Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Today is Harry Potter's birthday, a traditionally bleak day for him, but a happier occasion for his admirers. Around the world, fans of the young wizard will gather for readings, movie marathons, or even Harry Potter birthday parties at bookstores and libraries -- complete with costumed characters, magical activities, and wizard-themed treats. How many fictional characters get real birthday parties, let alone hundreds of simultaneous ones? Mickey Mouse might. Winnie the Pooh's buddy Eeyore gets a whole festival for his birthday. We're not sure if Frankenstein's monster gets any actual celebrations on March 11, but he does get his own online greeting cards (mark your calendars now!). And Lewis Carroll's Alice gets 364 un-birthday parties a year-- but surely she's bored with them after all this time. Maybe those dedicated Potter fans can share the love with some more obscure fictional folks. We'll see you next year at Oscar the Grouch's birthday bash! Suggested Sites... Harry Potter Birthdays - a guide to throwing your own Potter party, complete with cheat sheets for parents about the characters, food, and spells of the wizarding world. Harry Potter's Horoscope - he may be fictional, but he still has a birth date and a horoscope. Birthday Party Ideas for Kids - guides to throwing theme parties (including Harry Potter, of course) that will be a hit with the kiddies.

Directory categories: Harry Potter Books, Birthdays, Birthday Ecards, Parties and Events

Archived under: Birthdays, Children´s Literature, Events, Harry Potter, Kids, Literature

Post a comment (136) | Email this posting

(KnievelDays.com) Nothing says summer like hot dogs, soda, and a Ball of Steel stunt show. No, it's not a renaissance faire or the local theater troupe's rendition of "Mad Max." It's Evel Knievel Days: a three-day, full-throttle celebration in Butte, Montana, of its most famous native son. While Knievel -- who turns 69 this year -- may be slowing down, his legend is still larger than life. In the 1970s he wowed audiences worldwide by jumping fountains, cars, trucks, double-decker buses, and even the Snake River Canyon. Along the way, he collected legions of loyal fans and many broken bones. Today, Evel's son Robbie is carrying on the family business. He's even set to make a jump this weekend in honor of his ailing pop. We're not sure if the senior Knievel will make an appearance in his star-spangled suit, but the celebration sure looks fun. Really, what do you have planned that could live up to the Motor Drome Wall of Death? Suggested Sites... Evel Knievel - official site for the legendary leaper. Evel One - interviews, photos, and details on Evel's extensive injuries. Evel Knievel and Wide World of Sports - an article on the perfect meshing of TV and motorcycle madness. Robbie Knievel - like father, like son.

Directory categories: Daredevils, Motorcycles, Stunts, Evel Knievel, Robbie Knievel

Archived under: Events, History, Motorcycles, Outdoors, Sports

Post a comment (3) | Email this posting

The Mystery Spot's cabin (Photo by Grace Danico) Most people love a good mystery, especially when they can experience it first-hand. Since 1940, hundreds of thousands of visitors have trooped through the "gravity-defying" Mystery Spot in the redwoods of Santa Cruz, California. There are lots of theories as to why balls seemingly roll uphill or what allows people to stand on the side of a wall at this mysterious locale. Could it be metal spheres left by extraterrestrials to help guide their spacecraft? Magnetic field anomalies? Science may help explain the weird, but why spoil the fun? And people have been herding to mystery spots for ages. The Oracle of Delphi, (the "magic 8 ball" of ancient Greece) may have had a little help from ethylene gas coming through fractures in the rock prompting the ecstatic predictions. And in the deserts of Sedona, Arizona, four energy vortexes reportedly induce feelings of well-being in unsuspecting visitors. With the variety of strange phenomena to see, you don't need to be a sleuth to understand why mystery spots keep drawing people in. Suggested Sites... The Mystery Spot - come and experience the mystery for yourself. DAFE: Santa Cruz Mystery Spot - an in-depth journey inside the Spot, with photos. The House of Mystery - the Oregon Vortex offers its own phenomena. Sedona Vortex - a guide to Sedona's vortexes with pictures and maps.

Directory categories: Paranormal Phenomena, UFOs, Ghost Lights, Road Trips

Archived under: Entertainment, Hoaxes, Paranormal, Regional, Roadside Attractions, Travel

Post a comment (2) | Email this posting

Kubrick on the set of Eyes Wide Shut How did one of Hollywood's greatest recluses become one of its most idiosyncratic directors? That's only one of the riddles that add up to Stanley Kubrick. Despite having no training, he was directing independent documentaries at the age of 23, and by 27, he'd helmed his first major feature, "Killer's Kiss." Such big-budget movies as "Spartacus" and "Dr. Strangelove" followed. Disenchanted with the studio system, Kubrick relocated to England, where he remained for the rest of his life, turning out "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange," and "The Shining," among others. His quirks were legendary: He never returned to the U.S., but was a huge fan of both "Seinfeld" and "The Simpsons." He listened to air traffic controllers but refused to fly. Once his films were finished, he never watched them. Kubrick kept such a low profile that a British travel agent successfully posed as him, despite neither looking like him nor knowing anything about his films. Suggested Sites... Authorized Stanley Kubrick Site - official site of the director, with biography, news, and clips. Kubrick Multimedia Film Guide - photos and clips from Kubick's films. Kubrick Locations - dedicated to finding the places Stanley Kubrick filmed his movies. Citizen Kubrick - Jon Ronson digs through the legendary Kubrick archives to unearth its treasures. IMDb: Colour Me Kubrick - the story of Alan Conway, the man who made people believe he was Stanley Kubrick.

Directory categories: Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick's Films, Film Directors

Archived under: Directors, Entertainment, Filmmaking, Imposters, Movies, Recluses

Post a comment (1) | Email this posting

(Photo by Arnold Chao) Trapped in cubicle hell, we're always looking for new ways to spice up our space. We try to think outside the sequestered box -- personalizing our square surroundings in hopes of luring neighbors in for a quick hello. Being avid collectors, we adorn our open office with the most bizarre figurines and childhood trinkets. Holiday devotees, as well, we bust out our cherished decorations with glee, every chance we get. In our time in the cubicle trenches, we've seen it all. Relentless lunatics that convert cubes into art installations and frugal cube crafters inspired by a readily available surplus of office supplies. But, beware! Every office has it pranksters and every cubicle is fair game for the practical joker, so we keep an eye out for sneaks with props: packing peanuts, newspaper, tin foil, and the like. And, yes, even the most vigilant cubicle drone may be surprised with a little gift after returning from vacation. Suggested Sites... Office of the Week - peek into the messy cubicle of Yahoo!'s cofounder back in 1998. From CNNMoney. Dilbert's Ultimate Cube - Scott Adams designs the cube of the future per the request of Dilbert fans. Feng Shui Your Cubicle - iVillage gives advice on how to enhance the chi in your cube. Fortune: Trapped in Cubicles - find out about the creator of the cubicle, Robert Propst.

Directory categories: Cubicle Culture, Decorating Small Spaces, Office Furniture, Practical Jokes and Pranks

Archived under: Decorating, Humor, Society and Culture, Toys, Work

Post a comment (86) | Email this posting