The Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station via Google Earth

Public Reading at Barnes & Noble Mall of America

I wanted to do something fun at the reading, but not too overboard. B&N thought it would be neat if I dressed up so I cobbled together a costume. But I didn't want to appear, per se, as "B.K. DeLong the Harry Potter fan wearing a costume" so I created a fictional character.

Incidently, this was my first Harry Potter fan fiction ever. I've been thinking about a Salem-based Witching Community for years...choosing various wizard places under "Muggle Protection Charms" and even coming up with their own version of Diagon Alley. Maybe some day I'll see if I can write it.

Professor Millennial Epoch

That's a Time Turner on my arm, not a wristwatch and the broach pinned to my cloak is that of Clan MacIntyre, my Scottish Clan. The shirt and pants were both made by a friend () and the cloak is a Moresca from long, long ago.

Harry Potter Spoilers (Safe Post)

Very few events have put me through such a strong range of emotions but the past couple of weeks has been a great exception. I'm more excited than I can express, nervous, anxious, manic....ups AND downs. Don't take it personally if I seem to express exceedingly strong reactions. I'm trying to control myself.

That being said, I have been spoiled. ROYALLY spoiled. Part of it is my own fault but I did volunteer to throw myself over the grenade of potential spoilers at TLC so others don't have to verify them. Hehehe.

Please keep in mind it is most certainly illegal for me to post them and even sharing them with you has the potential for me to be arrested, fined, and even thrown in jail not to mention how it will horribly effect the reputation of The Leaky Cauldron. Besides, the email and documents resulting in my spoiledom were handed over to Scholastic and I removed them from my browser's cache.

Those of you seeking to avoid spoilers, I would be happy to assist in verifying whether links carry true spoilers or not. This would not only continue to help you avoid them but it would give TLC the opportunity to hand them to Scholastic to make sure the go offline.

While I admit being spoiled is a bit titalating and fun in some respects, nothing can compare to reading everything in context and succumbing to spoilers will dimish your experience next weekend.

I want to make it crystal clear where I stand so as not to promulgate any misconceptions and to tell you well-meaning, but misguided fans to stop sending TLC potential spoilers.

Also, those of you anti-spoiler should stay away from Aint-It-Cool-News.com this morning. While I won't publicly post anything about most spoiler places, this will spread the Net like wildfire. So avoid the site and I'll be happy to mention when it comes down.

On London: Following the Event

BBC's Web site seems to be incredibly bogged down right now. If you can listen to Windows Media Player, I've found a functioning BBC Live Five Radio link.

I'm also pulling RSS/Atom feeds for two sites at the moment - BBC's In Depth and LiveJournal's "Check-In" Community.

Headed Out Again

Moving the in-laws once again this whole 3-day weekend. I may check email in the evenings but cell is the best way to reach me.

Please take this holiday and remember its origins. Never forget.

Speak Out - Supreme Court Showdown

Well, everyone else has already spoken a bit about the news. I'm encouraging you all to be proactive and do something about it.

I said:

The Executive Branch, (via the Bush Administration), and the Legislature have already been taken from the people and co-opted by neoconservatives and corporate America. The Judicial system is our last, best hope to retain our base freedoms, liberties and rights.