Karaoke For Fun And Profit #5 [Tuesday, Period 5, 6/10]

[mike-cannon.livejournal.com]

The night club simulation was gone, and in its place was a theater stage. "I thought a change of scenery was called for since we're covering show tunes today," said Mike. "These are basically songs that were part of a musical, and in some cases, have become popular songs in their own right, outside the context of the original musical. The show tune used to be very popular through the late 1940s, so this is a genre that works better with an older karaoke crowd. However, musicals seem to be making a comeback these days, so a good show tune is definitely something to have on your karaoke playlist."

"One of the best known show tunes is a little song from a Broadway musical called South Pacific Tropical Ocean. I thought it was especially appropriate this week," he added with a grin before going ahead and singing his own version.

[A very special thank you to mistressofblack for helping me out with today's workshop!]

Epicurist, Gourmet, Foodie [Period One, Monday]

[doubleohblonde]

Today, the class was meeting at the main campfire, which had an even wider selection of dishes set up around it than usual.

"Good morning class," Bond began after the students had arrived. "Today we're going to be looking at the cuisine of South-East Asia, which as the region encompasses a number of diffrent countires, contains a large number of wide and varied dishes, influnced by the different cultures. One ingredient which is considered a staple across the region is fermented fish sauce." This led to an entire lecture on the various uses and region differences of fish sauce.

[ooc: wait for ocd up!

Class Roster|Previous Classes]

Library [6.10]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

As far as Anemone was concerned, the island could relocate here for good.  There was surfing, it was warm, and it was pretty.  If she was honest with herself, it reminded her of home, of the islands Eureka and Renton had discovered under the world. 

Grabbing some surfing magazines, she kicked her feet up on the desk and settled in.  If she had to be indoors, she was going to make the most of her time.

[It's Tuesday and beauuuuuuuuutiful out, so we're running OCD free!  Woo!]

Look Like You Belong: Week 5, Period 3

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Afternoon, everyone," Aly said, smiling once all the students were present.  "You all did a good job last week blending into the tavern.  If anyone was wondering, that's a tavern from my world.  The Dancing Dove was the Court of the King of Thieves for a long time.  And Rispah was the Queen of the Ladies."

"Today we're going to look at what you can do if you have a little bit more time to prepare."  She pointed towards the board where two lists had already been written.

• Develop your legend - your backstory.  Keeping details close to your actual life - at least at first - can help you remember and sound truthful.
• Decide on a current cover: name, job, purpose
• Choose an appropriate look or disguise.
• Gather pocket litter or other props to support the disguise.  Each item needs to be appropriate to the persona. 
  
• Learn local customs, accents, slang. 
  
• Match your vocabulary/language to your character's education.

Five Tips for Maintaining Consistency

• Use correct jargon for your assumed profession/role
• Know how much travel and life experience your character has. 
  
• Avoid personal discussions about your pretend family.
• Close questioning sessions quickly.  Avoid the questions by giving the information before it's asked for and by giving enough information to shut down further questions.
• If you think you're about to be exposed, get out of the one on one conversation.  Invite someone to join the conversational group or suggest a coffee or trip.  Anything to give you a chance to lower the pressure and get back into character.

"These are the guidelines I use when I'm teaching how to go undercover in a spying situation.  What I want you to do today is plan a disguise and a background for blending in in oh, say, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro to be exact.  Work with a partner if you like, and make sure you consider not only what you'll wear, but also your backstory and how you're going to keep it consistent.  There are moddable materials on Brazil throughout the room, feel free to use those as well as this handout for research."

[OOC: OCD is a comin' up!]

Intergalactic Justice, Tuesday Period One

[notjustaworm.livejournal.com]

"Today, we're going to be talking about..."

Jim had his hands full of notes, and he was staring at them in a desperate attempt to find out which one to use. After some flipping (and several notes floating down to the ground in the process), he finally found what he was looking for. "...Art-ee-facts! Also known as worldy... stuff." He gestured at the table he was standing next to-- it held a book, a snowglobe, an egg beater, a roll of Word of the Day toilet paper, a fish in a plastic goldfish bowl and what appeared to be a plush doll with a speech mechanism inside. "Stuff," he continued, doggedly, "Is really really really important if you want to be saving the universe from smaller or greater peril.

"For instance, you never know when you're going to wind up in some kind of underseas mutant fishing problem and if you do, it's really handy to carry a lot of kitchen utensils with you, although obviously you can't keep all of them in your pockets. However," he said, seriously, "The most important part of stuff is when you haven't got any and you desperately need some, like when the universe is threatening to be exploded by a mad cat genius, or someone left your underwear on the wire."

He made a few more bold gestures at the objects on the table, which all seemed to produce some kind of deep, ethereal glow. "This is just a small selection of stuff, but it is a very important one. I want you all to pick the one that looks most important to you, and tell me what you think it might be important for." He grinned. "See this as a great exercise for warming up the great stolid depths of your pristine little imaginations, kids!"

[ wait for the ocd up! ]

Courtly Dance and Defence - Week 5, Period 4

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"So last week we waltzed," Aly said, just as she finished setting up the video equipment.  "This week, we're going to do something a bit less formal but even more fun and salsa."

She pushed play on the DVD and a series of dances started to play.

Once they were done, Aly demonstrated the basic partnered steps of the salsa, letting the class follow along slowly before clapping her hands and switching on some salsa music.  "Throw your hips into it and move with the music," she said with a grin.  "So go ahead and partner up and give this one a try."

Really, she was just amused to see what some of the members of the class would come up with.

[OOC:  omg, I'm sorry for the lateness on this one!  I got called into work on my day off (yay overtime?) but I am back and around now.]

Networking to Success, Class 5, Wed, Period 1 (6/11/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"We're doing a little arts and crafts today," Nathan said after the students had filed thanks to handwavey notice into the computer lab. He held up an example of what they were going to do. "Business cards. You go, you meet people, you want to give them your card. This is what represents you after the handshake is long gone. You want something that conveys who you are. If you're artistic, you want something creative. Night club operator? Something edgy. More traditional job?" Nathan gestured towards himself. "Elegant and classic.

"For information stick to the basics. Name, title, company, contact information." Nathan copies of his own card from the DA's office to show them. "Feel free to make up the details for now. You all have a program set up on the computers. Have a fun with it. Though remember: font choice is everything."

[ooc: OCD coming up!]

Mad Kings and Queens [Wednesday, June 11th, 2nd Period]

[atreideslioness]

"Juana I de Castilla," Ghanima announced abruptly, once the students were seated.  "Queen of Castile and León, Queen of Aragon, Duchess of Burgundy, Duchess of Brabant, Limburg and Lothier, Duchess of Luxemburg, Margravine of Namur, Countess of Artois and Flanders, Countess of Charolais, Countess of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland."

( Read more... )

"Most historians believe she suffered from schizophrenia or post-partum depression, and she was kept locked away and imprisoned by her male family members, rather than killed, because she was needed to legitimize the claims of her father and son to the throne.  Joanna only nominally remained Queen regnant of Castile until her death."

"She is entombed in the Capilla Real of Granada, alongside her parents, her husband, and her nephew Miguel.  Between 1498 and 1507 she gave birth to six children, two emperors and four queens, all of whom carried to some degree her seeds of madness."

[OOC:  Wait for the OCD to go up please.  Enjoy!]