Dumbledore's Army: Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

As you may or may not have heard by now, JK Rowling dropped a little bombshell at a reading at Carnegie Hall tonight. Asked by a fan whether Albus Dumbledore had ever loved anyone, she smiled and replied "Dumbledore is gay, actually."

She went on to explain that as a young man, he had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald.

I can't express how excited I am about this, and how proud I am of Jo for making this statement. Neocons' heads will explode. Cats will lay with dogs. The Rapture may occur.

Scanning some comments around the internets, a common statement seems to be "why now? how unnecessary." Why now indeed, rather than in Book 7 or sooner? Because now is so much more subversive. Jo has been dealing with attempts at censorship since Book 1, and would be well aware that addressing this within one of the books would have kept it off library shelves and out of peoples' homes in many areas.

But now? Too late. TOO LATE.

Hopefully this revelation will spark many constructive conversations. Will it elicit hate? Of course. But I'm going to be optimistic and say there will be more positive results than negative.

Hit that comment button below. You don't have to be a Potter geek to see the significance, do you?

--Mikey

Cross-posted to Intelligent Decline.

I've Got Opinions?

Going to be doing a little collective blogging over at intelligentdecline.com. Who knows, maybe it'll get me doing some real blogging over here too!

Don't hold your breath. :)

--Mikey

np: Hexstatic - When Robots Go Bad

Top 10 Of 2006

Do-over. Sometimes you need one. I realized that my last post was 11 months and 3 weeks ago, and I'm calling a do-over. Let's start fresh with the 40g+m Top 10 of 2006. Hi.

10. Self Defence
UNKLE

Not my most-listened-to, not even a particularly coherent collection, but for an artist that for years released singles in Japan only, or in multiple versions in multiple countries, to collect ALL the singles from the album, put them on 4 cds and sell it for twenty bucks? Lavelle deserves #10 for his community service.

9. History Will Never Hold Me
The Hourly Radio

Placebo circa 1996 meets OK Computer outtakes.

8. iTunes Originals
Ben Lee

Good songs made great, mediocre songs made good. Make an originals-only playlist and listen. This has to become available outside Oceana. Especially after they fucked up and teased everyone with it. Bastards.

7. Tick...Tick...Tick
Steve Wynn

How did I get through my formative years without hearing The Dream Syndicate? I'm not sure who I thought they were, but they weren't that. And Tick...Tick...Tick is Television for the 21st century.

6. Feedback
Jurassic 5

I expected it to be so bad. First I heard they were doing a song with the Dave Matthews Band. My heart sank. Then I heard the song online. My heart stopped. They're so over. Then I heard the album. It is so GOOD. I mean, come on, track one is a rap over "Moments In Love" by Art Of Noise? And the scary part is that even the Dave Matthews Band track, in context, ain't that bad. Ferreals.

5. Pink Squares / Teenage Skin (Single)
I Was A Cub Scout

The two best songs The Postal Service (n)ever wrote.

4. Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller

Yeah, fine, you didn't hear it everywhere, I admit it. But I can only listen every few weeks, as it takes THAT long to get the fucking thing out of my head. Ben Kweller Ben Kweller might be the catchiest album ever ever. Best song: Magic.

3. Freakshow
Krafty Kuts

Basically a companion piece to #1. Krafty Kuts is the head of Supercharged, the Freestylers label, and a fantastic DJ/producer. Freakshow is kind of an exploration of old skool style breakbeat through what is almost a mixtape, but of all original material. You think you've never heard him, but listen to the phenomenal found-sound manipulation of "Basketball Jam" and you'll recognize a very famous TV commercial from earlier in the year.

2. Your Body Above Me (The Directors Cut)
Black Lab

My only cheat of the year. Am I allowed to call this a 2006 release? The original is almost unrecognizable to me after the awesomeness of this version.

1. Adventures In Freestyle
Freestylers

My most anticipated, and most listened-to new album this year. From "In Love With You", built on a sample of the obscure Spandau Ballet track "To Cut A Long Story Short" to the almost punk rock "Painkiller" to the Axl Rose sample in "Fast Life", it never lags for a second. And the scary thing is that it's only their third best record.


Honorable Mentions

11. Revenge Of The King (EP)
Kula Shaker

In case Black Lab gets the boot. The Jeevas are over, Kula Shaker is reborn as... The Jeevas!

12. En Garde, Society
Eugene Mirman

Is comedy allowed? The first great comedy album of the 21st century.

"the reason it's OK for ME to say fag... is because I'm full of hate."

13. The Brave And The Bold
Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Glorious covers. I mean, who has the audacity to cover Richard Thompson and Devo on the same record... and do it well?!?

14. The Return Of Dr. Octagon
Dr. Octagon

Filthy mouth and trippy landscapes of rap/hop/rock/ness. Listen to "A Gorilla Driving A Pick-Up Truck". You won't need the acid, it's included.