Net Trends: Potter Book Is E-Commerce Milestone. The current count at Amazon as I post this is 315,671 preordered books. Amazon and FedEx are working together with the American publisher Scholastic to preship the books so that they’ll arrive on Saturday. Me? I’m hitting the local bookstore at Midnight.

According to Salon, Pottermania has swelled the ranks of English boarding schools. But, as the author notes, this may not be such a good thing.

The official Potter film site doesn’t have much at the moment, but it does give a release date (11/16/01) and contact information for aspiring Harry’s. Current rumors about the Chris Columbus movie have Tim Roth starring as Professor Snape, Maggie Smith as Professor Gonagall, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid the Groundskeeper, and Rosie O’Donnell as Molly …read more!

Muggles for Harry Potter is an organization devoted to protecting the beloved Potter chronicles from censorship in the US and elsewhere, and they want your help.

The hullabaloo over Goblet of Fire is in full effect. Where will you be getting your copy?

Harry v. Dorothy. Star-crossed lovers?

Laura Cantwell of Fairfax, Virginia (just a short fifteen minute drive from yours truly) may just be the luckiest kid since Charlie of Chocolate Factory fame. She managed to score a mistakenly released copy of Goblet of Fire, a full week before its worldwide release!

George Will, the notoriously cranky conservative, sings the praises of Potter.

Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron, a Ghost in the Machine production devoted to the continuing adventures of Harry Potter. Explore and enjoy!