Spy Tech, Class Two (17 Jan)

[mi6-m.livejournal.com]

Wednesday, January 17, Period 1

The only change in the classroom from last week is the presence of several boxes set on the floor near M's desk. The professor herself is standing near the projection screen, and addresses the class once everyone is seated.

"The first order of business today is to remind you that I require some manner of written excuse for any failure to attend class. Failure to attend class or to supply a valid excuse will result in disciplinary action."

A slide appears briefly on the screen:

CLASS ONE: ABSENCES

SCHRODINGER

LECTURE: "We begin our examination of espionage technology with what is probably the first item that comes to mind when you think of spies and gadgets -- the camera." As she speaks, slides appear on the screen to illustrate the lecture. "Cameras have evolved a great deal over time, and in the field of espionage they continue to prove extremely useful. Inventors have developed cameras that work underwater, from a distance, are miniaturized, can be hidden inside an item or article of clothing, and that work under intense light or low light conditions."

M pauses in the lecture and instructs Nadia to open up the boxes and pass around the items inside. "These infrared cameras -- and you'll each be receiving one on loan -- are designed to take photographs in complete darkness, without the benefit of a flash. This is a particularly useful item, as I'm certain you can imagine. The bright light from a camera flash would make a typical camera useless in situations which require the photographer to remain unobserved in a darkened room."

DISCUSSION: "Share with the class your ideas on how cameras are used in espionage, and why the industry can't make do with the ordinary cameras you can buy at the mall."

ASSIGNMENT: "Your assignment for next week is to take a minimum of five photographs with the infrared camera. Keep in mind two things: first, that these photographs must be taken in complete darkness, or they will not develop properly. Second, any obscene photographs that result from this assignment will earn you an automatic F for the class. And trust me, you're not going to be able to doctor the film to avoid being found out. You will turn in your cameras, film intact, next week, and I will have the photographs developed. If you have any questions about how the cameras work, please ask before you leave class. Also, remember to turn in your essay assignments from last week before leaving."

[ooc: If your character is from a time/world where they would have no idea how to work the cameras, ask M or the TAs to demonstrate. Also, for goodness sake, PLEASE get permission from any charcters you attempt to photograph for the assignment! Please to be waiting for OCD is now up!]

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Library [1/17]

[agentthepaper]

When Yomiko got to the library, it was dark and locked. That was strange, she thought.

Creative Writing, Period 6 1/17

[idontspeakfreak.livejournal.com]

Yuki has his laptop once again. He seems a bit more relaxed than usual. In fact, he almost looks like he could fall asleep at any moment. However, he stands after the class has assembled.

“Happy Wednesday.” Oddly enough, he doesn’t sound very happy about it. He doesn’t even smile. “Right. Today we’re doing something thrilling. Don’t get too excited.”

“By the end of the semester you’re each going to write a 10-20 page short story. For a few weeks I’m going to teach you lessons to prepare to write this, and later on you’ll be allowed to write this story. Today though, we’re going to be talking about writing styles, but most specifically, narrators.”

“You are the author, so if you want to be technical, of course you’re the narrator, but I want to look deeper. What I want to talk about is not only who is telling your story but also how they are telling it. There are three “persons” if you will. First person, that’s the narrator telling the story, using I’s and me’s as if the story is happening, or happened, to them. Then second person, is referring directly to the person, as in “you”. Third person is the most used, it makes the narrator farther from the people it’s discussing. Usually these are most objective, often the narrator can feel cold, unfeeling and uninvolved with the character. This may or may not be a desired effect.”

“That brings up the way narrators are involved. In a story that is written in first person, you only have what that character is telling you, and sometimes they can be an unreliable source, because they don’t have all the information. Imagine how often you misinterpret things. That’s just how it works. A third person narrator should be reliable, because they have all the facts laid out.”

Yuki clears his throat, “Mm. Well then, the narrator can also tell a story in the past, or present. This all depends on verbs and other lines such as, “Little did I know…” because in a line like that one, your character is being retrospective and reflecting back on what’s happened.”

“I’m going to give you four short excerpts and at the top it says what type of narration it is. Finally I want you to write a short piece with any type of narration you’d like, even if I haven’t given an example of it. Write the type of narration at the top and turn it in. It doesn’t have to be long. A max of one page. And also, for the benefit of hoodie-wonder boy I’d like to let you all know that by “writing” I mean on those lines they put on the paper. For you to write on. And in coherent sentence structure. Don’t forget to keep breathing too, Hoodie.”

((ooc: Availability a bit patchy until late afternoon. Once again, handwave anywhere, real writing is fine, but this week it’s not much fun, sorry… I promise I’ll make it fun again next week!))

Extraterrestrial Civilizations - Class 2 [1/17, Period 4]

[stargazer-ellie.livejournal.com]

"Good afternoon," Ellie greeted the class. "Today our guest speaker will be the Royal Princess Ardala of the Draconian Empire. She'll give a brief talk and then answer any questions you might have for her about her world. Please give her your attention and respect."

An attractive woman with curly brown hair adorned with a jeweled headpiece strode into the room, followed by a hulking tattooed bald man. "Come along, Tigerman," she said haughtily as she took her place at the head of the class. Tigerman glared at the students, his arms crossed over his bare muscular chest.

"We are the Royal Princess Ardala of the Draconian Empire," the woman said. She was wearing what could best be described as a silver bejeweled bikini top, purple gauzy cape, and a few scraps of fabric attached to a silver belt that made some semblance of a skirt. She had the body to pull it off, however. "Our father, King Draco, ordered us here to speak of our kingdom," she said. "King Draco is the greatest leader the universe has ever known, and his kingdom is the most powerful. But we are a peaceful people. Our father sends his star fortresses throughout the galaxy looking for planets that are in need of...protection. Pirates plague the intergalactic shipping lines, and in the name of our father, we make treaties with assaulted worlds. Trade agreements in exchange for protection. An offer will be made to Earth soon." She smiled tightly.

"We are prepared to address any specific questions about our home," Ardala went on. "What do you wish to know?"

Engineering 101, Wednesday Period 2, Lesson Two, January 17

[visor-laforge.livejournal.com]

Geordi was waiting in front of his desk as he watched the students come into the room and sit at their own desks. Once everyone was seated he smiled and began the lecture, “Good morning,” he said, “today we’re going to be looking at a history of engineering,”

( Engineering 101 )

[ooc: wait for the OCD is up!]

Folklore and Fact: Mystical Artifacts Week 2 [Thurs/2nd Period]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Upon entering the classroom today students would find Sakura sitting calmly at the yellow table in the center of the room, watching a slideshow playing out on the three display screens on the front wall. The slides contained such images as a genie's oil lamp, a pumpkin-turned-stagecoach (Sakura's jaw tightened ever so slightly at that), a sword in a stone, and a mirror that seemed to be showing images from an entirely different locale.

Sakura waited until everyone had arrived and then let the slideshow play through again. "Most of you should recognize at least a few of the images shown here," she said. "They're all prominent features of folk literature in Earth cultures. Last week I asked you all to bring in a story from your own culture that features an object or artifact that might fit into the category we're studying. I'd like each of you to share the story you chose. It doesn't have to be long; just tell us the basic idea, and what object in the story might be a Precious artifact. Please discuss this among yourselves and compare stories from your own cultures that might be similar. If any of you are in Professor Aziraphale's class on fairy tales, feel free to share anything you might have read there that is relevant here."

She paused. "Some tales from folklore and literature can be found in varying forms around the world; the story of the great flood, for example, can be found in numerous cultures. This tends to indicate that there is an increased likelihood of a true Precious artifact behind its origin, although in the case of the deluge we've yet to determine what that might be. Now please, share your stories."

[OOC: Class Info and Roster. I'll ping in as I can, but I've got plotty obligations today as well so talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. The Prince of Tides was about neither a prince nor tides. Discuss. OCD is up!]