Newly Added Classes   

Come along on a remarkable visit to Uganda and Rwanda. In addition to great safari-game viewing, we will visit Murchison Falls where the Nile River is forced through a narrow gorge creating a phenomenal waterfall. Learn about the Rwandan Tutsi genocide and the attempts at reconciliation and forgiveness. Finally, we'll go for a trek and visit a family of mountain gorillas at 9,000 feet in the Volcanoes National Park.

Everyone has heard about Captain Hook and Long John Silver, but what happened when a real pirate lost a limb at sea? Learn about maritime prosthetics for real Golden Age sailors, the relationship of able seamen towards the disabled, and whether Lord Nelson wore an eye patch. Pirates may have been remorseless criminals, but they were also forward thinking in that they offered accidental death and dismemberment insurance to their brethren. Come for stories about life at sea and the perils of battle, scurvy, and alcoholism – and what they can teach us about today's attitudes toward disability.

Catastrophic volcanic eruptions around the globe have impacted our world through changes in paleoclimate, geography, fauna and flora, and, later, human life. We will study several of these historic volcanoes, their origin and magnitude, and the changes wrought by their eruptions. Can we predict future eruptions?

We will look at four films that document the struggles of the soviet people. Mr. Jones (2019) is based on the true story of the British journalist Gareth Jones who uncovers the truth of the devastating famine ('Holodomor') in 1933 Ukraine. The Way Back (2010) is about four prisoners who escape from a Soviet gulag in WWII. Bridge Of Spies (2015) is set during the Cold War and tells the story of lawyer James B. Donovan who is entrusted with negotiating the release of Francis Gary Powers in 1960 in exchange for Rudolf Abel, a convicted Soviet KGB spy held by the US. K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) focuses its story on the 1961 tragedy of the Soviet Hotel-class submarine K-19.

Anti-Asian violence: A modern-day occurrence? Not at all. Fear, hatred, and racism toward the Chinese and Japanese began in the mid 1800's culminating with the incarceration of over 125,000 Japanese at the beginning of WWII, two-thirds of whom were US citizens. Join Denny Kato, a third-generation Japanese American (Sansei) and former US Army military intelligence, and discuss the how, when and why racism landed Americans in what is more accurately described as prison camps, and what we can do to countermand the effect of anti-Asian violence and racism in America today. With the continuing immigration and border crisis, we will see how the incarceration of the Japanese in WWII can repeat itself today and why we should be ever vigilant that this never happens again.

Have you been yearning to know all about Japanese sake? Please join John Hornick, who holds several sake certifications and interned in the Daimon brewery near Osaka, Japan, to learn the types of premium sakes and what makes them "premium." In addition, you will learn how premium sake ingredients affect taste, aroma, and regionality. We will go over the three main brewing methods and how they affect taste, the importance of rice polishing ratio, and sake terms you need to know. A list of recommended sakes will be provided to registered participants. John will lead a tasting of any sakes purchased by the course participants, but no purchase is necessary.

This class addresses the unique communication challenges that arise in today's diverse and fast-paced environments where misunderstandings can happen quickly. You'll learn how to approach important conversations with empathy, understand different viewpoints, and improve your listening skills. The class will cover practical strategies for navigating difficult discussions, whether in personal relationships, community involvement, or other areas of life. We discuss these strategies specially in the context of intergenerational conversations and other challenging communication moments that are specifically relevant to older adults.

Writing was invented about 5,500 years ago. Not long after it probably occurred to people that they would want to keep some things they wrote private. From then until now – from teenager's diaries, to personal financial data and medical records, to national defense secrets – there has been an 'arms race' between those who want to keep secrets and those who want to steal them. This class explores that history from wax tablets in the Classical era to sophisticated computers in the 21st century.

We will continue to explore the new developments in medicine and biotechnology and how they impact our health and well-being.

The Victorians made a spectacle out of death. They both feared it and were fascinated by it. The hothouse atmosphere of romanticism combined with growing urbanization and increasing life spans contributed to a culture of death that demanded elaborate public and personal displays of inconsolable loss. Our own rituals of death and mourning directly descend from the practices put in place by the Victorians.

Join the class leader as she discusses her recent visit to Tunisia. When visiting North Africa, tourists often visit Morocco but rarely add Tunisia to their travels which means they often miss a unique opportunity. She will discuss her perceptions of the modern country as well as share her research of its history with special focus on Tunis and Carthage. Videos and her own photos will assist with our understanding of the complex history and culture of the country.

The majority of us do most of our research online. Fortunately for us, thousands of digitized documents are being uploaded daily. The problem can be finding them. This presentation is geared to provide you with suggestions on how to make the most of your online research. Also discussed are tips on how the internet can make you a better genealogist.

Vaccination is a major successful public health measure. Smallpox is gone; polio is on its way out; and the incidence of the childhood diseases that the older of us had is way down. We'll look at the history of many infectious diseases, their causes, and their vaccines; how the immune system works' and how vaccines work (in cooperation with the immune system). We may digress into other public health issues, and we'll spend a day or so on the connection between vaccines and autism (spoiler: there is none). Let's agree to avoid politics!

Many people living in the West are very comfortable buying and ordering California wines, especially those from Napa Valley and Sonoma. However, there are more than 150 different officially recognized growing regions in California. In fact, the oldest grapevine in the state is in Los Angeles. In this class, we will explore some of the state's less well-known wine growing regions, especially those of Southern California, with the same curiosity and excitement as we do some of the more famous northern appellations. An optional recommended wine list will be sent out 24 hours before each class for any participants who wish to purchase any of the wines, grapes, or styles we will be discussing that week.

Join us for an 8-week musical odyssey that not only celebrates the profound ability of music to whisk us away on global adventures without leaving our seats, but also delves into the rich history of various modes of transportation such as planes, trains, boats, automobiles, and more. Explore timeless classics with over 100 tracks and videos from Bing to Beyoncé, spanning the Great American Songbook (including Broadway, film, jazz, and standards), rock, folk, country, soul (including R&B and Motown), and hip hop. From literal travels to metaphorical journeys, this series promises to inspire, educate, and entertain, leaving you with lasting tunes of travel, adventure, and romance. Each session offers a dual exploration: uncovering the stories behind these tracks and providing a historical overview of how our fascination and love of travel is so intricately connected with music.

Join an exploration of the Peregrine Point area of Upper Park, otherwise known as the Disc Golf Course. We will hike about 2 miles total through grassy areas with uneven terrain.

We will continue to explore the new developments in medicine and biotechnology and how they impact our health and well-being.