National Book Month

Pomona Sprout

Professor Sprout was the embodiment of Hufflepuff, mostly pertaining to her love of Herbology, sweetness, and lack of need to be worshipped. Plenty of potions need the careful, dedicated and complicated treatment of plants that is based in Herbology; something that Professor Sprout hints at but does not boast about. Her brilliance was shown not only in her famous care of Mandrake’s to help petrified students be restored, but the year before when she used Devil’s Snare to help protect the Sorcerer’s Stone so that the one who tried to get it would not need only intelligence but the ability to remain calm in a panic.

Similar to her brilliance, Professor Sprout also showed her generosity as the many lessons she taught the students in harvesting she gave to Madam Pomphrey to help students with all types of ailments from being petrified, to common acne or used for other aspects of her class (unlike other Professors). She also showed her loyalty and bravery not only to what was right in protecting her and other students in the year that Death Eaters had control of the school, but also to Albus Dumbledore in her agreeing that the school should be kept open after his passing. Most importantly, she didn’t care whose house you were in—she loved you all the same

me, with a vague plot idea, 1 (one) character name, and an outline that consists of mostly question marks:

World Refugee Day, من از زندگی تو سپاسگزارم ( I thank you for my life--google) 

صلح (Peace)

Tonks!

Nymphadora Tonks (can definitely understand why we went with the later name). While Hermione and Luna are polar opposites each taught us how to accept ourselves for who we are, Tonks was just, different. Maybe it was because she was older and more established, maybe it was just because she was the epitome of cool, but she was always, from the moment we knew of her, knew she was cool and who she was. She didn’t care about her flaws because they were just part of who she was and she was awesome and continues to be the only person who wears their flaws with pride and confidence as how they are

While re-reading and knowing about her live and difficulties with Lupin, I get pissed of at him of course, but just want to tell her that I know she’s right and to just told on because it seemed for once she was afraid of not knowing, of not being that confident person and not because she might be wrong or lost or confused but because of living without love. And how horrible a life that would be

“Don’t pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love”

Oh, and what a true werewolf at HEART

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

Psst, I totally get it, you're by yourself And the last thing you want to do is take a picture But seriously, my little girl loves you She's always singing, "I'm gonna pop some tags" I'm not kidding, my oldest, you even got him to go thrifting And "One Love", oh, my God, that song - brilliant Their aunt is gay, when that song came out My son told his whole class he was actually proud That's so cool, look what you're accomplishing Even an old mom like me likes it cause it's positive You're the only hip-hop that I let my kids listen to Cause you get it, all that negative stuff isn't cool Yeah, like all the guns and the drugs The bitches and the hoes and the gangs and the thugs Even the protest outside - so sad and so dumb If a cop pulls you over, it's your fault if you run Huh?

19 Years Later, not everything has changed for the better

19 Years ago a school shooting shocked the US, our families, our friends, strangers, the world. It was everywhere, 13 people were murdered in a public school. People around the world watched the news, spoke about the tragedy, felt guilt, confusion, compassion, pain, everything. We felt everything

 In these 19 years, things have changed by getting worse. I have become numb, for all of us it has become par-for-the-course. These students were taught how it’s part of their lives and to be prepared as 75 years ago they were prepared to hide under desks from nuclear bombs. These children here, they weren’t even born 19 years ago.That’s why they want change; this should have never been their issue to deal with but the generation of gun violence they are rightfully pissed off and are going to make it so those after them don’t have to. 

Worldly, with, Wonder

 A lot of the public support of libraries is that they are places of great connection, education and comfort that will improve the community. I praise libraries that host book clubs, political discussions, gardening events, work to get children to read; but other times my trek has to do with only myself to find peace in isolation. 

Feeling overwhelmed, lost or uncertain, books and the library can be a peaceful place to rest, decompress and wait to come back to the world. In addition to being a community resource, libraries are one of the few places where quiet peacefulness is put as a higher priority than usual; children may be in a separate area and aren’t criticized for being too loud but gently reminded. Here, where you may easily allow yourself to detach from notifications and screens, you can let your brain recharge and breathe peacefully, letting the stories of others wash over and take you away

Nellie Bertram

Nellie’s Best Moment: Season Nine, Episode Two: Roy’s Wedding

When she had Dwight and her a pledge that he’d live by Taliban law in the office because the only charity he’d choose for her Special Projects assignment (Operation: Give Back) was the Global Relief Foundation, a front for the Taliban.

Then, after signing the pledge, she steals his pen so he has to cut off her hand.

Nellie’s Worst Moment: Season Eight, Episode Fifteen: Tallahassee

When she has Ryan say, “So who’s leading this thing, anyway?, and “I can’t wait to meet him.” Only to respond. “Him, you say? Don’t think a woman can be a leader?”

She sets him up to seem sexist so she can correct him, also, she says her brain is her “huge whopping penis” Creepy.

Nellie’s Best Line: Season Eight, Episode Nineteen: Get the Girl

“I have one simple philosophy in business: if the seat is open, the job is open. It's how I came to briefly race a Formula One Car.”

Nellie’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Nine, Episode Nine: Dwight’s Christmas

When after spending hours in the breakroom with Toby, before and during the Christmas party, listening to him talk about the Scranton Strangler case she starts shushing him. When he takes this as her going to kiss him she instantly takes it as the lesser painful option and kisses him.

Ryan <3 Kelly

Ryan Howard

Ryan’s Best Moment: When he ‘empties’ out his desk during Cleaning Day but nothing is there (Season Two, Episode Eleven: The Secret)

“If I had to, I could clean out my desk in five seconds; and nobody would ever know I had ever been here. And I’d forget too.” *sighs*

                                                     +++

Ryan’s Worst Moment: He mentions to Kelly and Pam that he doesn’t ever see himself after getting married after Kelly notes she’d like to get married in June and asks Ryan when he’d like to get married. Pam asks that he be more sensitive to Kelly’s feelings for him. Pam mentions to Ryan that he should be nicer about what he says since Kelly clearly is interested in him. (Season Two, Episode Seventeen: Dwight’s Speech)

“I know what I said”

                                                    +++

Ryan’s Most Memorable Moment: When Ryan get’s delivered new business cards on the day they are told the branch is closing (Season Three, Episode Seven: Branch Closing)

“It makes perfect sense that it would happen today because I just received this in the mail—a thousand business cards with this address and phone number”

                                                   +++

Ryan’s Best Line: Ryan gives “a reason” but really every reason for why he cannot go out with Michael, Andy and others to lunch so Jim can’t provide another reason. (Season Three, Episode Ten: A Benihana Christmas)

“Oh man I can’t, I’m not feeling so well. I got a ton of work to do here, MSG allergy, peanut allergy, I just ate their last night” (Season Three, Episode Ten: A Benihana Christmas) when he first gives Michael excuses to why he can’t go to ‘Asian Hooters’ and then the rest to Jim

Kelly Kapoor

Kelly’s Best Moment: When getting the Women in the Workplace Training from Jan and they’re going over sports metaphors about successes and failures in the workplace Kelly refocuses it on romantic sports metaphors, poking at Jan’s recent romantic interactions with Michael (Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Boys and Girls)

“What about second base? Like, if Michael said he got to second base with you. Does that mean you like, closed a deal? I mean that’s a baseball term right?”

                                                      +++

Kelly’s Worst Moment: When she tells Ryan he got her pregnant when he’s back visiting the branch after getting promoted (Season Four, Episode Two: Dunder Mifflin Infinity)

At first she solemnly nods no to the camera expressing she’s not pregnant but as we learn he agrees for them to talk in private after work about ‘everything’ she gets all excited and chirps “We have a date!”

                                                      +++

Kelly’s Most Memorable Moment: When another interesting thing finally happens in the office. (Season Eight, Episode Seventeen: Test the Store)

“Will someone explain what’s going on here. Since the interesting thing happened, so much time has past. It feels like my life is buffering”

                                                      +++

Kelly’s Best Line: Kelly explaining how she’s *so smart* following the minority executive training program…but she’s still Kelly (Season Seven, Episode One: Nepotism)

“You guys, I’m like really smart now, you don’t even know. You could ask me ‘Kelly, what’s the biggest company in the world?’ and I’d go blah blah blah, blah blah blah’ giving you the exact right answer”