Read Fellow Harry Potter Fans

By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer


NEW YORK - Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."

Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

"Oh, my god," Rowling concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction."

Potter readers on fan sites and elsewhere on the Internet have speculated on the sexuality of Dumbledore, noting that he has no close relationship with women and a mysterious, troubled past. And explicit scenes with Dumbledore already have appeared in fan fiction.

Rowling told the audience that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," she spotted a reference in the script to a girl who once was of interest to Dumbledore. A note was duly passed to director David Yates, revealing the truth about her character.

Rowling, finishing a brief "Open Book Tour" of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a "prolonged argument for tolerance" and urged her fans to "question authority."

Not everyone likes her work, Rowling said, likely referring to Christian groups that have alleged the books promote witchcraft. Her news about Dumbledore, she said, will give them one more reason.

From yahoo.com

What Makes Cebu Any Safer?

I have been looking for reasons why Cebu is way safer than Manila but I am unable to find any. Due to the recent bombings in Makati, should I be complacent enough because I am in Cebu? I don't think so!

Here is a definitive list of the reasons why Cebu isn't any less in danger:

1. Guards poking stick in the malls to check baggage and belongings. (Not unless there is this microchip in that stick that alarms authorities when a bomb is detected.)

2. Metal-detectors at bay. (Only used when security is heightened! Is that what you call safe?)

3. Only a single bomb-sniffing dog covering the whole mall if none at all.

4. Police visibility just above ten percent. (Except for kotong cops and traffic enforcers who goes OT to meet their quotas.)

I am not inviting anything untoward to come to Cebu. I am just worried we might be the next potential target. I just hope security goes up with these recent events. I would never want Cebu or any other place to suffer the same fate as Glorietta.

I am hoping for peace and eternal repose for those who died and a quick recovery to those who are injured.

I am hoping this will not happen again.

How Could they?

Yesterday, I was in the middle of watching a movie when a friend of mine texted me not to got to malls or LRT just yet. He was mentioning a death of 8 people in a bombing that happened in glorietta.

True, when the movie was finished, I heard news after news of the accounts of the events in Makati. The bombing left at least 8 people dead and hundreds more injured. Such a sad, sad occurrence especially that the Christmas season is coming up.

Many theories have surmounted regarding the alleged bombing. First of which is that it was caused by an LPG leak from a restaurant's kitchen. Such a preposterous assumption. The gravity of the incident should never be downplayed in order for the incompetent police force's not to look bad? Call that wake up call for the police years of slumber! Does it really have to take a graver tragedy before they do their jobs?

Second theory was that the government was behind the bombings. True or not, the government is to be blamed. If they should have stopped bickering and instead focused on far more important things such as heightening the security, terrorist acts like this would have been averted!

To the citizens, no one else should look out for our own safety than ourselves. For now, let us avoid going to public places becuase we can never say when the perpetrators of such horrendous acts would strike again.

Note: Thanks to Anitokid for the picture.

Am I not Good Enough?

Yesterday, I was scheduled for an interview as a part-time ESL instructor in one of our better-known English schools here in Cebu. I dreaded that day because I never liked interviews from the start yet all I can do was to suck it up and hope against hope that everything turns out the way I want it.

It was set at 4pm so I cam about 20 minutes early. They were quick enough to entertain me as they have, quite surprisingly, proceeded to my exams despite the premature schedule. So off I go and took roughly three types of tests: Language use test, IQ test and pre-Employment test. They also required me to take fill out their very own version of a curriculum vitae.

I know I passed it. I was confident with my grammar skills and I think my IQ is above average basing on the tests I have took in the past. So I waited for my interview, confident that somehow I fifty percent on the way to getting the job.

The interviewer came. He was well-dressed with tie and all but not as intimidating as they normally would look like. The first thing he said to me was "are you tired? because you look like one. we could reschedule this should you be in not well". I was irked a bit because I was not. I even overslept the other day. Maybe, he just thought that my being red is a sign a being exhausted.

The interview went very well. In my standards, I have ably answered all his questions to the best of my ability. However, there was just this big problem that hindered my employment. You see, I am a nursing student and my schedule can go from unpredictable to utter erratic. Despite applying for part-time job with a minimum of two hours, my schedule would only allow me to teach at night. He said that most English classes are in the morning. Too bad for me.

He ended up saying that he will put me on active file and once training for a new set of teachers comes, he'll call me. That is after minutes of him pondering on how to resolve my issue and another more minutes me of bargaining. Guess the job was not meant for me just yet. Again too bad!

Celebrities are Human too

In her show last October 16, Ellen deGeneres was brought into tears when apparently, the agency who gave her the dog "Iggy" for adoption took the poor animal back because of the former's infraction of their rules. A case of pure ignorance of the law I must say.

Ellen, upon bringing the new pet home, discovered that said dog never got into good terms with her cats. In the spirit peace, she decided to give the dog to one of her staffs in order to provide a home for it and in turn, a family who will love and care for it. It stayed for a few days with her staff and became somewhat attached to two lovely little girls. Inadvertently, Ellen broke one of the rules of the Pet Agency who rescued the dog. A foster home (If that's what you may call that) is not allowed to give the pet to another home. But she did!

The agency took the dog back, maybe with force I must say, breaking the hearts of the young girls. That's why, Ellen, human as she is, begged on national TV in her show for the Pet Agency to give the dog back.

This just goes to show that celebrities are human too. we often think that they disregard feelings because of their status but as it turns out, they are capable of caring as much as most of us normal people can.

Update: It was in the news that this issue is going to be brought to court.

Best Swimsuits in Town

Summer is over but who says going to the beach is out? Who says swimming pools should be abandoned? Who says going to tropical countries like the Philippines isn't a good idea? No one, right?

Of course, one can never boast of a good beach experience without flaunting the bodies he or she has worked on the whole year round. As tribute to the persons courage, donning his or her favorite bikini or swimsuit is a must.

Instyleswimwear.com offers the best swimsuit in town. From kids to the young at heart, they offer all types of swimming apparel in all shapes and sizes. Not only that, their website gives you the luxury of browsing through their list of designer swimsuits according to category. Call it convenience!

So what are you waiting for? For swimsuits and other swimming apparel, visit their website here. You will never regret it!