What Harry Potter Means to Me

My blog title is a quote from Arthur Weasley, a Harry Potter character. My picture is from a game of Quidditch I played with friends and family this summer. Thats right, Quidditch. The wizarding sport. This was right before I went to go see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince at Midnight the night it came out. I have read the first 4 HP books at least ten times, and the last 3 at least twice. Movies, same thing. I love Harry Potter, I love Hogwarts, I am obsessed with the wizarding world!

Harry Potter has become a part of my world. I feel like I know the characters. Lame? Maybe, but true. I can use words like Quidditch, Dementor, Muggle and Death Eater in my everyday conversations with (most) people and they know exactly what I am talking about. Is this a good thing? Maybe since its books, and reading is a good thing, this HP obsession is okay. But what about those people who have only watched the movies? Well, besides the fact that they aren't "true fans", is it okay for them to be so involved in watching and talking about and be attached to movie characters? Why is it that reading is educational but movies rarely are? And are books like HP considered educational, or just purely for entertainment?

Either way, I still really love Harry and his friends and I cannot wait for the seventh movie!!! HP for life!!

WATCH THIS!!!

Boohbah

This is probably the weirdest thing I have ever watched in my entire life. I was over at my aunt's house yesterday, and I mentioned Yo Gabba Gabba, which I had watched in class last week, and that got on the topic of Boohbah, which is even more bizarre! I didn't think that was possible. Are kids benefitting AT ALL from watching creepy weird shows like this? Sure, kids might like bright colors and weird music, but I don't see the point of this show. Baby Einstein beats this by a million miles.

From Wikipedia:
The Boohbahs are five furry, gumdrop-shaped creatures played by actors in full body costumes. Their thick, shimmery fur sparkles with tiny lights; their Kewpie doll style heads are hairless and feature big eyes with rows of lights for eyebrows. They do not speak, but instead make noises like squeaks, squeals, and clicks. The Boohbahs can retract their heads into their furry necks. Each Boohbah is a different color. They are:

Humbah (Yellow)
Zumbah (Purple)
Zing Zing Zingbah (Orange)
Jumbah (Blue)
Jingbah (Red)
The Boohbahs can fly; part of their routine is to assemble into a circle, holding hands like skydivers. Each then emits a different musical note as a flash of colored light (matching the Boohbah's color) is sent out from their heads to a central point.

Arthur

After talking about preschool programs in class, I was really set on the fact that I believe preschool and middle-age programs usually promote the develop of life skills/real world skills, whatever you want to call them :) I feel like I learned a lot in my elementary school years about simply being nice to people and making friends. One of the best examples of this that I can think of is my FAVORITE SHOW ever: Arthur. I LOVE THIS SHOW! Every episode had something in it that could apply to young kids. Every episode had a great take home message and taught me how to be a good person. PBS had a ton of other really great shows that I watched as well, like: Magic School Bus, Carmen San Diego, Zoom and Bill Nye the Science Guy. I probably watched a good 3 hours of these shows a day, and I still had plenty of time to do many other meaningful things. I always watched Arthur in the mornings with my entire family, and in the afternoons with my brother and sister. When we got done watching it, we read Arthur books and acted them out in our backyard. We weren't just staring blankly at the TV- we were engaged and encorporated a television program we loved into other aspects of our lives, in a beneficial way.

P.S. When Mr. Rogers was cartoonized and was on Arthur- BEST EPISODE EVER!

Killing Time Murders Opportunities

I have this quote pinned up behind my desk in my room in the hopes that it will remind me not to waste time. Thinking about this, I realized that 100% of "wasted time" is media use. It seems outrageous, but every single thing I do when I feel I have wasted time was something to do with the media. Movies, hulu, iTunes, facebook, magazines, etc. I realize that alot of media can be very good and worthwhile, but I feel that a lot of it out there is a waste of our time. Especially now that we can access media anytime and any place we want to, it can be a very dangerous procrastination tool. A lot of times it is mindless and pointless. I have decided to try to focus on media that is not a complete waste of time. Media that can benefit and enrich my life in some way, and not just watch or listen or read things just because they are available.

I can't be without the MEDIA!

I believe we are developing a kind of ADD in our culture. I can't live without the media. I can't just sit there and think. Even if I try to sit there, and just ponder, I always have to turn on some music, or read a book or magazine, or check my facebook, or pop in a movie. Its ridiculous! These days, we never have to be without media. When I walk to class, I listen to my iPod. Yesterday, I realized the battery was dead, and I was thinking, how I am going to manage going the entire day just me and my thoughts?!?! However, several things happened: I walked to class with another actual human being, which never happens, even though I probably see a ton of people I could walk with. They probably don't try to talk to me when they see I have my iPod in. Understandable. Also, I noticed things around me. Like trees and posters. I never see them. It was a good day. Today I had my iPod again, but when I saw someone I knew ahead of me, I turned it off and called their name to walk with them. :)

Glee

Today I watched the new show "Glee". I had heard some really good things about it- that it was unique and hilarious, and that I would love it. I did think it was hilarious, but it had quite a few sexual remarks. In part of the show, the students are trying to recruit more members to their Glee group (I can't remember exactly what they call it), and they decide the only way to get their peers' attention is to sing and dance to a song about sex. "Push It". While it may have been hilarious for the show, I think this actually brings up a true point. Is the only way we can get teens to watch or listen to something is by putting sex in it? Obviously there is sex in this show, and in so many others. Sex sells, and gets viewers, but can nothing else compete?