What if Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had to close? Not because of the plot of an evil Dark Lord, but instead because of funding. Surely, the wizarding community would be up in arms, asking their legislatures to do something about it. Recently, due to an enormous need for budget cuts, the United States …read more!

Warning – this has nothing to do with Harry Potter. Well, actually it does. This weekend I walked 39 miles. I am crazy, I knew that long before this weekend! See, here is the deal. If I were a wizard, I’d find a magical cure for breast cancer. I’d make sure all my loved ones …read more!

Have you read that one book? For many of you who know what I’m talking about, you know what I mean, for others, you might be confused. Remember that one book? That “one book” that makes sense, that helped you connect with the world, the one that you could not stop talking or thinking about. …read more!

Working on a Harry Potter fan site during the heyday of book releases meant that well meaning fans would send us spoilers before the book release. Two weeks before the release date, I received a book page in my in box, with the fate of the headmaster highlighted in a putrid green. I sat in …read more!

I’ve read more then my share of novels, and I’ve noticed trends in content that often times reflect the culture of our society. Entertainment Weekly (EW) published an online article, “Girls Gone Dark” where it sites what they see as a new trend in books. The trend, as they see it, is toward a darker …read more!

Have you ever read a book and realized that you walked away with more then a story? Have you ever sat contemplating a choice and wondered what your favorite literary character would do in that situation? If you have, then you’ll understand the purpose of The Harry Potter Alliance’s “What Would Dumbledore Do” campaign. (go …read more!

This weekend I experienced the love that was LeakyCon 2009. There were so many wonderful presentations to attend, friends to meet for the first time, friends to see again that it was too big for just a few days. LeakyCon was truly the Con made of awesome. I saw so many awesome presentations, but I …read more!

Don’t you wish you could fly? I often watch Sorcerer’s Stone, with Harry’s first ride on a broom, wishing I could have just one ride. Unfortunately, that brand of magic is something I can’t make happen. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that obesity rates in our children have tripled since 1980. As a …read more!

On April 9, 2009, this 11 year old young man left his school, went home and hung himself. Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover had endured endless teasing at school. His mother begged school officials for help, but the bullying didn’t stop. His 12th birthday would have been April 17th. You can read more about Carl’s story here. …read more!

A little over 6 months ago my family realized how much we depend on electricity. After Hurricane Ike, we had to spend 2 weeks totally without electricity. One of the many things we all discovered during these two weeks is the joy of reconnecting with our families and our neighbors. We learned how many things …read more!