JK Rowling

5 Flights Up

I saw this movie at home, privately probably within a year after it came out. I loved it instantly for all three stories that it told. The first story, about the older couple (played by Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton) showed an accurate couple that I enjoyed. As a couple, they were overall happy and healthy and dealing with walking up a few flights as you get older in New York is a pretty realistic problem that people often don’t think about. Also, they individually and not just as a couple were likeable people. Second, is the issue with their dog (Dorothy) who they will need to pay $10,000 for a surgery for her that *may* work. Ugh, is that not something that happens all the time, especially at that cost. A famous story of my youth is when we paid close to two hundred dollars (at a major discount) to go to an emergency clinic for my hamster/guinea pig where the veterinarian didn’t even notice one eye was reed and close to 3x the size of the other.

While both of these stories were accurate, the one that really blew this out of the water for my family was the third, albeit random, story about the truck driver and its accuracy in our world. It starts just with a truck abandoned (in grid-lock traffic at first) on a bridge. They discover that it was driven by someone who is not a white guy and reports come out before anything actually happens that they think there is a bomb (even thou rush hour has passed and there has been no explosion) and his name and face are all over the news, followed I believe by his home being investigated by the police (who the fuck signed that warrant).

As this story progress I watch, with complete real-world experience, my guess is that he might have just ran out of gas and gone to get some—because they were stuck on a bridge for hours. But then why didn’t he come back…I don’t know, maybe because within a short time he was plastered all over the news as a terrorist (white upbringing v. non-white upbringing) he’s petrified now with no ACTUAL reason or understanding he’s been labelled a terrorist and NYCs #1 to look out for. In the end, I don’t think we get the story of what actually happened from reports, but come to know that he wasn’t a terrorist—typical.

Now all of these things are random, but they are also realistic to happen in a random weekend, look at the news today, so much happens before 6am let alone over a weekend and that’s what this is, just a snapshot of their lives over a few days. Maybe more dramatic than their average weekend, but not completely out of bounds and in contrast to stories that cover years or longer events, that are also good, a story that just covers a couple of days and isn’t focused on the “big events” of getting married, or losing someone— I really loved it.

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

Lack of Trust and it is the Police who are to blame

Growing up, I would come home from school and watch ALL the Law and Orders. Still do today. I didn’t hear much about how cops were pigs and corrupt—I heard a few stories but mostly kids and teenagers hating the police because they wanted to be against the government more than anything actually have happened to them

With the murder of Trayvon Martin I was very confused. It’s a kid, in a hoodie. 95% of my life I a kid in a hoodie, so…what’s going on here. Then I moved, spent less time with my parents and under strict supervision and would see and have interactions with police.

I’d see them texting while driving, the wrong way down a road.

I’d see them run through the red light without or without the siren on, or just turn it on so others would get out of the way. Both panic-inducing, confusing, disrupting and disturbing as that is a really, loud noise.

I’ve seen them brush off issues that they felt were beneath them to deal with and experienced them lying to me and my lack of understanding and believing and trusting them being held against me. Obviously I was the one who was lying, because at the time I didn’t know my rights. 

(ACLU, thank you for your efforts to make this and other protections in this and other interactions known: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/stopped-by-police#ive-been-pulled-over-by-the-police) 

The distrust of the police is not media brainwashing; it is the complete trust and authority given to police that comes from the all the television shows that at this point are pure propaganda. The police’s values are supposed to be about compassion, respect and professionalism but in my experience their main priority is not their life or even their paycheck but whatever they want when they want it. My experiences are small, but it is the lack of accountability with the most minor of offences that allow larger acts to go unreported—becoming part of the norm.

Police officers choose to serve their communities and they need to prove they are serving all of their community with police officers only being approved if they pass racial bias exams, and police communities are focused on reform with the guidelines set by Campaign Zero and other organizations and reporting systems based on integrity. (https://www.joincampaignzero.org/reports)

Leabharlann and dhachaigh, Dhachaigh and Leabharlann

Extending what you can and cannot experience

What you can and cannot find

You take what you can get

As sometimes your connection, the community and history is only met if you don’t hold yourself to the expectations and goals and resources of others

Keep Reading

When you can barely see but cannot sleep 

When everyone around you makes you feel insane

They’ll be there, they’ll call your name

All your friends and dreams will guide you home and to who you want to be

Teddy Lupin: New Generation

We know nothing about Teddy Lupin (except he’s a Metamorphmagus like his Mum and is a fan of PDA). But while we know very little, he is such an important character. Another child like Harry alone in the world because of a war (and a main reason why we got the Epilogue) he represents, and reminds us of, the continuous and generational effects war, violence and inaction have on individuals, families and society. But also, the impact that we can make when we make changes to those evils in the world. 

I originally chose February 19th as the day for this entry as with other entries whose birthdays aren’t available, as it is the birthday of the actor who portrayed (or in this case was cut from portraying them. So the timing for the rest of this piece, related to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School) is somewhat a coincidence, as in the States we would always be coincidentally close to a school shooting. 

The students from Stoneman Douglas High School have had enough, and regardless of age are refusing to be bystanders or that these are things outside of their control. It reminds me of the old Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,        Courage to change the things I can,                                                            And wisdom to know the difference

now includes Angela Davis’ quote

to change the things I cannot accept

I didn’t expect Teddy’s post to be more than the first paragraph about how there are always unexpected tragedies of war, and how far those tragedies spread.But JK Rowling and Harry Potter taught us, reminded us that anyone can be a force for change, for a better world and with that, I am just simply loving this younger generation, I am in awe of their strength, courage and high moral standards 

I haven’t seen this episode yet but oh my, it’s glorious

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

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

Hope in all it’s agony

The Blindside

2009 was the YEAR for Sandra Bullock movie-wise. All About Steve was hysterical and the immigration scene at the end of The Proposal was brilliant even thou the rest of the movie is a bit cliché but of course the main movie of that year was The Blind Side. While some controversy exists from real-life Michael Oar’s feeling that the book and film placed too much emphasis on the Touhy’s efforts and not enough understanding of his own (along with dumbing him down), this was still a great movie that portrayed fostering’s ups and downs both for families and children in the system, racism, adoption, family-values, Christian values, love and acceptance all in ways that didn’t come off cliché or too happily-ever-after even thou it was a real story and we got a seemingly unrealistic, but true ending.  

The campiest part of this story is how Michael is able to bring his grades up in order to get into college. While true, it is a unique situation that reminds us not everything real in life comes of real in a story. But campy and true, this small part is the overall story of Michael Oher: keep trying, find your way in and ask for help. A good overall lesson for those who feel they have fallen behind or lost their way. But if I were to pick one thing to take away from this is the scene where “Big Mike” gets called Michael, because he doesn’t actually like to be called Big Mike. A short scene, just a few lines but with a big impact and understanding if you (like Leigh Anne) are willing to be open-minded and pay attention.

Lean on Pete

Lean on Pete is another story about family and loss and heartache but—oof--does it have a different feel. While during The Blind Side we see Michael Oher slowly rise up, Charley falls, falls and falls catching every heartbreak that can occur, and how life can slowly becoming crushing, especially when it seems someone has no one.

While overall the movie crushed me and its dark it is important to look at the idea of the film and for Charley was a focus on hope. He leaned on the horse Pete and by the end, we are left with the idea that things will be alright. Now, those I saw the film with had different opinions than I did about this, to them he really will be okay while I think he’ll survive but be severely traumatized, but maybe they’re right and we're supposed to believe regardless of all the missteps and bad fortune that things can turn around if we keep believing and striving for good and how if we don’t need those people to help us up, we should be those people to help others up