The Public Diary of Me

We were asked to give our thoughts about Banned Books, and here are some of mine.  :)

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I'm going to ask you a few questions.  These aren't easy questions to answer, in some cases, but how you answer these two questions will undoubtedly give not only others, but you, an opportunity to get to know yourself.

What do you stand for?
What do you have conviction about?

For me, the answers are pretty straight forward.  I stand for justice.  I stand for social and economic welfare.  I stand for equality.  I stand for righting wrongs.  I stand for liberty, for freedom of not only speech, but freedom of the thoughts that eventually take form as speech.

For these things, I also have conviction.  Faith and conviction are often lumped into the same catagory, but I wholly believe they are different entities.  Faith is hope, and conviction is truth.  Truth comes in many different forms, truth means different things to different people.  Truth can be fickle, hard to find, easy to misinterpret...but all the the things truth is, there is one thing truth is not.  And that is discriminating.  Your convictions are truths you act to protect, and no matter what that truth is, you fight for it.

This week, and as I live and breathe, I will not only stand, but fight, for freedom of choice.  Banned books are a symbol.  A symptom of a deeper problem.  When people want to take away your right to choose what it is you can and cannot read, what they are really trying to do is dictate what you can and cannot think about.  Imagine a world with no imagination, no creativity, no color.  Imagine your brain being locked into its own private Azkaban by people who claim to be serving "The Greater Good".  Throughout history, in life and in art, these people who work to push your own thoughts and ideas out of your head never win.  Why? you might ask.  Because they are wrong.  They fear what they do not understand, and try to make others pay for their own short-comings.  They don't see books and thoughts as keys to a deeper understanding, but a plague in which the likes need to be squelched into lifeless ash.  However, they fail to realize that out of the ashes, the Phoenix always rises...and the song from the Phoenix is beautiful enough to ebb away any of their misgivings.  The Phoenix is not to be fears, but to be revered.

Do yourself a favor this week.  Pick up a banned book.  Allow yourself to get lost in the story, allow your life to glean from the knowledge of the writer, and allow your mind to produce its own thoughts and feelings about what you've read.  Allow yourself to be part of something bigger than yourself...if only for a couple hundred pages.

I need to post this everywhere, because I'm so damned excited about it.

Hank Green, of the Vlogbrothers on YouTube, IS CONFIRMED for Wrock Wreggies on August 8, 2008 in Chicago.

Yes, Wrock Wreggies in Friday will be benefiting LeakyCon...the conference I happen to be Co-Director of.  This coincidence is fated, I'm just sure of ti.  So, GET YOUR TICKETS (if you plan to be in the Chicagoland area)!  I'm sure we will sellout within a matter of days, now!

Can't wait to meet some of you there!

Love from MJ

So, jennbrad52 and dragonsinger954 both got letters from Jo today after having sent her AMAZING gift of the crafty persuasion.  And I got a little jealous (hey, I'm admitting it) because I've never had the guts to write her a letter myself.  Actually, that's untrue.  I've written her about 1000 times, but have never had the nerve to send it along.  That changes today.  I've written her, and will be enclosing a CD of the Greatest Harry Potter filks of all time (IMHO, of course).

My question is, OMG, which songs do I include?!  I am not just going to send her MY stuff, or the Leaky Sister's stuff...I want to send a great, collaborative CD with some HP filk CLASSICS on it (that I will give proper credit for on the CD jewel case, of course).  Like Prophecy by Bandersnatch and Weirdsis.  (duh, a must)  So, I'm placing a call out for all of you who don't have plans and want to have a say in what goes on the CD of filks I'm sending to Jo.  What goes on it?!

For ideas, you can go to:
Swish And Filk
FilkCast: Potter Style
PotterCast Extra #1 (FilkCast)
PotterCast Extra #2 (FilkCast #2)
PotterCast #18 (A Special Holiday FilkCast)
PotterCast #26 (Green As A Fresh Pickled Toad - The Valentine's FilkCast)
PotterCast #57 (Broadway Filks #1)
PotterCast #58 (Broadway Filks #2)
PotterCast #59 (It's A Dark Mark Life)
PotterCast #68 (Holiday Filks, Part 1)
PotterCast Extra (Holiday Filks, Part 2)

Comments are appreciated!  Good luck, and thanks for your help!

Last night, American Idol hosted their second annual "Idol Gives Back" benefit for charity.  For a multitude of reasons, having to do with both "jobs" I have, I wasn't able to watch...so I came home from work this evening and watched it...and bawled my way through the entire thing.  Heart featuring Fergie, the AMAZING and incomparable Annie Lennox, Carrie Underwood, Forest Whitaker, Bono, so many others...I was just blown away by the heart and soul of the show.  And it strengthened my resolve to the charity of my heart, my sweat, my tears and my soul....LeakyCon 2009.  This production of Idol Gives Back just made me remember what it is that I want to fight for...what it is that I believe in...and what I want to help inspire others to believe in, feel good about and fight for.  Supporting Book Aid International and the Harry Potter Alliance through our efforts has been one of the greatest privileges of my life thus far, and I cannot wait to be in Boston, loving life with a community of amazing people, and doing it all for these 2 amazing causes.  And that makes me want to cry...but tears of joy, of love, of hope for the future.

And it's shows like Idol Gives Back that prove my heart is too full to be able to handle the sort of emotions I feel when watching it.  Oh, and I gave...and I hope if you can...even $1 can make a difference.  Donations are still being accepted at www.americanidol.com.

I was looking for something to eat that was sweet, and easy, for Easter breakfast a few weeks ago, and stumbled upon a recipe for Monkey Bread. One of my FAVORITE memories from High School revolves around Monkey Bread...and preparing it again made me remember a lot of good times, and fun, and reconnected me to a place within myself I hadn't connected with in a very long time. The memory was high school friends, sitting around the island in a non-descript kitchen, each with a fork and a glass of milk, eating off one huge ring of Monkey Bread...talking, laughing, acting like fools. All was right with the world, anything was possible, the world was ours to harvest. Tasting that memory reminded me of that feeling, and even renewed the sentiment.

So, make your own memory with some Monkey Bread! I think it's magic, in an everyday sort of way!

So, on the lastest PotterCast (I think it's 140?!), a new installment was introduced called "Are You Smarter Than John Noe?" 


Anyway, here's where the fun of this comes in.  A PotterCast listener actually made a media clip out of our theme song, with little snips from previous PotterCasts.  Chloe and I were talking about the sheer awesomeness that is having someone actually like our theme song, and Chloe likened having it "media clipped" to a fan-artist drawing a picture.  Obviously this is very different than that, but the concept is similar.  And I just thought the whole thing was kind of fun.  It's only a 28 second song, but it cracks me up a little and I wanted to share it with you guys. 

Click-y if you want to.  And laugh, because I did.

First, the filk I wrote and recorded this weekend is up on Swish And Filk.  Click here.  I will say, though the actual "performance" of this song isn't something I'm most proud of, the lyrics are, to date, the favorite of the filks I've penned.  For whatever reason, my inspirations seem to come from what I think Harry was feeling at any particular moment, and this one was just the conversation he never had with Molly about taking Ron on the Horcrux hunt.  And, I think Molly and Harry should have had it...it would have been good for both of them.   Therapeutic...you know?

Secondly, I'm done fighting.  I feel like fights are being picked around every corner I turn.  There are fights you can win, and fights you can't win.  There are fights worth fighting, and fights not worth fighting.  And the trick to fighting is recognizing when you should enter the ring, and when you should sit a round out.  My hat has been thrown into the ring a fair few times this week...and I just want to say that it can stay there.  I'm walking away.  I don't fight, don't argue...but I don't take pot shots or biting sarcasm well either. So, I'm not going to take the bait.  I'm a pacifist, damnit!  I can fight, I just choose not to, because life's too short of me miserable ALL. THE. FREAKING. TIME.  Do you hear me, world?!  Take your negativity elsewhere.  This Gryffindor is taking a page out of the Hufflepuff Guide to Survival..."Don't Worry, Be Happy."

LeakyCon 2009 LiveJournal Community
LeakyCon 2009 Facebook Community

Thanks to the amazing

questauthor , punkster_b , ginnyismyhero , we are proud to announce that LiveJournal now plays host to a LeakyCon community! Watch it, friend it, comment on it...it will be the "insiders" source for the latest and greatest goings-on of the conference!

 

We are just starting this thing, and so much work has already gone into it. Thank you Lisa, Renee and Miranda, for all your efforts to make this happen. I <3 you...big time. 

OK, this is ridiculous.  I'm so excited that people are talking about LeakyCon on their blogs and stuff, that I think I've taken it upon myself to comment on everyone who has mentioned it so far's blogs.  They are going to be like, "who the heck is this crazy person...I don't know them."  But, I'm just geeked and want to talk about it directly with AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.  In a month, it won't feel like this.  Hell, at the end of the week it might not feel like this.  But months of planning and secrets and excitement is now public...Pandora's box is now open and I just want to share in this delight with our community.  Am I just being ridiculous?  Hahaha, don't answer that.

 I need to write a Christmas filk...for a couple of reasons.

1)  I would like to submit something to PotterCast, seeing as how Sue is freaking awesome and pimped Swish and Filk on the show.

2)  I'd like to submit something to FilkCast and GalleryCast, because I love their show and want to support them by sending in a filk.

3)  To prove to myself that I can do it...even if I'm NOT in the "Christmas" frame of mine!  Rise about and STILL create something great, ya know?

So, HELP!!!  (please)  Any ideas?  A Christmas song you'd like to hear filked?  A Christmas song you like?  OK, a Christmas song, period?!  I'm getting a little spastic...it's 12/06/07 today, and I need to get the backing track, sing it (50 times, because I NEVER stick with my first 49 takes), and get them submitted to the respectable sites/shows.

Thanks for any help/guidance/assistance!!  Much love from MJ

Swish And Filk has a new update today.  One was written by expelliarmas and Aislinn, and performed by Aislinn and I: She's A DeathEater, to the music of ManEater by Hall & Oates.  This is one of my favorites...Expie and Ann really put on the creativity cap and hit the feel for Bellatrix LaStrange directly on the head.  She's a crazy Death Eater, and we all know it!!

The other, I wrote called Death Eaters Scare Me to the tune of "Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance.  Warning: explicit lyrics (but seriously, funny).

There are filks, lyrics and videos galore on the site...go check 'em out and have fun.  Also, we have an open call for Christmas or Holiday filks. Now's the time to use your imaginations and talent and submit some filkage for our community's listening pleasure!  C'mon...you know you want to do it!  *wink*

 

OK, I have been a "Dancing with the Stars" fan since Kelly Monaco was on the show in season 1.  I have watched Billy Ray Cyrus and Jerry Springer get WAY further in the competition than they should have because of their fan base.  However, this season brought us Sabrina Bryan...a truly talented, beautiful and energetic girl who IN NO WAY should have been sent home.

I tried to call in on Monday night to vote for them and kept getting "your call could not be completed as dialed".  I tried for about 20 minutes and still couldn't get through.  I thought the lines were just busy and gave up.  In light of tonight's travesty, I think there was a voting malfunction with their phones, and believe there should be some investigation.  I've e-mailed ABC to express my concern...we'll have to see what happens next.

Who would have thought TV would get me so amped?!  Grrr...it's just irritating when the real deal gets sent packing while everyone else gets a pass.  It's not right.

As promised, my latest filk is up on Swish And Filk.  It's to Daughtry's "Home", you can check it out here: http://swishandfilk.com/leaky-sisters-filks/85/.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed singing it!

OK, here's the deal.  I love music.  I love it because it is something I know...and something I feel I know well.  Music is one of those things that I feel good about, rain or shine, feast or famine...I can hold my own when it comes to music.  I feel much the same way about my knowledge of Harry Potter.  That is why filking is so important to me...it's a world where I can take 2 things that I love more than...well, anything, and combine them for a result that makes me feel super-good about myself, about life, about the fandom in which I am so actively involved.

That being said, the next best feeling to creating a filk that you are proud of is listening to someone else who has produced something you want to listen to.  The person who ALWAYS releases something that I inevitably get stuck in my head for days on end is Bandersnatch.  He. Rocks. Dot. Com.  I'm serious.  If you are into filks, you will know him as one half of the team that brought you "The Prophecy" to Jason Mraz's "The Remedy"...and there was a great video he and "Weirdsis" did with fan art?  Is this ringing a bell?  If you haven't seen it, you can check it out at http://swishandfilk.com/filk-videos/.

Anyway, his latest collaboration, I am beyond honored to say, is now available on the website I have with the lovely Ann and Nina, Swish and Filk.  Bandersnatch and Nina got together and have given us this gift, http://swishandfilk.com/leaky-sisters-filks/80/, set to John Mayer's No Such Thing...and I love it.  Nina and Ann have also blessed the world with a filk to Elton John's "The Bitch is Back"...it's about the Post Deathly Hallows twins...seriously, check it out...it's effing hilarious.  Sometime tomorrow, I also hope there is a filk uploaded that was written by Ann and sung by me, called "I'm Going On", set to "Home" by Daughtry.  I'm particularly proud of this one as well.

The point is, Bandersnatch really is a gift to the Potter fandom, and I hope he never loses his passion for the things I find merit in having passion about: music and Potter.  Run, don't walk, to http://www.swishandfilk.com for some really great contributions.  You will be fangirling him, like I do, in no time flat.

OK, it's time for a LJ update...so I have some things to report.

1)  http://www.swishandfilk.com  - Siriusly, something very cool.  If you love filks, check it out.  The name was my brainchild, but aislinntlc has completely taken the reigns of creative content...and I have to say, it rocks.  Aislinn, SeverineSnape (Nina) and I (all friends from the LeakyLounge http://www.leakylounge.com) got together and started writing, singing and producing filks about a year ago.  My beloved Corner Booth staffers have been a part of a couple of the filks, there are a couple of songs that Ann, Nina and I did together, and a couple of solo productions.  I LOVE FilkCast, and want to be clear that this is NOT a competitor site for that.  We were all talking about making a CD of our favorite filks, and Swish and Filk was born.  It's a site where you can find some great filks, and submit your own filks for others to enjoy and download.  I hope you enjoy it too.

2) FOOTBALL SEASON!!  OK, I live in Michigan, and LOVE my Tigers, my Pistons and my Red Wings...but when it comes to the Lions, I just want to scream.  Year after year, poor management, poor coaching, substandard players and too much money.  So, about 6 years ago, I started supporting the Pittsburgh Steelers...and let me tell you, 3 seasons ago, there was something that happened that made me love the Steelers forever.  His name was Ben Roethlisberger.  I am in love with the man.  He's beautiful inside and out...and  he has made watching football a joy again.  It's so rare that professional athletes are able to keep their heads on straight and their feet on the ground.  This is a kid who, at 22 years old, was thrown into the starting Quarterback position and took his team to a 15-1 season his first year.  When they made it to the play-offs, he gave his entire bonus check to the Tsunami relief efforts.  This is when he wasn't making millions, when he was still green and uninfluenced by the NFL and its "larger than life" personalities.  And after a motorcycle accident that SHOULD have been the premature end to his life, and an emergency appendectomy last season, he's returned...back to his team to start a new season afresh.  And I'm so excited to watch him play this year and see what they can do; as a team and as individuals.

3)  My 10 year class reunion was this past weekend, and I didn't attend.  The joke I kept repeating was, "I got to hate those people for 4 years for FREE back then...why would I want to spend $50 dollars to repeat that experience?"  But, I got curious, and started to feel old this weekend.  I realize I'm only approaching 28, but it seems centuries from where I was at 18...and, though life is infinitely better now than it was then, I started thinking about how life was 10 years ago.  How the world was so full of infinite possibilities and potential...and how there were no responsibilities, no cares in the world, noone to worry about but myself.  The past ten years have been full of so many things; triumphs, defeats, illness, wellness, heartache, love, friendships, betrayals, and (of course) Harry Potter.  So, everytime I get the urge to look back and long for the good ol' days, I am reminded of what it has cost to become the person I am today, and I wouldn't trade any of it.  I am infinitely stronger than I was back then...infinitely wiser...infinitely more sure of who I am, what I want, and the kind of person I am striving to be everyday.  So, to the class of 1997, good luck, godspeed, and I hope that you are as at peace with your lives at this point as I am.

 

There's so much to say...where to start?  The WeasleyCasters have been working OVERTIME to get out a couple of "TheoryCasts" before Deathly Hallows.  The last one will be released tonight, making our collection of pre-Deathly Hallows predictions complete.  We have worked for the past month (maybe even over a month) recording a little something-something everyday...trying to capture the excitement of this time through academic (and humorous) discussion.  So, if you haven't checked it out, and you're looking for something to not only fill those next LONG HOURS between now and the release of DH, but will charge you up about all things Potter, too...we've got the remedy.  Weasleycast.com is where it's at!

A very special thanks to Ranea, Varza, Sheri, Stuart and Scott...for their hours of tireless dedication and endless wit.  To my family at the Burrow...I love you guys.

oh, PS...I'm opening this to the public, but I swear to you....you post a spoiler, you will be punished by the fullest extent of the law.  I've already spoken with Scholastic and have an affidavit for my part in the war on Spoilers, which can (and probably will) be presented in court when the case against sites like Guardian, Photobucket, Yahoo, etc. are sued by Scholastic.  If you want you name and IP address added to that affidavit, be my guest and post your spoiler here.  It will be deleted, and you can anticipate hearing from JK Rowling's lawyers.  I'm deathly serious.

My Harry Potter Spoiler of Doom is: Ginny Weasley gets pregnant by Salazar Slytherin never knowing the ultimate truth Get your Harry Potter Spoiler of Doom

Holy crap...now THAT'S what I call a plot twist!  I'm sorry...the ultimate truth about what?


I'm happy.  Seriously happy.  OotP (the movie), I think, was just what the doctor ordered.  I liked the acting, liked the effects, I cheered AND jeered with an audience full of little Harry Potter freaks like me.  It was awesome.  I think one of the coolest parts about it was, the place was a-buzz with energy.  Before the midnight showing, I got to talking to people about what my theories were about the upcoming book, and when I finally looked up and out of the conversation, I had attracted about 50 people who were all listening intently.  LOL...so, I used that opportunity to pimp the WeasleyCast TheoryCasts.

Speaking of the TheoryCasts...we've released 3 thus far...and I have to say, I've had a blast recording them.  We are trying to knock out as much theory-based talk as we can before we actually KNOW the answers to some of our burning questions...so I think that makes them fun to listen to.  It gets the buzz all generated, and that's what this time in our lives is all about. 

I am overcome by the responses I have received this past week...this week has been challenging, heartbreaking, and all-together rough.  And I KNOW it's not just me...I've talked to so many of you who are going through difficult times, too.  So, I want to thank you.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of love and support I've received...not just this week, but always.

And just when I thought I was all cried out...I arrived home this evening to find a lovely box on my doorstep.  Have I ever mentioned how much I think the Corner Booth staff rocks?  They are so amazing...words cannot express what they mean to me.  They are my friends, my family...and I love them very, very much.  Thank you, infinite thank yous, for being here for me when I'm not prepared to be here for myself.  And, of course, thank you for the gorgeous flowers.  They were a very bright spot in an otherwise tumultuous week.

This is what my flowers look like: courtesy of Google Images.  I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do!

I've been thinking of just staying silent and letting things blow over...but honestly, I deserve the opportunity to address some offenses that have been laid against me.

1) I was asked to be the new Reading Group Manager, and I did accept.  I have, however, recanted said offer for various reasons.  The position was not offered to me before Cathy or Mair tendered their resignations from Leaky.  However, the writing was on the wall when the Stag & Lily was opened.  Not knowing what was happening, or how many RG Staffers Leaky was going to lose because of the long and very public battle between the RG's and Leaky's administration, when the resignations were tendered and the job was offered to me, I truly did think that there wouldn't so much be "retaining" what had been built, but "rebuilding", or managing fall-out.  As the days after Cathy and Mair's resignations proved, there are still many RG staffers who want to carry on at Leaky.  I did not think that was the way it was going to be.  I'll be the first to admit, I was wrong...and I'm sorry.

2) When the job was offered to me, I did not understand that the Reading Groups had already asked that Becky take the reigns.  Then, when it was brought to my attention and I asked about it, I was told that Becky and I would be "co-managers"...like what Cathy and Kim did.  This was a great relief to me, because I thought that the RG staff would be more accepting of someone coming in from the outside if the "experience" was there, too.  Many have asked me, once I found out that Cathy expressly asked that Becky be manager, why I didn't back down at that moment.  The answer is complicated.  I think the best way to explain it is this: 1) I didn't think I was "slapping" anyone in the face if I were coming on as a "co-manager". 2) I knew the RG staff was very tightknit, but I thought (perhaps naively) that they would accept me in a "co-management" position. 3) I had made a commitment to Doris that I would accept.  Never were my actions malicious...never did I think I was doing anything to hurt people, or cause grief.  For the hard times that my actions caused...the hurt, the uncertainty, the feelings of injustice...I truly am sorry.  I hope that people will be able to find it in their hearts to forgive me.

3) I do, and still have faith in Doris.  When talking with her about the future of the Reading Groups, I was pumped.  I was so excited to be a part of an amazing staff...I felt I had the support of the Administration, and I believed that I might be able to be the bridge that had been missing between the RGs and the Admin for so long.  The impossibility of the situation did not occur to me.  I have several friends on the Reading Group staff...slapping them in the face is the very last thing I would want to do.  However, I did not pause.  I did not ONCE ask what the climate was, or what the general feeling was between the RG staffers.  That was a major folly on my part...before accepting, I should have asked.  I don't want to have lost friends because of my error in judgement.  To the remarks about me being "groomed" for something...that is news to me.  People groom their pets...I am not available for any such grooming.  I offer to help where help is needed.  Someone helped me to grab a mirror and hold it up...I do not want to be without friends because I am being viewed as "opportunistical" or "overly eager".  I've never wanted to come off that way, but when assistance is needed, I don't mind stepping up to the plate.  It's in my nature.  I want the Lounge to be the sort of haven we all strive for it to be.

I'm laying my cards out on the table here in an effort for people to understand, and not to make poor assumptions.  I am welcoming any and all questions...if a question that you have has not been answered, and I feel I can provide some sort of answer or opinion, I'm happy to try.  I truly hope that everyone involved has an easier mind about this, and I pray that the healing can continue.  I will continue to support the Leaky, the Reading Groups, the Lily and Stag, the Stag and Lily...because, above all, I support the people.  My friends.  To the future managers of the Reading Groups, best of luck.  I wish you success and support going forward.

Seriously...I wasn't even there and this was hilarious. Melissa and Sue's laughter is just contagious...and this sort of thing silliness is just what I love about them. And, it's so relatable...I love that they find everyday stuff connectable with Harry Potter...as I do that ALL the time with my friends. Only, I'm the only one laughing, and everyone else is...*crickets*. I need to hire a camera crew for Toronto...I think that Kelly, Expie, Ann, Stuart and I could come up with some real doozies.