The American Prospect dissects Conservative reaction to Harry Potter.

A Burden of Proof interview with Nancy Stouffer, the woman who claims to have copyrighted the term “Muggle” in 1984. (Slate notes that the word was also used by Lewis Carroll 100 years ago.)

Washington kids talk about Harry hype.

Is a Harry Potter musical in the works? (via Broadway Stars).

New unconfirmed rumor from Dark Horizons: Hagrid the Groundskeeper may be played by Martin Bayfield, a 6’10” former rugby player.

Timothy Noah of Chatterbox suggests using the sorting hat to pick Presidential running mates. He earlier opined that Presidents should be chosen the same way.

Parents, look out! Harry Potter is infecting the minds of children everywhere with sinister tales of witchcraft…Beware.

An NYT profile of Jim Dale, the man who narrates the Potter audiobooks (and creates up to 125 voices for Goblet.)

Salon comments on what Hollywood could learn from the Potter opening.

According to a Scholastic survey, 43% of Rowling’s readers are adults (Link courtesy of Publisher’s Lunch.)