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Post by Lolua on Jun 26, 2004 1:54:26 GMT -5
I wasn't sure whether to post this here or under canon discussion, but since I remain skeptical at this point about it, and the theme of opening doors works better in Harry's Closet, I'll stick this here. Many of you will know that JK Rowling has her own website with a fairly cool Flash version at www.jkrowling.co.uk/. She unveiled this site in mid-May as a means through which she can communicate with her fans, quash stupid rumors about the upcoming books, and publish tidbits of her early notes, drawings, and drafts in hidden "Easter eggs" around the site. On one mysterious part of the Flash site is a closed door, which no one has been able to open. (It's accessed by the round black thing on her "desk" that looks like either a hair band or a very small bicycle tire, depending on your experience.) She has teased us with this door as Harry was teased by his visions of the closed door to the Department of Mysteries in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and by the vision of his parents in the first Harry Potter book, reminding us, as Dumbledore says, that it does not do to dwell on dreams -- in this case, of opening the door -- and forget to live. A big fat "Get a life and quit bugging me!" from Jo Rowling to her loyal and sometimes too-persistent fans. *narrowly avoids stepping onto a soap-box* Anywho... many people have attempted and at least one person has succeeded in hacking behind this door, but Jo announced on the rumor-quashing section of her site that whatever was found by that person was "simply filler" and didn't mean anything significant, "as many of you knew". I haven't the faintest idea what that person thought they found, but I take Jo's response to mean that whatever was there should be classed somewhere between nonsense and badly translated hieroglyphics. Perhaps it was written in the goblin language, Gobbledegook. :-P But today, someone claims to have gotten behind the door without hacking. MuggleNet story: www.mugglenet.com/fusion3/fullnews.php?id=1422TLC story: www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/MTarchives/004840.htmlOriginal Thread on the MuggleNet Chamber of Secrets Forums: www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=28341Thread on GameFAQs, reported by MuggleNet: boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=245&topic=14784493&page=2So.... what is this? An elaborate hoax with an invented title? A goof or momentary glitch by the techies at Lightmaker, who designed and maintain her site? Is the title JK Rowling's idea of a bait-and-switch scam? |
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Post by Lorpius Prime on Jun 26, 2004 2:30:36 GMT -5
Gah! I can't get away from this website! What does turning on/off the lights do? What number should I type into the cell phone! It just begs you to find the easter eggs...  |
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Post by Oracle Of Odd on Jun 26, 2004 12:46:07 GMT -5
I do so hope this isn't just a rumour. This is the first title that's been thrown out that I've actually found intriguing (Green Flame Torch did my head in ) And the possible news that it might exceed the length of OotP amuses me . At this rate, Book 7 just may come with its own lectern.
It's convincing to say the least. If it was just a glitch that wasn't supposed to post until 01.July, webbies everywhere will tell you "It happens". Most just hope nobody catches the mistake before they do and fix it. Sometimes there's the lucky one who sees all and shares.
If this is true ... I'm most plagued by figuring out how the title relates specifically to books 2 and 5. Then again ... I don't think very often, so it just may be floating somewhere in the vicinity over my head.
And if you were really asking about the cell phone number .... Think Ministry of MAGIC ...
Ah, well. That's all, folks.
Later Dayz,
[glow=red,2,300]The Oracle[/glow]
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Post by Lolua on Jun 26, 2004 19:48:27 GMT -5
Gah! I can't get away from this website! What does turning on/off the lights do? What number should I type into the cell phone! It just begs you to find the easter eggs... OracleOfOdd just gave you a huge hint, LP. You'd do better to listen to her or re-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix than to listen to Carrot Top, who would simply tell you to dial down the center. ;D I don't think the lights do anything, but it's a cool feature. How many of the "Easter eggs" have you found, LP? Anywho... many people have attempted and at least one person has succeeded in hacking behind this door, but Jo announced on the rumor-quashing section of her site that whatever was found by that person was "simply filler" and didn't mean anything significant, "as many of you knew". I haven't the faintest idea what that person thought they found, but I take Jo's response to mean that whatever was there should be classed somewhere between nonsense and badly translated hieroglyphics. Perhaps it was written in the goblin language, Gobbledegook. :-P If anyone is curious to see the filler found by the hacker, it's here: www.jkrowling.com/f7b3qash/my_room_book.swf"Gibberish" is the word that comes to mind, as I think even Gobbledegook probably has some rhyme or reason to it. :-P Some of the words in the passage are recognizable as Latin, but about half the words are completely made up and the syntax is absolutely atrocious. |
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Post by Lolua on Jun 27, 2004 1:23:20 GMT -5
MuggleNet posted a lovely explanation of why they (or at least Matthew, MuggleNet comments editor and Veritaserum.com webmaster) think the whole Harry Potter and the Pillar of Storgé/Book 6 release thing is a hoax. Matthew's summary makes some excellent points. www.mugglenet.com/fusion3/fullnews.php?id=1425 The video made by this lucky fan of his/her evidence can be downloaded from several places, including: Webspace of user "ChibiHermione" on the MuggleNet CoS Forums: reborn.00game.com/screen.mpeg (right click, then choose "Save Target As") The title-finding fan had hosted the video file on Geocities, and... well, if you've dealt with Geocities free space, you know their bandwidth has some seriously aggravating issues. |
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Post by Oracle Of Odd on Jun 27, 2004 13:44:37 GMT -5
If anyone is curious to see the filler found by the hacker, it's here: www.jkrowling.com/f7b3qash/my_room_book.swf"Gibberish" is the word that comes to mind, as I think even Gobbledegook probably has some rhyme or reason to it. :-P Some of the words in the passage are recognizable as Latin, but about half the words are completely made up and the syntax is absolutely atrocious. I'm not going to go into what the words are or what they mean, but it's commonplace in page layout/publishing programs to include the same words when filling in a layout just to show the client what the editorial will look like when placed into a certain template. Ah, the quirkiness of web-design people who understand the real threat of hackers and looking to one-up them  . :-/On a side note, by default it says "Lorem ipsum" etc., but my father and I have found the option and add-in and changed it all to Klingon speak  (the name escapes me at this point). Later Dayz, [glow=red,2,300]The Oracle[/glow] |
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Post by Lorpius Prime on Jun 27, 2004 15:11:30 GMT -5
OracleOfOdd just gave you a huge hint, LP. You'd do better to listen to her or re-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix than to listen to Carrot Top, who would simply tell you to dial down the center. ;D I don't think the lights do anything, but it's a cool feature. How many of the "Easter eggs" have you found, LP? Three, I think, maybe four. Anyway, are you saying that the Ministry of Magic number was in OotP? I guess I will have to go reread it... |
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Post by Lolua on Jun 27, 2004 19:45:06 GMT -5
Three, I think, maybe four. Anyway, are you saying that the Ministry of Magic number was in OotP? I guess I will have to go reread it... There are only 4 "Easter eggs" as far as I know: the scavenger hunt, the 2 medals, the book/key/box, and the cell phone. If you get the phone, you'll probably have gotten them all. If you're going to re-read OotP just for the "egg" hunt, I'd suggest you look most carefully at Chapter 7. EDIT: TLC has posted their own "Why the Title is a Hoax" argument, viewable here: www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/MTarchives/004841.html. Not as detailed as MuggleNet's, but a good observation nonetheless. |
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Post by Lolua on Jun 28, 2004 18:24:17 GMT -5
The Pillar of Storgé is officially a hoax. So says Jo Rowling in the Rumours section on her official site: MuggleNet and TLC are also reporting that the locked door can now be opened, and like the entrance to Diagon Alley, the brick wall just beyond it can be penetrated by tapping bricks in a sequence. A slip of paper is supposed to appear with a "possible title" for Book 6, which had earlier been copyrighted by a firm representing her (Seabottom) as a possible title for Book 2. TLC story (with title spoiler): www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/MTarchives/004851.htmlPattern of Bricks: www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=brickwall.jpgI haven't been able to open the door yet, though the "Do Not Disturb" sign has disappeared. And apparently someone knocked over the pencil cup on her desk.  I also think the "possible title" will strike close to home for the Phoenix Rising Team members on this site, Mlle Bienvenu and Demonic Neko. It's mighty similar to the title of their as-yet-unwritten Year 7 fic -- which, if I know them, they probably did on purpose.
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Post by Lorpius Prime on Jun 29, 2004 1:10:26 GMT -5
The Pillar of Storgé is officially a hoax. I haven't been able to open the door yet, though the "Do Not Disturb" sign has disappeared. And apparently someone knocked over the pencil cup on her desk. No, if you sit around on the main page long enough, some weird little creature (I didn't get a good look at it when it happened to me, lizard with wings type of thing) comes flying by and knocks it over. Back up for me now though... |
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(the name escapes me at this point).