Mike is a really sharp guy; he used to be a journalist, so he's full of interesting information and he doesn't like BS. If you make an assertion in the discussion group, be prepared to defend it, because he will press you on the reasons behind your interpretation. He doesn't do it in a confrontational way; he comes across as honestly curious about your reasoning, which is a pretty cool feeling if you know what you're talking about. If you didn't do the reading and you're just saying something to fill the void, however, he'll recognize it in a heartbeat. Plus, he's cute, as are all the TA's in History of the City of New York.