23 days and counting

[Beefy]

I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

[Alice]

I feel you Beefy.  I keep trying not to get my hopes up that she'll finally stop writing them too.  But here she goes again.

[dc]

23 days for you, maybe....  Some of us will have it before then.

[Beefy]

23 days for you, maybe....  Some of us will have it before then.

Yes, but you won't have time to read it with all those dates you're going on.

[dc]

23 days for you, maybe....  Some of us will have it before then.

Yes, but you won't have time to read it with all those dates you're going on.

I noticed that people were concerned about my social life and trying to set dates for me....

[OBB]

Hey dc, my girlfriend would probably go on a date with you if you give her a copy of the book early.

[nishi]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

[eo000]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

[nishi]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

not necessarily. although if the squirrels are in there as well, we're going out for the evening. i think it would help him build character if he had to buy me dinner.

[dc]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

not necessarily. although if the squirrels are in there as well, we're going out for the evening. i think it would help him build character if he had to buy me dinner.

Buy you dinner?  You told me that *making* you dinner would help me build character.

[nishi]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

not necessarily. although if the squirrels are in there as well, we're going out for the evening. i think it would help him build character if he had to buy me dinner.

Buy you dinner?  You told me that *making* you dinner would help me build character.

right. and making my dinner has really taken you about as far as you can go with the whole character thing. time to try a different approach.

[dc]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

not necessarily. although if the squirrels are in there as well, we're going out for the evening. i think it would help him build character if he had to buy me dinner.

Buy you dinner?  You told me that *making* you dinner would help me build character.

right. and making my dinner has really taken you about as far as you can go with the whole character thing. time to try a different approach.

What about the other things you have me do to for you?  Do they build character as well?

[nishi]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

not necessarily. although if the squirrels are in there as well, we're going out for the evening. i think it would help him build character if he had to buy me dinner.

Buy you dinner?  You told me that *making* you dinner would help me build character.

right. and making my dinner has really taken you about as far as you can go with the whole character thing. time to try a different approach.

What about the other things you have me do to for you?  Do they build character as well?

apparently not enough.

[dc]

hell, *i'd* go on a date with you if you'd give me the book early.

would you let him out of the closet, though?

not necessarily. although if the squirrels are in there as well, we're going out for the evening. i think it would help him build character if he had to buy me dinner.

Buy you dinner?  You told me that *making* you dinner would help me build character.

right. and making my dinner has really taken you about as far as you can go with the whole character thing. time to try a different approach.

What about the other things you have me do to for you?  Do they build character as well?

apparently not enough.

Well, if you let me out of the closet more often, I'd get more practice.

[dazie]

  I've gone on dates with him and have gotten...

[Beefy]

Back on topic.  It didn't occur to me before DC said something, so now it's fair game.

You're getting early copies...?

[nishi]

Back on topic.  It didn't occur to me before DC said something, so now it's fair game.

You're getting early copies...?

heh. i asked about that yesterday. he told me i'd get turned into a newt.

[Beefy]

I can live with being a newt, as long as I can still read the book.

[dc]

Back on topic.  It didn't occur to me before DC said something, so now it's fair game.

You're getting early copies...?

Actually, every book (or dvd or cd, etc.) that has an "on sale date" has the on sale date because they're shipped ahead of time.  That way, the product can be in position, and the big guys who handle individual store distribution don't have an advantage by selling early.  We get them and sit on them until the sell date.

[Beefy]

I'll be a professional squirrel fluffer if you hook me up, bud.

[dc]

I'll be a professional squirrel fluffer if you hook me up, bud.

That involves a lot of work.....

[OBB]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

[dc]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

DNA transplants?  That's got to be one of the strangest pick up lines I've ever heard.

[nishi]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

[dc]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

[OBB]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

[dc]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

Yeah, but imagine the opportunities for her to "build my character".....

[nishi]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

how many children do you plan on having? maybe a small family??

otherwise, i'd need a bigger house.

[nishi]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

Yeah, but imagine the opportunities for her to "build my character".....

forget that. i'm going to pimp all the yous out so i can pay off the rest of my student loans.

[Alice]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

how many children do you plan on having? maybe a small family??

otherwise, i'd need a bigger house.

Squirrel is in the closet.  Our squirrel.  Think we need a bigger house.

[dazie]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

how many children do you plan on having? maybe a small family??

otherwise, i'd need a bigger house.

DC's family is all pretty small...

[eo000]

I would name all of my children DC if I got an early copy. Plus I'd get them DNA transplants so they can grow up to be you.

you're scaring me.

Imagine it!  More of me around!

You'd need a bigger closet, Nishi.

how many children do you plan on having? maybe a small family??

otherwise, i'd need a bigger house.

DC's family is all pretty small...

Are you saying she could get by with some extra shelving units, instead of expanding nishi manner?

[Beefy]

Are you saying she could get by with some extra shelving units, instead of expanding nishi manor?

[eo000]

Are you saying she could get by with some extra shelving units, instead of expanding nishi manor?

* eo000 goes back to the stupid corner.

[Jessie]

Are you saying she could get by with some extra shelving units, instead of expanding nishi manor?

* eo000 goes back to the stupid corner.

You've been spending a lot of time there.

Maybe we should rename it in your honor or something.

[eo000]

Are you saying she could get by with some extra shelving units, instead of expanding nishi manor?

* eo000 goes back to the stupid corner.

You've been spending a lot of time there.

Maybe we should rename it in your honor or something.

Good point.

[Beefy]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

[nishi]

i was just reading in newsweek that rumors are running that it's dumbledore..... in which case you won't be hearing for me for a while after this weekend, as i will be in mourning.

if anyone is into the audio version of the books, jim dale will be reading live on the today show tomorrow morning. and if you've not heard him, he's amazing. i like reading the print versions of these, but he is fantastic.

[dc]

There's a new Harry Potter book coming out?  I hadn't heard....

[BigDun]

i was just reading in newsweek that rumors are running that it's dumbledore..... in which case you won't be hearing for me for a while after this weekend, as i will be in mourning.

if anyone is into the audio version of the books, jim dale will be reading live on the today show tomorrow morning. and if you've not heard him, he's amazing. i like reading the print versions of these, but he is fantastic.

Me and my wife ♥ Jim Dale. We are re-listening the last book in preparation for reading the new one. We are on tape 13 of 17. I hope we can finish it before Saturday.

[nishi]

i did my re-reading a couple of months ago. although i think i'll pick up the last one and read the last quarter or so of it between now and friday night.

when i was narrating regularly, i had a lot of different character voices at my internal beck and call, but jim dale - he is just astounding. hundreds and hundreds of characters, and they're all distinct. not overdone. he's an amazing person.

[dc]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

I know who dies....  It's Harry.  The next book is titled "Ron Weasley and the Unnecessary Sequel".

[Beefy]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

I know who dies....  It's Harry.  The next book is titled "Ron Weasley and the Unnecessary Sequel".

Well, I have been thinking Harry should drop out of school to escape this rut he's in.

[dc]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

I know who dies....  It's Harry.  The next book is titled "Ron Weasley and the Unnecessary Sequel".

Well, I have been thinking Harry should drop out of school to escape this rut he's in.

I'm on chapter 22, and he's just been expelled for dealing crack to first-years.

[BigDun]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

I know who dies....  It's Harry.  The next book is titled "Ron Weasley and the Unnecessary Sequel".

Well, I have been thinking Harry should drop out of school to escape this rut he's in.

I'm on chapter 22, and he's just been expelled for dealing crack to first-years.

Has Hermione turned to prostitution like we always knew she would?

[nishi]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

I know who dies....  It's Harry.  The next book is titled "Ron Weasley and the Unnecessary Sequel".

Well, I have been thinking Harry should drop out of school to escape this rut he's in.

I'm on chapter 22, and he's just been expelled for dealing crack to first-years.

Has Hermione turned to prostitution like we always knew she would?

see, i didn't think that. i always assumed she'd just pimp out the house elves.

[dc]

Hey DC, got your hands on it yet?  If so, who dies?

I know who dies....  It's Harry.  The next book is titled "Ron Weasley and the Unnecessary Sequel".

Well, I have been thinking Harry should drop out of school to escape this rut he's in.

I'm on chapter 22, and he's just been expelled for dealing crack to first-years.

Has Hermione turned to prostitution like we always knew she would?

If by "prostitution", you mean that she charges for it, then no.  She might have the same number of male companions, but she doesn't charge.

[Alice]

Hey nishi?  Have you ever had to narrate any Irvine Welsh books?

[nishi]

Hey nishi?  Have you ever had to narrate any Irvine Welsh books?

no. and that's a good thing because my scottish dialect is not my strong suit. i have to listen to nothing but scottish dialect tapes for days and days in order to come close and even then i'm afraid that i just sound like i'm doing a bad sean connery impression.....

[DownSouth]

Shuck it Trebek

[Beefy]

Shuck it Trebek

Yeah, I was going to post a picture of him.

[Beefy]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

[nishi]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

i'm curious about why you'd be impressed....

[dc]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

I know who it is!!!

[eo000]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

I know who it is!!!

you like being evil, don't you?

[dc]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

I know who it is!!!

you like being evil, don't you?

I do.  I'm still contemplating posting spoilers in random threads.....  Like this -- The "Half Blood Prince" is Michael Eisner.

[Beefy]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

i'm curious about why you'd be impressed....

Because it would break from a successful formula to do something truly exciting and different.  Take a character you have an emotional investment in and show that sometimes good doesn't always win.  Have the cojones to kill THE major character of the series and then take the story in a new, unforeseen direction.

Of course, killing Harry wouldn't inherently be cool if it wasn't handled in a unique and credible way.  Otherwise it's just death for shock value.

Then again, shock value might not be that bad a thing with a staling formula.

[eo000]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

I know who it is!!!

you like being evil, don't you?

I do.  I'm still contemplating posting spoilers in random threads.....  Like this -- The "Half Blood Prince" is Michael Eisner.

hahahahahhahaha.

[dc]

Midnight tonight.

Rumors are running rampant that one of the three leads will actually bite the dust this time.

I doubt it would be Harry, though I would be impressed if it was.

i'm curious about why you'd be impressed....

Because it would break from a successful formula to do something truly exciting and different.  Take a character you have an emotional investment in and show that sometimes good doesn't always win.  Have the cojones to kill THE major character of the series and then take the story in a new, unforeseen direction.

Of course, killing Harry wouldn't inherently be cool if it wasn't handled in a unique and credible way.  Otherwise it's just death for shock value.

Then again, shock value might not be that bad a thing with a staling formula.

Without revealing anything, this book in my opinion, at least, is decidedly more adult in tone and structure.  Less focused on action than on structuring the entire story and completing it for the final part.  Things happen that have to happen for the story to reach its conclusion.  Even the death has to happen.

Plus, for those of you with a vested interest in Hermoine, we find out that wizards and witches "come of age" at 17, which gives you a year less to wait.

[Beefy]

Let's see if I can articulate this properly.

Each of the novels, thus far, have followed the same basic formula: Harry has unfortunate summer with Aunt and Uncle before getting rescued by his magic friends, he goes to school where he gets to play Quiddich, learn some new magic that will undoubtably come in handy for whatever lifethreatening foe he will face, and all is somehow and somewhat resolved in time for a bitter sweet goodbye.

Each new tome introduces a new outlandish mystical creature, but with each new one you gain a greater sense of, "Okay, here's this book's latest creature", instead of having a real point to it's existence.  The threat level to Harry increases with each new book, which is nice, as is the adult shift in tone, but the formula remains the same.  Even dying characters have become part of the formula each time, meaning that they hold less weight.  The death in Goblet of Fire held more weight because it hasn't happened before.  In book five and now six, the impact gets lessened because you're expecting as part of the established formula.

What if Harry went to rescue Ron and didn't succeed?  What if he was killed?  It would hold weight as shock value, but also as an abrupt departure from the formula.  What would the seventh book now be about?  There would be no telling how it would map out, and suddenly without an established formula, anticipation for what would happen next would be delicious.

I guess I get frustrated because she created a world and characters that took the world over by heart, but they're dying under the weight of familiarity.

Shut the damn school down.  Increase the threat so that the comfort zone of the usual formula isn't feasible anymore.  Tell us a new story instead of regurgitating the old one.

All that said, I'll probably be at the store at midnight.

[dc]

Let's see if I can articulate this properly.

Each of the novels, thus far, have followed the same basic formula: Harry has unfortunate summer with Aunt and Uncle before getting rescued by his magic friends, he goes to school where he gets to play Quiddich, learn some new magic that will undoubtably come in handy for whatever lifethreatening foe he will face, and all is somehow and somewhat resolved in time for a bitter sweet goodbye.

Each new tome introduces a new outlandish mystical creature, but with each new one you gain a greater sense of, "Okay, here's this book's latest creature", instead of having a real point to it's existence.  The threat level to Harry increases with each new book, which is nice, as is the adult shift in tone, but the formula remains the same.  Even dying characters have become part of the formula each time, meaning that they hold less weight.  The death in Goblet of Fire held more weight because it hasn't happened before.  In book five and now six, the impact gets lessened because you're expecting as part of the established formula.

What if Harry went to rescue Ron and didn't succeed?  What if he was killed?  It would hold weight as shock value, but also as an abrupt departure from the formula.  What would the seventh book now be about?  There would be no telling how it would map out, and suddenly without an established formula, anticipation for what would happen next would be delicious.

I guess I get frustrated because she created a world and characters that took the world over by heart, but they're dying under the weight of familiarity.

Shut the damn school down.  Increase the threat so that the comfort zone of the usual formula isn't feasible anymore.  Tell us a new story instead of regurgitating the old one.

All that said, I'll probably be at the store at midnight.

I think you'll like this one.

[eo000]

have you finished it already?

[ignom]

I'm going to go to the bookstore tomorrow and just scan the last chapter or so.

[nishi]

time for me to hit the trail, kids - i'm heading out to cincinnati for my harry potter read a thon weekend, with a break at noon tomorrow to see mr. depp portray willie wonka.

i'll check in.

don't get into too much trouble.

[eo000]

time for me to hit the trail, kids - i'm heading out to cincinnati for my harry potter read a thon weekend, with a break at noon tomorrow to see mr. depp portray willie wonka.

i'll check in.

don't get into too much trouble.

have fun. 

[Beefy]

Some jackhole just blew the spoiler on TF.   

[ignom]

Some jackhole just blew the spoiler on TF.   

If it's true, the same thing is all over the greenlighted thread.

[Beefy]

Some jackhole just blew the spoiler on TF.   

If it's true, the same thing is all over the greenlighted thread.

So I'm noticing.

[Beefy]

And if it wasn't true, dc would be in here refuting it.

[ignom]

And if it wasn't true, dc would be in here refuting it.

Or he could just be sitting back and laughing.

[dc]

Some jackhole just blew the spoiler on TF.   

If it's true, the same thing is all over the greenlighted thread.

I haven't been to fark today, so I can neither confirm nor deny the rumors.

[Beefy]

The death in book 5 was spoiled for me, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that some tard would do it again. 

Meanwhile, people are stupid:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4682519.stm

[dc]

OK, I've seen the spoilers, but I still will neither confirm nor deny it.  If people over there want to post stuff, let 'em, but I won't do it here.

[BigDun]

I finished it. Anyone else?

[Jessie]

They all die at the end.

[Beefy]

Bought it, haven't started it yet.

DC, how bad was it this weekend?

[dc]

I finished it. Anyone else?

I finished it last Tuesday...

Bought it, haven't started it yet.

DC, how bad was it this weekend?

Not too bad.  B&N as a company sold 1.3 million copies.  My store did reasonably well.  Not what I hoped to see, but still pretty good.  They're still moving right along today as well.

[cnamon]

Yet another thing I just don't get.

How many copies of Star did you sell...that is more up my alley.

[Jessie]

He was dead all along.

[dc]

Yet another thing I just don't get.

How many copies of Star did you sell...that is more up my alley.

Well, our sales of 'Star' were definitely hurt by us pointing and laughing at anyone approaching the counter with it.

[Beefy]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050718/D8BDR9100.html

[Jessie]

The bad guy was really just part of the good guy all along.

[cnamon]

Yet another thing I just don't get.

How many copies of Star did you sell...that is more up my alley.

Well, our sales of 'Star' were definitely hurt by us pointing and laughing at anyone approaching the counter with it.

That is why I went to Border's to buy it.  It is like watching Clueless in there!