The Art of Peace; Thursday, Third Period [10/06].

[sake_shinigami]

"Good morning, ducklings ♥!" The classroom was in its usual state of desks pushed back to make room for a comfy circle in the middle with the requisite hot tea, but there were also several other boxes scattered around, and Shunsui had in front of him a pile of paper with something that looked like a list.

"So far in this class, we have had the opportunity to discuss a some of the ideas behind pacifism," he started, "and after the break, we'll be exploring some methods, as well ♥. But since we are so close to the break, I certainly wouldn't want us to get too involved in anything too deep ♥. So today, we shall turn our attention to the art of some may say distraction, other may so of productivity," certainly not him!, " but what I shall call simply the Art of Hobbies ♥.

"Now," he continued with a faint chuckle, a small, serene smile on his face as he ducked his head slightly, "I'm sure you can all take a guess as to what my hobby is ♥!"

If you were thinking drinking or sleeping or womanizing, you were wrong.

Those were lifestyles, not mere hobbies.

"Writing ♥!" Shunsui announced proudly. "I am the author of two published books, you know, and I am working on a third ♥." The same third book he was working on last time he taught this class, no less! Both a few semesters ago and several years ago! You couldn't rush art, after all. "To me, writing is like releasing the poetry of the soul onto paper so you can share it with others ♥. But that is just one example of a peaceful hobby, or a hobby in which one can engage as a sort of self-meditation, as a centering technique to remove oneself from the insanity of life and absorb themselves in the tranquility of creation ♥. I'd also like you all to meet Nanao-chan VII ♥."

Here, Shunsui scooted forward a small bonsai tree.

"The art of maintaining a bonsai is quite a relaxing, peaceful hobby as well, and I've had this one for quite some time now, actually ♥ ! One of the kindest and most peaceful women I know, for example, is an expert at Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement ♥. One of the less peaceful women I know turns to organization to calm her down ♥. One could maintain a zen garden, or knitting, I hear, is still quite popular! Make scarves, not war ♥! There are, of course, traditional forms of art, from painting and drawing to sculpture work and pottery. And, speaking of women I know," of which there were clearly many, "I can think of at least two who would insist wholeheartedly that shopping is a hobby, though having seen one of them engaged in such actions, I would argue that it is hardly a peaceful one ♥."

With that, Shunsui began to pass around the papers.

"On these papers is a list of various hobbies to give you some inspiration ♥. Of course, you are not limited to these options, and you are to avoid any of the violent ones, such as hunting or lawn darts..." The latter of which had actually been outlawed at Shinigami picnics... "But these boxes in the classroom today have anything you might need to get you started on exploring a new hobby, and that is what today is for ♥! Try to find something that you think sounds relaxing, meditative, productive, and most importantly new to help keep you away from the ever present sway of negative influences ♥!"

"Go forth, my little ducklings, and discover something new ♥! Or if you already have a hobby you're quite fond of, feel free to share it with the class and let us all know about it. And, of course, if you've got any questions, I'll be happy to help if I can ♥."

Sexy Crimes, Thursday - 2nd Period

[ohvalleyofpenis]

There wasn't a teacher in the classroom and not just because one of them was currently a chipmunk. No, no. Don't be ridiculous.

Instead, there was a bowl of candy on the teacher's desk along with a note that said: Which one of you will steal all the candy first?

Because healthy competition in a heist? Always a good plan.

Look, just be glad to have a nice, easy class before the fall trip. Also? Free candy. Who didn't enjoy some free candy?

Library, Thursday 10/6

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle was certain there had not been this many books on France previously but she wasn't going to complain about the opportunity to learn about where she was traveling in just a few days.

The library had kindly provided guidebooks, history books, and even a few novels set in France. One weighed, Belle thought, as much as a brick and may have been even larger.

She was skimming a few to see where she wanted to start while also keeping an eye out for any gremlins. She did not want a repeat of Tuesday. Ever.

Intro to Palaeontology - Thursday, 1st Period

[itsananomaly]

This week Cutter was not hung over, so as much as he would have liked to have just continued with another movie day, especially with the trip being next week he decided to give his lecture that he had originally intended for last week.

“This week we’re going to begin looking at field work in palaeontology and what’s involved,” Cutter explained as he started that week’s lecture, handing out his usual extensive notes , “we’ll do the practical component when we come back from after the break but for this week I thought we’d start covering the theory and look into the Fossil Record since this is one of the tools that is used to help us identify and understand how old a fossil is,”

“The Fossil Record is the history of life and we can study this through the remains of organisms throughout the geographical time periods in sedimentary rocks,” he continued, “the Fossil Record includes organisms such as bones, teeth, eggs and there are two methods used to help us date a fossil, these are relative dating and absolute dating. Relative dating is where studying the Fossil record can be useful, this is where we study the strata of rocks and you can tell the relative age from the position they were found in the rocks. The higher the rock or fossil was located, means that they are younger in age,”

“Absolute dating is where we use radiometric dating methods to determine how precise age of the rock or fossil,”

“Finally the Fossil Record can help us understand evolutionary links, I mentioned the other week that the Archaeopteryx is an example of understanding the evolution from dinosaurs to birds and the Fossil Record helps us understand this link based on studying the similarities and the features to modern birds,”