Throughout the competition we have seen many very talented contestants. I was lucky enough to get a hold of almost every one of the Ravenclaw competitors for a brief interview on how they have felt during the competition so far.

On that note, with the rather forceful way two lovely HOLers recommended David Eddings to me (okay, they really didn't do that much arm-twisting), and perhaps with a year of contemplation over what fantasy book to once again pick up in such a fantasy dry spell, I chose The Belgariad. I was not sorry for it at all!

Last year I was not in the mood for a Christmas movie. I don't even think I watched a single one of my favorites, which is breaking a long-standing family tradition, one which has been in place since National Lampoon came out. Alas, I just didn't watch any. This year I plan on making up for it. Plans for a movie marathon are already underway! Hours of Christmas movies, where each guest brings their favorite movie.

H1N1, swine flu, piggy flu… it goes by many names. Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past 6 months, you’re probably aware of the global pandemic which is the Influenza A virus, subtype H1N1 flu. This virulent pathogen has claimed the lives of nearly 9000 people since its initial outbreak in late-March 2009.

A lot of people wish they can see their future. In this new show that premiered this fall and was anticipated by many, everyone in the whole world did. On October 6th, 2009, the whole world experienced a mass blackout.