Day 5 - Favorite male character and why

Day 5 - Favorite male character and why

Severus Snape

Why?

Alan Rickman Yep, I'm shallow enough to admit that but I will explain. Long ago, in 2000, there were only books where Snape was mean to Harry, Sirius and just about everyone. I HATED him! Then, they started casting the first film and Alan Rickman was cast as Snape.

METATRON!!!

I loved Metatron and the more I thought about his sarcastic humor and general dourness, the more I felt Alan would be perfect for Snape. I just didn't bargain on the unthinkable...

that Alan would make me start to like Snape. I hesitated at first: separating movie Snape from book Snape. However, Rowling seemed to be in cahoots because Snape became more and more tragic as the books continued. I realized how hopelessly I had fallen for Snape when I cheered at his becoming the Defense against the Dark Arts professor...finally and cried and had to put Deathly Hallows in the freezer after his death. Admittedly, his death was one of many that became too much: Snape, Remus, Tonks, Fred...all within like ten pages.

Also, it turns out that Alan played Snape that way because he knew all along Snape's whole story, birth to death. Gosh, look at this scene here...I want to hug him.

Runners Up...that I also love very dearly:
Sirius, Remus and Dobby

Day 6 - What house would you want to be in

Day 6 - What house would you want to be in

Hufflepuff!!!

No, I don't like the black and yellow honeybee scheme but Hufflepuff values hard work, tolerance, loyalty, and fair play which I definitely do. The common room has lots of comfortable fat armchairs and "little underground tunnels leading to the dormitories, all of which have perfectly round doors, like barrel tops".

Yes, that's right...they're basically Hobbits! Hobbits are awesome forever!

Plus, Tonks was a Hufflepuff and she's awesome, too.

Recall Rick Scott

State Rep. Rick Kriseman has introduced a bill that would enable Floridians to recall elected officials. This was started because of Ray Sansom and that stupid mess, but now we have another reason:

Rick Scott at a St. Petersburg Chamber Commerce Function:
If you don’t agree with me, don’t bother calling me.

Wow, that's such a good attitude for an elected official of the people.

ugh

Right now the bill is in subcommittee.

*fingers crossed*

Meningitis

Meningitis is a very serious illness. It can be fatal. In 34% of adults who contract it, they will suffer permanent consequences: hearing loss, epilepsy, cognitive difficulties.

And it's almost entirely preventable...

Who does CDC recommend get the vaccine?

* Children: Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for certain high-risk children from ages 2 through 10.
* Pre-teens/Adolescents: Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is routinely recommended for all 11 through 18 year olds. If your child did not get this vaccine at the 11- or 12-year-old check-up, make an appointment for him or her to get it now.
* Adults: Either meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine or meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for adults if you
o Are a college freshman living in a dormitory
o Are a military recruit
o Have a damaged spleen or your spleen has been removed
o Have terminal complement deficiency
o Are a microbiologist who is routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis (the causal pathogen)
o Are traveling to or residing in countries in which the disease is common


It's most common among groups who share cups, food and other items, including bodily fluids...the kids. A few weeks ago, a local high school student died from it. For me, my university required it and it was so simple: just one shot. It's not necessary to go to a doctor. Some public health clinics carry it. I was able to get it at my university health clinic for a reasonable rate.

Lights on Tampa

My mom and I had always heard about Lights on Tampa but we were never able to go...until now.



Honestly? I was a little disappointed. It was spread out and not so impressive although I loved what they did with the Poe Parking Garage. It was like a life-size Tetris game on the wall. Unfortunately. I didn't get a photo of it. I also came across Brian who I hadn't seen in six years so that was nice.



This is one of my favorite buildings in the whole world. Since the event was kind of a bust, we were just in time to see the Spring Dance Concert! If you ever get a chance to see a dance program at the University of Tampa, like the concert or a Dance Happening...DO IT!!!
They're so good.

Libya

Muammar Gaddafi continues to be a stubborn bastard who claims to taking back some cities. However, the National Transitional Council said yesterday that they were the sole representative all over Libya.

I'm totally praying for them. It's going to be a hard road but it's wonderful to see people rise up against a cruel tyrant who doesn't represent them just as my kinsmen did over two hundred years ago in the US.

The Slippery Slope

Here's what scares me about Wisconsin. Yes, we all have to sacrifice when times are tough. Yes, that might mean a salary being frozen for a year or temporarily losing some benefits BUT...

Being able to come to the table and air your grievances against an employer and work to solve them together should NOT be one of them!

To me, it seems like a slippery slope where unions will be more and more weakened until they have no rights at all. Unions are already outlawed at Walmart, McDonalds and other workplaces. Florida and other states are "right to work" which means you can be fired at any time for NO REASON AT ALL.

Where will it end? The house budget suggested cuts to the EPA and other organizations, how do we know OSHA won't be next? How do we know that other worker's rights won't be sacrificed in the name of business?
Maternity leave, FMLA, ovetime pay, being able to work in safe conditions, being able to go home...

What I fear most is a return to the 1800s where unless you were rich, white and male, you weren't a real citizen.

Marley and Marley

We're Marley and Marley
Avarice and greed
We took advantage of the poor
Just ignored the needy
We specialized in causing pain
Spreading fear and doubt
And if you could not pay the rent
We simply threw you out
We're Marley and Marley
Our hearts were painted black
We should have known our evil deeds
Would put us both in shackles
Captive
Bound
We're double-ironed
Exhausted by the weight
As freedom comes from giving love
So, prison comes with hate
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
Doomed, Scrooge!
You're doomed for all time
Your future is a horror story
Written by your crime
Your chains are forged
By what you say and do
So, have your fun
When life is done
A nightmare waits for you
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
We're Marley and Marley
Whoooooo
CHANGE!