Jjayolsen - Untitled

Krijasto

It should not be any surprise that a majority of the Happiest report countries in the world, also have the highest reported intellect, education and success. One such country, Finland, is consistently praised for various reasons. It has great access to nature (including the Northern Lights) and a clean environment, there is a real sense of community as it is not uncommon for people who have lost their wallet to have it returned and high parental leave for all parents; and there is a great freedom to express oneself as seen with the creativity that has pushed design boundaries, created mobile games and metal music.

While not the only foundation of these achievements, another instrument of this success is the love Finland has for their books and public libraries. Noted as the country that takes out/borrows the most libraries in the world these libraries truly are epicenters of the community where new and established residents may learn, explore, think, question and grow

(1) https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2019/WHR19.pdf

(2) https://www.visitfinland.com/article/greatest-things-about-finland/

(3) https://www.buzzfeed.com/frankmartela/12-surprising-things-in-which-finland-is-the-best-fvkn

(4) https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/15/why-finlands-cities-are-havens-for-library-lovers-oodi-helsinki

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The first thing I remember about this book is that I was wondering what could happen next in Harry’s, Ron’s and Hermione’s lives this year, without Voldemort. The return of Voldemort in Year One and Two was a fluke, a coincidence, surely he wouldn’t be returning a third year, and for the most part, he didn’t. Voldemort’s lack of presence is also why this book is one of the most fun books in the series. While we’ve gotten a bit more used to magic, we get to see our trio start become teenagers (sigh, Hermione and Ron) and are generally having fun and goofing around as for the most part, there isn’t anything hanging over their heads—at least not at the level of their first two years at Hogwarts.

Similarly to a lack of Voldemort, I had in my head the possibility that Professor Lupin would stick it out more; he knew what he was talking about and the students adored him, so why not? Then!! Hagrid as a teacher, marvellous. While I don’t understand why we never got confirmation of Hagrid being able to use magic, him getting some of his life back and getting to teach at Hogwarts greatly improved his life and was well deserved, he would never have everything he deserved (lack of bigotry, a family of his own), but this was a great step, a comfort, and something that I know made him really, really happy.

On the other hand, this year wasn’t all sunshine, we started to see more darkness. Expanding from Hermione being called a Mudblood, Hagrid was insulted as a teacher, Buckbeak was sentenced to be executed, Dementors existed, and we learned more in-depth about the Azkaban prison that Hagrid was sent to the year prior (possibly also a reason why he was permitted to be a teacher, an apology from a world that had done him so much wrong). But while this year wasn’t great, it wasn’t not-great because of Harry and so there was a bit of a sigh of relief, until that awful night that really changed everything even more than we realized at the time.

There is both good and bad during Year Three, at all different levels; the best? Harry finds an elder he can really see and count as family, whose only allegiance is to him; the worst? Harry doesn’t get to have him, share him, use him. There is also a lot of growth for the trio as they learn more about their friendship with each other (Ron and Harry v. Hermione) and themselves (Ron and Harry v. Hermione, Hermione and the time-turner and Hermione and Buckbeak--> how did Trelawney miss that future!?) along with the reminders to us that, life simply is not just or fair, but that we should try to do what we can to make it so.

Dunder Mifflin is a part of..Say-ber (Sabre)

Hopped of the train in Scranton, PA

Another cloudy, grey afternoon

Home of the Railriders and Scranton Miners

Did you pack your snow shoes?

 Jumped in the cab

Here you are for the first time

Look to the right and you see the-electric-city-sign

This is gonna be a good day

For Dunder Mifflin and Sabre

The stock markets going crazy and you really don’t know us

Too much pressure and you’re nervous

That’s when the taxi man turned on the radio

And the music took over your brain

And you thought this might be insane

But you decided to try and stay

 So you put your hands up

You take a deep breathe

The butterflies will fly away

Your noddin’ your head like yeah

Straighten your tie like yeah

You got your hands up

You’ve done this before

We’re all gonna be o-kay

Yeah, yeah, ye-eh-yeah

Dunder Mifflin is a part of Sabre

 Get to the office in your taxi cab

Everybody’s looking at you now

Like “Whose in charge, whose calling the shots”

Is this gonna all work out?

So hard with the sun down by seven

Hope you don’t get seasonal depression

‘Cause it all gets cold and starts to snow

I guess you never got the memo

The stock markets going crazy and you really don’t know us

Too much pressure and you’re nervous

That’s when the Andy and Erin jumped center stage

So they could sing you a welcome song

So we could all sing you this song

And we hope you sing along

 So you put your hands up

You take a deep breathe

The butterflies fly away

Your noddin’ your head like yeah

We’re noddin’ our hears like yeah

You got your hands up

You’ve done this before

We’re all gonna be o-kay

Yeah, yeah, ye-eh-yeah

Dunder Mifflin is a part of Sabre

 Feel like skipping on that flight (on that flight)

Tallahassee’s just alright (alright)

Something her feels just right (just right)

It’s that welcome song that let’s you know you’re gonna Be! Al-right!

So you put your hands up -> Dunder Millfin is a part of Sabre (x2)

FINALLY!!!

AMC Picks Up BBC Drama ‘The War Of The Worlds’

AMC’s ad-free service AMC Premiere has acquired BBC One’s HG Wells adaptation The War Of The Worlds, toplined by Rafe Spall, Eleanor Tomlinson and Robert Carlyle.

Tonks!

Nymphadora Tonks (can definitely understand why we went with the later name). While Hermione and Luna are polar opposites each taught us how to accept ourselves for who we are, Tonks was just, different. Maybe it was because she was older and more established, maybe it was just because she was the epitome of cool, but she was always, from the moment we knew of her, knew she was cool and who she was. She didn’t care about her flaws because they were just part of who she was and she was awesome and continues to be the only person who wears their flaws with pride and confidence as how they are

While re-reading and knowing about her live and difficulties with Lupin, I get pissed of at him of course, but just want to tell her that I know she’s right and to just told on because it seemed for once she was afraid of not knowing, of not being that confident person and not because she might be wrong or lost or confused but because of living without love. And how horrible a life that would be

“Don’t pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love”

Oh, and what a true werewolf at HEART

Sybill Trelawney

Sybill

This picture describes you the best to me. This doe-eyed, whiny, annoying middle school child (probably another reason her and Lavender connected so well). As a Hermione-type to begin with (and only increasing as I age) it’s not surprising that I found Sybil and her class to be ridiculous, but there are two parts to that. First, not being religious or believing in how when I was born controls that much of my life, the class itself was a bit frou-frou and crap and would be no matter who was teaching it. Secondly, she is the queen of frou-frou. For the most part, she had no real talent or skills but pretended she was this great predictor of everything and just a fraud, and that’s what upset me the most. 

The universe is amazing, we can learn so much, but for her, it was all about her and the universe! (and how was she a Ravenclaw? More than Pettigrew I need a recount on that one) it was how she approached the material and how she saw herself that made her most distasteful because she wasn’t even a semi-good seer (that she knew of). She thought she was better than everyone else (much like Gilderoy--another Ravenclaw, definitely a pattern) for things that weren’t even her strengths, she was just of damn full of herself and annoying. But really, I don’t care. All of these things were annoying, she’s annoying but that’s it. She’s nothing more to me, so one lesson to glean, don’t be like her. But of course, the other lesson she also wouldn’t know about it as she didn’t know herself, expect the unexpected. 

In a way it’s sad, thou she didn’t need to know and didn’t need to be a Seer, she actually was one, in the most crucial of times. Damn Universe.  Somehow, through all that fluff and pompous, she made two predictions that greatly altered the world and never knew this. On one hand, you could say this means that you should believe in yourself, but I’m not saying that, what I am saying is that there are miracles, there is the universe and people can do unexpected and extraordinary things: even if they don’t know it. Crazy

Why We March

Today around the world we march again. We march for the women who give themselves, to allow us to come into the world. We walk for cisgender women, transwomen, black women, poor women, brilliant women, all women. 

We march because women who in 1920 were allowed to raise their voice and speak their mind in public to vote, but not at home. Until the 1990s, and even in many states today a women’s vocal pronouncement of “NO” when her husband wanted to have sex, was not an option. Even today, there are many states where it is only marital rape if there is proof of extreme threat of violence or violence. 

We march because women, who on average go for higher degrees and do better in the classroom, on average only make $0.79 for every dollar a man makes. An average, Black woman and Hispanic woman make less. 

We march because men have to do so little to be considered great leaders and parents, but one misstep and women are seen as being harmful and neglectful to their children. Those first nine months where women not only couldn’t eat, drink, smoke, exercise as well as were the incubators for their chidren, means nothing. Perfection is the bare minimum asked by society. 

We march because harassment, sexual violence and intimidation are not a rarity that women experience, but something that their whole lives are focused on, there is no day off. They know how many paces back the cute neighbor with the dog is, how long that car has been at the end of the block, where the bulbs are to replace the bulb in the entry way. Women know these things not because they’re mothers, or it’s part of their DNA, because they have to, TO SURVIVE. 

These are the shameful reasons why we march. We march because society has allowed these and other aspects of women lived to continue as second rate, as not good enough, when they are the ones dragging us ahead. This why we all march.

Personal Favorites

As The Office (US) on Netflix in the US returns to the UK and US’s NBC’s Peacock I would like to list my favorite episodes of each season. These are not all the most awkward, funniest, heart warming or memorable or even my favorites, but, for me they are the ones that I always go back to for a cozy, re-watch. 

Cheers to a better 2021 and that we all use 2020 as an eye-opening experience for a better tomorrow.

Season One: Hot Girl

Season Two: The Injury

Season Three: A Benihana Christmas

Season Four: Money

Season Five” Lecture Circuit (Parts One and Two)

Season Six: Murder

Season Seven: Dwight K. Shrute (Acting Manager)

Season Eight: The Incentive

Season Nine: A.A.R.M.

Ryan <3 Kelly

Ryan Howard

Ryan’s Best Moment: When he ‘empties’ out his desk during Cleaning Day but nothing is there (Season Two, Episode Eleven: The Secret)

“If I had to, I could clean out my desk in five seconds; and nobody would ever know I had ever been here. And I’d forget too.” *sighs*

                                                     +++

Ryan’s Worst Moment: He mentions to Kelly and Pam that he doesn’t ever see himself after getting married after Kelly notes she’d like to get married in June and asks Ryan when he’d like to get married. Pam asks that he be more sensitive to Kelly’s feelings for him. Pam mentions to Ryan that he should be nicer about what he says since Kelly clearly is interested in him. (Season Two, Episode Seventeen: Dwight’s Speech)

“I know what I said”

                                                    +++

Ryan’s Most Memorable Moment: When Ryan get’s delivered new business cards on the day they are told the branch is closing (Season Three, Episode Seven: Branch Closing)

“It makes perfect sense that it would happen today because I just received this in the mail—a thousand business cards with this address and phone number”

                                                   +++

Ryan’s Best Line: Ryan gives “a reason” but really every reason for why he cannot go out with Michael, Andy and others to lunch so Jim can’t provide another reason. (Season Three, Episode Ten: A Benihana Christmas)

“Oh man I can’t, I’m not feeling so well. I got a ton of work to do here, MSG allergy, peanut allergy, I just ate their last night” (Season Three, Episode Ten: A Benihana Christmas) when he first gives Michael excuses to why he can’t go to ‘Asian Hooters’ and then the rest to Jim

Kelly Kapoor

Kelly’s Best Moment: When getting the Women in the Workplace Training from Jan and they’re going over sports metaphors about successes and failures in the workplace Kelly refocuses it on romantic sports metaphors, poking at Jan’s recent romantic interactions with Michael (Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Boys and Girls)

“What about second base? Like, if Michael said he got to second base with you. Does that mean you like, closed a deal? I mean that’s a baseball term right?”

                                                      +++

Kelly’s Worst Moment: When she tells Ryan he got her pregnant when he’s back visiting the branch after getting promoted (Season Four, Episode Two: Dunder Mifflin Infinity)

At first she solemnly nods no to the camera expressing she’s not pregnant but as we learn he agrees for them to talk in private after work about ‘everything’ she gets all excited and chirps “We have a date!”

                                                      +++

Kelly’s Most Memorable Moment: When another interesting thing finally happens in the office. (Season Eight, Episode Seventeen: Test the Store)

“Will someone explain what’s going on here. Since the interesting thing happened, so much time has past. It feels like my life is buffering”

                                                      +++

Kelly’s Best Line: Kelly explaining how she’s *so smart* following the minority executive training program…but she’s still Kelly (Season Seven, Episode One: Nepotism)

“You guys, I’m like really smart now, you don’t even know. You could ask me ‘Kelly, what’s the biggest company in the world?’ and I’d go blah blah blah, blah blah blah’ giving you the exact right answer”

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.