Remote   

Mr. Holmes is a 2015 movie, directed by Bill Condon, and starring Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes and Laura Linney as his caretaker. Holmes is retired and living in Sussex where he occupies himself as a beekeeper. At this point of his life, he is on the onset of dementia and is haunted by a past memory which he is unable to remember clearly. It is a bitter-sweet movie which takes place just after World War II. The movie runs about two hours and will be followed by discussion about the film and all things Sherlockian. New remote workshop. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Is humanity cursed, as Thomas Hobbes lamented, to an anarchic “state of nature” that is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short?” Perhaps our prospective doom is not as likely as is widely supposed. Robert Axelrod, in his newly updated classic, The Evolution of Cooperation, begins with the provocative question: “Under what conditions will cooperation emerge in a world of egoists without central authority?” Such conditions do exist. Axelrod’s description of them is straightforward, optimistic, and amazing in practice. Is this hopeful claim an exaggeration? Join us for this class and see for yourself.

New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

SUGGESTED BOOK: The Evolution of Cooperation, Robert Axelrod, ISBN 9781541606845. Recommended book (paperback) will be released May 6, 2025. Amazon is taking pre-orders for shipping on the release date.

Mike Nickerson co-founded the Institute for the Study of Cultural Evolution in 1971. He coordinated activity on the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act, drawing attention to the advantages of a Genuine Progress Index (GPI). Along with the Guideposts for a Sustainable Future video, numerous articles, pamphlets, and speaking engagements, he has written three books on sustainability. He says anyone can help by aspiring to more fun, less stuff. Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Was “Tinker, Tailor” too slow? Was Burton in “Spy … from Cold” too robotic? Were the “Bourne’s” and “Mission: Impossible’s” too beyond Superman? How about we watch six of the following at home (we’ll choose together after you sign up) while perusing the questions/issues I send, and freely comment in Zoom class on some more agreeable and believable cloak-and-dagger-related movies (with IMDb ratings): Spy Among Friends [7.7]; Skyfall [7.8]; The Conversation [7.7]; Imitation Game [8.0]; Bridge of Spies [7.6]; Notorious [7.9]; Casino Royale [8.0]; Hunt for Red October [7.5]; Munich [7.5]; No Way Out [7.1]. (Disclaimer: Preparation for a future American Stasi is not implied.) New remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

This workshop will examine how individuals and couples can plan for a sustainable income in retirement. We will examine how households can coordinate income from different sources, including pensions, Social Security, and retirement savings to develop a plan for navigating retirement. We’ll look at academic concepts in a practical manner and work through a case study that ties it all together. Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture.

We will watch a one-hour version of this short story, starring Jeremy Brett, which will be followed by a discussion of the film and other Holmesian material. New remote workshop. Format includes film and discussion.

This workshop will cover key considerations for planning for taxes in retirement. We will cover topics such as how various types of income are taxed in retirement, how to avoid Social Security and Medicare tax traps, how to take distributions from retirement accounts in a tax-efficient manner, and charitable giving in retirement. We will consider tax planning strategies from the perspectives of both those who are already in retirement and those who are still working toward retirement. Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture.

Are you having difficulty communicating with adult children, other family members, or certain friends? Would you like to be a more helpful support to others? Active Listening is an effective communication tool used by trained coaches and therapists to enhance positive interaction, build trust, connection, and improve relationships. You can learn to use it in your own life in this highly interactive workshop by practicing four essentials of Active Listening: Being Present and Attentive, Appropriate Questioning, Reflection, and Neutrality. As you begin to listen more fully and mindfully, you will discover greater value in all your relationships.

New remote workshop. Format will include lecture and hands on learning.

The Enneagram describes the nine fundamental types of personality, their strength, their weaknesses, and what inhibits them from expressing their deepest love, creativity, and capacity to connect and bond with others. This class will describe and offer insight into transforming your personality patterns.

New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Thomas Nagels’ paper of this title is one on the most influential philosophical papers ever written on the nature of consciousness. His distinguishing feature of a conscious process is the internal feeling of “what is it like to be me?” Depending on who you ask, the paper is both loved and hated in philosophical circles. Repeat remote workshop. Format will include lecture and discussion.