Potter Prediction

Deathly Hallows angst is setting in. Time for a prediction?

Ron won't live to see the end of the book. His appetitive soul will be his undoing, though probably for noble reasons.

Rationale: We've seen his zeal for glory consistently and it will lead to his consumption, however devoutly it might be wished. Further, I think Rowling mildly Gnostic, holding to some form of election (you is a wizard or you isn't). There is usually a congruent disregard for the fleshly, which I haven't considered an argument for, but am inclined to think will see fruition.

Caveat: Everything cool that I know about Harry Potter I learned from John Granger. His is the only Harry Potter blog I follow. Further, it's easier to speculate than to argue, so this is my strategy.

Further speculations forthcoming as insomnia warrants.

Duel angst

I'm now caught up on previous Potter pics and can see the new flick with relative freshness of cine content.

OotP should have the baddest duel ever filmed, as Dubmledore and Voldemort throw down in the Ministry of Magic climax. It should be badder than Yoda and Dooku.

I'm not confident, since wand technique seems consistently to have been choreographed by nobody, and that at the last minute.

I really hope David Yates thought years ago to find the master who has extensively studied Iaido (sp? Japanese art of the sword) and orchestral conducting. But I'm not hopeful.

Alas.

White Whale of Breviaries, 5 Hedons

Do you remember painful joy of learning the splendourof Microsoft Excel? Hours and hours spent perfecting data organization and presentation, formulas that make you cry for happiness, discovering keyboard shortcuts that even the guys working in development don't know, remember that agony and ecstasy?

You don't remember that? Well, I do. I'm not compulsively left brained (usually) but when it comes to keeping track of everything exactly so, nothing beats a perfect (and I do mean Perfect) spreadsheet where there is a precise place for everything and everything precisely in its place. If you can relate to that I have the prayer book for you.


I have posted previously about the revived Anglican Breviary. Summer being here I have started using it, or trying to use it at least. My impression? Harpooning Moby Dick might be easier than mastering this summa of devotionals. I go to the spikiest Episcopal seminary and this breviary has got me flailing. But! It's the kind of flailing that leaves me sore and begging for more.

Can you man* up and sort out your own II Class Double conflict with a 3rd rank Octave for this solar day and lunar season?

Can you pound in the appropriate antiphon, nocturn(s), and versicle?

Can you pick and roll lessons and slam dunk them from outside the paint (I mean liturgical color)?

Can you do it 8 times a day?

Well, I can't. But I'm having fun trying and learning. I can't walk into the saloon (or chapel) and pony up to the bar (or rail) with the swagger that says "I pray bigger than you." I probably never will. But it sure is satisfying to try.

Sound good? This is the breviary for you, as attested with reassuring ecumenical latitude.

5 Hedons for a bound volume that is (for my money) as good as English devotion gets.
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*Or woman up, I'm not biased and neither is the breviary.

Norbert's Revenge?

Updated: I'm on to something!

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In Harry Potter I Hagrid "wins" a dragon egg which at birth he names Norbert. Norbert turns out to be unkeepable and gets sent off.

June 6 is the feast day of St. Norbert, Bishop and Confessor. Among other things Norbert opposed heresies denying the need for priests and sacraments. He was an advocate of devotion to the reserved sacrament. During the papal schism of the 12th century he was an advocate of Innocent II who eventually became recognized as the lawful bishop of Rome.

What are the chances we haven't seen the last of Norbert the dragon? Will he come swooping back in Deathly Hallows full grown and brimming with wrath at the probable death of Hagrid? Will he again restore an Innocent to power?

John Granger (as usual) has very interesting things to say about dragon blood here and here. Norbert is explicitly mentioned.

Death Eaters are campaigning for help from werewolves (and giants if I recall). Will dragons play a part for good or for awesome? We'll know in six weeks.