http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dorktower/comic/~3/e0jYA9ZmprA/

http://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=7223

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2012/5/31/video-mash-up-of-every-single-spell-from-the-harry-potter-films

A very dedicated Harry Potter fan has put together a nearly 18 minute video which showcases pretty much every spell and act of magic shown throughout the eight "Harry Potter" films. This impressive montage can be seen here or below!

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2012/5/31/daniel-radcliffe-interviewed-on-the-set-of-kill-your-darlings

Daniel Radcliffe was interviewed on the set of his new movie, "Kill Your Darlings". In the interview with The Advocate, Daniel Radcliffe answered questions about his involvement in the Trevor Project, his latest movie projects in the supernatural genre, and why he chose to play the role of Allen Ginsberg in "Kill Your Darlings". You can read excerpts of the interview below: > --> > Normal...>-->>

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2012/5/31/phelps-twins-to-attend-singapore-opening-of-the-harry-potter-exhibition

James and Oliver Phelps have decided to attend another opening of the Harry Potter Exhibition. This time the Exhibition will be opening at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The Exhibition will be open from Saturday, June 2 through Sunday, September 30, 2012. Warner Bros and museum representatives spoke highly of the twins involvement at the Exhibition openings, stating:“It...

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dorktower/comic/~3/vDYAL6NxMuM/

http://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=7218

From time to time, folks send me fan art. Not sure why they do, but I always get a kick out of seeing other artists’ and readers’ take on my characters.

Here’s a really terrific piece by Jason Janes and Phil Gavigan:

Click on the image (OR CLICK HERE) to see a larger version of the strip. It’s quite lovely, in a disturbed sort of way (Igor’s eyes…IGOR’S EYES!!!!).

Thanks for the terrific piece, Jason and Phil! And if you get a chance, check out this preview of an upcoming comic of theirs.

If anyone wants to see their fan art here, just send it to me at john@kovalic.com. At some point, we’ll get an actual section up for this kind of thing!

Keep those cards and letters coming!

John

The daf-yomi cycle has arrived at tractate Niddah, which is about what I will refer to as "private woman stuff". I'll pull things from here where I can, but you should expect some tangents over the next couple months when that doesn't work out. Today's daf is Niddah 10; I'm drawing from yesterday's.

Some laws apply only to women of certain ages. The talmud therefore needs to define these various age groups. Who is an "old woman"? The mishna says "any woman over whom three onahs have passed near the time of her old age". (An onah is approximately a month.) Well, that sounds kind of circular, doesn't it? The g'mara expounds: Rav Yehudah says "the time of her old age" is when her friends speak of her as an old woman, and R. Shimon says it is when people call her mother in her presence and she does not blush. R. Zera or R. Shmuel ben Yitzchak says it is when she is called mother and does not mind. What is the practical difference? One might blush but not mind. (9a-b)

Where other age-based rules are sometimes more fixed, it's interesting to see one that is so dependent on social context. You're old when your friends say you're old or when you don't mind being called mother. (Old women who are not mothers are not addressed by this blushing/minding standard.)

Some professions require a certain amount of ongoing education every year, usually in the form of several-hour seminars. At least for the legal field, it seems like the subjects do not have to be all that closely related to American law. I routinely see advertisements for these in the Jewish press covering topics in halacha or Jewish ethics. But even so, I was surprised to see that Law and the Multiverse was offering one on superheroes, comic books, and constitutional law. If I were a lawyer I would totally go to things like that. :-) (The blog is fun too.)

Language Log recently wrote about an unusual keep-off-the-grass sign: tiny grass is dreaming. That's a neat image.

shewhomust recently posted a picture of a neat woodland "sculpture".

Everybody's probably seen is Facebook making us lonely? from the Atlantic, but I wanted to stash a link somewhere anyway so I may as well share.

And finally, Mi Yodeya (formerly known as Jewish Life and Learning) recently launched as a full-blown Stack Exchange site after a year in beta. I've enjoyed participating there -- lots of good questions and answers and discussion, but in a useful format that isn't "just another forum where you have to wade through the junk to get to the good stuff". There's going to be an online launch party on Sunday. More info: