Just so you know the reason why:
shelbo – I’d be more interested in the reason why you read that shit.
You may have noticed that this is a board where the intention is, amongst much else, to fight ignorance. As such, there’s little point - or credibility to be gained, IMHO - linking to articles in the trashy, waste-of-space, factually challenged tabloid rag.
Figures these are just dressed up Jelly Bellys. After all, Jelly Belly already had the jalapeño flavor!
And is anyone surprised that there is now a Harry Potter themed “trading card” game? No? Didn’t think so.
Um, actually I believe she’s not getting royalties on a lot of the merchandising. She signed movie rights before the books got so huge and that included a lot of the merchandising rights. At the very least, she doesn’t have any control over what they sell, although they may have to pay her a few cents each.
I know that I’ve seen her in interviews complaining about the crappy quality of most of the toys, as well as the sheer quantity of crap they’re selling. She told kids not to buy the stuff because she hates it.
And she’s quite a babe, too! I must have never seen a pic of her before.
What would be nice would be if she could find a way to incorporate this message into a future book as part of a sub-plot. You know, like Fred and George Weasley having to compete with shoddy Harry Potter-themed product when they start their practical jokes business (and succeeding).
Not being from London, I don’t really know the provenance of the various British tabloids. However, as this is a thread that has touched on, among other things, booger flavored jelly beans, I hope you’ll forgive my transgression. And I promise, I will never, ever, ever, read that shit again. (OK, maybe just page 3). 
Whilst grocery shopping the other day, I ran across a Harry Potter soft soap dispenser.
Now, I kind of like the funky flavored jelly beans. It’s a cute tie-in to the movie, just as the Willy Wonka chocolate bar and ET Reese’s Pieces were cute tie-ins. I can even excuse the little action figures because maybe it will inspire some kid to use his imagination.
But a HP soap dispenser? That’s just plain stupid.
I’ve also heard zoologists on t.v. begging parents NOT to try and buy a cute, white owl for junior for Xmas.
shelbo – Oh yeah, by all means check out the racks. Just don’t rely on it too heavily for factual info – it’s a Murdoch owned rag.
Hmmmm…maybe Harry Potter IS evil after all.
I can’t believe anyone would want J.K. Rowling to quit writing Harry Potter books - they’re clever, they’re well-written and because of them, kids read 500 page books! Just keeping a 10-13 year old kid busy long enough to read a 500 page book is good enough reason to keep her writing until she is a 103 year old woman.
Merchandising - pfah! Just ignore it. If it wasn’t Harry Potter, it would be something else - probably Martin Lawrence :eek:
When was the last time you read a 500 page novel? I read them every week, but I’m weird.
I’m with **redtail ** on the Rowling signed her rights away (for a huge chunk of cash) some time ago.
As for the merchandizing, it could be worse, it could be Garfeild the Cat. [shudder]
I agree with Cal and Shirley. I think the Harry Potter merchandising could be MUCH worse. Notice there is no fast food tie-in. There’s no cartoon. The only commercial I’ve seen has been for Coke.
The LOTR merchanidising is far and away much worse. Take for instance Exhibit A:
Frodo Baggins and the Goblet of Fire
These Burger King commercials are killing me. Does anyone remember a glowing goblet in the trilogy? I sure don’t. But I do remember the fourth book of Harry Potter entitled “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. This is just sad and pathetic. I understand that Fellowship of the Rings may be hard to market coming off the heels of the Harry Potter movie. But for Godssake, let it stand on its own. The Harry Potter merchandise is out there because kids can’t get enough of the stuff. That Burger King crap is out there because there’s a buck to be made, and the movie trailers for LOTR only appealed to current fans of the books. I just haven’t heard that much hype about this movie. Maybe I’m putting my ear to the wrong piece of railroad, but I don’t see it coming.
Owl pellets are actually owl vomit containing undigestabile parts of prey - fur and bones. And they’re pretty cool: a free mouse, vole, rat or bird skeleton inside, and some are pretty complete to the point you can actually reconstruct most of the prey animal. (And they are sterilized prior to packing.) Hey, if it gets the kids interested in science, I have no problem with it.
Owl poo, however, is one of the nastiest substances on the face of the earth. Ick ick ick.
Well, there was the Mirror of Galadriel which was, essentially, a large magic cup filled with water.
In my opinion, I think the Harry Potter craze will die down by the time the fourth movie comes out. I picture it going the way of Ernest P. Worrel…
Possible titles for future books:
-Harry Potter and the Inflamed Hemorrhoid
-Harry Potter and the Gender Alteration Surgery
-Harry Potter and the 16-inch Dildo
-Harry Potter and the Receding Hairline
-Harry Potter and the Minimum Wage Job
-Harry Potter and the Really Tight Pants
If LOTR is fair game here as well I have to mention that B&N is selling a LOTR “Divination Kit” with “ring, map and cards.” My stomach lurched when I saw it–even Burger King has more dignity. On the up-side, if you went somewhere and someone had a worn-looking LOTR divination kit on thier bookcases it would save you all that getting-to-know-them time.
When I was in tenth grade, we got to disect them. One moron named Calvin Turley shoved the metal pick we were using to clean the bones off into the electrical outlet.
Dumbass.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by London Calling
**Can we have a whip round for the funds to saw off Rowling’s hands ?
And those damned DORRANCE #10 STAINLESS STEEL HOOKS!
Redboss
PS I tried the Harry Potter condoms - far too tight and the purple is really unbecoming. Give them a miss.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Redboss *
**
Bwah ha hahha hee hee hehehe
I didn’t see that one coming. 
Doncha just love those live displays of ‘Darwinism-in-action’?
We used to have fun mixing the skeletons - half bird/half mouse was pretty cool.