Library, Monday [2/8]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Like the last time she'd stepped out of a portal just in time to head to work, Gabrielle looked tired today, and was eyeing her cup of fresh coffee in a way that 'solicitously' couldn't describe without backup. Unlike the last time, it was for utterly innocuous reasons. (As much as the term 'innocuous' could apply when dealing with -- on top of the one who was actually a princess -- a new doppelganger of Xena's who was a little . . . well . . . not cut out for life as a Hestian virgin.)

Actually, the really tiring part had been trying not to strangle Joxer; she could have sworn he hadn't been this much of a sexist jerk last time she'd been home. Maybe next time she did, he wouldn't be.

But anyhow, it certainly gave her something new to write about today once she'd finished her morning tasks (she hadn't realized you could get reference books on that), and every now and then a tiny, amused quirk to Gabrielle's lips would appear for a moment or two as she sat at the desk with her parchment and quill.

Japanese Etiquette & Tradition, 2/08/10, Period 5

[shiroi_tiger]

Once again, class was held in the Danger Shop. The layout was flashy, eye-grabbing, and particularly colorful today. After all, Algren's students had essentially stepped out of the school hallway and into a brightly-lit fairground. The sky was dark, with the promise of fireworks later during the class, and there were rows upon rows of stalls with everything from food to games, just waiting for the students to poke around at them.

( Of course Algren had to make them wait with a lecture. )

[After the OCD is up!]

World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

[atreideslioness]

When students arrived for class today, they'd find various teapots set out around the room, each one with a neatly-printed card saying what type of tea was in it, and enough cups for everyone to have two or three different types.

"Amaterasu, Amaterasu-ōmikami, or Ōhiru-menomuchi-no-kami, is a sun goddess and one of the principal Shinto deities or kami," Ghanima said once the class had assembled, sipping her own tea serenely.  "Her name, Amaterasu, means literally "that which illuminates Heaven". She was born from the left eye of Izanagi as he purified himself in a river and went on to become the ruler of the Higher Celestial Plain, or Takamagahara.  She is also said to be directly linked in lineage to the Imperial Household of Japan and the Emperor, who are considered descendants of the kami themselves." 

( Do you need proof of God? Does one light a torch to see the sun? )

"Eventually, Susanoo would apologize by gifting Amaterasu with the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, a powerful sword that he found in the body of a eight-headed dragon.  The sword would later be renamed the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, and become one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan."

 

[OOC:  Wait for the OCD to rise like the sun! The OCD has risen!]

History of Philosophy, 2/8, Period 2

[tyler_gone]

One sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes. -- Antoine St. Exupery

It was, apparently warm-n-fuzzy day in Tyler's corner of the universe. The desks had been pushed out of the way, there were pillows on the floor, and hot cocoa and coffee were out for anyone who wanted them.

It was ... actually a little bizarre in how normal and cozy it was.

"Hey," Tyler greeted. "So the new idiot librarian decided to send over The Little Prince instead of The Prince today. I am going to make the best of it and have you talk about the philosophy of a kid's book."

"Anyhow, so this is a story about a kid who lives on a planet all by himself and spends half the book talking to a rose. Mostly, it's about saying goodbye. The reason it's interesting is there's some philosophical stuff in here. For our discussion question today, I want you to consider the quote on the board. Do you agree or disagree? Talk about it. You can also, if you want, look at what it means when a child is the only person in a story with any sense."

Horror 101, Monday

[chosehumanity]

"Persecution is not new," Mitchell began. Why, yes, the Raven-Max thing had been resolved, he'd picked that up, but he was still in a mood. "...and as to how this applies to the previous lessons, see this as your first witch class." See? That worked. "Persecution," he began again, "Is hardly new. Fears, horror, it causes people to behave in strange ways. Something odd happens, someone gets killed, someone gets hurt, and suddenly everyone's jumping at shadows. The people who wind up suffering, are those of us who are strange. Off, somehow. Away from the norm."

Mitchell had no issues. None at all.

"The witch trials are the easiest example of this," he said, nearly poking a hole in the blackboard as he made notes. "It's funny, because in the 8th century, belief in witches was actually outlawed, you see? But it never kept anyone. Something would happen, like the plague, and someone else would see some political gain or something, and whip everyone up into a frenzy. They'd run around and devise all kinds of bizarre tests, like throwing women into the water, just to see if they were witches. And then of course they'd be burned at the stake."

He took a moment to eye that particular note on his blackboard. "...Anyway," he started, "how this links back to horror in fiction is that people are always terrified of chaos," he marked that word big time, "While at the same time they all fall into it. I mean, what is persecution but organized chaos? You pinpoint someone to blame and then rip them out of the house. And then another one. And then another one. It's this cycle that keeps feeding itself. Hence the Monster from meta for Frankenstein being forced to flee from monsters himself. It's a common theme, that way."

He dropped the chalk and turned around. Listed off a couple more movies that ended in or featured running someone out of the house with torches and pitchforks. "...You can even pull it into perspective with today. You know, stars and the papparazzi and that sort of thing. People spiralling into chaos after every incident." He dusted off his half-gloved hands by wiping them off each other. "So we'll be talking about persecution. Who knows what it feels like to be persecuted? Have you ever been drawn into a mob, or felt the need to? How did it feel?"

At least he was getting less overcompensate-y about it all?

"And we'll watch some film, of course." Meta for Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition sketch. Oh yeah. He was on a roll today.

[[ ocd up, have at! ]]

Study Hall, Monday [2/08]

[takesaftermom.livejournal.com]

In honor of the Super Bowl, Summer set out some football themed snacks. There were also heart shaped cookies and other Valentine's Day themed treats.

She was on a roll with the themed snacks, don't judge.

Summer settled down with coffee and her laptop, checking out aquarium websites. There was one on the mainland she was considering visiting.

[OCD coming up!]

Monomyths [Tuesday, February 9, Period 3]

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

Cindy started class with an announcement. "So, as your syllabi say, next week is your midterm. We'll be finishing up Act One of the heroic journey today, so you can probably guess what your midterm will be about. Let me remind you that I have office hours on Mondays and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about the material covered in class. Also, if you don't want to watch Wendy for your final, you have until next week to provide me with a suitable work of literature or media for me to okay instead. I suggest bringing in several different works in order to ensure there's something suitable for me to okay."
( Snipped for lecture )

[Please to be waiting for OCD up! Sorry for the delay--my power cord had gotten pulled out without me noticing till it was too late.]

Ethics [Tuesday, February 9, 2nd period]

[sith_happened]

When the Ethics class arrived in the Danger Shop, they stepped into an entirely different world: An incredibly dry, hot one that smelled really bad.

Anakin waved his hand around the room. "Welcome to the embodiment of gluttony," he said, "the palace of a Hutt."

He concentrated on the controls on the far side of the room, and the simulation sprung to life: dozens of beings drinking, eating, and dancing, with all activity centered around a vile slug of a beast laying on the raised dais (not that it really had many other options for range of motion) at the front of the room.

"That," Anakin said, nose wrinkling in disgust as he pointed, "is a Hutt. This particular version is named Jabba, and is one of the most powerful crime lords in the galaxy." Or was, but he wouldn't exactly be mentioned what happened to Jabba in a class with Leia in it. "Today is an interactive experience for you, class. Take a good hard look around. See the effects that gluttony can have."

His eyes went flat. "Touch any of the dancing girls and you'll regret it. And try not to get addicted to any of the drugs those aliens--" he jerked his thumb toward the bar "--are pushing."

Living With Difficult Women [Tuesday, Period 5]

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"I feel like breaking into groups last week ended up being quite productive," Max began. Even if he was worried that some of his students were learning far too much for his peace of mind. Still, considering that some of his students insisted that they didn't know any difficult women, it was well worth increasing the world's supply.

"Additionally, I believe seeing some of the things I'm trying to teach in action provided a better understanding of what we're trying to learn here. Demonstrations are always more useful than theory, after all. So with that in mind, I've asked someone else to assist me this week, and luckily for all of you, she graciously agreed."

( He grinned over at... )

"Exactly," Max agreed. "Now, much like last week, we'll be splitting into discussion groups. Both Ghnima and I have been involved in these sorts of situations from different directions, so we each have different perspectives. Pick the one you think will be most helpful to you."