Introduction to Paleobiology - Monday, 1st Period

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor was in front of the class, notes in hand. There was a particular smile on his face as he got ready for class as he had just started a class on paleobiology for his university studies. So, he had been really digging into the research and all and was excited to get into the meat of paleobiology with the class. When it was time he cleared his throat and started.

“To start off our exploration of paleobiology we are going to focus on the field of paleobotany today. Paleobotany applies the principles and methods of paleobiology to flora, especially green land plants, but also includes fungi, algae, seaweed, and other micro as well as macro plants. It also deals with the recovery and identification of plant remains from geological contexts, and their use for the biological reconstruction of past environments, and the evolutionary history of plants, with a bearing upon the evolution of life in general. When archeologists, paleontologists, and even modern-day scientists look at the remains of plants, we can learn a lot about distant and not-so-distant histories of the earth. Fossilized tree rings can give clues about droughts, rainy seasons, and even volcanic activity. The appearance and disappearance of certain pants from the fossil record can give us information about the evolution of plant life and a look at extinction events in the past.” Connor smiled as he looked over at Cutter and nodded so he could continue with anything he wanted to add.

Cutter smiled at Connor as he continued the lecture, “Paleobotany has become important to the field of archaeology with the use of Phytoliths in relative dating,” he explained, “this is a microscopic structure made of silica that can be found in some plant tissues and these persist even after a plant has been decayed and it is through this that this can help archaeologists reconstruct the plant at the site. Phytoliths can provide evidence of both economically important plants and those that are indicative of the environment at a particular time period. Today, we’re going to be looking at some slides of preserved pollen fossils to help get an idea of what it is like to study plant fossils on the smallest of scales," he added before he looked back to Connor for him to continue the rest of the class.

Connor nodded and finished up the class as he passed around the papers to go along with the class activity. “If you have any questions or need help with anything, Professor Cutter and I will be around. We will also be around after class if anyone wishes to discuss anything.” With that, he went back behind the desk while the class got started.

Art in STEM, Monday, January 15, 2024

[heroic_jawline]

Steve was by himself today in front of the classroom. "Hello, everyone. Last week's truck debacle got Tony working on a new line of better, less hideous trucks, and so he sends his regrets today because he's in a meeting with his company's board and the Pentagon working out a contract for production."

He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Today's lesson is about ugly architecture. I hope he won't spend this coming week redesigning the New York skyline by purchasing and demolishing ugly skyscrapers. We'll start with these ten," he said, starting the projection. "Tell me which you dislike the most and why. We'll also get into a handwavy discussion of the brutalist architecture movement, otherwise known as 'gee, that's a lot of ugly concrete.' You'll recognize the style in pretty much every office building made in the 1960s. The FBI building in this slide presentation is a prime example."

And just. Just so ugly.

"So, yes, which one is your least favorite and would fixing it include a wrecking ball? Go!"

Creative Writing--So Simple Even You Can Do It! (Probably), Monday, Period 4

[doesdoctorstuff]

Navaan was on time today, mostly because it was cold and snowing out and the school was warm. Also, protected from the sunlight! Protection from sunlight was very good if you didn't want to explode and much harder to ensure when your clothes were wet and snowy.

It sure would be a nice time of year to have A PLACE TO LIVE, ARTHUR. But since she didn't, the students were all going to pay for it by have a class that started on time.

( He said, she said )

That's right, kids. The important thing here was looking at butts.

[Link in text goes to NSFW comic! Please don't read where it will get you in trouble!]

Learn to have fun! Monday, 3rd period

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon nodded to everyone once they were there (there being the Danger Shop today), seeming only a little nervous.

"Right. Well, several people mentioned liking to read as a fun thing, so I thought we could start there." He punched what he hoped were the correct buttons on the console and sighed in relief when what came up was a cozy room with large, plush chairs, a huge nest of pillows, three entire walls of bookshelves, and a well-contained but cheerily burning fireplace. (The decor, unfortunately, was a bit more "70s supervillain lair" than anything, but he'd take what he could get.)

"Choose a book, or if there's something particular you want, we can call it up. I-I think." Look, the Eye was less than interested in fun; it was being entirely unhelpful, which left Jon to his own devices, and it was...good, odd, and a little unsettling.

"Hang on." He frowned at the console and after a minute managed to call up a table with coffee and tea service. "There. Warm drink of your choice, books, and a cozy place to read."

Hopefully that was good enough for the moose.

Let's Plan A Heist! [Monday, 2nd Period]

[good_for_six]

"Oh, you're back!" No need to sound so surprised, Isabela. "Now, you'd think that we'd immediately jump into planning our heist this week, but you'd be wrong."

"That's because we're still in the pre-planning phase," Aphra explained. "Since before you can heist something, you need something to heist, and we're not really into maker spaces. Now since we're looking at making this a very collaborative class, we'd like you to think about what kind of heist you'd like to take part in, and let us know."

"Next class," Isabela added. "You need some time to consider your options. In the meanwhile, we'll be watching real professionals in action."

"Fake real professionals. There's not actually an all-girl gang of heist artists out there." Aphra sounded deeply saddened about that.