Diplomacy, Tuesday, October 7, 2025 [2nd period]

[sith_happened]

When the class arrived, the teachers were standing behind a table filled with a number of objects ranging in size from tiny flash drives to an entire watermelon.

"While diplomacy doesn't always mean spycraft," Anakin said, "sometimes information needs to be exchanged in secrecy."

"This information can vary from matters of galactic importance to...less lofty affairs," Ahsoka added. "And sometimes it's useful if people can't distinguish between them."

"So our question is, how fast are your fingers?" Anakin asked, grinning. "We're going to pick some pockets."

"Something that we're sure none of you are familiar with," Ahsoka added, producing what looked awfully like Anakin's preferred hair gel from what appeared to be thin air. Had she picked his pocket or were they pulling a fast one on the class? They'd never admit it either way.

"So there will be bonus points--" that meant nothing, "--if you can successfully hide the watermelon," Anakin said.

"Intact." In case any of them were thinking about eating it to hide it.

Reclaiming Your Childhood, Tuesday, Period 1 [10/7]

[atreideslioness]

Trebor was running in circles today around Ghanima, clearly excited, as she waited for everyone to arrive at the steps of the school. "Jane's Carousel is a classic 3-row machine with 48 exquisitely carved horses and two superb chariots," she began once everyone had arrived. "It was created in 1922, the heyday of the American Carousel, by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for the Idora Park amusement park in Youngstown, Ohio. Designated as 'PTC. No. 61,' It was carved by John Zalar and Frank Carretta, and was originally named the Idora Park Merry-Go-Round."

"The carousel has 30 "jumpers," 18 "standers," two chariots, and a Gebrüder Bruder Band Organ that provides the carousel’s music. Jane's Carousel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 6, 1975, the first carousel to receive such designation, although that designation would be removed in 1985, due to the park closing due to fire in 1984, and the auction of the carousel."

"The auction itself was quite interesting, by all accounts, and was described by local Mickey Rindin to Vince Guerrieri in The New Colonist: 'First, bids were taken on each individual horse. Then, when each individual horse had a sale price, bids were taken for the whole carousel. The opening bid was the sum of the price for all the horses plus ten percent, which came to $385,000. A buyer was found, and a great cry went up from the crowd because the horses would stay together. 'They didn't want it to leave one horse at a time,' Rindin said."

"The carousel was sold for $385,000 to David Walentas, a real estate developer, and Jane Walentas, a former art director for cosmetics company Estee Lauder." Ghanima smiled brightly. "I think you can see where the current name of 'Jane's Carousel' comes from, as the Walentases spent the next twenty-two years lovingly restoring the merry-go-round, the culmination of which was revealed on October 13th, 2006."

"Jane Walentas made it known that she wanted the carousel to be given a permanent place in Brooklyn Bridge Park, going so far as to pay a $500,000 fee for a pavilion to house it designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Opinions differed at the time on whether the master plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park State Park could accommodate the carousel, but on September 16, 2011, Jane's Carousel reopened in Brooklyn Bridge Park at 65 Water Street in Brooklyn. In October 2012, the carousel suffered minor water damage due to Hurricane Sandy, but thankfully the ride reopened a few months later."

"Next week is their nineteenth anniversary of the reveal of the restored carousel, but we'll be going to visit them today as a special treat, as they have agreed to open the carousel for us -- it is normally closed on Tuesdays." Had Ghanima slipped them an obscene amount of money? Perhaps. "You will need to stay off the large grassy lawn, they are doing some repair to it, but the rest of the park is also open to your use."

Right then, the Portalocity portal arrived next to her, and she gestured towards it. "Let's go!"

Dealing With Other People's Trauma, Tuesday 10/7, 3rd period

[stykera]

“Have you ever found yourself,” Stark asked, looking around at the assembled students, “on purpose or not, comparing troubles? Comparing problems or traumas or issues?”

He paused only for a moment. “Don’t do that. It helps no one.”

“That’s the lesson for today. I’ve heard it said that ‘this is not the trauma Olympics.’ And everyone should keep that in mind. Everyone has experienced a different life. It’s not a competition nor should it be.”

Stark sighed. “I understand the temptation, sometimes, to try and go ‘oh but I’ve had things much worse’ or ‘at least you don’t have to…’ but it’s a bad idea. It’s just as bad an idea to go ‘well, that person has it worse than I do so I should be fine.’ As I said, it’s not a competition. And you’ll only make yourself, or others, feel worse if you try to make it one.”

“So…any thoughts on this? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Is it ever helpful to do something like say to someone, including yourself, ‘oh, other people have it worse’? Any other thoughts you might like to share?”