NEWS FOR THE DAY 12.04.06

PotterCast #34 Available for Download

PotterCast #34, the first part of our call-in show from this weekend, is now available for download! First, a reminder: Our impersonations contest is still going on, and at stake is $30 at The Cauldron Shop. For more, click here.

In this show:

-It's our second PotterCast Call-In Show - one of our next two shows, in this episode we take all your questions during a live call-in session on Skype that nearly broke all our computers.
-Chris Rankin joins halfway through (and will next time, too)
-Special wizarding wedding traditions
-First caller beats john
-Which scenes would be the worst to cut from Order of the Phoenix?
-How to spell Horcri
-WOMBATs revisited
-More Evanna Lynch talk
-The meaning of phoenix song in book four
-Favorite magical pets
-Thoughts on the book seven release date
-A plug for Totally LOST
-Can Muggles Floo?



Running Time: 40:49

If you are new to all this podcasting stuff, it's really easy: download and install iTunes, then click here to listen. Everything else is at PotterCast.com - you can also direct download it here, and discussion of the PotterCast is right here. Have fun!

Leaky Nominated for Webby Award; People's Choice Open Now

Today, Leaky is greatly, greatly honored to say that we've been nominated for a Webby Award, the most prestigious Web accolade, in the Best Celebrity/Fan Site category. To say we're excited is a ... well it's a bit of an understatement.

And this time, THIS time, we've remembered to post about it on the VERY first day possible: We could use your support! There is a People's Voice component of these awards that you can participate in by clicking here and signing up and voting (once you've signed in, click here - thank you! Voting is open until May 5!

We're flabbergasted to say we're nominated next to the Web sites for Prince (not Half-Blood, the actual artist) and the Grateful Dead. (It's great to see a Potter site next to those!) Nominated in other categories this year are Google, Flickr, Technorati, Writely, the Library of Congress, and so, so, so many more with whom we're amazed to share Web space.

Win or lose, we are so, so, so proud of this, so proud that "so" seems to be the only word on our minds. And John Noe, Nick Poulden, Sue Upton, Nick Rhein, Doris Herrmann, Kristin Brown, Alex Robbin, Julie Tynion, Heather Campbell, B.K. DeLong, Chris Chang, Donna Hosie, Mary Hamm, forum mods, elves, chat moderators, all the many, many people who keep this place working every day - these people are why Leaky has grown the way it has. We're so proud - I, personally, am so proud of this bunch - and more honored than we can say. Wait, did we say that already? Maybe we could say it, then. Or, maybe not. Or... we don't know. We're really thrilled, OK? :)

PS: Thank you to MuggleNet for the classy show of support. We appreciate it a great deal.

Radcliffe, Rickman, Spall in New Wright Exhibit

Daniel Radcliffe has been featured at the Britain National Portrait Gallery, and will become the youngest person other than members of the British royal family to have an individual portrait there, when Stuart Pearson Wright's new exhibition opens at the famous London gallery.

Stuart Pearson Wright has drawn Jo Rowling several times, most notably in the recent portrait unveiled at the National Gallery; he has captured Radcliffe "wearing jeans and a T-shirt and looking thoughtful in an armchair in his studio, two years ago," says the Daily Telegraph.

"It's very weird. It's fantastic. It's a very, very strange feeling," the young actor said of the portrait.

"It's a great honour to be in there among such amazing actors and actresses."

Radcliffe posed three or four times over 14 to 15 hours. The portrait will be displayed alongside nine other actor portraits, including ones of Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall (Severus Snape and Wormtail, respectively).

MuggleNet has some hi-res photos of the artwork. Enjoy!