July 2007 - Posts

123 ways to annoy Voldemort
27 July 07 10:09 PM | Zach | with no comments

 I found these on jibjab.com. Enjoy!

1. Ask him why he 'doesn't have such a cool scar?'

2. Laugh at him.

3. Wake him up by singing Beach Boys songs in his ear. 'Round, round, get around, I get around...'

4. Knit him things. Really hideous things.

5. Give him kangaroo-ears for a month.

6. Smile during Death Eater meetings and say you taught him everything he knows.

7. Chew bubblegum all the time. Should he address you, your only response will be a series of huge bubbles in quick succession, the last of which will burst everywhere and make a mess.

8. Dance the Funky Chicken.

9. Ask him when was the last time he took a bath.

10. Pat him on the head and give him flowers when his plans are foiled yet again.

11. If you ever need to say 'Like taking candy from a baby', be sure to add 'Of course, SOME of us might find that harder than others.' Stare pointedly at him.

12. Play 'knock-&-run' at his bedchamber door late at night.

13. Call him 'The-Man-Who-Let-the-Boy-Live.'

14. Ask why the Dark Mark couldn't look like something 'more socially acceptable?'

15. Insist that you have met chunks of cheese with more cunning plans than his.

16. Pinch him. Make sure he squeals.

17. Be cheerful.

18. When he tries to impress you with his powers, say 'Awwwww, lookit. Voldie's got a twiggle!'

19. Try to teach him to play a mouth organ.

20. Roll your eyes during plotting sessions and say things under your breath like 'You're the boss, boss' or 'It's your funeral.'

21. Greet him in the mornings with a sarcastic 'My sir, you look particularly menacing today.'

22. Taunt him about his middle name. 'Marvolo? What's that - a washing detergent?'

23. Keep a 'good-behaviour chart'. Award points and give out gold stars.

24. Magic-marker Potter-style glasses on him while he sleeps.

25. Apparate into and out of his room rapidly. Do this non-stop for an hour. *poof* there *poof* gone *poof* there...

26. Play cards with him. Tell him he has no poker-face and how does he expect to rule supreme without one?

27. Let off party-poppers in his face whenever the urge strikes you.

28. 'Did you even HAVE a girlfriend? Like, ever?'

29. Get a pair of finger puppets closely resembling himself and Harry Potter. Re-enact all of Harry's victories over him in a spectacularly childish way. Be sure to give them both squeaky voices.

30. Anytime he enters any room, insist on entering first and announcing him grandly.

31. In these announcements, fake a trumpet noise and give him an equally fake drumroll.

32. Exclaim sarcastically 'You're breakin' my little heart here, O Dark One' whenever he starts to talk of what caused him to become who he is.

33. Encourage him to 'think happy thoughts!'

34. Ask him to give you written summaries of his sinister plots for revenge and war. Correct his spelling.

35. Mock his choice of Quirrell as a 'host.'

36. Tell you think a yoga class could 'cure him of his wicked ways.'

37. Get the song 'Mr. Tambourine Man' stuck in his head.

38. If he's having evil-plotter's-block in one of his scheming sessions, 'Wingardium Leviosa' a light bulb to float above his head. Turn it on. Look offended when he gets angry and say you thought you were helping!

39. Tell him constantly to stop repressing his anger.

40. Buy him a stress ball.

41. Hint that he is only a character in a book and will never triumph.

42. Call him Tommy-boy.

43. If you're feeling gutsy, call him Voldie-poo.

44. Whack him in the arm and say 'mosquito' - every few minutes.

45. Say he 'looked better under the turban.'

46. Eat his pet snake. Offer him some.

47. Endeavour to teach him to steeple his fingers, lean back and say 'Eeeexcellent'.

48. Start drawing outlandish parallels between his life story and 'Star Wars'. Talk at great length.

49. Be generally in awe of him and never look away.

50. 'Imperio' his Death Eaters into a rousing chorus of 'All Things Bright And Beautiful.'

51. Shower him with confetti and rice, anytime you think he needs to make a 'grand entry.'

52. Paint all the Death Eater masks with bright colours and glitter.

53. Throw him a 'Carebears'-themed birthday party.

54. Tell him what Snape's really up to.

55. Politely exclaim now and again that you don't know how he can be so afraid of dear old Dumbles.

56. Sing 'California Dreamin' at the top of your lungs when he's trying to have an 'evil moment.'

57. Should you ever be eating with him - drum tunes with your cutlery, play with your food and blow bubbles in your chocolate milk.

58. Ask him to dance a polka with you.

59. Work cutesy phrases like 'pushing-up-daisies' and 'smooth-as-a-baby's-bottom' into conversation as much as possible.

60. Ask him if he's sure 'the whole evil-maniac-out-for-power-and-revenge thing isn't getting a bit old?'

61. Get him to play 'Twister' with you.

62. Tell him you know this great therapist in London....

63. Throw Tupperware parties. Insist he sit through them.

64. Tell him you've met plently of people more evil than he.

65. Hide his teddy bear. That ALWAYS makes him cry.

66. Get him a plant. Act mortally offended when he doesn't water it and it dies.

67. Steal, snap and bury his wand.

68. Tell him Lucius did it.

69. Give Rita Skeeter full knowledge of his whereabouts and contact details.

70. Remind him that he isn't even really alive.

71. Write him a theme song. Start singing it whenever he is about to do or say something particularly clever and nasty.

72. Offer to sacrifice Draco Malfoy 'to the cause.'

73. Insist on reading him bedtime stories. Include 'The Ugly Duckling.'

74. Make vague allusions to Harry Potter being his son.

75. When he's done something particularly nasty - cross your arms, waggle a finger and say 'Now now, do you really think Salazar would have approved of that?'

76. Ask him how he can possibly wish to harm a single hair on the head of 'that sweet, innocent, cute little boy.'

77. Tell him Wormtail has a crush on him.

78. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophecy."

79. Leave disgusting and rotting dead things near him. Insist that it is 'Aromatherapy.'

80. Begin any question you ask him with 'Riddle me this!' Emphasis on Riddle.

81. Do not EVER act in the slightest way intimidated by him. Treat him as you would an eccentric aquaintance.

82. Cuddle him at random moments.

83. Sign him up for Little-League.

84. Ask him why he's afraid of a frail old man with a beard the size of a beehive and can't fight babies.

85. Throw biscuits at him. Constantly.

86. Tell him you think evil master plans of world domination are 'kind of girlie.'

87. Quote Argus Filch. Insist HE will one day rule the wizarding world.

88. Wonder aloud whether the name Voldemort commands as much respect as, say, Potter or Dumbledore.

89. Mimic everything he says in a sing-song voice.

90. Mimic everything he does with exaggerated limb-movements.

91. Write sonnets for him.

92. Insist he help you with the newspaper crossword every morning.

93. Follow a few paces behind him, spraying everything he touches with a can of disinfectant.

94. Tell people he's 'really just a big softie.'

95. Psychoanalyze him. Conclude that he is 'mildy depressed' and 'a bit of a control-freak.'

96. Mock his baldness.

97. Smile and say loudly 'Who loves you, Volders?' at inopportune moments. (Ie: another of his attempted 'evil moments')

98. Get him drunk.

99. Drag out a banjo at Death Eater revels and start playing 'Kumbayah.'

100. Let him catch you trying on Death Eater robes.

101. Be Harry Potter. Be alive.

102. As he's plotting dark deeds, pretend to cough and mutter things like 'Not gonna work, or 'stupid.'

103. Call him 'Champ' or 'Tiger.' Refer to yourself as 'Coach.'

104. Three words: Potter Puppet Pals.

105. Ask him where he gets his garlic-scented soap.

106. Ask him to dye Easter eggs with you.

107. ..at Christmas.

108. Make him dance in the rain with you.

109. Insist that this is to cleanse his soul.

110. "Accidentally" schedule him a him a haircut.

111. ..even though he's bald.

112. Be offended by everything he says.

113. When he gives you an order, stare at him blankly and drool.

114. Invite him to go streaking.

115. Kill Harry.

116. On the next Valentine's Day, decorate his lair.

117. ..make sure the decorations are pink and frilly.

118. Tell him that getting the same plastic surgeon as Michael Jackson was definitely a bad idea.

119. Paint his fingernails hot pink while he's sleeping, then place a permanent sticking charm on them so he can't remove the color.

120. Whenever you look at him cover your eyes with your hands and scream "IT BURNS!!!"

121. Bake him scar shaped cookies, but insist it wasn't purposeful.

122. Trade his black robes in for pink pajamas.

123. Insist that it's opposite day and paint a lightning bolt on his forehead.

 

After the Epilogue of HPDH. WARNING: Major spoilers
27 July 07 10:00 AM | Zach | 3 comment(s)

 courtesy of msnbc.com

Spoiler alert: This story reveals some key plot points in the final Harry Potter book. So if you've haven't finished the book, J.K. Rowling asks that you not read this story.

If you found the epilogue of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” rather vague, then J.K. Rowling achieved her goal.

The author was shooting for “nebulous,” something “poetic.” She wanted the readers to feel as if they were looking at Platform 9¾ through the mist, unable to make out exactly who was there and who was not.

“I do, of course, have that information for you, should you require it,” she told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira rather coyly in her first interview since fans got their hands on the final book.
Ummm … yes, please!
 

Rowling said her original epilogue was “a lot more detailed,” including the name of every child born to the Weasley clan in the past 19 years. (Victoire, who was snogging Teddy — Lupin and Tonks’ son — is Bill and Fleur’s eldest.)

“But it didn’t work very well as a piece of writing,” Rowling said. “It felt very much that I had crowbarred in every bit of information I could … In a novel you have to resist the urge to tell everything.”

But now that the seventh and final novel is in the hands of her adoring public, Rowling no longer has to hold back any information about Harry Potter from her fans. And when 14 fans crowded around her in Edinburgh Castle in Scotland earlier this week as part of TODAY’s interview, Rowling was more than willing to share her thoughts about what Harry and his friends are up to now.

Harry, Ron and Hermione
We know that Harry marries Ginny and has three kids, essentially, as Rowling explains, creating the family and the peace and calm he never had as a child.

As for his occupation, Harry, along with Ron, is working at the Auror Department at the Ministry of Magic. After all these years, Harry is now the department head.

“Harry and Ron utterly revolutionized the Auror Department,” Rowling said. “They are now the experts. It doesn’t matter how old they are or what else they’ve done.”

Meanwhile, Hermione, Ron’s wife, is “pretty high up” in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, despite laughing at the idea of becoming a lawyer in “Deathly Hallows.”

“I would imagine that her brainpower and her knowledge of how the Dark Arts operate would really give her a sound grounding,” Rowling said.

Harry, Ron and Hermione don’t join the same Ministry of Magic they had been at odds with for years; they revolutionize it and the ministry evolves into a “really good place to be.”

“They made a new world,” Rowling said.

The wizarding naturalist
Luna Lovegood, the eccentric Ravenclaw who was fascinated with Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and Umgubular Slashkilters, continues to march to the beat of her own drum.

“I think that Luna is now traveling the world looking for various mad creatures,” Rowling said. “She’s a naturalist, whatever the wizarding equivalent of that is.”

Luna comes to see the truth about her father, eventually acknowledging there are some creatures that don’t exist.

“But I do think that she’s so open-minded and just an incredible person that she probably would be uncovering things that no one’s ever seen before,” Rowling said.

Luna and Neville Longbottom?
It’s possible Luna has also found love with another member of the D.A.

When she was first asked about the possibility of Luna hooking up with Neville Longbottom several years ago, Rowling’s response was “Definitely not.” But as time passed and she watched her characters mature, Rowling started to “feel a bit of a pull” between the unlikely pair.

Ultimately, Rowling left the question of their relationship open at the end of the book because doing otherwise “felt too neat.”

Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom: “The damage is done.”

There is no chance, however, that Neville’s parents, who were tortured into madness by Bellatrix Lestrange, ever left St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies.

“I know people really wanted some hope for that, and I can quite see why because, in a way, what happens to Neville’s parents is even worse than what happened to Harry’s parents,” Rowling said. “The damage that is done, in some cases with very dark magic, is done permanently.”

Photos by Andrew Kandel for TODAYshow.com

Rowling said Neville finds happiness in his grandmother’s acceptance of him as a gifted wizard and as the new herbology professor at Hogwarts.

The fate of Hogwarts
Nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts, the school for witchcraft and wizardry is led by an entirely new headmaster (“McGonagall was really getting on a bit”) as well as a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. That position is now as safe as the other teaching posts at Hogwarts, since Voldemort’s death broke the jinx that kept a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor from remaining for more than a year.

While Rowling didn’t clarify whether Harry, Ron and Hermione ever return to school to finish their seventh year, she did say she could see Harry popping up every now and again to give the “odd talk” on Defense Against the Dark Arts.

More details to come?
Rowling said she may eventually reveal more details in a Harry Potter encyclopedia, but even then, it will never be enough to satisfy the most ardent of her fans.

“I’m dealing with a level of obsession in some of my fans that will not rest until they know the middle names of Harry’s great-great-grandparents,” she said. Not that she’s discouraging the Potter devotion!

“I love it,” she said. “I’m all for that.”

 

Evel out Dustin in
26 July 07 09:58 PM | Zach | 2 comment(s)

 

To start the show off this evening, I wanted to announce that I just got the Live Feeds yesterday. Very cool. They are boring sometimes and I do feel a little creepy watching them sleep. I hate how they block us from viewing some stuff like important conversations…. Etc.

On the show, a recap of everything that has happened the past few days. Eric, America’s Player, was told to try to get Kail out of the house. That’s going to be a job. He spent 3 hours in the HoH room last night just trying to convince 5 other people to vote Kail out. I don’t think he is going to have success. I personally feel that since Kail was the orig. target and should get the boot anyway.

After the break, we met Danielle’s boyfriend. He feels that he just needs to trust what Dani is doing. Its all strategy and gameplay. Then, we talk to Evel in the HoH room about his week and calling people out, his opinion of Kail, etc. Julie Chen calls Jen a B!+ch who’s favorite word is “I” which I thought was funny, but is true. I wonder how that drinking game is going… After the break, we see if there is “more to Jen”

Next, we went back to the HouseGuests to hear Mike’s and Kail’s speeches… I thought they were both boring. Below are the votes.

Zach votes Kail. Jameka votes Mike. Jen votes Mike. Dustin votes Mike. Eric votes Kail. Amber votes Mike. Nick votes Mike. Danielle votes Mike. Jessica votes Mike.  Mike is evicted.

After the break, we watched the live HoH competition. Eric was the best player in that, the three that ran that one really got the people who they didn’t want to win out fast. In the end, Dustin won HoH. He will do what the group wants. I think that Zach and Kail will be put on the block. What do you think?

 

Filed under:
A challenge for everyone
23 July 07 10:00 AM | Zach | 45 comment(s)

I received this in an email and thought it would be fun to do here. At the end of this post will be a word, 4 letter word... Your job is to change 1 letter in that word... just one letter at a time. You cannot add a letter, or subtract ones. You can switch them around tho. Alright? ready?

 

REEF

 

Have fun and only post the word in the comments!  

 

UPDATE: Lets go for 100 words or more! PSHHH, if we hit 1000, I will be crazy! 

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Wait Over as Harry Potter Finale Flies Off Shelves
22 July 07 11:37 AM | Zach | with no comments

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The seventh and final Harry Potter book flew off the shelves on Saturday as fans the world over poured into stores or waited for the first post to discover the fate of the boy wizard.

J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" looks set to become the fastest selling book on record based on early estimates, following months of hype and a carefully orchestrated launch designed to maximize sales and suspense.

Internet leaks of the book's contents and newspaper articles containing spoilers appear not to have dampened enthusiasm among readers old and young, thousands of whom dressed as characters from the book for the midnight openings.

Some could not wait to see what lay in store for the characters they have grown up with over the last decade.

"I couldn't stop myself from finding out the end first," said Vineet Sharma in Mumbai.

In Johannesburg, Liezl van Rensburg added: "I usually read the last page first, but this time I'm going to try not to."

In London, thousands of die-hard Potter followers from dozens of countries dressed as witches, Hogwarts heroes, Death Eaters and plain non-magical Muggles for the midnight launch.

Many more awoke at dawn in Australia and India to snap up early copies. In New York, two teenaged boys disguised as wizards ran around with brooms between their legs, pretending to battle each other in a game of Quidditch.

Social worker Julia Schafer, 26, stood at the back of a line that stretched around the block, anxiously waiting to find out her hero's fate. "I would really hope that Voldemort dies. The evil has to end," she said.

In Australia, an avid fan had to be rescued from a lake in Canberra on Friday after he dived in to rescue a pre-purchase receipt necessary to pick up his book.

In Pakistan, a bomb scare in the southern port city of Karachi forced a shop to cancel a Potter event.

RECORD DEMAND

Book store chains in Britain said first-night sales outpaced those of the sixth Harry Potter volume, and "Deathly Hallows" looks set to become the fastest selling book ever.

"We've sold 100,000 copies in the first two hours across the business in the UK," said Fiona Allen of Waterstone's. "That has outstripped anything we've sold before."

The WH Smith chain sold 15 books every second across Britain overnight, breaking the record set by the previous Potter instalment of 13 per second in 2005.

Online retailer Amazon.com received 2.2 million pre-orders for "Deathly Hallows," up 47 percent on book six, and 12 million copies were printed for the U.S. market alone.

The excitement came despite plot leaks on the Internet, some of which proved to be genuine. A mistake by one U.S. online retailer also meant up to 1,200 copies were sent to buyers several days early.

Rowling, credited with putting the fun back into reading for millions of children and adults, said she was "staggered" when two U.S. papers ran reviews on Thursday.

Just 13 years ago, the 41-year-old was an unemployed single mother, without a publisher or agent, but is now the world's first dollar billionaire writer after the success of her novels and Hollywood movies based on them.

The first six books have sold 325 million copies worldwide.

"We Now Present The Seventh and Final Installment in the Epic Tale of Harry Potter"
21 July 07 03:22 AM | Zach | 1 comment(s)

As the group of people and I read that sentence aloud after stepping outside of Barnes and Nobles here in Ohio, not one of our eyes were dry. This is it. The end. I also wanted to paste the dedication of the book for you. For those who dont have the book.

 

"The dedication of this book is split seven ways: To Neil, To Jessica, To David, To Kenzie, To Di, To Anne, and If you have stuck with Harry until the very end."

 

 

I am a mere 80 pages into the book, I have to put it down. I think I am more of a wreak than Amber is in the House! Not to spoil it, but there have been more deaths as of the first 80 pages in this book as there were in the last two books put together! This counts good, bad and creatures. 

Anyone else a wreak right now? This is going to take longer than I thought. It's soo dark. Terribly dark.  

A massive Big Brother Update
20 July 07 10:27 PM | Zach | 2 comment(s)

 

I recently watched the second thru seventh episode of BB8 on the wonderful Innertube from CBS. I thought there might have been a way to blog the episodes but I guess not.

I am a little teary to see that every episode shows Amber balling about something. She wasn’t the only one crying though! Jen was crying about a stupid picture because she looks bad in it! I personally it makes her look evil and self-centered. Oh, well, maybe that’s what they were going for in the shot… When she won the HoH competition last week, I was livid with the rest of the house!

I really enjoyed the second PoV competition. I always remember them doing a Christmas one. I am disappointed that they keep the same trivial format of the HoH competition. Daniele is a very strong player. If she would align with her dad, they, together, could take the house. Not too many people are realizing that at the moment.

Ok, I think that Evel (since the censors wont let me call him by his first name) is going to put Kail and Jen up for eviction. Just because, 1) Obvious for Jen and 2) Kail and him had that fight at the end of last week.

America’s Player, I would say he is doing well so far. Glad to see that no one suspects him of anything fishy yet (knock on wood). I don’t want him to win HoH just to keep him safe. Maybe if he wins, we will all get some money! Ah, wishful thinking. Couldn’t hurt, could it?

I was a little disappointed that the “rivalry” between Carol and Jess wasn’t as big as we all hoped. Glad to see her gone though. Same with Joe, very evil and could control that game fast. Now that only leaves one “rivalry” left in the house. I don’t think Evel will put his own daughter up on the block.

AHHHH, So much reading, so much TV watching! Going to explode! Also, be prepared for a Banner change within the next few weeks for HPDH will be released tonight!

 

Filed under:
I have my wrist band, give me my book!
20 July 07 08:27 PM | Zach | 9 comment(s)

At our local Barnes and Noble, they pass out wrist bands to the people who reserve their copy of HPDH. This year they are splitting everyone into groups of 50, marked by a letter on their wrist band. I am letter D.

I wish I had brought my camera to take pictures of the whole place! We were wrapped around the building! TWICE before I left! I am glad I got there at about 5:30 PM EST instead of 6! It is only a matter of hours now until the release of the final book!

Please take note that a wide discussion will not be taking place here on my blog, I may open a private forum for those who wish to enter to discuss the book. Talk it up here in the comments. I will be forced to moderate any comments that include Spoilers. Sorry Sad 

Zach is finally back!
20 July 07 05:25 PM | Zach | 2 comment(s)

After getting back from South Carolina and after getting better after a stomach flu, I am finally back to my good friends here! Now, I have TONS of pictures to give you but that can wait a few days I think. Today is a really big day to boot! In just a few short hours, I will be getting in line to receive my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book! (HPDH)

I re-read the series and just finished yesterday (read the books over a course of a month). I am planning on napping for a bit soon so I can stay up and read the new book LATE tonight. I will not be posting spoilers of any sort on this site as to the contents of the book. I wont tell you anything about it, even if you paid me. I will however give a very discreet review of the book after I finish it which should be sometime early this week...end.

I also have caught up on Big Brother 8 courtesy of Innertube. I actually just finished watching episode 7 and am very happy that Evil (or Evel, not sure how he is spelling it... its "Evel" according to the captions) is HoH and I am almost positive about who he is nominating. Find out my Big Brother Opinions in a BB post in a bit!

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JK Rowling: My Week
10 July 07 08:00 AM | Zach | 1 comment(s)

Monday

My publisher calls, sounding worried. “So,” she says. “I’ve read the new ending for the last book.”

“Oh yes?” I say. I have the phone clamped under my chin, because I’m using a plastic Quidditch stick to jam twelve hundred copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and a collection of Weasley figurines down the waste-disposal.

“Yes,” says the publisher. “And I’m not sure I like it.

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I switch off the waste disposal. “Really?” I say. “You don’t like the way Harry and all his friends get decapitated with an enormous axe?” “Not so much,” says the publisher.

I put a hand to my hip. “Or the way Voldemort disintegrates the body parts into a fine magic dust, which he sprinkles across time and space, thus eradicating Harry Potter et al from existence for ever?”

“Again,” says my publisher, “no.” I frown. “But I thought that was what everybody wanted,” I say. “Not everybody,” says my publisher.

Tuesday

I spend much of the morning trapped in my attic, under a landslide of Ron and Hermione pencil cases, Death Eater playing cards and polystyrene imitations of the Tri-Wizard cup. I shout, but nobody can hear. I clear a space with the wing of a papier-mâché Hedwig, and start a small beacon fire with a selection of latex Harry masks.

Perhaps it is wrong to change the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It’s just that when I planned it, I rather liked Harry Potter; now I’m not so sure.

With a sigh, I settle back and watch my hero’s face burn and dribble into puddles on the floor.

Eventually, somebody will see the flames and set me free.

Wednesday

To Leicester Square this evening, for the film premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’ve developed this weird tic whenever I pick up a pen. I sort of stop concentrating and start assuming it is a wand. The actress who plays Hermione Granger hands me a fountain pen and asks me to sign her copy of The Chamber of Secrets. I do, but it’s a close thing. I very nearly flick ink in her face and scream “Avada Kedavra!”

I suppose there is always crucifixion, I muse, staring at the back of Daniel Radcliffe’s head. That could work. I should rather like to see Harry crucified. Radcliffe sees me staring and goes quite pale.

Thursday

Have been worrying, hugely, about Voldemort. I mean, it wasn’t really him who killed Harry’s parents, was it? It was me. It’s all my fault. The poor man. A decade spent banished in a magical nether region, unable to flourish truly in his own right.

Everywhere he goes, Harry Potter goes too. Thwarting him. Stealing his thunder. I sort of know how he feels.

Friday

“No,” says my publisher. “Absolutely not. It has been ten years. We have well over 12 million copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ready to roll off the presses, just as soon as you come up with this bloody last chapter. It is definitely too late to decide that Voldemort has been the hero all along.” “Really?” I say.

 

A glimpse of the Ocean
08 July 07 12:00 PM | Zach | 6 comment(s)

So you can feel like you are on vacation with me... I dont think you could have fit into my suitcase tho...

 RT click and then click View Image or something if you cannot see the whole thing...

 

Ocean.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
BB8 Starts out with... Tears?
05 July 07 10:20 PM | Zach | 1 comment(s)

 

And with that, the 8th Season of Big Brother is well underway! We got to meet the first 11 HouseGuests as they got to be the first to explore the house. They also had to each choose a bed for the season. Apparently, switching can’t be made…

Then we got to meet the second group of HouseGuests. I personally hope that one of these three wins! I really loved how they did that.

The first 11 in the house got to compete in the HoH competition. They had to pick partners in the game. Since there were 11, one person would have to sit this one out… Kail won the first HoH comp… Then quickly after that, they brought out the three extra HouseGuests. Ohh, did it get UGLY! Well, not as bad as I thought it would get, but it was pretty bad. And… dare I see it? TEARS? On the FIRST episode?!?! Why do I sound so shocked? Its Big Brother for crying out loud!

Tune in on Sunday for the PoV competition and again next Thursday for the first Live Elimination! I believe both shows are on at 8:00 PM EST/PT.

On a side note, I will not be home for the next two episodes of Big Brother, if I have a minute or two in our vacation house in South Carolina, I will definitely blog about that. Plus you can expect tons of pictures of the beach!!

And please check out the Dishes Forums in the next two weeks to vote on who will be eliminated… etc. I will not be posting that stuff tonight, maybe not even tomorrow but soon… Still packing for vacation!

On another side note, if anyone wants to blog about the show Pirate Master, or any other Reality TV show (or any TV show…) please email zach@steeplemedia.com I am thinking about starting another blog just for reality shows…

 

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Big Brother Premiers Tonight!
05 July 07 09:13 PM | Zach | with no comments

I did a post just like this last season giving the 411 about the current HouseGuests and the fun stuff about the season. I will hopefully post a play-by-play later tonight or in the morning. Before I get into about the show as a whole, meet the HouseGuests...

Amber Tomcavage (maiden name Siyavus) is a 27 year old cocktail waitress who works at Caesar's Palace casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Carol Journey is a 21 year old student from Lawrence, Kansas, born and raised in Haysville, Kansas. Carol attends the University of Kansas and is part of their dance team.

Daniele Donato is a 20 year old Hooters girl from Huntington Beach, CA. *** is her father.

*** Donato is a 44 year old bar manager from Los Angeles, CA. He was originally a finalist for Big Brother 6. Daniele is his daughter.

Dustin Erikstrup is a 22 year old shoe salesman from Chicago, IL.

Eric is a 27 year old talent management assistant from New York, NY.

Jameka Cameron is a 28 year old school counselor from Waldorf, MD.

Jen Johnson is a 23 year old nanny from Beverly Hills, CA.

Jessica Hughbanks is a 21-year-old Wichita State University student and Wichita Thunder dance team member from Haysville, KS.

Joe is a 23 year old receptionist from Chicago, IL.

Kail Harbick is a 37 year old business owner from McKenzie Bridge, Oregon who works as a real estate agent for Prudential Financial. In addition to her estate business, she and her husband own a bar in Blue River, Oregon. A devout fan of Big Brother, Kail had previously applied for the show twice before this season.

Mike Dutz is a 26 year old painting contractor and BMG model from Three Lakes, WI.

Nick Starcevic is a 25 year old former College American football player from Kimball, MN. He played college football at the University of Minnesota, Crookston

Zach Swerdzewski is a 30 year old graphic designer from Burbank, CA. Zach is a fan of the late Steve Irwin and owns a company called Dolphin Crash.

 

Big Brother is at it again with a new "twist" This season they are sticking 3 HouseGuests into the house with their worst enemies! In the forums, there is a discussion as to who everyone thinks will be on the show.  
 
Julie Chen will be starting the season Thursday, July 5 at 8:00 PM ET/PT. 
 
If this season goes like the previous ones, each episode will show cometitions between the HouseGuests. These competitions include HOH (Head of Household), Food Competition, POV (Power of Veto). All of which are explained in the next few paragraphs. 
 
HOH 
This competition takes place right after the live eviction. This is a competition in which all current HouseGuests play in order to become head of household, unless they were just the HOH. This person gets a private bedroom, bathroom and usually a nice gift package with pictures from home, a CD and some other stuff.  Their job is to pick two HouseGuests to be put up on the chopping block for elimination.  
 
POV 
This competition is played by 6 people. The two HouseGuests on the chopping block pick 2 other HouseGuests each as players. The HOH picks a "reader" to read the directions too. The winner of the POV competition has the power to take someone off of the chopping block. If they do, the HOH will pick someone else to take their place. If the HouseGuest was not on the chopping block but wins POV, they cannot be chosen by the HOH. Another option for the winner of POV is to NOT use the Veto.  
 
Food Competition 
I have not seen a food competition in a while but it goes like this (I think). The house is divided into two teams and they compete for food. The loosers of this game will be forced to eat PBJ for the next week. OR, the entire house plays for food and if they loose then they have PBJ for the next week. Also, there are certain passes called PBJ passes which allows the user to eat regular food instead of PBJ for that week. It can only be used once. 

Luxury Competition

This is a special treat for the HouseGuests in which they can “unlock” the hot tub or other house luxuries.  

America’s Choice

This is a competition between the HouseGuests to have their viewers vote for them to get a special opportunity to get something that other HouseGuests don’t get to have. Previous prizes were a phone call from home, a walk on role on a soap opera, and to conduct an online interview with fans. In the last season, viewers got to vote on a HouseGuest to bring back into the house. Also, there have been polls about what challenge the HouseGuests would play, or what kind of appliances the HouseGuests would receive.
 
As with competitions, there are cerimonies too. These would include the nomination cerimony (in which the HOH announces the two HouseGuests on the choping block) Veto cerimony (this is when the winner of the POV announces who they will save if anyone) and the voting cerimony (this is when the HouseGuests go into the diary room to announce who they wish to evict from the house.)

America's Player

It has been revealed that one of the HouseGuest that will serve as "America's Player". Each week, this HouseGuest will attempt to perform tasks determined by a national vote. If the HouseGuest succeeds, he or she will be given a financial reward. Voting will take place on cbs.com and via text-messaging. The first task will be to punish two other HouseGuests by deciding two people to be locked in the "Mad Hatter" HoH room.

 

 

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Fireworks!
04 July 07 09:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

Below are 4 videos worth of Fireworks! Enjoy on your 4th of July!!!

 

 

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Bald Eagle taken off of the Endangered Species List
04 July 07 04:00 PM | Zach | with no comments

 I just read this on CNN.com and thought I would let you know our nations bird is finally off of the endangered species list. I'm wondering if this means that the US will get off of the "danger" list as well. Here is the CNN.com story brought to you by none other than CNN...

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(CNN) -- The bald eagle, America's national symbol, is flying high after spending three decades in recovery. On Thursday, the government took the eagle off the Endangered Species Act's "threatened" list.

"The eagle has returned," Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne told government officials, wildlife conservationists and journalists at a ceremony held on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington.

"Today is an opportunity to celebrate and draw inspiration," Kempthorne added.

"We do have 1,300 species that have been listed and our recovery rate is about 1 percent. I would like to see us have more days like this when we can announce success and victory and delisting of species."

Since the 1970s, the government has worked hard to save the bald eagle, which was dying off because of habitat destruction, illegal shooting and contamination of its food source. (Watch bald eagles along the Hudson River Video)

It was first listed as endangered, then threatened, and now is off the list entirely.

Challenger, a bald eagle, also attended the ceremony. Challenger is a teaching bird who travels the country educating young and old about the national symbol.

The birds will be now protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Bald eagle populations severely declined in the lower 48 states between 1870 and 1970 because of hunting, habitat loss and the use of DDT. (Quiz: Test your bald eagle knowledge)

DDT, a powerful insecticide, made bald eagle eggshells so weak they couldn't produce viable offspring. In 1963, there were only 417 breeding pairs in the lower 48.

In a national effort to save the iconic bird, the federal government banned the use of DDT in 1972 and placed the bald eagle under protection of the Endangered Species Act, which allowed the government to protect bald eagle habitat. (Learn more about the Endangered Species Act)

These two key factors helped it recover, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Today, there are 9,789 breeding pairs in the lower 48 states. (Map: Bald eagles by state)

Habitat protection

But Kieran Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity conservation group said this victory comes at a price -- loss of eagle habitat protection.

The bird's nesting grounds were protected as long as the bald eagle was considered a "threatened" species. But the less restrictive eagle protection act does not put eagle habitats off-limits.

Suckling said he worries that without habitat protection, developers will move into critical bald eagle areas, push the birds out and reduce their numbers.

"There is big money to be made in cutting down and developing bald eagle habitat," he said.

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibits anyone without a permit from "taking" bald eagles, including their parts, nests and eggs. Its definition of "take" includes: pursuit, shooting, shooting at, poisoning, wounding, killing, capturing, trapping, collecting, molesting and disturbing.

"For the most part, it's a shooting and hunting statute," said Nicholas Throckmorton of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"It does talk a little about nesting and the tree that eagles are in, but it's not intended to protect habitat or ecosystems." (Audio Slide Show: One bald eagle's story of survival)

As part of his concern, Suckling points to Arizona, home to 43 breeding pairs. The birds nest along small rivers, which are easily affected by development, he explained. Suckling said once protection is gone, these rivers will be under severe threat.

He said he's particularly concerned about growth in Prescott in central Arizona and its impact on the Verde River, which he said could harm eagles' nests.

One landowner ready for delisting is Minnesota retiree Edmund Contoski.

Contoski, 69, wants to build five log homes on his undeveloped seven-acre property along Lake Sullivan. However, the Endangered Species Act has prohibited development within 330 feet of an active bald eagle's nest on his property -- that covers all of Contoski's usable land.

"Eagles don't pay taxes; I pay taxes," Contoski said. "I'm paying taxes, and I can't do anything with the property."

In 2005, he challenged the Fish and Wildlife Service to make good on its 1999 proposal to delist the bald eagle. He took the agency to court and won. His court battle led to the June 28 delisting.

Future conservation

The Fish and Wildlife Service will issue voluntary guidelines for landowners to protect bald eagles and permits to people who wish to evict a bald eagle from their property.

The agency took the additional step of defining what it actually means to "disturb" an eagle under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act: "To agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, 1) injury to an eagle, 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding or sheltering behavior, or 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding or sheltering behavior."

The conservation organization National Wildlife Federation called it a "solid framework" that will keep the bald eagle around for generations to come. Dr. Greg Butcher, director of bird conservation for the National Audubon Society, said he feels confident that "good things will happen for the bald eagle" as a result of the government's actions.

Suckling said while that definition will help protect the birds, it fails to protect their habitat.

"The definition is linked to bothering or agitating actually present birds; it does not apply to logging the nest area when the bird is not present," he explained.

Suckling offered this analogy: "You come back from your summer vacation and someone has trashed your property so badly that you can't live there anymore. Have you been 'disturbed'? I would say so, but the Fish and Wildlife Service definition says, 'No.' "

Paul Schmidt, the Fish and Wildlife Service's assistant director for migratory birds, told CNN.com the government is confident the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act will "afford adequate protections" and the agency won't see a decline in populations after delisting.

"Americans can and will coexist with a healthy and sustainable population of bald eagles," Schmidt added. (I-Report Gallery: Bald eagles in the wild)

Endangered species delistings are often contentious. The proposal to delist the Northern Rockies gray wolf worries conservationists, who argue that without safeguards, wolf populations will dangerously dwindle. But ranchers say that if the wolves are protected, they will over-reproduce and packs of them will attack their livestock.

Earlier this month, conservation groups filed a lawsuit asking the government to restore Endangered Species Act protections for the Yellowstone grizzly bear. Lack of habitat protection and climate change threaten the bears' future, says Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest law firm representing the environmental groups.

The Yellowstone grizzly bear was delisted in March. For more than 30 years, it was considered a "threatened" species.

There are 541 animals in the United States listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Twenty animals have been delisted under the act; 10 are considered recovered. (Recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is considered arrested or reversed.)

The Endangered Species Act calls for five years of monitoring following delisting of a species.

 

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