Displaced, Deserted...Degraded?

Oscar Martinez

Oscar’s Best Moment: Season Four, Episode Thirteen: Job Fair

When after Michael says that he wouldn’t say it to her face but he thinks Pam is a wonderful person who is a gifted artist; Oscar responds “Why--why wouldn’t you say that to her face?”

Oscar’s Worst Moment: Season Nine, Episode 11: Suit Warehouse

When he just ‘assumes’ Meredith would mispronounce espresso

“Actually, it’s pronounced Espresso. Wait. That’s what you said. I apologize. I just assumed you would mispronounce it. So..”

Oscar’s Second-Best Line: Season Nine, Episode One: New Guys

After Angela tells him if “if you pray enough, you can change yourself into a cat person”

And he responds “those guys always turn back, Angela”

Oscar’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Three, Episode Thirteen: The Return

“Part of me wants the people in this office to have learned their lesson and just shut the hell up, and part of me thinks ‘You know what? Keep talking. I’d really love a home theatre’”

Relatable

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.

World Refugee Day, من از زندگی تو سپاسگزارم ( I thank you for my life--google) 

صلح (Peace)

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. 

Hermione Granger

Hermione Jean Granger. Holy Crap, what can’t I say. You were EVERYTHING to me. Brilliantly confident, fierce, strong, brave. You were the first. Before Tris, Katniss, you were the diverse, WHOLE package. True and Strong. 

First, you were the best friend anyone could ask for. Almost every year Harry and Ron fought with you, exiled you, one thing or another, real or BS. But it didn’t matter, you PERSISTED, stayed strong, stayed with them. You saved there asses more times than JK Rowling could ever count. You are the golden standard of friendship and bravery. Seriously, I think he knew this as get got older, but YOU were Harry Potter’s best friend. Yes, Ron was there as someone who would go out with him, go on adventures with him, but you always knew what was going on his head and how to get to him, what he needed; again, you are the standard of true friendship we should all aspire to.  

Second, you are inspiring and compassionate and open-minded. Emma Watson has your influence to be grateful for in becoming who she is. Not only were you compassionate about House Elves but you didn’t care what anyone thought. You proudly and loudly kept fighting for their equality, fought when even your friends kept attacking you, and when you found out Dumbledore had house elves at Hogwarts you lost some respect for him, even thou he was doing the best he could with them. 

Third, you were just you. Luna was also unique and fascinated by the world around her, but you were also someone separate. You loved books, loved learning, always were intrigued and believed there was more out there than you previously thought (GIRL TOOK MUGGLE STUDIES--to be fair I probably would too). You re-awakened the part of me that loves the world around me, that’s curious and un-apologetically so. 

We could all go on forever, but these were the main things. You taught us how to be true friends, true to ourselves, and kind to all. While the Harry Potter Series has been a key component in the millennial outcry against hate and separatism, you were the reason we actively, loudly and strongly spit it in the face. Thank you so much Hermione Jean Granger, we did not deserve you, but we hope we are doing you proud. 

Wackadoo to you

So, I have some truly odd quirks. When having difficulty with fractions I could quickly practice my whenever I’d see a digital block with the time and break it down to the smallest fraction (ex. 12:15 because four-fifths) I’d practice my piano songs while sitting at my desk in school to the point where I couldn’t take real notes, and to this day I have issues with inanimate objects not having feelings as food does turn bad has been found to respond to music and toys have faces!

Some movies petrify us for life, but some just confuse or differ our thinking. Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Mary Poppins were early childhood films that I think of as somewhat wackadoo films that were colorful, fun, exciting and maybe lead to some quirky thoughts or habits. Maybe not as funky but later movies such as The Indian Cupboard and the Toy Story franchise should rank high as to reasons why children may have extended imaginations, especially considering imaginary friends or spiritual value given to inanimate objects.

While some of my quirks come from me, and some were extended by stories or films, I love these films just the same. While the magical series almost always involve “muggles” or non-magic folk who have no idea that magic exists, that provide another question I can never scientifically or purely decide on, these are the stories that show either everyone is unaware of and occur if you just pay close enough attention or just luck out in finding the right key--

giving a bit of wonder or magic into your life even as you are old and one of the best part of films.

Lucius and Narcissa

While I cannot say I like these two, I don’t mind them as much as one would think. Partially, because both really have no substance to dislike; yes, they are cruel, greedy, elitist, and quite a few horrible other things but really all they are, is the greatest example of snowflakes in the wizarding world

“wah.....some person with no history of magic is more skilled than me”

“wah....those with power are trying to help those without”

“wah....people don’t think my son is as great as I think”

on and on and on 

Regardless of their complete lack of character and spine, there were a few things I enjoyed. For starters, they really were perfect for each other. True, they needed to be assisted in every aspect of their lives, but they both fawned of their son in separate ways, both held strong beliefs with no interest in taking any related action (my belief about Lucius joining the Death Eaters was because it was the cool thing to do at the time), and both were just blinded by ego and wealth. They are just a morally gross version of Arthur and Molly, they support each other completely in being boringly horrible. 

Related to their lack of character, I do enjoy snowflake Lucius as he loses his place in the world and the realistic outcomes he and Peter Pettigrew experience by just being followers, but there are different levels with Narcissa. In a small level, it is funny to see how similar she is to everyone else as, as a side character, we see typical family relationships as she has with her sister, husband and son. And it’s just nice to get that background and reminder. 

More telling, unlike Lucius who I think was not only too stupid to see why Voldermort brought Draco into the Death Eaters but also would gladly use Draco just to gain status, I have no doubt that Narcissa would sacrifice herself for her son just as Lily had. And I know I’m right because she already did. Similar to Draco’s questions of morality and evil, while she may have had more alignment with the beliefs of the Death Eaters she had more strength than Draco in knowing and fighting for what truly was most important to her. Considering both put each other over the stupidity of murdering muggles and Death Eaters it’s upsetting, annoying and that dumb-poetic of just TALK to each other and they really could have avoided all this mess. Leave Lucius behind, he’s the weakest link and really it didn’t seem that either would be too heartbroken over it. I mean you guys are already weak, why not just be weak for the good guys. But whatever. 

I do enjoy these two, mostly just for a laugh, but also for the reminder that there is no black and white, and that we all need to remember to look past the surface

Fred and George

Fred and George are the final of this short thread of sad characters and unfortunately, it’s all because of their ending. We all lose people, but to lose someone your age adds an effect to your life afterwards because it’s a shock and reminder that you to can die, at any moment. For that death to be someone who you not only looked liked and was your sibling when you were so young, they weren’t referred to Fred and George because they’re twins, but because they were twins who spent all of their time together, and just understood each other so well. 

Fred and George were born on April 1st, seriously JK, perfect! Regardless of their pranks and humor, everyone loved them because they were great guys to have around. They were smart, brave, funny, nice, friendly, athletic; they had everything going for them, including each other and themselves. While thinking back on them makes me sad because Fred died and George nor anyone else thought one would be without the other, when I reread the books or see the movies I am able to go back into that world and enjoy them. Enjoy them both. While they looked alike and acted alike, they were different. Both kind, George was more compassionate and worked slow and Fred jumped the gun a bit more, taking risks. But they helped balance each other and showed how working with others helps bring you forward. 

What I also loved is that they always did the right thing with their humor. They didn’t cross over the line too much and they knew when things were serious and when they had to focus. They were open with forgiveness, confident in their skills and what they could do with those skills and didn’t put anyone down. They were examples of good friendship, and just did everything right; knowing when to stop ‘having their fun’ and showing up for what was needed in the final battle. 

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Sadako and the Thousand paper cranes was the true story of Sadako Sasaki, who was a child when the atom bombs were dropped in Japan during World War II. She was only 12 years old when she died from Leukemia developed from the bombs—a fate similar to many children who were young when the bombs were dropped, linked to the effects of radiation. In the novel she tries to make 1,000 origami paper cranes that when completed will allow her to wish to heal, in real life she is able to make over 1,000 cranes but still dies, her wish not coming true.

The story of Sadako is known worldwide and impacts many as it is the story of a young child’s want to live and persistence. The story of Sadako also reminds all about how war is not a small or controllable action: there are many, many unforeseen consequences—and many that are foreseeable are ignored. Whether she folds the 1,000 paper cranes or not, the aspect of the story that hits me the most is how much she wanted to live, how much she did and didn’t understand (a lot of which was no understandable) and the love that surrounded her and surrounds other communities during a tragedy. A symbol of peace and innocence, this is a story that should always be shared, even when the days of war have ended.