Hope In All It’s Agony

Jo Bennet

Best Moment: Season Six, Episode Nineteen: St. Patrick’s Day

When she promotes Darryl; especially as she puts it as part of her townhall knowing that someone’s position at the office doesn’t represent their potential.

Worst Moment: Season Six, Episode Twenty-Six: Whistleblower

When he storms into the office about the printers and the whistleblower because they’ve now lost half their clients for “no damn good reason” and have them sign a form--probably binding--saying they didn’t.

This is wrong, first, because it wasn’t a ‘new issue’ and they hadn’t been upfront, and second, it does against all the morals and principle protecting whistleblowers who are already vulnerable as employees v employers.

Best Line: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Five: Search Party Part One

When Dwight tries to text her his resume since she won’t consider him for a manager position

“ These are costing me ten cents apiece, you jackass--I’m roaming!”

Most Memorable: Season Six, Episode Nineteen: St. Patrick’s Day

When she lets us know the best way to become the most powerful women in Tallahassee is by working hard....marrying rich....or both like she did.

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

Forgotten, Flexible and Free

There has been a pretty one-sided debate about libraries and overdue fines with a majority of speakers stating that they go against the purpose of libraries and aren’t productive in getting books returned, and pretty much no speakers on the other side of the debate. Over the past few years various communities across the US have worked or looked into removing the fines and research has shown that 1) the fines are more time and sometimes monetarily more costly to the library, 2) you end up lessening your patronage as community members don’t want to deal with the hassle or cannot afford the fines, 3) those who have racked up the fines are majorly those who need the library resources the most: children and those without disposable income.

Recent removable of library late fees or fines by the Chicago Public Library system and San Francisco Public Library system will increase access for low-income families and children, who in Chicago make up 20% of cardholders who have had access removed because of late books fees, and will bring the library back to its true calling: where book lovers and the local community can come together

(1)    https://princh.com/4-reasons-why-removing-fines-could-be-the-next-breakthrough-for-your-library/#.XZeSQkZKgdU

(2)    https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/10/public-library-late-fees-chicago-san-francisco-equity-access/599194/

1st book: HP

If I ever had to choose a favorite book, it would be Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Bought by my mother because of it’s rampant success in England, it was and still is a very important book for me. The series was the first new-generations understanding of youth activism, feminism, equality and kindness. But the first book was, for lack of a better word as this word doesn’t seem to do it justice, home. I, like all great books, was taken out of my world to another place where I found friends and a family, and security. It gave me confidence, hope and connection while pushing me and allowing me to feel safe, all at the same time.

But Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is not my favorite books because of the story, a particular character or author, time period or residual feeling of inspiration. While it is one that continues to connect to me, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is my favorite book just because it is my home, my base and my beginning of reading. While I read before Harry Potter and surely would’ve read without it, the first chapter can always make me smile and bring me back to really beginning to love reading and experiencing that other world and how much books can bring joy, compassion and comfort. This book, that will always be my favorite book, represents more than even the world of Harry Potter represents to me with the characters and connections; it does in fact just represents me and my child hood and my love of reading and excitement to learn. 

All of the Harry Potter books will always have a place with me, but Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first and the strongest and the one that can always bring me back to the places I love. Happy National Book Month

Best Parties

1.      Benihana Christmas: Season Three, Episode Ten

2.      Launch Party: Season Four, Episode Three

3.      Email Surveillance: Season Two, Episode Nine

4.      Kelly’s day-late birthday party: Lecture Circuit Part One

5.      Dwight Christmas: Season Nine, Episode Nine

6.      Christmas Party: Season Two, Episode Ten

7.      The Dundies: Season Two, Episode One

8.      Booze Cruise: Season Two, Episode Eleven:

9.      Cocktails: Season Three, Episode Seventeen

10.   Season Five, Episode Nine: Frame Toby (Whatever party got Michael to go back to the annex and see that Toby had returned )

March for your life

Yesterday I spoke with someone about making sure to take care of themselves, advice later that night I realized again I wasn't taking. It's hard, for us to not feel disappointed in ourselves when we don't meet our own unrealistic expectations and it's even more difficult for us to remember that it's okay to prioritize our own health and well-being

Last year, over 800 Marches for gun reform and gun violence were orchestrated by minors. It was not the beginning of activism for many of those minors, but it did bring them to the centerstage and give them a global community full of love and support. Today's anniversary speaks not only for the issues effecting the younger generation, their fight, their endurance or their intelligence, but also for their support of each other and a reminder for them to take care of themselves as they work to make the world a better place for everyone

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix we are propelled more into the depths and darkness the war will bring out that we see grow throughout the remainder of the series with Molly’s boggart turning into finding out any and all of them have been killed, the picture of the original Order of the Phoenix (most of whom have been killed) and even with the song sung by the Sorting Hat.

There is also an additional level of maturity brought to the story, because while our three are becoming more into their own, they are learning more about the complexities of life and good verse evil. Previously even those who were evil but were masquerading as good, we saw as still just evil when revealed (Pettigrew, Quirrell, Barty Crouch Jr.); but now we have Fudge, Percy, and Umbridge who are supposed to be the good guys but are doing more harm than one could imagine, forcing Harry and the others to not just fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, but also the Ministry acting out of fear and for power. Then, this complexity is heightened as we learn more about the relationship between James and Snape. In this context thou, the inclusion of Fred and George’s growing business and the boring task of OWLS, we are reminded that during our worst crisis’, funny or not, life goes on.

As Harry Potter progressed thru out the years, he went from fighting with his friends, fighting on his own, and in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, we see him progress to the next level; trying to navigate being a leader of more than just him, Hermione and Ron. Unfortunately this isn’t a lesson he masters by the end of this year or book and is given a painful lesson in the consequences of his actions and thinking things thru. But he does make some strides, in one of my favourite moments in the series of the films, is when Voldemort possesses Harry Potter and in return Harry chooses to think about choosing love over hate, choosing his friends, and decency and fights off Voldemort.

Jan Levinson (Gould)

Jan’s Best Moment: Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Boys and Girls

When Pam mentions the obstacles of not going for the Corporate Graphic Design Internship (her current job, cost, and time), she tells Pam “There are always a million reasons not to do something”.

Jan’s Worst Moment: Season Three, Episode Nine: The Convict

When she tells them it’s Martin who was the ‘reformed convict’. Maybe she had to, but honestly, she should have known how this would go.

Jan’s Best Line: Season Four, Episode Nine: Dinner Party

“This will be great to cook with—really”.

Jan’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Four, Episode Fourteen

When we find out she’s pregnant with *not Michael’s* baby.

Dorian

First, it’s amazing to me that I still don’t remember the TRUE title of this book. I always refer to it just as Dorian, then remember it’s Dorian Gray--completely forgetting it’s actually “The Picture of Dorian Gray”

I love this book so, so much. Forget the ridiculousness of homophobia in general and in the book, for Oscar Wilde to have written this book, have the visual degree he had, the understanding he had--it baffles and bothers me that people really considered anything else except for the pure genius that he was with this story and concerned themselves with other things. 

First, for the story, the use of the painting and Dorian as a split between him and his soul is amazing. While he begins his journey with a great lack of understanding, it brings about the idea that without consequences many will go astray--while also pointing out that those who choose to put their value in images or status instead of nature and character are going to be missing the truth about people--warned by Sybil, the painting and Bail’s disbelief of the rumours

Secondly, Dorian’s journey over the 18 years that were inspired by Basil’s painting and Lord Henry’s small chat, along with Dorian’s lack of follow thru to stay with Sybil both before and after her death--what concerns me with this is the reflection that that at that point his fate is sealed. While later true, Dorian and the other characters take the easy way out and similarly to my first point go towards the path of least resistance--in more ways than one, regardless of the logic or lack of behind it. 

Finally, and for me, the most awe-striking genius that I continue to be stunned by is the ending where Dorian meets his demise. While I know that our creativity comes from an inspiration within, the ending especially (along with the idea of the painting in general) was so ahead of its time. I am again in awe

National Foster Care Month

Today is the last day of Foster Care Awareness month. As with all of these awareness days or months, Foster Care Awareness month is more about setting aside a specific time for agencies to learn more and focus promotion on a particular hardship or disease as these are ongoing issues that relate to hundreds to millions of people in the world every day

The US Foster Care system is rarely discussed, even during foster care awareness month as many don’t really understand the depths of its existence and may only know of its possible existence by what is shown on television. Due to the media being the main provider of introduction and information about foster care and the foster care system, Maia Mitchell and Zuri Adele from the current Freeform series Good Trouble (spin-off of The Fosters) discuss the disservice many of these introductions due to children in Foster Care (sorry, Tumblr wouldn’t link to it)

https://www.facebook.com/GoodTrouble/videos/316204539278544/

But social media and television isn’t all bad, depending on whose using it and how connected they are with the true foster care system. Meghan Walbert is an author that shares her family’s journey as a foster family, bringing to light the confusing pain and brightest joys brought by her foster children to her, her husband and their biological son (http://www.phasethreeoflife.com/). Earlier this month, the Comedy Central Show Jim Jefferies brought attention to Kids in the Spotlight with Modern Family’s Ty Burrell and reminded viewers that what you see in the media isn’t always true and how helping children and young adults in the foster care system can create on of the largest impacts not only in their individuals lives by bringing showing them visibility and care, but that those who do not receive the resources they need to grow are more likely to become homeless, be inducted into gangs and have long-term health problems.

The NBC show This Is US along with The Freeform series The Fosters has brought attention to not only the foster care system and the children in the foster care system, but also the older children in foster care—some of whom may never get adopted and lose what little government support they have once they age out of foster care at age 21.

Unfortunately, actions taken this month are both highlighting and increasing the chances of children who will age out of foster care. Earlier this week, the state of Oklahoma in a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals reported that another outcome of the opioid epidemic was a dramatic increase in the need of their foster care system. Connecting to the research done by Freakonomics writers, not all children go into Foster Care but the new abortion restrictions will create some increase dependency on the foster care system, but increase crime rates as those who are not ready to have children or cannot provide the necessary resources will harm the individual, the family and the community for generations.

Back to Jim and Ty, research has shown that small actions such as Ty’s acting classes, donations, and most importantly visibility, respect and validation of existence can all create a positive impact and other ways to help children and parents in the foster care system