Newly Added Classes   

Come along on a trip along the Silk Road, starting in southeastern Kazakhstan and traveling through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and ending in Turkmenistan. We'll visit the ancient cities of Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand, and learn about the exploits of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. We'll explore the madrasas of these cities and the deserts of Uzbekistan; we'll witness the game of Ulak Tartysh, a sort of polo played with a goat carcass in Kyrgyzstan. We'll visit many markets, with exotic foods for sale, and much, much more. The presentation will incorporate many photographs and videos from the class leader's recent travels to this part of the world.

Will AI continue on its exponential growth trajectory, or will there be a slowdown? Has AGI already been achieved and if not, is it distant or imminent? This three-session study group chronicles the ongoing saga of AI as it pulls us all into the future.

We will discuss the invention and evolution of paper as well as the techniques, materials, and uses of this valuable resource.

What is beauty? Is it only in the eye of the beholder? Is there some concept that can capture it, or is it just what pleases? Should we distinguish natural beauty from art works? Using George Santayana's book, we will explore aesthetics. This is not intended as a history of art, nor as art appreciation. We may end with more questions than answers.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein.

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.

In his legendary career as a director, Alfred Hitchcock created dense, suspenseful films filled with flawed heroes, charming villains, and moral ambiguity. In this four-week online class, we'll consider some of Hitchcock's very best films, focusing on two films each week that share a common theme. Students should watch the films on their own; in class, we'll look at brief film clips and discuss key elements. Whether you've enjoyed Hitchcock films for many years or you're just discovering them, this is a chance to go deeper into the mind of a brilliant, complicated man and the surprising, confounding, entertaining world he created on film.

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.

The New England region played an important role in the development of American culture. This class will cover the history of the New England region from the first European voyages of exploration to the events leading up to the American Revolution.

This low-impact, physically active kayak adventure is a great way to view the ecology of the area. There is abundant wildlife, including many species of waterfowl and raptors. We will be paddling on open flat water in either a single or tandem kayak. Our paddling trip will take us to an island in the Thermalito Afterbay.

Although conquerors had looted art and cultural artifacts during previous wars, the Nazis took this activity to a whole new level during World War II. This six-week class will examine the factors that contributed to this massive theft, how some stolen materials were recovered, and what, some 80 years later, is still missing. Who were the important Nazis involved? How was some art protected? Who were the Monuments Men? What roles have museums played in the on-going attempts to reunite looted art with the heirs of its rightful owners? These are some of the questions this class will address.

We will continue to explore the future of our health and how the emerging technologies will shape how medicine will be practiced. We will cover topics like aging, reproduction, prevention of diseases, brain-machine interfaces, progress in detection and treatment of cancer and many other topics. Participation in previous parts of this class is not required.

Telescopes have provided astronomers the tools to observe the universe since the days of Galileo. If they are on the ground, they have limitations. Now that we are living in the Space Age, there are telescopes orbiting the Earth that have revolutionized our view of deep space. Several such telescopes (Hubble, James Webb, etc.) will be discussed along with the information they are providing to astronomers.