Random News (not Politics) Thoughts

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Ok, so here goes:

I take issue with J.K Rowling on the specific things everyone is talking about J.K Rowling for. I don't think people are reacting to her in an unfair way, at all.

I also think Harry Potter is overrated.

Harry's a boring character whose superpower is his mother loving him when he was a baby. This seems to drive the resolution of the plot in most of the books. I've seen all the films but I've only read the last and the first book (because I'm kooky.) I would have preferred that the story be told from the point of view of anyone else: Hermione, Neville, Draco, even Ron.

I think the best thing Rowling came up with was Snape. Snape is interesting; he became a triple agent out for some redemption to cover up his guilt and shame about his past mistakes. Many people feel that way. There are even Snapewives:

 

[ceecee]

J.K Rowling deserves every horrible thing that's coming to her.

 

[Totenkindly]

Harry's a boring character whose superpower is his mother loving him when he was a baby. This seems to drive the resolution of the plot in most of the books. I've seen all the films but I've only read the last and the first book (because I'm kooky.) I would have preferred that the story be told from the point of view of anyone else: Hermione, Neville, Draco, even Ron.

The Chosen One always is, I guess. Even Frodo isn't that exciting of a character compared with everyone else in that story.

I think the best thing Rowling came up with was Snape. Snape is interesting; he became a triple agent out for some redemption to cover up his guilt and shame about his past mistakes. Many people feel that way. There are even Snapewives:

I've only really seen the films, and Snape was pretty great with the reveals at the end. I assume the books were even more nuanced. The tendency is to try to venerate or ennoble such a character, but it's best to live in that uncomfortable space where Snape was guilty of awful things and held prejudices, yet did something remarkably good with mostly good intent or at least out of love and guilt, however one-sided. I think it's getting to the core of human beings that they're each some crazy mix of awful and good (well, most of them -- I've been wondering lately about some...)

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

The Chosen One always is, I guess. Even Frodo isn't that exciting of a character compared with everyone else in that story.

People have said the same about Luke Skywalker. I would argue against it, but that's just because I have a lot of emotional attachment to that particular story and that particular universe.

I've only really seen the films, and Snape was pretty great with the reveals at the end. I assume the books were even more nuanced. The tendency is to try to venerate or ennoble such a character, but it's best to live in that uncomfortable space where Snape was guilty of awful things and held prejudices, yet did something remarkably good with mostly good intent or at least out of love and guilt, however one-sided. I think it's getting to the core of human beings that they're each some crazy mix of awful and good (well, most of them -- I've been wondering lately about some...)

Alan Rickman did a fantastic job. I think Snape's redemption arc works pretty well. I suppose many people relate to characters like that because they are more like them, and I supposed they know it, deep down.

 

[The Cat]

I just wonder who they plagiarized snape from. But Ive never been a harry potter fan, i like hidden magical worlds, but im not a fan of their writing style.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I just wonder who they plagiarized snape from. But Ive never been a harry potter fan, i like hidden magical worlds, but im not a fan of their writing style.

According to some, he's an eternal god-like entity that J.K Rowling tapped into when writing her stories, and so, he never actually died. The books were just one portal out of many for getting in touch with the Snape entity.

There's a video up above if anyone thinks I'm making this up. I like how the woman in the video I posted shows empathy for these people, which I think is the right approach, but I also can't help but find the whole Snapewife thing fascinating and amusing.

 

[Totenkindly]

So she died on a Friday (because she never went home or clocked out) and they found her at closing time on Tuesday. Gaaaa. Another victory for the "Back to the office" execs!

Wells Fargo employee found dead at office desk four days after clocking in

Denise Prudhomme, 60, last clocked in at 7 a.m. on Aug. 16. She was found unresponsive at a third-floor desk on Aug. 20.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Totenkindly]

More "thank god for my coworkers who don't even know I'm alive!" news

Man rescued after reportedly being left stranded on Colorado mountain by colleagues

A worker on an office hiking retreat to a national forest in Colorado had to be rescued after 14 of his colleagues allegedly left him stranded on a 14,230-foot mountain, authorities said.

abc7.com

 

[The Cat]

More "thank god for my coworkers who don't even know I'm alive!" news

Man rescued after reportedly being left stranded on Colorado mountain by colleagues

A worker on an office hiking retreat to a national forest in Colorado had to be rescued after 14 of his colleagues allegedly left him stranded on a 14,230-foot mountain, authorities said.

abc7.com

In what might cause some awkward encounters at the office in the coming days and weeks, one member of their party was left to complete his final summit push alone,"

Poor Toby.​

 

[The Cat]

Man, I would love to be a spy on the wall in that office.

 

[ceecee]

In what might cause some awkward encounters at the office in the coming days and weeks, one member of their party was left to complete his final summit push alone,"

Poor Toby.​

I'd actually like to know more about this "team-building expedition". Unless they were at least somewhat experienced (and it doesn't sound like they were) this has to be a middle to upper management entirely devoid of any grasp on reality that planned it, not to mention his moronic coworkers. Nevertheless, I hope Toby (or Brice or Connor - I didn't see a name so I just made those up) has quit and is in the process of filing a lawsuit.

 

[The Cat]

I'd actually like to know more about this "team-building expedition". Unless they were at least somewhat experienced (and it doesn't sound like they were) this has to be a middle to upper management entirely devoid of any grasp on reality that planned it, not to mention his moronic coworkers. Nevertheless, I hope Toby (or Brice or Connor - I didn't see a name so I just made those up) has quit and is in the process of filing a lawsuit.

Right? Like it was clearly less about building a team as much as it was about making it look like an accident. I mean if the team just so happened to bond over it, well that's corporate synergy for you.

 

[Totenkindly]

‘Who dreams this crap up?’: Kevin O'Leary slams new rule that allows employees to ignore their bosses after hours

Would you want to work for Mr. Wonderful?

www.yahoo.com

I think if they need people to be on call "for emergencies," then they should have designated staff who are compensated for and have agreed to be on call to handle said emergencies. (Fed gov, for example, is perfectly happy to furlough employees and just retaining a very tiny skeleton crew "to keep the boat afloat" during those furlough periods, and no one else is allowed to do work.)

Not everyone works in or NEEDS to work in a business that demands immediately response outside of their regular working hours.

This is basically in the category of "businesses trying to get free work for no compensation."

 

[The Cat]

‘Who dreams this crap up?’: Kevin O'Leary slams new rule that allows employees to ignore their bosses after hours

Would you want to work for Mr. Wonderful?

www.yahoo.com

I think if they need people to be on call "for emergencies," then they should have designated staff who are compensated for and have agreed to be on call to handle said emergencies. (Fed gov, for example, is perfectly happy to furlough employees and just retaining a very tiny skeleton crew "to keep the boat afloat" during those furlough periods, and no one else is allowed to do work.)

Not everyone works in or NEEDS to work in a business that demands immediately response outside of their regular working hours.

This is basically in the category of "businesses trying to get free work for no compensation."

I think Kevin O'Leary should be ignored by everyone all the time. Especially when he tries to tell them things. Most of the things he wants are just slavery with extra steps.

 

[ceecee]

Powerless women more likely to endorse benevolent sexism and gender inequalities

A recent study found that women who feel powerless are more likely to endorse benevolent sexism, with increases in powerlessness leading to stronger support for these sexist beliefs over time.

www.psypost.org

None of this is surprising but I'd slap the phrase "benevolent sexism" right out of someone's' mouth if I encountered it.

I would be interested in seeing how much worse the results would be in the US as opposed to NZ.

 

[The Cat]

None of this is surprising but I'd slap the phrase "benevolent sexism" right out of someone's' mouth if I encountered it.

ah, a Benevolent assist.

 

[The Cat]

they say the phrase so many times.

 

[ceecee]

they say the phrase so many times.

I also hear "benevolent dictator" more and more often. But then I realized the bros and chuds talking about it aren't referencing Tito or Fredrick II or Catherine the Great or in terms of software. These shitheads are talking about a book. About business

Amazon.com

 

[The Cat]

I also hear "benevolent dictator" more and more often. But then I realized the bros and chuds talking about it aren't referencing Tito or Fredrick II or Catherine the Great or in terms of software. These shitheads are talking about a book. About business

Amazon.com

Well that's upsetting.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Regarding sexism, I wonder how you can empower people whose entire thing is that they don't think they should have power.

also hear "benevolent dictator" more and more often. But then I realized the bros and chuds talking about it aren't referencing Tito or Fredrick II or Catherine the Great or in terms of software. These shitheads are talking about a book. About business

Amazon.com

What's a benevolent dictator is in terms of software?