sometimes I wish I wasn't a trademark lawyer....

[Benjamin]

Ignoring the naked co-ed Quidditch: you could just remove the 
word 'Gryffindor' (and maybe have a red and gold colour scheme) 
Summoning charms have been used for years (in things like RPG)

>>>Or a mug that says IF REMOVED FROM GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM, WILL BE 
RETURNED BY AUTOMATED SUMMONING CHARM.<<< 

>>> btw - am I the only one who doesn't really want a trading card 
game as much as a regular deck of playing cards, with Harry as king, 
Hermi as queen and Ron as the jack? And a nice little pic the twins 
on the JOKER card.  WB, listen to *me*.<<<

There are four suites as well, perhaps for the four houses? (or even 
just red and black for Gryffindor and Slytherin respectively, not 
knowing many Hufflepuffs) But then I suppose WB would have to teach 
the masses of HP-reading youngsters how to play cards (who owns 
Waddingtons anyway?) We could even have a different breed of dragon 
on each of the aces...  

I did actually have something to say, but I read that last post and 
forgot about it.  Ah yes, 

Tabouli wrote:

>>>someone on the main list once mentioned that the
rules of first name/surname address in upper class England is terribly
complicated, especially for women.  Is anyone prepared to enlighten 
me?  I'd love to know

What seems to happen in Australia is either immediate first name 
basis (which can be quite alarming for people from more formal 
societies, implying a non-existant intimacy, or disrespect, etc.), or 
title+surname for both sexes until one party invites the other to use 
his/her first name.  Where there is a large status difference (e.g. 
professor and undergraduate), the higher status person typically 
negotiates the names which will be used.<<<

I'm afraid I don't often get invited to smoked salmon at the golf 
club, so I wouldn't really know about 'upper class England', what is 
it anyway old chap?  I did, however, get slightly disconcerted when 
the woman at my mobile phone helpdesk insisted on using my first 
name; not so much for the implied intimacy (though I know this 
_really_ annoys some people) but because she managed to slip it in 
(the name) every third word or so, "Right, Benjamin when do you want 
to use it Benjamin, I'll just set that up for you now Benjamin, No, I 
don't know anything about that, Benjamin, are you sure it was from 
our company? I'll just put you on hold Benjamin" Well okay, every 
eighth word. I was called Benjamin more times in that conversation 
than in the previous decade.  And I really don't think that is 
hyberbole. [regains composure] so, anyway, title and surname, unless 
it's really obvious that it should be otherwise.

My network cable has just fallen off the ceiling. Perhaps I should 
stop waffling.
-Ben.