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This class will survey the history of immigration to the United States. Beginning in the late 16th century, explorers sought out the North American continent and by the 17th century immigration, some voluntary, some forced, had begun. Over the next two centuries, immigration continued unabated, creating a much-needed workforce but also introducing questions about what kind of country we were going to be and what it meant to be an American. Questions of race, religion, and ethnicity, encouraged by the nativism and scientific racism of the early 20th century, continue to the present day. The book we will use, Roger Daniels, Coming to America (2nd edition) will tell this story. It was published in 2002 so for the past two plus decades of recent immigration we will use other readings.

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 course will describe the eleven “nations” which make up the United States including: how they differ in origin, their founding philosophies, and their social and political organizations. We will explore the eleven nations’ interactions with one another and how their differences shaped not only our history but also continue to shape our culture, social, fabric, and politics to this very day.

Tom Hanks is known for his comedic and dramatic roles, making him one of the most popular and identifiable film stars worldwide. His films have grossed over $16 billion globally. He has been the recipient of countless awards including two back-to-back Best Actor Oscars, a feat not accomplished since Spencer Tracy. Other awards include the Kennedy Center Honor, the French Legion of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. During this term we will view eight movies, including three Tom Hanks regards as his favorites, and four often judged as his finest performances. The last film will be chosen by the class. Please join me in observing some of Tom Hanks’ talented productions. There will be class discussion of each movie. The facilitator will email trivia questions to class members in advance of each class about the upcoming movie. The facilitator will also provide an explanation of why experts view the four movies as Hanks’ best works.

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.

After World War I, the predominant German art form, Expressionism, had fallen into disrepute and was declared dead. What arose out of the ashes of the exuberant pathos of expressing one's inner emotions was the opposite: a Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity), which tried to show the world through objective, dispassionate eyes. This art movement corresponds, more or less, to the years of the Weimar Republic (1918-1933), and ended with the rise of Nazism.

It is art that is little known outside of Germany, but one which also carried over to the U.S. and into contemporary times. Its most famous painters were Otto Dix, George Grosz and Max Beckmann, yet there were dozens of other artists and numerous city centers for this movement. Additionally, we will discuss Die Neue Frau (The New Woman), and the changing gender roles during the 1920s in Germany, represented in works of art, as well as the rise of photography as an art form.

Finally, we will see how Neue Sachlichkeit moved to the U.S. under the guise of Precision and Machine Aesthetic, represented by Charles Sheeler and his most important work, namely, for the Ford Motor Company - both paintings and photographs - of the River Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

Join me on a journey to understand and appreciate the literary art form of the short story. Each week we will first focus on one aspect of the short story form that an author has chosen to emphasize to convey his/her “theme.” We will then read and discuss two or three stories that emphasize this aspect and how it serves not only to convert the theme but why the author has chosen it. The emphasis in this course is on discussion and achieving an analysis through a variety of opinions and points of view of class participants. Some authors will include Hemingway, Tolstoy, Camus, Mansfield, Cather, Thurber, Faulkner, Wolfe, and more. Bonus: the understanding of these analytical aspects will apply to many more literary art forms than the short story: novels, movies, etc. etc. At the conclusion we will all participate in a comparison of three stories with similar subjects and attempt to rank them according to literary “value”

This course explores the potential and limitations of AI technology, examining its promises, challenges, and potential for enormous societal impact.

We'll start with a layperson's explanation of neural networks and how companies have leveraged them into commercial AI applications. With that understanding, we'll consider AI optimistically, discussing its enormous capabilities and promises for uplifting humanity. We’ll also evaluate AI pessimistically, reflecting upon the track records of internet-powered corporations and the history of dangerous social fads to assess how AI will soon amplify their power.

This balanced background will allow us to ask a crucial question: how should civilization manage AI to serve the common good, not just its creators?

Moreover, AI is emerging amid vehement competing notions of justice and fairness in America. Can this technology help us clarify viewpoints, reveal common ground, and reveal a path to peace between our warring factions?

Beethoven did not invent the symphony. Both Mozart and Haydn had gotten there before him, and others before them. However, Beethoven was the first to prove that a symphony could express the composer’s view of the world: triumph, tragedy and all the emotions in between.

The summit of that journey arrived with his Symphony No. 9, premiering in Vienna May 7, 1824, and containing so famously the Ode to Joy. His concept of what symphonies could become inspired countless composers in later years, Brahms and Tchaikovsky amongst them. Even today, most composers have Beethoven in their minds when they sit down to write a symphony.

Music historian Betsy Schwarm offers a six-week online course exploring Beethoven’s symphonic vision, and how he influenced the grand works that would come with later generations. How did Beethoven change the musical world and how does he still make a difference today? We’ll find out!

In this class we will explore the profound world of animated cinema with rich narratives and mature storytelling in animated features beyond traditional children's entertainment. Through films like "Grave of the Fireflies," a poignant exploration of wartime suffering; "Mary and Max," a touching tale of friendship and mental health; "The Fantastic Mr. Fox," a witty and visually stunning adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic; and "The Little Prince" (2015), a heartfelt reimagining of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's timeless story, and four other films, we look at how animation tackles deep, complex themes. Class discussions will focus on thematic elements, artistic techniques, and the impact of these films on the audience, demonstrating the power of animation to convey intricate human experiences and emotions. This course invites you to look beyond the surface and appreciate the depth and artistry of animated storytelling. We will show each film in its entirety with English subtitles for the hearing impaired (if available).

Bridge is a wonderful game for us seniors. It keeps our minds active, and it keeps us computing, deciphering, and using logic and deduction. It is also a very social game. All very good for us seniors. Also, perhaps the most important thing, it is a fun game. This is the first beginning bridge class “Bridge Basics I.” This course is for individuals new to bridge or those who have been absent from bridge for a while.

Recommended Book: Bidding in the 21st Century. The American Contract League (ACBL) will provide the book for the participants. There is a $20.00 non-negotiable or refundable fee for this class. The fee goes to offset the app fees so students can play bridge online and postage to mail the book to the students. The fee is paid to the facilitator Michael Holmes, via check, to 313 Clisby Austin Rd. Tunnel Hill, GA 30755 or Zelle. Your book will be mailed upon receipt of the course fee. Please send the fee by the second-class session.

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

Consumed with grief, driven by vengeance, John Chenneville undertakes an unrelenting odyssey across the lawless post–Civil War frontier, seeking redemption, in this fearless novel from the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of News of the World. We approach reading as discovery in a reading community; therefore, some of the reading is done in class so that, together, we encounter the text as a group, allowing multiple insights from the class. PLEASE DO NOT START READING THE BOOK BEFORE CLASS BEGINS

At 0900 on 28 APRIL 1986, unusually high radiation levels were detected at the nuclear power plant at Forsmark, Sweden. Tests showed these radioactive particles could only have come from a Soviet nuclear reactor and the wind patterns pointed to Chernobyl. That evening, in a 23-word statement, TASS, the Soviet News Agency, reported an accident had happened to one of the reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine SSR. This was the first the world knew about it. With the fall of the Soviet Union and the opening of archives in Russia and Ukraine we have a good idea what happened. This class will use the HBO series Chernobyl as a visual guide to the accident and draw on numerous books and other videos to fill in the details the HBO series left out.

“Churchill” the name sparks multiple images: Boer War correspondent, prisoner of war, Gallipoli, Minister of Parliament, The 1930s Wilderness Years, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Wartime Prime Minister. We will cover his World War II leadership from the dark days of The Gathering Storm, Dunkirk, Their Finest Hour, the Grand Alliance, Hinge of Fate, Alone No More, Closing the Ring, Turning the Tide, D-Day, to Triumph and Tragedy. Churchill was a controversial figure. We will discuss his political and military decisions and their ramifications. Our source material is the ABC Emmy Award-winning 1961 TV series “The Valiant Years,” the accompanying book “Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years,” Churchill’s sixth volume “The Second World War”, plus other books. Join us as we listen to Richard Burton speaking Churchill’s own words, Gary Merrill narrating, and war-time leaders providing their experiences.

“Churchill” the name sparks multiple images: Boer War correspondent, prisoner of war, Gallipoli, Minister of Parliament, The 1930s Wilderness Years, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Wartime Prime Minister. We will cover his World War II leadership from the dark days of The Gathering Storm, Dunkirk, Their Finest Hour, the Grand Alliance, Hinge of Fate, Alone No More, Closing the Ring, Turning the Tide, D-Day, to Triumph and Tragedy. Churchill was a controversial figure. We will discuss his political and military decisions and their ramifications. Our source material is the ABC Emmy Award-winning 1961 TV series “The Valiant Years,” the accompanying book “Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years,” Churchill’s sixth volume “The Second World War”, plus other books. Join us as we listen to Richard Burton speaking Churchill’s own words, Gary Merrill narrating, and war-time leaders providing their experiences.

The United States has held 59 presidential elections. A few of these contests concluded in extreme controversy. This course will examine 8 such elections, concluding with the 2024 election which will be held the day before the final class session.

Each week, we’ll scrutinize one election. We’ll first look at the 1800 election where it took 36 votes in the House to declare Jefferson the winner. We’ll then review the 1824 election where Andrew Jackson received 15 more electoral votes and a third more popular votes than John Quincy Adams, but Adams became president. Then, in turn, we’ll examine the 1860 election of Lincoln; the 1876 selection of Rutherford Hayes that ended Reconstruction; the 1912 contest where Wilson defeated both an incumbent and an ex-president; the “hanging chads” election of 2000; and the 2020 election where, for the first time, the losing candidate refused to concede defeat.

The course will not use a text. Before each class, the facilitator will distribute a short reading describing the election and why it resulted in such controversy.

When Colorado’s capitol building was built in the 1890’s, sixteen citizens and pioneers were memorialized with stained glass windows set high in the capitol’s rotunda. These Hall of Fame individuals were chosen as being influential in settling early Colorado.

This class will use these honorees as a jumping-off point for looking at 19th-century Colorado. They offer what was a contemporaneous perspective on the founding of our state. But we will then continue to delve deeper into our state’s history, covering up to the year 1900. Topics will include:

• the early years prior to the discovery of gold
• the Spanish settlement of the San Luis Valley
• the transition from frontier to statehood
• our uncomfortable history with the Native Americans
• transportation across the plains and into the mountains
• life in the mountains and in Denver
• ranching and farming in the “Great American Desert”

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.

Need a break from all the stress of another election year? Comedy Appreciation might be just the ticket. We’ll look at many of the talented people who have made us laugh over the years and right up to the present day. We’ll cover standup comedy from men and women, past and present, as well late-night comedy, ethnic humor, political humor, and sketch comedy -everything from Pat Paulsen to Paula Poundstone and that’s just the P’s.

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.

“There is nothing so confining as the prisons of our own perceptions.” William Shakespeare

Are you not talking with friends or family? Could it be that your perception of your own story is a self-made prison? This interactive class offers a suggestion to reduce having “a winner/correct vs loser/errant” mindset. We will learn more about ourselves rather than pointing out the other person’s issues. How important is it to know why you feel so strongly about an issue?

We will discover how to ask focused questions. We will learn how to better listen to such an extent that strangers will thank us for taking time to chat. We will use a three-vowel system: AEO (assumptions, expectations, observations).

“Critical Perspective Workshop” helps you see how to benefit from diverse viewpoints. We will explore quotations and books we have read to shade light on how our stories have developed differently than others.

The lessons of history help us understand the entangled nature of current world events. This class will spotlight major events of the Italian and European Renaissance to reveal how profound changes beginning in the early 16th century are linked to present day.

The era straddling the dawn of the sixteenth century saw an amazing plethora of new ideas, exploration and the inevitable disruption that comes with change. The Italian renaissance ended with humanism firmly embraced by the Church and aristocracy. Wars were inevitable, and a new world order led to the founding of this country, the creation of the industrial age and the dominance of the West in all global affairs.

The course will cover the intellectual, technological, economic, scientific, and creative innovations that occurred around 1500 CE. We will explore the impact of human creativity and its effect on culture and commerce. Art and architecture, published works and science were the outward signs of a cultural churning that exploded with the enlightenment and the industrial age.

Climate change dominates headlines with dire warnings, yet discussions often fragment into specific topics like electric vehicles, renewable energy, extreme weather events, and climate refugees. It’s hard to connect the dots to see the full picture. How do all these stories – all these pieces fit together?

This 8-week guest speaker series brings together leading researchers and subject matter experts to provide a fuller and clearer view of what is, perhaps, humanity's greatest and most consequential challenge.

Each presenter offers a nuanced perspective on a key aspect of climate change. Collectively they’ll provide an integrated up-to-date understanding of this complex issue already, and perhaps inexorably, impacting Colorado, the nation, and the world.

The series will help us understand: (1) what we’re likely facing, (2) what some of the realistic goals are, (3) some of the options to achieve these goals, (4) the keys and barriers to success that we should consider.

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.

Explore the guiding Jewish values that help inform choices on common medical questions. This course will equip participants with the tools to chart a path through four areas of medical ethics: experimental treatments, extending life, pregnancy questions, and caring for a body. Gain an enriching perspective on how the Jewish ethical tradition helps us confidently navigate fateful decisions.

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.

Were you fascinated by the recent eclipse and aurora borealis events? Ever wonder why we have seasons, or why there are spring tides in the summer, autumn and winter? Why do we have leap years and leap seconds? Why does earth have oceans? Using lectures, videos, Q&A and discussion we will answer these questions and more as we take a “big picture” look at our planet. No previous science experience is necessary, just curiosity about our planet and a willingness to participate in Lynn’s Zoom polls. Over the course of four weeks, we will look at Earth in the solar system, the relationship between Earth and the moon, the Earth’s gravitation and magnetic fields, and why the Earth has water and oceans. Relevant and interesting links and handouts will be provided throughout the class.

According to experts at the 2024 Conference on World Affairs, the top 3 threats to humanity over the next 10 years are (in no particular order) pandemics, global warming, and nuclear weapons. And the underlying causes of our current global conflicts are natural resources, the rise of multi-powers, and that old stand-by, the human quest for power. Sheesh! How’s a person to sleep at night?! Join Paula Staffeldt for a hopeful look at our current reality. No rose-colored glasses or “pollyanna” tropes. But no doom and gloom filters, either. In 4 interactive sessions, consider how our individual thoughts and feelings might either support or hinder a more peaceful, sustainable future. And how the inspiration that comes from a mind that is “at ease with what is” could guide us in making more insightful decisions and taking wiser actions toward creating a more enlightened world.

Through this course, students will encounter the cinema of Martin Scorsese, arguably one of the most important living film directors. Beginning with his breakthrough work, "Taxi Driver" (1976), and progressing through his widely recognized masterworks Raging Bull (1980) and Goodfellas (1990), the course will culminate with a look at his modern output: The Irishman (2019) and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). Over the course of this survey, students will be exposed to the influences, inspirations, and challenges behind Scorsese's work. We'll learn about the films' production, their critical and popular reception, and ultimately, their importance to cinema history.

Have you ever laughed and cried at the same time? Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt frequently triggers that amazing reaction. This fascinating memoir is told in a lyrical Irish voice that will charm you. With numerous tales, McCourt reveals a miserable childhood of hunger and pain. This persevering lad is intelligent and eager to succeed but is held back from furthering his education because he is dressed in rags. Beyond all expectations, he manages to elevate himself to become a renowned writer, teacher, and lecturer. You will enjoy taking this astonishing journey with him.

This novel won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics’ Circle Award, and spent 117 weeks on the New York Times hardcover best-seller list.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, Scribner Paperback, 1996

No Class October 1st 

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.

When the word “God” is mentioned, most people in the West automatically assume a particular concept of God. The Asian religions challenge that concept. In this class we will look at the Hindu concept of Brahman, the Buddhist concept of Nirvana, the Taoist concept of Nature, and the Confucian idea of how our actions relate to the “Way of the Gods.” But the class will not be just about the concept of God. We will cover other central ideas like the nature of knowledge and what it means to be human. It is also inevitable, especially in the East, that many practices of the religions are connected to their philosophical ideas, e.g., their rituals and lifestyles, Moreover, the ethical perspective of each religion will be central as well as the concept of an afterlife in each one. This will primarily be a philosophy course about the ideas involved in the Asian religions. Personally, I have found the Asian religions a rich challenge to the beliefs with which I grew up and they have opened the door to other ways of seeing the world.

This course on generative AI offers an exploration of its principles, applications, and implications. Through a combination of keynote presentations, interactive videos, dynamic discussions, and hands-on experience, participants will delve into the fascinating world of generative AI and emerge with a solid understanding of its fundamentals and real-world potential.

The facilitators will trace the evolution of AI and explore the basics of artificial neurons and neural network architectures. The class will acquire an understanding of how neural networks are constructed, trained, and used. We will describe several exemplary AI industry pioneers, such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind. We will also explore the use of several text generators and the generation of images, videos, and virtual worlds by Dall-E and Sora. In addition, the facilitators will demonstrate text-to-speech applications and present applications of generative AI to biology and drug discovery. The class will discuss the potential for innovation while mitigating risks as the field undergoes rapid evolution toward AGI.

Do you sometimes feel frustrated because of the complexity of using our computers? Or perhaps you have had years of hit-or-miss learning? We will learn more about today’s computer technology, including PC hardware, the Windows operating system components and settings, peripheral connections and ports, file and application management, Internet connectivity, Cloud storage with OneDrive, security, and maintenance, including backing up your computer. Understand what is happening with Windows 10 and how to use Windows 11. Become more familiar with how your computer syncs with other devices and the Cloud. Come get more comfortable with today’s technology on our desktops and laptops. You will end up with a smarter computer and a smarter you!

Great Decisions is a program of the Foreign Policy Association which is new each year. High quality educational materials are prepared and provided to discussion groups in cities and universities throughout the United States. On each topic there will be a chapter describing the current issues around the selected topic and a video of background information and relevant interviews with world leaders and scholars.

Required Book: Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book, available from the Foreign Policy Association. Registered members please order.

Some directors have an identifiable brash style that we can all appreciate; some strive to be invisible - if you can see their efforts, they feel they have usurped the story. Whichever way, the great directors with long, successful lists of films to their credit are, in reality, supreme artists of film that can get you to laugh through tears and surprise you with unexpected story twists. How do they do that? What techniques, what film grammar do they know and use on you to tell their stories in compelling ways? Take this course and see how they do it – Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Joel and Ethan Coen, Sidney Pollack. We’ll see excerpts of their work, biographic info and Interviews with them, and detailed commentaries on their techniques via YouTube videos.

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.

This course will provide an overview of the important role in the world that Greece has played through history and currently. Its outsized influence on philosophy, architecture and art will be reviewed. Its major role in history, despite its relatively small population, will be covered. And a primary emphasis will be placed on Greece`s current role in Mediterranean area affairs and economies. Presentations will be mostly lectures with significant use of visuals and handouts. No books or other prior preparation will be required of class participants.

Climate change is all about people. A few people (climate scientists) see it coming. Some people seek solutions (climate politicians) and still others oppose those solutions (climate deniers). Climate activists demonstrate, showing their anger and frustration. Climate journalists report on progress and setbacks. Biologists register alarm while theologians provide spiritual context for the threat to planet earth. Financiers and economists propose ways to deal with climate change while averting economic disaster. Entrepreneurs see opportunity in re-engineering the modern economy while farmers revamp their agricultural methods.

Through biographical sketches we will meet climate actors on the warming global stage. Here are a few of them: Scientists Charles David Keeling and James Hansen; Senators James Inhofe, Lisa Murkowski, and Sheldon Whitehouse; lawyer Julia Olson; financier/politician Michael Bloomberg; regulator Rostin Benham; negotiator Christiana Figueres; activist Greta Thunberg; author Elizabeth Kolbert; administrator Gina McCarthy; meteorologist Mike Nelson; and religious leader Pope Francis.

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

Unlock the power of color in your art by diving into the essentials of color theory. Whether you're new to this fascinating world or just want to brush up on your skills, understanding the color wheel, complementary colors, and the psychological effects of colors is key to creating impactful art. This course offers a fun and engaging journey into color theory and its practical applications in painting. You'll learn how to choose and use colors systematically, bridging the gap between creativity and science. By mastering these principles, you'll add depth, variety, and allure to your artwork. As you work with acrylics or watercolors, the advantages of knowing color theory will become clear, taking your artistic journey to exciting new heights. Join us and discover how to make your paintings more vibrant and dynamic!

This course will walk through the history of Denver, exploring the successive waves of immigrants who have made their home in the Mile High City. This journey will include the stories of immigrants from Mexico, New Mexico, Ireland, China, Germany, Russia, Japan, Italy, Greece, Poland, Vietnam, Central America, and South America. Particular attention will be paid to the labor that these communities performed, how they struggled for fair wages and conditions in their workspaces, and how they contributed to the larger culture that has come to define Colorado.

Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso - we'll explore the work and the worlds of these five amazing artists, their impact upon Modern Art and the joy and wonder they continue to prompt. Class will be a combination of lecture, discussion and video. At the end of each class Bob will do a brief demonstration exploring the painters' techniques, using inexpensive materials like crayons, colored pencils and a beginners watercolor set and work towards simulating a few of their innovative methods of application. All are invited to play along - participation is optional of course and simply observing will be of value.

Anti-Asian violence: A modern-day occurrence? Not at all. Fear, hatred, and racism toward the Chinese and Japanese began in the mid 1800’s culminating with the incarceration of over 125,000 Japanese at the beginning of WWII, two thirds of whom were US citizens. From the perspective of a third generation Japanese American (Sansei), we will discuss the how, when and why racism landed Americans in what is more accurately described as prison camps, and what we can do to countermand the effect of anti-Asian violence and racism in America today. With the continuing immigration and border crisis, we will see how the incarceration of the Japanese in WWII can repeat itself today and why we should be ever vigilant that this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

Improving Your Bridge Judgement is for anyone who has some experience with the game of Bridge. Participants in this course will learn how to be better bidders and responders. Strategies to improve your decision making will be discussed, demonstrated, and practiced. Students will learn strategies when bidding in first and second position. Strategies for bidding in third and fourth seat will also be discussed and practiced. How to handle preemptive bidding and slam bidding will be demonstrated and discussed. Bidding and responding to strong hands will be demonstrated and discussed.

Course Type: Lecture, discussion, on-line play of bridge

Books/Materials. There is a $20.00 non-negotiable or refundable fee for this course. There is not a textbook for this class and the fee goes to offset the app fees so students can play bridge online. Failure to pay the fee by the second class will result in the student being dropped from the class. Students will either pay for the instruction via check or Zelle. Address: 313 Clisby Austin Rd, Tunnel Hill, GA 30755. Zelle Michael Holmes 303 928-9187.

Haqiqa Kathleen Ochs has spent over four decades in two traditional Muslim Sufi Orders: the Indian Chisti Order and an American branch of the Turkish Jerrahi Order. Her experiences have been in the United States, Canada, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Syria, from the early 1970s to the present. Dr. Ochs’ professional training is in the history of technology and science, which she taught for over a quarter century. She also taught Islam and Sufism at Naropa (Boulder). Her interests include the new ways of thinking and practicing appropriate for contemporary Muslims and Sufis while remaining deeply rooted in Muslim Sufi traditions. The course benefits from the combination of the Islamic and Sufi oral cultures, practices, and wide reading in scholarly and popular sources. She is currently completing an Introduction to Islam and Sufism using these sources.

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.

"Huck Finn is a masterpiece. This retelling just might be, too."NYTimes. In James. Perceval Everett's new, Pulitzer-listed, bestselling novel, Huck's enslaved sidekick, Jim, tells the story. This shift redirects the focus from a white boy's adventure to the harrowing experiences of a runaway. Through Jim's eyes, readers realize the mistreatment he endured in Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In James, Jim sheds his fearful, subservient identity to reclaim his freedom and manhood as James. Everett deftly maintains humor and page-turning drama throughout. Everett's James:

• reveals the racism of philosophers influencing the Founding Fathers;
• explains why African-Americans switch language or dialect based on social or conversational context, code-shifting;
• explores the blackface minstrel tradition; and
• reveals the sexual exploitation of enslaved women.

Facilitator presentations will delve deeper into these topics providing scenes from Twain's Huck with racial slurs redacted. Join us to decide if James is a new masterpiece and if Huck remains one?

For those of you who are tired of being bombarded by all the bad news on TV every day, this class is intended to lighten and brighten your world. I’ll be showing and discussing some of the most beautiful Japanese prints made over the last 150 years. Their impact is felt around the world.

When the United States ended Japan’s isolationist foreign policy around 1854, Japan entered a new period marked by rapid modernization, industrialization, and cultural change. This class will delve into Japanese print art resulting from Japanese societal changes beginning in the Meiji period (1868-1912). Out of necessity, it will show contrasts and similarities with prior Edo period prints. I will discuss the evolution of Japanese society and print artists, their lives, and their work over approximately a 150-year period (to the present). This includes the shin-hanga (new prints), sosaku-hanga (creative prints), and kindai-hanga (modern or contemporary prints) movements. Japanese prints have had a huge impact on Western art over the last 350 years.

Prepare to be awed by this art form that is infused with Western influences yet remains essentially Japanese and is still popular today. No extracurricular reading is required.

Can we as humans really explore space? Why are we so intrigued by this concept?

Exploring space holds immense appeal for several reasons, ranging from scientific discovery and technological advancement to inspiring humanity and ensuring our future survival. Space missions capture the imagination and inspire people around the world. Achievements like landing on the Moon or sending rovers to Mars foster a sense of pride and wonder. As we gaze up into the sky, can you picture yourself up there, exploring and experiencing the unbelievable expanse of space. The innate human desire to explore and understand the unknown drives space exploration. It is a fundamental aspect of our nature to seek out new frontiers and expand our horizons.

This is not an in-depth discussion of space exploration since the field is so voluminous, to infinity and beyond. We will look at the evolution of this field and imagine where it is going in the future. There will be at least 4 guest speakers who are experts in their field, Lunar, SETI, Space Force, and Planet IQ.

Whether you are eager to travel again and want some ideas about future trips or you're an armchair traveler who enjoys seeing the beauty of the world, you'll enjoy this class.

Come, travel with us...To the Baltic countries. Cuba, Morocco, Mexico's Yucatan (with OLLI), Scandinavia, Colombia, Israel, and a session of potpourri destinations - short videos of some of Barbara's favorite places!

Classes will consist of viewing videos of various destinations, and class participation about different kinds of travel and discussion of your favorite destinations and bucket lists. We encourage you to "talk travel"!

Get ready to embark on a journey where learning meets playfulness. In this class, students will immerse themselves in a diverse array of games, from classic board games to interactive group challenges. Through these engaging activities, participants will sharpen their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills while fostering bonds of friendship. Whether figuring out the most efficient train route or working with your team to determine the highest grossing Broadway play of all time, every week promises laughter, newfound insights, and fun. Join us as we explore the magic of games, where every roll of the dice and every move on the board brings us closer together in the spirit of joy and discovery.

In each of the classes, the first hour will be devoted to a board game with individuals competing against one another and the second hour will consist of games that involve team collaboration.

The current tech revolution is the integration of our devices and information through “The Cloud.” But just what IS The Cloud? And what is The Internet?! Let us ride on the cloud to learn about cloud computing and services, cloud storage, backup and sync, file sharing, and much more. Become informed about the Internet, browsers, search engines, and the technologies involved in delivering the Internet, and explore different devices, and security. Understand how your smartphones and PC “sync” with the Cloud, device continuity, and how synced data and info are accessed online. Visit the Internet of Things and see how you are already in that world. Get more comfortable with AI & Augmented/Virtual Reality. Discuss how we are using cross-platform, network-connected devices. Get Smarter about your amazing and sometimes dangerous Smart World.

Rumor has it that health after 60 is a series of patch, patch, patch! This speaker series is designed to look for ways to stay healthy and avoid as much patching as possible! Join Anne and Janet in a series of presentations designed to address common medical issues that seniors face. This eight-week course, in-person class series, will involve lecture, PowerPoint, videos and hands-on experiences. Come with your questions and plan on lively discussions! Be a part of learning new and practical health information.

Experts will present the following topics:

• Hearing (hearing loss, hearing aids, hearing systems for classes and others);
• Pharmacy (common medications and interactions, timing and effectiveness);
• Diabetes/Weight Loss and GLP1 inhibitors for both conditions (Wegovy/Ozempic and others);
• Physical Therapy (safety in the home, balance, falls and recovery and the use of assistive equipment);
• Allergies (common allergies, causes and treatment);
• Care giving, Hospice, Medical Aid in Dying;
• Dental (keeping your teeth into old age, cleaning and preventive measures); and
• Medical Myths (what to believe and how to tell truth from fiction in medical care).

Too many Americans are suffering from debilitating but preventable chronic health conditions. We will review current scientific research and connect that with day-to-day ways to implement lifestyle changes that will reduce our likelihood for chronic pain and chronic illness in later life. These conditions can be improved with lifestyle changes that make it possible to reduce the possibility of suffering from age-related diseases such as dementia, diabetes, chronic heart conditions, etc. In this class we will look at how aging impacts each of the 10 systems of the body and the conditions that lead to chronic illness and the self-care needed to avoid illness. It is important to work on our health to avoid chronic illness resulting in increased use of medications, surgeries and injections. Small decisions today can have large impacts tomorrow. It’s never too late to make improvements in your health. Even if you are currently being challenged with a chronic illness, lifestyle improvements can reverse or at least help to maintain current conditions. This class is for anyone who desires to take charge of their own wellness and would like motivation and inspiration to make wise choices. Imagine a world where you can age with vitality, purpose and self-acceptance!

“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.

Did you know that Frankenstein (1818), Mary Shelley’s iconic monster story:

• was written by a teenager who eloped with the already-married poet Percy Shelley and had recently borne him a child who had died,
• begins with the letters of an obsessed polar explorer,
• was created because of a ghost-story challenge among literary friends, who were discussing galvanism and the origins of life, during a rainy summer spent in Switzerland,
• the author gives the name Frankenstein not to the monster, but rather to the young scientist who creates him.

Join us as we read the novel, view film clips, and discuss the famous writers in Shelley’s circle, as well as the ethical limits of experimentation, Enlightenment attitudes toward science, the implications of bad parenting, and the psychological, political, and gendered readings of the book. We will work together to unpack the unending fascination of this modern myth – just in time for Halloween.

“Bogie” the name conjures an immediate picture of the classic tough guy with a heart of gold. Classic quotes such as “Play It Again, Sam” and “You’re Good. You’re awfully Good.” bring to life some of the most outstanding dramas from the Golden Days of Hollywood. Again, we return to watch Humphrey Bogart in eight more movies that showed the range of his talents. Bogart plays returning veteran, escaped convict, hotel visitor, gold seeker, a down-and-out scriptwriter, corporate executive, and a crusading newspaper editor. Again, we will have a short discussion before and after the movie to discuss the stars, the plot, and what made this movie successful (or not).

These movies are “A” movies and will run long. Our class will start at 12:30 to accommodate the length of the movie plus our serial of the week.

You know you’ve been meaning to write your memoir for years. Perhaps you’ve started and then abandoned the project as too daunting, too time-consuming, something you’ll get around to someday. We’ve all been there. This class is designed for those who may feel unqualified as a writer, who “don’t have anything to write about,” who don’t know where to begin or how to proceed and all of those other excuses you’ve been carefully accumulating over the years. We’ll learn how to break down this project into doable pieces, how to find topics that matter and how to put them into words without driving ourselves crazy in the process. A memoir is not a volume of an assigned length—it’s any collection of anecdotes you put together in your own familiar words for people who will deeply appreciate your efforts, and who will, as a result, never forget you. It’s time to do it!

Join us for our 4th in a series of most highly rated and enjoyed films of a decade. Having done the films of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, this term we look at the films of the 1990s. Examples are Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, Good Will Hunting, and A League of Their Own. We will also select from 10 other excellent films of the decade using our 1980s film class for guidance. During the course you will see many great actors (Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Geena Davis, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helen Hunt, Holly Hunter, Jodie Foster, Andie MacDowell, Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Minnie Driver) and the work of great directors and writers (Darabont, Zemeckis, Van Sant, Marshall, Fincher, Nichols, Ramis, Brooks, Hansson, Demme, Spielberg.).

As we get older, the risk of falling tends to increase significantly due to a gradual decline in balance abilities. This decline may begin in middle age and progress slowly, making it easy to ignore - until a fall happens. To address this, incorporating balance training into our personal health management strategy is essential, allowing us to take proactive steps toward maintaining stability and preventing falls.

Minding Your Balance™ training addresses this need, drawing on lessons from the martial art Ki-Aikido to take a groundbreaking look at balance and its fundamental relationship to mind and emotion. Easy to learn mind body exercises, scientific insights, and stories of applications in everyday life provide participants with tools to immediately improve balance control. Participants work individually and with partners. Activities can be done seated and standing; all activities are adaptable to different needs and abilities.

Although we often think of movies as merely escapist entertainment, many filmmakers have sought to spotlight injustice and social problems. This course will study fiction films–chosen from the 1940s to today, Hollywood, independent, or foreign offerings–that seek to shape attitudes. Students will watch the film beforehand on their own; class time will be spent looking at clips and particularly studying a) how movies try to make their messages entertaining, b) how much they digress from history, and c) how they stir audience emotions.

Primary movies: The Grapes of Wrath, The Bicycle Thieves, In the Heat of the Night, Z, El Norte, North Country, Spotlight

Imagine a "Museum of Lost Art" where there are different rooms for masterpieces that have been stolen; art lost through natural disasters or vandalism; art lost in wars, plundered, or simply tucked away in attics, private homes and storage facilities.

This class will introduce you to all these "rooms of lost art." We will visit the amazing world of art forgery. The DaVinci or Picasso you are appreciating, even in the world's greatest museums, may not be by the Masters at all. But not all is lost. Many organizations are searching for these missing pieces, from the FBI Art Theft Bureau to Interpol and others.

There will be video, slides, lecture and discussion. We are not art experts, and we will not go deeply into the art itself or the artists. Instead, we will take you on a spirited adventure into this intriguing world of lost and forged art.

We will have eight sessions to enjoy a variety of music-oriented documentaries. This class is for music lovers who will learn about many aspects of the world of classical music: how a concert grand piano is made, celebrated pianists in conversation and in concert, piano competitions for amateurs and professionals, how children learn to play music, and the meaning of music for musicians and for people in difficult times. We will view one film per session, discuss and share stories and experiences.

Place is sometimes described as an additional character in novels, especially when an author develops a collection of characters in a specific location throughout a continuing series. "Mysterious Places" encourages armchair travel while exploring various mystery series - in this case, with a weather theme. Hurricanes, snowstorms, drought, gloomy or sunny days have all been used to establish atmosphere in a story and are sometimes the means, motive, or opportunity. In addition to our usual book club discussions of mysteries featuring weather, meteorologist Tom Corona will explain various weather phenomena that appear in our stories. A little science, some fun mysteries, lots of great discussion - another fine "Mysterious Places" class coming up!

What happens to human “consciousness” when we die? In 1978 Dr. Raymond Moody's landmark book “Life After Life” reported on Moody’s investigation of 150 people who died “clinically,” were subsequently revived, and reported similar extraordinary experiences. His book started a revolution in popular attitudes regarding an “afterlife” and forever changed how we understand both death and life.

Since then, with vastly improved resuscitation techniques, five decades of scientific research on thousands of NDEs has brought us powerful evidence that yes, Virginia, there is “life" after physical death and, as frosting on the cake, what awaits us is both heart-warming and extremely comforting. Physicians and professors at prominent universities, medical schools and hospitals world-wide continue to study this phenomenon with seriously "mind-blowing" results. This course brings you up to speed on these findings as well as what we now know about other exceptional “paranormal” phenomena.

This class begins by explaining the mysteries of the brain, common neurological diseases, evaluation of healthy lifestyles and a guide to navigating one’s way through today’s complicated and fragmented healthcare system.

Recommended reading: A Migraine in Room 3, A Stroke in Room 4; A Physician Examines His Profession by Paul M. Schanfield, MD [amigraineinroom3.com]

Few people realize that Horror Films did not develop or did not fully exist until after World War 1 when German veterans returned home and began to make the movies for which Horror and German Expressionism are still known. Some of the films to be explored and discussed:

“J’accuse” (France – 1919)

“Nosferatu” (Germany – 1921)

“The Golem” (Germany – 1920)

“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (Germany – 1921)

“The Phantom Carriage” (Sweden – 1921)

“Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages” (Sweden – 1922)

“The Phantom of the Opera” (US – 1925)

“The Fall of the House of Usher” (Spain – 1928)

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (US – 1930)

“M” (Germany – 1931) “Dracula” (US – 1932)

“Frankenstein (US – 1933)

These films may still chill us today, but they were born in the mud and stench and death of World War 1, as thousands faced the daily horror of No Man’s Land and then found a need to express their horror following the war. The great war poetry of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen will also be explored and discussed.

We will explore seven operas available to Denver area residents in the forthcoming season. They include three Metropolitan Opera Live in HD productions of operatic masterpieces: Offenbach’s fantastical The Tales of Hoffmann, Puccini’s searingly dramatic Tosca, and Verdi’s Aida, the grandest of grand opera. They are joined by the Met’s HD production of Jeanne Tesori’s Grounded, a 21st century work addressing the ethical quandaries and psychological toll of today’s remote-controlled warfare.

A guest from Opera Colorado will speak to us during one week on their 2024-25 offerings: Donizetti’s rollicking The Daughter of the Regiment; Puccini’s beloved tale of youthful tragic love, La Boheme; and Verdi’s Il Trovatore, a drama of romance, jealousy, and fateful vengeance.

Please join us whether you are an experienced operagoer, new to the art form, or somewhere in between. If you plan to attend any of these performances, our classes will be an excellent prelude to your opera experience.

This course provides participants with a way of seeing, feeling, and understanding the world, themselves, and the connections that exist in the world through the energy that the world is made of. Following a non-technical introduction to energy, resonating, and frequencies the course shows how energy defines the form and behavior of individuals, couples/groups, society, business, and other entities in the world. As important as these entities themselves are the energy-connections between all entities and how they interact. Characteristics of energy such as authentic vs. forced energy have important implications for us and the world around us and will be described in the course, as will other characteristics of a Resonating~World such as what we perceive of as death. The course is highly focused on exploring the meaning and results of energy in our lives rather than a scientific/physics aspects of energy. Wally’s website is https://www.itsaresonatingworld.com/contact which will give more insight into the class.

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS)? This course goes backstage into the Science Division, revealing some of the significant and fascinating scientific work being conducted right in our own community.

Each week you'll meet a different expert including a scientist, a curator, a conservator, and the museum’s fossil preparation and field expeditions specialist.

These sessions will delve into the captivating research, (literally) groundbreaking scientific work, intricate preservation techniques, and the art and science of curation and discovery at the DMNS.

We live in an incredible epoch of exploration. We are discovering not merely new continents, like the explorers of old, but whole new worlds circling other stars. Since the first extrasolar planet was discovered in 1995, astronomers have found more than five thousand others in our cosmic neighborhood. We wonder. It’s our nature. How did we get here? Are we alone in the universe? How does the universe work? The James Webb Space Telescope is an ambitious scientific endeavor that will answer these questions. Webb builds on the legacy of previous space-based telescopes to push the boundaries of human knowledge even further, to the formation of the first galaxies and the horizons of other worlds. The class will review the latest startling findings from the Webb and other telescopes to describe our growing understanding of the universe- our home!

This lively, interactive course will examine what sexuality means to us, and how this changes as we mature. Topics include physical changes with aging, the nature of intimacy, and relationships both longstanding and new. We’ll cover online dating, consent and safety, sex toys and more! There will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion, and resources will be offered to meet current and future needs.

Create magazine-worthy images from smart phone travel, event, and everyday photos. The free Snapseed in-phone app offers fun and flexible tools for effective, professional edits and polish in post-production. Snapseed is great for making memory books, inspiring slide shows, and eye-catching Internet posts. The class will include detailed instruction and examples to correct, optimize, and artistically interpret photos, as well as hints for improving photo capture. A PDF presentation of more than 100 slides can be downloaded to follow along during the class and be retained for later reference.

This course will explore several social movements from the 1960s, including the Civil Rights movement, Chicano and American Indian Movements, feminist movement, Gay Liberation, Anti-War, and Economic Justice. For each of these movements, we will examine the history behind the movement, and relate it to current events and social change in the 21st century. Students are encouraged to share their own experiences and memories of this era and to use this course to reflect deeply on the questions that define us today.

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.

"But I don't have a creative bone in my body!" Surely you don't have a creative bone, but you have the innate ability to tap into a fundamental aspect of being human: Creativity. Sadly, creativity too often is perceived narrowly, as a talent possessed by relatively few people rather than a process available to all people. And it's never too late! The human brain is more open to creativity as we age. During this course you will explore ways to tap into the creative well available to all humans and enhance your creativity by challenging perceptions and taken-for-granted assumptions, expanding and deepening awareness, and addressing blocks to creative expression. The course is for both new and seasoned creators and will offer opportunities to engage in and share your creative pursuits as well as provide your insights into the creative process as you have experienced it.

Mandalas, with their rich history and beautiful designs, are amazing tools for meditation and self-reflection. Found in cultures all over the world, these intricate patterns have decorated temples, manuscripts, and more, symbolizing cosmic order and inner peace. Beyond their spiritual roots, mandalas also show up in modern science, illustrating energy, waves, and sound, and are used in therapy as a way to express oneself and heal. In this course, guided by an experienced OLLI facilitator and artist, you will dive into the world of mandala creation. Each session mixes theory with hands-on practice, allowing you to explore the artistry behind these fascinating designs. By combining ink, symmetry, and mindfulness, you'll learn how to create beautiful mandalas that have personal meaning and artistic flair. Join us for a fun and enlightening journey into the world of mandalas!

Political division is not unique to the current time period. In fact, the biggest political division culminated in the secession of a total of 11 states from the United States in 1860-1861. This secession directly led to the Civil War that continued until 1865.

This course will cover the issue of slavery, which was first introduced in 1619. By the time the US Constitution was written and adopted, slavery was a divisive issue in the new country. As time went on, the United States developed differently in the northern and southern states. By the 1850’s (only 62 years after adopting the constitution), slavery was the dominant political issue in the United States.

This course will cover how slavery affected US politics in the various time periods from 1619 to 1860 and how the issue of slavery gradually became more and more divisive.

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.

Do you wonder how Colorado’s meteorologists figure out the daily and long-term forecasts? How well do you understand the differences between the weather and the climate? And how does climate change affect your life? This course takes you into the science behind and the techniques used in analyzing and forecasting the weather for Colorado and beyond. Veteran meteorologist Tom Corona will help you understand how weather and climate differ and the implications of climate change. The first hour of each class will be a discussion of what goes into predicting current weather and the seven-day forecast. We will cover science, maps, computer forecast models, radar and satellites. Tom will also help us recognize the wide varieties of clouds and how they impact our daily weather. The second half of each class will explore El Niño/La Niña, hurricanes, blizzards, heat waves, droughts and more. Bring your enthusiasm and your questions. Tom will offer his expertise and provide materials for this journey into the wacky, wonderful world of weather.

The Focus

• We will focus on the history and evolution of the economic, legal, theological, and philosophical systems embedded in our country’s laws and systems. We will follow the four roots as they become ever more intertwined and grow ever more deeply each decade to produce the racial disparities that we experience today.
• While there are many stories of minorities that could and need to be told, given eight weeks, these conversations will focus on those systems and structures that have resulted in wealth disparities, mass incarceration, and the unchecked killing of Black people.

Why Participate

• “Whites created slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination. Whites have most of the political and social power to change racial discrimination and inequality now. We cannot have a truly free and democratic society until we do that.” MLK
• Our desire to be good can prevent us from doing good if we do not see the historical systems and structures we created. If we don’t see them, we cannot act to change them.

Severe income inequality. Powerful corporations that reject regulations or taxes but expect government support for infrastructure. Immigrants and people of color filling low-wage jobs. Think these are recent issues? Let’s look at the Gilded Age.

The “Gilded Age” refers to the boom in U.S. industrialization and prosperity between 1870 and 1900. It witnessed the rise of self-made men, powerful corporations, unimaginable wealth, and a sizable middle class.

This phenomenon was characterized by innovation, get-rich schemes and laissez-faire attitudes and policies that enriched the few. But did the country as a whole benefit?

Wages increased. But rapid urbanization and industrialization caused new social problems ignored by the powerful. These detrimental effects of the economic boom led to reform movements to lessen inequality.

We will consider the belief that the Gilded Age birthed modern America, with ideas and ideals that are debated today. We will be guided by an excellent Great Courses curriculum, handouts and class discussion.

Join Anne and Bill as they look behind the curtain of our modern food supply system. Questions to be explored:

• How do supermarkets seem to always be filled with tasty looking food?
• Why is the arrangement of food similar in different locations?
• Why buy what we do?
• How far does food travel to reach us?
• What is lifelike for an 18-wheel long-haul truck driver carrying your groceries?
• Is our food supply safe?
• Why does the seafood department shut down for such a long time?
• What happens to supermarket food during a power outage?
• What percent of our food is wasted?
• What is a food desert?
• What is monoculture and organic farming?
• How much of our food is local?
• What happened to all the small farms?
• What is community supported agriculture?
• How does a food co-op work?
• What effect will climate change have?
• Is our food system sustainable?
• ow much of our food is ultra-processed?
• What do food additives do?
• Are they safe?

The course will deal with the main issues that dominate the news media. These include the way the conflict is reported in the media. We will look at what the driving forces influence the media to report as they do. We ask, “Can the media really be unbiased? Is there a tendency to be “politically correct” and what are the financial incentives to the media in its quest for viewer numbers?”

We will delve into the deep roots of the US-Israel relationship. Why does the world’s major power have such a close relationship with tiny Israel? The majority Christian population in the US and the connection to the Bible is explored as well as the technological advances, especially in the military field that benefits the US. Is the $3.8 billion from the US to Israel a good investment?

The challenges to a much advocated “Two State Solution” will be examined. Is it what both sides in the conflict want? It has been proposed in one form or another for about 100 years. What is preventing its happening? The Palestinian refugee problem, the tribal nature of the Middle East and any other issues the attendees wish to discuss will be welcome.

The Surveillance State Big Data, Freedom, and You is a 2016 Great Courses video series presented by Paul Rosenzweig, JD.

Over 24 lectures (12 in Fall 2024 and 12 in Winter 2025), you will:

• Learn some of the history of surveillance.
• Gain understanding of how intelligence collection works in the US and why 9/11 was so transformative.
• Explore new technologies and their ramifications.
• Examine big data.
• Learn why the Internet is a treasure trove for spies and commercial companies.
• Explore how people are trying to get off the grid or secure their communications.
• Discover how Europe is answering some of these difficult questions.

We will watch two 30-minute lectures with discussion of related material after each. Knowledgeable class members are encouraged to present brief updates on material covered in the lectures or discussions.

The sessions will be devoted to the explanation of the four indictments filed against Donald J. Trump and the criminal proceedings currently governing them. Since the so called “Hush-Money Trial” in Manhattan will likely have concluded, there will be an in-depth analysis of the proceedings and evidence that likely impacted the case’s outcome. The status of the three-remaining cases in D.C., Georgia and Florida will be continuously updated during the six-week sessions, as well as the nature and kinds of future proceedings that may likely occur in each of them until their conclusion. Unlimited lively and robust discussion will be encouraged.

This course will cover the two most common mental health conditions in the senior population – depression and anxiety. We will discuss the signs, symptoms and how to differentiate one from the other. Information will be provided on how we can help ourselves and how to find competent professional assistance when it is needed. The final session will cover the science of happiness and how we can maximize it in our lives.

Are you shy? This class offers the first steps to explore overcoming the fear of talking to new people. Learn to be comfortable at a reception, luncheon, church social, in waiting line, or in a lobby waiting to check in. How important is it to know that YOU can converse with any person willing to reply “Hi” or “Hello” back to you? We will discover how to ask simple questions. We will learn how to be interested in the other person. We will use a system based on A.E.I.O.U.: Assumptions, Expectations, Issues/Information, Observations, and Understand. These vowels are the keys to opening an informal chat connection with new people. “The Vowels of Science Workshop” will explore quotations and books that help us better appreciate the diverse reasons WHY people do what they do, not WHAT or HOW! We will enjoy the journey of being interested (vs. interesting) in our chats.

This course provides learners with an introduction to the history and wise teachings of the sacred folksongs called spirituals, created and first sung by African peoples enslaved in in America. Following the outline of the 2023 revised edition of Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals, the course highlights some of the principal functions and teachings of the spirituals, which were created in a specific time and place (chattel slavery in America, 18th and 19th centuries), but yet have transcended the circumstances of their origins to speak to universal issues of human dignity, freedom and justice. Teaching in the course employs lecture, discussion, recorded song samples, and communal singing (no worries, there is no musical talent required!). An optional field trip (attendance at a concert of The University of Denver Spirituals Project Choir) is highly recommended. Information about concert dates will be shared during the course.

Required Text: Arthur C. Jones, Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals (Revised Edition). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2023

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.

Economics is boring…unless it’s your money. “Thinking Like an Economist” will teach you to make rational choices in personal, work, and political decisions. You’ll learn why incentives matter, how to evaluate risk in purchasing, the myth of true value, predicting future values, and the economics of ignorance. Your newfound grasp of these and other economic principles will give you more confidence in managing your money and understanding how our economy works. We will discuss these fundamental economic principles plus current economic news that affects our daily lives.

This class will use the Great Course video series “Thinking Like and Economist”.

So what created this mess? William Faulkner wrote: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” This class will dive deeply into Palestine’s past and how it has contributed to, and ultimately shaped, the current-day tragedy in the Holy Land.

We will begin with 3000 BCE:

• Who were the Canaanites and where did they come from?
• How did the Israelites end up in Palestine?
• How did the series of conquerors and rulers shape the country? '
• How did the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam influence Palestine?

We will explore the last 150 years:

• Where did the Zionist movement begin and why was it so successful?
• Why did Great Britain support the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine?
• Why did the newly formed United Nations advocate a two-nation solution in 1948?
• Why did the Jews win the wars of 1948 and 1967 so decisively?

And finally, what is the situation today?

This is an eight-week course that will include lecture, videos, and a lot of discussion. The class will be offered both in person at OLLI South and on-line. Each class will be limited to 35.

So, what created this mess? William Faulkner wrote: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” This class will dive deeply into Palestine’s past and how it has contributed to, and ultimately shaped, the current-day tragedy in the Holy Land.

We will begin with 3000 BCE:

• Who were the Canaanites and where did they come from?
• How did the Israelites end up in Palestine?
• How did the series of conquerors and rulers shape the country?
• How did the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam influence Palestine?

We will explore the last 150 years:

• Where did the Zionist movement begin and why was it so successful?
• Why did Great Britain support the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine?
• Why did the newly formed United Nations advocate a two-nation solution in 1948?
• Why did the Jews win the wars of 1948 and 1967 so decisively?

And finally, what is the situation today?

This is an eight-week course that will include lectures, videos, and a lot of discussion. The class will be offered both in person at OLLI South and on-line. Each class will be limited to 35.

How great to go for a walk with your OLLI buddies on a Colorado Fall morning! We are often stepping over roots and rocks with minor elevation change, but all trails are rated “Easy” to “Moderate”. NOTE: for each walk we arrange meetup locations for those who want to carpool or caravan to the walk site, or you may drive directly to the walk site. Join Jan and the fun OLLI members who love walking together, learning about birds, animals, climate, history, geology and more from knowledgeable, volunteer guides from local non-profit, nature-related organizations. And don’t forget after the walk, those who can go to lunch, where we extend the camaraderie!

If you have concerns or questions about whether this class is a fit for you, contact JAN FRIEDLANDER, 303.885.9200 or janfriedlander@comcast.net

Class Fee: Each class member, including Jan, pays a $50 class fee in addition to the OLLI course fee of $70. 100% of the class fees are donated to the non-profit organizations who lead our walks.

This course focuses on water as a major natural resource. It includes the study of the hydrologic cycle, and related weather concepts, competing water uses, current and future water issues, and approaches to water management both internationally and in the state of Colorado.

The relationship of water to human use is examined in terms of history, policy, infrastructure, and technology. Topics introduced in this class include hydrology, hydrogeology, basic meteorology, water quality, water/wastewater treatment, wastewater, and water resources management. Additional topics discussed will be the Denver Metro Area water resources, water law, ethics of water use and management, and the “wicked” issues that we face presently and in the future.

In this class we will investigate the skills necessary for responsible decision making. We will look at 10 different strategies we employ to avoid making the important decisions that affect our lives. We will investigate how our current understanding of justice and guilt handcuffs our abilities to make free and open decisions. Kaufmann will provide us with a guide to develop a new integrity / morality based on a set of virtues that he feels will replace our current fascination with justice and equality. We will then take the Kaufmann model and integrate it with some of the challenges presented by a few modern feminists and develop a working model for a 21st century worldview.

“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.

Discover the wide-ranging activities where drones are being used. Learn how their small size and cost is changing the face of warfare in Ukraine and the Middle East. Learn how quickly drones can be assembled. We will view an in-person demonstration and hear directly from first responders who use drones in our local area. The class will be seminar style with lots of discussion and short videos.

This course will take participants on a meaningful survey of the 5000+ women composers documented throughout history, beginning with Medieval ‘rock star’ Hildegard von Bingen and finishing with Pulitzer Prize winners and innovative newcomers of our time. No prior knowledge of music is necessary to ignite your curiosity and engage in this material. We will do a lot of listening for discovery and comparison, and we will engage in discussion from time to time. Prepare to be amazed at the richness of genius in these women!

This 8-week course is designed to help you write the idea that has been hanging around on the fringes of your thoughts. Learn how to expand your idea and people it with characters, how to insert conflict and how to structure resolution. Most importantly – this course will help you decide where and how to begin. We also explore the different avenues of publication: publishing through a publisher, self-publishing, and contests. Join me on the adventure of unfolding your idea into a short story – the basis of storytelling.

Veteran journalists and political observers Bob Steele and Dennis Ryerson will lead this four-class discussion of the twists and turns, the drama, the lowlights, and the highlights during the final weeks leading to the November 5th vote plus the day after post mortem. For the first three weeks class participants will discuss a wide range of election topics: The candidates’ jousting and punching, the contentious issues, the final polls, the TV commercials, the media coverage, the unexpected, and more. We will get insights and commentary from political pundits and expert observers. Dennis and Bob will send out weekly emails with articles and prompt questions to help frame the class discussions.

Our final class on Wednesday November 6th will be the morning-after reactions to the election results or possibly the contested vote count. Bring your caffeine, your scorebook, and your huzzahs, lingering hopes, or your shattered dreams.