Teddy Lupin: New Generation

How can I learn this power?

Closed

Ahhhhh! As someone who loves a local library and rare bookstores, getting up early in the morning to get to the next book in a series, or because a book you’ve been waiting for has come in or just  thinking you want to reread a favorite you don’t own and then you see the “uh-oh” group of patrons who also forgot a schedule change, random holiday, short day the library is closed group is crushing. 

I’ll never get over that feeling. I ended up looking forward to the summer being over because that’s when the library had better hours. 

Professor McGonagall

Today is the birthday of Professor McGonagall, our stern but motherly figure while attending Hogwarts, especially for those in her house, Gryffindor. While off topic, as JK Rowling stated she wanted English actors only to portray the Hogwarts students, she also stated that she always wanted Maggie Smith to portray Professor (Minerva) McGonagall who not only played the part but held it as dear to her heart as we do, as she continued to film both Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part II. 

Professor McGonagall was always a great mother figure to me as she was clearly an independent woman; she was also strict and fair: important qualities for someone who is going to need to guide young wizards, teach, and be a guardian at a boarding school. She was also a role model, maybe not directly as Hermione Granger was, but she taught all of her students (readers included) to stand up for themselves, believe in themselves, and be honest and truthful about yourself, to yourself, and your surroundings. 

Some of my best moments with her will always be in regards to Neville, who throughout his years as a students at Hogwarts she repeatedly told him that all he needed was confidence. She further pushed this when after the O.W.L.S. she stood up for him to himself, reminding him that he should be proud of his accomplishments and not base his happiness on his grandmother. With these developments, and her change from guardian to friend as our Hogwarts friends grew older, there was much to admire and adore and want in a personal relationship with Professor McGonagall, all before getting to her history and heartbreak pre-Hogwarts years and her odd relationship with Dumbledore. She was force to be reckoned with, her and her Maggie Smith, and I encourage all to re-read the books and explore her history more to understand how truly Brave, Clever and Kind she was. 

OH MY GOODNESS and her AND her patronus was a Cat!!! <3

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

Toby Flenderson

Toby’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Eleven: Classy Christmas Part 1

When he rubs his neck, indicating to the office that the case he’s on is the Scranton Strangler.

Toby’s Worst Moment: Season Two, Episode Twenty-One: Conflict Resolution

The truth about the “Special Filing Cabinet” in New York. Dwight, and the Dwight v Jim feud may be annoying to deal with, but he wasn’t actually dealing with it and it was terrible as the HR rep and disrespectful to Dwight to not report the issues Dwight was having. Even though it wasn’t legal harassment, Toby still could and should have gotten in trouble for not taking the issue seriously.

Toby’s Best Line: Season Two, Episode Twenty-Two: Casino Night

“Actually I didn’t think it was appropriate to invite children since it’s, uh, you know, there’s gambling and alcohol and it’s in our dangerous warehouse, and, it’s a school night, and you know, hooters is catering, …..is that, is that enough, should I keep going?”

 Toby’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Four, Episode Fourteen: Goodbye Toby

Pam gifts Toby a picture of everyone in the office as his going away gift, but because she took the picture. As we know Toby is interested in Pam and while she agrees to take a picture with him neither of them have a camera so he screams “Does anyone have a camera”…..and then later in the episode gets a camera to get pictures taken with Pam

Jan Levinson (Gould)

Jan’s Best Moment: Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Boys and Girls

When Pam mentions the obstacles of not going for the Corporate Graphic Design Internship (her current job, cost, and time), she tells Pam “There are always a million reasons not to do something”.

Jan’s Worst Moment: Season Three, Episode Nine: The Convict

When she tells them it’s Martin who was the ‘reformed convict’. Maybe she had to, but honestly, she should have known how this would go.

Jan’s Best Line: Season Four, Episode Nine: Dinner Party

“This will be great to cook with—really”.

Jan’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Four, Episode Fourteen

When we find out she’s pregnant with *not Michael’s* baby.

Dreamed, Desired, Determined

Tripzilla, a Southeast Asia Travel-Media company, created a list of the 10 libraries you must visit around the world. (https://www.tripzilla.com/10-bucket-list-libraries-you-must-visit-once-in-your-lifetime/27470)

Stadtbibliothek in Stuttgart, Germany

With a bit of an Escher vibe, I love it, though I highly doubt it looks this way all the time. Everyone in Germany can’t be this neat.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City, Mexico

This one looks a little scary, both what I would imagine being stuck at a microscopic size in a large industrial machine but also in the engine room of the Titanic but I can see through walls. Looks nice, but I think I’d spend most of time fearing a book or something else was going to fall and kill me

Liyuan Library in Beijing, China

Well that was dumb, I didn’t even think about going to a library when I traveled and my guess is that for the most part I won’t be going back. I love the homey and natural feel of this mountain-nestled library.  It definitely looks like a place where you feel welcome to sit and read all day with some tea.

Benediktinerstift Admont in Admont Abbey, Austria

This one, for me, is just one to look around in. Along with the distraction of the ceilings and insane molding, I’d be too afraid to drop something and make a mess (after my Belle swing on a ladder and sing about books moment of course)

New York Public Library in New York, U.S.A

Ehh. I’ve been here but while it’s beautiful and I guess famous it’s also incredibly strict, convoluted to get through and the true library portion of it is a small floor in the basement

Musashino Art University Library in Tokyo, Japan

So, maybe it’s because it’s the Art University library and maybe this is for better planning but all I can think is, WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SPOTS WITHOUT BOOKS! Nope, not a fan.

Librije Zutphen in Gelderland, Netherlands

Okay, this is more for the historic obviously than for the actual bibliophile or community. But at the same time, maybe not the worst idea given the books, movies and other items that somehow never make it back

Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch in Taipei, Taiwan

Surrounded by just a bit of nature and peace, this library is a true haven for the local community who want to get an escape from the chaos of city and modern life. Not only made entirely of wood and glass, it is also a certified  green building with plenty of space and freedom to restore yourself

Villanueva Public Library in Casanare, Columbia and Min Buri Old Market Library in Bangkok, Thailand

These libraries are what it’s all about. Both intricate and developed by the community, for the community the Villanueva was designed and built my students and organizations in the community with locally-sourced materials and is meeting place for many of the community’s social events and activities.

The Min Buri Old Market Library was a small (3 by 9 meters) unoccupied space that residents spruced up into a library with local books, a small reading and garden space in the back and workstations “upstairs”.  

”So I feel like this is the perfect time for a film like this. I feel like the film has become more important and more relevant today, which is a sad thing.” – Oscar Winner Taika Waititi in the Press Room

Hermione Granger

Hermione Jean Granger. Holy Crap, what can’t I say. You were EVERYTHING to me. Brilliantly confident, fierce, strong, brave. You were the first. Before Tris, Katniss, you were the diverse, WHOLE package. True and Strong. 

First, you were the best friend anyone could ask for. Almost every year Harry and Ron fought with you, exiled you, one thing or another, real or BS. But it didn’t matter, you PERSISTED, stayed strong, stayed with them. You saved there asses more times than JK Rowling could ever count. You are the golden standard of friendship and bravery. Seriously, I think he knew this as get got older, but YOU were Harry Potter’s best friend. Yes, Ron was there as someone who would go out with him, go on adventures with him, but you always knew what was going on his head and how to get to him, what he needed; again, you are the standard of true friendship we should all aspire to.  

Second, you are inspiring and compassionate and open-minded. Emma Watson has your influence to be grateful for in becoming who she is. Not only were you compassionate about House Elves but you didn’t care what anyone thought. You proudly and loudly kept fighting for their equality, fought when even your friends kept attacking you, and when you found out Dumbledore had house elves at Hogwarts you lost some respect for him, even thou he was doing the best he could with them. 

Third, you were just you. Luna was also unique and fascinated by the world around her, but you were also someone separate. You loved books, loved learning, always were intrigued and believed there was more out there than you previously thought (GIRL TOOK MUGGLE STUDIES--to be fair I probably would too). You re-awakened the part of me that loves the world around me, that’s curious and un-apologetically so. 

We could all go on forever, but these were the main things. You taught us how to be true friends, true to ourselves, and kind to all. While the Harry Potter Series has been a key component in the millennial outcry against hate and separatism, you were the reason we actively, loudly and strongly spit it in the face. Thank you so much Hermione Jean Granger, we did not deserve you, but we hope we are doing you proud. 

StepMom

Today is the third Women’s March and with a weekend of protests and discussions looking at the complexity of the issues in the United States, certain films handle them well. As it is the Women’s March, that deals with the complexity of all issues related to those marginalized, a movie that brilliantly strokes the complications of life, is Stepmom.

I don’t know how well-known this film is for sure, but I don’t believe it is. Stepmom ranks as a great film about women and life not because of the large issues of life and death and new family, but the smaller, nuanced issues that blanket the film. Susan Sarandon’s character and Julia Roberts’ both represent women at opposite ends of the spectrum in the bigger understandings of how they act and their priorities but also in how they react, how they communicate, how they think things out and how they adapt. The film reminds viewers that there is a spectrum to people and our relationships with one another. Men and women, parents, children and grandchildren.

PS-- Thou, Julia Roberts’ line about how she's afraid the daughter will want her mother with her on her wedding day is fucking ridiculous, if she’s nothing thinking about her mother, she’s psychotic.