My Take on Harry Potter "6"

Let me start by saying I've never read the books. I have seen the first movie.

With all of the buzz and hysteria surrounding last night's release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, it got me thinking.

I do work for one of those large book retailers out there, so I see first hand all of the security involved in the sale of the books. Can't imagine how bookstores sell it early knowing you face serious fines. I also see the anticipation on fans faces as they wait, with ticket in hand, for the clock to strike 12:01am.

I think it's fun to see so many people enjoying the books. People were dressed up as characters, ghosts, witches, and just about anything else as it has become a sort of holiday. Stores were, and will be today, chaotic with customers waiting in long lines. I think our last customer paid at about 1:50am est.

You can buy it almost anywhere. Bookstores, grocery stores, online, and even in Canada they sell a "green" version. On 100% recycled paper.

Sure there are those that say it costs too much. There's also witch craft, and the stories are getting darker. But I look at it a little differently.

In an era where we have Playstation, X-Box, High Speed Internet, and hundreds of cable channels, isn't nice to see kids, and adults, rushing out to..... read a book?

I think it is.

You Don't Look Nice Today

John Soloski won't be complementing anyone anytime soon.

Soloski, the Dean of journalism at University of Georgia, has been found guilty of sexual harassment by the school's office of legal affairs. And just what did Mr. Soloski do or say that brought him under suspicion in the first place? He commented that a co-worker's outfit was "pretty" and showed concern, after a fund raising event, about the co-workers safety walking home alone.

Gasp!

Someone call the National Organization for Women (N.O.W.), 'cause this guy's a real pig.

Although Soloski admits to making the complement, he says he meant nothing sexual about what he said. In fact, she didn't seem bothered at the time. But it bothered someone.

And the concern for her safety? I have done this hundreds of times in my career. With both co-workers I have liked, and disliked, male and female. I feel it's the right thing to do. Because if something were to happen to them, I would never forget it.

Again, it's time for me to call on adults to start acting like adults. I'm pretty sure women don't get up early and style their hair, put on a nice business suit, and maybe a little make-up to go totally unnoticed. Perhaps it's because of whom the compliment came from...

So another career looks to be ruined in an effort to sterilize the nation and the nation's work place. And it's really too bad.

And no, you don't look nice today.

Happy Fourth!