Since today was Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day), we didn’t have school and so I spent most of today catching up on reading that I’d procrastinated over the weekend and getting some good game time in (Zelda and Perfect World, anyone?). Tomorrow morning I have to get up bright and early to get to Archaeology across campus. Argh.

I have three more programming assignments to complete this week… don’t let me forget, will you?

So I was surfing the Web today and I came across an article over the so-called “dangers of Harry Potter”. They say that it promotes the occult and desensitizes children to witchcraft. So I’m a little bit confused… does that mean that these people really, honestly believe that magic is real? I love the series and understand that the book is planted firmly in fantasy, in fiction, in the realm of “not real”. In order to be really offended by Harry Potter in the way that these people are you’d have to believe that witchcraft is real. Come on… can anyone really believe that someone can wave a stick around, even a “magical” stick with special ingredients in it’s core, while saying the right weird phrases and honestly expect that something “magical” will happen? If you’re going to tell me that exposing children to Harry Potter is bad because it’s exposing your children to witchcraft, that’s akin to saying that maybe children shouldn’t be exposed to Santa Claus because - come on - there’s no way he could have a flying sleigh with flying reindeer (one with a red, glowing nose) that go around the world in supersonic speed delivering presents to homes through tiny chimneys without magic.

I’m sure at this point I could mention the tragedy that was the Salem Witch Trials. None of those people were actually practicing witches. It was a hysteria that made people point the ugly finger of witchcraft at other people to avoid getting it cast upon themselves. For one thing, magic violates the second law of thermodynamics (gasp!).

Okay, so maybe magic is condemned in the bible. However, if we accept that magic isn’t real - and if you believe that it is real, you need a brain check - it’s condemning something that isn’t there, isn’t tangible, isn’t really even able to be condemned. It’s like condemning unicorns. You could plaster posters every where saying anyone caught with a unicorn should be put to death and anyone caught promoting Unicorn Propaganda be put in jail. All that would be in futility, however, because unicorns aren’t real and neither is witchcraft.

So, really, what does it matter? Even if it is “exposing children to the dangers of witchcraft”, it’s just like “exposing them to unicorns” - none of it matters because none of it is real. I’m not sure who it’s really hurting if some kid really thinks magic is real and runs around in his backyard with a stick trying to make his toys turn colors. At some point, all kids realize Santa isn’t real and sooner or later he’d realize that magic isn’t real, either. It’s all incredibly stupid.

Of course, besides the fact that it’s bluntly, garishly stupid - these people have no right to try to get the books banned from the rest of the public. It’s just a book. If you don’t want to read it and if you don’t want your kids reading it, then don’t read it and don’t let your kids read it. Case closed.

(I realize that there are many other reasons people don’t like Harry Potter, one being that it just simply isn’t their cup of tea. I respect that because I get many strange looks when I tell people that I simply can’t stand the Lord of the Rings trilogy…)

I’m still not feeling very well (heavily congested, coughing.) Although this isn’t much of a post, I wanted to keep with the “Blog 365″. I’ll just have to make up for it another time with a longer post, I just don’t feel up to it right now.

I’ve managed to catch a cold from somewhere (probably my various sick family members.) I came back from college perfectly healthy and right before I’m getting ready to leave, I get a cold. I’m coughing and I have a stuffed up nose. Talk about bad timing.

I’ve finally finished up my shiny new resume for an internship I’m applying for. It’s at a pretty big business here and I’d really love to get the internship. I’m not real sure what the chances are of me actually getting it, but hurting can’t try.

A short blog post, but a blog post nonetheless. Only a little under a year to go!

I’ve been playing “Perfect World” as well as Wii Sports and Rayman Raving Rabbids on my Wii. Oh, and my best friend managed to get Rock Band for the Playstation 2 and so we’ve obviously been doing that. (I love playing the guitar on there.)

I love the Wii very much. I just wish I had other games for it that were more action/adventure instead of mini-games. I really wanted Zelda: Twilight Princess but it was sold out the last time I went out.

Any suggestions?