Psst, I Totally Get It, You're By Yourself And The Last Thing You Want To Do Is Take A Picture But Seriously,

A Little Princess

I first saw A Little Princess (1995 version) probably with my parents around the time of its release. With no film background, I will say, did a great job at ageing the film as I always am surprised to discover that it’s not as old I thought it was (something that has happened repeatedly). While somewhat a romantic, fairy-tale type story the core parts that stick with me are the beauty within the story, particularly when Sarah and Becky are imagining a great feast and the colors of India in the very beginning of the film.

The images created in this film are stunning and completely breathtaking on their own and an amazing job is done using the colors in the fil to show the contrast between what we want our world to be like and what we don’t, the stories are even more real. Yes, the fairy-tale elements of her father remembering her just before she’s about to be arrested (she’s a child but ok), and dramatics of him ending up next door to where she lives, and how regardless of everything she insists on being a kind princess are all good and honorable it is the story of the neighbor that hits the most. Both the bleakest, most realistic, connecting, accurate and somewhat breaking is the father next door who tries to be kind during a war and is grateful for closure when he loses his son and his surrogate son (and in a way granddaughter). I think this is why I saw it with my parents, and so frequently. While there are many stories that accurately portray war, this is one that focuses on being kind in the homefront and probably portrays what they experienced living separated, but closely connected to war and genocide. 

There was no good photo to symbolize the story of the neighbour, but part of the theme of kindness is quoted below

Another unrelated shout-out that connects to a Little Princess to me, shout out to Shirley Temple who will never be bested even by those who manage to get their pets Instagram famous

Clark Green

Clark’s Best Moment: Season Nine, Episode

When Dwight tells him “ The bubble wrap is the only thing that is stopping his suit from getting wrinkled. These meetings are all about presentation”

And he responds “that’s actually really smart—God, if only there was any other use or situation for that kind of knowledge”

Clark’s Worst Moment: Season Nine, Episode Two: Roy’s Wedding

When he uses Erin’s gullibility to get her to his apartment alone for a “reporting job”

Clark’s Best Line: Season Nine, Episode Eleven: Suit Warehouse)

When describing Jan’s sexual appetite “Women reach their sexual peak at whatever age Jan as last week. I mean, if it was….like making love with a wild animal. But not like a cougar, like you might think.. It was…uh…like a swarm of bees. Bees that just find something wrong with every hotel room”

Clark’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Nine, Episode One: New Guys

When he walks right across the slack rope

Movies and Films

There are movies on here that are brilliant, movies on here that are “kids movies”, movies that are horrible and movies that I loved but left out. A lot of these I continue to enjoy and will enjoy over and over again, and some I could never see again and maybe movies referenced that I never even finished. But all for one reason or another have significance—think recent This is US scene of Randall’s school speech. 

These are the films that impact me or stick with me ro make me feel at home and the ones that make me dig down and think are at the same level as the ones that just comfort me. Separately, these are films that match the point or duty of acting, films and stories--to learn something, big or small, important or mediocre, about someone else

To all the movies I've lost

There are classic movies, movies we're ashamed we love, movies we love to hate, the movies of our childhood, and movies that stick with us forever regardless of type of emotional connection we have with them. Sometimes regardless of their impact, we still lose them. For an English project I once had to watch a few horror/suspense movies and see how the story connected to events going on at the time, I ended up picking the movie The Night of the Comet, a 1980s film about how radioactive material mysteriously left my a passing comet evaporated people or left them sick and zombie-esque. I connected this to the mystery and panic occurring of the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemics and how people are panicked and you didn't know who you could trust. Other films I saw was The Shining, but as it took me three days to watch it once that didn't seem like a good choice to study and another film...where a woman gets remarried and starts getting harassed.

This film in random occasion will pop into my head late at night and frighten me to my core, while many claim they saw the ending coming (I agree you had ideas but the FULL twist that gets you at the end in the creepy phrase while she's fighting for her life in her own home)--I'm sorry, you didn't see those specifics coming. I'd like to see it again, either to be freaked or to help and try to get over it, but alas I can't, as I've forgotten what movie it is. I've e searched and searched with clues and facts and cannot figure out the film, so it will continue to haunt me, from a more petrifying distance of mystery, only to become clear as a nightmare

Happy January 13th

Meredith Palmer

Meredith’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Four: Dwight K. Shrute, (Acting) Manager

After Dwight’s gun goes off she tells everyone to make a list of what’s lost for the insurance adding to her list of “a necklace, a ring, a painting—"

Meredith’s Worst Moment: Season Four, Episode Three: Launch Party)—

When she had Jim sign her Pelvic Cast and whispers to him “I’ll read this when I get home” clearly making him even more uncomfortable

Meredith’s Best Line: Season Six, Episode Twenty-Five: The Chump

“Hey, I have never cheated on, been cheated on, or been used to cheat with. “I ask…everyone in the room, ‘Are you in a relationship?’”

Meredith’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Three, Episode Seven: Branch Closing

After hearing the branch isn’t closing and therefore her pact to ‘hook up’ with someone if it does is no longer relevant, she pretends it’s still relevant when the other member of the pact Eric, a former warehouse worker, reaches out to her about it.

That’s what i’m talking about

I believe in the power of knowledge, which comes from books. You want to learn something? Read.

Bookstore owner, Joan of Arcadia (via colemeanitch)

I’d expand this, as there is also art and discussion and life and other experiences, but yeah--these things come from other places and by putting yourself out there in a way that will get you more understanding of the situation and books are amazing for this, but sometimes a book or a just-fact book isn’t the right way either

A Walk to Remember, Holes

The book is almost always considered better than the film, and really, how couldn’t it be (shout-out to all the people who were in the same theatre as me during the first Harry Potter and had to deal with me going thru the book in the theatre and complaining about the inaccuracies for the first third); there’s no budget, no timeline for the writer or the reader and you get to become more immersed (bonus: movies are expensive!). But except for times when the movie greatly alters the story (the Giver), I understand that movies are more restricted than the books and sometimes even very important plot points not 100% relevant to the main story ‘must’ be omitted (R.I.P S.P.E.W). However, two stories that were big as I grew up went from book to movie, one that I first saw as a movie (A Walk to Remember) and one I first read as a book (Holes)

A Walk to Remember was a big deal in my school when it first came out, even after those who saw it first shouted about the ending and while the dramatics of young love being lost to death area big plot point in young adult novels, many of the aspects of high school were accurate even when they’re cliché. There are kids who are ‘losers’ and hate it, but also don’t care; and some people who are assholes in elementary school, are assholes for life—but others, may not even be assholes by the end of high school whether due to basic maturing and growth or dramatic circumstances change them (I’ve seen both). About ten years after the movie came out, I came across the book and decided to read it as there some things in the book that didn’t make sense to me (main point, her leukaemia being so devastating at such a young age and the school being overly involved with Landon’s criminal activity punishment). Turns out, the original book was set in the 1950s!!! but adapted so more teens would go see it. As with most of the stories I love, this one I loved because it gave a good background as to why and how Landon falls in love with someone ‘not his type’, it’s both explained and unexplainable—completely accurate and brings the idea to kids that there are many reasons why people are the way they are and you can only truly know someone by getting to know them. As a side, while mostly ignored in both the movie and novel, both stories do have the reconnection made between Landon and his father.

Holes: is, was, and will always be; hysterical. From Stanley = Yelnats, to the curse being centered on a pig and a dumb rich girl, to the kids at camp green lake really not being hardened criminals but just really overactive kids, and of course, the fact that them digging holes was going to not just make them strong enough to beat the counsellors up. There were so many amazing stories and lessons portrayed in both the movie and the novel: racism, how love can turn into anger, how women can be ruthless, how it’s important to find love that is equal, to thank your friends who try and help you and to always be optimistic (though maybe a bit more realism wouldn’t have hurt). Both the film and the movie portrayed the lessons they wanted to get across well, especially, the greatness that is true friendship and compassion for others.

Both A Walk to Remember and Holes to me are stories that were adapted and made sure to keep the true story and the experiences of the characters intact, so while not everything aligns up perfectly, only a snob would complain about the outcome.

Luna Lovegood

There are many, many, many reasons to love Luna Lovegood as well as lessons about how we should be:

she’s honest

she’s conscientious, and not the center of the universe

she’s confident in herself

she’s brave for herself and others

she’s supportive and understanding of her friends and others

she's not prejudiced and address’ it in others

this list can go on for pages and pages of a tumblr article. 

Along with all Luna (and Evanna Lynch) taught us, and was a role model for those who didn’t feel like they belonged or were considered less than, she taught us a lot with the unexpected relationships she had with two characters: Hermione and Harry

Hermione, seen as a brilliant, kind and caring Witch, was cruel to Luna at first as she was opposite, but not opposite, of Hermione. Luna showed us with her relationship with Hermione a few flaws of Hermione along with growth and with Luna, what it meant to be truly open and accepting. Both intelligent, heroic and compassionate, their core similarities ended there. While important, Hermione let the values of acceptance and appearance overshadow curiosity and open-mindedness; which are both very important and defining characteristics of any person. It is so, so, so important to not only be open-minded and interested in the world around you, people’s beliefs, but also people in general. Even the villains in Harry Potter weren’t all evil or heroes all good.

Harry, this is one of my biggest umphs, Luna was the best character we knew for Harry romantically, because of how natural they were together. Sure, like all relationships Luna had there was a bit of a warming up period, but once they met and interacted, she just got him. When he wanted to hide after the battle, she could recognize him even when disguised with Polyjoice Potion, how it felt to not know one’s parent(s), she just got him. It’s rare, and doesn’t have to be romantic, but is such a beautiful relationship and connection that some people have. That without words or  

February 14th, 2018

A year ago today, for the next few hours, Emma Gonzalez was giving out hugs and flowers, and love for Valentine’s Day; by the end of the day that would not be the case, by the end of the day a girl still full of love would also be filled (with what I presume) with fury. 

A year ago today 17 people lost their lives due to a domestic terror incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Florida. Now, at 10:17 the students and local community are participating in a moment of silence for those lost and the country should be reflecting on how they are impacted by gun violence not just at schools but at home, in malls and out when you’re just trying to enjoy your day and your US Constitution idea of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

The end of the day, February 14th 2018, was very different than the MSD students and Parkland community expected when they woke up that morning, many who will never be waking up the same way again but that sentiment at the end of the day remains true. The students’ promised that they would be the end of gun violence and mass shootings and they are doing everything in their power to do so. Along with record-breaking youth voter turnout, the No Notoriety campaign, the Town Hall Project that encourages citizens to attend and meet with local politicians (and not vote for those who they can’t meet with) and the March for Our Lives walk that reminded many of the Vietnam War youth protests, over 100 new laws have been enacted related to gun violence where guns are limited to those who have shown a propensity of violence, a limit on assault rifles and bump stocks and many more. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas have made a great impact on gun violence in the US, even just by keeping us talking. But again, now at 10:17, we take a breath, a moment for those these actions were made for:

                                    Alyssa Alhadeff (14)                

                                      Scott Beigel (35)

                              Martin Duque Anguiano (14)

                                 Nicholas Dworet (17)

                                   Aaron Feis (37)

                               Jaime Guttenberg (14)

                                  Chris Hixon (49)

                                  Luke Hoyer (15)

                                Cara Loughran (14)

                                Gina Montalto (14)

                               Joaquin Oliver (17)

                                 Alaina Petty (14)

                             Meadow Pollack (18)

                                Helena Ramsay (17)

                                Alex Schachter (14)

                             Carmen Schentrup (16)

                                   Peter Wang (15)