Research/Creative Help

[Katharyn]

Thanks Justin. *S*

Here's another question that's less "research" and more curiousity. Does anyone recall whether it was ever indicated where in CA Sunnydale was?

North or South of LA? It certainly had a beach relatively close which means there was the coast. I'm guessing maybe there are some references to 'up' or 'down' to LA either in the first Ep where Buffy has moved or in later eps dealing with LA (or in Angel perhaps.)

It really makes no difference to my fic, but it's something that crosses my mind from time to time and could help in someone else's fics.

Katharyn.

[FineyMcFine]

I've always gathered that it is about an hour or two's drive from Los Angeles, although whether north or south I'm not sure if that was made clear. It's close enough that Buffy could run out of the house and drive to LA without much planning or prep.

[Hemiola]

I seem to recall that Sunnydale was, if one added up all of its characteristics (coastline, etc.), based on the city of Santa Barbara, CA. :-)

[Naeryn]

I tend to go with replacing all of one letter and planting 'Sunnydale' right over the real 'Sunnyvale', which I believe is just south of LA. On an amusing note, no matter how many times I change it, my Yahoo Messenger *always* gives me the weather for Sunnyvale, California.

Here's a note on the Canadian school system (and a note that this is entirely BC-based, and it varies throughout Canada):

It's largely similar to the US system, but with a few key differences. Grade eight (though in BC, we recently switched grade arrangements in schools - K-7, 8-10, 11-12 to K-6, 7-8, 9-12, so that might have changed) is the first opportunity you have to pick your own courses. You are required to take one Math course (Principles, Applications, or Essentials), one English course (most schools only have one, save at the grade 12 level), one Science course (general science until grade 9), one Socials course (general until grade 9), and Physical Education. PE is only required until grade ten.

At grade nine, Science breaks up into Earth Sciences, Computer Sciences, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. You are required to take one of them until grade 11. Socials breaks up into Civics, History, and Geography. Again, you are required to take one until grade 11.

Grade 12 is special. There is only one required course to graduate, that being English 12 (or Lit 12). For University entrance requirements, you need at least four Provincially Examinable Courses - basically, core courses, these being: any Science, any Social Studies course except Civics, Law, Psychology, any Math course except Essentials, and any English course.

You also need 52 credits to graduate, collected throughout grades 11 and 12. Core academic courses are usually worth 4 credits, electives are usually worth 2. There are, of course, exceptions.

Now, once you've graduated, you have another decision: University, college, or work force?

University and college are two different places here: To put it simply, university is white collar, college is blue collar. College is generally the place one goes to either upgrade courses or to learn a trade - hands-and-knees work. Usually where the woodshop boys go. University is more academic; here's where you have your would-be doctors and lawyers.

Xander would go to College (which is also cheaper and takes less time), Willow would go to University. Buffy could, quite plausibly, attend either. Occasionally you get crossovers, such as the local Malaspina University College - carrying both trades courses and academic ones.

I can't think of anything else just now, but if you'd like more info, I can either remember or find it for you Though I don't see a whole lot of W/T fics set in Canada...

[JustSkipIt]

This is kind of random: has any one ever been to a police academy graduation? What was it like? Were there speeches? Did they recognize each graduate or just the group? Did they get given their badges & guns? Thanks for any help. Debra

[justin]

I don't know how accurate this is but in Police Academy there speeches at the graduation.

and blow jobs

[Trom DeGrey]

It took me a minute to stop laughing over justin's comments before I could post.

I went to the ceremony when my best friend from high school graduated from the local academy. There were speeches from the head of the school and the various instructors. Students were recognized for highest grades and scores for such things as physical fitness tests and the various weapons training and shooting ranges. They were all awarded graduation certificates. Since the academy isn't affiliated with any one police force in the area, all the graduates were dressed up, but not in any kind of uniform. They attended classes and training in t-shirts with the academy's logo on it. They weren't given badges either. All that is issued by whatever police force they eventually get on with. As far as guns go, that is up to the police force to mandate but not provide. For instance, when my friend got on with a local village police force, she carried a .45, but when she went to the parks department, she had to go out and get a 9mm because that's what they said she had to carry.

Hope this helps!

[Tiggrscorpio]

My brother is a Baltimore County police officer in Maryland. Although it's been about 15 years since his graduation, I pretty much remember the day. It's very much like Trom described. The only difference was that his Academy was for Baltimore County so all of the graduates were already in uniform. I can't remember if they had their badges or not but I clearly remember that he had his gun. He let me hold it before the ceremony and it is the first and last time I've ever held a gun because I didn't like it. I hope that helps a little.

[chronic]

In the Angel episode "Sanctuary" Kate and an officer are discussing Faith, and say she committed several murders in "a town up north called Sunnydale"

[JustSkipIt]

Thanks for the answers about police academy graduations. I posted my story and noted each of you. Thanks again.

Also, I've made this thread one that tells me when anyone posts so maybe I can be better about answering questions too.

[FineyMcFine]

Speaking of research, can someone tell me what sort of bland, boring food that an English bachelor librarian such as Giles (okay, it IS Giles) might be likely to have in his apartment that he thinks is quite yummy but Xander and everyone else would find revolting or just boring and inedible? Steak and kidney pie?

[watty]

marmite -- you put it on toast. Speaking of sandwich-y / lunch-y stuff, Giles strikes me as someone who will make himself a Ploughman's lunch of bread, cheese, apple and, most essentially, Branston pickle.

Apart from that, there's Bovril, sausage rolls, aforementioned steak and kidney pie. Plus lots of biscuits (Jaffa cakes, jammie dodgers, hob nobs,twiglets) and crisps.
[br]

[Hemiola]

Please...there are so many awful examples of UK cuisine there are almost too many to mention .

How 'about "bangers 'n' mash"? Tripe or haggis? Blood pudding? It's no wonder they left the island to build an empire--they couldn't stand what was available at home!

Anyway, I hope this helps...

[inlerf]

anyone who's wellversed or has a basic understanding of hindu mythology or can help me find out: what's the difference between the goddess('s name) Kalika and Kali?

...or is there no difference?

[FineyMcFine]

Does anyone know if Willow ever slept with a stuffed animal?

[Emms]

well there's that stuffed dog she kept on her bed in her dorm room. I don't know if she actually slept with it though...but she did cuddle it while lying on the bed..so...

[FineyMcFine]

Here's a question for anyone who can help me out:

Why did the Scoobies assume that Buffy was in hell when she died at the end of S5? I remember them saying it - was there any reason for their assumption that they mentioned?

If not, does anyone have any theories?

[Knock yourself out]

Here's a question for anyone who can help me out:

Why did the Scoobies assume that Buffy was in hell when she died at the end of S5? I remember them saying it - was there any reason for their assumption that they mentioned?

If not, does anyone have any theories?

I think they just assumed; I remember going on about that fact when I first watched those episodes because I was annoyed that they had no reason to think she had been in hell.

As for theories: poor scriptwriting? (sorry)

[DaddyCatALSO]

General fanwank tends to be 1-The Gang knew hells existed 2- Glory's hopme dimension was accessible thru the vortex, and *it* was a hell, and from what was coming out of them so apaprently were most of the other planes being accessed, so the Scoobs figured her soul was in one of them.

[Hemiola]

I tend to agree with the explanation of DaddyCatALSO, but it's worth emphasizing that it was really only Willow who was heavy into believing that Buffy was in a "hell dimension"--the others, particularly Tara, weren't so sure--and remember that they didn't even bother to discuss it with Giles!!!.

[FineyMcFine]

RIGHT, a hell dimension, not the Christian Hell. That's an important distinction. Thanks for pointing it out, and RIGHT - only Willow believed it big time, the others weren't sure. Very informative - this will be important for the story I'm writing. Whew.

[chronic]

Does anyone know what the mail system would be at an American university dorm? Specifically, I want Tara to receive a letter whilst living in her dorm room. Would it be posted under her door, or would she have to go somewhere to collect it? Would this be a room in her dorm building, or somewhere else?

Thanks!

chronic


Also, my two cents worth...

Why did the Scoobies assume that Buffy was in hell when she died at the end of S5?

Willow says she believes Buffy is in a hell dimension "like Angel was." The implication seems to be that anyone who goes through a portal will end up in a bad place.

[JustSkipIt]

Chronic - When I was in college the mail was delivered to the dorm office and they put it in little cubby holes. You would have to come downstairs and get it from your box. But that was 1985-1989 so I'm not sure about current... Anyone?

[GayNow]

Chronic,

When I was in College, we had an on campus post office. So, I had my own PO Box. To get our mail, we would have to go to the Post Office and collect it from our boxes.

Packages from UPS was different...those were sent directly to our dorms. We would pick them up in the office.

[Guppy]

Chronic~

There is a main campus mail area. Each student has a numbered box, like a PO box for campus mail and letters. Packages are stored in the campus post office and the student will receive a slip in their mailbox saying they have a package to pick up. Then they just go sign for it at the campus post office. That's how it was at both uni's I was at, at least.