Another article from Newsweek – this time on changes to the text for the American editions of the books: The changes in book five are slight, like changing “colour” to “color,” and Levine says the remainder of the series will retain most of Rowling’s original wording. “Mum,” in other words, is no longer changed to …read more!

From Newsweek, an article on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with photos of Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and director Alfonso Cuaron: “Azkaban” is the puberty movie in the Potter franchise-the one, says Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, in which “all those lovely, lovely hormones start coming out.” How will the movie reflect the …read more!

Harry and Hillary aside, books aren’t selling like they used to.

J.K. Rowling has donated her footwear for a charity auction to help anti-abuse charities YWCA Scotland, Women’s Aid, and Rape Crisis.

Religion columnist Terry Mattingly offers a brief article on the examination of witchcraft and Harry Potter at the recent Nimbus 2003.

David Rossie of the Ithaca Journal offers his commentary on A.S. Byatt’s recent commentary: I thought I had myself figured out after all these years. Then along comes A.S. Byatt to identify the real me. Turns out my “imaginative” life, whatever that is, is “confined to TV cartoons, and the exaggerated mirror worlds of soaps, …read more!

Dave Kopel of the National Review begins an article on training pilots to carry handguns by comparing the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to Harry’s latest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Thanks to Jim for the link!

Dover Community News has an interesting article regarding the censorship of fantasy in classrooms. In the two cases looking at censorship, the courts held that “parents simply do not have a constitutional right to control each and every aspect of their children’s education and oust the state’s authority over that subject.”

Kent Online reports that someone has buried one of the Harry Potter books as part of a time capsule in Canterbury. A few weeks ago we reported that school children in England were digging for “Harry Potter and dinosaurs” when they came across a human skull.

From www.screamscape.com comes this rumor: …it seems the head of Universal Orlando was having an open Q&A lunch session with his staff a few weeks ago when he was asked if Universal had any plans to pursue either the Harry Potter franchise or Lord of the Rings for possible future park projects. Bob Gault’s answer …read more!