But of course the ending of book 7 of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0545010225/islandtravela-20">Harry Potter</a> series was leaked onto the Internet.

Anyone who lives on the Upper West Side doesn’t find that to be a surprise of any kind.

Walking home tonight I saw a street book vendor with two boxes of the Harry Potter books (embargo date in clear sight) selling them to anyone who walked by.  At first I didn’t think it was the newest book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0545010225/islandtravela-20">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</a> but it definitely was. 

So much for the secret printing facilities and armed guards watching over the books until midnight on Friday / early Saturday, July 21<sup>st</sup>. 

I certainly don’t believe "A 10-million pounds security operation featuring an army of guards, satellite tracking systems and legal contracts has swung into action to prevent any leakâ€.  And all of the publicity from the leak isn’t going to cost JK Rowling a penny from her royalties. She will be fine because on Friday everyone who wanted to read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0545010225/islandtravela-20">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</a> without squinting at lo res images will get their copy and speed read it. 


And for those who just can’t wait to find out, the characters who died in this last book have been already been listed on some sites online so you can know how the series ends before <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0545010225/islandtravela-20">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</a> is officially released in stores. 