind Harry having his mother's eyes. I talked about this a little bit earlier, but I think I would like to rebegin this discussion with a clearer idea of what is important.

First of all, I do not believe that the color of Harry's eyes are as important as the soul that lies behind them. The concept that eyes can be a window to the soul is not one unfamiliar to literature or the real world. There are people who's eyes exude the peace of the soul within them while others' eyes may exude the darkness consuming them. Those that carry the eyes of the prior usually give off some sense of love and hope. Love and hope transcend all hate and despair. In a world consumed with fear, love and hope are precious commodities.

So what does all of this have to do with Lily? Cuaron's Lupin gave Harry a speech about his mother, a speech that made many believe that maybe Lupin had feelings for Lily. However, I disagree that this is what Cuaron was getting at. Rather, I believe that Cuaron was revealing the secret of Lily's eyes. Lupin points out that Lily always had the ability to see the good in people, even if they couldn't see it themselves. He talks of her highly as someone he looked up to and someone who did good. It is easy to interpret all of this as feelings for Lily, but maybe it is simply an observation of the joy that Lily brought in her path. For all the dark that any of them had to face, Lily was there with her loving eyes to bring that hope and joy that so many needed.

We see evidence of this version of Lily within the Harry Potter books. I don't have them infront of me, so I will be working this part by memory. Book Three was a book about despair and pain. The pain that Harry had to live with haunted him through the guise of the dementors, threatning to destroy him with his own despair. And all the while, everyone is there to tell Harry that he has his mothers eyes. Each time their tone suggests reverence and joy. She has touched each of their hearts and remembrances of her are found through Harry's eyes. Even as they remind Harry of her eyes, they are bringing a sense of love to Harry who has been forever touched by her sacrifice.

In Book Five, we see Lily show off this same love through Snape's memories. She defends Snape against her future husband, perhaps recognizing a good in Snape that Snape never recognized in himself. From this part, many have surmized that Snape may have been in love with Lily, but I wonder if it just comes back to the same reasoning I have with Lupin. Such love lies behind her eyes, revealing the pure love of her soul. She recognizes that Snape may not be the nicest character, but she still will defend him for humanities sake. (Kind reminds me of Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners.) Perhaps part of what bothers Snape so much about Harry is that love that shines through his eyes, as they did through hers. For how could a man with so much hate bear to face such love?

For Lily sacrificed herself for Harry.

When people look into Harry's eyes they see the amazing love that was left there by his mother. Where before she had offered so much good to others, now she has offered her very life. Her sacrifice was that of a sacrificial love that saved not only Harry, but brought in the hope that would defeat the darkness. Voldemort was stripped of his power and wizard kind was freed from the bonds of terror that held them prisoner for so many years. Sure the battle wasn't completely won, and many knew that Voldemort would return and his followers would rise up once more, but there was hope. And this new hope was in the form of a baby boy. The boy who lived though faced with an incarnation of evil.

So Harry grows up forever touched by this amazing love. He carries her eyes so that each time someone looks at him, they too can feel the love that Lily had passed on to so many. And Harry himself must now show his own love to the world by fighting against Voldemort. As Jesus prayed in Gethsemene not to have to face the cross and the burden that would come with it, so does Harry wish he were as any other boy without a heavy burden. But as Jesus accepted his cross, so Harry accepts his and four times thus far defeats Voldemort. Each defeat is more hope left to a world forever threatened with despair.

Now many of you may ask, so what? We could have surmized much of this without having to resort to Lily's eyes. Why are they eyes important? Again, I say the eyes are only as important as they are a window to the soul. But the consequences to the book are enormous.

The carrying on of Lily's eyes into that of Harry's is a reminder to all that love will never truly die. It is passed through each generation to the next and that love will be the savior to all. In Book Three the path is set for the love to transcend all the darkness through one man that is lost in the darkness, Peter Pettigrew.

In Book Three, Harry saves Pettigrew's life. Not for Pettigrew's sake. Unlike his mother, Harry does have some difficulties seeing the good in all. He is still a child growing to learn right and wrong. He does, however, still know love and he does know to share it. Although he saves Pettigrew for Lupin and Sirius' sake, Harry still saves the rat's life. Pettigrew, a powerful wizard (make no mistake), was in Harry's debt from that moment on. Dumbledore explains this a little bit in Book Three, but Harry has a hard time understanding it.

And Pettigrew rejoined Voldemort.

This means that Voldemort has in his ranks a man that has been saved by love, touched by love, and is in debt to Harry. Sure, Harry didn't think of saving Pettigrew as an act of love, but it did save Pettigrew and Pettigrew is touched by that. It is a form of love, even if the bearer cannot see that. Pettigrew is a servant to Voldemort, but now that love has touched him it will stew in his soul as a powerful potion, and Pettigrew will eventually be so touched by it that it will change him.

There is no way to truly know how this Pettigrew situation will play out. But I believe it is a large key to how the books will end. The stories began with the birth of hope and the promise of darkness. Lily Potter sacrified herself for the world and Harry was forever marked by this love. Harry was then called to bring this love out into the world, to be a warrior against the darkness. In saving Pettigrew, he was acting on that same sacrificial love that had marked him as a child. Where he had wanted vengence, he had sacrificed this vengence for his friends souls. And this sacrifice touched Pettigrew which will in turn lead Pettigrew to help finish the circle of sacrifice. Not that Harry's path is over, far from it. He will have to sacrifice much more as he stands as a light for all the people. But the key to victory was placed when he saved Pettigrew.

And Voldemort rose because of Pettigrew.

By saving Pettigrew, Harry provided the means necessary for Voldemort to rise again. But in saving Pettigrew, Harry also provided the means in which Voldemort could be destroyed. Harry blamed himself at the end of Book Three, believe he had done damage. But Dumbledore tells him that he did as he should. It's a hard concept to understand or accept, but it is the very concept that allows for hope.

Voldemort would have one day risen, with or without Pettigrew. He had the patience and all of eternity to figure out how to do it. But by rising through Pettigrew's hand, he signed his own death warrant. In the Ministry of Magic, Dumbledore told Voldemort that there were much worse thing than death. To never know love is the first thought that passed through my mind. Voldemort's weakness is that he does not know love, that he cannot be near it. Harry was protected by his mothers love, and his own love is now set to protect the world. And this same love now lies dormant in Pettigrew.

And all the while the mark of love shines through Harry's eyes as a beacon for all to see.

2004-10-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

New Political Corner

With the American election brewing and everyone out there with strong opinions and intellect, I've created a Politics Corner on the Forum known as The Ministry of Magic. Come and share your ideas.

If you are interested in a book discussion, I am trying to start one in the Literature discussion section. A couple people mentioned that they might enjoy one.

Lily's eyes post will be coming... really... really...

2004-10-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

And the Election Fraud continues

I was reading The Register Guard today and there was a story in there from the Associated Press about the recent groups trying to get young people signed up to vote. Apparently one of the groups was led by an association that allegedly destroyed "Democrat"registrations by shredding or other means. They also told many people that they could not register to vote unless they registered as a Republican.

So yeah, that pisses me off. Especially since the two states named in the article were Nevada and Oregon, both swing states. One is even my home state! Grrr.... BTW, last presidential election many ballots from "latinos" got thrown out (just like the whole Florida thing, I've give the links in last months archives to reputable papers that covered the stories). I mention this because I find it fishy that I, as a latino, recieved a letter saying my vote didn't count because my signature didn't match (a likely story).

As for the political debates, anyone else notice that the third debate was rather uninformative and badly debated from both sides? I almost felt it was a waste of my time watching it. I like how with the first debate Bush seemed caught off guard by almost every question as if he were completely uninformed. It sounds like he finally got updated somewhat, but he still lacked answers last night.

2004-10-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sooooo Busy!

Ack, things are crazy here. I need to write my third About.com article, write that Lily's eyes post, go to work and school. Right now I'm in work and school straight from 8 am to 6 p.m. and then I have about 2 hours of homework a night. Eeeeek! Oh well, I'm enjoying math and I am learning.

Sorry that I haven't posted anything new in a while. You can always come and discuss your own ideas on the Forum. I know a lot of you have some great ideas out there. Meanwhile, I'll get something up as soon as I can.

2004-10-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ack, another day and I still don't have the post I promised. Sorry. I will do my best to get it up, really!

For now: A New Literature Discussion Book Club is taking place on the forums! Come and check it out. This months book is Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlin.

2004-10-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

First of all, I do have today off and I will write the Harry's eyes post unless something happens that prevents me from being able to do so.

Second of all, GREAT NEWS! I finally got a job that I really want! This means I am now working two jobs with a total of 20 hours a week. This means I am no longer dirt poor! Wahoo! I'm excited. My janitor job is great, but I am now proud to say I have been hired by the University of Oregon as a Math tutor! Wahoo. Kinda scary though. They will have me leading six-people study groups for three different classes, helping in a math lab environment, and also individual tutoring. It is going to be a busy year for me! I guess I will find out how well I can teach math?

2004-09-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Note: Stops in middle because I have to catch train. To be finished tomorrow.

What Lies Behind the Eyes?

One of the most frequent questions people ask about the Harry Potter books is "What is up with Harry having Lily's eyes?" or some variation there of. The likeness between the two pairs of eyes is mentioned so often it's not surprising everyone wants to know the answer. I think, after re-watching the third Harry Potter film, that I now have a clear idea of what Rowling means. At least what I believe she means.

Perhaps some of you have read interviews where Rowling has mentioned that Cuaron (the movie's director) understood a lot of what she was trying to say in the books and a lot of what was to come in future books. Many prognosticators have immediately keyed in to Lupin's speech on the bridge where he talks to Harry about Lily. Most people, including myself originaly, believed that Cuaron might be talking about feelings Lupin may have had for Lily. After all, the speech almost makes it sound like he was in love with her. Today, I backtrack from this original idea. At the very least I say that that is not the true meat that was behind Lupin's story. Instead, I believe Cuaron was revealing the mystery behind Lily and Harry's eyes.

Maybe other have figured this out as well, though I have to say I have yet to read an article that will go into the depth on this subject that I am about to go to. Maybe Cuaron did not mean this speech the way I am about to present it, but I now believe there is importance in it. Either way, *deep breath*, here I go...

On preliminary conjectures of the Lily's eye mystery, I used to believe, and I still believe, that it has something to do with the self-sacrifice Lily presented. We know that this sacrifice was out of love, and this love protected Harry from Voldemort's fateful curse. We know that this love touched Harry and stayed with him and has always played a big part in who Harry has become. To be touched by love so great shound create great love in return. And thus the connection is born.

But I always believed, and I still believe, that there is something much deeper to this connection that involved the eyes. What else do these eyes hold? To explain this I have to delve not only into Lupin's speech on the bridge, but into a beauty found throughout our own world.

(Please bear through my theology, it is the best way I know to explain this) Throughout my life I have always believed that eyes are a doorway to the soul. It's a popular theme not only in my own stories but in novels written throughout the centuries. In each person's eyes I can see a reflection of the love of God, even when that person does not realize that they bear it. A reflection of love can be found in nearly every pair of eyes that I pass, a reflection of a beautiful and true soul. But only in a rare person, someone that may only be found once or twice in a life time, does this love resound so strong in someone's eyes that just to look into them one knows that they are safe and in the peace and love of God. These people exude an overwhelming feeling of Joy, Love, Hope, and Peace that one feels hugged by only looking into their eyes. In such rare people, also is found the gift of sight where they can see just as much good in everyone else as one can see in them.

I always assumed that Harry's eyes mirrored his sould in one way or another, that we could see Harry's mom and her sacrifice in his good eyes. I still believe this, but I believe that these eyes are even more telling. Lupin tells us in his speech how to make the further leap that is needed. I don't have direct quotes infront of me, but he talks about her overwhelming goodness. How she could see the good in someone else who could not see the good in themselves. How she always believed in people. Perhaps she was one of those rare people I was talking about, the kind you look at and can feel nothing but love and peace.

And this love and peace she passed on to Harry through her sacrifice. This ability to see the worth in others was passed on through a single incident of love. Harry looked like his father, an exceptional man, but from his mother he gained the great love onto his soul that made so many cling to her and perhaps admire her. (Compare with Snape and Lily in Book Five and Lupins speech about Lily in movie Three and other stories we have heard about her.) When someone looks into Harry's eyes they see a beauty in sould that reflects his mothers and brings a joy that one can hardly explain.

But wait, you may ask, why is this so important? We could have guessed this? Can't there be more to it? Oh yes. Oh yes. Lupin's speech emphasizes Lily's ability to see the good in others even when they can't see it in themselves. What if Harry also inherited this ability? Keeping this in mind, let's review Book Three and Harry's history. We may just find that this inheritance will complete the circle of self-sacrifice and love that will allow Harry to save the world and they joy and love that it so cherishes/ A joy and love that Voldemort would do anything to destroy.

((eeeek.. gotta catch a train. will finish tomorrow for sure. ))

2004-09-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

New About.com Article.

This one is on the Chamber of Secrets. I wrote it a while ago but I think I forgot to link you.

There are two new articles below this one. One deals with the Fountain of Magical Brethren and one is a list of articles to read regarding educating yourself about what is really going on with politics right now.

2004-09-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Fountain of Lies

The Fountain of Magical Brethren is a lie. It is easy for us, having experienced all of Harry's memories to recognize this and all. But what if we were not blessed with Harry's point of view? How would we see this fountain?

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Fountain of Magical Brethren represents one of the greatest lies in the Magical World. All of the creatures look up admiringly at the Wizard statue as if in awe of his magnificence and in awe of his protection. Yet, when we meet these creatures in real life, only those that seem almost brainwashed and put under spells really do look up to wizards like that. The house-elfs may see wizards as their protectors or what not, but yet house-elfs are enslaved by wizards. We have also seen hints that there reverence is brought about by some kind of enchantment. (Read my other article: Born a House-Elf; Born a Slave). On the other extreme are the Centaurs that truly abhor what Wizards stand for. Perhaps they represent a Native race that's lands were comandeered (stolen) by those with magical powers (wizards version of technology). The idea of centaur looking at a wizard in such reverence is dispicable! It just would not happen.

But do other wizards believe it will happen? Think about it. With Ron and Hagrid we see what being raised in a culture of slavery can do. You may buy into the bottom line of "They like slavery" because they were not there for the original enchantments. Raised into a certain way of thinking has a large bearing on how one sees the world. If one never saw a centaur, never talked with one that lives out in the dark forest (a reservation?), then one would not know that they do not like wizards. Especially if said person were to be told that they are admired by all the magical creatures. The Fountain of Magical Brethren tells us much of the politics happening in Harry Potter's world, and perhaps there is something that we could learn from it as well.

Here in America, there is a large population that seems to think that countries around us look up to us in the same way that people look up to the wizards in the fountain. Although 9/11 was a horrible tragedy that should be prevented and treated with respect, these people choose to ignore the causes of such attacks. The fact is that pushing our way around the world, especially on unilateral actions that are wrong in the first place, does not keep America safer. If anything, it makes us more vulnerable. For all the attacks we did in Iraq, we gave terrorist groups a heck of a lot of recruits. Why? Because people join those groups when they see nothing left to lose and they have been broked by too much violence and totalitarianism. Forget your passion on this issue for a moment and actually hear what I am saying. More and more people are stepping forward to say that Iraq never had anything to do with the terrorist group that attacked us, but yet we went there as a form of whatever guised in vengence and safety. Our president is as popular as he is because people look past the facts to the single headlines that says vengence is done and you are safe. (true he has lately admited we are not safe but has exploited this to get more votes despite the fact him in office makes us less safe in general because of fear). But I say that the circle of violence says only that vengence is not done till both are dead and we are a farther cry from safe than we were back before 9/11.

I think Harry Potter does an excellent show of how this plays out in the media. All of the headlines in Harry's world ignored the real issues to play on issues that would sell more papers. Only a paper designed to show propaganda managed to bring the truth to the people. The truth is that there is a lot of truth in the papers out there, but so much of it is being covered up by the politics of an election year. Bush leaps in the polls as people believe that he is saving our country, but I keep wishing someone would save us from him. The NY Times published many articles about what Bush has really done, and more and more books have come out. An interesting book from the right wing people called "Where the Right Went Wrong" even outlines this problem. I haven't read it yet. Only saw it on the Daily Show, but I know that the author supports Bush but not the war. I still don't understand how anyone supports Bush for he is bringing us away from a Democratic Republic into an Aristocracy where only the rich shall have enough to eat and an education to boot. Are we trapped in the fountain looking up at Bush as our savior, as a house-elf would, without realizing the realities of what is happening? Do we fail to notice what is being stolen behind out backs as we gaze so admiringly?

Quick Interruption:

Don't take my word for it! Check Out the Post below for places to do your own research! I will update it now and then.

Now back to the article:

I realize that Bush is one man and this goes far beyond one man. What I can't handle is the administration that comes with him and the lies that lay in their path. It is true that all presidents lie, but none has decieved as terribly as this one. And yet we buy it because we are filled with passion on subjects that he manipulates and exploits. Make no mistake, this coming election is not about Kerry vs. Bush. It is about the Democratic Republic vs. The Aristocracy. You may say privatiziation is good and limited government is good, but does limited government mean that it is okay to make only the wealthy well fed and educated while the peasants slave away? Because we are getting hella closer to that.

The Fountain of Magical Brethren teaches us that it is in one's point of view that a story is formed. To the reader, this fountain means a great lie that people are foolish enough to buy into. But to a character that has lived in this world, perhaps it means the passion of a false patriotism that leaves one above the others and the others lost in the wake to slavery, hunger, or the "dark forest" ( a place where civilized man would not enter).

A quick addition to what I was saying. I am not saying Patriotism is bad. Infact, I am a patriotic. I just don't like what the Religious Right (I'm of the Religious/Tolerant Left) has made patriotism over the last few years. Slowly they are making it a statement of intolerance and solidarity against an unforseen evil. But what evil is being done right now through this intolerance and this blind patriotism that has led us to do horrible things to too many people? I am patriotic but of the old school. I believe America is a place of Religious Freedom and growing tolerance. I am patriotic of a system that believes in free education for all and that everyone deserves to be fed. Maybe America never lived up to this ideal but now it is the farthest cry from it. And I am helpless to stop it. The Fountain lives on.

In other news, a world poll indicates that 30 out of 34 of the polled countries would vote for Kerry over Bush. Maybe they see something from a different point of view?

(my spell checker isn't working. No time to read this through. Sorry.)

2004-09-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

For those who didn't believe me on the blocking voters based on race thing, well I found some evidence for you as well as articles that are just as bad. Here are a few highlights: "What Really Happened in Florida" (this is from BBC news and they tend to give a fresh, non-american perspective. Keeps out the whole partisan thing, doesn't it?); FloridaGate (pays too much attention to ballots, but makes good points. Especially scroll to the last part about Ashcroft; "Use of the State Police to stop black drivers on their way to the polls Partisan-organized “citizen” riots" was apparently the explanation in this paper: What Happened in Flordia 2000. Again, more info is available in the New York Times archive, but you have to pay to get to it.

Other articles: How the GOP Gamed the System in Florida

Stealing the Election: Florida's Ugly Secret

Article at New York Times has a great quote: "Rand Beers, issued a scathing denunciation. 'Faced with the dire consequences of his wrong choices in Iraq, George W. Bush continues to mislead the American people and pose false choices rather than face the reality of his failed policies,' Mr. Beers said."

In general, read "The Economist" and its recent articles. It outlines things pretty well. Look through NY Times Archives and see what you get. Especially near last election. Those are about as unbiased sources as you can get to see the facts.

A more biased article, but well backed, is in Harper's called "Tentacles of Rage".

"For all the ambitious rhetoric, Mr Bush's agenda is self-contradictory. He pledged to restrain government spending, yet proposed a slew of new government programmes. He called for making the tax code simpler and fairer, yet he wants to make permanent the tax cuts which have dramatically complicated America's tax system. (In Mr Bush's first term the tax code has grown by 10,000 pages."
-The Economist "A boundless vision, alas" September 11, 2004 Page 29

2004-09-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

Discovering Snape

I was considering the question on why Snape is so mean to others. I mean to people that are not Harry. We know that he has this whole prejudice thing going on, but yet we also believe him to be working against Voldemort. I wonder where he draws the line and if such a line can actually be drawn. Does his own prejudice act as a poison that will forever be a debilitation to him? Just some thoughts.

2004-09-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hey all. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Kumoricon was this last weekend and I was literaly volunteering for 20 hours a day! The anime convention was an amazing success with 1251 attendees. 1200 was the maximum amount we had ever expected to recieve and we were only expecting around 800.

In other news, the election seems to be taking a turn for the worse with Bush 9 points ahead. I guess people want to move toward an aristocracy and enjoy being treated like peasants? *sigh* If only there were some way to make it clear just what Bush is doing to the lower and middle classes. I for one am not happy about the continuous fall of the middle class and the ever high poverty rate.

As for Bush's so called Christian values, don't they say that you are supposed to take care of your neighbor? That is to take care of them not just when they are working to your satisfaction but whenever the care is needed. (Let's not forget to mention just how hard it is to get a job right now. Or that our economy is specificaly set up to keep a certain number unemployed so as to have the workforce ready for low wage work when needed. Or the children that are at the mercy of their parents misfortunes or mistakes.)

I know some of you don't like me bashing Bush on this site, but the fact is that this is a blog so it really is meant to be used in this manner.

As for my next post... uhm... I'm sure one will be up... eventually.

2004-08-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hey all. I'm hard at work on my About.com article that should be done either today or tomorrow. There is so much I want to write about. Rowling brought up some questions in one of her last interviews that I really think need to be addressed. Why didn't Voldemort die, what precautions did he make? I think it has something to do with a potion that Snape knows how to make. He hinted at one in book one. I wouldnt' be surprised if such a potion required either unicorn blood or pheonix feathers. Also, Voldemort's inability to love may have been a requirement for such a potion.

Why didn't Dumbledore kill Voldemort at the Ministry of Magic? I thought this one was obvious, so there must be more to it than I thought. The prophecy is pretty clear that Harry has to be the one to kill Voldemort. Although, some interpretations could say it was just the power of love that was needed and now anyone could do it. I think that Voldemort was trying to get Dumbledore to try and kill him because whatever protection Voldemort took would protect him and maybe leave Dumbledore with less power? I think that Harry has the power to kill Voldemort because Harry has power that goes beyond conventional magic. I do not think "avaracadavra" could kill Voldemort. What do you all think?

2004-08-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

So I just got beyond the door on Jk's site to find the excerpt. For more advice on how to do this, check out mugglenet.com.

Want to know what I think?

For those who have read it, wow really sounds like a Gryffindor person? Maybe Gryffindor himself or an heir there of? Is this an excerpt of the half blood prince? If so, I am inclined to say that we are definitely dealing with a hero of the story and not a villain. I definitely think it has something to do with Gryffindor if not Gyrffindor himself.

How interesting. The description made me immediately think of the lion in the Chronicles of Narnia.

2004-08-20T09:32:00.001-07:00

Babylon 5 As Great Literature

I recently started rewatching the science fiction series Babylon 5. It was then, and is now, brilliant. J. Michael Stracynski masterfuly creates characters that must discover themselves among political intrigue and peril. I love it! The show is truly amazing, and here is why.

So many of you may be wondering how a television show constitutes literature? To me, Babylon 5 counts because it is written with purpose and careful thought. It's flowing language speaks directly to the soul. The acting is sketchy at first, but gets better. Andreas Katsulus and Peter Jurasik portray characters that start out one dimensional and carefuly grow into some of the most beloved characters ever gifted to man. Make no mistake, a television show can be great literature. The writing alone is enough to define it, but when combined with great acting it becomes a masterpiece.

If you've never seen Babylon 5, you should. The first and second seasons are shaky but they pave the way for a better series. The general premise is almost cliche for it is about the fight against good and evil. Much deeper, the plot is the very same as Harry Potter's: choices and consequences. Each character makes choices throughout the series that carefuly puts them where they are at. Each character has their share of mistakes and successes. For instance, Londo Mollari starts out as a nobody that could go on living happily as a nobody. But he is given a chance for power from unknown beings. Aware that such an acceptance must come at a high price, he still takes it and this decision becomes the opening for many of the problems Babylon 5 will face.

A great quote regarding Londo is found in season two. He seeks out a techno-mage to secure his power, as the blessing of a techno-mage woudl be a historic event. No one would doubt him if only he could get this blessing. When he finally gets the techno-mage to talk to him, this is what he is told (not exact):

Techno-Mage: "Well take this for what little it will profit you. As I look at you, Ambassador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sounds, the sounds of billions of people calling your name."

Mollari: "My followers?"

Techno-Mage: "Your victims."

What's great about Londo's character is that he is both a bad guy and a good guy, each time depending on the wisdom of his choices. His main enemy and later friend, G'Kar, starts out as all bad and moves to be a great religious leader. The banter between the two is full of humour and wisdom. It is because of these two characters that I believe this show to be so great.

G'kar: "No dictator, no invader, can hold an imprisoned population by the force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power governments, and tyrants, and armies can not stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be free."

Aside from the traditional good vs. evil approach, Babylon 5 also delves into our own history to teach us lessons. In season 2, a group known as Night Watch takes it upon themselves to "enforce peace". This group is started by President Clark, successor to the late President Santiago. There is good reason to believe Clark murdered Santiago but the lack of evidence allows Clark to remain in power. Along with the Night Watch, Clark starts a sort of Martial Law and a closing of Earth's borders to aliens; Earth wants to blame all it's problems on those that are different from them. All of this bears a striking resemblence to the Red Scare and McCartheism in the US history. It's well done and brought forth in a couple of seasons. It's drawn out nature has more of an affect than a single episode ever could.

The Night Watch is realistic because its goals make sense on the surface. The members are not dramatized as evil, but as people who truly believe they are seeking out peace. For example:

"As the name implies, you must also be watchful. Peace can be made or broken with a gun, a word, an idea, even a thought. Now, those who work against peace sow the seeds of discontent. They plant false stories, they undermine the public good. It's not because they are necessarily evil. It's because they don't know any better. They're rejected, they're unhappy, and they lash out in the only way they can. So, If we could be made aware of these problems as they occur, then we can find these people, we can talk to these people, we can embrace them again in the arms of society, while, at the same time, protecting society from misinformation and harmful ideas. We're less interested in actions than we are in attitudes. We must help protect society against its own worst instincts. And by taking these bold steps, we will help to ensure a better future for everyone. I'm proud to be a part of it, and I hope you'll all join me in becoming part of the Night Watch." -Macabee of the Night Watch

As the anty keeps getting upped, the members find themselves trapped in an organization with questionable intentions. A man gets arrested for planting the seeds of discontent when all he really did was say that he disapproved of somethign in the government. His store is closed down and a sign is hung that says "Closed by order of the Ministry of Peace pending allegations of sedition."

This scene is shown in the background to the following quote:

"We came to this place, because Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. By the end of 2259, we knew that it had failed. But in so doing it became something greater. As the war expanded, it became our last, best hope for victory, because sometimes peace is another word for surrender, and because secrets have a way of getting out."

As you may guess, much of what Babylon 5 addresses is true today. I think there are many lessons much of the world could learn about what is going on now versus what we think is going on. Hind vision is 20/20 and we should remember that just because something sounds good, that doesn't mean it is good. We rarely have all the information and there are always cards yet to play.

I don't want to tell you everything in this rich story. Nor do I have the time. Go watch it! You won't regret it!

2004-08-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

FREEDOM

Hazzah! I am done with my math class and all is well. Unfortunately, I never did get to write the posts I wanted to. I just haven't had the time. I will try to work on them soon, I will! Right now I've just restarted Book Two so I can prepare my next about.com article.

Comments system doesn't appear to work on my school's computer so I can't read what any of you have written. I typed some controversial stuff, everyone needs controversey, so I'm interested to see what folks replied (hopefully not death threats?). Next time I am at anonymouse's I will check his computer to read the posts. Oh how I miss the internet!

As for my statement on controversy, Mills says that folks learn from talking in public forums and discussing different ideas. That mankind comes to know truth by taking all sides into accorunt. Therefore, controversy is necessary and contrary opinions must be allowed to be stated in order to better mankind. It is an interesting philosophy. Mills was against teachers bringing politics into the classroom because the class wasn't a public forum (he was writing in 19th century) and the kids didn't have the ability to discuss so the teacher was enforcing opinions on each other. Just an interesting bit of philosophy there too.

On another note, I am now through season four of Stargate. I was very impressed at two of the episodes I saw. One was about how the evil inside our minds will win if we fight it, so we just can't give it a chance to fight. I thought it was extremely well done. The other one was just funny. A good laugh is nice every now and then.

2004-08-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Comment Answers and Wil Wheaton

Edited Version

I went to Portland yesterday to listen to Wil Wheaton do a reading for his book, Just a Geek. It was great fun. He's very animated when he reads and a really nice guy. My boyfriend got me to start reading his blogs and it is definitely one of the best blogs out there. It is surprisingly honest and well written. If only I could write like that!

My sister called me to say that she just watched the news. The whole deal about the Florida people being stopped at the polls and not allowed to vote was in the news today!!!!! Finally, people are talking about it. It all came up because of the electronic voting worries taking place in Florida. In the same news story it talked about how a lot of military votes weren't counted in Florida either. Just an FYI for you all.

I also took a few minutes this morning to answer (in the worst grammar ever!) one anonymous commentors comments. I didn't get to say everything I wanted to, but I did get a lot in. I'll get to others comments when I can. Right now I don't have real internet access except when at the library or a friends house.

If all goes well, Snape part II and Half Blood Prince part II should be up this week!

2004-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

About.Com Article Is Up

Click here to check it out!

2004-08-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

A Straight Jacket for Tazmy

Hey all! I have finished my Harry Potter article for About.com. Hurray! What does this mean? I'm free, free free! *starts rocking back and forth* The article along with moving and taking classes really took it out of me. I see that many of you have left *interesting* comments that I need to get back to, be patient with me! Also, I need to answer a whole smegg'n lot of emails. I'll get to them, really. Yes, even yours Matt. ;)

Take care all. I'm going to sleep in a nice padded room. he he ha ha ho ho.

2004-07-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Moving and Writing

Hey all, I'm on my way to school for a calculus test and then it's moving time. Yay! Or not yay! Really, booo!

My About.com article is nearly ready to go and after it is finished I'll start a new post for Tazmy's Pensieve. HBP II and Snape and the Order II are my top priorities after About.com. In a way I'm glad that I didn't write HBP II yet so I could get all the juicy information that Rowling has supplied us with. Mainly, that I was right about Tom not being the HBP. Hurray!

In the meantime, you should all check out a recent editorial on Mugglenet called A father's perspective JoEllen sent it to me. It's a bit corny in the sense that if someone actually talked like, the chances of the kid listening is not terribly high. However, it's got some nice insights on lessons to be learned.