Flight & Flying [Tuesday, June 16, 4th period]

[sith_happened]

Anakin was nodding off as he leaned against the door leading into the flight shed.

Not that he would admit that. If asked, he was meditating. While standing up. And kind of snoring.

His eyes cracked open when most of the students arrived. "Today you're going to avoid flying into black holes," he said. "You're going to make the Kessel Run, though if I hear of any of you becoming drug runners--which was what this particular route was used for--you will be very, very sorry."

He flicked his hand towards the wall, where a two dimensional map of the 18-parsec run was illuminated. "The route takes you around The Maw--which is a series of black holes--and leads you through an uninhabitable—but far easier to navigate—area of space called The Pit." He smiled a little at Ben, who he was sure knew this entire area by heart. "The Pit is an asteroid cluster encased in a nebula arm, which makes sensors and pilots go virtually blind. There's a high chance that pilots, weary from the long flight through real space, will crash into an asteroid."

He arched up an eyebrow. "And yes, I know that parsec is a unit of time. If you swing closer to the Maw, you can cut the distance, and thus the time of the flight. But more likely, you'll get sucked into a black hole and be crushed."

Anakin waved his hand, and the map was replaced by a picture of the ship they'd be flying. "This ship and its," he swallowed back an "irritating" "pilot made the run in under 12 parsecs, which I think stands as the fastest time through..." he shot Ben a questioning look.

"Dad and Uncle Han shaved some time off of that a few years later," Ben corrected.

Anakin looked annoyed. He hadn't shaved much off of the original twelve.

"Very well. Climb into the Falcon, try not to hit asteroids, black holes or the ships that are chasing you."

Library [6.16]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Another Tuesday, another day in the library, this time with Anemone buried up to her ears in surfing magazines.

It was summer. Work could wait.

[OCD is in-hiding, but the post is open.]

SAT Prep [Workshop #6]

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"We're almost through the session," Veronica said once her students had all arrived. "Next week, I'm going to let you all take the practice test so you know what to expect when you go to take the test for real."

She started passing out some handouts . "Today we're going to cover the writing section. Here are some tips for approaching the writing section. I've also prepared some practice questions for you."

Archeology: Tuesday

[cautiousfellow.livejournal.com]

When the students arrived at the Danger Shop today, they would find it turned into an old library that was located in Venice.

"Sometimes you never know when you might run into an opportunity in archeaology," Indiana said as he led the class through the library. "For instance, beneath this library is a series of catacombs that leads to a tomb of a Knight that reportedly found the Holy Grail."

Walking into the middle of a tiled floor (which just happened to have the Roman numeral for ten on it), Indiana grabbed a heavy pedastal used for holding those damn velvet ropes that keep people from directly walking up to a desk to check out a book. "The knight had vanished hundreds of years ago in his quest and showed up in Venice supposedly with a marker that would lead to the final resting place of the Holy Grail."

Indy then took the object and began smashing the floor.

"Your goal today is to navigate your way through the catacombs," he said continuing to smash the floor, "And get a rubbing of the marker using. Which is going to be on the shield of the knight. And since this is a spur of the moment? You can only use the items you have on you."

And with one violent smash a hole broke through the floor. "Oh and be warned: It smells down there. There are dead bodies, polluted waters, rats and also a fanatical sect of so-called knights who want to keep the grail a secret."

He gave them all a mischievious grin. "Good luck!"

[OCD is up!]

Sexual Anthropology, 6/16

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

The class is over here. Sorry!

Beach Play - Tuesday - Period 5

[baskiceball.livejournal.com]

Marshall had asked the students to head to the Danger Shop today and when they got there they would notice that the beach was looking a bit different than usual. The waves were bit higher than the ones usually seen in Maryland and the water a bit bluer. There were boogie boards in the sand next to where Marshall was standing.

Guess what they were going to be doing today?

"Maryland isn't exactly the best place for surfing so we're going to go to the magical land of make believe today. Surfing is some of the most fun you get at the beach. Riding waves is exciting and getting knocked on your ass can be fun as long as you land in something soft...or watery. And watching people falling on their ass while trying to surf is fun for everyone." Save for the person falling, that is. "Now we're not going to actually be surfing today because I don't need any of you guys getting a surfboard in the fact and knocking your front teeth out. We're going for boogie boards because they are softer and easier to use."

"What you want to do is lay on the board in the water and wait for the beginnings of the wave to start up. Start swimming with the wave until it starts doing the moving for you. Then you ride it. Ride it long and hard and..." Marshall trailed off for a second. He hoped Lily was going to be home after class ended. "...uh...oh, right. You ride the wave until you fall face first into the sand and scrape up your knees. It's fun!"

Really. It was.

"So grab a board and go seek out those waves," Marshall said. "As always, try not to drown."

Logically Speaking, Period 6, 16 Jun '09

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"If you're looking to win an argument, it helps not to be factually wrong. Particulary about something easily disproven," Mohinder began. "Your completely valid argument about penguin habitats will be really undermined if start off by saying they can fly."

"So," he said, handing out papers. "First of all you need to be sure of what saying. Generalising arguments might make an impression but gives your opponent a chance to pick holes, find exceptions, distract from your original position. If an analogy gets your point across, use it, but remember you haven't proved your point."

"It's not always about being right," Mohinder said ruefully, "But about being convincing. Ad hominem attacks on the person rather than their argument, threats of force, or bias of language - someone is cowardly or cautious, steady or dull - are all useful tactics if you can make them work to your advantage."

"Now, with those tactics - but without violence, please - you're going to try and convince each other of one of these arguments."

[And the good ship OCD has set sail!]