Victoria Times Colonist:

Vancouver pot advocate Marc Emery and co-author Dana Larsen—who manages a Vancouver company that sells marijuana seeds by mail-order—have penned a pot-filled parody of the Harry Potter boy-wizard saga entitled, Hairy Pothead & The Marijuana Stone.

The book is set for release on Oct. 20 and follows the high-jinks of Hairy, “an ordinary boy—until he is rescued by a biker, gets a glass bong, rides the magic bus, lives in a Cannabis Castle, attends Hempwards School of Herbcraft and Weedery, learns to play Qannabbi, does battle with an evil policeman, and smokes tons of fine marijuana.”

According to the book’s website: “Hairy Pothead is a hilarious and subversive parody which will be enjoyed by anyone who gets a kick out of cannabis.”

Yeah, I went to the website, where you can read excerpts; and I think you will definitely require large—possibly fatally large—doses of ganja to find this lame ripoff funny. Let’s hope they get their asses sued off. Now that’s entertainment.

Over to you, Ms. Rowling.

the blog québécois

As with most of my reviews (as Marty or Andrew) I made an effort to read the comments that are made below my reviews of whatever it might be. As you can imagine my review over at Blogcritics, the first on the site after the release of the book, has so far gotten 355 reviews and they come in almost hourly.

Even the link to the review on this site has nearly 60 comments. For the most part the exchanges over the book have been fairly civil with only a few fanboyz and girlz having a go at me or any others who are the slightest bit critical of the text.

What has struck me most amusing in the indepth analysis provided in the comments by some. There is at least one person who has read the book three times already. There is more indepth analysis of the latest Harry Potter book in the comments than we hear about the latest Bin Laden video nasty.

I, and others, have been criticised for reading the book to fast, taking it too seriously or not taking it serious enough. There is certainly mixed opinion on this book especially about the ending and the epilogue. The manner and outcome of Harry’s final contrestemp is a source of great debate.

One thing that is for sure, is that baring very few troll commenters, the comments universally praise the series and its author. Time will tell if Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) [Adult Edition] stands the test of time and where it finally ranks in the listings of all seven books.

As you may or may not already be aware, members of the Watcher’s Council hold a vote every week on what they consider to be the most link-worthy pieces of writing around… per the Watcher’s instructions, I am submitting one of my own posts for consideration in the upcoming nominations process.

Here is the most recent winning council post, here is the most recent winning non-council post, here is the list of results for the latest vote, and here is the initial posting of all the nominees that were voted on.

And attempts to make all parents paranoid about the new book. In an act of absolute stupidity Childline have warned parents that children might suffer “bereavement” if Harry Potter actually snuffs it in the new book. Talk about a desperate attempt for publicity. If a child cannot tell the difference between a ficticious character and a real person they have got serious freaking problems. Childline seems to be setting JK Rowling and her publisher up for daft lawsuits.

Millions have children have read Tolkein and not needed bereavement counselling over the deaths of characters in that book. Do the dolts at Childline think children are that pathetic?

NB: I have written my own dire ending for Potter as part of a contest to conjecture on his demise.

Hat tip: K T Dodge.

As you may or may not already be aware, members of the Watcher’s Council hold a vote every week on what they consider to be the most laink-worthy pieces of writing around… per the Watcher’s instructions, I am submitting one of my own posts for consideration in the upcoming nominations process.

Here is the most recent winning council post, here is the most recent winning non-council post, here is the list of results for the latest vote, and here is the initial posting of all the nominees that were voted on.

This is as part of this contest, being held to celebratet the upcoming final book. I leave it up to you to determine which part of the contest its aimed to win.

_________

Hermione buried her head in Hagrids vast chest weeping, unable to look at the scene around them. Hagrid, his huge hand comforting his young friend stood stoically staring at this hut. He tried not to think of his loss and remember what was won and what was lost.

Hermione sobbed, but I never got to say I loved him, Hagrid. She sighed, its so unfair he had to die.

Yes, I know Hermione, it was unfair that he had to die to protect all of us.

But why? She was barely audible but Hagrid could hear her voice vibrating through his body.

Hermione, Dumbledore warned us that one of us was going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save us all. He tried to sound strong, not letting his emotion get the best of him, we will rebuild it all better than it was before.

I dont care about it all, she scream sobbed, all I care about is that Harry is gone forever. I will never get to see him again.

I know its hard on all of us we all loved ole Harry. He summoned his strength, Dumbledore warned us all about the fight that came.

Smoke from filled the sky as Hogwarts and its surroundings burned in the night sky. Its students and teachers did all they could to put out the fires that filled the area. They were all out of the building and trying to come to terms with the utter destruction of their beloved school.

Slithrin House was participating in the fight against the fire. Long forgotten was their leader Malfoy and their hatred for the other houses. They all got stuck in

Dumbledore looked on and smiled at his students. He was pleased to see that they were all there to help save what they could. He had known that Harry would not see old age since he first came to Hogwarts.

Harry Potters demise help end the terror of Voldermort once and for all. The students would not understand until they were older what had gone on that fateful night.

Dumbledore had already warned Hagrid that he would be leaving Hogwarts soon. His stewardship was over, his task was done and his end was nigh.

I wonder is Ron and the rest of them are alright, Hermione mumbled.

I am sure he is alright, he is a tough lad, Hagrid patted her on the head not believing what he was saying.

Just then one of the towers of Hogwarts fell to the ground. Slowed in its descent by a quick handed group of students with their wands.

No one noticed Harrys wand lying on the ground in the middle of the grounds smoking and mangled.

Dumbledore mentally prepared his farewell speech. He would address the students once the fires were put out. These dark times will soon be over

Just then Hagrid spoke up, seeing Dumbledore near by. Come on Hermione lets see if we can do anything to help.

She reluctantly moved towards the rest of the students removing her wand from her pocket hand in hand with Hagrid.

The End

I am sure that you are all well aware that there is a Harry Potter book about to drop, especially if you have been anywhere near a bookstore of late. Now I have read all of the books and even reviewed most of them for blogcritics.com In fact I seem to remember that I got quite a bit of flack from Harry Potter fans when I dared to suggest that the last one was not the best of the series. I thought Hermione came across as a bit one-dimensional. She is a great character and it would be a shame to see her shuffled out of the way.

Now like everyone else I am looking forward to the next instalment of the series as much as anyone else old. I am less enthusiastic about the movies, but then that is the case with any movie baring a very few. The Harry Potter phenomenon is quite amazing really and its great to see a book that gets so many children and adults reading. I am sure its rather rare at any time that there is a book that is so fondly read by both parents and children alike.

Naturally that has been blast back from a few of the more puritanical of Christians who want to ban children from reading the book on the grounds that there is suddenly a huge rise in people joining Wiccan groupings of varying types. And we get closer to the re-release of the next book there will be more of this sort of nonsense.

I am sure I will do, as I did last time, the same thing when I get the next novel. I will promptly sit down, TV off, and read the thing cover to cover in one sitting. Then I will rush to write a review and start to watch the fur fly.

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is comingwill be you be able to resist the temptation to get on board the broomstick?