Unblinded Science, Period Six [5/31]

[after-17-years.livejournal.com]

Walter had decided to go from Tesla coils, which to his mind were slightly antiquated, to something a bit more modern - touch screens.

Today each student's workstation had two objects for the practicum - a computer, and a cuff meant to be fitted on the arm just below the elbow. However, against the wall are televisions, various video game consoles, a microwave oven with a bowl of papayas next to it, several cell phones, a blender (?) with another bowl of papayas, and several RC cars.

Walter was of the opinion that his cuff prototype was more useful than Carnegie Mellon's, but he did have a bit of an ego about little things like that, so who could really say?

"Have you ever watched a movie that was supposedly set in the future and realized that they were using technology that had not substantively changed from what you know now? Keyboards? Bah!"

Walter's entire face contorted in distaste. "And this is supposed to be from people with imagination?

"Today I want you to use your imaginations with these cuffs. It should be simple to program them using the building blocks on the computer, or if you're capable, I highly recommend home brew applications."

He pulled a cuff onto his arm, strapped it down properly, and demonstrated how to plug it into the computer before unplugging his and holding up his hand to the class to show the four arrows projected onto the palm of his hand. He tapped one of the arrows and one of the remote control cars shot off the table and started cruising down the aisle in the classroom.

"That was nothing. I want to see you do better. Now, experiment with controlling some of the items I have set up for you, or use the cuff to control the computer itself. You may work individually or in groups as you prefer."

Surviving & Thriving -- Monday -- Second Period.

[atreideslioness]

Class today had received handwavey notice to meet down on the beach by the boardwalk.

"There are some things that are constant, no matter where you are from," Ghanima began once everyone had arrived. "Honor. Duty. Service. Virtues that all civilized societies embrace."

"Today is a day that Americans set aside to honor those who have died honoring their duty to their country. Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as 'Decoration Day,' it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor American Civil War, as it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War," with a slight nod to Algren. "It was expanded after World War I to include all soldiers who die in-service to the nation."

"Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries."

"It's also a long weekend," Algren said, standing there in his uniform with his hands clasped behind his back. Yes, this was his idea of paying his respects, as a Union veteran of the American Civil War. And? "Unless you're crazy enough to show up for classes here. So we're going to take it easy on the lot of you. Enjoy the beach. I'll be grilling burgers and hot dogs if you're hungry. And try to think patriotic thoughts, please."

Why Algren was crazy enough to stand over a barbecue on the beach in this heat in a full wool uniform was anybody's best guess. Just go with it.

"We'll have a moment of silence before we eat, in which we ask you to reflect on those who have died in the line of duty," Ghanima agreed. "And for those that are interested, Captain Algren and I will be headed to the mainland after class, to handwavily place poppies at a local memorial."

[OOC: The OCD awaits!]

Physical Education, 4th Period - 5/31

[onepunchguy.livejournal.com]

When class arrived, there were dozens of red rubber balls awaiting them in the gym. This could only signal one sort of event for the day.

"Glad you all could make it," Guy said with a lazy drawl. "Since today's Memorial Day and I'm sure you're all itchin' to get out of here, it's gonna be an easy day. just a simple game of dodgeball."

Simple-ish game.

"Last person left standing, gets a free pass for the rest of the semester. Incentive enough for you kids? Get to it before I change my mind."

Library, Monday [5/31]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Local holiday or not, Gabrielle still showed up for her weekly shift with an armload of blank scrolls and her quill. Said supplies got deposited on the collections desk before she made the coffee and tackled some of the morning reshelving, but the second she could get back to them she did, and stationed herself at the desk to scribble away.

When inspiration struck, why argue with it?

Birth of TV Comedy, Monday, Period 1

[chosehumanity]

"We'll be talking about the difference between multiple-camera and single-camera sitcoms today," Mitchell announced to the class. You know, in case they wanted to know that.

There was very little out of the ordinary about this, beyond the fact that the entire class had been asked to meet on the beach. Mitchell had brought in some beanbags (and, all right, gotten some of the cleaning staff to help out), a laptop balancing on the prime beanbag.

There was also tea and coffee.

"For a long while, sitcoms were recorded in front of a studio audience, like you," he continued. "To best splice that up into something you could actually show on television, they simply put multiple cameras up above the stage, so they could alternate between different viewpoints. The audience's laughter was also recorded, so it could be put under the action going on on screen to show where the jokes were, and get the people watching at home to laugh along." A pause. "In theory, at least. More and more, companies started filming things in this set-up without an audience, and adding in canned laughter afterward. Sometimes, that led to really stupid jokes. Here's a hint for aspiring directors: putting canned laughter in after a line doesn't make that line funny."

He rubbed his hands together. "This became the accepted standard for a long while, although there were several series shot with a single-camera set-up in the 1960s. But as time went on, if you were filming a comedy, you were going to do it with multiple cameras. You had your abberations, sure. Every once in a while, a sitcom would come along, big or small, that used a single camera. Near the end of the 90's, people were starting to chafe at the bit. The Evening Sports came on; they used a single camera. After them, Chris in the Center came around. With that one, Pandora's Box had been opened. Multiple-camera sitcoms became far less plentiful, the laugh track was thrown out the window, and a more filmic approach to comedy was chosen."

He patted the laptop. "I'm going to show you three clips," he said, "And I want you to tell me what the chosen camera set-up does for the story. A while back, I asked you all to find something in your life you could make a sitcom about. Which camera set-up would you use, you think?"

Home Ec is Outrageous!; Monday, Period Five [ 05/31 ].

[byneptunesbeard.livejournal.com]

The class was meeting in the danger shop today, set up to resemble just your every day, average house.

Well, perhaps your everyday, regular fraternity house on a big party campus on a Sunday morning...

( Cleaning House! )

"Any questions?" he asked. "If not, have at it! Defeat that dirt! Go on your germ genocide! Banish that bacteria! You've got until the end of class to do these rooms proud!"

[[ please with for the OCD has arrived! ]]

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Flight and Flying [Tuesday June 1]

[sith_happened]

When the students entered the flight shed, they would notice a sequence of lights spread across the ceiling.

"Meet Drol," Anakin said, waving his hand. "The god of the moon of Iego, who brings destruction to all those who attempt to leave." He snorted. "In reality, Drol was a system of laser emitters programmed to track onto a ship as it hit orbit and blow it out of the sky. For today, you will be piloting a G9 Rigger freighter, which is neither sexy nor particularly speedy, but it's your first time flying in space--at least in this class--so I'm starting you in something that can take a little beating up."

He flashed them a tiny smile. "For you beginners, you will only have to navigate around the asteroids in Iego's atmosphere. People with a little more experience will face off against Drol. Figure out how to disable the system without exploding, please."

Maritime Safety, [Monday, Period Three]

[doubleohblonde]

Bond had informed his students to meet down at the pier this class, where he as well as a number of sleek jet skis awaited them.

"Good morning class," he greeted them. "As you can probably guess, today we're going to be trying out these jet skis here, but first you'll need to change into more appropriate clothing."

After the class changed into the provided wetsuits and Bond had explained the basics of safely handling a jet ski, he continued "Now, as you can see, the ignition key is attached to your safety vests, so if you do happen to fall off, the engines will cut out immediately, and you'll be able to swim back to your jet ski easily enough. So just remember to stay within the buoys and try not to do anything particularly stupid."

"But that's quite enough from me." Bond clapped his hands together. "Whenever you're ready."

[ooc: wait for ocd up!]

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