(no subject)

[thebitterguy]

This is what I get when I read LJ at work.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4-7 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest (unless it's too troublesome to reach and is really heavy. Then go back to step 1).
6. Tag five people.

I only do this because of elizalavelle.

:

Based only on suspicions of this illusory threat, which on a narrative level functions only as the obstacle hampering our heroes from effectively dealing with the genuine menace, he therefore institutes a series of draconian measures designed to control what he sees as the subversive elements at the wizarding school.

This is also profoundly reminiscent of real world precedent. Schools and universities have long been seen as the breeding grounds of dissent, political activism, and open defiance of established orthodoxy. They have therefore been long subject to betwen the tug-of-war between the intellectual freedom that gives young people the tools to question their societies, and the guardians of the status quo who believe students should be taught nothing but loyalty.
From Azkaban to Abu Ghraib -- Adam Troy-Castro

Mapping The World of Harry Potter, Edited by Mercedes Lackey, published by Ben Bella Books.

Edit: Tagged: pyat, absinthe_dot_ca, nottheterritory, the_adzo, redeem147

In other news: Apparently, it's been a year since I hurt a blogger's feelings. I should get a medal.

Comments

[absinthe-dot-ca.livejournal.com]

Err, the first book I grabbed was a copy of the Koran. Don't ask why I have a copy of the Koran. Can I get a do-over?

[lowercaseem.livejournal.com]

The only book I keep near the computer is the OED. Just in case.

[thebitterguy]

Sure, if you want.

[absinthe-dot-ca.livejournal.com]

Ah, I decided to go with the flow. As long as I don't have a fatwa called on me or anything like that...

[crashing-angel.livejournal.com]

You don't need a metal, you need a pep talk! What's wrong?! No LJ Drama? No tears? What is this world coming to!!

Anyways, awesome meme, might take it. :)

[thebitterguy]

Ah, it was a silly thing. He was an ignorant man who had no sense of humour.

Feel free; the slackrs seem to have declined their opportunities.

[thebitterguy]

Yeah, I can't see that being a problem.

[thebitterguy]

What do you get on page 123, line 5?`

[absinthe-dot-ca.livejournal.com]

Ordinarily, I'd agree. But there may be some irate person out there who gets all pissed off about an infidel quoting the holy book or something like that. I know that 99.999% of Muslims (like almost any other group) are rational people - it's always the 0.001% you have to watch out for. There are some groups for which no amount of rationality can be assumed, of course...

[thebitterguy]

You see, I don't think there's a problem with reading or even quoting it, as long as you don't doodle naked Mohammeds in the margins.

[lowercaseem.livejournal.com]

line 5 specifically reads:

flexible stem of plants such as rattan.

It's part of the second definition of the word cane, the whole of the definition being

2 the slender, flexible stem of plants such as rattan.

That's only if I count lines as I would count lines in poetry, though.

[absinthe-dot-ca.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, you see, funny story that...