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.

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?

No previous Tai Chi experience is necessary. All the movements are slow and gentle, and no martial arts applications will be taught or practiced in this study group. These methods may help lessen body pain, correct spinal misalignment, cultivate a sense of internal energy, and rest the mind. Participants can wear comfortable roomy or stretchy clothing and some soft tai chi shoes or socks to wear on their feet.

Everyone can have better balance! Balance improves with practice under safe and friendly conditions. Participants will explore balance while sitting, standing, and moving through space, including walking in all directions. Participants will learn how various factors affect balance (and what to do about it), including muscle strength, flexibility, vision, vestibular sense, proprioception, coordination, and cognition. Participants will be asked to stay within their comfort zone while challenging themselves slightly. Come experience the art, science, and joy of re-establishing your body's stability and mobility.

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.

This class will discuss four questions based on papers from the second half of the twentieth century. Each proved to be an important contribution to its area. The first three are by American philosophers; the fourth British. After Warhol: what is art? ("The Artworld" by Arthur Danto); What is consciousness? ("What is it Like to be a Bat?" by Thomas Nagel); AI: Can machines think? ("The Chinese Room" by John Searle); Is there free will? ("Freedom and Responsibility" by Peter Strawson).

Let go of stress and come home to yourself. Over millennia, the sages of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition developed highly effective methods of movement, relaxation, and meditation. In this study group you will learn foundational practices from the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. Each session will have three phases: gentle movement and breathing, deep relaxation, and meditation. Members can expect to leave this class refreshed. Please note that the movements taught in this study group are not acrobatics. They are suitable for people with no yoga experience. If you've attended yoga classes and found them to be too strenuous or otherwise challenging, this study group is for you.

Immigration is a major topic of national discussion. The goal of this class is to inform participants what US immigration is all about. We will include the various types of immigration, its history, its challenges, and its benefits. We will use professionals from various parts of the country who are involved in different aspects of current issues as well as firsthand experiences of refugees and asylum seekers. This class will provide a comprehensive unbiased picture of the current situation.

This introductory class will provide an overview of Hinduism, the religion of India that originated about 3000 years ago. It will include a brief history about the origin of Hinduism and the contributions to it from different sources, the religion of Hinduism and its many components, the different philosophies that underpin the religious practices, including the non-dualism of Vedanta; and the interactions between Hinduism and Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Also covered in the class are the rituals, practices, customs and festivals related to Hinduism.

Classical music has been with us for centuries. While there are many modern and contemporary styles of music that have developed, some composers now specialize in film scores. Specifically, many of the Hollywood composers in the 20th century were European classical music composers who met the film industry's need for orchestral music. This class will present the evolution of films and film music. We will discuss the various styles of this genre and the composers who are responsible. This multimedia presentation will familiarize you with films and film scores. It will be both informative and entertaining.

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.

Have you ever, like many of us, found yourself wanting to be an author? Join our discussion as we begin with your initial idea and follow various routes to publication. We will consider many different genres and formats (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, textbook, technical, essays). By the end of our interactive session, you will have the tools to research your idea and transform it into words. Hopefully, you will then be prepared for the hard part: getting your work published. We will discuss various avenues to do so, and the challenges associated with each. We will also consider different avenues to market your work. Bring your ideas, your problems, and your enthusiasm to write!

Tap dance involves rhythmic, percussive, and precise movement of the feet while promoting the flow and individual style of the entire body. Classes will include warm-up, structured movement phrases that will build in complexity, and creative explorations. All levels are welcome. Good standing balance is recommended.

In 1825 the State of New York officially opened the Erie Canal with wild celebrations. Building this waterway was an incredible undertaking that included many obstacles, but "Clinton's Ditch" became an overnight success. Now the Erie is 200 years old. Is it still relevant today? We will discuss this and other topics in this class.

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.

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.