Dee Savoy

Dumbledore is gay and I’m annoyed as hell.

I have to admit I haven’t read one page of one Harry Potter book. I’ve bought ‘em all and my kids love them. I’ve seen some of the movies and even bought the damn DVDs. One year we went to a Harry Potter party with my kids dressed as Hermoine and Harry–complete with capes wand and a pair of busted glasses. Even Mama went in costume though I’d be hard pressed to tell you exactly what I was.

I tell you this so you know I don’t mind Pottermania, even though I don’t indulge. I think the kids are terrific characters who stand up for each other, what they believe in and their school. But I do mind at this late stage of the game finding out that one of the major characters is not what I thought he was.

Not that there’s anything wrong with Dumbledore being gay. It’s the timing that stinks. It seems like now that the last book is (ahem) coming out there needs to be some sort of controversy to sell the title. Midnight parties have become passe so now we need something else to give the final tome some juice.

That’s the conclusion I come to since, to my limited knowledge, Dumbledore’s sexual preference has never been alluded to before. Maybe I was imagining things, but while I was watching the first movie, I’d have sworn a hook-up between Richard Harris’s and Maggie Smith’s was probably in the offing. Maybe that’s my own preference speaking. As I have said, I’m no Potter expert. But if the Pottermaniacs had any clue before now of Dubledores sexuality, folks wouldn’t be shocked now to find out.

What bothers most is it smacks (in my mind) of an author manipulating her characters to suit her plot or other needs rather than being true to the character himself. Not fair.

For all you people keeping abreast of the books–am I right or wrong in my assessment? Is this just a plot device or is Rowling being true to her creation?

P.S. Here’s another great take from PW.

I received this notification on one of the lists to which I belong.

Larry LaPrise, the man that wrote “The Hokie Pokey” died peacefully at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started.

As an elementary school educator and a former star Hokie-Pokeyer I offer profound thanks to Mr. LaPrise for fun-filled moments.

So for your visual consideration, I offer the traditional dance:

All I can say is some things are better off un-messed around with.

Huh? You say. Well according to Ric Silver, the man pictured here, not only did he invent the Electric Slide (or The Electric, as he calls it), but you are doing it wrong. Silver claims his Slide features 22 steps rather than the ubiquitous 18 step dance you are doing. Furthermore, only those folks fortunate enough to know how to boogie on down the right way will be allowed to shuffle past the Pearly Gates.

How all this was discovered was the last black man in America to learn to ‘Slide went on line to get video instruction. You can read the rest of his story–and some of the (ahem) wisdom Silver wishes to impart on his fellow man. To see the dance like you are “apposed” to be doin’ it, visit Silver’s website.

Of all the ways folks have tried to save my soul, I suppose this is one of the most innocuous ones. But being a Bronx girl, I’d rather groove to the Marcia Griffith video, just as the great Goddess in her wisdom intended.

Here’s one final test: if you look sillier than the people in this video when you dance, please, please, sit down.