Food Tour of Fandom [Mon, Period 2]

[doubleohblonde]

Today the Danger Shop resembled a large open air bazaar in the late evening, and smoke and the smell of cooking meat and vegetables filled the air.

"Morning and welcome back from your break," Bond greeted the class. "Unlike such as foods bread, beers and cheeses, the origins of the kebab can be traced to a single country, namely Persia, however it does share much of the ubiquity of the former in the cusines of many modern cultures. This is due in part to how early it began to spread, there's archaeological evidence of cooking equipment for making kebabs in Greece dating at least as far back as the 17th century BCE."

"Naturally, in that span of time, there have developed many regional variations, with reasons for these variations arising for a number of reasons including religious dietary restrictions, scarcity or abundance of ingredients, and existing food traditions."

"Most of these different types of kebab are in evidence today, made from a variety of meats and non-meats. I encourage you to try a range of them."

[ooc: wait for ocd up]

[Class Roster|Class Rules]

Polar Opposites, Tuesday

[ofthe-wilds.livejournal.com]

"Military conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace," Morrigan began briskly. Yes, you'd all just been on a tropical vacation. No, she didn't care. "The United States discontinued the draft in 1973, moving to an all-volunteer military force, thus there is no mandatory conscription. However, the Selective Service System remains in place as a contingency plan; men between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register so that a draft can be readily resumed if needed."

"That makes me wonder," Alistair mused philosophically. "Why are there so few women Wardens? I mean, we sort of get conscripted, and I don't think anyone signs up the men alone..."

"Because your city women end up with arranged marriages for heirs and that sort of thing, and the common woman is too smart to want to be a Warden," Morrigan offered dryly. "Chain mail is heavy and smells bad."

"Hey, I do not smell bad!" Alistair retorted. "You should try smelling yourself sometime." That weekend? That had been traumatic, Morrigan. Like, olfactory speaking.

"The point being that when conscription happens, usually the males take the brunt for whatever ridiculous reason," Morrigan continued, rolling her eyes. "Not just in this country, but others. Some have continued, mandatory military service, where both genders participate fully."

"Anyway," Alistair continued, "Is this a good thing or a terrible thing? I can't see the problem in any group fighting the good fight conscripting the people they need, if it's important..." It was what the Wardens had done for centuries, after all. "It's not necessarily a bad thing for the people, either. Some of us embrace the chance to be part of something a little bigger than ourselves... that is not the Chantry." Ew.

"There are, however, those who oppose military action or service on the grounds of moral or religious principles," Morrigan pointed out. "And it has been noted that military draft often appears to unfairly target the poor and lower middle classes, with children of rich families getting excused."

"Wouldn't get away with that in Ferelden," Alistair commented. "Well, not with the Wardens, anyhow."

"Oh, of course," Morrigan replied sweetly. "The Wardens will take anyone." Buuuuuuuuuurn!

"No, actually, we won't," Alistair said, giving her the side-eye. "What I mean is that if we use the Right of Conscription, anyone has got to come. Doesn't matter if you're an Arl's son. That seems right to me."

"So, instead, one organization is allowed the right to rip apart families for their own purposes, without answering to any sort of higher court or authority?" Morrigan asked. "My, how very like the Chantry and the Circle."

"The Grey Wardens are nothing like the Chantry," Alistair retorted. "We serve because we absolutely have to, not because of the whims of some Cleric or another."

"Who is it that determines you 'absolutely have to,' and why?" Morrigan challenged. "It is still the elite making decisions for the larger part of the populace."

Except that they didn't have time to argue all day. "Debate," she said shortly, waving a hand at the students. "Those of you in favor of military draft, with Alistair. Those opposed, with me. Then you'll get up and present your views and possibly be rebutted by your classmates."

Sex Ed, Tuesday, First Period

[dollpocalypse]

When class arrived today, they might have noticed that there was no teacher there. Which meant they were being left in the hands of Tony Stark and Topher Brink.

God help them.

"Mr. Rogers is, uh, busy today," Tony said once everyone had arrived. "So, we're just going to have a nice, easy day with a movie."

Right, Topher?

"Also," Topher added, clearly abusing his new power, "no talking unless we like you."

He was a fair guy.

To Tony, he muttered, "This movie's, like, appropriate, right?"

Tony rubbed the bridge of his nose in response to that. "More and more, I think."

He pushed play, starting the movie.