Wednesday Session 2   

Beneath the simple panels of Charles Schulz's Peanuts lies a profound meditation on failure, hope, loneliness, and connection. Rather than traditional heroic figures, Schulz portrays ordinary individuals who wrestle with courage, loyalty, disappointment, and hope. This course uses the comic strip as a lens to explore two of humanity's most enduring themes: heroism and friendship. We will ask: What does it mean to be brave when you always lose? How do we sustain friendships marked by misunderstanding? And why does a beagle dreaming atop a doghouse move us so deeply?

From 1945 through 1991, almost every aspect of society was in some way impacted by the propaganda used by both the United States and the Soviet Union as they faced off in a conflict that came to be known as the Cold War. We will utliize the lyrics of a popular Billy Joel song to enhance a comprehensive examination of the most significant events of this conflict. The course will address the depth and impact of the Cold War on both the United States and Soviet Union by presenting the history of this conflict in chronological order.

In a world filled with strife, violence, and division, these short stories transcend “national boundaries to comment on the most prevailing aspects of the human condition.” They attempt to redefine the borders of the world we live in by recognizing the conflicting issues of race, language, economy, gender, and ethnicity which separate and limit us. The stories reflect on these beautiful, but at times chaotic and tragic, renditions on the human experience.

Course Materials: One World:A Global Anthology of Short Stories. Edited for New Internationlist by Alan Hughes. ISBN: 978-1-906523-13-8

This course examines the reinvention of central Europe that occurs between 1848 and 1880 when splintered collections of small city states, bishoprics, and kingdoms unified into the two modern states of Germany and Italy. Nationalists instigated a series of wars, insurrections, and land grabs, often done with extraordinary flair, boldness, and ruthless cunning. At times referred to as “unification from the top down,” these processes of unification will inspire many other Europeans and, indeed, shake the foundations of established monarchies such as in Austria-Hungary, Russia, France, and Great Britain.

Cognition and culture will be explored in animals, using evolutionary theory as the framework for this course. Topics include animal learning, the accelerated process of domestication, and an examination into our companion animals' behavior. However, the majority of the course will be dedicated to the culture of wild animal populations and their cultural behavior that includes hunting, foraging, and thieving behavior—to name just a few. Short videos will be shown in class, and readings are available upon request.

This intermediate level course builds on the foundations established in Introduction to Using Generative AI. Members will move from understanding what generative AI can do to developing fluency in how to use it strategically, critically, and creatively. Through hands-on projects, comparative analysis, and guided experimentation, students will deepen their prompt engineering skills, explore multi-modal workflows, and develop a personal AI toolkit tailored to their interests and goals.

This course explores the development, process, and issues of conflict and peace in Northern Ireland and Ireland focusing on the periods of Irish Rebellion (1870s-1920s), the Troubles (1960s-1990s), the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, and continuing problems from 1998 to the present. The course will first begin with an exploration of Ireland under British rule through the 19th century leading to the early conflicts of the 20th century. Significant emphasis is on the status of Northern Ireland after 1921 and into the 21st century.

The wonders of the night sky are revealed as we discuss the observable celestial sphere as viewed from here on Earth. The motions and phases of the moon, the properties and apparent motion of stars, constellations, planets, and other objects visible to the naked eye and through a telescope are some of the topics we will cover. Learn how to read and interpret star charts, constellations, and the changing night sky throughout the seasons. This introduction to astronomical viewing will prepare you for exploring the nighttime sky.

Although wine had been produced and consumed thoughout antiquity, the French illustration brought a level of sophistication that elevated wine quality. Geography helped since most French regions were in climatic sweetspots and have suitable soils. Its varietals (e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir) became paradigms and New World wineries focused on them. Each week, we will undertake a journey of discovery by tasting and rating the typical varietal from a region while we explore its terroir. Members will need to purchase the wines and we will taste them during class. The selection will depend on what is good, available, and affordable at the store. Cheers!

Course Materials: Students will need to purchase one bottle of wine per class. The instructor will communicate the list of wines no later than 2 weeks before the first class.