National Foster Care Month

I have nothing more to add about the context of this film as this post accurately connected all the beautifully complexities of this film and what creates a new version of PTSD ( Complex PTSD) what I will add, is how I hate that I’ve been unable to secure this film and rewatch it

Bang Bang You’re Dead

I loved this film! It was very different to the other films, especially the ending which I thought was very satisfying. A very troubled and outcast teenager struggling to cope with high school after he is suspended for planting a fake bomb in the school. The best part of this film, by far, was an uncomfortable scene in which teachers, the principle and the teen’s parents were forced to watch a home video of all the bullying that goes on in the school. If I was at that school, I probably would have wanted to shoot them all too.

The film is based on the play of the same name , which I assume is just as good.

Questions Left Unanswered

1. Season Five, Episode Eight: Business Trip

Where does Darryl go after Kelly breaks up with him via text. There is a lot of support for the idea that he is walking away happy and is thrilled that he didn’t have to break up with Kelly (further evidenced by how he has Val break up with him), but WHERE DOES HE GO!! This is the middle of the work day, why was this part and only this part included. Did I miss something, I continue to remain so confused.

2. Season Nine, Episode Twenty: Paper Airplane

They never gave an explanation for how Angela got so poor overnight. Yes, she was separated from the Senator, but she wasn’t poor before and she continued to work while married to the. So even if he really was that big of an asshole it doesn’t explain how or why she ended up so poor.

3. Season Five, Episode Seven: Customer Survey

What is the evidence that Dunder Mifflin is a front for the Mob

4. Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Two: Goodbye Michael

Okay Phyllis, to clean the mittens you told us 1) we can’t get them wet, 2) they can’t be dry cleaned but they have to be “hand washed without water” à how am I supposed to do that!?!?

And is it the same for your oven mitt

5. Season Six, Episode Twenty: New Leads

How did the rest of the staff (Meredith, Angela, Kevin, Oscar, Creed) react when they realized the Sales staff was going to offer them 2% of their quarter sales and not just an apology

6. Multiple Episodes: How many Chad Flenderson novels did Toby write?

7.  Season Five, Episode Five: Crime Aid

Who got David Wallace’s timeshare during the fundraiser?

8. Season Nine, Episode Twenty-Two: A.A.R.M.

What are the time limits on the other summoning bags?

9: Season Five, Episode Twelve: The Duel

We only know about Rule 17 (Don’t turn your back on bears, men you have wronged, or the dominant turkey during mating season) but what about the other Shrute Rules. There are 39 more and while also being interesting, I also do not wish to be eaten in my sleep. Though my guess that only matters if I am a Shrute.

10. Season Two, Episode Seventeen: Dwight’s Speech

What does Creed say in Chinese? There is some speculation that it translates simply to " My China friends hello” but, I don’t know. It’s Creed, and the finger pointing at the camera at the end makes me question if there is more.

图书馆

China is an extremely complex country, while many question why Chinese are okay with censorship and high government regulation, others understand that there are positive and negatives of why they operate and how. I do not extend this to the current situation in Hong Kong, where the people re adamant about wanting to remain separate from China as promised but with the pros and cons of any decision and particularly the decisions and lifestyle in the mainland.

While in some ways more advanced, early last year China’s public libraries were ordered to have a major overall with a standardization of access to all. This included set open hours of operation even during holidays and on weekends, open public spaces, service programs and easy access to information. (1) Additional focus was put on protecting individual’s research and information protected from hackers, special services and safety access for the elderly and disabled and educational activities focused on children. These activities are also multicultural, physical and conversational with centers including family reading campaigns, foreign language training, art and culture exhibitions including books and other community activities available in various foreign languages. (2)

Multi-layered, China has successfully educated and increased their residents access to certain aspects of information and has promoted the access and diversity of information that does not hold the mirror close

 (1)    https://news.cgtn.com/news/7859544d35637a6333566d54/share_p.html

(2)    https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/librarians/management/viewpoints/china.htm?part=5

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

The Magician’s Nephew

Not a fan of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobe. It was ok, nothing as great as the first thou. Harry Potter is the book that I call home, but the first book that I became obsessed with, that I feel completely in love with, where the pages became warm, was the Magicians Nephew--and the beauty, intricacy and originality I felt for lost.

The Magician's Nephew was first great because it was real, it wasn't a story where they went on a grand adventure. These were two regular kids with regular lives that had death, greed and were just doing normal fun activities and were then forced on a "grand adventure".

This also was my first adult book, while wrote for children the adults and characters who were the antagonists weren't just evil or villainous, they were just normal. Filled with selfishness and greed, they weren't one dimensional, they showed the real consequences of human actions and loss of moral. This was a great novel, a great children's novel and a great story about humans, kids and human nature

Time isn’t real.

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

Dementors

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them....get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you...you'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.’

It is with our introduction to Dementors that we really feel inside JK Rowling, even for those who dealt with depression, the aspect of it being temporary and out of ones control made the connection difficult--but is becoming more accepted overtime. While some stories show us new worlds, and other stories draw connections from different worlds to our own, others open our eyes to living a better life and all the different ways stories and books and conversations, sometimes we read to find ourselves as we look for ourselves in others. This is one of the best examples, of how JK connected us and brought us forward within ourselves as those right next to us. Her ability to openly and honestly portray pain, loneliness and loss are some of the most crucial elements that people needed to feel connected with in order to survive.

"You do care" said Dumbledore "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it"--and we did, we have survived

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

Best Couple Moments

1.      Season Five, Episode Two: Weightloss

When Jim proposes to Pam, it’s a lot of peoples favorites but what is truly perfect about it is how he acknowledges to Pam that they planned on waiting on getting engaged, but “I just—I couldn’t wait”

2.      Season Nine, Episode Twenty: Paper Airplane

First, Angela after hearing from Ester how they pity her tells Dwight “don’t you dare tank this”; and then he doesn’t after seeing how she is looking at him. It shows the respect they have for each other.

3.      Season Seven, Episode Four: Sex Ed

When Michael calls Holly to tell her about his possible herpes diagnosis, they’re able to joke with each other so easily, are so comfortable with each other, understand each other; Dwight loves Michael but does not understand what is going on with them

4.      Season Eight, Episode Sixteen: After Hours

After Val apologizes about how her boyfriend acted and brought up Val and Darryl seeing each other, Darryl lets Val know that he’s interested in her by saying so, but also as Kelly implied “ dot-dot-dot, dot-dot”

5.      Season Four, Episode Four: Money

After hearing how much debt Michael is in and how he runs away from the office Jan catches up to him and tells him she’ll stand by him

“What I want to say is, You Were There for me. By my side, without even a thought. That’s just who you are. I mean, no matter how badly I treat you, or what I’m going through. You just, you are there for me, and that’s a guy worth staying beside. So where’s this train taking us?”

6.      Season Nine, Episode Fifteen: Couple’s Contest

Erin comes out to tell Pete that she just couldn’t break up with Andy but he lets her off the hook “You don’t have to apologize, I just, I just want you to be happy, ok”

7.      Season Two, Episode Eleven: The Injury

When Dwight has his concussion, he’s friendlier with Pam but is more outgoing with Angela by flirting with her and complimenting her. First telling her she’s “sweeter than Candy” and then smacking her butt in full view of the documentary crew

8.      Season Nine, Episode Fifteen: Couple’s Discount

When after hearing about Brian and Alyssa breaking up, and how they are walking on egg shells with each other, Pam tells Jim she doesn’t want to just ignore their problems and she wants to fight.

 “Do you really want to fight on Valentine’s Day?”

“Yeah I do”

9.      Season Three, Episode Ten: A Benihana Christmas

Jim and Karen both getting each other Bridget Jones Diary for Christmas, because it was a terrible movie that they saw on one of their dates.  

10.  Season Five, Episode Six: Employee Transfer and  Season Nine, Episode Five: Here Comes Treble

The fact that Andy dresses up as a kitten (not a cat) and Erin dresses up as a puppy (not a dog)

Best Jim and Dwight Moments

1. Season Five, Episode Sixteen: Lecture Circuit part 1

When Jim and Dwight explain to the camera crew (and us) what happened with the Party Planning Committee and Kelly's missed Birthday Celebration.

2. Season Eight, Episode Sixteen: After Hours After Dwight first works to seduce Nellie and then changes his mind, partially prompted by Jim, and Jim spends all night trying to get rid of Crazy Cathy, they end up eating dessert together and watching TV.

3. Season Four, Episode Four: Money First, Jim empathizes with Dwight about Angela by explaining that he really left Scranton because of Pam. How he couldn't eat, food didn't have taste and how he wouldn't wish that on anyone--including Dwight. Here, the heartbreaking and also crucial Jim/Dwight moment is that Dwight reached out to Jim after and was equally willing to be vulnerable. 

4. Multiple Episodes: whenever Jim realizes he knows more personal information about Dwight:

Dwight's Mother's name is Hedda (Season Eight, Episode Six: Doomsday)

Dwight's middle name is Kurt (Season Two, Episode Seven: The Injury)

Important comparison, Jim does not remember Andy's grandmother's name is Ruth,

5. Season Nine, Episode Thirteen: Junior Salesman Jim knew that Dwight designed a uniform for Dunder Mifflin

Bonus: It's four uniforms: Summer, Winter, Jungle and Formal

6. Season Three, Episode Twelve: Traveling Salesman After giving in his resignation to Dunder Mifflin for Angela, when he sees Jim outside in the parking lot, first they pause and then Dwight goes up and gives him and hug.

7. Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Four: Dwight K Shrute Acting Manager After Jim comments that it was the right call for Dwight to no longer be acting manager, but adds that while Dwight was Manager " In your one week, every single one of the orders went out on time, and I think that is shagadellic baby” which we know cheers Dwight up as he pauses and slightly nods.

8. Season Eight, Episode Eighteen: Last Day in Florida When Jim continues to physically block Dwight from going to the Board meeting about the Sabre retail stores so Dwight won't be fired. 

9. Season Five, Episode Seven: Customer Survey When Jim does make sure to emphasize with Dwight that he was "right" when it came to their customer service reviews, and that Dwight "Knew it the whole time, buddy"

10, Season Seven, Episode Eighteen: Todd Packer When Jim and Dwight team up to get rid of Packer.

PS--Yes, I see the majority of this list is Jim-action heavy. I wondered a bit about that and while Dwight didn't do much to 'mend' his relationship with Jim, he also didn't have to. While Jim mostly did things "in good fun" and continued to pull some pranks on Dwight, he was the one that had to do the more actionable changes for their relationship to thrive since he was the one who was childish in how he interacted with Dwight in the beginning.