Those who have envisioned a scenario in which Harry passes through the veil and returns in Deathly Hallows (and I post this because I know we’ve got a few commenters here who have proposed that), as well as believers in the “Stoppered Death” theory, need to check out John Granger’s recent post, in which he [...]

[Read more →]

iMonk has published an incredibly helpful and insightful letter, written by a Christian who ministers to Wiccans to an Anti-Harry fundamentalist who claims that Wicca is growing because of Harry Potter.  The whole post, and the links contained therein, are worthy of your attention.   A brief excerpt:
In any case, the current freaking out over Rowling [...]

[Read more →]

I’ve had to hit the “reset” button on all my plans for upcoming posts and podcasts.  I’ve just realized there are only 35 days left until Prophecy 2007, where I will be giving these presentations, none of which are anywhere near completion.  The PubCast I’ve been trying to get recorded for a few days now [...]

[Read more →]

Updates:

HPANA reports: Rowling convinced director Yates not to cut Kreacher from Order, because he’s so vital to Book 7.
LaShawn Barber explains why she won’t be going to see Order.
PubCast is still not done…sorry, folks.  I’ll get to it as soon as I can.

I’ve started this weekend’s pubcast, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to [...]

[Read more →]

Merope Gaunt and the Paradox of Evil and Choice; Why did Voldemort give Lily a choice?; Stephen Fry vs. Jim Dale
One thing I forgot to mention in the Fry vs. Dale discussion: After hearing Dale first and then listening to Fry, Fry really had to grow on me. Didn’t like him at first. [...]

 

 Hog's Head PubCast #28: Evil and Choice [27:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1497)

[Read more →]

Note: This material will appear in an upcoming PubCast (along with further commentary and other related subjects) either midweek or this weekend.
Rowling has given us a paradox concerning evil in the Harry Potter series. At face value, the lesson is very simple, and it has been stated by Dumbledore in two ways:
“It is our [...]

[Read more →]

John Granger has returned to regular blogging, and he’s begun with an interesting post on the Machiavelli theories that have appeared on multiple HP sites and in various comments here at SoG. Be sure to stop by HogPro, read the post, and jump into the discussion.
In SoG news, I’m planning to try to sneak [...]

[Read more →]

Social Justice a peripheral theme; Dumbledore’s mistakes; the Dursleys and 12 Grimmauld Place; E-Owl: Will Voldemort be redeemed?
Hog’s Head PubCast is available through iTunes.
Pub Menu

Eroej Kab on Dumbledore and house-elves
Hog’s Head PubCast #25: House-elves
Mrs. Lovegood on 12 Grimmauld place part 1 and 2
Garuda: Hindu Phoenix
J.S. Batchler: What Will Harry Do?

[...]

 

 Hog's Head PubCast #27 [26:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1573)

[Read more →]

In researching the phoenix for my Prophecy 2007 presentation, I was struck by Newt Scamander’s (JKR’s) description of where the phoenix lives from Fantastic Beasts:
It nests on mountain peaks and is found in Egypt, India, and China. (p. 32)
Egypt I knew about; the Bennu from the Book of the Dead is the original mythological phoenix. [...]

[Read more →]

HogPro is back
Behold a Phoenix takes on a Harry Hater
“Tea and Suffering” - the Christian meaning of Ron’s tea leaves
Eroej Kab - “Dumbledore, the Death of Sirius, House Elves“

If you’ve been following the discussion underneath PubCast #25, you’ll be particularly interested in the last link above.  Eroej Kab has told me that he will not [...]

[Read more →]

Deathly Hallows Deluxe Edition Cover Art; Harry as Uniter; Be Nice
Remember that you can subscribe through iTunes, and that all podcasts are archived here.
Pub Menu

HPANA: Deluxe Edition Cover Art
HP Progs: Draco’s the Dragon?
Rules for Commenting
Loving Lupin

a2a_linkname=”Hog’s Head PubCast #26: Deathly Hallows Deluxe Edition Cover Art”;
a2a_linkurl=”http://thehogshead.org/2007/06/09/hogs-head-pubcast-26-deathly-hallows-deluxe-edition-cover-art/”;
[...]

 

 Hog's Head Pubcast #26: Deathly Hallows Deluxe Edition Cover Art [26:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1499)

[Read more →]

Commenting on the place of the werewolf (and other evil creatures) in history and literature, Siamak Tundry Nacify offers the following observation:
Throughout history, we have attributed onto others what we viewed as undesirable in ourselves, finding scapegoats upon which we could pin our notions of fault and blame and whose sacrificial death then could bring [...]

[Read more →]

Wow.  Cover art for the Deluxe Edition of Deathly Hallows has been released.  What do you think?  Norbert?  Did anyone predict the trio would be riding a dragon at some point in Book 7?  (HT to commenter Michael).
I’ll chat a bit about this on this weekend’s PubCast.

a2a_linkname=”Deathly [...]

[Read more →]

House-Elves - Happy Slaves? ; House-Elf predictions for Book 7; Can Harry’s blood disarm horcruxes? ; E-Owls
Pub Menu

Behold a Phoenix on Harry’s Blood
What Happened to Ollivander?

a2a_linkname=”Hog’s Head PubCast #25: House-Elves”;
a2a_linkurl=”http://thehogshead.org/2007/06/03/hogs-head-pubcast-25-house-elves/”;

 

 Hog's Head Pubcast #25: House-Elves [29:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1215)

[Read more →]

I attempted to record a podcast tonight, but it’s oppressively humid here in Rochester, and since I can’t run fans because of the noise interference, it was far too uncomfortable to record.  I’ll try to finish it tomorrow.  (This gives you an extra day to send me E-Owl questions, by the way).  In the meantime, [...]

[Read more →]