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Previously we told you actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) would be appearing at the Pure Fashion Exhibit in London, England in support of the Made by organization efforting improvement of the social and environmental aspects of fashion companies. TLC has now received a press release containing remarks from Bonnie (with many photos of Bonnie at the event here via our Order partner Bonnie Wrig... Read the rest of this post

Thanks to Oclumencia, we can now see even more high res stills from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Of interest are this look at Harry in Potions class (complete with markings on the Potions book) Draco and Pansy in Potions, Lavender in Weasley Wheezes, McLaggen,  Hermione comforting Ron in the Hospital, Dumbledore in the Cave, and more, as well as these last few promo shots.

Thanks to Oclumencia, we can now see some new high res behind the scenes photos from the making of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. At this link, you can see new photos of Bonnie Wright, Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Cave, David Bradley and much more (slight spoiler caution) preparing for scenes in the Cave, the Burrow, Diagon Alley,<> the ... Read the rest of this post

A press release issued today to TLC heralds the news that actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny) will be making a public appearance at the PURE Fashion Exhibit next month in London, England. According to the release Bonnie "will be hosting the MADE-BY stand" on Sunday, August 2nd.  MADE-BY is described as an organization that "works with fashion brands to improve the social and environmental aspects of ... Read the rest of this post

The global rollout of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince continues, as actresses Bonnie Wright (Ginny) and Evanna Lynch (Luna) were guests at the premiere in Denmark. Thanks to our Order Partner BonnieWrightOnline, you can see some great new photos of the ladies here, with a scan from the local paper here from SS.

Megan Branch, Intern

Patrick Wright a Professor at the Institute for Cultural Analysis at Nottingham Trent University and a fellow of the London Consortium.  Wright wrote On Living in An Old Country and its companion, A Journey Through Ruins: The Last Days of London (read an excerpt here). On Living in an Old Country looks at history’s role in shaping identity and everyday life in England. Below is an excerpt about the house of Miss May Alice Savidge. Upon finding out that her pre-Tudor house was scheduled for demolition to make way for road work, Savidge dismantled it, shipped it 100 miles away, and began reassembling the house piece-by-piece.

On Camping out in the Modern World

“History appears as the derailment, the disruption of the everyday…” - Karel Kosik

So far I have not identified the political complexion of the local authority in Ware, not for that matter of the national government when the decision to redevelop Miss Savidge’s home was made. This has not been the result of any reluctance to deal with the political implications of Miss Savidge’s story. On the contrary, my point is that these implications will not be appreciable unless one also grasps the extent to which politics, at least in the traditional frame of the major electoral parties, have become irrelevant to the issues finding expression in this affair.

In a phrase of Habermas’s, the political system is increasingly ‘decoupled’ from the traditional measures of everyday life, and Miss Savidge cannot be adequately defined as the victim of one party as opposed to another. She fell instead (and, of course, rose again) on the common ground of the post-war settlement, a ground which is made up of rationalised procedures and methods of administration as much as of any shared policies about, say, the efficacy of the mixed economy or the legitimacy of the welfare state. Miss Savidge’s house stood in the way of an ethos of development and a practice of social planning and calculation which have formed the procedural basis of the welfare state under both Conservative and Labour administrations. Governments have come and gone (at the behest of an electorate oscillating at a rate which itself reflects the situation), but a professionalised conduct of social administration has persisted throughout.

The professionals of this world are almost bound to see the more traditional forms of self-understanding persisting among the citizenry as merely quaint and eccentric, if not more dismissively as obstructive and inadequate to modern reality. While there is always room for an arrogant contempt to develop here, the most frequent manifestation consists of a resigned and pragmatic realism (the bureaucratic sigh which responds to people’s demands by saying that things are always more complicated than that) with which officials draw out and exhaust the discussion and patience of residents’ associations around the country. That this system of planning is less than perfect goes without saying, and Miss Savidge is well stocked with complaints on this score. For anyone who stops to ask she will talk about the callousness of the officials who turned up the Saturday before Christmas (1953) to look at the buildings which they had already decided to pull down—even though this was the first the residents had heard of it. She will mention inconsiderate rules applying to council tenants (no cat or dog unless you have a family, and so on). She will also talk about a general bureaucratic incompetence which, in her experience, made it possible to get a council grant towards the cost of installing a bathroom in a house which was already up for demolition, and which was also evident in the many changes of plan regarding the road development itself. Is it to be a new road with a roundabout, or can the old road be widened, and which local authority (town or country) is to be responsible?

Bureaucratic procedure may indeed be conducted as if its rationality were contained entirely within its own calculations, and in this respect it may well seem to stand impervious: free from any responsibility to the world in which its works eventually materialise. But whatever the appearance, this is obviously not a matter of rationality alone. The system of planning into which Miss Savidge was well caught up by 1969 is characteristic of a welfare state that was both corporatist in character (public discussion and political negotiation simulated in thoroughly institutionalised forms), and caught in the contradictions of its commodifying pact with private capital. More than this, the welfare state has developed through a period of extensive cultural upheaval, and Miss Savidge’s is therefore a story of the times in its discovery of tradition not just in the lifeworld but also in an apparently hopeless contest with modernity. While the dislocation of traditional self-understanding could indeed prepare the way for better possibilities, Miss Savidge stands there as a testimony to another scenario in which the prevailing atmosphere is one of insecurity which develops when extensive cultural dislocation has occurred without any better, or even reasonably meaningful, future coming into view.

We have a few quick interviews to update you on tonight. First actor Rupert Grint is the subject of two new interviews: here with Parade.com, and video of his guest appearance on the CBS Morning Show.

Next, thanks to Teen.com who let us know about a nice video interview with actress Bonnie Wright who discusses filming the attack on the Burrow, and notes her favorite part of Hogwarts castle is th... Read the rest of this post

She's got style she's got class, she is one of the best dressed for June 2009, or so says Teen Vogue of actress Emma Watson. The magazine owled to let us know the news, plus share with us two quizzes: one on Harry Potter, and one on Emma Watson.

Women's Wear Daily emailed us this morning as well to let us know about their new interview with the Hermione Granger actress, who spoke of her great l... Read the rest of this post

Last night in the UK, two more behind the scenes specials on the making of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were aired. While both contained many interviews with cast and crew, of note were the new clips from HBP, and we have them both now in our video galleries. SPOILER caution:  At approx 15 min here in the Sky Movies special with Alex Zane, you can now watch the intense Unbreakable Vow... Read the rest of this post

As posted before UK Channel 4 was set to broadcast a special on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Recorded during the London premiere of the film in Leicester Squarey, thanks to our Order partner BonnieWrightOnline, you can now watch the show with part one here, part two here, and part three here. In the program you can see footage of many of the cast and crew, as well as interviews condu... Read the rest of this post

Earlier today we told you about the new special issue of Entertainment Weekly on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that is due out tomorrow, Friday, July 10th. Thanks to our Order partner BonnieWrightOnline we can show you more new scans from the feature; one is this adorable new photo of the Trio of Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Bonnie Wright here on mopeds. Also new is thi... Read the rest of this post

We have two more behind the scenes specials on the making of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to update you on tonight. First, thanks to our own Erna, we that the German tv station Pro7 will be airing their special Sunday, July 12 at Sunday, 7:10pm. You can see some early photos including new ones of Bonnie Wright, Jessie Cave, Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson here in our Image... Read the rest of this post

Earlier tonight we were able to broadcast live from the red carpet for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in New York City. We now have press photos to show you from the event, starting here in our Image galleries. The premiere saw Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, Warwick Davis, director David Yates, producers... Read the rest of this post

Thanks to the folks from the Kyle and Jackie show who let us know about the Australian radio program that went to London for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. At this link,you can see new video interviews with the cast and crew on the soggy wet carpet, as well as hear a brand new radio interview here with Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright and Jessie Cave.

Thanks so much guys!

Over the past month or so, long time readers will know we have been experiencing some down time for our galleries. Tonight we are delighted to report our galleries are back in business and have some lovely new photos for us to enjoy. WB has officially released to all the media now a slew of new clips and high res images. Starting at this link, there many many new photos from the upcoming<> Harry ... Read the rest of this post

There are a whole host of new reviews for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince online today before the UK premiere of the film later today in London. Most are very positive about the film, notable are comments from the Telegraph that remark on performances from both the adult actors and the Trio, especially on Dan Radcliffe as Harry Potter: "Increasingly, they give the films their backbone,... Read the rest of this post

There is a new article from the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex Blog which features an interview with actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) who speaks to her role in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film.  This article delves into the differences between book and film, her reaction to the character of Ginny Weasley in the story, and much more.  In this interview, the young act... Read the rest of this post

Variety has now posted their review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and it contains much praise for the sixth installment in the Harry Potter film series. Noting that director David Yates "displays noticeably increased confidence here, injecting more real-world grit into what began eight years ago as purest child's fantas," and has made a film that is "film is clear-headed and clean-... Read the rest of this post

Just when you think you've seen it all, comes a whole host of new high res stills from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, notably of Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. As seen here, you can see Snape sitting at Spinners End, reading a copy of the Daily Prophet. New as well is this fascinating photo of a questioning Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) standing next to Snape ... Read the rest of this post

Yesterday, we told you about the opening of the touring train for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which will be traveling all over France. Today, the BBC now has video online from that event, and includes two short new interviews with actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley). You can also see footage of the various props including the Potions book, and so... Read the rest of this post

Portkey has now released more of their scans from the Panini Sticker album for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. While many many of these stickers we have seen in one form or another, there are a few of interest (SPOILERS) including this of Katie Bell and Leanne walking, carrying a package, when Leanne touches the necklace here. Also of note is this of a bloodied Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton)... Read the rest of this post

The media barrage heralding the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince continues today as there are two more features now online featuring the sixth Harry Potter film. Seen here courtesy of our Order Partner DanRadcliffe.com, SFX has a long and rather light look at the film, focusing on the old David Yates quote about the film "It's all Sex, Potions, and Rock n Roll" and subsequent r... Read the rest of this post

Elvin Lim is Assistant Professor of Government at Wesleyan University and author of The Anti-intellectual Presidency, which draws on interviews with more than 40 presidential speechwriters to investigate this relentless qualitative decline, over the course of 200 years, in our presidents’ ability to communicate with the public. He also blogs at www.elvinlim.com. In the article below he looks at presidents and church. Read his previous OUPblogs here.

Americans do impose a religious litmus test on our presidents, and there is a tradition that proves it. President Obama and his family attended Easter service at St John’s Episcopal Church. Just across from the White House, it is known as the “Church of the Presidents,” the unofficial White House Chapel. Almost every president since James Madison has found occasion to worship in this church and in particular at pew 54, the presidential pew.

The selective presidential need to prove a religious point proves my point. Consider the case of President Eisenhower, who was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and whose home served as the local meeting hall for Witnesses for 19 years. Twelve days after his first inauguration, Eisenhower was baptized, confirmed, and became a communicant in the Presbyterian Church. No president before or after him has ever had to perform such rites while in office. The religious litmus test was so powerful in this case that it was voluntarily taken by a president who had already been endorsed by the people and sworn to protect and defend the Constitution.

Contrast Eisenhower to President Reagan or Bush, neither of whom belonged to a congregation or attended church regularly (or even sporadically) while in Washington, justifying their decision on the basis that the security requirements would be too onerous and disruptive to the congregations they joined. Faith is a personal thing only if the public already believes that a president possesses it. If not, no security arrangement is too onerous to trump the need to publicize it. This is true of President Clinton when he attended Foundry United Methodist Church while in Washington (one of the candidates for the Obamas’ new home church by the way), and it is also true of presidential candidate John Kerry when he made much public display of his Sunday church attendances.

The speculation about which church the Obamas will ultimately settle on as a home church in DC has been fueled, in part, by his past association with the controversial Jeremiah Wright and his membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ. The speculation about where the Obamas will end up has taken on more than normal political significance because there is a greater need for this president, unless others who didn’t even have to attend church, to demonstrate that his religious views are squarely in the mainstream.

So on this Easter weekend, to those who bemoan the secularization of America, take heart, because presidents who appear godless know that they will be judged on earth before they are judged in heaven; to those who believe the separation of church and state is not yet complete, take stock, because where and whether or not President Obama ends up worshiping every Sunday has become a topic of paramount political importance to the administration. So much so that White House aides reportedly considered over a dozen churches before deciding on St John’s as the safest place for a president to go to observe Easter Sunday.

Actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) made an appearance at the launch for the Bolongaro Trevor & Pearl Lowe Vintage Collection in London, England this past week.  Our Order Partner BonnieWrightOnline has images of Miss Wright at the event available via this link.

On a related note, Miss Wright also attended the UK premiere of the Zac Efron film 17 Again late last week.  A number of photos are o... Read the rest of this post