To All The Movies I've Lost

Lovely, lively then lament

It’s National Book Month, but while I have been given and introduced to books through school, from friends and family, following reviews online, many of the books I have been able to read because of my local library.

More than ‘just’ books many local libraries also have classes, are a meeting space, have activities for children or other community specific events with some being hosts of local political events or debates. In addition, local public libraries have become a symbol of the shared public space that is not only central to the community but a place you can go that is FREE (separate from taxes of course). Even as the world turns more digital there are certain databases, and historical texts that aren’t being added online or would be difficult to absorb separate from the understanding that staring at a screen 24/7 is bad for you.

Libraries are glorious and should be as much of a necessity as a post office or grocery store for a community but they’re not always appreciated and people commonly undervalue the benefits a good library can bring allowing them to slowly disappear for things that will make a bigger profit.

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

Meredith Palmer

Meredith’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Four: Dwight K. Shrute, (Acting) Manager

After Dwight’s gun goes off she tells everyone to make a list of what’s lost for the insurance adding to her list of “a necklace, a ring, a painting—"

Meredith’s Worst Moment: Season Four, Episode Three: Launch Party)—

When she had Jim sign her Pelvic Cast and whispers to him “I’ll read this when I get home” clearly making him even more uncomfortable

Meredith’s Best Line: Season Six, Episode Twenty-Five: The Chump

“Hey, I have never cheated on, been cheated on, or been used to cheat with. “I ask…everyone in the room, ‘Are you in a relationship?’”

Meredith’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Three, Episode Seven: Branch Closing

After hearing the branch isn’t closing and therefore her pact to ‘hook up’ with someone if it does is no longer relevant, she pretends it’s still relevant when the other member of the pact Eric, a former warehouse worker, reaches out to her about it.

Grown Up Girls

In the past few years, Disney has started to rise up as an avenue for equal representation for the gay community, diversity and female empowerment. While behind the times, being the powerhouse that it is, these changes are important to note as Disney is not only a powerhouse in it’s own right, but also an international platform that hits kids at a young age. 

Teen Beach Movie (2013) came out first, and in a lot of ways was a remake of Grease with the addition and explanation of feminism at different levels and circumstances. During the story, Mack (McKenzie) tries to make the point that other girls shouldn’t change for the boys in their world. Similarly, in her real world, she’s trying to figure out how to do what she wants to do when it goes against what another woman wants her to do, even if part of it is because of a boy. 

The smaller but still impactful part of the movie is her boyfriend who likes her as a person and gives a small push of how boys can be feminists. 

Invisible Sister (2015) stars Rowan Blanchard, a young warrior in the feminism and equality world. Along with her character in Girl Meets World, Cleo shows the longterm effects of -- but this story takes it a step further. While both sisters fight for visibility, this film digs deeper with getting to woman standing with each other and how different people can have similar struggles while similar people can have different struggles. Similar to Brady in Teen Beach Movie, in Invisible Sister Cleo learns not to judge a book by it’s cover and to dig a little deeper with her sister’s boyfriend who while not the brightest, is someone who is worthy of any warrior as he would love and marry her sister even if he could never see her again. 

So while you’re late, thank you for joining the table Disney--even thou you’re currently only at the beginners level. 

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.

Best Pranks

1. Season Six, Episode Twenty-Four: The Cover-Up

When Pam and Jim learn Morse Code to not only speak about Dwight infront of him, but with the stapler and pens also can make up crazy stories and conspiracies that Dwight’s brain is “forced” to listen to.

2. Season Three, Episode Seventeen: Cocktails

When Karen spends the evening at the Corporate party apologizing to Jim for ALL the coworkers she dated before him

3. Season Six, Episode Twenty-Four: The Cover-Up

When Darryl pranks himself trying to get Andy back for blaming the warehouse for a late shipment he forgot to process, he ends up getting involved in the fire-printer expose with Andy.

4. Season Three, Episode Seven: Branch Closing

When Jim uses set of Dwight’s stationery that he uses

“From time to time, I send Dwight Faxes. From himself. From the future

PS—Also mentioned in Season Nine, Episode Twenty-Two: AARM when he references that as part of their no nonsense streak that if anyone is expecting a fax they shouldn’t yell out “Michael J Fax, from Fax to the Future!”

5. Season Nine, Episode Three: Andy’s Ancestry

Asian Jim

6. Season Seven, Episode Twelve: Classy Christmas Part 2

Jim coming out into the parking lot with Pam after the ‘Classy Christmas Party’ with Pam and it’s covered in snowmen and he doesn’t know which one has Dwight or anyone else to attack him with snowballs. It’s awful, but it’s brilliant

7. Season Six, Episode Seven: The Lover

The Mallard

How Jim discovers the Mallard (possibly purposefully by Dwight)

How Jim blasts Opera and talks with Andy to mess with Dwight

How Jim gives the Mallard to Kelly

How Jim talks to Dwight directly through the Mallard to ‘catch’ Dwight (also probably purposefully done by Dwight)

But in the end, the Mallard was a decoy

8. Season Three, Episode One: Gay Witch Hunt

When Jim sends Dwight “Gaydar” machine (metal detector) and it lights up when Dwight scans Oscar because of his belt. But Dwight is also wearing a belt so “Gaydar” tells him he’s gay too.

9. Season Seven, Episode Eight: Viewing Party

When Michael runs around the office pretending to be too busy to even speak to Erin, let alone attend her party.

10. Season Seven, Episode Eighteen: Todd Packer

After Dwight blows off Jim’s idea of cramming Todd Packer’s desk so he can only open it two inches and Dwight makes fun of it, Dwight gets very frustrated when Jim, unknowingly at the time, does it to him.

Bonus: The Best Prank we didn’t see:

Dwight knocking himself in the head with his phone, after Jim slowly fills his headset with more and more nickels. 

Parts Unknown

Libraries are not just about books and education; sometimes a connection doesn’t come from a written word or common experience but the opening up of one’s experiences and becoming vulnerable. Libraries have all different mediums for these connections and sometimes the break in the sentence, flutter in the eye you experience directly adds to the depth of the spoken word that cannot be expressed by their writing. Diversity in writing, community and stories includes diversity of media.

Ugh; Anthony Bourdain’s Buenos Aires episode. I hope you can hear us all now, you did so much more than just shove food in your mouth. 

Highlighting the significance of how the food is prepared to the culture and history and individual--it’s why the show wasn’t called something generically--food “Unknown”, but parts unknown. 

Parts of diets we don’t know of, parts of the world we don’t know of, parts of ourselves we don’t know of. 

Thank you, I miss you--> I’ve been missing you

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. 

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.