Ron Weasley

Deangelo

Deangelo’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Three: The Inner Circle

When he brings up positive changes as negative changes in his (first) conference room meeting post-Michael:

The he plans to leave the office at 5pm

That the company will send Darryl to business school, full ride

He’s getting Toby a new chair

Ice Cream Thursdays

Deangelo’s Second Worst Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Two: Goodbye, Michael

When he cuts out two huge corners of the cake, eats one with his hands, and then leans in close to yell “No!” at the cake.

Deangelo’s Best Line: Michael’s Last Dundies

When he see’s Meredith’s place and tells Michael “This reminds me of Katrina”

DeAngelo’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Three: The Inner Circle

His fake juggling routine

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

Freakonomics

Freakonomics is a beautiful book that doesn’t do a damn thing. Forget the books or, even better, tv finales that leave you with more questions than answers--this book is all questions. 

Now, the book actually answers it’s questions or at least gives as much insight as possible to the questions it raises, but the questions that get you, and where it succeeds, are the questions you come up with after, on your own; looking at the world around you in a different light. 

Are there true connections there, or are they just happenstance?

While for the most part, I love books that take you somewhere, this books brings everything to you. Different, and not so different from other books, this book makes you think. But it doesn’t just pose a philosophical quandary--it makes the world an open world of quandaries that you can ponder on your own or issues that it brings up that maybe you need to handle differently. 

It’s not a cheat sheet to the world, it’s the coding manual that allows you to create all the cheat sheets in the world.  You don’t go to space and meet aliens, you don’t go back in time to find out who murdered Tupac; you get to look at our world, your world and begin to answer your own questions--and are inspired to do so. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The first thing I remember about this book is that I was wondering what could happen next in Harry’s, Ron’s and Hermione’s lives this year, without Voldemort. The return of Voldemort in Year One and Two was a fluke, a coincidence, surely he wouldn’t be returning a third year, and for the most part, he didn’t. Voldemort’s lack of presence is also why this book is one of the most fun books in the series. While we’ve gotten a bit more used to magic, we get to see our trio start become teenagers (sigh, Hermione and Ron) and are generally having fun and goofing around as for the most part, there isn’t anything hanging over their heads—at least not at the level of their first two years at Hogwarts.

Similarly to a lack of Voldemort, I had in my head the possibility that Professor Lupin would stick it out more; he knew what he was talking about and the students adored him, so why not? Then!! Hagrid as a teacher, marvellous. While I don’t understand why we never got confirmation of Hagrid being able to use magic, him getting some of his life back and getting to teach at Hogwarts greatly improved his life and was well deserved, he would never have everything he deserved (lack of bigotry, a family of his own), but this was a great step, a comfort, and something that I know made him really, really happy.

On the other hand, this year wasn’t all sunshine, we started to see more darkness. Expanding from Hermione being called a Mudblood, Hagrid was insulted as a teacher, Buckbeak was sentenced to be executed, Dementors existed, and we learned more in-depth about the Azkaban prison that Hagrid was sent to the year prior (possibly also a reason why he was permitted to be a teacher, an apology from a world that had done him so much wrong). But while this year wasn’t great, it wasn’t not-great because of Harry and so there was a bit of a sigh of relief, until that awful night that really changed everything even more than we realized at the time.

There is both good and bad during Year Three, at all different levels; the best? Harry finds an elder he can really see and count as family, whose only allegiance is to him; the worst? Harry doesn’t get to have him, share him, use him. There is also a lot of growth for the trio as they learn more about their friendship with each other (Ron and Harry v. Hermione) and themselves (Ron and Harry v. Hermione, Hermione and the time-turner and Hermione and Buckbeak--> how did Trelawney miss that future!?) along with the reminders to us that, life simply is not just or fair, but that we should try to do what we can to make it so.

New Instant Classics

Diversity has *sprung* into mainstream films--no, not saying there still aren’t issues there because there definitely are, but there are different people making films, starting in films, writing in films, directing films--everything that makes more diverse stories be told. Considering the large number of crap sequels and prequels that have flooded cinemas, there stories being told by film, books, thru art...even Youtube, are welcome. Two films that recently I would define as instant classics, I put here because they are films that tell a classic story and would have been long time classics had they been allowed to tell generations ago, both stories also I didn’t realize until I began to type, star male leads who are portraying their real life, personal stories: Kumail Nanjiani and Menashe Lustig.

The Big Sick is great for a lot of reasons, a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet it deals with cultural differences and inner conflict in both a light-hearted and serious way. It’s hard to go not on a twenty page rant about this film, as everyone can agree with both Kumail and Emily about their romantic relationship, but I believe what spoke to many who saw it—and what makes it an instant classic—is that we see the strength of a relationship at it’s worse, and how some people are just intertwined in who you are. I will not speak on behalf of the character of Emily or the real-life woman, but I do believe even with her annoyance that had the situation been reversed, she still would have been there for him.

Long story short, Menashe tells the story of due to cultural conditions must get remarried after his wife’s passing in order to get his son back. While I struggle to understand the BS argument that’s never made, we also watch Menashe and Menashe’s son struggle with being and not being together, both being adored (Mesashe by his son) and outsiders due to circumstance that may not be worth changing. Along with an insight to a very close-knit community, most importantly the film brings back to all the father and son bond when good, when complicated, when desperate and the inner struggle of what is most important** 

The King’s Speech

It has Colin Firth, it has some true-history, and it has a different type of diversity. Separate from The Big Sick and Menasche, The King’s Speech continues with the giving voices to those who are voiceless, different and put aside. Recently the film the Upside brought along the question of who should be asked, allowed or at least the ability to try for roles of those with disabilities—especially with films centered on the disability. It’s easy to say that those who have the disability should be given preference and not the role, but maybe there are parts of the role or the schedule that would put too much pressure—Jim Jefferies discussed this in regards to his show Legit—and there might be other obstacles not understood or, as is the case with most things, it’s too “difficult”. It’s a big topic to get into, but one that I couldn’t not flag as the point of this film and post is highlighting things that are difficult for some and confusing for others.

Physical disabilities are not discussed or addressed much in our world or in films and mental and non-physical disabilities are commonly ignored to the level of “they don’t exist”. While a unique situation, Colin’s character is thrust into a more public role where he must be eloquent and present. The Good Boy and frustrated he tries and eventually succeeds at lessening his speech impediments. This is a Hollywood film, with a Hollywood film ending but it still got across the point that he both (1) didn’t have to be perfect, and (2) the difficulties that come with trying to change something innate of your existence. This film does bring forward those with the more sidestepped disabilities that many overcome but are still nervous about, especially as the speech therapist in the film and real life (Lion Logue) remained with the King until he died. Imperfect, the film does stand-in for actors and actresses standing up and making political statements during award shows: they have these platforms, they have (temporarily and from a distance) experienced these journeys, and while it might not always be a true story of someone’s, anything that you can think of has having happened, has happened to someone, somewhere in the world

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

It’s not just today it’s through random occurrences everyday 

When you’re taking a walk around the neighbourhood, or see an old movie with a very different skyline. It’s not always prominent, but it’s always with us. 

8:46

9:03

9:37

9:59

10:03

10:28

The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing

I got this book at a thrift store–which is a great practice on its own, just got a school textbook for less than $5.00—I didn’t get it thinking it was about Hunting and Fishing, but as I believed that it would be about raising strong women; but that it wasn’t either and I’m not going to lie, the reviews are right, this book is a bit of a mess but overall it reminds me a bit of Freaks and Geeks where it’s messy and authentic.

First on the mess, it doesn’t help and is unnecessary, the majority of the story is believed to be from one person’s point of view, but two chapters (one told from a character connected to the “main character”, and one not) are told from different people’s points of view. As the “main character” who actually isn’t depicted as the main character or is always portrayed the same but has memories from the earlier chapters—it’s the best you can go. This is confusing, and when I read this book the second time it was early in the second chapter that I remembered—oh right, this is why this book was annoying and confusing. But while poorly formatted and executed, that’s not really all that important, overall the story is snippets of most girls struggles with her personal romantic relationships, navigating different adult relationship as she gets older and changes, figuring out what she wants with her relationships and her changing relationship with her family.

What’s also crucial, and does make it a good story for young adult women and older, is that the love stories aren’t fairy-tale, they’re realistic. Loving someone you broke up with, how much pain can one handle or one should handle in a relationship, the weirdness of not wanting what you know is probably best for you, breaking up with your best friend; it’s not some dramatics of other books: woman finds herself after divorce, found her fiancé cheating, just got a makeover and became the ‘hot girl’ in school. It’s all the other parts of love, the common and more dramatic, heartbreaking and confusing stuff that there is no right answer for.

I’ve read this story a few times—and I still don’t get the title (really, it does not come up in the book, I’ve checked) but what’s great about it is that it’s accurate, and how you do feel the mess you’re in, isn’t unique to you—you’re not alone in feeling alone, even if no situation matches yours.