First, in regards to the title I was kind of bored and wanted to make as little sense as possible.  If you have not figured it out I have decided to throw my two cents onto the table in regards to the Harry Potter series.  Yes, I know it is quite a bit late considering the entire series has been out for awhile, but I recently reread the whole thing and decided to write a review.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 4 out of 7 (not chronoligical order of books but a systematic ranking)

This was the first book in the series and introduced us to the world and character of the Potter universe.  The story wasn't exactly knew or compelling but it was the right mix of magic, drama, humor, ingenuity and brilliance to merit return trips to this world.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: 5 out of 7

The reason this text earned a higher score than the latter is because it showed that this series was far more than a simple children's tale.  It was the first inclination that the good would suffer along with the bad.  After all no one really cared that the treacherous Quirrell was killed in the first book, but everyone was holding their breath when both Ginny and Harry were second away from death.  While no one thought for a moment that Rowling would kill off either, it was still a tense moment.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: 6 out of 7

Not the worst work in the series, but not quite the best.  This was more a transition book into the darker elements of both the magical world and storyline.  It left a bit to be desired but overall was a decent story.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: 3 out of 7

Definitely one of the better books in the series.  The new elements of magic brought into the world as well as the darker overtones added a whole new level to the series.  The death of Cedric at the end of the story and the rise of Voldemort marked a shift in the series.  It was no longer about the wonderful aspects of magic and friendship, but about the ultimate coming battle and preparing for its consequences.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: 7 out of 7

This book just sucked.  We were expecting great battles and prophecy fulfilling drama by this point and we got Emo-Potter.  I mean seriously, all Harry does in this book is whine and moan about how no one understands him and he has all this responsibility and mission.  Boo-fucking-hoo, go write on your MySpace page and whine to them, but come back when you are ready to get down to business.  The only redeeming quality in this book is the death of Sirius Black and the swift kick in the ass it gave to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: 1 out of 7

Okay this, in my opinion, is the best book of the series.  Finally, the battle lines have been drawn and the final confrontation is iminent.  No more side games or hesitations, just straight out war between good and evil.  I especially love how Rowling keeps Snape's loyalties slightly ambigious to keep the reader's interest.  The climactic scene where Snape kills Dumbledorf was impeccable and the burial scene where we see the unraveling of the magical world (in the sense of mermaids, centaurs, and other such creatures paying their respects then leaving into obscurity) shows just how necessary and integral to this world Dumbledorf was.  We also finally see the realization of the underlying feelings between both Hermione and Ron and Harry and Ginny.  This was truly the litmus to judge the other seven by.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: 2 out of 7

The ultimate battle between good and evil.  We have drama, magic, deaths, life, new developments, and the final apocalyptic showdown at the place where it all began for both Harry and Voldemort -- Hogwarts.  Rowling faced quite the challenge; write the ultimate ending that tied up as many loose ends as possible for a series that had seeped into the very fabric of modern culture and society in such a short time while trying to please the millions of fans that have devoted a large part of their lives to this series.  Amazingly, she somehow managed to succeed for the most part.  She even managed to cast one of the most hated, traitorous, and reviled characters in the series in a whole new light and make him (Snape) a martyr.  The only real gripe I have with this book is that Harry survived and won the final battle on a fucking technicality that he had learned about two days before the final confrontation with Voldemort.

Well there was my opinion, if you disagree well then you pretty much just wasted ten minutes of your life and you will never get them back so "Har! Har!" 

Texas has always produced some horrific people and events in its colored history. There are several examples of this phenomenon in textbooks and newspapers.  Add this to the fact that most Texans have fired a weapon, witnessed, or experienced, some form of violence and racism, and have eaten twice their body weight in red meat by the age of 15; it is not surprising that the Lonestar state has produced some of the most intriguing and disturbing writers of the modern age. 

I am speaking specifically of Bowie Ibarra and Z. A. Recht, two Texas born authors of fantastic zombie literature. These authors are the George Romero's of the literary world, among many others.  Before these writers, and their peers, the zombie genre had the same basic concept of average good guy rises from his misery and apathy to save the last remnants of humanity.  Along the way he would undoubtedly lose a few friends and comrades, face the undead masses and possibly find a new love along the way.  The stories mainly dealt with how this unprepared hero would face the daunting task of literally taking on the world.  All in all, the zombie genre was basically a straightforward tale of hero against monster.

Then authors like Ibarra, Recht, Max Brooks, and others came along and turned the genre on its axis.  These authors concetrated on the human factor of their stories and not just the struggle against the walking dead.  They showed how corrupt governments could becom when facing the threat of anarchy by imposing martial law, retracting rights and privileges from their citizens, spying on individuals, giving soldiers full ability and power over cities, enacting shoot to kill orders, and basically imprisoning the country.  Ideas which earlier in history were slightly unbelievable and laughable, but now show just how ahead of their time these authors were.  Ibarra chose to write about the decay and destruction in FEMA camps and how even in the face of extinction humanity still seperates into racial, social, and class groups.  To further illustrate how horrific a zombie apocalypse would be, each one of these writers would spend chapter after chapter getting the reader to relate and care about certain character only to have them be devoured by a mob of undead in explicit detail. 

In conclusion, these authors are not for the faint of heart, but if you are interested or are a fan of the macabre or zombie genre I highly recommend "Down the Road" by Bowie Ibarra, "Plague of the Dead" by Z. A. Recht, and "World War Z" by Max Brooks.

Never been much of a "Spring Break" type of guy and with having to work all week and researching and writing work for about three different class papers, I tended to spend the week sleeping and catching up on some "lighter" reading.

So, what did I consider "light" reading? The Secret Society's Handbook, The Templar Conspiracy, and The Top 21 Secret Organizations. Yes, I am that much of a distrubed individual.  I read these books along with watching Inside Man and Enemy of the State in a 48 hour period.  Needless to say, there were a couple of incidents.  Now, while I cannot fully agree or actually collaborate any of the proposed evidence found in these books, they are still an interesting read for any conspiracy buff.  The circular logic found in these texts is so mind boggling that the reader is almost forced into a silent acceptance of the sheer insanity of it all.  They are well written and elaborated.  The context of the work is such that logic becomes a completely irrelevant tool to use.  Frankly, even though I cannot endorse the accusations found in these works, they are still a unique reading experience that should be had by all.

Now, I have to go because THEY are watching...