Scooby-Doo Where Are You, And Where Did You Come From?

Gilderoy Lockhart

Another Ravenclaw embarrassment, Gilderoy Lockhart’s biggets lessons to us were more lessons to Hermione: that crushes aren’t real, and that it’s important to look past the surface of people and how they aren’t always what they seem; while very similar these two lessons are two important and different beast life stories to learn.

Attractive and intelligent were two qualities Lockhart had but like anyone who has ever had a crush, Hermione filled in the gaps she didn’t know about Lockart’s personality with qualities and explanations that could fit, and ones she also admired.

Hermione thinks: Lockhart wants to get some hands on experience (when he released and then left them to ‘round up’ the Cornish Pixies

She fills this in because she likes to be independent and smart. This happens to everyone, and unfortunately for some more than once. Crushes are different than true relationships with depth. This is also why we should evaluate all of our relationships as time goes by. This is because people can grow distant and people change and just because we connected with someone once or had the same values doesn’t mean we do now. These are relationships that without pain or malice we can let go.

Similarly, certain things about Lockhart just didn’t add up. Yes, he wrote autobiographies, but not one other person from his cases or towns that he saved ever came forward, joined him on tour, or admitted to have been save by him and was a fan. Given his charm and ‘wanting to help others”, this doesn’t fit even the part of his personality he promoted: where he would have wanted to seem more accessible and like the “every-man”, and therefore better than the everyman. No one confirming his stories or telling his historic and impressive saves as a victim are two crucial clues that show have allowed even the distant observer insight into the fraud he was.

So Dumbledore is correct, “there is plenty to be learned even from a bad teacher: what not to do, how not to be” and I cannot help but feel this was especially true of a lesson to give to Harry Potter, probably more than any other lesson. That no one, for talent, intelligence, beauty or charm, is better than anyone 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

Curriculum is about preparing minds to think and reason, it's not about parental control and subordination. Banning books is small-minded.

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.

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

Krijasto

It should not be any surprise that a majority of the Happiest report countries in the world, also have the highest reported intellect, education and success. One such country, Finland, is consistently praised for various reasons. It has great access to nature (including the Northern Lights) and a clean environment, there is a real sense of community as it is not uncommon for people who have lost their wallet to have it returned and high parental leave for all parents; and there is a great freedom to express oneself as seen with the creativity that has pushed design boundaries, created mobile games and metal music.

While not the only foundation of these achievements, another instrument of this success is the love Finland has for their books and public libraries. Noted as the country that takes out/borrows the most libraries in the world these libraries truly are epicenters of the community where new and established residents may learn, explore, think, question and grow

(1) https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2019/WHR19.pdf

(2) https://www.visitfinland.com/article/greatest-things-about-finland/

(3) https://www.buzzfeed.com/frankmartela/12-surprising-things-in-which-finland-is-the-best-fvkn

(4) https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/15/why-finlands-cities-are-havens-for-library-lovers-oodi-helsinki

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. 

The Pillowman

After the older stories by the Grimm Brothers, A Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Lottery in high school--finding the newly written “The Pillowman” was like a breath of fresh air. Another story that twisted your world upside down and had an element of supernatural while also being so accurate about the aspects and attitudes of human nature, just made me feel so at peace. 

The Pillowman is fascinating to me as overall it’s a short story, quick read but has so much depth. There is very little filler, you find out what you need and that’s that. Also, there is great complexity and skill to someone who can make you sympathize with someone who should be seen as evil--whether or not they truly are evil or that sympathy is warranted

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.

For nearly a decade, Diana Ramirez hadn’t been able to take a book home from the San Diego Public Library. Her borrowing privileges were suspended, she was told, because of a mere $10 in late fees, an amount that had grown to $30 over the years.

Ramirez, who is now 23 and stays in Tijuana with her mother, attends an alternative education program in San Diego that helps students earn high school diplomas. To her, the debt she owed to the library system was an onerous sum. Even worse, it removed a critical resource from her life.

“I felt disappointed in myself because I wasn’t able to check out books,” Ramirez said. “I wasn’t able to use the computers for doing my homework or filling out job applications. I didn’t own a computer, so the library was my only option to access a computer.”

In April, Ramirez finally caught a break. The San Diego Public Library wiped out all outstanding late fines for patrons, a move that followed the library system’s decision to end its overdue fines. Ramirez was among the more than 130,000 beneficiaries of the policy shift, cardholders whose library accounts were newly cleared of debt.

The changes were enacted after a city study revealed that nearly half of the library’s patrons whose accounts were blocked as a result of late fees lived in two of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. “I never realized it impacted them to that extent,” said Misty Jones, the city’s library director.

For decades, libraries have relied on fines to discourage patrons from returning books late. But a growing number of some of the country’s biggest public library systems are ditching overdue fees after finding that the penalties drive away the people who stand to benefit the most from free library resources.

From San Diego to Chicago to Boston, public libraries that have analyzed the effects of late fees on their cardholders have found that they disproportionately deter low-income residents and children.

‘We Wanted Our Patrons Back’ — Public Libraries Scrap Late Fines To Alleviate Inequity

Illustration: Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR