OLLI at DU Central   

Mah Jongg is an ancient Chinese game that has been played in the American version since the 1900s. It's played with 4 people and is like Gin Rummy. It's a fun, complex game which is very challenging, and interesting. This is a game of strategy, defense, and knowledge of the game. It's also 50% skill and 50% luck. The National Mah Jongg League creates a card with hands that can be played. These hands change every year. There are also categories of hands that do not change. A current card will be provided for each participant at the first class. This will be yours to keep. Elaine will provide handouts to help you learn quickly. The class will be taught in a progressive manner. Class members are STRONGLY encouraged to attend every class when able since it's difficult to "catch up" on what was taught and discussed in the previous week. The game is easy to learn if you're having a good time. Warning! This game is ADDICTIVE. You will LOVE playing, and you will get hooked!!

This class is designed to be an entertaining and updated history of the 50 individual US states with particular focus on regional developments during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries of early America. It is hoped that each class member will receive a refresher in US history and perhaps learn some new information that was not retained (or offered) in individual elementary school experiences perhaps decades ago.

There will be a focus on anecdotes and personalities from each of the 50 American states. The course will provide a fresh, new insight into the unique characteristics of the states, as seen from a regional perspective. Each class will focus on one of seven regions of the US. Summaries will be sent out for each region prior to the weekly class. The eighth session will be dedicated to regional commonalities and differences as well as a general wrap-up.

Highlights will include key state challenges and successes, conflicts within the region, slavery and Native American resettlement issues, transitions in exploration, regional agricultural, economic, and mining changes, political and demographic trends and key infrastructure decisions. There will also be personal descriptions of the key leaders and personalities in the history of each state.

Two seasoned criminal defense attorneys who between them have defended persons accused of committing a crime and who have tried too many cases to remember will guide the class through an examination of a number of high-profile criminal cases that were tried in Colorado and elsewhere. The cases will include the Trump indictments that have been or are to be tried, the Allen Berg murder case, the Texas 7 extradition matter and others.

This is part one of a four course ensemble extending over four academic periods starting in Fall 2024 and concluding in Fall 2025. The courses will focus on issues of inequality and its relationship to capitalism.

The primary text, Thomas Piketty's Capital and Ideology, is divided into four parts of roughly 200-250 pages each. The courses will generally follow this structure with additional readings to augment and critique Piketty's arguments.

In the Fall 2024 term, we will focus on issues of historical inequality with particular emphasis on European societies especially France, Great Britain, and Sweden. We will also foreshadow the historical discourses of non-western experiences with capitalism and with inequality that will be addressed in the subsequent courses.

Piketty employs historical and political analysis augmented by economic data. In one sense his is an intellectual history of inequality and capitalism. In another it is a philosophical critique of contemporary neoliberalism. We will engage both aspects.

The course is comprised of reading, writing and speaking Spanish. The objective is that the students learn to have a conversation in a second language. The book is Practice Makes Perfect-Spanish Verb Tenses. This book has many exercises that help in the memorization and use of all of the verb tenses and construction of sentences and questions.

Every class period, the students will have opportunities to practice, ask questions, and read explanations for better understanding. It is difficult to learn another language and it takes time and a lot of practice. Once a student no longer has to translate in his/her mind, the student is now becoming fluent. And a second language speaker.

Richmond, Dorothy. Practice Makes Perfect-Spanish Verb Tenses Fifth Edition (2023) McGraw Hill

For anyone interested in “Birding” or “Bird Watching” to enjoy being outdoors, walking 1-2 miles, and interacting with each other while watching birds. The classroom sessions will consist of birding etiquette and appearance of birds: size, shape, color and identifying field marks. They will highlight bird behaviors and habitats and other interesting aspects of these living dinosaurs and how they reflect the health of our planet.

In the 4 classroom sessions, George will share his photos of birds on PowerPoint, knowledge and experience in birding, and being a citizen scientist. The other 4 sessions will be field trips. Locations include Bluff Lake Nature Center, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, and other locations. These field trip sessions may be longer than 2 hours and scheduled depending on the weather.

The Pilates approach to exercise focuses on balanced body development by strengthening the core, stabilizing the pelvic girdle, and improving spinal alignment. It promotes efficient movement with improved coordination and balance. In this class we will learn and practice fundamental Pilates exercises. Wear comfortable clothes that will allow you to move easily, and plan to work barefoot. We will work standing, sitting, lying down, and sometimes on hands and knees. Please bring an exercise mat and a hand towel to class. This class is not intended for anyone who has had an osteoporotic spine fracture.

Barbara and Tom are interested in the events that are shaping our community and those policies that may make for a more robust and fulfilling society. We will discuss events each week that have either come to our recent attention or that may represent issues that are of recurring interest. The co-facilitators are excited to work together to bring to the class diverse views representing differing philosophies and suggesting competing solutions to today’s issues. Barbara and Tom are looking for OLLI members to register for the class who are of open minds, who value lively and respectful discourse, and are looking to share ideas.

This Current Events course will be a discussion-based course addressing issues that are topical at the time the course is offered. The issues discussed will be international, national, and local with general broad outlines and selections determined by a survey of class participants in the first class. Likely issues will include: International - the wars in Israel /Gaza and Ukraine, climate change, migration and immigration, threats to democracy; National - Congressional disfunction, 2024 elections, medical/health issues, abortion politics, demographic/population issues, “culture war” issues and free speech, artificial intelligence, gun rights/control; Local - 2024 elections, K-12 education, homelessness and Denver city policy, water issues, housing affordability, tax policy, and crime. Issues to be discussed in the upcoming class will be identified at the conclusion of the prior week’s class; readings from national and local publications (2 to 3 readings) will be selected by the facilitator and electronically distributed so that each participant will have a common basis for discussion.

We will discuss the prior week’s news in the first hour. In the second hour a topic that is current will be determined by the facilitators and articles will be sent out for that discussion. The facilitators of this class express a Progressive point of view on American politics, especially during this election year. They welcome Conservative or other points of view and encourage discussion as part of our learning experience.

We will discuss the prior week’s news in the first hour. In the second hour a topic that is current will be determined by the facilitators and articles will be sent out for that discussion. The facilitators of this class express a progressive point of view on American politics, especially during this election year. They welcome conservative or other points of view and encourage discussion as part of our learning experience.

Each week a different documentary film will be shown in class followed by a discussion. Pertinent readings will be sent out prior to class. None of the films have been previously shown in the facilitator’s prior courses.

Most of us remember the first presidents up to Andrew Jackson, then draw a blank up to Abraham Lincoln, and later know most of the 20th century presidents. But what about those in between? They were characters to be sure, and their terms produced some very significant events for which often they don’t get credit. Let’s revisit them and perhaps gain a new appreciation for some.

Quantum Mechanics is arguably the most important invention of the human mind. Our standard of living has increased enormously due to its applications to computers and communications, education, entertainment, medical devices, navigation, energy production, travel safety, and other advances. Yet, many mysteries remain. Experiments show that the quantum world is weirder than science fiction. Scientists cannot agree on how to interpret its seemingly illogical predictions, even though the theory continues to successfully explain the world of the atom and its components.

This class will present the history of quantum science, its key personalities, a non-technical explanation of its guiding tenants, what is and isn’t understood, and the exciting future it offers in computing and communication security.

Professors usually say 'Shut up and calculate' to students who want answers about the foundations of quantum mechanics. We will expose those shadowy areas and offer the best current explanations.

The large rivers listed below will be described physiologically, hydrologically, culturally, and politically. Many of these rivers form international borders and are important sources of commerce for more than one country (so-called trans-national river basins). The sessions will show extensive maps, personal and stock photographs and charts related to each river. Descriptions of the historical water use, water rights, international agreements, disputes, impacts of climate change, water quality, and socio-economic issues for each large river will be discussed via Power Point© presentations and group discussions. This constitutes the fourth course on world rivers in a series developed and presented by the Co-Facilitators on behalf of the University of Denver’s OLLI program.

The Facilitator’s personal experience on the river will be highlighted as appropriate. Risks to the rivers also will be addressed as future issues.

Don’s new book (with co-author Kevin Adler), We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America (2023) North Atlantic Books, will be the center of this new course. Each of the six classes will focus on one or two chapters in the book, including the ways we dehumanize those experiencing homelessness, the ways in which each of the relevant systems fail to meet the needs of the unhoused, and potential solutions that address our forgotten humanity and the broken systems. The Facilitator will make a brief presentation at each session, but the bulk of the class will be a discussion of the issues that underlie one of the most complex issues of our time.

The facilitator will generously provide his book for free to each member who registers for this class.

We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America by Kevin Adler and Donald Burnes

By some estimates over $100 Billion is spent each year in American sports. Sports are integral parts of our child-rearing, our educational institutions, our entertainment and our social fabric. Still, issues in sports are numerous. Youth sports, high school, college, Olympics and pros have all been challenged by questions of ethics, emphasis, fairness, equity and financial concerns. This class will explore issues in American sports at all levels including recent changes such as participation rates, NIL, transfer portal, gender issues, and other shifts in the sporting world.

“Dying is more than a set of medical problems to be solved. The fundamental nature of dying is not medical, but it is personal and experiential.”

We will all die and we need to be prepared for this exit. We need to develop our own understandings, attitudes and wishes of what our end-of-life should look like. This course explores: why is death frightening and has become more fearsome with scientific advancements? Nature of death and the trajectories of how life will end. Why is our healthcare system broken? Bad vs Good death? How can Hospice and Palliative Care help?

In order to be prepared as the end-of-life approaches, we need to do our homework to make our end-of-life choices and share them with our surrogate decision maker, family members and health care providers. Through reading stories, discussions and self-examination, these choices will become clearer by the end of the course.

Short stories are fun and they are easy to write. The oldest writers’ program in the country, the Iowa Writers Workshop, teaches writing by having writers read their stories to each other. The approach which Edward Ford uses is known as writing from life. Each class begins with Ford reading from a short story from his own life. Participants then write from their own lives and, finally, share and discuss their stories. The writer does not make up a story and try to make it real. Rather, the writer writes about everyday life and tries to make it seem magical. Ford will also teach his own Instant Short Story Recipe. The class will also include reading and discussing some famous and important short stories.

The course will cover the history of the British East India Company from its founding in the 1600’s to its turnover to the British government in the 1800’s. Discussion will focus on how a private company could end up ruling an entire sub-continent. There will be guest appearances from “incompetent local rulers, harems, rubies and war elephants.”

This class will include presentations, discussions and videos.

In these troubling, stressful times, a sense of humor isn't merely a luxury but a necessity. Steve hopes this class will serve as a relief from the day-to-day negativity around us. Even if you don't get a belly laugh, he hopes to at least see smiles.

Comedy is ubiquitous and we can only sample some of the comedians who have made us laugh through the years. We will consider some history and some sociology of comedy, but, hopefully, we will mostly laugh.

“With our thoughts we make the world.” The Buddha

Some 2500 years ago a man who claimed to be no other than human, pure and simple began to bestow upon humanity a new Way of Seeing and Being. This Path might give us a blueprint for dealing the many challenges that we face. If Buddhism cannot be lived to the Here and Now, it is best if it was left in the museum.

We will explore the following topics: ‘

• The Life and Times of the Buddha
• The core of The Teachings and Wisdom
• The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
• The role of meditation
• “Engaged Buddhism” (the application of the teachings and wisdom to current issues such as the environment).

Class discussion is highly encouraged. In addition, there will be some lecture, film, and a guest speaker on meditation.

Required reading: Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephan Batchelor – paperback edition. It is a readable and accessible text for those getting their feet wet with the waters of Buddhism. In addition, there will be a few short articles sent out via email.