You are far too optimistic.
I’m afraid I technically can’t qualify for membership, but I was wondering why Hewlett Packard would release a new calculator with such a retro numbering scheme. Is there some kind of Sustaining Member level, or a semiqualified auxillary, or somesuch?
Horatio Hornblower, the Hitchhiker’s books, Updike’s “Rabbit” novels, Highsmith’s Ripley series, le Carre’s Karla Trilogy, maybe the Cthulhu Mythos. Anything but bloody Harry Potter.
Stranger
Normally, a book on reserve should be held for three days only. The thing about Harry Potter(and this was done last year, as well, you only had the first weekend to pick it up) is that each store only gets so many books. It’s usually in excess of the reserves, but we’re talking upwards of a thousand at larger stores. Then you have the hundreds who didn’t reserve it coming in, seeing the HUGE display behind the registers and saying,
And it will be 40% off to everyone the first weekend, probably the first week or two, that’s how it usually goes.
…and live on Mars, in a cave, with your fingers in your ears.
In other words, the same things a lot of people who read Harry Potter books read and talk about, except they’re not so damn snobby about it.
The Royals suck this year like they do every year. It’s a week past the All-Star break and they’re still 12 games under .500 and 16 back.
Wait, you meant the UK. Well, I think most of that last paragraph still applies.
It may be July, but I don’t think it’s that slow of a news season. Or maybe I spend too much time listening to politics.
Does anyone know if any early copies showed up on ebay?
Sorry. You need to at least know about the existence of HP-UX, which was first released in 1983, to qualify for Tritium.
ETA: It’s a variant of Unix.
According to a couple news stories I read on it, yes, some did.
-Joe
For you, absolutely! 
[sing-song] I know what happens! I know what happens! [/sing-song]
And I won’t tell YOU!
Hey, two of my daughters are buying it tomorrow. I’ll probably never read it but it’s sometimes nice to be one-up on them, if only to prove my Google-fu is stronger than theirs.
SysV, though, not 4.3 Berkeley Standard Distribution. 
Stranger
Great Oogly Moogly, I just went to eBay to see whether there were any Advanced Reader Copies available - they’ve got one, and it’s already up to $500. With five days left in the bidding. :eek:
Won what?
an advance copy.
:eek: Well then, the North sure can’t join. 
It matters, and I care. Not a huge amount, but I don’t like spoilers going out everywhere. I mean, if you never saw Citizen Kane would you like the box for the CD telling you exactly who/what Rosebud was?
Does it count if I’m just wearing my cute little pleated skirt?* Or do I have to add the school scarf?
Chronicles of Narnia? Children’s books. Same with Roald Dahl’s novels (mostly), The Hobbit… there is important literature that was originally written for children in mind. And while I’ll agree the books are not Great Lit-ehr-ah-choor (and I know from lit-ehr-a-choor), they are oddly compelling and enjoyable.
I’m going to the Potter party tomorrow night and yes, I’ll feel rather silly as I’m approaching 30 and in line for a book intended for high schoolers. I don’t take myself so seriously as to be truly bothered by this, though, and I don’t take anyone else’s opinion so seriously that I’m going to let your mockery stop me.
That’s my long way of saying I don’t care what you think, la-la-la la laaaaaaa la.
In order:
Haven’t read but that’s only because I still need to get my hands on a copy.
Have read and loved… hmm, the first three or so, but I’ve become less of a fan over the years. This is neither the time nor the place, though.
Ugh, Updike. Yes, he’s a very good writer, but my old creative writing professor worshiped him. And while I learned a lot from Updike and my old professor, the “Genre books are crap!” rant on day 1 rather turned me off the bastard. At least we had DISCUSSION in other classes.
Haven’t heard of the second two.
Cthulhu Mythos? Really? You don’t think Lovecraft is a hack but you think Rowling is? Look, the mythos are entertaining and enjoyable, but the man masturbated to a thesaurus.
No, I’m not too good for any of these books. But the main argument against them appears to reduce to “But they’re so POOOOOOPULAR! They can’t be good!”
Uh huh. Whatever, guys. I’m a big old dork, but at least I admit it.
*er, not just. I’ll have a blouse and shoes and stuff.
Well, since I don’t know much about Harry Potter, I can’t really answer that. It could be a trick question to try to get me kicked out of the club, for all I know. I’ll commence to pointing and laughing now, if you don’t mind. 
Woosh.
Stranger