In a stunningly misguided program implemented by the British government, all children's book authors who visit schools must register with a national database intended to protect children from pedophiles, and they must pay a fee to do so. Beginning October 12, 2009, the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will require that all adults who work with children, including authors such as J.K. Rowling and Philip Pullman if they make special visits to schools, will be required to register with the database for a fee of £64 ($105). The Independent reports that as a result, several well-known authors will boycott schools in protest of the requirement. Philip Pullman, Anne Fine, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, and Quentin Blake have all publicly stated that they object to having their names listed in the database. Pullman, author of the popular fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, called the policy "corrosive and poisonous to every kind of healthy social interaction." He eloquently adds, "This reinforces the culture of suspicion, fear and mistrust that underlies a great deal of present-day society. It teaches children that they should regard every adult as a potential murderer or rapist." Anne Fine, the former Children's Laureate for the U.K. and author of over 50 children's books, labelled the requirement "government idiocy." "When it [the VBS] becomes essential, I shall continue to work only in foreign schools, where sanity prevails," she said. "The whole idea of vetting an adult who visits many schools, but each only for a day, and then always in the presence of other adults, is deeply offensive. Our children will become further impoverished by this tiresome and ill-considered scheme, and yet another gulf will be created between young people and the rest of society."
The VBS was set up in 2002 following the tragic murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells by the janitor at their school, Ian Huntley. A government spokesperson defended the new rigorous regulation, saying, "The new scheme means every individual working in a field that requires more than a tiny amount of contact with children and/or vulnerable adults will have to be vetted. If they are passed, they will be placed on a register that says they are allowed to work in a regulated field. If they are barred, they will go on a separate register and it will be a criminal offence for them to try and obtain work in a regulated field, carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison. It will also be illegal for anyone to employ them."
Indeed, while such reasoning seems to make sense, the ramifications are far from sensible and grossly unfair to children and adults alike. This policy borders on hysteria and panders to the public's basest fears by assuming the worst of everybody. While none of these authors wants to see any child harmed, they point to the damage such a policy has on society as a whole. In an editorial in the Independent, Anthony Horowitz, author of the The Alex Rider Collection (Alex Rider Adventures) and the Power of Five book series, perhaps put it best: "This is a law made by people with a bleak and twisted view of society. And such people, quite simply, should not be making laws."

It should be obvious, at this point, to any observer: the world loves Harry Potter. Not just America, or even the Western World, but the whole World – Planet Earth. The first of the last three movies based on the successful series by British author JK Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, came out last week, leaving only two more movies to cover the final book in this epic saga of magic. It will be another two years before the movies are released to the public and the mixed tears of both unrelenting sadness and joy are shed, which gives both Rowling and the studio (Warner Bros.) time to consider the all-important question: what’s next?

After the last book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, was released two years ago, JK Rowling stated in many different interviews that the series would not continue – she felt the characters had been brought to completion, and included a halfhearted “look at the characters in the future!” epilogue as if to prove she was serious. However, she’s not likely to stay away forever, and the reasons are simple: the world adores her work, she’s made millions from the series, and, most importantly, this magical realm lives inside her head in a very real way.

The best authors, when creating imaginary worlds, construct them in their heads piece-by-piece and treat it as if it were real – J.R.R. Tolkien and Rowling have this trait in common. But when these imaginary worlds become a part of the author’s life for so long, Tolkien for the better part of his, and Rowling for the last twelve years, their very existence becomes entwined. Evidence of this can easily be seen in the fact that Tolkien could not leave Middle Earth, even after all the books were completed, or that Rowling will offhandedly refer to a previously-unknown fact like “Dumbledore is gay” as if it were obvious to the outside world.

Rowling has already revisited the magical land of Harry Potter once, to write “The Tales of Beetle the Bard” and a few more times as a consultant for the production of the movies – who’s to say she can stay away for good? The options for her to return to the series are many and varied, with most of them being great ideas in and of themselves. A few storyarcs come to mind almost immediately:

• Voldemort’s first ascent to power, just prior to Harry’s being born, with the original Order of the Phoenix
• James, Sirius, and the rest of the gang as they grow up through Hogwart’s themselves
• “parallel” novels following important, but not central, characters such as Luna Lovegood or Neville Longbottom, intertwining plotlines with the existing books
• Dumbledore’s past, including the adventures (and eventual battle) with Grindelwald

The options for the growth of the world are nearly endless, and it can be done delicately and appropriately without offending fans of the current series or appearing to continue the “Harry Potter grows up” storyline past its already obvious end.

Additionally, these movies have been a huge source of fame and fortune for Rowling, so much so that it’s easy to question whether she can financially leave the world. Without ever writing again, she will be able to live comfortably and without much thought for finances, but she will eventually get bored with having nothing to do – as everyone does. When that time comes, she may consider finding a job to occupy her time, and will know that she lives as she does thanks to her writing career. Logic follows that she will pick up the pen and word processor once again, with the legions of Harry Potter devotees hoping she result is another chapter in the series.

Harry Potter has become an international, multigenerational sensation that will live on forever in the hearts and minds of its fans, future readers, and the halls of literary greats. Other modern commercial successes, such as Twilight, do not and cannot live up to the precedent that Rowling has set for young adult fantasy novels, no matter how hard book publishers or movie studios try - pure genius is self-evident. An intelligent, creative woman at the age of 43, JK Rowling has many years ahead of her to decide what the future holds for Harry Potter – and whether or not to continue the largest love affair the modern world has ever seen.

“Harry Potter” star Emma Watson has been on a whirlwind worldwide publicity tour for the latest film, which is already a $400 million box office smash! Emma has been looking quite smashing herself on the red carpet and I am particularly loving her natural looking makeup.

Molly R. Stern, COVERGIRL celebrity makeup artist, who has worked with Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres, Mandy Moore and Amy Adams, shows us how to create a red carpet worthy look like Emma’s and here’s the best part - it’s under $50!

FACE/CHEEKS:
Prep the skin with Evian Water Spray ($5.50) before applying foundation - it will give your skin a dewy look and help keep it hydrated. To get gorgeous color like Emma’s, apply a peachy shade of cream blush to the apples of your cheeks like COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach ($10.99). www.covergirl.com Next, apply bronzer where the sun would normally hit your face for an added hint of color; I recommend using a bronzer like Sephora brand Bronzer Powder SPF 15 for a natural looking glow. $16 www.sephora.com

EYES:
To achieve a natural eye look like Emma’s, apply a layer of eye shadow in a champagne shade on your lids and finish with a few coats of volumizing mascara like COVERGIRL LashBlast ($8.95) for bold, dramatic lashes. Your eyes will really pop and you’ll be red carpet glam in no time!

LIPS:
For a neutral lip like Emma’s, I’m loving COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain in Sassy Mauve ($7.29). It gives your lips the perfect flush of color that lasts all day. It’s easy to apply and add a touch of clear gloss for a shiny finish.

Short Version: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince might be the best Harry Potter film yet.

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'

If you really care about Harry Potter, Ron & Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger as living, breathing characters then you’re going to love Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Disclosure: I’ve only ever read the first book and while I’ve thought the previous films were “OK,” I’ve never been a huge fan of the series. This latest film was directed by David Yates, the same fellow who directed the previous film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - and for perspective, I don’t even remember was that one was about.



Having said that, I believe this latest installment is arguably the best Harry Potter film that’s been released so far.

This is the sixth year Harry and Co. will be attending Hogwarts and they’ve all come a long way from the kids we saw back in the first film. They’re certified young adults now and it’s a pleasure seeing them on the screen with much more depth and complexity in themselves and their relationships with each other. As a matter of fact those relationships are what make this movie shine.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, of course) finds a book on potions that has copious handwritten notes by “The Half-Blood Prince.” Whoever this person was, he was brilliant and creating potions - subtly modifying the recipes in the book to make them all work perfectly, was one of his skills. Harry’s newfound “skill” at potion-making draws the attention of newly re-recruited professor Horace Slughorn. The professor is played by Jim Broadbent, who gives an excellent and surprisingly nuanced performance considering the (apparently) comedic nature of the role.

It turns out there is a very important reason that Slughorn was enticed to come back to Hogwarts, and professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) enlists Harry to pry some hidden information from the returning professor. Professor Snape (Alan Rickman, whose brief time on-screen is reason enough to go watch this movie with his mesmerizing screen presence) is involved, and his true(?) purpose becomes clear by the end of the film.

Much of the film is dedicated to the interrelationships between Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. There is much teenage romantic angst - something that would normally trigger my teen-soap-opera-eyeball-roll reaction, but it’s handled so sweetly and deftly here that it’s a pleasure to watch and really draws you in to what they’re all going through. Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright and Rupert Grint all do a fine job.

In combination with that, the gorgeous, muted cinematography and fantastic visual effects (not just in execution but style as well) is just icing on the cake.

Is this film perfect? No. One complaint I’ve heard from others is that over the course of 2 1/2 hours nothing much happens to move the story forward - and that the ending of the film (which has a definite Empire Strikes Back vibe) could have been a bit more effective. However these points detract very little from the overall enjoyment of what I think is the best summer blockbuster film of 2009.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is rated PG and provides a few scenes that might be a bit intense for the littler ones, and there’s one jump scene that will probably get them - but nothing too over the top. And frankly it was a pleasure to watch a movie aimed at the same age group as Transformers 2 without a single word of foul language to be heard nor anything that’ll make a parent squirm while watching it with a child.

This may be the first Harry Potter film that I end up watching more than once.

Jamie Waylett

Jamie Waylett, the star from the famous movie, “Harry Potter” has been charged with growing cannabis or marijuana . Jamie Waylett is 19–year-old English actor, who played Hogwarts bully Vincent Crabbe in the series of hit movie, “Harry Potter”. Jamie Waylett was born on 21 July, 1989. Jamie has been accused of growing 10 plants in North London, in his mother’s house.

He was arrested last April in Central London when police stopped his car and found eight bags of the Class B drug while checking. Later this month, he will appear in the court. After his arrest, he was taken to the nearby police station for further interrogation. After the interrogation, his mother’s home was raided and there police found allegedly seized 10 marijuana plants. These marijuana plants were growing alongside Jamie’s DJ equipment and a games console. When he was 17 in October 2006, Waylett had also been accused of snorting cocaine.

According to a police spokesman,

a police spokesman,

“Jamie Waylett is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court later this month. He is charged with producing a Class B drug, namely 10 plants of cannabis.”

Jamie has yet to appear in any other production but he could face up to 14 years in prison if he would found guilty.

“Jamie Waylett is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court later this month. He is charged with producing a Class B drug, namely 10 plants of cannabis.”

Jamie has yet to appear in any other production but he could face up to 14 years in prison if he would found guilty.

Jamie Waylett

Jamie Waylett

Jamie Waylett