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    GORDON AND THE WHALE NEWSLETTER



  • Win tickets to an advance screening of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE in Dallas!

    by:
    July 1st, 2009

    Want to see HARRY POTTER before everyone else?

    harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_prince_ver19

    10 lucky Muggles (plus a guest) will win passes to our advance screening of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE on Monday, July 13th at 7 PM. All you have to do is tell us the location of the fugitive known as Lord Voldemort... just kidding. But, seriously, if you see that guy, let him know there are some people looking for him.

    For a chance to win, tell us the most powerful spell you would have up your cloaked sleeve if you were a wizard. What would it do? Why would this spell be the best? What would the magic word be? All submissions should be left in the comment sections below this post. Any e-mailed submissions will be unfortunately disqualified.

    Be original, people! Don't be a Weasley and just Snape spells from the films or books. Plagiarizing spells from the delightful masterpiece of a film that is 1993's HOCUS POCUS, starring Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker, may also not help you win, but it will at least make us smile.

    NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. One entry per person please. Limited number of winners will be selected and notified via email on Sunday, July 12th at 5 PM with further details.

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    Commenting Rules: Comments are intended to open up the discussion to our readers about the topics at hand, and as such should be offered with a positive and constructive attitude. If your comment is not relative to the above post or is disrespectful to the authors and readers, we reserve the right to delete it. Continued abuse of our good nature will result in banishment of the offender. Additionally, if you have any burning issues to point out to the GATW crew - typos, corrections, suggestions, or straight-up criticism - please email us instead of commenting here.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/reflector reflector

      If I were a wizard, I think I would want the spell to turn nuclear energy into harmless and distilled water that would involve some really cool, martial-arts, Avatar-looking conjuring moves and a bellowing "Nucleo aqueous!" that would leave no trace of radiation or nuclear activity just water vapors.

      Total granola treehugger answer but hey, it would be good!!!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/allyjayne allyjayne

      My spell would turn my enemy into a delicious supply of Swedish Fish.
      Unless of course, my caloric enemy was Swedish Fish.

      My next spell would alleviate any situation of boredom and replace it with a fresh, smart, and hilarious evening similar to an 80s coming-of-age flick.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/vigile vigile

      My spell would be "Y-T-M-N-Dementa".

      This spell would work by distracting and immobilolizing the opponent with hallucinations based on all of YTMND's best (and the internet's worst) fads. Examples of such fads include, but are not limited to, NEDM, O Rly owl, bill cosby, the King… etc. The spell would last as long as it takes one to stop viewing video after video on youtube. Depending on the person, it could range from a few minutes to a few days.

      I feel that this spell would be best because it best represents how the wizarding world and the muggle communities can come together to create something. oh so good.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/sgrmtn sgrmtn

      I am a person who has issues getting stuck in traffic. In a slow lane and decide to switch? Nope, that lane is slow too. Hit all traffic lights on red? Yup, that's me. So, I think the best spell would be one that reduces the traffic around the spell caster. By saying, "Subtractus Traffica," one would eliminate those annoying stop and go situations. Get people where they are going sooner. And that has to be better for the environment, right? So that's good for everyone.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Rckstarr Rckstarr

      My spell would be a non-verbal spell, granting me the ability to make people buy anything i happened to be selling. after them saying "no thank you." i would say in my mind, "CONVINCICATE!" they would then realize what a good product i had, and how much they needed it. i would be the most accomplished sales person in the entire world!!!

    • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/altagato altagato

      My spell would find/summon inanimate objects that I can't normally 'call' to me or make it come there, like I can with my cats…. well sometimes. OK Cats are a bad example.

      It would only work if the item is out of sight, (so as to keep one from being extremely lazy). In other words my spell would find lost things! While possibly not a big deal to others it would probably save me millions of minutes, over a lifetime, from continually searching for (seemingly) everything… only to find that I put it in some uncommon place like the medicine cabinet (keys), freezer (the pasta salad that magically disappeared) or that drawer I never use (cell phone…) *sigh* to only be a wizard would be grand!

      oh and I'd use the words:
      venido aquí (spanish for 'come here')
      note: only because Scorpion's 'get over here!' doesn't translate well

      maybe I'll get one specifically for my cats that puts there where I want them too (either here or there… ) ok, seriously does anyone have one of these now?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/flyer77 flyer77

      N-E-R-D.

      My spell, those four simple letters, would turn Voldemort into a pocket-protecting, glasses wearing, acne-face loser. His sudden and complete loss of eyesight and magical ability will give me the immediate opportunity to rob him and probably kick him in the nuts a few times.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Borris Borris

      My spell would make GordonandtheWhale.com the most popular website in the world so that y'all would thank me by sending me to the Potter screening.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/erinpinon erinpinon

      If I were a bruja, my spell would be one that conjures up bubbles, along with the manipulation and expansion of them…without water (because that would be a waste).
      This spell is the best for a few reasons: 1. it's universal, so no more fees in terms of soap/shampoo/detergent 2. great way to make some extra cash at kids' birthday parties 3. it's a pesky fiend to the eyes of any opponent 4. they create a slippery, unruly surface, and 5. your house, dog and car would rival those of Mr. Clean, and the Scrubbing Bubbles bubbles.
      The deadly/super fun trigger would be, dibuja burbuja (dee-boo-ha! burr-boo-ha!)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/reesas reesas

      As a Wiccan my spells are fairly benign and don't require wands or Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo's. With a Harry Potter wizard power I would want to something that would clean up my work room with flip of the hand charged by "ORGANIZE!" and poof!, it would all be spiffied up.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/MissMovieFan MissMovieFan

      My spell, Incommodo Ludius Eliminato, would do away with all the poeple I find overrated and annoying in the film industry.
      Ingredients:
      Blood from an intelligent creature
      Chicken wishbone
      Cherry pits
      Hemlock
      Rosemary oil
      Red wine
      A mirror
      Tarot card of The Chariot
      Fire
      Movie Reviews
      Spell must be cast with a wind stronger than 4 mph (mountaintop or roof top)
      Chant names while circling the burning reviews
      The whole spell must be filmed

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/zakzes zakzes

      my spell would be called villlagist inconcertom

      it would make any foe i cast it upon in unable to complete any other task till they sing all of Y-M-C-A from the village people ( hand movements included) furthermore the spell has a side effect anytime the person hears or says any word that is in the song they have to start singing it and the only way for the side effect to go away is for the original caster to remove the spell

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Kimberli Kimberli

      My spell would be a glamour spell to change my appearance when wanted

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/TXdeeg TXdeeg

      My spell "Homerific a-haha" would instantly turn my opponent into Homer Simpson. That way, anything they tried against me would most certainly fail and more than likely backfire on him. Then we'd head over to Moe's for a beer.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/finnegan8868 finnegan8868

      "Multiplicatio"

      This spell has the power to multiply anything, living or not. If the spell is used to create copies of a living organism, the copies will last for a limited amount of time. This spell is useful in many ways. The first way is very obvious…you could create an army that would fight for you from just one person. You could also create copies of inanimate objects that would last forever. All copies would be indistinguishable from the original, so copies would be just as valuable. You could create unlimited wealth with this ability, and if you were feeling nice, you could solve world hunger.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/cmcclelland32 cmcclelland32

      My spell would be Potterus Noninterruptus, which would prevent distribution companies from delaying the release of Muggly popular boy wizard films for eight friggin' months, reanimate Richard Harris, the real Professor Dumbledore, and prevent Daniel Radliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint from appearing as old as the cast of Friends in The Deathly Hallows, due to be released as a celebration of the introduction of clean, renewal fusion energy in the early 22nd century.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/MonieG MonieG

      My spell would turn newspaper into stacks of money. I would call it recyclerous dinari. And I wouldn't be at all selfish with the stacks. I'd hand them out freely as I can always create more with the abundant amounts of newspaper stacks in old man Crowley's apartment in the community I manage.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Superville Superville

      Well my spell would be to erase someone's particular memory forever…it would be the best coz imagine what u can do with it,when u tell someone something and u realize u messed up by telling them. The magic word would be……Sahau

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/MichaelMidnight MichaelMidnight

      For me the magic spell that I would use up my cloak would be a simple spell that is a combination of love and contentment. And since it peters on two very everlasting emotional states, the spell, of course, would only be usefully momentarily. But in execution it would render the subject immobile since they would find themselves happy and in a euphoria of love and friendship. Which would leave me enough time to escape or save my friends ^_^

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/kukardakgoyal kukardakgoyal

      My magic spell would be the most ultimate power from any wand. I will yell out "Vampirio Removous" and that will (with the correct wand movement) drain all the power from my opponent's wand and transfer those powers to me. My opponent will be left defenseless with no magic powers and a useless piece of wood in his hand, while I could go along and use anything. Not only will I instantly be able to learn new spells that I could not before attempt or conquer, but I will be able to use them perfectly without hesitation or trouble from my opponent. What can Voldermort do then, huh? Try to scare me too death with his bald head?!?!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/kat_xk8 kat_xk8

      finally i tried firefox and it works

      i would love to be able to be in two places at once
      lets say i have tickets to a concert but also tickets a a movie premiere why not do both
      why not be able to go to both
      my spell would be this
      me here me there let me be both here and there

      weight loss by putting on the cloak one would be able to shed those extra 10-15lbs not working with diet and excercise alone
      the spell is self would weightus removus

      third has to do with not enuough hours in a day
      sometimes i wish i could skip sleep altogether and keep going
      however have the same benefits as if one slept for 8 hours or more
      so by putting on the cloak and stating awakus awakus! !!!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/kat_xk8 kat_xk8

      i am never using safari with this site ever agin
      how bout a 4th spell
      literally getting all the time back one lost
      the spell would be stich in time reverse mine

      i know we are not supposed to enter more than once
      but i had an idea
      but only count one as my entry

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/HarpoonStandoff HarpoonStandoff

      Have you ever been to a movie and the theater is packed? When you cast the Cinema Exodus spell, it causes the people sitting in the best spots in the theater to suddenly remember somewhere super important they need to be and vacate the seats for you to take and enjoy the movie!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/princesschipmnk princesschipmnk

      Mine would be the PICK me Spell…….
      In this spell it would make my chances of winning anything better… Ok it would let me win the prize i want to win:) before you enter the contest or drawing you will take your wand tap the entry three times. Then take my wand and move it in a triangle shape over it while saying nickel nickel pickle tickle a winner pick a nickel for me. depending on where in the contest you want to come in at you say it that many times:) then find a muggle to give it a kiss. Then its a sure fire you will win! so i look forward to see you at the preview of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince:)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/cherylannette cherylannette

      My spell would be designed to affect any and all overpaid public /government officials, entertainers and sports figures as well as CEO's by extracting from their banks and paychecks anything above and beyond what the real world would consider a fair salary for what they do.
      The excess funds would be equally distributed immaediately among those who have been fleeced by inflated ticket and parking prices and those who have lost money to these companies as well as all American taxpayers whose monies have disappeared in our vast government wasteland of excess. Movie goers, especially stand to benefit to offset those inflated actor's salaries and high ticket costs (as well as those concession prices—yea for us!)
      An option for non salaries funds would be for these individuals to pick one charity per person to receive the dollar value of their "perks and benefits" or ANYTHING obtained by them just being who they are and at the mention of my spell, those monies are transferred immediately to that charity.
      My spell is the best because it rights an incredible amount of wrongs in the world and helps those who best need it. Everyone who has attended a pro game, concert, movie or purchased stock , paid taxes or elected someone who has taken advantage of their position stands to benefit so the impact is great. My spell words are "fortunus reversus" and at the circling of my wand, all those excess receivers mentioned are affected in one fell swoop.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/deanohawk deanohawk

      The words "bimbus vanishitatus" would be my spell and it would make all beautiful but talentless women who are famous for having very little talent, disappear to some distant planet that only I would have transportation/ticketing rights to.
      So all those Jessicas, Lindseys, Parises, Nicoles, Kims, Carmens, Heidis and Pams of the media and entertainment world who are famous for nothing worthwhile, could mingle, party and generally look fabulous somewhere else…..saving lots of trees and time in general for all of those who constantly have to read about their exploits. Any anyone who wants to visit them would have to come to me for exclusive tickets and transport. OF course the male staff of GATW could go for free if they so chose to.
      Why is this the best spell? again…saves the world time, paper and photo developing chemicals. Puts tons of paparazzi out of work. Makes one planet prettier but significantly dumber….creates a great new tourist attraction… makes our planet smarter. Will give their lives actual meaning.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/fallen_faerie fallen_faerie

      leas dar na istigh fainic- literally translates to "Insight of the inner mind" from Gaelic.

      Function: Allows one who has been put in a position of immense inner confusion ,such as turmoil over which side to choose; who to trust, etc. Or even something as simple as who am I really in love with or should I cheat on the next test.

      It can only be used by one who has mastered Legilimency and/or Occlumency as it requires an intense amount of concentration and an in-depth knowledge of one's own mind and the barriers you've created.

      (false history) Once used by the Druids of Olde Ireland to decide their path from a young age. Was transferred to the New Age wizards in the 1600's when Pure Bloods began to allow their children to decide. Only, instead of allowing them to make mistakes that could jeopardize the family reputation and build them as humans, they kept them under the thumb of their bloodline by seeing what was truly desired by the child. Which, at such a young age, the child's only wish would be to please the family.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/dancinROBOT123 dancinROBOT123

      by saying the magical word "stiletto", i could transform bullies, meanies, and all around assholes into a beautiful pair of high heels. then they would know how it feels to literally be stepped on, walked all over, etc.
      and it would increase my shoe collection. a win-win!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/criscrisco criscrisco

      "Bradify"

      This spell would trap my foe in the Brady Bunch World, where he/she would be forced to live out the rest of their days in each episode of the Brady Bunch; appearing randomly as any of the guest characters such as the Milk Man, The Coach, or the wife of the next door neighbor.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/iamdecember iamdecember

      My spell would be "Salvia Divinorum".
      It would magically muddle the mind of anyone it was aimed at, or the caster, should they so choose. Whether recreational or self defense applications, the effects would last anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending upon the intensity of the spell. If used recreationally, the casters friends should be around just to make sure the caster doesn't "freak the (blank) out" and start trying to fly.

      Warning: This spell does not grant the ability of flight. Any thoughts to the contrary while under the influence of this spell are incorrect and hazardous to the health of the thinker as well as anyone unlucky enough to be walking past the window.

    • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/jparch jordan

      In a world where one man, stands the test of time. Mutant Chinchillas have invented a virus to turn everyone into paraplegic turtles. That one man is a wizard. He has the ability to turn these mutant chinchillas – that have fangs – into loving carefree gerbils. This spell is called gerbilic cofalis. If he can fight the evil quanifalha – the master chinchilla – he can invent a giant satellite and channel gerbilic cofalis through the entire world and save everyone forever.

    • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Lizrox04 Lizrox04

      Well for me…. since I am watching my niece's and nephew (kids that I once loved and now loathe) for the summer, I would beg for some magic around here. They never listen to me and scream around my entire house! If I had a wand, my magic word would be "Shut the hell up-o and leave me alone-o" or "Get out of my face and stop acting stupid-osa". When I say the spell, their mouth's and bones would be removed, leaving them speechless and turn them into a slow moving blob and not ever having any memories of what happened to them when they came to.

      FYI.. I would never really tell them to shut up or call them stupid but that doesn't mean that I'm not thinking it….

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/ptleicht ptleicht

      my spell would be to turn my opponent into the zombie kid who likes turtles
      they'd look like him and could only say that one thing… and i'd still laugh everytime. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y
      word would be " turtle-a-dufus"

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/tchupe tchupe

      My spell would be named "Silo-Linguista"
      This would cause any person to only speak using the word of my choice. Every sentence they say has to have that word in it. So as I cast the spell if I would say Beaver then that person can only talk with that word.

      This is designed to pretty much shut up the person that I don't want to hear. But can be very humorous because they would probably say some pretty funny stuff. So in turn the person you don't wanna hear because they stink would make you laugh now.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/itsamestevent itsamestevent

      If I were a wizard, the most powerful spell I would have up my sleeve would be the SOW spell aka “Sleeve of Wizard” spell. This spell would only affect women, causing them to have private parts like a sleeve of a wizard (thank you, Borat). It’s the best spell because even if you cast it on a dude, it’ll automatically translate to any chick he’s the closest with. Thus, causing the woman to be so loose that any possibility of conceiving a child would be thrown out the window(along with the lube.) All in all, SOW would cause world populations to plummet and thus solve our problem of excessive pollution and celebrity adoptions of foreign children.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/henryl466 henryl466

      I would do a defensive spell that would summon clouds in the area, it make your opponent believe nothing’s happening. As soon your opponent attacks a lightning bolt will deflect his/her spell. This spell would be a perfect defense in battle allowing you to attack while the lightning is defending you. The magic word for this spell is “Fulgur defense” which means lighting defense.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/BreezyBrianna BreezyBrianna

      If I could make a spell it would be to make all living things (animals, fish, reptiles, amphibians- maybe even some plants) talk in whatever language desired with the words
      Animalus (or Botanicus) Verboticum followed by the language word (Englishia, Germanica, Frenchosa, Spanishia for example) so world wide these creatures can be our eyes and ears. This spell would be the best for all the unlimited things this would allow us to do.
      Pets could tell us what happened at our home while we were gone. Plants could tell us who damaged property in our neighborhood. Countless witnesses could be added for crime trials. We could sent them on errands and with messages to other wizards without writing. They could be sent as spys to unknowing Muggles and it would generally make all people act better knowing that plants and animals can be called upon for information.xt right here!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/DesignLady DesignLady

      My spell would kill all the weeds within a three mile radius of my house. This would be especially helpful to my neighbor who is pulling his hair out dealing with crabgrass. The spell would be "abrevio dethro trio weeda".

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/redheadedblonde redheadedblonde

      My spell would be "riflettere." Anytime an opponent sent a harmful spell your way, "riflettere" would reflect the spell and send it back to whoever cast it. It would be a purely defensive spell, but I imagine it would be handy in lots of situations.

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