Friday, July 09, 2004
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Gnomes and Unlikely Associations

Right. After getting sorted into Slytherin the other day by the harrypotter.com sorting hat, I get this. Went to JennaMae's cool website, took the shipping quiz, and lo and behold, another contradiction of long held beliefs:


You sail the SS Fire and Ice! The Romeo and Juliet-like romance of these two appeals to you. Two families on different sides, and then these two... got it? They might not look compatible at first sight, but as they say... opposites attract. These two defy everybody's resistance of their romance. You must be a rebel, then. :D

What is my world coming to?

~~~~~~~~

This morning on the way to work, my thought was on... gnomes. Yes, gnomes. The gnomes tinkering away on a flying ship about to crash into a moon. It's the novel I'm reading, see. "Darkness and Light". I found it amusing how different the gnomes are in the setting of Krynn and in the Potterverse.

In Krynn, gnomes are avid technologists, constantly inventing, going on life-quests to create machines or prove theories. They distrust magic, and are creatures of science. In the Potterverse, gnomes inhabit gardens and are considered pests. And while the gnomes of Krynn distrust magic, JKRowling's gnomes are indications of a wizard home. I wonder what the original concept of gnomes is really like. But that's a question best answered by research which I plan to do after I finish this lovely book by Dan Brown.

Meanwhile, the Principle of Hydrodynamic Compression and Etheric Volatility, Controlled by the Most Ingenious System of Gears Invented by the Illustrious Inventor, He-Who-Utters-Polynomial-Fractions-While-Sleeping... blah blah blah... that's about 1/4 the whole name of the gnome ship that's about to crash into the moon. It's called Cloudmaster for short.... I think I'll let it continue it's journey to the moon. Literally. :p

Thursday, July 08, 2004
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Code and Decode

What kind of a Blogger am I?



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What kind of a Geek am I?

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1

GE d-@ s: a? C++ U? P? L E?
W++>+++/$ N o-- K- w+ O---
M- V? PS PE+ Y+ PGP- t 5 X+
R tv+ b++ DI++ D? G e++>+++
h!>h r++ z?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

What's your geek code?

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Moving on to reading new books! Yay! Went looking through the Powerbooks booksale and found "Dragonlance Preludes Volume 1: Darkness and Light" at like 1/4 the original price, and in very good condition. There were other books, but I always find stories about the Companions interesting. So... read read read! =)

The funniest book title I've ever seen in a while: "Ferrets for Dummies". Just a fine and dandy gift for all admirers of the Great Ferret, Draco Malfoy. :D :D :D :p

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Thanks to Prefect Colin Creepey, I am now reading Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons". (Yup, I'm actually reading three books now. Fun!) In "The Da Vinci Code", Dan Brown made a Harry Potter reference. This time, here's another one for the geeks:

"The process was remarkably simple. He accelerated two ultrathin particle beams in opposite directions around the accelerator tube. The two beams collided head-on at enormous speeds, driving into one another and compressing all their energy into a single pinpoint. He achieved extreme energy densities.” She started rattling off a stream of units, and the director’s eyes grew wider.

Langdon tried to keep up. So Leonardo Vetra was simulating the compressed point of energy from which the universe supposedly sprang.

“The result,” Vittoria said, “was nothing short of wondrous. When it is published, it will shake the very foundation of modern physics.” She spoke slowly now, as though savoring the immensity of her news.

“Without warning, inside the accelerator tube, at this point of highly focused energy, particles of matter began appearing out of nowhere.” Kohler made no reaction. He simply stared.

“Matter,” Vittoria repeated. “Blossoming out of nothing. An incredible display of subatomic fireworks. A miniature universe springing to life. He proved not only that matter can be created from nothing, but that the Big Bang and Genesis can be explained simply by accepting the presence of an enormous source of energy.”

“You mean God?” Kohler demanded.

“God, Buddha, The Force, Yahweh, the singularity, the unicity point—call it whatever you like — the result is the same. Science and religion support the same truth—pure energy is the father of creation.”

Cool. Sounds like something from ANH Obi-Wan's description of the Force as an energy field that surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds us all together. =)

Wednesday, July 07, 2004
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Basic Physics for the Starwoid Part 1

Because I'm feeling especially geeky today, and because Rej has been asking about work ("what is this thing you call work?")...

Work = Force x displacement
In order for a Force to qualify as having done work on an object, there must be a displacement and the Force must cause the displacement.
Illustration: When you use the Force to send an opponent smashing into a far wall, you are in fact, doing work. :p

Power = Work/time = ((Force x displacement)/time)
Power is the rate at which a certain amount of work is done. The faster the work is done, the higher your power rating.
Illustration: You are a more powerful Jedi if you can use the Force to send an opponent smashing into a far wall faster than another Jedi can. :p

Acceleration = (Force/mass)
The greater the mass, the greater the Force needed to accelerate the object.
Illustration: unfortunately, Master Yoda teaches another type of Physics altogether. to him, only the Force is significant. :D

 

Mark Evans is not the Half Blood Prince

Well, she pulled one on the fans again (and now she wants to go into hiding! LOL). =)) JKRowling has finally answered the question: What is the significance, if any, of Mark Evans?. Since JKR announced the title of the 6th book, fans have been speculating as to who the Half Blood Prince really is, and Mark Evans seems to be a popular candidate. (Background: Mark Evans was mentioned in passing in Order of the Phoenix, as a kid recently beaten up by Dudley Dursley and his gang. Observant fans have taken note of him since he shares the same surname as Harry's mum). But according to the woman-known-in-the-HP-universe-as-Goddess, Mark Evans is just a background character, and won't play any part in the last two books. Yes, despite the fact that he shares Harry's mother's maiden name. But then, Evans is a common British surname.

So there. Mark Evans ain't the HBP. One down, several more theories to be shot down.

How about Draco Malfoy then? What if he was actually adopted? What if he's the HBP? Hrmmmm...

*sits back, and waits for JKR to shoot this theory down*

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Went excavating some HP stuff, and found some interesting Q&A from an old JKR interview:

What was the original working title of Chamber of Secrets?
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I quite liked that title, unfortunately the story bore no relation whatsoever to the title by the time I'd finished.

Are there any special wizarding powers in your world that depend on the wizard using their eyes to do something?
Why do you want to know this?

Well because everyone always go on about how Harry's got Lily Potter's eyes.
Aren't you smart - there is something, maybe coming about that, I'm going to say no more - very clever.

Heeeey! Order of the Phoenix! Occlumency! Legilimency! Cool! =)

And how vital is book four in the whole seven book series to Harry?
Crucial. The fourth is a very, very important book. Well you know because you read it, something incredibly important happens in book four and also it's literally a central book, it's almost the heart of the series, and it's pivotal. It's very difficult to talk about and I can't wait for the day someone's read all seven and I can talk completely freely about it. But it's a very, very important book.

Hrmmmm.... So what else is important about GoF besides the ending? Hrmmmm.... guess I'd better read again.

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While we're on the subject of Harry... For the fans of the Prisoner of Azkaban movie (like me), this PoA film quiz might be of interest.... I only got 8 points coz I only watched it once! Heheheh. How many points did you get? =)

Tuesday, July 06, 2004
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The Amazing Race 5 debuts tomorrow in the US! I looked the teams over in the show's website. The field doesn't look too interesting, but I guess we'll see when the actual challenges begin. I wish this time, a team that I actually like will win. Heheheheh. =)

Oh, and apparently, there were legs shot here! Yippeeeeeeee!!!

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So how do you go about organizing a convention? You would think, after about 2 years or so of experience in that field, I would at least know where to start. But I never do! *sigh* Must figure this out soon.

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The Harry Potter Lexicon was recently chosen by JKR for her Fan Site Award. Wow. They do deserve it, of course. Now I hope PHP gets that award too. Heheheh. Come on! It's okay to dream, right? :p

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Oooooooh. Star Wars Lego Game on PC/PS. Cute! Aren't Lego characters adorable? =)

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It is a sad fact of life that some people just will not get contented with what is given them. They cannot even be thankful for the fact that blessings, however small, actually come their way... and that they are luckier than most, who don't even get anything at all.

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Blogger hacks are so cool. =)

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Got this from Tazana's sig at the PHP forums. I thought them really cute, so....



Monday, July 05, 2004
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in the hot seat yet again?

with recent developments in the wizarding world, i think i just might be in the hot seat yet again. zoiks.

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was FINALLY able to figure out some of the secret website contents in JKRowling.com. there are now 3 things in my scrapbook. the one from the cellphone, the one with the medallion, and the one about the book. i still can't figure out the potions thing, although i think i got the leaf. 3 more ingredients to go....

Saturday, July 03, 2004
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Alright, I can live with that

Weeks after finding out that JK Rowling decided to name Ginny Weasley "Ginevra Molly Weasley", I looked around at name dictionaries and discovered that "Ginevra" is the Italian equivalent of "Guinevere".

Although it sounds logical, I've always thought Ginny was no "Virginia". The names of the Weasleys seem to follow the trend of being somehow related to the names of royals, and there was no royal named Virginia, really. Some say that she could have been named Virginia for Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.

But I've always thought she would somehow be named after Guinevere. After all, Guinevere was a royal, King Arthur's queen. And from a certain point of view, Ginny IS Arthur's queen... Arthur Weasley's only daughter. =)

So with all that... I guess I can live with that name. =)

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GUINEVERE f
Usage: English, Welsh Mythology
Pronounced: GWIN-e-veer
Old French form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, which is composed of the elements gwen meaning "fair, white" and hwyfar meaning "smooth". In Arthurian legend she is the beautiful wife of King Arthur. Her betrayal of her husband with Mordred prompted the battle of Camlann, which led to the deaths of both Mordred and Arthur. Later versions of the legends tell of her adulterous affair with Sir Lancelot.

 

hrmmm... haven't been updating here. having too much fun at the LJ.... if you know where it is, i'm there. =)

happy birthday, marky! love you. =)

Thursday, July 01, 2004
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Yep. I really have a thing for werewolves...


You are Remus Lupin! You are the best Defense
Against the Dark Arts teacher Harry's class has
ever had. Cool, practical, and pleasant, you
are a great teacher and give the students
hands-on lessons and a reasonable amount of
homework. You have a mild disposition,
excellent morals, and good sense. The most
important things to you are Dumbledore's trust
and the people in your life. Unfortunately,
you're a werewolf, which tends to disrupt your
life. Your condition makes it extremely
difficult for you to get or hold a job, so you
are pretty shabby looking. Mistrusted by the
majority of the wizarding world, you
nevertheless have a good heart. You teach Harry
how to conjure a Patronus. -art by Tealin-


A Harry Potter quiz: What short-term Hogwarts professor are you?
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