Fun Fact

An apparent glitch in Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (at least, it's in the old Wii version) allows Crookshanks to nudge dementors off ledges, from which they are unable to return -- discovered in a pinch when Harry got stuck halfway through a level and the dementors had to be dealt with in order to continue the level, something that seemed impossible without the Patronus charm (but wasn't). This method is a lot slower, but if you want to try it just for fun, or you're in a likewise pinch, here's how to do it.

1. Put Hermione in Crookshanks mode.

2. Make sure she's giving Crookshanks lots of space to work in, then release Crookshanks.

3. Move Crookshanks to the nearest dementor (notice that Crookshanks doesn't lose hearts when close to it the way other characters do).

4. Run up against the dementor and towards the nearest ledge.

5. If you keep pushing, the dementor should slide over the edge and not come back.

6. Repeat with other dementors (if necessary).

7. Proceed through the level with pride in your success.

If this didn't work, it's possible it's only operable in the level I tried it in (The Dark Tower, I think), or maybe it only worked in the old version (and not the remastered one). Also, it takes some practice; sometimes, Hermione gets in the way, or the dementors are hard to push. But it IS a helpful little glitch (and quite entertaining, might I add).

Spotify Running Slow? Try This

My Spotify search results were loading at an infuriatingly slow rate, so I consulted the trusty Internet for help. Following the instructions in this article fixed the problem, so I'm reposting it.

https://alexlitel.tumblr.com/post/53154780770/what-to-do-if-spotify-is-running-slow-on-your

Watch this. Now.

John Legend - Preach - Music Video

Book Review Update

From now on, I will be posting book reviews on my other blog, Inkling.

The Crimes of Grindelwald: A Review

If you've seen the Fantastic Beasts movies (or even just one), I can charge you with a task that you'll understand to be impossible: try not to love Newt Scamander. Try for a moment ... I'll wait here. See? Impossible! If you have not yet seen Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (in case you didn't know, there are many), I would advise you to see it immediately if I weren't just now experiencing great depression from finishing it. Yes, as critics say, the movie really did feel like a transition, but it's a brilliant one; and although it does have its faults, so does every other movie ever filmed. Although it's much darker than its predecessor, it still contains quite a few funny parts. It has the great lines, the captivating storytelling (which resulted in me ignoring the need to use the restroom and hardly even glancing away from the screen until the end credits), and the magic of the first Fantastic Beasts, and the Harry Potter series. Eddie Redmayne, returning as our protagonist (and best friend in the realms of our imagination) Newt Scamander, Jude Law as Dumbledore (and he plays the role spot-on), Johny Depp as Grindelwald (who, as the title of the film suggests, doesn't exactly sit around twiddling his thumbs in a high-security MACUSA jail cell for the duration of the movie), and Zoe Kravitts as Leta Lestrange (who is frankly quite complicated, and I won't go into her character to avoid spoiling anything) are all, well, fantastic (for lack of a better word), in their roles, and so is literally everyone else, which is why I don't mention more actors and actresses by name. I can't say in good faith that you won't be disappointed, because I am disappointed myself, but really just because of the two-year wait ahead of us - thank goodness for Star Wars: Episode IX and an X-Men movie that may prove promising to tide me over!

Vote, America!

Tomorrow, if you're eligible, get out there and vote. Vote because you want positive change. Vote because your vote really does matter. Vote because it's your civic duty, too. Vote because you can (and some of us can't). Vote because there's some social issue you care about, an issue that you feel is being ignored. Just vote. 

A Plea to West Virginians

Please refrain from voting for Joe Manchin. Period.