Ross is love.

I, Potter.

I'm desperately trying to take my time with Harry Potter, but alas I'm already on page 300. At this rate, I'll be all out of Potter before the week's up. Unacceptable. Plus, I just know someon'e going to tell me how it ends. The pressure is too great. What would Harry do?

And why is everything stressful?

Pottermania.

So the secret, it would seem, to getting the latest and greatest (perhaps) Harry Potter book is not to pre-order, and then wait in the endless, chaotic, disorganized, and stressful snaking-around-every-nook-and-cranny-in-the-store-I-have-no-idea-where-I'm-supposed-to-be-but-I-have-this-green-bracelet-with-some-numbers-on-it...

The secret, and this'll only work this once, so I doubt it'll do you much good in the future, sad to say, but the secret is to ditch the Borders and down the plaza to the Wegman's and leave in about five minutes. Sorry for those dutiful fans still waiting in line at the bookstore, but the grocer was always clearly the way to go. (Barnes and Noble, by the way, had a much, much better system last time we popped in there for a Potter book. Rather than making people line up, you were given a number and groups were called to check out. Easy-peasy.)

Now, granted, you can't get the $4.99 Cultivating Cannabis bargain book at Weggie's, but you can look that shit up online.

Thanks to my crack Rick-Mike-Sarah book-huntin' team, I'm now off to read...get thee to a Wegman's, book lovers. Alternately, head on over to Darcy's Random Thoughts for an informative Potter-related video.

Are we ready?

It's called Potter-mania, and I've got it bad.

I'm not always so keen on the movies, but Daniel Radcliffe was certainly well-cast. Details has a text and video interview with the grown-up star. In spite of the mildly salacious pictures (admittedly, the reason I looked it over) and the title "Dirty Harry," Radcliffe seems like, mostly, a down-to-earth, nice guy. Who knew?

Save McSweeney's.

So it would seem that the generally brilliant, but never less than mildly amusing folks at McSweeney's publishing house have found themselves in a bit of a pickle. Something about an excessively large cash shortfall brought on by the bankruptcy of a distributor.

They're holding both an auction (often pricey, but with contributions from the like of David Byrne, Dave Eggers, and Nick Hornby) and a sale (not just that they're selling things, but that they're actually at sale prices). If you're unfamiliar with McSweeney's, now would be an excellent time to become acquainted. If you've already had the pleasure, then you don't need to be convinced. Imagine a thousand bemused hipsters crying out as one, and then being suddenly silenced. It would be a bit like that.

By all means check out a few of my favorite bits (from the top of my head) from their website below (fellow bemused hipsters, please submit your own faves). Also, you may come to my basement and read my beloved stack of copies of The Believer, if you like. But you can't keep them. They were a gift, you frackin' freeloaders.

Aquaman.
Patriotic Songs Reworked.
Regarding Pete Seeger.

Wendella's Pick:
Notes on "Sweet Child O' Mine".

Kurt Vonnegut.

Kurt Vonnegut passed away last night, according to the New York Times. Even though he was 84, that doesn't seem right.

In other booky news for David Sedaris fans, Slate.com's Jack Shafer has a rather boneheaded article taking on the author's acknowledged propensity to exaggerate. This line seems to cut to the heart of it, if you'd prefer to skip it:

"Sedaris and company want to erect a penumbra that shields humorists from criticism when they blend fiction into their nonfiction but still insist on calling it nonfiction. The logic behind this is difficult to follow. If writing fiction is the license Sedaris and other nonfiction humorists need to get at "larger truths," why limit this exemption to humorists? Let reporters covering city hall, war, and business to embellish and exaggerate so they can capture "larger truths," too."

The article seems so strident that it almost seems like a joke itself, but I don't think so. I just don't get it.

More Harry news.

Ach! The last Harry Potter book is due out on July 21st. I'm not ready.

This does explain why "The Final Countdown" has been in my head since I woke up. Mostly just the opening synth part.

I Know Why the...Aww, C'mon Guys

Some parents in Fond du lac, Wisconsin, were shocked (shocked!) to find that their children were given (gasp!) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in an advanced English class. Former U.S. Poet Laureate, decorated writer, Grammy winner, presidential advisor, actress, best-selling author, Oprah mentor, Maya Angelou is a well-known purveyor of smut, so it's just as well. Plus, she's black.