Howard Carter made one of the greatest discoveries in archaeology when he uncovered the tomb of king Tutankhamun in 1922. However, recent discoveries and applications of new scientific technologies have now told us more about the life and identity of the young king, as well as about the tumultuous period of the New Kingdom in which he lived. Meanwhile, long unanswered questions about Tut's suspected royal father, King Akhenaten, have begun to be answered through separate discoveries. Not only can we now confirm Akhenaten's paternity of king Tut, but also we can further understand the radical nature of Akhenaten's daring personal mission to transform the religion and culture of ancient Egypt. This class examines Akhenaten's program as arguably history's first monotheist, focusing on the unprecedented art and architecture of his reign, and follows his achievements—and failures—into the period of his famous young heir.

We discuss key learnings, possibilities, and limitations in exploring the vast wilderness and history of the 23 National Park Service units in Alaska. Our discussion features scenes of incredible beauty and fascinating history through America’s last wilderness frontier.

This class spans two sessions for thorough learning. Session one covers the game's history, American development, rules, format, and National Mah-Jong League card. Session two features actual gameplay to practice one's skills and address additional questions. This two-part structure ensures comprehensive understanding through both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, allowing students to confidently apply what they've learned in real-game situations.

Make unique and personalized gifts or keepsakes for yourself. Examples will be provided, and kits will be ready for you to make a gift before you leave the room. The opportunities are endless after you learn to make one. Kit examples include beaded ornaments, keychains, coin purses, crosses, bookmarks, and small animals.

We will discuss the chaotic history of what are now six, maybe seven separate countries and cultures divided by geography and religion. This discussion will include attention to Ivo Andric's novel, The Bridge Over The Drina, arguably the best book to read to understand how this region became so splintered and violent. Andric won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1961. Our program will include many photos of the speaker’s and his wife’s tour of these countries in the spring of 2026.

Alfred Hitchcock, considered one of the greatest film directors of all time, first mastered his craft in black and white films filled with evocative shadows and dramatic lights. In 1948, he created his first technicolor film. Rope was innovative not only in its use of color but also in that it was filmed with ten reel-length takes as if in real time. Ten years later, Hitchcock filmed his masterpiece Vertigo in Technicolor Vista-Vision and labeled it his "green film." Marnie (1964), advertised as Hitchcock's "suspenseful sex mystery," likewise uses green and yellow symbolically but infuses red throughout as triggers for Marnie's self-destructive behavior. We will watch these three fascinating films together in class and then discuss Hitchcock's use of color along with favorite motifs like his cameos, doubling, stairs, the number 13, etc. as a means to uncovering the meanings embedded in his carefully crafted films. Short introductions to the films will be provided before our communal viewing. The instructor will discuss the purposeful role of works of art in the films, along with color and other motifs that add to our understanding of Hitchcock's cinematic vision.