A Few Updates

So over the past week, I have been very busy writing my commentary over CoS. I have finally completed it and it is in the final processing stages, which means it will be posted as soon as Calie edits it. I'm not sure on the exact posting day, but it will definitely be out by Wednesday. I have been procrastinating a lot recently, and therefore used my time to add some more to both of the fun lists, which I just reposted. Calie is making me look like a total slacker. On a side note, Calie and I might be starting a new project for the blog... more details on that later. I guess that is all for now.
Mischief Managed.
Paige Cyrus

Another Fun List!

I have finally gotten the chance to upload my other fun list. Here it is! (Trust me, these work.)

How to Annoy Someone Who Hates Harry Potter
1. Relate everything they say to the Harry Potter books and/or movies.
2. Say that they look like a Harry Potter character of the opposite gender.
3. Quote Dobby.
4. Hog their computer 24/7 while on an HP website.
5. Read to them whenever they can’t escape (Like when they’re in a car or elevator); if you don’t have the book, recite from memory.
6. Give them Harry Potter merchandise and demand that they treasure it forever.
7. Rewrite their favorite song with Harry Potter lyrics and sing it constantly.
8. Send multiple Harry Potter related e-mails to them with a misleading name.
9. Sing a Sorting Hat song, pretend to forget what comes next, and ask them if they know in a loud voice.
10. Make them play Quidditch with you.
11. Give them and all of their friends Harry Potter names.
12. ... act offended if they don’t know the history of their character.
13. Always speak with a British accent when around them- especially if you’re not from the U.K.
14. Refer to real places as Harry Potter names.
15. …Throw a fit if they don’t use these names.
16. Draw round glasses and lightning bolt scars on all of their pictures and posters in permanent marker.
17. … deny everything…
18. Give them long lectures on how the Prophecy relates to everyday life.
19. Give every room in their house a Harry Potter codename (The living room is now Entrance Hall) and refer to them if they ask you to get something.
20. Change them immediately if they figure out the new name.
21. Constantly ask them if they can see Thestrals too.
22. …Refuse to tell them what a Thestral is.
23. Say “Anything off of the trolley, dear?” in a British accent when offering food.
24. Pretend that you can do magic, and demonstrate this often.
25. Constantly rearrange their furniture and blame it on indecisive house elves.
26. Yell “Get away Death Eater!” when they come near you.
27. Constantly compare them to Mrs. Figg.
28. … laugh evilly when they ask who Mrs. Figg is.
29. If they ask for advice, say “Three turns should do it” in a serious voice.
30. Complain loudly that their pictures don’t move.
31. Break any awkward silences by saying “How about them Chudley Cannons?”
32. Tell them a random Harry Potter joke.
33. Use a book quote as a punch line for the joke, and then laugh hysterically.
34. ...make sure the joke isn't funny.
35. Use the titles "You-Know-Who" and "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" to refer to random people when talking to them.
36. ... make sure that no one knows who you're talking about.
37. Write letters to people (friends, neighbors, politicians) and ask them to join S.P.E.W., and ask them to correct it for you.
38. ...hand fliers out to random passerby, and tell them that they need to “join the cause.”
39. Ask them if you should report Dumbledore's death to your local authorities.
40. Call them often asking if Percy Weasley is there and hang up before they can reply.
41. Pop up in place you're not supposed to be and insist that you were Apparating.
42. When you're late for something, blame it on your broken Time Turner.
43. Deck yourself out in your Harry Potter gear when you know you'll be going to a public place with them.
44. Sing “Weasley is our King” to them constantly.
45. Walk past a wall over and over again, stopping randomly to bang on. When you receive weird stares, shout, "What?! I'm looking for the Room of Requirement!"
46. Every time you see them, demand an explanation of why they don't like Harry Potter.
47. Play the soundtracks while they're stuck in your car.
48. ...add commentary. (Oh, this is where they...)
49. When one of the movies is on TV, call to remind them.
50. If they ask for your phone number, tell them it's 6-2-4-4-2.
51. Say "Alohomora!" every time you open a door.
52. Sort every person you meet into one of the four Houses, and ask them what they think.
53. “Sort” that person into Hufflepuff.
54. Follow them around while acting out a scene from the book doing very annoying voices for all the characters. Ask them to join in, and act offended when they don't.
55. Count down to some obscure Harry Potter event like when it's Dumbledore's birthday, or when a Harry Potter DVD comes out. Keep saying: “87, 86, 85, etc. more days!” in the middle of every conversation.
56. …Smile when they ask why you're counting down.
57. Start talking about a dead character and suddenly burst into hysterical tears.
58. …Refuse to be comforted.
59. Ask them to help you study for your O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's.
60. Knit them hats and insist that you're just trying to liberate them.
61. Talk to their pets and insist that they're Animagi.
62. Treat them to lunch and then tell them that you can't pay for it, because the restaurant doesn't accept Galleons, Sickles, or Knuts.
63. Run up to random men with long, dark hair and scream, "SIRIUS! I always knew you were alive!" while in public with them.
64. Point at electronic devices and say, "Oh, the things Muggles come up with!"
65. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper about the evils of our society (Namely, Death Eaters and discrimination against friendly werewolves), ask them to help or for advice.
66. Send them numerous letters informing them that they’ve been accepted to Hogwarts (and make a big deal of it when in conversation.)
67. Carry around a shiny rock and tell everyone that it’s the Sorcerer's Stone.
68. Say everything in a sing-song voice like Luna Lovegood.
69. End every conversation and/or letter with "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
70. Tap all brick walls you encounter with an umbrella, when you can’t get it to open, ask them to.
71. Say "Lumos" when turning on a light.
72. Point and grunt and insist that you're speaking Troll.
73. Refuse to wash your hair and explain that you're going for the “Snape look”.
74. Spend hours at a time trying to get your broom to fly in their company.
75. Invite them over for the night and force them to watch all the movies with you.
76. When they leave the room, restart the movie and tell them it's the Time Turner scene.
77. Shriek loudly and insist that you're speaking Mermish.
78. If they ask you to retrieve something, shout "Accio!" loudly.
79. ...when this doesn't work, throw a fit.
80. Demand to know exactly what the function of a rubber duck is.
81. Talk like Hagrid.
82. Point to their garden gnome and say, "Silly Muggles don't have a clue about what gnomes look like!" in a very loud voice.
83. Take them to a CD store and make them help you look for the newest Weird Sisters album.
84. Yell "Avada Kedavra" anytime they give the anti-HP lecture, then fake excruciating pain as your soul rips in two.
85. Write "Enemies of the Heir, BEWARE!" in red paint on their wall.
86. When confronted about the message, refuse to take responsibility and/or explain it further.
87. Hum Hedwig's Theme constantly and be sure to include any crescendos, decrescendos, accents, etc.
88. Write a petition to have Hedwig's Theme become the new National Anthem. Ask them to sign it.
89. Wear all black and explain that you're in mourning over the death of "The Only One He Ever Feared."
90. ...when asked for an explanation of this cryptic title, cry hysterically.
91. Replace their entire movie collection with the Harry Potter films.
92. If they ask you about the weather, say, "Mars is bright tonight."
93. Insist that they subscribe for your new Harry Potter newsletter and when they say no, act like you've been seriously offended.
94. Make them watch Potter Puppet Pals or A Very Potter Musical with you on YouTube.
95. Knit them a sweater each year and put “From The Weasleys” on the gift card.
96. When taking the stairs with them stop and insist that you have to wait because the staircases are moving.
97. When they turn off the lights, make a loud cracking sound and pretend to Apparate to the other side of the room.
98. Carry around a hip flask and refuse to drink anything they offer you.
99. Toss a small handful of dirt into their fireplace and yell "Diagon Alley!"
100. If you go to a train station with them, ask random people if they know where you can find Platform 9 3/4. Do this in an extremely fake British accent.
101. When your friend is checking sports scores, ask them if they can find out the score of the latest Quidditch match.
102. If they refuse, complain that you missed the semi-final match between the Chudley Cannons and the Wimpbourne Wasps and you need to know who will be advancing to the finals against the Tutshill Tornadoes.
103. At your next sleepover, draw a lightning-bolt scar on your forehead, and just as your friend is drifting off to sleep, grab your forehead and start screaming that you dreamed Voldemort killed your parents.
104. Insist that they go to a premiere with you and make sure they go.
105. Invite them to go somewhere with you, then go to a Harry Potter related party.
106. Throw them a surprise Harry Potter birthday party.
107. … invite their closest friends and family.
108. Reset their desktop picture to a Harry Potter one… constantly.
109. Put on a ridiculously patterned robe and tell them to get under it with you because it’s an Invisibility Cloak.
110. … sneak up behind them wearing it or follow them around.
111. Tell them that their favorite hat looks like Quirrell’s turban.
112. Change their ringtone to ‘Hedwig’s Theme'.
113. Make them a wand.
114. …Make yourself one, and when in public, take it out and attempt to teach them how to use it properly.
115. Buy them Harry Posters and demand them to put it on their wall.
116. Constantly ask them to name the 12 uses of dragon’s blood.
117. Ask them to play chess with you and ask them why their set is broken because the pieces don’t move.
118. Ask them if they would like a properly functioning one from Diagon Alley.
119. Make them Butterbeer or any other HP food.
120. Buy them the first book for their birthday or holiday.
121. If they don’t read it, steal it and rewrap it to regift it on another holiday.
122. Write “I must not tell lies” on their hand with a red pen if they fall asleep.
123. Steal all of their clothes and leave only a robe in their closet.
124. Write in all Harry Potter character’s birthdays or event dates on their calendars.
125. Ask them to celebrate random character’s birthdays with you.
126. Give them Wizard Wrock cds.
127. Add them to their iTunes and change the names of the songs to a popular one.
128. …Play them in public places, such as work.
129. Make them a daily calendar that features one quote from the books for everyday.
130. Ask them if they would go to London with you to find the Leaky Cauldron.
131. Buy them tickets to a Harry Potter convention. Make sure they go.
132. Invite them to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with you.
133. Hack their iTunes account and subscribe them to every HP podcast you can find.
134. Ask them to help you assemble the Harry Potter Lego structures.
135. Mix a bunch of random ingredients from their kitchen together and tell them that you’re concocting a new potion. Demand that they try it.
136. After everything they say, add “Nice one, Hufflepuff.”
137. If you see them looking into a mirror, ask them what it depicts as their true desire.
138. Make up a story about an absurd dream that you had the night before and tell them that according to your dream dictionary, something terrible will happen to them.
139. Capture a beetle, put it in a jar, and demand that they guard it with their life so that “Rita doesn’t get away this time.” Refuse to explain.
140. If they are reading the newspaper, ask them to tell you about the latest updates on the Ministry of Magic.
141. Print this out and use it as a checklist!

Mischief Managed.(literally!)
Paige Cyrus

Fun Lists

So as an avid fan of humor and anything Harry Potter related in the subject area, I thoroughly enjoy HP parodies. A few years ago, my cousin and I were browsing random Harry Potter websites, when we came across a 'funny list' section. These were lists such as "How to annoy Voldemort", "How to annoy the Dursleys", "What not to do at Hogwarts", etc. We were inspired to write our own lists and came up with two: "How to annoy someone who hates Harry Potter" and "You Know You're addicted to HP When..." and later submitted them to MuggleNet. As full of sarcasm and spite as I am, these lists reflect my humor and entertainment as well, as I have tried some out on my family, and they've worked quite well. :) I will post a link to a few that I have found, but as for a link to mine, my stupid computer won't let me, so this will be an extremely long post as I will have to write the whole thing out. Grr. I hope you find these as funny as I do!

You Know You’re Addicted to Harry Potter When…

You make a wand and try to use it.
You have a favorite and least favorite Hogwarts teacher.
You call your mentor Dumbledore
You wear robes to school or work.
You’ve made Floo Powder, got in the fireplace, and tried to go somewhere
You have read all of the books more than two times.
You can quote every line of each of the movies
You own the movie soundtracks
You've been to a bookstore at midnight to get the latest Harry Potter book
You made a costume and wore it for that premiere
... And then you stayed up all night wearing it while reading the book.
You've worn a Harry Potter costume in public.
You have round “Harry Potter” glasses
You have a crush on one of the Harry Potter characters.
You've gotten at least one of your friends addicted to Harry Potter.
You knew about the Wand Order mistake before you heard/read about it.
You’re mad at the New York Times for creating a separate Children’s Best Seller List because of the Harry Potter books.
Using clues in the book, you have attempted to find the exact location of Hogwarts.
You have constructed a timeline of events in the Harry Potter books.
You have attempted to figure out the exact ages of all the Weasley children
You have spent time contemplating which main characters will die
You've been to see all the Harry Potter movies on opening night.
You've read Harry Potter fanfic.
You've written Harry Potter fanfic.
You’re a ‘shipper’
You run a Harry Potter fansite.
You visit The Leaky Cauldron daily.
You visited JKR’s website daily in 2007 for any updates
You've met other Harry Potter fans from online in real life.
You've participated in a Harry Potter RPG.
You've dreamed about Harry Potter.
You have more than one Harry Potter poster on your wall.
Each Halloween, there's no question what you'll dress up as...!
You've spent time doing a timeline to keep track of the ages of all of the characters
You have made or attempted to make a full family tree off of the Black family
You've vacationed to London simply to search for the Leaky Cauldron.
You own a black lab named Sirius Black or cat named Crookshanks.
You've knitted a Weasley sweater or a Hogwarts House scarf.
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends
You have a Harry Potter screen saver and/or desktop
When you have a problem, you think "What Would Dumbledore Do?"
You purposefully bought a turquoise Ford Anglia
You have Harry Potter related Podcasts on your iPod
You have at least one Harry Potter t-shirt
You have Harry Potter related dates written in your agenda or calendar
You have bought or listened to Wizard Wrock
You know what “Wrock” is
You own more than one copy of any of the books
You have JKR’s 3 other Harry Potter books
You know what the Scottish Book is
You know additional info on anything that wasn’t mentioned in the books that helps explain the plot or story of an event or character
… You stalked websites to find this info
You know the origins of each character name
You have written to JK Rowling
You have a Harry Potter audiobook on your iPod
You’ve had at least one Harry Potter themed birthday party
You are mortally offended at every mistake in the movie, especially if they were not in the book or if it was unnecessarily added
You have been to at least one Harry Potter Convention
You own a Harry Potter videogame
You have House banners in your room
You can answer any Harry Potter trivia question
You can refer to anything in the books and know its exact location
You have a Harry Potter related tattoo
You have a license plate or bumper sticker relating to Harry Potter
You’ve been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
You’ve made drinks, candies, or foods mentioned in the books
You’ve thrown or been to a Harry Potter themed party
You double checked the Potion riddle in the 1st book
Most of what you say refers to Harry Potter in some way
You have Harry Potter merchandise
You have “Hedwig’s Theme” on your cell phone
… It’s your ringtone
Your favorite shape is a lightning bolt
You take numerous Sorting or character quizzes online
You’ve written your own Harry Potter song
You’ve started a Harry Potter based band singing the above
You have written Harry Potter essays or stories
You have “Erised” written at the top of your mirror
You own Harry Potter figurines
You have named one of your children after your favorite Harry Potter character
You have a Harry Potter related blog
You compare yourself to a certain character
You have a wand
You have said the names of spells aloud, actually hoping for them to work
You bring up Harry Potter in conversation at least once a day
You have attempted to tie up loose ends from cannon
…You made a list as you went through the books; again.
You have argued with people because they got their HP facts wrong
You openly curse Warner Brothers for slaughtering the books for franchise
You have talked to animals to see if they would talk back
You have been “shushed” in movie theatres during a premiere for talking
You have compared your teachers and classes to the ones at Hogwarts
You have tried to Apparate using instructions from the books
You talk about Harry Potter public and receive weird stares from strangers a lot
You have started using British terms from the books (bloody hell, etc.)
You have attempted to make a Marauder’s Map using clues from the books
You have written commentaries on the books
Your friends are afraid to mention anything about Harry Potter around you
Everyone knows that you are the one to ask for information on anything HP

Mischief Managed.
Paige Cyrus

http://http//www.wizardwheezes.net/50things.html
http://http//www.mugglenet.com/funlists/annoythedursleys.shtml
http://www.mugglenet.com/funlists/waystoannoyumbridge.shtml
http://www.mugglenet.com/funlists/123waystoannoy.shtml

Quote of the Week!

It's Friday; time for Quote of the Week!


"If I may speak, Headmaster, Potter and his friends may simply have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Snape, COS 143

I picked this quote because I think it is a perfect summation of many happenings in the novels. It seems that the trio are always caught up in something. It is both humorous and extremely appropriate for the trio. It is one of my favorite quotes, especially since Snape is one of my favorite characters and I thoroughly enjoy the Snape-hates-Harry moments. This quote isn’t particularly strong, important or contain a motif or message behind it really, but I love the simple way that she puts things sometimes.
Sorry for the overly simple quote, but in light of my current reading assignment over Chamber of Secrets, I came across it and thought it would be a slightly quirky addition to the blog. Stay tuned for the commentary over the Chamber of Secrets, which I should be posting next week.

Mischief Managed.

Paige Cyrus

Let the Games Begin

THE FIRST READ THROUGH IS OUT!!!!!!!!!

And with it I have added the read through picture to the right. Simply click there and you will be able to read all the read throughs on the same page. Nifty huh? Well Sorcerers Stone is out and Chamber will follow soon enough.

Mischief Managed,

Calie

Sorcerer's Stone Read Through

       So I am working off the assumption that if you are reading this then you have read the book, and probably don’t need or want me to review the entire plot. I love the first book; there’s something in the mixture of the innocence and reality that shows that life is no cake walk, even with magic. These books are very complex and I can’t possibly analyze everything, so I tried to pick a few important points that will lay the foundation for the rest of the series. 

Character Development

Throughout this book, we see a big shift in Harry’s character. Harry grew up in a house where he was unloved, abused, and looked down upon. His biggest wishes were to be left in the house alone for a few hours and he was thrilled when he got a simple lemon pop. He submitted to all the abuses of the Dursleys without fighting back. When he went to Hogwarts, he was nervous and quiet, but as the year went on and he proved himself through quidditch and had some “adventures”, he grew into the character that we find at the end of the book. At the end of the book when he is clinging to Quirrell until he passes out, he is a far cry from the reserved boy in his cupboard. He became a strong character and a leader. In the final chapters, he shows his strength as a leader and character; something he certainly didn’t have at the beginning of the book. The Harry who arrived at Hogwarts would not have been able to face Voldemort, but he developed into a character that could. 

The development in this book mirrors the development he goes through in the series. He begins as abused and shy, yet he ends up a hero who is able to defeat Voldemort. When Harry is able to look in the Mirror of Erised and sees himself getting the stone but not for his own benefit, it shows the kind of leader he is. He had power thrust upon him, and he never looked for it. He doesn’t want power, wealth, or fame like many other characters do; he doesn’t share many of the qualities of a common leader. 

Theme of Love vs. Hate

At least that is what I’m going to call it. This book establishes the theme of the struggle between love and hate that continues throughout the whole series. From the very beginning, we see the clashing of these values. Voldemort, representing hate, murders the Potters, who represent love, and fails to kill Harry, leaving him with a protection from Voldemort because of Lily’s love and sacrifice for her son. Love is Harry’s greatest weapon in the series. Love is what Voldemort will never understand. At the end of the book, we discover that Harry is imbued with a protection because his mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect him. In many ways this makes Harry the symbol of love, while Voldemort, who has propagated prejudice and killed so many and ultimately reduced himself to something less than human, becomes the symbol of evil and hate. The struggle between these two things is the backbone of the series, so it is no wonder that the entire first book is spent on establishing it. This is one of the two most essential themes of the series, but Paige will have to tell you about the other one. 

The Symbol of the Mirror of Erised

The mirror is one of the most talked about symbols in the series. I contend that it is because of the simple genius of it. The mirror has the ability to show our deepest desires, something that we all too often hide. “I show not your face but your heart’s desire” is the inscription (when read in a mirror or backwards) on the top of the Mirror of Erised. The mirror is both captivating and dangerous: “men have wasted away in front of it.” It is a mirror like none other; it doesn’t simply reflect what is put in front of it, instead it reflects emotions, desires, and intentions.  

In the end of the book it is able to perfectly display the contrast between Quirrell/Voldemort and Harry. When Quirrell looks in the mirror, it shows him giving the stone to Voldemort and using it to make himself and his master more powerful, but Harry only sees himself possessing the stone so that Quirrell can’t have it. The mirror shows both of them having the stone, but the magic of the mirror is able to distinguish what they want most from the stone. 

Some Considerations

This book is amazing because it is able to show fantasy in a realistic way, and it simplifies complex themes and ideas. The characters are not perfect; they all have flaws. This isn’t a story about rainbows and puppies; it is a story about good and evil. J.K. Rowling doesn’t create a generic version of a happy, fun children’s story. But her writing, like her story, does contain some flaws. As you read, you do find some errors where it is apparent that she hadn’t yet created some of the rules that appear later in the series. For example: both Quirrell and Dumbledore do magic without wands, Hagrid vanishes from a train platform, there are a few others, but you get the general idea. This shows that JKR has fine tuned her world as she goes, and I see nothing wrong with that. It has allowed it to become very rich and multilayered, but as you read the first book, you do see a few things that are said to not be possible later on. So as you read, keep this in mind. They aren’t signs of a poor author, but a good one. 

As I said I love this book. It is a very strong foundation for the rest of the series. In many ways, it is a microcosm for the plot of the series. It establishes the role of Harry as the protagonist and the theme of love vs. hate. She creates the conflict that will continue until the end of book seven. This conflict between the forces that stand for good and those that stand for evil are what set this book apart. It is an incredible book not only because of the intricate plot and complex themes, but because of her entire treatment of children’s literature. She didn’t tip toe around real life problems or conflict. She created a plot that had some dark elements, these elements are what make the fantasy realistic. She also created characters that aren’t all good or all bad, they are complex. The heros have flaws and the good guys aren’t always good. By doing these things she revolutionized what a child’s book could be. 

Split Ends to Say the Least

So Paige and I try to stick to talking about the books for the most part. But occasionally there is something that is just so great we have to share it even if it isn't out of the books. Here is a great video from The Onion about the movies. It is well worth watching and is really, really funny. Enjoy.

Mischief Managed,

Calie

A Broomstick User's Guide

So as I was reading, I found that I had a few questions about the most basic operation of broomsticks. After searching the internet as well as Quidditch Through the Ages, there was no basic guide to how to operate a broomstick. So I made one; but I will admit that much of this is just speculation from hints out of the books.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Turning:

To do this, you lean either to the left or to the
right, though you are able to roll all the way over and
continue moving in a relatively straight path.

Ascending and Descending:

To do this, you move the handle up (ascend) or down (descend)

Accelerating and Decelerating:

To do this, you either move your body closer to the broom (accelerate) or you move your body farther away from the broom (decelerate). There is also some amount of magical modifications that play into this; the firebolt accelerates faster than any other broom and have braking charms installed. Starting and stopping actually has more to do with controlling these spells than guiding the actual broom.

Some other important user information:

Brooms have a cushioning charm so that you do not actually sit on the broom, which would be uncomfortable.

It is likely that some amount of protective spells are employed to allow the user to remain on the broom during intense acceleration, deceleration, dives, and sharp turns.

Not every broom is alike and each has its own pros and cons.

The magic that allows brooms to fly does seem to wear away as they age and are used, older brooms begin to slow down for example.


Warning:

Falling off broom could result in serious injury or death, use at own risk.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Well that is it, all the basics of broomstick operation. You may have already mastered all of  this or perhaps you were looking for a little guidance. If you see any errors, something to add, or just want to comment, feel free to do so.

Mischief Managed,

Calie  

Burrow, organized?

So the read throughs are right around the corner. Paige and I have been working on them, but in this little lull in posting I decided to share a really cool article I found awhile back. It is about the layout of the burrow and it incorporates a lot of interesting facts into it. It is also really fun for fans who are nit pickers and like this kind of stuff. I highly recommend it and here it is. So if you have any comments or recommendations just post them below.

Mischief Managed,

Calie

And our quote of the week...

"--yet, sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often. Best to say nothing at all, my dear man." 

-Dumbledore (sixth book)

I love this line. It shows so much of Dumbledore's character. You see simultaneously the funny, light hearted side of him; yet he is completely in control. He is able to wield power and still have a sense of humor. In case you don't remember this is when Dumbledore pays a visit to the Dursleys. I love the entire scene because it is very evident that Dumbledore is having fun and bullying the bullies at the same time. Well leave a comment if you have anything else you would like to add.

Mischief Managed,

Calie

Alas! Plans!

I am happy to tell you that Calie and I have officially began rereading the series to start our analysis type thing that we are doing with the books. 'Analysis' probably isn't the right word; opinion, maybe, but for lack of a better term, I'm sticking to it. Calie will kick this off with the Sorcerer's Stone, and probably about a week later, I will submit my Chamber of Secrets bit. We will be alternating books, if you haven't already guessed. Calie gets the odd years and I will get the evens, but we will do a collaboration on the Deathly Hallows. We don't have exact plans as to what we will be writing about in the posts for the books, nor will they cover all of the same things or possibly even be similar. We have attempted to make a list, but it didn't work out so well because we were undecided. Calie's first post should be around the first week of June, and we aren't exactly when we will be finished with all seven, hopefully my vacation won't throw us off. (Sorry, Calie.) We hope to be done by August, or at least before Calie goes off to college. We'll try not to procrastinate too much.
Well, we hope to do a good job of presenting our opinions of certain things in the books, as well as analyzing certain events and dwelling on characters and their development. Hopefully we don't get too far off and mess it up. Just kidding, we've both been in IB English classes, we know how to analyze. :)
I guess from here, we will leave it up to you to view and probably judge our opinions of the books. Good luck, I hope they're not too terrible.

Mischief Managed.

Paige Cyrus

A few points of business

This morning Paige and I discussed some new ideas for things to do on here. You have already heard about the quote of the week, so here are a few more things to look forward to.

• Once a month we will be doing a post on a character
• We are also going to begin a read through of the entire series. We will post on a new book each week starting with the first book on the week of May 29th - June 4th. 

We have a few other things that we will be starting soon but let's take it one step at a time. So look forward to these in the next few weeks. Also we have added a countdown to the next movie, as you can see to your right, and yes that is also fast approaching. Well that is all for now.

Mischief Managed,

Calie

A New Trend

So while sitting in a Barnes and Noble sipping coffee, the very same that we came up with the idea with this blog, Calie had a flash of ingenuity and came up with an idea: to have a quote featured on our blog once a week. These will probably be totally random, but I think that it would be a good addition to our blog, and show that even if we haven't posted for a while, we're not completely slacking off. Calie and I will switch off each week to pick our favorite quote, and I will start it off since she is out celebrating her graduation from high school. It sucks to be a junior. This quote I think is applicable since we are making headway into summer. So here is my sad attempt. Sorry.

"Another year gone! What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a bit fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts..." -Dumbledore, SS 304

Paige Cyrus

Mischief Managed

Seventh Movie Trailer

Ok, so this is somewhat old news but abc family aired a new trailer for the last HP movie. It looks like it will be pretty cool. But I have a few concerns. I love the seventh book and especially how the events in the battle played out. I think that JKR planned it very precisely, so seeing things like the Harry/Voldemort swan dive worries me. We'll, see what you think.

Mischief Managed,

     Calie

Hello

I'm Calie, the other contributor. So you have already heard from my twin, the oh so awesome Paige. She outlined all of the things we plan on doing here. Since that is out of the way, why don't we get started. I found a great essay about the Weasley twins. I thought it would be appropriate to start things off with that, since Paige and I are the real world Weasley twins. This article is outlining the differences between the twin's personalities. I thought it was really interesting. Well without further ado, here it is. A little long, but well worth the read.

Mischief Managed,

         Calie

An Informal Introduction...

In this blog, we will attempt to analyze the books, while touching on characters, events, plot holes, as well as other random things that are semi-related to Harry Potter, and also just how amazing they are in general. But first, maybe we should attempt to distinguish the roles between myself and my fellow blogger (and twin), Calie. One other fact that you might want to know is that we're not really twins, well, at least we don't have the DNA evidence results yet. We are like real life versions of Fred and George Weasley; I being more like Fred and Calie being like George (according to her). I am more of the leader, and by far the cooler and funnier one as well. Calie is the smarter, more focused one who will probably stay more on topic than I will. Sorry.
The name 'Siriusly Riddikulus' implies two things that will probably be featured in this blog: the serious side to cannon, which Calie think will be her point of view, and the ridiculous one, which I apparently will be focusing on. Calie likes the more indepth view of the series, and has a more analytical approach in discussions. I'm not very good at analyzing things, especially since I am a fast reader and don't easily pick up on hints. Though i enjoy discussing the analytical points, I prefer the more simple view of the series, how it is exactly presented. I think that the whole blog will be our conjointed ridiculousness that we show in real life. Don't expect this to be entirely serious, or entirely ridiculous, but it will probably be more ridiculous and sarcastic than anything. Enjoy!

Mischief Managed.

Paige