Bibliotheque

Darryl Philbin

Darryl’s Best Moment: Season Four, Episode Four: Money

When Kelly tells him “you’re going to have to make a choice. It’s either your daughter or me”

And without looking back at her, taking a moment, or even consider anything, just says “my daughter”.

Darryl’s Worst Moment: Season Nine, Episode Twenty-Two: A.A.R.M.

When he sneaks out of Dunder Mifflin, and doesn’t say goodbye to anyone.

Darryl’s Best line: Season Seven, Episode Thirteen: Ultimatum

“I’m telling you, don’t do it. I got nothing against strip clubs; but I do have something against them at noon, on a Monday. The day shift, at a strip club? You can’t unsee that”.

Darry’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Eight, Episode Three: Lotto

When he decided “My future isn’t going to be determined by seven little white lotto balls, it’s gonna be determined by two big black balls”.

St. Catherine’s Monastery

While not always the most exciting, important or useful; there is something to be said about being “first”. Believed to have been opened around 560 CE, St. Catherine’s Monastery in South Sinai, Egypt is believed to be the oldest, continually operated library in the world. 

There is also an older, and probably still not the oldest or first, the Al-Qarawiyyin opened first in approximately 860 CE has had to be closed and access restricted due to structural damage.But it is still beautiful, as is St. Catherine’s, and rich of history to share just by walking around

(1) https://matadornetwork.com/trips/15-super-unique-libraries-around-the-world-pics/

(2) 

(3) https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-oldest-library-al-qarawiyyin/index.html

Films that I shouldn’t be so bitter about

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Finding Nemo was so long ago that I can’t remember why I was so against it for so long. I’m not anti-children’s movies as anyone who knows me can confirm, but I was very much against Finding Nemo, I just didn’t understand the hype. I hold off on seeing for at least two years and either finally saw it when I was sick one day or when a friend forced it on me. And oh my did I LOVE IT!! One of my friends who pushed it on me probably highly regretted doing so as then I became slightly obsessed with it, it’s hysterical. I could say that part of why I love this film is all the little lessons peppered throughout with Marlin and Nemo (parents—chill), the sharks in rehab (you can always change, friendship), Marlin and Dory (don’t judge someone too quickly) and even just Dory herself (don’t limit yourself and always look on the bright side). These add to what makes the movie enjoyable, but the movie is just funny. My favorite scene that I will laugh-cry just in the beginning of trying to tell it to someone is when they follow the mask down into the darker level of the sea and Dory thinks Marlin is her conscious because she’s (1) forgotten he exists and (2) can’t see him. Whoops.

Life of Pi, I really-really only have myself to blame. Partially due to not learning my lesson from Finding Nemo, even though it wasn’t the same situation. The story of Life of Pi didn’t really capture me in general, about how a boy maybe a tiger and how they survive a shipwreck, even thou it usually would be at the top of my list. Maybe it’s because the ‘twist’ at the end is what they didn’t want to talk about in advertisement and focused on the visual effects which I agree with the acclaim and enjoyed, isn’t usually enough to get me to watch a film. I still enjoy the story and will definitely watch it again (except for the murderous island part, while enjoyable is something to learn about in the daytime), I watched the film immediately after hearing the ending from a friend, where we are left to wonder if the Tiger, Richard Parker, was real or just Pi just trying to survive. Of course, my knowing it’s coming it lost all of why I wanted to watch it, but it was still great and thought-provoking. Just wish I got to experience it for myself, not thru someone else

 PS—And Finding Dory, ugh, beautiful

Dreamed, Desired, Determined

Tripzilla, a Southeast Asia Travel-Media company, created a list of the 10 libraries you must visit around the world. (https://www.tripzilla.com/10-bucket-list-libraries-you-must-visit-once-in-your-lifetime/27470)

Stadtbibliothek in Stuttgart, Germany

With a bit of an Escher vibe, I love it, though I highly doubt it looks this way all the time. Everyone in Germany can’t be this neat.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City, Mexico

This one looks a little scary, both what I would imagine being stuck at a microscopic size in a large industrial machine but also in the engine room of the Titanic but I can see through walls. Looks nice, but I think I’d spend most of time fearing a book or something else was going to fall and kill me

Liyuan Library in Beijing, China

Well that was dumb, I didn’t even think about going to a library when I traveled and my guess is that for the most part I won’t be going back. I love the homey and natural feel of this mountain-nestled library.  It definitely looks like a place where you feel welcome to sit and read all day with some tea.

Benediktinerstift Admont in Admont Abbey, Austria

This one, for me, is just one to look around in. Along with the distraction of the ceilings and insane molding, I’d be too afraid to drop something and make a mess (after my Belle swing on a ladder and sing about books moment of course)

New York Public Library in New York, U.S.A

Ehh. I’ve been here but while it’s beautiful and I guess famous it’s also incredibly strict, convoluted to get through and the true library portion of it is a small floor in the basement

Musashino Art University Library in Tokyo, Japan

So, maybe it’s because it’s the Art University library and maybe this is for better planning but all I can think is, WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SPOTS WITHOUT BOOKS! Nope, not a fan.

Librije Zutphen in Gelderland, Netherlands

Okay, this is more for the historic obviously than for the actual bibliophile or community. But at the same time, maybe not the worst idea given the books, movies and other items that somehow never make it back

Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch in Taipei, Taiwan

Surrounded by just a bit of nature and peace, this library is a true haven for the local community who want to get an escape from the chaos of city and modern life. Not only made entirely of wood and glass, it is also a certified  green building with plenty of space and freedom to restore yourself

Villanueva Public Library in Casanare, Columbia and Min Buri Old Market Library in Bangkok, Thailand

These libraries are what it’s all about. Both intricate and developed by the community, for the community the Villanueva was designed and built my students and organizations in the community with locally-sourced materials and is meeting place for many of the community’s social events and activities.

The Min Buri Old Market Library was a small (3 by 9 meters) unoccupied space that residents spruced up into a library with local books, a small reading and garden space in the back and workstations “upstairs”.  

A Circle of Chaos

So, who puts in the effort to try and ban or challenge a book? I would think, and could agree to a certain extent, that parents are those who attempted to restrict their children’s access to books (thou I don’t know why they just don’t do it as parents instead of loophole out of their authority and try to use someone else’s) at their child’s school depending on their age (where some of their authority has temporarily been given over to the teacher or administration). However, while parents make up the second largest percent of challenges against books (32%) only 37% of all challenges occur at schools or school libraries with the majority happening at public libraries (59%) by other local library users (33%).

Books are also not the only things get challenged and for some, removal of the book includes vandalism, theft and destruction (burning books). In 2018 62% of all challenges or censorship actions in libraries were against books, but 15% of challenges were against meetings, 10% were against databases, films and games and 6% were about artwork. This scope of the challenges is the reason for the focus of censorship during banned books week as these challenges extend past the idea usually presented that books are banned because the material is “too mature” for the age group it was recommended too but has to do more with the prejudice behind those promoting the bans and can create an horrific self-fulfilling prophecy as those who were limited in the experiences and connections to these book will remain close-minded and become the passionate censorship leaders of our future.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/statistics

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.  

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Cure of the Black Pearl

It’s a little ridiculous, and it’s been a while so I can’t say for sure, but the original Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is one of my favourite movie stories of a romantic relationship because the relationship between Will and Elizabeth that is, actually tolerable.

While much of this might be due Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth that curses, is dominant, assertive in the film and in her own life, their relationship seemed like a better understanding than is what usually portrayed in stories (fiction and non-fiction). Friends, with a real partnership who happen to be romantically involved where neither acts better than the other and both feel the other is better than them. 

*Shout out also to Knocked-Up and This is 40 stars, Pete and Debbie

Scooby-Doo where are you, and where did you come from?

Scooby Doo’s all-white cast would in no way be considered diverse in today’s demographics; however, 50 years ago and today it is important to note the diversity and confidence each character had. Shaggy and Daphne may have been considered less intelligent than the others, but they were not “stupid” or held the group back. Fred and Daphne were always a bit more superficial, pushed into romance and look-conscience but they were never shallow or consistently self-absorbed. Velma was within some episodes self-conscious about her looks compared to Daphne, but it never became a battle between them and Velma didn’t lose confidence in using her brain or intelligence and showed how being intelligent can be a superpower. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, and the rest of the gang promoted healthy male and female friendships where even those who are different can get along.

There will never be a show so random to enter into my life, all because I was bored and could channel surf. Thank you to one of the original “squad goals” and all those meddling kids

Time isn’t real.

A Ravenclaw who is somewhere between Christmas and New Years and keeps forgetting what day it is (via ravenclawravings)

I still read

but I definitely read for different reasons now as there is less companionship that I need to fill in books or stories from far away

Relatable