In all likelihood, one day, there will be a remake of the Harry Potter Series. Just thinking that sentence makes my nose wrinkle and my insides twist uncomfortably; I have mixed feelings about this, but nevertheless I’ll be right there to watch it along with all of the other then fifty and sixty somethings that grew up on Harry Potter.
Maybe it wont be movies, maybe it’ll be a tv show.
Maybe it’ll be directed by someone who grew up reading the books under their bedcovers with a cheap plastic flashlight that you could hear the batteries clacking around inside, until the light started flickering at 2am. Someone who waited on their eleventh birthday with wide eyes searching the skies for their letter
Maybe Harry will have green eyes and messy hair, and Hermione will have brown skin, buckteeth, and a big gorgeous afro that makes her tiny eleven year old self several inches taller.
Maybe Sirius will have a leather jacket, wear classic rock t-shirts, and be played by someone who is 35
Maybe the wizards will all wear gorgeous robes, robes that are spangled and brightly colored along with strange and somehow alien hats. I mean, Cornelius Fudge in a lime green boulder hat? Dumbledore in purple boots? Tonks with shifting rainbow hair? Purebloods in intimidating, immaculately tailored robes with high collars and billowing overcoats or capes? How much fun could a costume department have? Maybe Harry Potter season 1 will get an emmy for costume design.
ok I’m done with the costume stuff wait no – PADMA AND PARVARTI PATIL DESERVED BETTER AT THE YULE BALL THAN THOSE UGLY ASS ORANGE AND PINK THINGS. THEY COULD’VE HAD GORGEOUS SARIS. I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT INDIAN FASHION BUT I KNOW THAT IT’S BETTER THAN THOSE FLORESCENT POLYESTER BARGAIN BIN MONSTROSITIES
Maybe Ginny will have time to become a well rounded and developed character in the remake, often seen hanging with Luna and Neville, hexing bullies, kicking ass at Quidditch, getting much better grades in potions than any Weasley should, loving small fluffy animals (her pygmy puff was named Arnold!), being comfortable in her sexuality and refusing to be slut shamed by anyone, least of all her big brothers, burning all her old diaries after Tom, growing up at Hogwarts with the specter of 16 year old Tom Riddle hanging over her after first year, leading the DA with Neville and Luna in her sixth year, whispering “fuck you Tom” whenever she does something to defy Voldemort’s reign
Maybe it can be addressed that Neville’s family dropped him out a goddamn window and pushed him off the Blackpool pier to prove he had magic and how incredibly damaging that was maybe we can address Harry’s abuse while we’re at it
Maybe the tv show will employ a couple of classics majors to research and create new spells to supplement the relative few we see in the books
Maybe they could build languages for the magical creatures like the Game of Thrones team did. Gobbledygook, anyone? Mermish?
And MAYBE the actor playing Dumbledore will have the chance to calmly deliver the line:
“Harry, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fiyah Fire?”
I came across this article from The Forward on Tisha B’Av which gives a lot of great information. In particular I found their fasting tips to be useful. Obviously you should pick and choose and see what fits you best, and, as always, take care of your health first. Fasting is not your top priority and you should always been listening to what your body and mind needs before custom.
TIPS FOR BEFORE THE FAST
Drink plenty of water, starting 48 hours before the fast. Increase your regular fluid intake by 30%.
Wean yourself off of caffeine starting 72 hours before the fast.
Decrease foods or drinks with refined sugar a few days prior.
Eat fruit, especially hydrating fruit like melon and watermelon, which help retain liquids.
CUSTOMS FOR THE PRE-FAST MEAL
The meal is eaten while sitting on the floor or on a low stool, as if one is sitting Shiva.
Traditional pre-fast foods include boiled egg or lentils, foods associated with mourning, their round shape a symbol of the cycle of life.
It is customary to dip bread or egg into ashes.
Traditionally, fish, meat and wine are avoided, as they’re considered celebratory foods.
AFTER THE FAST
Break your fast on 4 cups of water, before eating anything.
Eat a light meal. Salad and soup, along with bread or rice, is great for this. Dessert should be fruits only.
Traditionally, meat and wine are not consumed until the following day.
After eating lightly, step away from the table and go for a short walk.
If you are really still hungry after that, have a small snack and more water.
For those that find a fast meaningful.
This year (2018) Tisha B’Av begins the evening of Saturday July 21st, and continues until the evening of Sunday July 22nd.
IMPORTANT: This year, the 9th of Av (Tisha=9) actually falls on Shabbos, but because we don’t fast on Shabbos, the fast is pushed off until Sunday. This affects what’s written above in a few ways, among them:
1. Normally Tisha B’Av is one of the most stringent fasts (along with Yom Kippur), but when it is pushed off, there is more room for leniency if you have any health concerns (I’m talking less than life threatening – someone whose life would be endangered by fasting is never obligated to do so). Consult a rabbi if you have concerns.
2. Because the time leading into the fast is Shabbos, we do not begin the full-on mourning customs during the pre-fast meal. We do not sit on the floor or eat foods associated with mourning. No dipping anything in ashes. It is fine to eat fish, meat, and wine (actually, fish is not a problem even when the date falls differently, not sure where they got that from).
3. While normally one can keep eating on Shabbos indefinitely so long as one washed for hamotzi before sunset, the pre-fast meal must be finished before sunset (while Shabbos doesn’t end til nightfall, which is a later time).
4. Because it is not possible to make havdala Saturday night (because that would involve drinking wine/grape juice, and the fast has already started), one must make a modified havdala prior to breaking the fast.
See here for an article covering this topic of Tisha B’Av falling on a Shabbos and being pushed off til Sunday.
See here for more information on Tisha B’Av as a whole.
tora42's nonsensne 