Monday, September 28, 2015

Star Trek TNG Turns 28 & Why You Should Love A Hufflepuff

Today 28 years ago Star Trek The Next Generation premiered in syndication. I unfortunately didn't start watching until around the sixth or seventh episode. I remember seeing commercials for this new Star Trek series but I was a Star Wars guy. I had seen Star Trek (the original) on and off again for years but never really considered myself a Star Trek fan... well all that changed after watching just one episode of The Next Generation.. I was hooked. Back then there wasn't an internet (like today's) and I had to wait until the summer when they repeated the episodes so I was finally able to see the beginning of this series that just adored. Star Trek The Next Generation is my favorite of all the Star Trek series with Voyager and Deep Space Nine a close second. I also enjoy Enterprise and The Original series. Hopefully Paramount/CBS (who own the rights) have something up their sleeves for the 30th anniversary in two years.. guess will have to wait and see.

The new and improved Pottermore has this awesome article explaining "Why you should fall in love with a Hufflepuff" and I couldn't agree more and I'm not just saw that because I'm a total Hufflepuff :)

You can see the original post HERE.

From the moment Draco Malfoy snarked: ‘Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?’ it established Hufflepuff house as somewhat of an underdog.

Hufflepuff is the most underrated house at Hogwarts. Gryffindors may have the confidence to ask people out. Ravenclaws can charm their dates with witty banter over Butterbeer. Slytherins can impress their paramours with their ambition. But we reckon Hufflepuffs might make the ultimate companions. Here’s why.
 
1. The Sorting Hat says so

Many of us probably have a checklist of characteristics that we’re looking for in a partner. Maybe we’d like to find a witch or wizard who is charming, clever and successful.

So, does that mean you should go out with someone who embodies Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin qualities? Hold your Hippogriffs, people. Those qualities alone aren’t enough, if your partner isn’t also kind and loyal. Take it from the Sorting Hat: ‘They are just and loyal / Those patient Hufflepuffs are true / And unafraid of toil.’ Sounds ideal, no?
 
2. Hufflepuffs aren’t just nice

Nobody would dispute that Hufflepuffs are the ‘nice’ house. But isn’t nice usually another way of saying that someone has no other personality traits? Hufflepuffs are so much more.

Case in point, one of the coolest characters in the wizarding world: Nymphadora Tonks. A Metamorphmagus with bubblegum-pink hair? Who gives birth then goes to fight Voldemort? Being nice doesn’t mean boring.
 
3. Ah, Cedric Diggory

Let’s just do a quick comparison between Cedric Diggory and Cormac McLaggen. When Gryffindor Cormac goes on a date with Hermione, he puts her off by talking about himself, boasting about his prowess on the Quidditch pitch, and being rather, ahem, forward.

Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory has just as much reason to brag: he’s a Prefect, Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, and is selected as the Hogwarts Champion in the Triwizard Tournament. He is humble and kind but plenty of others notice his good qualities. Angelina Johnson calls him ‘that tall, good-looking one’ and Katie Bell quips that he is ‘strong and silent.’ So there might’ve been a queue for Cedric, but there are plenty more desirable Hufflepuffs. 
 
4. Hufflepuffs won’t turn into a Dark wizard after a bad break-up

Hufflepuff has the fewest Dark wizards of any house at Hogwarts – which we take to mean that they act decently when confronted with difficult circumstances. Ever been through a break-up where the other person turned into a total Dementor? Not a problem when you’re going out with a Hufflepuff.
 
5. They’re accepting of everyone

When the founders of the other Hogwarts houses were explaining what types of students they most wanted to teach, they picked very specific qualities. Said Helga Hufflepuff: ‘I’ll teach the lot, and treat them just the same.’

Hufflepuffs accept everybody. They’ll probably invite you round for a home-cooked dinner. The Hufflepuff Common Room is right next to the Hogwarts kitchens, after all.
 
6. Even J.K. Rowling thinks Hufflepuffs are brilliant

In the past, J.K. Rowling has said, ‘In many, many ways, Hufflepuff is my favourite house.’

Why? J.K. Rowling says to look at how they act during the Battle of Hogwarts. ‘The Hufflepuffs, virtually to a person, stay – as do the Gryffindors. Now, the Gryffindors comprise a lot of foolhardy and show-offy people… You know, there’s bravery and there’s also showboating, and sometimes the two go together. The Hufflepuffs stayed for a different reason. They weren’t trying to show off, they weren’t being reckless. That’s the essence of Hufflepuff House.’

If you can’t be a Hufflepuff, be with a Hufflepuff.

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