2 Problem 2 Creative [Monday, 2nd period]

[sith_happened]

Good news, class! Anakin was not a cat today!

Bad news, class! You now have to present him with amazing cat toys anyway!

However your cat toys were being judged by Ahsoka, so you weren't all going to come equal last (however much Anakin wished you would).

"Welcome back," Anakin said, not looking thrilled to be there. "Please show Ahsoka your homework."

"I'm sure you all picked worthy offerings," Ahsoka said, looking for too pleased with herself.

Anakin shot her a baleful look, which was still a strangely cat-like expression.

Good thing Ahsoka had practice ignoring that look!

A decade of it, even!

"And then we'll get to your real task."

Also cat-themed! Completely coincidentally, no doubt.

Utterly coincidental. That was Ahsoka's story and she was sticking to it.

Once she'd finished judging the cat toys, she led that class outside one by one to where a large number of small red bags were laid out in a pattern. One that if they happened to get to a high enough viewpoint looked a lot like this.

"You need to let the cat out of the bag," she told them. "Fewest attempts wins."

"Hilarious," Anakin said dryly.

Destiny & Free Will [Monday, Period 4]

[atreideslioness]

The class met outside by the pond, as handwavily ordered.  The flamingos were wandering around Ghanima's improvised classroom, which had plenty of overstuffed pillows for laying about.  Along the edges of the area were small low tables, each with two cushions to sit on and various items placed upon them. 

Once everyone had arrived, Ghanima looked up from where she was sprawled on the ground playing with some strange hexagonal... tiles?  cards? and smiled.  "Destiny," she began with preamble, dropping the cards into Trebor's lap and pushing to her feet.  "Refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the universe." 

"Destiny may be seen either as a fixed sequence of events that is inevitable and unchangeable, or that individuals choose their own destiny by choosing different paths throughout their life."  Ghanima paused to smile at them briefly.  "Confusing, isn't it?"

"Many Greek legends and tales teach the futility of trying to outmaneuver an inexorable fate that has been correctly predicted. This form of irony is important in Greek tragedy, as it is in Oedipus Rex  or Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, where in spite of all the character's attempts otherwise, it does not preclude a horrible fate," she said,  wandering among them to pass out a handout on Oedipus.

"Some believe that one's destiny may be ascertained by divination. In the belief systems of many cultures, one's destiny can only be learned about through a shaman, babalawo, prophet, sibyl, saint or seer. In the Shang dynasty in China, turtle bones were thrown ages before the I Ching was codified. Arrows were tossed to read destiny, from Thrace to pagan Mecca. In Yoruba traditional religion, the Ifá oracle is consulted via a string of sixteen cowries or oil-palm nuts whose pattern when thrown on to a wooden tray represents the 256 possible combinations whose named "chapters" are recited and verses interpreted for the client by the babalawo."  Ghanima grinned.  "Every society has their own way of foretelling a future, from worm entrails to crystal balls.  My empire put its fate in the hands of a family that can walk the veils of time, forward and back, to see what lies beyond, and now they're stuck with the future that the Mahdi chose.  Oracles can be a tricky bunch, and you must always assume that they may have a hidden agenda of their own."  

"Today, it's time for you to see if you can chase destiny."  Ghanima gestured to the tables ringing the room as Trebor waved one of the cards and laughed.  "First, we'll talk, then we're going to pair up, wander around, and pick a method of divination that speaks to you.  Read your own destiny, or that of your partner, and then discuss if you agree or disagree with the results you obtained."

Teamwork- Monday, 1st period

[owmytoe]

Jaina had left for home yesterday, and Jag had gotten caught up with meetings, which meant before class an email went out.

Class will be canceled today and will resume next week.

Short and to the point.


[I am in hell. Hopefully next Monday is less hell.]

How to Waste Time on the Internet, 3rd period

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon looked a little better this week, though that meant his professional demeanor and dress were probably a bit much for this class.

That wasn't going to stop him.

He nodded to the students. "One of the more popular ways to waste time on the internet is by what is termed 'doomscrolling' - scrolling through social media, particularly involving current news and events, in such an endless way as to invoke a sense of doom. We are going to attempt to scroll through social media in a way that does not invoke doom."

Largely because Jon had no intentions of feeding off his students. But also it was probably bad for their mental health.

He cleared his throat. "One of the better ways to do this is to open the social media site of your choice - today I will be demonstrating with Bluesky," he pulled out his phone and opened it to show the app, "and search for 'timeline cleanse'. This will, unless people are being horrid, bring up things such as cute animals, good news, and generally positive things. This will also work on Tumblr, if you prefer that. You can also just search for it on a search engine. I do not recommend it on the site formerly known as Twitter, as that place is a hellhole regardless, and also supports Nazis and Tories."

Jon had feelings about things.

"So today let's each do that. And share the best thing you find so we can all enjoy it."