Archive for July, 2009
Friday, July 31st, 2009 | 890 views
 Harry Potter's magic gadgets have captured our imaginations. The most interesting things about all the Harry Potter stories and movies are the Magic Gadgets. In every book and movie, new gadgets that have magical properties to do really weird things. Some of the more favourite magic gadgets are the strange looking magic wands. All students of Hogwarts have their own magic wand and each one is different from one another. Another fantastic gadget is the broomstick. The broomstick takes centre stage during the game of Quidditch. Students also use the broomstick to fly around from one place to another. Here is the collection of Magic Gadgets from all the Harry Potter books. Enjoy!
Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
 Magic wands are special for its owners. Wands: Personalized sticks for performing magic
Broomsticks: Primary means of transportation, also used in the game of Quidditch
Invisibility cloak: A rare and expensive item that makes the wearer invisible. Harry inherits one from his father
Remembrall: Clear orb that turns red if a wizard or witch has forgotten something
Sorting Hat: Magically determines which house (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin) a new student is assigned to. The hat originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts
Owls: Serve as mail messengers for wizards and witches
 The sorting hat Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
 Howler, a red letter. Floo Powder: Used by wizards for travel and communication via fireplaces
Howler: Red letter usually sent to express anger from the sender. When a howler is opened, the sender’s voice yells at the recipient before it self-destructs
Tom Riddle’s Diary: Enchanted with dark magic and used to control Ginny, it is destroyed by Harry and is later revealed to be one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.
Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 Marauder's Map Maurader’s Map: Shows the Hogwarts grounds on a blank piece of parchment. When the map holder says, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” markings appear, showing everyone who is within the grounds. The map was created by Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and James Potter
Time-Turner: How Hermione travels back in time. She initially uses it to attend more classes but later needs it to go back in time and save Sirius and Hagrid’s beloved Buckbeak
Sneakoscope: A spinning glass top that makes shrill noises when “deception” is nearby
 Flying broomsticks Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Portkeys: Any object - from a dirty old boot to the Triwizard Cup - that transports the person who touches it to a predetermined location
Goblet of Fire: Picks the wizards who will compete in the Triwizard Tournament
Pensieve: A stone basin that is used to store and review memories
Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Fanged Frisbees: Banned at Hogwarts
Room of Requirement: Where Dumbledore’s Army meets. It appears only when one passes its entrance three times while concentrating on what is needed. The following year, Draco Malfoy will use this room to allow Death Eaters to enter Hogwarts
Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 Felix felicis, the good luck potion Felix Felicis: Lucky liquid, it grants good luck to the drinker - temporarily. Harry “earns” a small vial of Felix and gives it to Ginny, Ron and Hermione so they can be lucky when the Death Eaters infiltrate Hogwarts
Vanishing Cabinet: Transfers contents to its sister cabinet. Death Eaters penetrate Hogwarts through a tunnel between Hogwarts’ Vanishing Cabinet and its pair in the seedy Knockturn Alley store, Borgin and Burkes
Horcrux: A dark magical receptacle in which one places a fragment of his soul in order to attain immortality. Voldemort is believed to have created seven Horcruxes
Book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Godric Gryffindor’s sword: This sword can destroy Horcruxes.
Golden Snitch: A snitch enchanted by Dumbledore to hold the Resurrection Stone. It opens when Harry accepts the fact that he needed to die to gain victory against Voldemort
The Elder Wand: The most powerful wand in the world, which can stave off death
Resurrection Stone: A stone that brings back the dead
Invisibility Cloak: A true invisibility cloak that never wears out
Deluminator: Steals light from surrounding sources. Ron uses this to find his way back to Hermione and Harry
Tags: broomsticks, Chamber of Secrets, Deathly Hallows, Deluminator, Elder Wand, Fanged Frisbee, Felix Felicis, Floo Powder, Goblet of Fire, Golden Snitch, Half-blood Prince, Harry Potter, Horcrux, Howlder, invisibility cloak, magic wands, Marauder's Map, Order of the Phoenix, owls, Pensieve, Portkeys, Prisoner of Azkaban, Remembrall, Room of Requirement, Sneakoscope, Sorting Hat, The Sorcerer's Stone, Time-Turner, Tom Riddle's Diary, Vanishing Cabinet
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Thursday, July 30th, 2009 | 445 views
(Relaxnews)
US scientists say that moody or grumpy people can raise their mental performance by…. getting some sunlight! The scientists, from University of Alabama, suggest that light also affects blood flow to the brain, and this in turn affects your thinking-moving skills. They experimented with over 14,4000 people which is a large group.
It turned out that among moody people, low sunlight affected their thinking-moving skills (cognitive skills). Why is this finding important? Main scientist Shia Kent of the University of Alabama said it would help tremendously to help treat moody people.
Tags: blood flow, brain, cognitive, scientists, sunlight, University of Alabama
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Thursday, July 30th, 2009 | 1,062 views
 LENKA in Kuala Lumpur 2nd - 5th August 2009. Lenka is currently on a whirlwind world tour and she’ll be in Kuala Lumpur for about 4 days beginning Sunday 2nd August! On that day, you should head on down to 1 Utama to see her. Over the four days until 5th August, her schedule is pretty tight, she’ll be jumping from one place to another (just like her video!). Sony Music ran a contest recently featuring Lenka. The contest ran concurrently in The Star and Utusan from 20th July to 27th July. Sony Music executive, Ms Dawn Benedict said, “With all the entries coming in, it looks like Lenka has brought out the inner artist in many Malaysians. A total of 6 Best Art Works were selected. Now it’s up to the Hypp.TV community to pick their most deserving entry. This Sunday at 3:30pm, Lenka will announce her favorite piece at the showcase- so head on down to 1 Utama to check out the “THE SHOW”.
To get the buzz going on, an online voting contest at http://lenka.hypp.tv will give Lenka fans a chance to vote for their one favourite artwork. The online voting will begin on 29th July until 3rd August. All you have to do is register on www.hypp.tv and vote. It’s that easy. The artist of the best artwork will receive one year free access to Hypp.TV, Lenka’s CD , Limited T-Shirt and Music Hamper worth RM 150. Vote and make sure your favourite artwork wins!
Here are the 6 pieces of artwork that were selected by the panel of judges. Now, it’s up to you to pick your favourite one. To do that you must go to http://lenka.hypp.tv
Selected entry No 1.
My drawing is inspired by Lenka’s song, Don’t Let Me Fall. The music and lyrics captures the innocent love between two people. The setting of my drawing is based on the lyrics of the song, while the idea of the girl and the guy are flying in the sky was an inspiration from Lenka’s music video, The Show, because she mentioned that she enjoyed being like Peter Pan. My drawing is simple as it focuses on the girl reaching out to the guy, showing that she is putting trust on the guy to lead her on. With her holding a heart-shaped balloon, it represents their love, while the shooting star represents hopes and dreams will come true.
Selected Entry No. 2
Dear Lenka,
I’m just a little girl lost in the moment
I’m so scared but I don’t show it
I can’t figure it out
It’s bringing me down I know
I’ve got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
The Show by Lenka makes people feel SWEET, PEACE AND JOY.
sweet and love shape symbolize Sweet.
dove and lucky leaf symbolize Peace.
hot balloon and flowers symbolize Joy.
The girl who was lost at the moment,
finally finds the way out (face appears with different colour papers)
and Enjoys the life, of course enjoys the SHOW!!
Besides this, I’m using sunlight and few tiny purple and pink comics to bring up LENKA and THE SHOW.
Selected Entry No. 3
 Live life to the fullest because life is short. Short as it may seem but put the pieces together and you will get the whole picture of living the life worthy of your calling. Break out from your routine and be more than what you are.
 Selected Entry No. 4
Lenka’s music album caught my attention immediately with her fetish towards trees and nature. I was inspired with her first single “The Show” that showing her popping up from one place to another. Since “The Show” really stands out, I created my masterpiece with a distinctive 3D effect and bright colours to add the creativity on the fascination world of Lenka. And as a naturalist, the artwork is made out of recycled items that I could find in my junkyard. From old magazines to newspaper cut-outs, she inspired me to create this art with my imagination running wild. The ‘Tree of Love’ was the most complicated to do. I stitched the bottom onto the base for a solid grip. The box of gift-wrapped with red ribbon represent her as a gift to the music industry. And this is how I picture Lenka.. I hope she likes it.
Selected Entry No. 5
My illustration is inspired by Lenka’s ‘The Show’ tune. I collected bits and bobs of plants and animalistic hues. Both rightfully quirky and hypnotic. I have decided to add a pair of shoes which gives no distinctive meaning but to kick off those shoes and just enjoy the show. ‘The Show’ is somehow a wonderland or rather a themepark. Animals are directly associated with it, as I wanted to give it a safari stature. Something dreamy yet pop with razzles of colours, I intertwined swirls and cleverly multiply creating motion. Finally, someone once said roses have eyes and that is why it is pretty wild all around and I just can’t get enough of it.
Selected Entry No. 6
LIFE:
This art piece is mainly inspired by the song ‘The Show’ by Lenka. Recently, I find that I am in the middle of taking a big step out of my comfort zone (the pleasant sun) into the world. I am only 17, and yet I am already lost and in a whirlwind of choices: choosing between the daily ‘right and wrong’, choosing my next career path or accepting the job I have been offered (the key). So, as I’m walking and treading my way with the help of my trusty stepping stones, I find that the choices I make will line my path with joy, sadness , laughter, etc.(Hence, the masks of expressions)
The rainbow assures me that it will always cheer me up after the rain, the bird sings a song of aiming for the sky while the wild flowers remind me that I will survive.
Selected Entry No. 7
To me, Lenka is one of the most creative and fresh singers out there today. Therefore, I was inspired to create a personification of her creativity and by doing so, bringing the titles of the songs in her album to life. This I hope will represent the wonderful and whimsical essence of what Lenka’s music is all about. Examples of symbols used in the painting are:
1. Theatre ticket - The Show
2. Skipping rope - Skipalong
3. Hammer - Knock knock
4. Lollipop and sword - Sweet & Dangerous
5. Figure pierced with sword - Live Like You’re Dying
6. Music sheet - Like a Song
7. Devil’s Horns - Trouble is a Friend
8. Anvil - Bring Me Down
9. Vines - Force of Nature
10. Mirror with clown’s reflection - Anything I’m Not
11. Infinity - We will not grow old
12. Hand holding rope - Don’t let me fall
Tags: 1 Utama, Don't Let Me Fall, Kuala Lumpur, Lenka, Sony Music, The Show, TM
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 | 448 views
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If you were able to ask Daniel any question about his star role as Harry Potter, what would it be? Well, here is a collection of questions that were asked by kidz just like you from all over the world.
How different are you from Harry? - Atra Oshana
I think I am probably quite different from Harry. [But] I think we’re both quite reserved in terms of how much we show our feelings. Neither of us particularly wears our heart on our sleeve. The value of friendship in both our lives is immense. And I also think we have a shared curiosity.
What do you think has been Harry’s greatest misstep or failure in judgment? - Susan Bevins
Susan Bevins, you have asked a question no journalist has ever asked me. I think the way he treated his friends a couple of films ago was quite questionable. They’re always there for him, and he was a little bit ungrateful. I think Harry is a flawed character. He can be quite selfish and really manipulative. He’s not all sweetness and light.
The Harry Potter films have given you a chance to work with an extraordinary number of British acting royalty. Which ones have had the greatest effect on you? - Frank Hibrant
The two that have had the biggest effect on me would be Gary Oldman, who I became very close to, and Imelda Staunton. They’re both wonderful people and wonderful actors.
Both Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows are quite different from previous installments. How have you prepared yourself for the plot’s darker, deeper scenes? - Josh Hertzel
To be honest, that’s the kind of stuff I like doing and gravitate toward naturally. It probably comes easier to me than the comedy. On those days, I generally try to be as isolated as possible and listen to lots of music that will hopefully kind of depress me or get me into a less exuberant state.
If you could use any of the magical spells from Harry Potter, which would you choose? - Sohini Desai
It’s not a spell, but if I could choose any magical thing, it would definitely be the lucky potion. If you have too much, apparently, it screws you up, but the idea of having that perfect day is just so wonderful.
Are you a Harry Potter fan? - Rochely Candaten Droves
I am a fan of the books, certainly. In terms of the films, I enjoy watching everyone but myself very, very much. I don’t like watching myself. I don’t think many actors do. But, yeah, I am a fan. If I weren’t, I would’ve stopped ages ago.
What do you think about the way J.K. Rowling formed the plots of the books? - Frances Taylor
Obviously, it’s inspired. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have done nearly as well as they have. They have taken the best bits of different kinds of literature. It’s the latest in a long line of orphan literature. There’s the English boarding school. There’s the good-vs.-evil thing. The fact that she came up with the entire thing on one train journey is pretty remarkable.
Do you plan to go to college? - Lindsay Carpenter
No, I don’t. I am continuing my education. I have two weekly tutorials with a friend of mine who is also an English teacher. He comes on set and we talk through plays and books and poems. It’s a privilege.
Would you ever commit to the lead role in a movie series again? - Danielle Higson
It would be very hard to do that in a hurry. I think it would be a while, at least, before I did that. It would have to be very good.
Tags: Deathly Hallows, Gary Oldman, Half-blood Prince, Harry Potter, Imelda Staunton, magical spells
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