ADMIN: More Halloween Fun!

[corinthum]

I don't usually journey over to this list, but this looked like fun. 
Here goes...
  
> * Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

No.  I believe in an afterlife, and in the spirits of those we love
watching over us, but I don't believe in the spirit-returns-to-earth
concept.  Too illogical.  :)
  
> * What things about you often come as a surprise to others?

Depends on the person.  At work, people are usually surprised to learn
I dance, love musicals, study languages, etc.  Those I know through
these activities are surprised I'm a scientist.  My close friends and
family really aren't surprised by much anymore; they just smile
indulgently.

> * Provide the etymology of your signature/handle/email address. In 
> other words, how and why did you choose the name you use on the 
> HPfGU lists.

I first started using the name Corinth on a Les Miserables board when
I was younger.  No real personal significance; I just decided to
choose an obscure Les Mis reference.  Corinth was the name of the area
in which the barricades were erected, mentioned a handful of times in
the novel.  I added the UM (a tribute to my alma mater) because the
alias corinth was already registered with Yahoo, but I never sign with
that, and am strangely annoyed when people quote me as "corinthum".

> * Whose signature/handle/email address on the HPfGU boards {a} would 
> you like to steal or {b} intrigues you?

I am intrigued by Dicentra's handle; I know it's a plant, but why?

> * Describe your ultimate Halloween costume.

Anything elaborate, creative, and personal.  I hate those
mass-produced, store-bought costumes. 

> * If you lived in the Potterverse, who would you be, and what would 
> you do for a living?

I think it would be interesting to research and develop new spells.  I
love trying to explain the magic in the books logically, using laws of
physics. 
 
> * What would you see in the Mirror of Erised?

Hmm, I don't know.  Is that a bad sign?

> * What shape would a boggart take, if you chance upon one?

One of two things: Fire or Failure (ooh, alliteration).  I'm not quite
as phobic as I once was, but fire is still my biggest tanglible fear.
 Not quite sure why; perhaps because it's so unpredictable.  And as
for failure, well, I don't deal well with it.  Not at all.  Very like
Hermione in that respect.

> * What happy memory will you rely upon, if you are to conjure up a 
> Patronus?

My family, especially my sister and mother.

> * What form might your Patronus take?

Perhaps a large cat (tiger, panther, or similar).  Seems like a good
animal to protect me from and chase down dementors. 

> * What might your animagus form be?

I'd love to be a bird of some sort.  Fly around, see the world, see 
ultra-violet light...  But for irony's sake I'd probably end up as
zooplankton.  :)

 
> * What basically harmless things scared you as a child (for example, 
> a certain toy or household item)? 

Well, all the ones I can think of off the tiop of my head are related
to the aforementioned fire phobia.  Matches, lighters, bunsen burners
(okay, not common in a house, but several of my classes)... I won't
use any of them.  I baked a cake for my roommate on her last birthday
and had to ask her to light the candles.

When I was around 12 or so I developed a fear of the garage door
opening.  This came about after a teacher of mine told a story to
demonstrate safe storage of gasoline.  He told of a man who had
improperly stored gasoline in his garage.  When he smelled the fumes
from the leaking can, he was immediately woried an opened the garage
door to ventilate the room.  However, a spark from the garage door
opener ignited the fumes and caused a major explosion.  For years I
would hit the garage door opener and immediately return to the hallway
to wait for the door to completely open before entering the garage,
even though I knew quite well that a) we didn't store gasoline in our
garage or even park a car there and b) standing five feet from the
garage was hardly safer than being in it in the event of an explosion.

I sound really crazy when I put that in writing, don't I?   

> * What's your scariest moment from a film or television show? Or, 
> tell us which horror movie is your all-time favourite, and why. 

I like movies that build up a lot of tension rather than being
actually scary.  "Signs" was good at that; it probably wouldn't be
that scary if I watched it again, knowing what happens, but when I saw
it in the theater, every little thing was making me jump.
 
> * Ever wonder into which Hogwarts House the Sorting Hat would put 
> you? If you're not sure, here are a couple of sites where you can 
> get sorted:

Both put me in Ravenclaw.  Which was my preference.  Yay.
  
> * Is your interest in Harry Potter just good, harmless fun . . . or 
> are you bordering on obsessive? Find out here:

Everything I do borders on obsessive.  :)  But this says I'm only 40%
obsessed; I guess I'm really only obsessed with the books, not the
movies, merchandise, etc.
  
> Scholastic's Harry Potter Wizard Challenge:

36 right.  What, an obscure detail I didn't know?  I'm ashamed.
  
Well, that was interesting.  I'll retreat to the main list now.

-Corinth