Professor Flitwick

Cedric Diggoy

Cedric Diggory was an important character as he embodied all we missed out on, not knowing more Hufflepuff characters closely. Dumbledore’s speech about how he was a fierce friend, chose to do what’s right over what was easy, and was shown to constantly be his biggest opponent, not hating those who bested him but only trying to better himself. 

It is these Hufflepuff traits that are one of the two main reasons this character has had such a profound impact. Being the complete opposite of boastful, even before Harry told him about the Dragons he tried to stop people hating on Harry, knowing there was enough Hogwarts pride to go around. This extends to the previous year when he catches the golden snitch just moments after the Dementors come onto the Quidditch field and paralyze Harry. He feels this wasn’t a fair win and as Captain, protests against their win to no prevail. A sentiment he carries even during the Quidditch World Cup when his father brags about how ‘’he beat thee Harry Potter!”

One could go on forever about Cedric, it really is no wonder why Cho loved him, (even thou I got the impression that if given both options she would’ve chosen Harry) but what equally sticks out is Cedric’s impact and representation of the innocent victims of war. While the film overall was horrendously shackled together, the scene in the film and book bring me to tears long before his death and their return to Hogwarts. He was just a good person, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The reaction of his classmates and especially his father and the circumstances were meant to highlight how truly ugly and unnecessary war is. There was no reason for his death, and like most wars even the young men and children who survive physically lose their minds to it. Finally, on a small level, Harry’s guilt and other’s reactions for his survival and Cedric’s death reminds me of the understanding how death happens to those left behind; as while Cedric comes back as a ghost momentarily he thinks only of his parents and unknowingly remains as a force in Harry to stop Voldemort.

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

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’”

Psst, I totally get it, you're by yourself And the last thing you want to do is take a picture But seriously, my little girl loves you She's always singing, "I'm gonna pop some tags" I'm not kidding, my oldest, you even got him to go thrifting And "One Love", oh, my God, that song - brilliant Their aunt is gay, when that song came out My son told his whole class he was actually proud That's so cool, look what you're accomplishing Even an old mom like me likes it cause it's positive You're the only hip-hop that I let my kids listen to Cause you get it, all that negative stuff isn't cool Yeah, like all the guns and the drugs The bitches and the hoes and the gangs and the thugs Even the protest outside - so sad and so dumb If a cop pulls you over, it's your fault if you run Huh?

Twins

Twins are incredibly interesting, as even those with very similar DNA and upbringing, can turn into very different people. We see this with all siblings: Lily v. Petunia, Percy v. the rest of the Weasleys and so not every set of twins ends up like Gred and Forge, a great example being Parvati and Padma Patil. Parvati and Padma were so different, they were sorted into different houses with Parvati being placed into Gryffindor and Padma being placed into Ravenclaw. Later on Padma would also be named Ravenclaw Prefect and was noted to be more serious than Parvati and was never noted to have such a close friendship with her sister or with anyone else to the extreme that Parvati had with Lavender.

But while their personalities were quite different, they did have both positive and negative traits in common. Both sisters bravely fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, joined Dumbledore’s Army early on and fought against Umbridge’s rein at Hogwarts. They also both showed to be somewhat superficial, agreeing with Harry when he was the chosen one or Triwizard Champion. More information about Padma would have provided more insight to how similar or different they really were, but it’s interesting with twins and siblings how some things just are how they are: people are born a certain way or a different certain way and very little can be done to change that

Best Friendship Moments

1. Season Two, Episode Twelve: The Injury

When Pam tells “Oscar” how Dwight’s doing in the hospital so that she can discreetly pass the information to Angela who was just eavesdropping on her phone call with Jim.

What adds to this moment is that Pam went out of her way to allow Angela to continue to believe no one knew about their relationship and keep her privacy.

2. Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Boys and Girls

When Jim gets upset with Pam for not going for the Graphic Design internship in NY and telling her “You gotta take a chance on something sometime Pam” and asking if she really is ‘fine’ with her choices. While we feel it’s more related to her engagement to Roy and not just the job, in both instances it is truer friends who push you to do more and be better for yourself.

3. Season Two, Episode Eleven: Booze Cruise

When Jim tells Michael he “used” to have a thing for Pam and describes her as funny, and warm and Michael responds” BFD--engaged ain’t married. Never, ever, ever give up”.

4. Season Nine, Episode: Couple’s Discount

When Darryl tells the homophobic Nail Salon worker how Oscar and him work as a couple, grabs Oscar’s hand, and how “Him and me, all right, we are crazy in love. More in love than your small mind can comprehend. And we have two disposable incomes and no kids, and we’re taking our business elsewhere”.

5. Season Four, Episode Four: Money

Jim and Pam throughout the episode trying to help Dwight feel better in relation to his breakup with Angela; especially at the end when they smile to each other after Dwight uses his ruler to knocks anything of Jim’s hanging over his desk because to them it means ‘Dwight’s Back’.

Pam signing up for just about everything when staying at Beet Farms.

When she won’t help set up Andy with Angela because she doesn’t “see them together”.

Their detailed and positive but not too much review on TripAdvisor, following up with the fact that they really enjoyed their stay.

Jim goes and tries to talk to Dwight after Angela agrees to go out with Andy and tells him how he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t taste food and how it’s something “he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy” and that includes Dwight.

6. Season Three, Episode Four: Grief Counseling

When Pam and Dwight both go out of their way to prep the bird funeral; Pam creating a decorated casket out of a tissue box and Dwight playing a song on his recorder.

7. Season Three, Episode Twelve: Traveling Salesman

When Angela asks Pam to go out for a coffee so she can gush about “Noelle and Kurt” aka her and Dwight. Even if Angela was unsure if Pam knew who they were really talking about, it doesn’t matter; Angela had great personal news and she wanted to share it with Pam.  

8. Season Seven, Episode Ten: China

When Dwight “lets” Pam win in regards to the standards of the building after he overheard Pam telling Him how she felt like a failure as she failed art school, and being a salesman.

9. Season Nine, Episode Sixteen: Moving On

While driving Toby home from the doctor after getting strangled by the Scranton Strangler, she calls him brave, twice.

“You offered your neck in search of the truth. The proud neck of justice—isn’t that the expression? Well, anyway, it was—it was very brave. It really was quite brave.”

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

When after Michael storms away from Holly because he’s upset that Holly would have a long-distance relationship with AJ and not with him, Holly does to follow Michael but Erin blocks her.

Good friends know when you need your space and will help and protect you to get what you need.

Best Conference Room Meetings

1. Season Three, Episode Four: Grief Counseling

When Pam and Ryan, and then Kevin tell fake grief stories based on movies.

2. Season Five, Episode Three: Business Ethics

Michael: Spent an entire week watching YouTube, in particular the Cookie Monster sings Chocolate Rain.

Oscar: Will sometimes take a long lunch.

Kelly: Downloads pirated music onto her work computer.

Meredith: For the past six years, Meredith was sleeping with a supplier in exchange for discounts on office supplies and Outback Steakhouse coupons.

3. Season Seven, Episode Thirteen: Ultimatum

⦁ Creed wanting to learn how to do a cartwheel (Ditto). ⦁ Kevin not knowing how to eat broccoli.

4. Season Seven, Episode Nineteen: Garage Sale Conference room meeting where Oscar, Ryan, Jim and Pam all work with Michael to plan the perfect proposal to Holly.

5. Season Two, Episode Twenty: Drug Testing When Pam sets up Jim to tell “the story about a friend who got caught up in the world of drugs” knowing per jinx he couldn’t speak. 

6. Season Four, Episode Four: Money When Michael is supposed to be teaching everyone PowerPoint but forgot, then the meeting get sidelined to the universally confusing question: Is whom a real word, and if so, when do you use it?

7. Season Six, Episode Twenty-Five: The Chump

When the meeting gets refocused on how to shoot Bin-Laden, Hitler and Toby with only two bullets.

8. Season Four, Episode Four: Money The Conference room meeting held at Michael’s other job as a telemarketer at the Lipaphedrine Diet-pill Company--they love him.

9. Season Two, Episode Twenty-One: Conflict Resolution  When Michael mediates between Angela and Oscar through the five mediation techniques.

10. Season Four, Episode Seven: Survivor Man

The Conference room meeting, that wasn't. Jim is trying to end the all the birthday parties as they waste time, but almost gets tricked into having a conference meeting about it per Pam's suggestion.

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

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 )