Basic Mis-Intelligence [Monday, Period 2]

[doubleohblonde]

The Danger Shop was back to the Art Deco style theatre from earlier in the semester.

"Good morning and welcome back from your holiday," Bond greeted them. "Now I was planning on showing something different today, but I'm give to understand that you were without access to certain vital necessities during your trip, so for those of you who missed it last week, we'll be watching the Agent M finale." Because he was kind like that, also he wanted to watch it again.

[Class Roster]

Defending Yourself Against Magic | Tuesday, 4th period

[nuclear_snide]

Bob was relaxed and...well, happy for Bob this week, though not tanned. The Danger Room looked a bit like an alchemist's lab...in a big open room with a lot of sunlight and breezy curtains looking out over the ocean. What? Somebody had liked vacation.

"Right," he told the students. "Wards. Broadly defined, anything that keeps something from coming near it, crossing over it, or affecting it. More specifically, they tend to be symbols or substances - or both - that keep away things that want to hurt you. There are a lot of different kinds of ( wards )

Creative Problem Solving, Tuesday, period 3

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

[Class #8: The Prairie Dog Maze Job!]

“Welcome back! I hope you guys had as much fun as we did on break.” Parker was looking manically pleased with herself about that job. “And I hope you didn't get arrested in Mexico.”

"Though if you did, you clearly got back out," Eliot said with a shrug. "So see it as a learnin' experience."

Parker had to nod in agreement on that point, then went on, gesturing to this week’s Danger Shop set-up: what looked like a high-tech cubicle farm, with people working on computers and phones, ignoring the newcomers, except to pop a head over a divider every once in a while. Floor-to-ceiling windows comprised two walls, and there were clearly marked exits.

“Your job is to get out of this building. It’s 55 stories, and the elevators may not work for you. You aren't suppose to be here. Also, there are security guys roaming around, and they've been told to hang onto anyone who isn't cleared. Those exits? Go to other rooms like this one. So you better be able to remember where you've been before.”

"Basically," Eliot said, looking juuuuust a little too pleased with himself. "It's a giant maze. That really wants to put you in jail."

“So! Pair up, or triple up, or go it on your own, and try to get out.” Parker beamed at them all. “Do it with computers, do it with smarts, do it with punching people. There’s popcorn of all kinds once you get out, so you can watch other people try.”

How to Develop a Personal Style [Tuesday]

[begmetwice.livejournal.com]

Today when students entered the Danger Shop, they'd find that it was a wall-to-wall room with big, plush, comfy pillows and bean bag chairs strewn across the floor. The usual changing screens were off to the side, along with several tasteful armoires. Today, there was also a nice assortment of pastries, as well as tea and coffee for anyone who'd like.

In short, it was really pretty cozy.

Irene, who was curled up in an especially comfy-looking bean bag, might have provided a clue with her attire, per usual. "Fashion doesn't go away when you fall asleep," she greeted everyone with a small smile over the rim of her mug. "Now, there are always going to be days where you only feel like pulling on a t-shirt and crawling into bed until the world stops exploding around you -- and those days, I do not fault you for. And really, if you're content to always sleep in overwashed t-shirts and boxer shorts, more power to you. But the world of sleepwear is filled with variety that I'd like to invite you to explore. Different textures are comforting in different ways. There are varying styles for different occasions. Go find something you like and get comfortable in it -- it doesn't have to be something that fits you like a glove, obviously," she added, gesturing to herself. "That's not always the point. Today we're seeking comfort, but with the understanding that we don't have to sacrifice our personalities to do so."

She smiled, waving them towards the armoires. "Then I'd like to talk about what you all saw last week. How you felt about the clothing on the trip."

Because she certainly had opinions.

Ethics, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (2nd period)

[sith_happened]

"I saw many of you on the spring break trip last week," Anakin began, "trying to adjust to being thrust into a time that wasn't your own. For some of you, this isn't the first time you've been faced with a culture that's unfamiliar: Fandom has a habit of taking people from various places and times and tossing them together. In some ways, it's amazing there aren't more fistfights as cultural mores and ethical assumptions rub against each other...."

"Sometimes these mores and assumptions can vary so thoroughly, it might seem almost incapable to bridge the divide. Though obviously, your world's 70s were not quite so drastic." Obi-Wan smiled faintly. "Now, one who experiences these differences often enough in enough contexts often develops an ability to deal with these issues diplomatically, swallowing one's judgment." Beat. "Most of the time..."

Not that he was looking at Anakin or anything.

"And sometimes they should be judged because they're wrong," Anakin replied. "Unlimited smoking, no sunscreen--that stuff will actually kill you."

"It can be difficult to judge what is an issue of lagging progress, and what is simply a cultural difference," Obi-Wan said. "As an outsider, especially, it might be nearly impossible to judge if something requires a change of any kind."

"So today we want you to pair up and think of something from your home culture or galaxy that might surprise or even shock a visitor," Anakin said, "and to decide if it's lagging progress or a cultural difference." He held out his hands. "For me, I would say that I find your universe's lack of space travel to be lagging progress, but if you visited my galaxy, you'd probably be shocked by the acceptance of violence and almost constant, if low-level, warfare, as normal." He arched an eyebrow at Obi-Wan. "Master Kenobi, would you agree with my assessment?"

"I would say the lack of space travel would be both a case of lagging progress, and of some snobbery on your part, Master Skywalker," Obi-Wan said, sounding amused. "Though I daresay your last point shows some manner of bias to our present location. I'm led to believe this is a relatively peaceful area on this planet." He looked to the class. "There are areas of our galaxy engaged in cultural practices we find distasteful, but there is often little we can do about them. But I believe the position of the Jedi, as they were, might also be something of a shock. I cannot recall running across any such organisation in my studies of this planet."

Mad Kings & Queens: Raving Royals and How To Survive Them (Wednesday, 2nd Period)

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima was sitting on her desk as the class filed in today, a cup of spiced coffee clutched in her hands.  Against the wall by the door, large carafes of coffee, tea, and juice sat on a table and waited for the students.

"I'm sure many of you had busy break weeks," she said, watching as they got settled.  "Regardless, I need you awake and with me today."

( When the game is over, the king and the pawn go into the same box. )

"Mustafa returned to his cage one last time, late in 1623.  He died there sixteen years later."