Sneak peek at the new Accio Quote!

Here is your sneak peek at the new Accio Quote!
http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/AccioQuote/

Yes, I know not all the links work yet. We're still finishing up.

This weekend we converted 355 webpages from 2 websites, and revised the artwork and navigation. Whew!

Changes are brewing at Madam Scoop's and the QQQ!

Until now, the Quick-Quote-Quill and Madam Scoop's were "in essence divided" even though I was maintaining both. Well, I decided to stop letting myself get distracted by all the fun stuff going on at the Lexicon and do what I have been planning for 2 years: combine the QQQ with Scoop's.

To mark it's metamorphosis, there will be a name change to Accio Quote! Something else we have been planning for a long time.

But hallelujah, I'm not doing this alone. I have the pleasure of announcing 2 new colleagues: Mike Gray (yes, THAT Mike Gray, the guy who created the QQQ), and Michael Young, better known as Roonwit.

The new site isn't launched yet. I am still trying to figure out the best way to do the navigation, and then I need to wait until the Floo Network server admins have the time to hook up the new URL. I'll keep you posted.

In the near future the two sites will be melded into one big database. Thanks to our former programmer Serge, we have a good start.

My list of fan artists

I thought I would share my list of fan artists. Some have given the Lexicon permission to reproduce their artwork, some haven't and some haven't been asked (but might -- it's not my decision).

http://del.icio.us/madampince/fanart

Makani=cheering charm

Makani made my day today. It was an OK day. Pulled weeds, went to work, grocery shopped and came home, but something made me check my subscriptions to friends' Livejournals and Harry Potter fanartist Makani (Heather Campbell) had posted no fewer than 4 new Potter drawings (3 canon and 1 gloriously noncanon of a goth Ginny) and a portfolio she drew while at the zoo.

Why is simply viewing creativity like this as good as a Cheering Charm? One of the reasons I enjoy Harry Potter fandom so much is because it seems to compel people to write, draw, sing, film, in response. Me? I make lists =). Artists rock.

Makani's Livejournal: http://buttfacemakani.livejournal.com/
Makani's homepage and portfolio: http://acciobrain.ligermagic.com/

Potter party photos

Here are some photos from the party...

Creative people rock (party a smashing success)

Wow. We really pulled it off! Almost 100 people came to my library's Potter party, and oh, what fun it was!

When kids arrived we gave them a packet with trivia games, the Hogwarts school song, a raffle ticket and a wristband. I had decorated the table with a big piece of black fur, a handmade Monster Book of Monsters, and the coolest "flame" lamp that I found on the internet.

The room was pretty simple. We had put up a fake stonework dado on the lower half of the wall. Thania made some delightful Hogwarts House banners, purple lights hung from the ceiling, and Trelawney's nook was lined with a flickering "flame" lamp, old lace tablecloths and scarves. Other tables just had black plastic with hologram confetti sprinkled for sparkle. The food table was decorated with 2 huge spiders but that didn't deter anyone from helping themselves to licorice wands, pretzel wands, oatmeal cookies and Belinda's Burpless Butterbeer. I was puzzled as to what to do with the bulletin boards: one became a window onto a nighttime landscape; on the other (covered in white butcher paper) people were invited to write a letter to J.K. Rowling.

Hagrid (Fergus) knows how to hold the attention of 10-11 year old kids. He taught a class in care of magical creatures. His table had various floating specimens in peanut butter jars, an exploding frog (sadly, it later exploded) in a chest, a kitty crate from a baby boggart that needed to be cleaned out with what appeared to be green slimy droppings, and ziplog bags labeled "Bog dirt" and "graveyard dirt." Bog and graveyard dirt are apparently ingredients for a mash fed to baby boggarts. ew. Other ingredients included unicorn droppings and something so gooey and purple that I didn't *want* to know what it was. He then made everyone's stomach turn by testing a nibble to see if it was OK. Throughout the evening he could be seen offering the mash to everyone. It tasted surprisingly like purple gooey chocolate cake.

Simon Wayfarer the from the Ministry of Magic's Dept. of Education was next. He flossed people's ears, amazed with rope tricks, and did a truly amazing levitation illusion. I can't believe I missed the bit with the vanishing box! Simon is also a member of the Celtic group The Whiskey Bards. I hope to hear them perform soon.

Madam Trelawney told fortunes next, and had us in stitches with her (mis)fortunes like "For the next 5 years the only part of your body that will grow will be your nose" and "Your dog will win best of breed at the Westminster Dog Show in the werewolf category." Was that sherry in your McDonald's cup, my dear?

Professor Snape proved to be a surprisingly good teacher of the Patronus. We all pointed wands (some pointed licorice sticks), thought of a happy moment and shouted "Expecto Patronum" together, which was amazingly empowering. It was also cool to hear what kids said their "happy moments" were. Unfortunately something went wrong and Snape was forced to sing a song! I believe it went to the tune of the Animals song "Don't let me be Misunderstood."

Other professors attending included Professors Sprout (Thania) and Moody (Dennis); I played Molly Weasley in red hair, dowdy shoes and a full bib apron from the 1950's. My job was to make sure everyone got fed (successful) and to keep Hagrid in line (a glorious failure). Thanks also to teen volunteers Yun and Jessica, and to my colleagues Roxanna and Bethany. It wouldn't have happened without you!

Favorite moments included two third grade girls who came in capes their moms made and the sweetest striped stockings. And when Cepheus took 10 points from a Ron Weasley who was heckling Simon's magic act. Next year we should have prefects!

Then we had our doorprize raffle of cool stuff courtesy of Scholastic Bookfairs, and it was all over. Well, except the clean-up. sigh.

Gawd, I love working with creative people who give it their all. It's just such a joyous thing. Pictures coming soon.

Potter party in 2 days

Well, our Potter party is in 2 days! I have managed to dye my hair a lovely shade of garnet (meh) and found the perfect apron to wear as Molly.

In my search for party decorations I visited two Halloween stores. Boy, is Halloween a racket! It's kind of surreal to go into the shops while they're still unpacking. Boxes litter the floor with werewolf arms and legs, spiders are tumbled in another corner, while the mechanized gravestones screech and moan around you. I'm not sure what I'll do with a glitter spiderweb tattoo or gloves that have long, pointed fingertip extensions, but I bought them anyway. I guess I can see why the stores are so successful!

Subscribe to the Harry Potter Lexicon

The Harry Potter Lexicon's "What's New" page now has an RSS feed so you can get news of site updates, resources and new Potter canon, and comment on it too. Link: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/whats_new.php.

I have been busy on my character pages for the Lexicon. Dobby now has 2 pages all to himself. A character profile and a page of his quotes.

I have also been adding screen captures from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." The photos of the actors were looking really dated because Emma, Matthew and Dan have grown up so much!

And finally, on Harry's page I have added a chart of all his Christmas presents: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/harry.html#skills

Scoop's & QQQ updates

I am happy to say that the Quick-Quotes-Quill and Madam Scoop's Index to J.K. Rowling Interviews are both fully up-to-date with info from the latest interviews.

As pleased as I was to see the reference to Madam Pince, my favorite new tidbit is the news about Petunia. This is the exchange:

Unknown (1): I'm 18 years old and I'm from New York. My question is, in Half-Blood Prince, Aunt Petunia is said to be oddly flushed when Dumbledore announces that Harry will be returning only once more to Privet Drive. Does this mean that Aunt Petunia harbors a hidden love or fondness for Harry and the connection he provides her to the wizarding world?

JK Rowling: That's an excellent question. And like all the best and most penetrating questions, it's difficult to answer. But, I will say this. There is a little more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye and you will find out what that is in book seven.

Jo's statement calls into delicious question her relationship with Vernon, and is making everyone wonder who of Lily's friends Petunia met. Think back to the ending of Book 5 -- weren't you surprised how Petunia took charge? What was in the earlier letter(s) between Petunia and Dumbledore? OK, OK, so Jo only said there was a *little* more to Petunia, but I can dream, can't I? There is so little theory wiggle room these days.

"Those Shoes"

Anyone who knows me is aware that I have a bit of a thing for shoes. Well, one of my favorite pairs recently is from a company called "Those Shoes." I called them a few weeks before I left for Lumos and asked for a pair of dragon shoes. They rushed them so that they would arrive in time and the results took my breath away. The owner Mik said that his daughter does the painting and that she was a big Potter fan. I feel capable of magic when I wear them!

Transcript of 8/1 JKR reading posted

I have posted a transcript for the "Harry, Carrie and Garp" Press Conference, reading and question/answer session that occurred 8/1/2006 at Radio City Music Hall: QQQ. Tonight I will revise it to include a better version of the questions and answers from Dissendium. Thanks to Roonwit for telling me about it!

Lumos pix on Flickr

I have posted most of my photos from Lumos! [Link to Flickr]

Leaky Mug Trivia Contest

Here are the questions we prepared for the "Leaky Mug" podcast Trivia Challenge. Remember, they only had 10 seconds to answer.

Hogwarts
1. Name a female Hogwarts Headmaster.

2. How many secret passages are there out of Hogwarts, including those that are now blocked?

3. Why does Harry make his first visit to Dumbledore's office?

4. Despite Madam Pince's protectiveness, we have seen one Hogwarts library book desecrated. Who did it? (actually 2 possible answers)

5. After falling through Fluffy's trap door, Hermione says they "must be miles below the school." What floor did they fall from?

Magical creatures
1. In Greek mythology, Hercules 2nd labour was to kill the nine-headed Hydra, but each time he cut off one its heads, two would grow in its place. How did he stop this from happening?

2. What magical creature is usually mistaken for a hedgehog by muggles?

3. Invisibility cloaks are woven from the hair of this ape-like creature native to the Far East. Name it.

4. Harry injured his finger during a Magical Creatures class. What was the magical creature that did it?

5. Of all the dragon species in the world, how many are native to the Americas?

6. What real-world phenomenon can be explained by the existence of the Mooncalf?

Potions and plants
1. What does Neville's Mimbulus mimbletonia spray?

2. What did the Weasley twins use it to sort the boils problem caused by their Fever Fudge, thanks to Lee Jordan, (whom Harry recommended it to, after Hermione offered it to him for his bleeding hand)?

3. What does Hermione say Amortentia smells like to her?

4. What visible effect results from taking Pepperup Potion?

5. Snape can give you a potion to make you do almost anything he wants - what concoction does he say he'll offer Harry if he wants to hear nonsense?

6. For what purpose does Hermione make a Sleeping Draught?

Jo's website
1. In the Links bookcase, what is the title on the book used to decipher the Rune tiles in the Rubbish bin?

2. What portkey would you click to enter the Rubbish Bin section?

3. To get a chart called Revision of the plan of Order of the Phoenix you need to draw something on a blank paper. What shape do you draw?

4. Dialing PEEVES into the cell phone will gain you what for your scrapbook?

5. On the radio program "Toots, Shoots & Roots" Toots gives advice to a witch about reviving her dead Flitterbloom. What is the host's first name?

Death Eaters
1. What name did JKR originally use for the Death Eaters?

2. At what two times have we seen Tom Riddle supported by his friends, before they officially became known as Death Eaters?

3. What Death Eater injured Hermione and knocked her out in the Dept. of Mysteries?

4. Between Voldemort's downfall and return, he went how many years without seeing his Death Eaters?

5. Who were the only two Death Eaters who, on the night of Voldemort's return, were expected to join him in the graveyard and did not?

6. What was the spell we saw the Death Eaters use (or try to use) most often in the Battle of the Dept. of Mysteries? (2 answers accepted)

Places
1. In English, what is inscribed on the entrance to the Mines of Moria in Lord of the Rings?

2. Mrs. Figg lives on which street?

3. After picking up his gold from Gringotts, what was the first shop Harry visited on his first trip to Diagon Alley?

4. Name the shop in Hogsmeade where Hermione buys a pheasant-feather quill.

5. On Harry's eleventh birthday, Hagrid buys him a hamburger in a restaurant with plastic seats. Where is this restaurant located?

6. What's the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite?

Wands
1. What wood was used to make Lily's wand?

2. The shortest wand we've seen thus far belonged to Umbridge, and we know Hagrid's was the longest before it was snapped. Who owns the longest wand still intact, of those we know?

3. At the core of Harry's wand is a single tail feather from Fawkes; at the core of Ron's is a unicorn tail hair. What are the other two substances we know can be used to make the core of a wand?

4. What happened when Harry's wand chose him in Ollivander's shop?

5. Who had a mahogony wand?

6. Name another wandmaker besides Ollivander.

Quidditch
1. How many players are allowed in the scoring area at one time?

2. A foul which happens when any player other than the Seeker touches the Golden Snitch is called what?

3. During a match in 1884 a Snitch escaped after eluding capture by the Seekers for six months of play. Name the moor on which it is said to still be living wild?

4. Cobbing is a foul involving excessive use of which body part?

5. What professional Quidditch Team did Oliver Wood join after leaving Hogwarts?

6. Who wrote The Beaters Bible?

Spells
1. We've seen several Permanent Sticking Charms in action, mostly in 12 Grimmauld Place. What's the only use of this charm we've seen outside of that building?

2. Name three of the spells written in the margins of the Half Blood Prince's Potions book.

3. What is the incantation that Cinderella's fairy godmother uses to transform the pumpkin into her coach, according to Disney?

4. What wizard/witch do we know to have used a Stealth Sensoring Spell, to detect intruders?

5. What does the incantation "Peskipiksi Pesternomi" do?

6. What spell does Sirius use to get the knocked-out Snape out of the Shreiking Shack?

Famous Wizards
1. What is Morfin Gaunt's relationship to Lord Voldemort?

2. According to Wicked, what was the good witch of Oz's original name before she changed it to Glinda?

3. What killed Abraxas Malfoy?

4. What family's coat of arms is on Salazar Slytherin's ring?

5. Name the only non-Gryffindor student to fight in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

6. Name three wizards with alliterative names.

7. What is Umbridge's middle name?

8. How many times does the name Sirius appear on the Black Family Tree, not counting erasures?

9. What specifically is the status of Order of the Phoenix member Caradoc Dearborn?

10. Who invented Floo Powder?

Miscellaneous
1. Name a canon reference to Monty Python.

The answer key is available at the Lexicon.

Lumos t-shirt sightings

One of the things I love about a conference like Lumos (a weekend with other people just as obsessed as you -- or more) is the clever t-shirts and buttons people make for the event. Here are my favorites from Lumos this weekend in Las Vegas:

Free Lucius
Blast-Ended Skrewt (below the t-shirt the seat of their pants displayed a large burned-looking blast hole)
Support House Unity
Snozz fetish (with picture of the greasy one)
You looked a lot better on MySpace
Watch out for the flying monkeys
Dumbledore Lives (Fawkes will see to that)
Republicans for Voldemort
Got Snape?
Badger Bitches
Fight evil -- read books
Werewolf rescue unit (extremely ripped)
I trust Severus Snape
Full Contact Wizard Chess League
Bumbling babbling band of babboons
Ten points from Gryffindor
I believe they're still alive
Cornelius Fudge does make goblin pies
Good grammer costs nothing
Coed naked quidditch
Save Ginny
Its nice to be someplace where the wizards know your name (book club)

What's you're favorite Potter t-shirt?

Leaving Lumos

Well, I am a bit teary-eyed as I say good-bye to friends that are leaving today. Lumos was everything I'd hoped for and more. Steve, John, Bel, Brenda, Caroline, April, and all the new people I met have made me carry around a smile inside for the last 4 days. Yes, the sessions were great, the costumes were amazing, and our hotel room palatial, but these conferences are ultimately about shared community, and that's why it is difficult to say good-bye.

Today we had a tremendously exciting and inspirational meeting about the future of the Harry Potter Lexicon. Please watch our "What's new" page if you want to be "in the know."

What can I say, Steve, but you're the man. It is a true joy to be on your staff.

I will be writing more and posting photos soon. I wish you were here!

My new license plate

Heh. My new license plate! Take that, Scabbers!

My Potter Party, 9/6/2006

Here's the announcement for my library's Potter Party in September:

Harry Potter Party

Wednesday, September 6 from 6:00 – 7:45 p.m.
Columbus Branch Library
4350 E. 22nd St., Tucson, Arizona

Leave your muggle clothes at home while you spend an evening at Hogwarts School of Magic and Wizardry!

> Get sorted into your House at Hogwarts
> Lessons on dangerous magical creatures from Hagrid
> Fortunetelling by Professor Trelawney
> A visit from the Ministry of Magic’s Education Dept.
> A surprise from Professor Snape
> Fabulous door prizes courtesy of Scholastic Books, Inc.

Limited to 60 Potter fans (grades 2-12) & their parents
Registration begins August 1st.
Send an owl, stop in, or give us a call: 791-4081.

And here's a photo from last year (Rita and Hagrid)

Saturday Night Live

I can't resist posting a link to an old Potter spoof from SNL, featuring Lindsey Lohan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn2siiKWzfg&mode=related&search=

It has its moments.

Off to Lumos soon!

Soon I will be leaving for Lumos 2006, a Harry Potter Convention held in Las Vegas, NV. It's become a little difficult to think of much else. Here is a list of the sessions I hope to attend:

Muggles and Mental Health: A Psychoanalytic Perspective on the Inner World of Harry Potter
Chris Blazina, Ph.D. (Tennessee State University)

This paper discusses some of the deeper psychological meaning found within the Harry Potter series. Discussion topics include: challenges that Harry Potter faces in an attempt to make peace with his inner world as viewed from the perspective of various psychoanalytic writers; a practical way to make peace with damaging people (past and present) and protect against their influence by developing a psychological "Patronus;" other implications.

Why Voldemort Cannot be Named: Traditions, Taboos, and Language in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter (Presentation)
Jeanne M. LaHaie (Western Michigan University)

The fact that most of the wizarding world is reluctant to utter Voldemort's name has often puzzled fans and scholars; however, some answers can be found in primitive naming taboos.

This presentation examines ancient name superstitions, particularly medieval Jewish magical practices whose adherents believed they could command powerful beings by calling their true names - but that the unprepared would be destroyed. In this way, inhabitants of Rowling's world are largely afraid to utter the name Voldemort and inadvertently summon this demonic figure. This presentation will further examine Harry's use of Voldemort's name as key to his ultimate success.

Ideas to Paper: Fan Artwork of Harry Potter
Glockgal (moderator), Cathybites, Halogirl, Hill. Sherant, TBranch

With a world as lush and fascinating as the Harry Potter series, it is no surprise that this world has been illustrated in countless different ways. Come join these talented fanartists for a discussion on Harry Potter artwork and the influence of fandom on the fanartist community.

The Parameters of Speculation: The Different Ways of Thinking about the Possible Endings of the Harry Potter Saga
Penny Linsenmayer (moderator), John Granger, Steve Vander Ark, Joyce Odell

As we wait for the last novel in the Harry Potter epic and try to digest the penultimate book in the series, serious readers privately and publicly speculate about what they believe could happen, must happen, or just what they want to see happen in the finale. Rather than explore specific topics of this speculation ("Will Harry die?" "Did Snape really kill Dumbledore?"), the Parameters of Speculation panel will discuss from a variety of perspectives what constitutes "valid" or "quality" speculation and what paths are almost certainly dead ends.

Fan Overboard! The Problem and Perils of a Closing Canon
Sara Goetz

Have a theory that was forced to walk the canon plank? Favorite character sent to Davy Jones' Locker before their time? Shipwrecked? Come share the story of your personal experience with the canon-bomb. What put the final bullet in your favorite speculation? How do you stay interested once your pet theory is rendered impossible by the author's vicious pen? What does the rapidly closing canon mean for fans whose joy is to wonder and wager on future books? We'll discuss these questions, the countdown to the end, and where fandom will go from there - or so we think.

What Does the Future Hold? Predictions and Theories for Book Seven (Roundtable)
Allison Ross

Come join us for a lively discussion of book seven! What really happened in Godric's Hollow that Halloween night? Who will die next? What's really up with Snape? How will it all end? Share your own theories, ideas, and opinions about the ending of the series with other fans. Have fun speculating as we all anxiously await the release of book seven!

Managing Your HP Fan Club (CEU)
Lauren Shaw

How do you start and maintain a Harry Potter fan club? From recruiting members to gaining finances, we can help. Atlanta HP began two years ago with one person and has grown to almost 100 members. Topics we will be discussing include membership, meet ups, web presence, activities, events, and more. Our poster will have advice on organization, keeping drama within the group to a minimum, including everyone (no matter their ship preference), and further issues. You can't be the only adult in your area who loves Harry Potter, so why not start a fan club?

HP Lexicon staff to mediate Leakymug Trivia Contest

We at the Harry Potter Lexicon are busy concocting some diabolical questions to ask at the Leakymug podcast trivia challenge at Lumos on Saturday July 29th at 6:30 p.m. The contest is Mugglenet vs. Pottercast; the Lexicon staff will be moderating. Fun, eh? Post some questions you think we should ask! Here are the categories:

Magical creatures
Potions
Jo's website
Wizarding money
Death Eaters
the Ministry of Magic
Quidditch
Famous Wizards
Places
Hogwarts
Wands
Spells

Pottercast and Mugglenet staff will have 20 seconds to answer each question.