JK Rowling, UK Darling

[fingal]

Okay matey. I just deleted my reply. It was of course calm rational measured etc ...

Actually I was thinking about what DThor said about the J. K. Rowling media circus and how genuine she is. I think that would be for real ... It's almost a cultural sin in this country to 'be a show-off' or 'get too big for your boots'. She was a struggling single mother who did very well indeed to write those books and sell them.

[GNOME_n00b]

Can we please not get into yet another argument over global warming? This is a fun thread and I don't want to have to lock it.

i've just deleted what i had to say...despite it being true.

[fingal]

i've just deleted what i had to say...despite it being true.

Well, today you get the last word on that. I won't argue with you.

[GNOME_n00b]

Well, today you get the last word on that. I won't argue with you.

i'm quite right though in my rationale as there is tons of evidence to back it up (i will more than happily provide it) . with techieMoe's permission, we could start a new thread debating the global warming issue.


back on topic....

Actually I was thinking about what DThor said about the J. K. Rowling media circus and how genuine she is. I think that would be for real ... It's almost a cultural sin in this country to 'be a show-off' or 'get too big for your boots'. She was a struggling single mother who did very well indeed to write those books and sell them.

quite right. its good to see genuine and down to earth people. did you hear about ben kingsley requesting that people call him "sir" just because he got a knighthood. what a jerk.

Sir Ben branded 'barmy' about title

Veteran producer Lord Puttnam has branded Sir Ben Kingsley "barmy" for insisting he is referred to by his full title.

The Oscar-winning actor is famously precious about his knighthood. The poster for his new film Lucky Number Slevin, out this week, bills him as "Sir Ben Kingsley".

Other knights of the acting world, including Sir Roger Moore, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Michael Caine, are happy to drop their titles.

Chariots of Fire producer Lord Puttnam, honoured with a Bafta Fellowship on Sunday, urged Gandhi star Sir Ben to stop taking himself so seriously.

In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live Breakfast, he said: "I think Ben's barmy and I wish I could just get hold of him and say 'wake up'. It's a silly thing to do.

"Within the film industry I'm just David Puttnam and I will always be David Puttnam."

Asked what Sir Ben was thinking, Lord Puttnam replied: "I wish I knew. I don't know. It's a very, very, very silly thing to do and I suspect when he sits back and thinks about it he will realise it."

Sir Ben, 62, the son of a Scarborough GP, was knighted in 2001, and afterwards he said: "There is no Mr Ben Kingsley any more. Being a Sir brings with it responsibility."

And in a press conference for Thunderbirds, he chastised a German reporter who called him Mr Kingsley.

"It's Sir Ben," he said. "I've not been a Mr for two years."

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=264572006

[fingal]

i'm quite right though in my rationale as there is tons of evidence to back it up (i will more than happily provide it) . with techieMoe's permission, we could start a new thread debating the global warming issue.

I wouldn't mind having that discussion, though as an individual I have very strong views which may annoy you. On the other hand I know better than to ever get personal in a debate (and I mostly keep my views to myself). All I'm saying is 'yes' and 'I try to be civilised': people like things that way. My computer is currently running a BBC experiment on climate modeling at the moment. Perhaps that will help to show results one way or the other.

back on topic....

quite right. its good to see genuine and down to earth people. did you hear about ben kingsley requesting that people call him "sir" just because he got a knighthood. what a jerk.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=264572006

I couldn't agree more. I hate pretentious people and go out of my way to avoid them. The older I get, the more I want to be around down to earth folk. That's how I was brought up, and that's how things are staying. I've been lucky enough to experience genuine kindness from people, and once you've been there you never want to go back.

Oh PS: no I hadn't heard about 'Sir' Ben. He's a jerk and I don't need a scientific research paper to prove it.

[ExpertBeginner]

I completely ignored the Harry Potter phenomenon when it first came about, I just wasn’t interested. I very much regret that now. I’ve never been much of a reader, apart from magazines and manuals etc.

However, last summer (2005) I went on holiday to Italy and decided to find a book to read. I thought I’d give Harry Potter a try as so many people had recommended it to me, and as my dad (in his 50’s) had the books I took the first two along.

After the first chapter I was hooked! I read the first two books in a week, and couldn’t wait to get home and start on the third. I also realised that we had the first 3 movies on VHS/DVD, so of course I checked them out too.

I’ve now read all 6 six books and have become quite obsessed with it all! I read HP every night before I go to sleep, (i'm reading them again!) and at lunch break at work! That’s quite something for somebody who never used to read much – I love the way JKR can create such a well written magical story with excellent characters, and exciting plots that keep me (and millions of others) hooked! The films are great too, and I have much respect for Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson (and co.) for their excellent performances in the films – the movies are unfortunately not as true to the book’s as I’d like, but still good enough to get the idea.

I’m in my mid twenties, and people say HP is for kids. Well I’m a big kid then!

On a related note, I also recommend ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ books, they are also fantastic – not seen the new movie yet though….

[techieMoe]

On a related note, I also recommend ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ books, they are also fantastic – not seen the new movie yet though….

I've read the first 3 books in the Narnia series and I enjoyed them, more so the second (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe) than the other two. I thought the movie was very true to the book, and quite well done.