Harry Potter launches the book ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ on 16th July, Midnight. 70 children who won in pre-competitions were invited for the Book Launch, who grandly rode on horse carriages, entered the Edinburgh castle where they met the multimillionaire Author J.K.Rowling. She read a chapter from the book and than gifted the signed copy and had a grand party with the kids.

In this book, Harry is focused on what really it means to life : family, friends and love and has been portrayed more mature who has emotional connections.



Masterpiece of Satanic deception – that’s what Harry Potter series is said to be by the Pastors of the church. The Bible, in Acts 19:19 says “Many of those who also used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” And amazon.com is charging that and so are the Indian bookstores, I think. In 2001 and 2003, there are incidents of burning and cutting to pieces Harry Potter Books as Potter is a witchcraft and indeed inflicts the minds of the kids. The witchcraft theme do not jibe with the fundamentalist Christian teachings. Rowling has been the fourth most challenged Author of ‘Banned Books’ according to American Library Association from 1990 to 2004. These books do not have any moral lessons nor it says that lying and cheating are wrong.





Well, I run a children’s Library and encourage kids for reading but ugh oh, not Harry Potter! Though Harry Potter casts a spell in India, I do not believe in kids reading Harry Potter! Not that I am christian or ban the witchcraft but many kids cannot narrate nor write a review of simple story they read; they even cannot read Enid or Nancy Drew or Hardy boys nor Raold Dahl even though they buy from Bookstores like Crosswords! Those who can read are most exceptional kids I guess. Parents ever feel proud when they talk to me that their kids are reading Harry Potter but soon when they start attending my Library regularly, I find their flaws - they can't understand nor can they read the whole book!









Penguin Books India are the distributors in India and advance orders for the book were 125,000 copies.Leadings stores in Delhi & my town too reports of overwhelming response. So, I gather the copies are selling but hey, I wonder, why can't Indian bookstores held competitions like the below Book 'Harry Potter trivia n puzzles, etc.so that these books are really read?

The Ultimate Unofficial Harry Potter Trivia Book by Daniel Lawrence:
The book gives new, fascinating details about the first six books in the series. It contains a collection of fun multiple-choice questions along with little-known information about the world’s most famous wizard. Learn the secrets behind the magic and what comes next. The Ultimate Unofficial Harry Potter® Trivia Book is the perfect companion to the entire series, says Amazon!




It's now to be seen whether Harry Potter wins over Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, the movie that's released simultaneously! Kids - make your Choice! I am for Charlie.....the Raold Dahl book & the movie....LoL

-ilaxi

Some useful Links :

J.K. Rowling personal website
Harry Potter on Bloomsbury.com-International publisher
Harry Potter on Scholastic.com U.S. publisher
Harry Potter on Raincoast.com (Canadian publisher)
Penquin Books India - Indian Book Distributor for Harry Potter
Harry Potter in Asia

Did you see 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'? The Jungle Book, Sound of Music...many more! Well, those were the great days of our life when kids movies were a craze! Yesterday, while watching a television show, what interested me most was the news on coming 15th July release of Tim Burton's 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' with lead role by Johnny Depp as Willi Wonka. Here's the review of the story I read and told the kids who loved to dream of the Chocolate factory. Willy Wonka opens the gate of his Chocolate Factory to the five 'Lucky Winners' who finds the golden ticket wrapped in a Wonka Chocolate. Charlie is in for a big surprize in the end....You've got to see the movie with Kids!

By the way, if you want a fancy poster for kid's room, here is it. Just click for a great print-out. Enjoy!

-ilaxi

Net Shopping's been 'The New Rage' recently as a Survey conducted by the Internet and Online Association of India shows 25 million Internet population are regular online shoppers.

-62% have shopped on the net for more than a year
-37% have started shopping online within the past one year
-67% gave tested shopping spree in last three months.

Now, an estimated 13% of the online Shopping community shops by using Credit Cards.
79% use the option of Cash on delivery, allowing greater comfort level in online transactions within the shopping populance. Books were the most sought after item on the net with 41% of the online population buying books during 2004-2005. It is noted that the major shoppers reside in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.




Well, now as per my knowledge, online shoppers are too reluctant to buy books at Amazon or any other Bookstores online! My report shows hardly any buyers of Books as sambhaav sells books 'In Association' to Amazon. Moreover, I feel that leaving a Credit card number is allowing the cyber crooks to get you hooked. The web is full of deceit! Dangers of online transaction is not new and recently, reports speak of a security breach at a US processing company which exposed more than 40 million credit card accounts to fraud. The security hole in the system got access to names, account numbers and card codes! CitiFinancial has also confessed that data on 3.9 million consumers has been 'misplaced'. The data stolen in the card system breach is eventually auctioned by Cyber crooks who put up hijacked accounts. Not to go more in details..If E-commerce has matured into Rs.1,180 crore Industry during 2004-2005, figures may speak varying in time to come or maybe more stringent cyber laws to be framed for safe surfing, safe shopping...what not!!!

- ilaxi

Here's a Recipe...Straight from the "Chef" Blossomsmile's Kitchen!

Make the Best of Everything!


Preparation-Preliminary - A fluffy white cloud can adorn a clear sky
with splendour or can clutter up your vision of the blue expanse. Again, a
grey cloud can cause you to get wet and irritate you, or it can make
earth refreshingly cool. Your choice defines what is best.

Ingredients:

Make light of failure
Avoid pessimists and fault finders
Count your blessings
Enjoy Life
A vision of heaven

Method: Make failure an incentive to strive to do better.
Offer a deaf ear and blind eye to those who will not acknowledge the
cloud with a silver lining.
Remember a person without shoes is better off than one without feet.
Take time and pleasure in all you do even if it is eating a bread without
butter for breakfast.
Derive hope from saying, The Best is yet to come!

And yes, Best of friends too, yet to find, 'tis they come from heaven to
spread peace and joy on earth. Tis a cup of love blend with faith, trust
and all that is rosy and gold. Garnish your life with all the rich
flavours of love to relish the taste for a life time!!!

- ilaxi