Tuesday   

When Franz Schubert died at age 31, he had completed well over 1,000 works. But very few of his instrumental compositions had received even a single performance during his lifetime. Many were only discovered decades after his death. This class looks primarily at music he wrote in his last two years. This is one of the greatest bodies of work written over a similar interval by any composer, even though his health was rapidly failing. We will watch and discuss videos of solo piano works, trios, a quartet, a quintet, symphonies, choral music, and some of his last songs.

This class will focus on DNA. We will discuss how DNA is structured, replicated, error corrected, transcribed, and translated. More specifically, we will discuss how information is stored in the sequence of the DNA and how memories are retrieved. The DNA sequence can tell us about inheritance, genetic traits, and genetic disease. The DNA sequence can also tell us who our ancestors mated with, where ethnic groups of people originated from, and where ethnic groups migrated. Environmental DNA analysis can tell us about mass genetic surveillance of plants, animals, and humans. Lastly, we will also discuss how genetic traits and diseases can be changed or corrected by gene editing. A background in the biological sciences is advantageous, but not required.

Linguaphile by Julie Sedivy, linguist, cognitive scientist, prose writer, and poet, follows the path language takes through life from infancy, childhood, maturity, aging, and loss. A memoir of a life steeped in love and exploration of language, and an accessible overview of the science of language, Linguaphile elucidates the mysteries of language and will deepen your appreciation of language and how it permeates our lives. Whether you are interested in the sciences or the humanities, reading the book will be a revelatory experience. Michael will lead the discussion, providing suggested discussion questions and occasionally supplementary scientific background.

The largest park in the nation outside of Alaska is the Adirondack Park in New York, which comprises 6 million acres (9,375 square miles – the size of Vermont), nearly half of which is protected by state constitution to remain "forever wild" forest preserve. Although the mountains are formed from ancient rocks more than 1 billion years old, geologically, the mountains are relatively young and were created during recent periods of glaciation. We'll discuss the park's long geologic history and its fascinating culture and past, including the conflicts that led to its creation.

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 this class Steven Cliadakis from OLLI sponsor Altum Wealth Advisors will discuss how this new election year, along with tax law changes, inflation, falling interest rates, and other economic factors may affect your investments and retirement plans. The class will cover various investment vehicles, such as CDs, index funds, alternative investments, and others. Hear the financial market perspectives of respected economists and explore investment trends and best practices. The class will highlight key principles of financial planning and how they can be applied to your personal retirement goals.

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class you will learn the first third of the forms, or about 36 moves, in a workshop environment.

This is an introductory class on how to effectively shop at thrift and consignment stores. These types of stores are a great way to enjoy and reap the benefits of buying fashion and household items without paying high-end retail prices. We will also discuss how to repurpose many items found in your home and garage. Class meetings will be a mix of in the classroom and out and about at thrift stores.

Let's face it! We are all going to "go" one of these days, and conservation burial is the greenest way. Learn about the science and practice of natural burial, as well as other alternative disposition methods, like water cremation and human composting. We will discuss the conservation burial movement and its connection with land conservation and restoration.

This class will specifically introduce participants to Prismacolor pencils and how to use them. Since Prismacolor pencils have a wax base, it is important to know how to use and care for them properly. The class will cover the types of paper to use, basic procedures for color swatching, color blending strategies, layering techniques, sharpening methods, and preparing for and working on a complete colored pencil drawing. With a thoughtful approach, proper blending, and some patience, completed Prismacolor pencil drawings can look like paintings.

Spiritual principles help us follow a path to experience life with strength and resilience. These are fundamental truths that are universally accepted and passed on over many years and through many traditions. As suggested in The Eye of the I by David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD, we will continue our conversations on giving up guilt, being willing to engage life, non-attachment, acceptance, what to do in conflict, and choosing a kind view of life.

This class will explore contemporary geographical topics such as resource supply and consumption, selected environmental issues, and demographic changes, using the most reliable, easily available data sources. We will keep in mind the role that bias plays as we strive to better understand our world.

Did Middle Eastern terrorism start with the 9/11 attack, or did it start in 1972 with the Munich Olympic attack? Was Al-Qaeda a passing phenomenon? Did the US succeed in "degrading and destroying" ISIS? Was Hamas's October 7 attack to be expected? Did killing bin Laden and al-Baghdadi put an end to future terrorism from the Middle East? These and many other questions will be examined by exploring the causes, the circumstances and the major factors in play now and then.

Start your Tuesday with music and songs. Join us in a fun, informal sing-along. Bring your voices and/or musical instruments. The operative word is "fun." If you like music, you will like this class. All levels welcome!

Join us for a collaborative read of one of Shakespeare's more intriguing (and disturbing) plays. You'll be encouraged, but not required, to join in the discussion. This class is for beginners and Shakespeare veterans alike. You will want your own copy of the play, but any good standard edition will do. Email Jack (jdayer@ucdavis.edu) for guidance.

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class we will review the first 36 forms in a workshop environment. Additional forms will be taught as the group is ready.

Do you speak a dialect? If not, who does? Whose dialect is better? Is there good language and bad language? Who decides? This class will consider these questions and perhaps challenge some of our basic assumptions as we take a fun romp through the wonderful diversity of human language.

Each week the class will read poems by an individual poet, a collection of poems on a specific subject, or a collection of poems in a specific style. A wide range of poets and poetry will be presented, from classic to contemporary. We will discuss poetry from the perspective that the poet creates the work but the reader activates it.

Want to watch some great and interesting movies? In this class we'll watch and discuss some of our favorites. Each meeting will feature a representative movie from a different genre.

Stretch your body and relax your mind with one hour of gentle yoga. The instructor specializes in making yoga accessible to everyone at any age or physical condition. There is always a way to practice yoga. This class will include some discussion and lecture on the philosophy of yoga.

This class will explore the lives and legacies of Ancient Egypt's most remarkable pharaohs. From the unification of Egypt under Narmer to the grandeur of Ramses II, participants will delve into the pivotal moments that shaped Ancient Egypt's political, religious, and cultural landscapes. Each session will focus on the reigns of rulers such as Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, and Ramses II, offering insights into their enduring influence on world history. Join the class to uncover the stories behind Egypt's most powerful leaders and the lasting impact of their reigns.

Knitting with others is a wonderful learning environment. This class is designed to give knitters who have mastered the basic stitches of knit and purl a chance to work on a project of their choosing while we chat and share ideas online with other knitters. All levels of ability are welcome! Gale contributes to the class by offering tips and suggestions for patterns, yarn, and tools based on her years of knitting experience.

Scott Shafer from ShaferTech and Steven Cliadakis from OLLI sponsor Altum Wealth Advisors will give an overview of various digital and analog scams, along with some tips on how to identify and avoid them. This class does not provide legal advice.

Most people still have not internalized the revelations of 400 years ago! This class presents core results and, more importantly, manners of thinking, starting with Galileo (but hearkening back to Lucretius and earlier) and proceeding up to Einstein, that most people are utterly unaware of. These are the underlying principles of all modern physicist-like thinking that most people don't even dream exist. Each week will introduce one more of these seemingly simple yet truly subtle and powerful realizations, with demos where possible.

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.