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J.K. Rowling Outs Hogwarts Character

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 15:55:08 GMT

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NEW YORK (AP) - Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."

Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

"Oh, my god," Rowling concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction."

Tags: harry potter, j.k. rowling, tolerance, gay, authors, books

Coalition Aims to Expose Shakespeare

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:58:27 GMT

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clipper's remarks: The bard, or not the bard, that is the question.

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

Some of Britain's most distinguished Shakespearean actors have reopened the debate over whether William Shakespeare, a 16th century commoner raised in an illiterate household in Stratford-upon-Avon, wrote the plays that bear his name.

"I subscribe to the group theory. I don't think anybody could do it on their own," Jacobi said. "I think the leading light was probably de Vere, as I agree that an author writes about his own experiences, his own life and personalities."

The declaration names 20 prominent doubters of the past, including Mark Twain, Orson Welles, Sir John Gielgud and Charlie Chaplin.

Shakespeare Authorship Coalition, http://www.doubtaboutwill.org/

The declaration put forward by the Shakespeare Authorship Coalition - signed online by nearly 300 people - aims to provoke new research into who was responsible for the plays, sonnets and poems attributed to the writer.

Tags: shakespeare, oxford, england, literature

Critics of 'The Secret' Bemoan Claims - By TARA BURGHART

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:40:24 GMT

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clipper's remarks: "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne an Australian television and film producer. Her central claim is that the "law of attraction" governs our universe. However the fear that "The Secret" will lead to a blame-the-victim mentality is a serious claim of critics. For example the book dismisses conditions such as a genetic predisposition to being overweight or a slow thyroid as "disguises for thinking 'fat thoughts.'" And during times in which massive number of lives were lost, the book says, the "frequency of their thoughts matched the frequency of the event." Psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser said after reading "The Secret" several patients have worried that it was their fault they were abused or laid off. "The law of attraction says that like attracts like, and when you think and feel what you want to attract on the inside, the law will use people, circumstances and events to magnetize what you want to you, and magnetize you to it," Byrne said in an e-mail in response.

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

While "The Secret" has become a pop culture phenomenon, it also has drawn critics who are not quiet about labeling the movement a fad, embarrassingly materialistic or the latest example of an American propensity of wanting something for nothing.

Some medical professionals suggest it could even lead to a blame-the-victim mentality and actually be dangerous to those suffering from serious illness or mental disorders.

(AP) Amanda Jacobellis, owner of Makeup Mandy, poses next to copies of the DVD "The Secret" in her...
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"It's a triumph of marketing and magic," said John Norcross, a psychologist and professor at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania who conducts research on self-help books. He believes some are very useful when backed by science and focused on specific problems, such as depression.

"The Secret" is the work of Rhonda Byrne, an Australian television and film producer. Her central claim is that the "law of attraction" governs our universe.

Tags: the secret, rhonda byrne, self improvement, philosphy, scams, marketing, medi, oprah

Secret of Horror Writer's Lineage Broken - Stephen King and Son, Joe Hill

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 06:10:47 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Mar 17, 7:31 PM (ET) By JERRY HARKAVY

Joe Hill knew it was only a matter of time before one of the publishing industry's hottest little secrets became common knowledge. He just wished he could have kept it under wraps a bit longer.

But when Hill's fantasy-tinged thriller, "Heart-Shaped Box," came out last month, it was inevitable that his thoroughbred blood lines as a writer of horror and the supernatural would be out there for all to see.

After 10 years of writing short stories and an unpublished novel under his pen name, Hill knows that the world is now viewing him through a different prism - as the older son of Stephen King.

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

"Heart-Shaped Box," a title drawn from a song by the rock group Nirvana, is a fast-paced tale of another man with dual identities. Judas Coyne, born Justin Cowzynski, is an over-the- hill heavy metal rocker with a strange hobby: amassing ghoulish artifacts.

When Coyne learns that a suit purportedly haunted by a ghost is up for grabs on an online auction site, he can't resist adding it to his creepy collection. Things turn ugly fast after Coyne learns that the suit's occupant is a spooky spiritualist bent on vengeance following the death of his stepdaughter.

The book has drawn good reviews, with The New York Times' Janet Maslin calling it "a wild, mesmerizing, perversely witty tale of horror" that is "so visually intense that its energy never flags." And with its cinematic, and bloody, ending, Warner Bros. snapped up movie rights six months before the book hit the market.

Tags: books, authors, joe hill, horror, ghost, stephen king

Women Make Better Leaders

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:12:13 GMT

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clipper's remarks: It's official: Females develop a better managerial style than males.
By:Carlin Flora
Psychology Today

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

Searching for better leaders? Don't overlook the women in the office. An analysis of 45 leadership studies found that the best bosses are inspirational mentors who encourage underlings to develop their abilities and creatively change their organizations. Women, on average, are more likely than men to enact this "transformational" style.

In this "transformational" management style, managers are more like good teachers than traditional bosses. But the analysis, conducted at Northwestern University, revealed that men are more likely to use a "transactional" management style—doling out punishments for poor performance and rewards for good behavior—or a laissez-faire style, characterized by a basic lack of management. Previous research has shown the transformational style to be most effective, particularly when companies rely on innovation to stay competitive.

"CEOs should level the playing field, and make sure women are given equal opportunities to be managers," says lead author Alice Eagly, a professor of psychology at Northwestern. "The study shows they are not only doing just as well as men, but they are doing better."

Eagly speculates that the transformational leadership style may suit women because it includes nurturing aspects, and women are traditionally socialized to be nurturers. Women who instead use a tough "command and control" leadership style meet with resistance and suspicion from employees, other studies have found.

Women striving for leadership roles may also have to meet a higher standard than men. They may therefore adapt their leadership tactics along the way to fit the more effective transformational style, Eagly says.

Tags: relationships, mind, brain, behavior, men, women, love, psychology, life, leadership

Five Ways to Transform Your Partner Into Your Perfect Mate

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 19:41:37 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Therapist Terrence Real's five winning strategies that will rescue even the most unsalvageable relationships.
There's at least one way men and women are completely alike: Both believe that a good relationship must be spontaneous. If you have to work at it, that's proof something is wrong. By:Hara Estroff Marano

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

After helping countless couples rescue relationships that appear to be unsalvageable, family therapist Terrence Real has a different view: "You've got to duke it out with your partner and help them rise to the occasion." For him, that is the most important of the new rules of relationships.

Hot couples, says Real, need cool skills. First they need to know how to handle themselves when their buttons get pushed. "There are lots of circuit-breakers for when you lose it," says Real. You can breathe deeply and take time out. "But you need to understand that 'losing it' is a choice."

In his new book, The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work, Real identifies five winning strategies.

Go after what you want. But before you open your mouth, ask yourself: "What do I really want right now?"

Complain constructively. Don't complain to your partner about what he isn't giving you. You must shift the negative into a positive. "Every complaint is really a wish," says Real. "Better to cut out the complaint and get right to the wish. 'I'm mad at the way you talk to me' translates into 'I would really like it if you could talk to me this way.'"

Listen and respond generously. "Neither men nor women feel listened to," Real finds. Men commonly feel unappreciated. "They want someone to listen, pat them on the head for how hard they're working, and tell them what a good job they're doing."

Empower one another. Anger, says Real, regularly stems from helplessness. "If you're walking around angry, it's often because you're trying to control some thing and it's not cooperating. The way to be less angry is to let go of your control."

Cherish what you have. "Keep your eyes on the prize," says Real. "Remember the person you're speaking to is someone you love. If you can't remember that because you are too angry and hurt at the moment, at least remember you have to live with them."

See www.thenewrulesofmarriage.com.

Tags: relationships, mind, brain, behavior, men, women, love, psychology, life

Lend A Hand, Smartypants! Smart People ARE Nicer

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:33:08 GMT

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clipper's remarks: People with bigger brains have bigger hearts, too.

From Psychology Today Magazine
Publication Date: Jan/Feb 2007

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

Lend A Hand, Smartypants

People with bigger brains have bigger hearts, too. A study in the Journal of Research in Personality shows that altruism may be a sign of general intelligence. Each subject decided how to allocate points between himself and a mystery person he'd never meet. People who scored higher on intelligence tests preferred altruistic options, choosing to, say, take 500 points and give 550 rather than take 550 and give 300. "From an economic point of view, you would expect that a 'smart' rational person is an egoistic person," says lead author Kobe Millet. But the researchers argue that altruism—beyond mere cooperation—is a signal to others of underlying mental fitness because smarter people are in a better position to recoup the costs of generosity. If you've got it, flaunt it.

Tags: psychology, life, brain, relationships, society, people, mind, news, behavior

Comedian Al Franken Enters Minn. Senate Race

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 08:35:14 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Comedian Al Franken announced Wednesday that he will run for the Senate in 2008, seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Norm Coleman. Whoohoo!
Al Franken's Web site: http://www.alfranken.com
Article by By PATRICK CONDON
Feb 14, 4:05 PM (ET)

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Comedian Al Franken announced Wednesday that he will run for the Senate in 2008, seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.

Franken's announcement came on the final day of his show on the liberal radio network Air America. The decision by the former "Saturday Night Live" performer instantly makes him a serious contender and brings national attention to the race.

"Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I'm ready for this challenge, and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I'm asking you to give me," Franken said in a video on his Web site.

"I want you to know: Nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state, and over the next 20 months, I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously," Franken said.

His candidacy will test whether Minnesotans are in the mood for another celebrity-turned-politician, after the 1999-2003 governorship of former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura. Ventura's fame and occasionally outrageous behavior regularly brought national attention to the state but wore on the patience of many Minnesotans.

(AP) Comedian Al Franken sings during his radio show, Air America, before announcing, in Minneapolis,...
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Franken, 55, was born in New York City but grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. He graduated from Harvard University in 1973, and in 1975 joined the writing staff of "Saturday Night Live" during its first season. He soon began appearing in sketches and remained a fixture on the show well into the 1990s.

In 2005, Franken and his wife moved back to the Twin Cities, which was widely interpreted as laying the groundwork for a campaign.

Franken planned to make his first public appearance as a candidate Thursday at a Minneapolis clinic.

Tags: politics, comedy, media, news, al franken, satire, senate, democrats

New Ice Cream Named for Stephen Colbert

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:12:57 GMT

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clipper's remarks: t's vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and caramel!
Ben & Jerry's called it: "The sweet taste of liberty in your mouth."

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

New Ice Cream Named for Stephen Colbert

Feb 14, 2:05 PM (ET)

NEW YORK (AP) - Stephen Colbert may have no taste for the truth, but he does have a sweet tooth. Ben & Jerry's has named a new ice cream in honor of the comedian: "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream."

It's vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and caramel.

Announcing the new flavor Wednesday, Ben & Jerry's called it: "The sweet taste of liberty in your mouth."

The Vermont-based ice-cream maker is known for naming its flavors after people such as Jerry Garcia, Wavy Gravy and the band Phish - which Colbert sees as a political bias.

"I'm not afraid to say it. Dessert has a well-known liberal agenda," Colbert said in a statement. "What I hope to do with this ice cream is bring some balance back to the freezer case."

Colbert, who spoofs flag-waving conservative pundits on his Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report," is donating his proceeds to charity through the new Stephen Colbert Americone Dream Fund, which will distribute the money to various causes.

t_report/index.jhtmlhttp://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colber

http://www.benjerry.com/

Tags: media, life, food, ice cream, funny, pop culture, comedy

Rowling Marks End of Writing Last Book

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 06:26:02 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Yes, I am a Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling fan. I am a fan of any author who can get millions of kids all over the world to read a book

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

Rowling Marks End of Writing Last Book

Feb 2, 7:03 PM (ET)

LONDON (AP) - J.K. Rowling marked the spot where she finished the final "Harry Potter" book. "J.K. Rowling finished writing 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows' in this room on 11 Jan 2007," read the message on an antique-style statue at Edinburgh's five-star Balmoral Hotel.

The writer announced on Thursday that the seventh and final installment in the series, which tells the story of Harry during his final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will be published July 21.

"I can confirm she did write some of the book at the Balmoral last month and did complete the book at that hotel," the author's spokeswoman, Nicky Stonehill, said.

As a single mother on welfare more than a decade ago, Rowling used to sit in cafes near the Balmoral while writing her first book, "Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone."

Since then, Rowling - who lives in Edinburgh with her husband and children - has seen her books sell more than 325 million copies in 64 languages.

The hotel said it does not encourage guests to write on hotel property, but Rowling is a special case.

"Obviously this is quite a unique case," hotel spokeswoman Jessica Trotter said. "We're honored and flattered she chose the Balmoral as surroundings to do her writing."

Tags: books, media, authors, harry potter, jk rowling, culture, news, entertainment

A Wink and a Smile: Flirting Signals Misunderstood

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:11:33 GMT

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clipper's remarks:
Men and women often misunderstand each other's flirtation signals.
By: W. Eric Martin

M

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

A Wink and a Smile

Men and women often misunderstand each other's flirtation signals.

By:

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W. Eric Martin

Men, don't assume that a new woman likes you simply because she listens to you. In fact, her "come hither" signals may be misleading. That's the conclusion researchers at Vienna's Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Urban Ethology reached. In their study, appearing in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, 45 male-female pairs of strangers who thought they would be rating videos suddenly found themselves alone when the experimenter left to take a phone call.

For 10 minutes the couple's interactions were secretly recorded and then examined for women's "courtship" signals such as hair-flipping and head-tossing. "Rejection" signals from both parties, such as avoiding conversation, were also measured, along with how much each person spoke. Later, each participant rated the other's attractiveness and their own interest level in dating that person.

"One of the surprising facts in this study was that women do not send clear rejection signals," write the study's authors, led by Karl Grammer, Ph.D. "A woman sends sexually explicit signals without having much interest in the man." This behavior may encourage men to reveal more about themselves, the authors suggest, allowing women to verify their initial impressions. What's more, women used subtle signals such as nodding to direct the flow of conversation, and they avoided contact with men only if the men talked too much initially.

Tags: relationships, men, women, love, life, health, psychology, behavior

Are You Dating The Wrong Person?

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:30:14 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Are You Dating The Wrong Person?

Clip Source: www.yourromanceguide.com

Getting a date, having a terrific time together and then going for more dates. Slowly, both of you feel that you are made for each other. In the beginning of your love life, you have still not found out much about the future plans and thoughts of your sweetheart. Slowly you begin realizing that both of you are headed in different directions in the future. You feel helpless and frustrated. 'What do I do now? Am I dating the wrong person and thinking of a future together. Am I in love with a person who does not fit in with my plans and with whom I don't fit?' are some questions that come to your mind.

The tragic part is that some of you don't think and realize about these factors till your relationship comes a long way. Some do it after getting married. Would it not be better if you find out more about the future plans of your prospective partner in the beginning itself? Obviously, you cannot ask that as the first question on the first date. You have to break some barriers and begin liking each other first. After that you should indirectly find out about the plans of your partner. Listening actively from day one will be of great help. Sometimes, you get clear hints but choose to ignore them. Sometimes, you keep up with wishful thinking.

Liking and loving will not solve life's problems. All of us have our priorities and unless our priorities match and we are sure that we are headed in the same direction, the ride will be very rough. Find out more before you realize that you are dating the wrong person.

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Tags: quiz, quizzes, dating, romance, relationships, men, women, love, life, health, psychology, behavior

What's Your Worst Habit in a Relationship?

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:01:18 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Confession time: Do you pout after fights? Do you give your partner the silent treatment if he makes you mad? Do you play head games? Are you an incorrigible flirt... even when you're with somebody? We asked iVillagers to share the not-so-beautiful truth about their bad habits in relationships.

Clip Source: love.ivillage.com

I get mad about things that I think should bother me, not things that actually do!

I have trouble confronting him if there is something bothering me. I would rather sit and pout and ruin an evening than stand up for myself. It drives me nuts!

I'll beat something to death in our conversations until he gets sick of hearing about it. I am a real talker. I really need to start journaling!

My worst habit is telling my husband how to do things I know he is perfectly capable of doing or figuring out how to do himself. I'm a big believer that if you treat a man like a child you shouldn't be surprised if he starts acting like one, and that a wife should never take on the "mommy" role with her husband. It's relationship arsenic. But I can't seem to help myself sometimes.

I sometimes let myself go physically, because I feel like he should love me whether I comb my hair or not.

I'm a horrible grudge holder. My hubby can apologize over and over, but I'll still stay mad. I don't ever forget either; it's like I keep a mental list of all his screw-ups. It's very immature, but I can't seem to overcome it.

I have the hardest time saying "I am sorry." It is the weirdest thing... My heart wants to say it and my head wants to say it, but I can't get my mouth to say it. My husband on the other hand can say it with ease and sincerity. Sometimes I have to write it! Everything but my mouth works, LOL.

My worst habit is interrupting him. Sometimes I get really excited about a topic we're discussing and I can't help but jump into the conversation before he's finished talking. I do this with my girlfriends too, but we just talk on top of each other and enjoy the intensity of the conversation. My guy hates it though — he sees it as a sign of disrespect, not excitement. So I'm working on it. I'm getting better, but occasionally I still slip up!

Tags: relationships, men, women, love, life, health, psychology, behavior, mind

Six Ways to Make a Friend

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:44:20 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Six Ways to Make a Friend
The older we get, the harder it is to make new friends. Bonding with fresh faces.
by Karen Karbo

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

Six Ways to Make a Friend

Since 1985 the number of Americans who say they have no one to talk to has doubled. Where and how do adults make friends?

Sign up for a group travel adventure: People tend to bond more easily when out of their comfort zone. The experience will provide an instant group of people with whom you share a unique memory.

Take a class in something you love; enthusiasm is contagious.

Get a dog (a pet is also good for your heart) and show up every morning at your local dog park. People love to chat about their pooches.

Track down old high school or college pals who live in your area, and see if old friendships can be resumed.

Take a fresh look at your neighbors, coworkers, classmates, fellow gym bunnies—the people you meet and greet on a regular basis. If you've been standoffish, say hello. If you've traded hellos for months, engage them in conversation.

Smile.

Tags: relationships, men, women, love, life, health, psychology, behavior, friends, friendship

6 Tricks Guys Use to Win Relationship Fights

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:07:35 GMT

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clipper's remarks: 6 Tricks Guys Use to Win Relationship Fights
...and how you can steal his sparring tactics
Ever wonder what guys talk about when we're not around? Here's your chance to eavesdrop. iVillage and AskMen.com have joined forces to reveal whats really on guys minds -- and just how bluntly they discuss it. Welcome inside the men's locker room.

Clip Source: love.ivillage.com

Different men have different expectations about winning arguments, but the art of war is the same. Here are a number of tricks to ensure that you'll never lose an argument with your girlfriend.

Don't Raise Your Voice
Regardless of the nature of your fight (your suggestion for ice cream taken to mean you want her to fatten up, or your failure to mention ice cream taken to mean she's too heavy already), watch your voice. No matter what you have planned in your defense, always speak softly. If you're the composed one, her anger will only run its course. Settle in for a long one, but remember: If she joins you on a conversational level, you've won.

Be the First Man to Listen
Men have a reputation for being poor listeners. Be the exception. She wants to talk and yell, so let her. But when it comes time for you to cough up a defense, reiterate her points back to her to prove you're listening to — and understand — what she's saying.
If you spend your cross-examination explaining her to her by recapping her words, you may never actually have to ever have an original thought. And she'll think you're the keenest listener on the block.

Play the Emotional Card
There are times when women just want to fight because they're feeling emotional. What we forget is that we men also want to fight because we are emotional. It is about the release; and what we are so ingrained to avoid, which has the same consummate effect, is letting the emotions flow.
Fight strong, and fight with honor. But do not be afraid to act hurt by the things she says. To a woman, an aggressive man who shows emotion in the heat of an argument is the king of men. And you'll always win.

Tags: relationships, men, women, gender, life, behavior, love, psychology, health