MRod says: Is the crew ready? Like spaghetti.

News that a spoiler for the upcoming and final chapter in the Harry Potter story was released by “Gabriel,” a hacker who sneaked onto the Harry Potter’s publishing companies computers is all over the Internets as well as the MSM (Mainstream News Media for those that skipped out on Mass Media taught at every. university.), including MSNBC and the New York Times–Okay, it’s on their “blog,” BUT it is on their website’s front top page–prime real estate–as of this writing.  Of course bloggers–this one included as evident by my discussion of it here– apparently are nearly having a bukakkesque reaction to this “news.”  Side note: Do NOT google “bukakkesque” or any other spelling variation while at work, around your parents or siblings or your priest.

The cynic in me thinks that this spoiler release is a great “viral” marketing ploy, as if this boy wizard doesn’t get enough press or buzz as it is.  If not and Gabriel, the hacker messenger angel,  is telling the truth, then either way the publisher and the author, as well as the author’s sycophant team of lawyers and advisers win either way by keeping this book at the top of the new cycle and as well as the topic du jour of the proverbial water cooler, no small feat in today’s ADD environment.  Whatever it is, chalk up this “story” as yet another piece of hard hitting “soft news.”  Who do I fault though?  I don’t find myself writing about how the Republicans in the Senate blocked a measure that would have had the Big Oil companies pay higher taxes that would apply towards renewable energy funding nor about the fact 14 US soldiers, along with an Iraqi interpreter as well as three local civilians were killed today in Iraq.

“Yea, yea, now where’s the link to the fuckin spoiler?” you’re probably wondering.

Well, if you want to read the potential spoiler and save yourself the $29.99, click here.

…this cute critter:

[Watch WITH sound on]

I’ve seen this video above appear today on both BoingBoing AND Metafilter, which can only mean one thing: This clip will eventually join the great pantheon of viral videos and stand alongside Numa Numa guy and Star Wars kid and the Not-so-back flipping martial “artist”.

Seriously, if you only read through this and didn’t watch the the four Youtube videos I linked to (Star Wars kid gets two versions), then stop collaborate and listen ’cause mrod is back and telling you to go watch them. Seriously.

As soon as I left Alaska to attend college and interact with non-Alaskans, the vast majority of whom who have never visited my home state, I’ve found myself often acting as an ambassador educating people that Alaska is not a gigantic sheet of ice or completely dark for half the year. My homeboys can relate to this I think.

However, I received an email today from my father that only reinforced those stereotypes people have of Alaska. He writes:

“We’re having good summer weather this year. The down side is something we seldom come across. Two baby moose calves were devoured by a black bear in front of the mom moose on the front lawn of some people on O’Malley road in plain sight of the neighbors and in broad daylight. It was on the front page of the Daily News. We all felt bad since we are visited by these critters every summer.”

The NY Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams signs off her entries wih “Only in New York, kids, only in New York.”

I’m going to conclude this entry with “Only in Alaska, kids, only in Alaska.”

I took a few much needed days off work. I didn’t go anywhere particularly exciting, other than getting to enjoy New York during the day time like those people I see having a nice leisurely coffee at 11 am in Soho. (A lot of the photos during Kaizar’s visit was taken by him with his camera.)

Kaizar and I randomly dropped into a bike shop near my apartment. I love these bike hats. I’m demonstrating my immaculate bicycling pose.

The white hat version.

So Munira threw a welcome back party for Kaizar at the Delancey. Here’s Pooja, Munira and her friend Harmit.

“Yo, do I have something in between my teeth?”

ARRRGHHHH!!

Munira and Harmit!

It’s Peter!

A rare moment of peace for Kaizar. It looked like he was holding office hour like a professor with all his friends lined up like students waiting for their turn to talk.

It looks like me and Omar (Kaizar’s roommate out in San Francisco) just had a quarrel.

Omar and his friend (I forgot your name! Sorry!)

After the Delancey Kaizar, Peter and I went to our favorite watering hole, Botanica for the usual can of PBR.

“HE-LLO!” Sigh. I love Botanica so much.

Me, Kaizar and Erin went to some random tiki bar on Smith Street in Brooklyn and before leaving we asked some random guy to snap a photo of us. This was the result. Brilliance in timing. If you don’t get it, look at the photo again, especially the bar’s TV in the background. Disturbing, but kinda hilarious too.

We got some shawarma at that hole-in-the-wall joint near NYU. At the booth, there was this nasty copy of the New York Post. Gross.

Seriously, gross.

Kaizar on the other hand doesn’t seem quite as disgusted.

Memo to self: I REALLY need to stop getting photographed with my mouth full of food. That is NOT how I was raised. Self lecture aside, it was sooo tasty. I’ve eaten here a dozen times but I can never remember what the restaurant is called. Maybe one of you knows?

Cool thing we came across. I’ve never noticed it before when walking through this neighborhood.

Long time readers of my blog here and my old blog on Xanga will recognize this blast from the past.

KAIZAR! (Now a ninja in San Francisco.) He’s visiting the East Coast here for awhile which is fannnntastic.

His Blackberry pearl…isn’t so pearly anymore.

We went to…shoot, I forget the name of the bar in Union Square.

Me, Lauren and Pooja!

I really don’t enjoy shots at all… at all… Kaizar on the other hand is a big fan.

Yuck.

Kaizar’s cousin Hussain (and his friend).

And then we headed over to the Meatpacking District thanks to the driving talents of this super cool and laid back cabbie I chatted with.

What a great way to get all close like with a girl in a cab. “Lets share a seat belt…you know, for safety…purposes.”

Pooja putting on make up in the cab. Classy.

After the club, we went to Pop Burger. I’m not sure what’s up with my recent drunken tendency to open my mouth full of food when the camera comes out.

Sometimes a burger is so fuckin’ delicious. Am I right or am I right?

Pop burger! Haha.

Living in New York City I’ve seen my fair share of wackos and nutjobs, but this guy here in Union Square was a straight up freak. And I love that about this city.

Last night…we go to a party, and everyone turns to see this beautiful lady walking around with me. And then she asks me, “Do you feel alright?” And I say “Yes, I feel wonderful tonight.” A few hours later, after passing out in the subway platform ground, I somehow managed to make it home and at that point I didn’t feel so wonderful and promptly threw up.

One would think that I’m about five days late and a dollar short by writing about the finale to the cult and popular hit show on HBO “The Sopranos,” but people or rather journalists, columnists, writers, and fans are STILL continuing to write and debate its ending.

Disclaimer: I’m admitting that the final episode was the only episodes of the Sopranos I actually watched in its entirety.

The cacophony of opinions confirmed something that I’ve always suspected and that is  the fact that Sopranos fans are no different than the nerdom of “X-File’s” fans.  Or “Lost” fans.  The only difference is that the Sopranos audience paid premium for their obsession.

Anyway, someone posted on Youtube an exclusive director’s cut of the actual original ending to the finale and frankly, it rocks.  Talk about closure!