Explore warfare through imagery. Using historical paintings and modern photographs, we will look at the men, the myths, and the legends of warfare from the late 18th century until today. Understand how imagery can enhance patriotism, enflame nationalism, or incite violence. More importantly, this course goes deeper into the background of the imagery to discover hidden truths, historical errors, or misconceptions. Think of the great historical images of military history and see how those images come alive.

In 19__, a woman named Leoma Patterson went missing, last seen leaving a bar in Clinton, Tennessee. Eighteen months later, a skeleton was found in the woods in an adjoining county. Investigators concluded the bones were Leoma Patterson's, and they were buried in a family cemetery. But some family members always doubted the identification. Two decades later- - during the heyday of the TV crime show "C.S.I."- - the family asked forensic anthropologist William Bass, of "Body Farm" fame, to exhume the bones and definitively identify them. Thus began a wild, roller-coaster-ride investigation by Bass and writer Jon Jefferson.

From Sima Qian’s “Dynastic Cycles” in the 2nd Century BCE to Karl Marx’s “Dialectical Materialism” and Arnold Toynbee’s “Challenge and Response” many scholars have made a name for themselves by seeking to reduce human history to tidy, easy-to-understand patterns or “Laws.” These efforts are inevitably imperfect; but by drawing attention to key aspects of history, they have contributed greatly to our understanding of both the past and our own time. This course will examine a selection of these influential, if imperfect, ideas – as well as the fascinating individuals who produced and advocated for them.

Privet and wisteria are just two examples of the many invasive, non-native pest plants that threaten the diversity and viability of our native plants and wildlife. This course will focus on the "Top Ten" worst invasive plants in the Georgia Piedmont. Participants will learn how to identify these plants and why they can overwhelm native plant communities, disrupting natural ecosystems. Basic management and control strategies will be discussed. These management tools and methods will be applicable to suburban backyards or larger spaces such as public parks.