21st Century 101, Tuesday Second Period

[screwyoumarvel]

Steve began today's class by telling his assembled students, "My apologies for my absence last week; you can thank our TA." Who might or might not be present, all things considered. "Medical emergencies aside, it's time for us to move on to the computer. Now, the computer in one form or another has existed since the early part of the last century, with some predecessors like adding machines being built in the 1800s, but those were huge, unwieldy machines, taking up whole rooms and used largely by governments and universities for things like creating and breaking coded messages, or running complex equations. The 'home computer' didn't really begin to exist until the 1980s or so, and they were still a lot bigger, slower, and more unwieldy than even the simplest models available now. The technology's growing in leaps and bounds, and what things will look like in ten or fifteen years is really hard to say. But that doesn't really concern you guys, does it? How to use what we've got does.

( Cut for length )

Photography- Tuesday- 3rd period- Class #5

[fates_jaye]

"Last week I said you had to take an architectural photo for class," Jaye said when class had begun. "Please, for the love of god, tell me no one flaked out on this. Unless there's some weird extenuating circumstance, you live in a building. You could have taken a picture of the school building as you came in and it would count." And if she got like six pictures of those, let's face it, she'd be a little proud and privately deem them her little slackers.

"As for next week, I want you to bring in a picture of something your roommate owns," she said. "I don't care what, just something they own. And if you don't have a roommate, use your significant other. And if you don't have a roommate or a significant other, use a friend. And if you don't have any friends, that's sad, and also fake that you do for this.

"Anyway, let's see those buildings!"

Is Love a Tender Thing?, Wednesday, 6/5

[withoutverona]

"Say you have been on a first date, and you so enjoyed each other's company you went for a second, and then a third," Romeo began, once the students were in their places. "What then? I speak not of physical intimacy, but of something even more difficult: baring your souls."

"Now, if I am spending that much time with someone, it is likely I want to be with them and only them." (For the next 15 minutes, anyhow.)

"But others" -- and here he was looking at Yurika -- "may not be so swift. and that leads to" -- and here he paused to infuse his coming words with a full sense of dread -- "the talk."

"HAI!" Dojima, do not look quite so gleeful. "Here's the thing, you might be head-over-heels for someone, but maybe they aren't quite there yet. Or come from a culture where polyamory is the norm, and the idea of one person is weird. Or there's seven sexes on their planet, not two. Whatever. The point is, you have to have The Talk eventually about how you both see this relationship, and there's ways to do that, and ways NOT to do it."

"For example," Romeo said, "assume nothing. If you assume wrongly, the other person might either pull back at how forward you're being, or wonder why you hold yourself so distant. It may be awkward, but it is always best to ask."

"Don't say you want them all to yourself if you want to date exclusively," Dojima advised. "If you've only known each other a few months? That's creepy. Guys, you have to work extra-hard here not to come off as stalker-esque or anything like that, because too many women have had problems - or have friends who have had problems - with men who don't like the word 'no.' It's not that we don't trust you specifically, but Earth-culture has a history of misogyny that you want to be aware of when courting a woman, or even another man. Don't be a bully."

A brief, sheepish look crossed Romeo's face; he wasn't sure he'd always followed that particular bit of advice. "Pick a time and place where you're both comfortable," he said. "Not when you're angry, or tired, or on your way to an unbreakable appointment. And, while confessions of love in the middle of the apocalypse have a grand history in fiction, they can be less welcome in real life. And then say what you want -- whatever it is, and leaving them plenty of time to answer."

"Passionately kissing the object of your affection during the apocalypse? Great! First confessions of love, and then the apocalypse fizzles? Awwwwwkward," she pointed out. "But be willing to talk about why someone feels the way they do, and don't be shocked if your would-be romantic partner needs time to think about everything. This is romance, wooing. Sometimes it takes time to find what you need."

"And sometimes he or she shows up unexpected," Romeo finished. "And now, please spend the rest of the hour writing down either why you want an exclusive relationship or why you do not. Neither is the wrong answer. If you finish writing, pair up and talk about it."

Survival Skills [Tuesday, Period 4]

[doubleohblonde]

Bond's class was once more in the Danger Shop, and he passed each of them a stack of handouts as they entered.

"Good afternoon, class. Today we'll be focusing on some basic first aid skills." Not that Bond thought anyone in his class might be in any special need of the material, Tony. "So pay attention because while a thorough, in-depth first aid course is ideal, even just the material we're covering today might help save your own or someone else's life one day."

"Now if you'll look through the materials I've given you, you'll find some of the more common first-aid procedures, I want you to pick out the ones you think might be most helpful, read up on them, then quiz yourselves on them."

[ooc: wait for ocd up]

[Class Roster|Class Rules]