Rage Against the Machine: Etc, Etc, Etc; Tuesday, Second Period [02/08].

[somethingwithturquoise]

Tempting as it was to dip into a very topical lesson about dipping into your resources to enact petty revenge of Empire sympathizers by, oh, IDK, stealing their appointment at your universe's most exclusive space spa for the benefit of your friends and in the spirit of Galentine's Day, Summer had been on sort of a 'headquarters' streak with this class at the moment, and she didn't want to lose that momentum. If she started just jumping around now, the class would be even more of a chaotic nightmare than it already was, so she was sticking to her original plan for the day.

Although it was also tempted to make adjustments and subject them to Screaming Sun planet or Tiny World instead.

But she'd pushed aside her particularly sadistic machinations and all the students would have to deal with today was a simulation in the danger shop of a rather hot and muggy jungle moon of her own invention with a large stone ziggurat-like structure all covered in vines and moss and trees as nature was slowly taking over, which was not at all inspired by or based on anything else in the multiverse, how dare you, but either way, they were all gathered in front of it and Summer made a gesture toward it.

"Hey, guys!" she started. "Look what I found! This massive old temple or whatever in the middle of a thick and protective jungle on the moon of a planet system that most people have kind of forgotten about or is too far-flung to matter in the grand scheme of things. Wow! How convenient! I bet something like this has a lot of potential to be a secret headquarters for a fledgling rebel organization that needs a good Base of Operations to work from!

"Or so it would seem," she concluded her oh-so-subtle intro with a grin. "That's what you guys are going to try and find out today. We talked a little about BoA last week, and so now I want you guys to take a look at a classic example of a potential planetary base. Scope the place out. Look for things that could be beneficial, look for things that could be problems. What do you think we'll need to make the place a good base? Or is it hopeless and we should keep looking? Basically, you've got the run of the place and it's up to you guys to determine whether it's viable or could be viable with a little work, or why you think this place actually won't work at all. Just to get your brains kind of working on these sorts of issues, because having a good, safe place to operate out of could be crucial. It's just a matter of figuring out where to find one."

Living with Trauma, Tuesday 2/8, 3rd Period

[stykera]

Stark, somehow looking even rougher than he had last week, still managed to be at the front of the classroom again today. He was clutching a large coffee from the Perk like his life depended on it, but he was there.

“Sometimes,” he said, “when things happen to you or around you, it makes it difficult to go on. Sleeping can be hard. Eating can be hard. Everything can be hard.” Yes, kids, he was absolutely talking from experience here. Could you tell?

“Once, when I was h-...when I was where I was before I was here, on the ship I lived on, I was forced to do something I didn’t want to do. My friends…they had a good reason for making me do it. I don’t blame them now. Or at least not so much. They went about it all wrong. It hurt. I wasn’t ready. I felt betrayed. I was betrayed. These were people I trusted. I…I shut down. Stopped eating, stopped talking. I couldn’t do anything, even if I wanted to. I didn’t want to. I wanted to hide and be left alone. I wasn’t alone. But then I did hide, when something worse started happening, and I was alone, and things were worse and then…then suddenly things cleared. I nearly drowned, but things improved. I improved, at least. Everything else was still…we were in the middle of a war. Nothing was good but I was a little better than I was. I don’t recommend drowning as a way to stop being trapped inside your own head. But it worked.” No, he was not going to throw himself into the ocean anytime soon to try this again. Probably.

“Sometimes,” he continued after a very long sip from his coffee, “you need something else to focus on. Nearly dying is not a good thing to focus on. Effective. But not good. There are better options.” Stark had not found one that was effective currently but hopefully he would. Eventually.

“School could be a distraction. Work. Friends. Someone to talk to. Just something else to do. Anything else. Going somewhere else can help, if you can. My friends once tried…no, bad example. Never mind. It was a good idea but it didn’t end well.” Hopefully this week’s spa excursion wouldn’t end in trauma and/or deaths that didn’t need to happen.

“So. Something to think about. To talk about. Ways to help yourself move on. Less dramatic ones than nearly dying, if you have them. What has worked for you? What hasn’t? Or…you don’t have to talk about yourself. Just like always. I won’t make you. Never that.”

Books vs Movies, Tuesday first period

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon looked healthier today than he had in some time - not that all the scars had gone away, but he seemed alert and more confident today, if a bit sad.

"I hope you all enjoyed today's reading," he began. "The movie received a number of awards and was critically acclaimed, though there are a number of changes from the book, some for reasons of condensing the action, and others to make the characters' arcs more poignant. So let's watch the film and then discuss whether you think they worked or not."

He wrote on the board. "And for next week, please read 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'.

Mad Kings & Queens: Raving Royals and How To Survive Them (Tuesday, 4th Period)

[atreideslioness]

"Many royal families can be brutal when it comes to lines of succession. Sometimes, a royal will try to protect their beloved sibling. And it does not always go well," Ghanima said once everyone had arrived.

"When Mustafa I -- called both 'Mustafa the Saint' and 'Mustafa the Mad,' was born, a tradition had long been in place in Turkey that newly crowned Sultans would execute any contenders to the throne. Namely, their brothers," Ghanima continued. "This practice was called kardeş katliamı, literally 'fraternal massacring.'"

"When Mustafa's brother, Ahmed, came to the throne, he decided to spare his little brother's life, and instead he was confined to a set of rooms in virtual imprisonment, a system called 'kafes', for fourteen years. Think of it as being locked in a two-bedroom apartment for your entire life, never to set foot outside your door, and to have your contact with the outside world limited."

"You must keep in mind that the early history of the Ottoman Empire is littered with succession wars between rival sons of the deceased sultan. Therefore, it was almost considered the law that once the new sultan ascended to the throne, he had his brothers killed, sometimes dozens of them at once, including infants," Ghanima continued briskly. "Although this practice effectively reduced the number of claimants to the throne, there were several occasions where the Ottoman line seemed destined to end. The introduction of confinement of heirs provided security for an incumbent sultan and continuity of the dynasty. It wreaked havoc on their education and mental health, as they were removed from the harem and their mothers upon puberty, but it was seen as a measure to guarantee succession."

"When Ahmet I died in 1617 his eldest son was only 13 years old and for the first time in 14 generations the succession was altered by the Imperial Council so that the late sultan's brother acceded to the throne as Mustafa I."

"When Mustafa was first freed, his mental health was hotly debated at court. Some said he was divinely inspired and a religious visionary. Others saw his ranting as psychotic rather than celestial. His policies and orders did little to gain any confidence: any kind page or generous farmer could find themselves in an exalted position of considerable power at the royal court. It was hoped that regular social contact would improve Mustafa's mental health, but his behavior remained eccentric. He reportedly pulled off the turbans of his viziers and yanked their beards, which, in their culture, was highly disrespectful. This annoyed enough courtiers to tip the balance of public opinion against him, and after less-than a year, Mustafa was returned to his cage."

"For the next four years, Mustafa remained locked away with two female slaves to care for him. Outside, Osman II, his late brother's son, was ruling. He issued edicts against everything from tobacco to alcohol, and practiced with bow and arrow on living targets around the court. Ultimately, he made himself very unpopular, and was tortured to death in 1622."

"During this period, Mustafa was rather content in his cage. When he was released in 1623, he refused to leave at first, and had to be dragged out at the end of a rope. Despite his objections, questionable mental health, and obvious inadequacies, Mustafa was a reluctant sultan once more."

"Again entrusted with governing Turkey, terrified of the responsibility, and unprepared, he set out to wreak havoc. He slaughtered all those who had been responsible for removing him from his cage, including his nephew. Farm laborers, donkey drivers, and other unlikely subjects found themselves promoted. Taxes went unpaid, armed forces went un-salaried, and nationwide anarchy loomed. Meanwhile, Mustafa ran in search of Osman, convinced he was alive and begging him to return and take over the throne. When he ordered the execution of all Osman's brothers, he was persuaded by his court to renounce the throne, and turn over the monarchy to another one of his nephews."

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