Texas --- OT; Gregorian Calendar; Hagrid & Generalization

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 2976

Hi

Amanda Lewanski wrote:

> > "When you're in Odessa, Texas, check out The World's Largest
> > Jackrabbit."
>
> Might as well, there's nothing else to do......

Ain't that the truth!

> Go Permian!

M-O-J-O!!!!  (Class of '84 -- sorry, I'm actually wearing all black
today & couldn't resist).

Back to Jim's original post so as to not completely take advantage of
list-mom status to be completely & irrelevantly OT today -- the
Gregorian calendar is definitely something that should be considered.
But, my guess is that JKR didn't consult *any* calendars when she was
writing these books.  There are too many instances where we're pretty
sure what the "date" should be, but things don't quite match up when you
look at a real calendar from the year(s) in question.  I would bet that
Nearly Headless Nick's deathday was intended to be a fairly simple count
back 500 yrs from the date in question (without reference to the
Gregorian calender issue).  Same thing with the Playstation question
from a few wks ago -- I'd bet that JKR just didn't take the time to
figure out *exactly* when playstations were widely available.  She just
knew generally.

I think Hagrid's statement was probably a broad generalization.  I
really don't buy that Sirius (who, at the time of Hagrid's statement,
was "supposed" to be a dark wizard) and Wormtail (who really was a dark
wizard) were Slytherins.  While it's possible, it seems unlikely that
James & Lupin were also Slytherins.  We've talked alot in the past about
whether they might have been from more than 1 House, but I'm not sure I
believe that either.  So . . . all in all, I'd guess that Hagrid is just
prone to making general statements without considering specific
exceptions.

Penny (who's overwhelmingly thrilled to no longer be living in Odessa)



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