Scrimgeour And Fudge

Books, Books, Book

All-in-all, reading has a lot of benefits and by limiting the diversity of books, you are taking away some of these benefits and taking them entirely from someone who might have started reading if they had just read *that book*. Earlier today the Washington Post listed other reasons to not fall into the paranoia of banning or challenging books from the superficial: a lot of classic books were at one time banned; many books are based on issues with unique diversity and representation that are unique in a society becoming more accepting (in most places), and when you find a book has been banned or challenged, that may start a conversation.  

Lavender Brown

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

While some may adore this holiday, others find it grotesque, so to honour both the day and the feelings everyone relates to it (both good and bad) today is the perfect day to relate and explore Lavender Brown

Lavender Brown was just so god-damn annoying. I hated her, I still hate her, rewatching and rereading I still hate her and while for some it might be because she was “between Hermione and Ron getting together”--Lavender wasn’t, Ron was; there isn’t that level of dislike for Victor Krum, because he’s not a pain in the ass. In class we saw her barely paying attention or whining (you’re learning MAGIC girl, focus!), was very overdramatic, gullible and influenced (relationship with Trelawney), didn’t trust Harry or Dumbledore about Voldemort, infatuated with Lockhart (weird, that’s what they have in common) and Trelawny, had no independce or confidence and for us who had been growing up with Hermione, Lavender was always a contrast (and a bit of a bully to Hermione) and we just saw more of what we didn’t always like about her in Year Six. With Ron she’s in that (and from what we feel would always be) someone who is having their first boyfriend/girlfriend, OMG I totally love you even though it’s only been 3 days, we’re going to get married, live happily ever after, middle school romance...but at 16/17, and incredibly one-sided. Would they have lasted forever? No, from the beginning it was clear, to those he told, that Ron was more about being in a relationship than the relationship itself (yeah, asshole move). And, while Lavender was right that there was something going on between Ron and Hermione, it wasn’t right to act on it as 1) they weren’t acting any differently than they used to and 2) no romantic relationship should replace any friendships. Yes, over time people split up, but as an ultimatum, it’s the first step of the romantic relationships quick demise (and true with friendships where one tries to rid other friendships). She was just a whiny, petty, privileged American, ugh. 

Now, what did we learn? Regardless of her judgement and attitude she joined Dumbledore’s Army and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, reminding us that everyone has layers. She also was a great friend to Seamus and Pavarti. Who knows, maybe had Harry, Ron and Hermione not been constantly busy saving the universe they would have all been friends, or at least friendlier and found they had more in common than we thought because we know a lot about Lavender’s annoying traits and her personality, but little else because it was easier to see her more dramatic side. So, Lavender Brown, you do remind us that not everyone is the same, not everyone will get along, not everyone is going to best your very best friend but that everyone still deserves respect, understanding and compassion

Michael (Gary Scott)

Michael’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Four: Sex Ed

Earlier when Michael calls to tell Holly that he has herpes (he doesn’t) she tells him how he made them out to be more than they were. After he sees a lot of his ex’s and he tries to talk to her again explains how she’s  wrong because 1) he remembers every second of them, 2) his feelings for her were more than the others, 3) they joked together, 4) she was the only one happy to hear from him and how he didn’t make them up.

Michael’s Worst Moment: Season Two, Episode Ten: Christmas Party

Michael’s temper tantrum following getting Phyllis’ oven mitt when he bought Ryan an iPod and ends up ruining, or at least seriously dampening, the Christmas Party 1st, by changing Secret Santa into Yankee Swap, 2nd how he sarcastically compliments Phyllis’ oven mitt (especially in mentioning how you can tell how much she worked on it) then following it up with (3rd) calling a Meredith a sucker for taking it, and 4th, asking Dwight how the paintball gun and party is “better than an iPod”, 5th, blames Phyllis and then 6th getting pissed off at everyone for being upset with him with the final moment being when (7th) he tells everyone he got a bonus because he fired Devon.

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Michael’s Best Line: Season Five, Episode Twenty-Five: Broke

As head of The Michael Scott Paper Company and in the meeting with David Wallace, in response to David low-balling the buy-out offers Michael replies:

“I’ll see your situation and I’ll raise you a situation. Your Company is losing clients left and right, you have a stock holder meeting coming up and you are going to have to explain to them why your most profitable branch, is bleeding. So they may be looking for a little change in CFO, so I don’t think I have to wait out Dunder Mifflin, I think I just have to wait out you” to David Wallace (Season Five, Episode Twenty-Five: Broke)

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Michael’s Most Memorable: Season Five, Episode Twelve: The Duel

A moment that truly describes Michael is his “improve conversation” line to David.

“David here it is, my philosophy, is basically this. And this is something that I live by, and I always have, and I always will. Don’t ever, for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever; no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with or, or where you are going or, or, where you’ve been. Ever, for any reason whatsoever--”

Personal Favorites

As The Office (US) on Netflix in the US returns to the UK and US’s NBC’s Peacock I would like to list my favorite episodes of each season. These are not all the most awkward, funniest, heart warming or memorable or even my favorites, but, for me they are the ones that I always go back to for a cozy, re-watch. 

Cheers to a better 2021 and that we all use 2020 as an eye-opening experience for a better tomorrow.

Season One: Hot Girl

Season Two: The Injury

Season Three: A Benihana Christmas

Season Four: Money

Season Five” Lecture Circuit (Parts One and Two)

Season Six: Murder

Season Seven: Dwight K. Shrute (Acting Manager)

Season Eight: The Incentive

Season Nine: A.A.R.M.

Youth Climate Strike

Similar to the March for Our Lives a year ago, students will leave their classrooms again today across the US, joining students from over 100 countries around the world who have already marched, begging their elders, to work to leave some of the world behind for them to thrive with.

Image: Climate Change: Youth climate strikes to take place in more than 100 countries. The Guardian.   https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/14/youth-climate-strikes-to-take-place-in-almost-100-countries-greta-thunberg

While there are many issues that plague every generation, this generation sees themselves shook with the idea that they might not even have a chance to survive as more data shows that the deadline to save the human races’ existence on the planet is just getting closer, and closer. While the declining health of the planet has been an issue for decades, and the ignorance of facts behind it are baffling, the students and youth really are doing everything they can to keep it on individuals minds and are seeing growing victories from lawsuits against their governments, the growing vegan and vegetarian movements, and bans on single-use plastic. Looking at the map above this is a growing movement and my only hope, the only hope is that others get out of their way: in political office, in corporations, and the ridiculous online bullying older people think will impact the younger generation. 

PS--if none of the 16 marches planned in New Zealand occurred, you have our deepest sympathies and understanding. Whether blocked by the lockdowns or just needing to be at home with those you love, stay safe. 

Newsies

Ahh, Newsies. A major throwback, I’ll start by saying I loved how the broadway show and the music played was able to bring me back to remembering how much I loved this movie—so much that I ruined the VHS. There is a lot of things you can draw to be important for viewers to see: issues of children pre-foster care, the resourcefulness of children, how not to judge a book by it’s cover (from all angles: Newsie and schoolboy), and the historical significance. But the biggest feeling was the overall comradery of the film within the gangs and between the different gangs'

It was very “boys will be boys” but in the genuine way that expression should be—that boys are more likely to roughhouse, make inappropriate jokes and get dirty, not be overly aggressive or hostile towards each other. While they would mess around with each other and insult, there was no doubt in the minds of any of them that in a true need they would be there for each other, and had become their own family. That’s what truly resonated with this film, and while I cannot say why people didn’t see it in theatre, is probably what made it the cult film it became.

Instant “kids’Classics

Wall-E (2008)

I loved Wall-E, so so so much. It’s accurate portrayal of the future of planet Earth, the emotions Wall-E developed for work, the planet, it’s survival and mindset and of course for EVE. Most important to the story, that’s done in a way kids and adults can understand and see, is how Wall-Es development is all done by personal growth and kindness and effort. But this movie is overall for the benefits of kids, to see how automation can destroy them in the future both by not going out or connecting with others but also by relying too much on technology (that tries to keep the humans under their control).

Along with the overall notes to humans, I love that so much of this film has no words. The lack of words isn’t because Wall-E nor EVE speak a particular language other than robot either, but because a good portion of it is in solidarity or confusion there isn’t much we can understand by words—but we see their actions which show to be just as important as words, if not more

Up (2009)

Yo! Yoooooooooo, this film was a lot darker than expected. Forget the first few minutes of pure heartbreak, where the hell did this villain come from? I know Scar tries to kills Mufasa and Cruella De Vil captured people and pups for a coat, but still—this guy could have jumped out of the screen to get us—Ring style!

This was an instant classic for kids and adults, because it’s hysterical Carl and Russell are both funny on their own, but they also thrive together as two people who would have the same relationship regardless of their individual ages. Carl is trying to hold onto his youth and have some peace and Russell is trying to be an adult while also having an adventure. While they will usually have opposing ideas and views about things based on their own agendas they do have a similar mindset and will continue to be friends long after this adventure.

PS—Minions (2015), I love, love, love this film. It’s not particularly clever or emotional, just so funny. Even for the fact that the main food they like…is food that looks just like them—what?

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

The Magician’s Nephew

Not a fan of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobe. It was ok, nothing as great as the first thou. Harry Potter is the book that I call home, but the first book that I became obsessed with, that I feel completely in love with, where the pages became warm, was the Magicians Nephew--and the beauty, intricacy and originality I felt for lost.

The Magician's Nephew was first great because it was real, it wasn't a story where they went on a grand adventure. These were two regular kids with regular lives that had death, greed and were just doing normal fun activities and were then forced on a "grand adventure".

This also was my first adult book, while wrote for children the adults and characters who were the antagonists weren't just evil or villainous, they were just normal. Filled with selfishness and greed, they weren't one dimensional, they showed the real consequences of human actions and loss of moral. This was a great novel, a great children's novel and a great story about humans, kids and human nature

Hailed, Held, Hung

While my main venture into a library will be for books, as previously stated they are also community centers and should me a resource to increase opportunity and equality of the local residents. A recent episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj looked at another form of inequality, unequal access to the internet.

The internet had become an additional resource all residents in the U.S. and in other developed nations need to have in order to be a successful part of society. Further than the internet, more accurately it’s the instant access to the internet via smartphone but even if not instant the internet has replaced many telephone, mailing and older forms of communication and information access, especially when it comes to research, employment and getting assistance. And again, libraries were part of making up for these inequalities for those who cannot afford, understand or otherwise access the internet.

Unfortunately, again libraries and the communities who need these opportunities and access are hit the hardest. Closing libraries, shorter operating hours and fines related to late library books are creating a further divide. As the world progresses, we have to make sure that not only we don’t leave people behind but that we are doing what we can to rise everyone up together