Tuesday PM   

Let’s step outside the traditional Sci-Fi portrayal of the android/robot and watch a few films that imagine the “humanoid” (as they’re now called) in more “life-like” situations. In these films, where society looks much like today, our interaction with humanoids is normalized. The films will be supplemented with video clips and comments from real scientists and their humanoid creations — which begs the question, how close are the imaginations of the filmmakers with the rapidly evolving humanoid technology? More importantly, to what extent will we become emotionally attached? Just to be clear, this is not a Sci-Fi course or a technical class on current robotics.
Note: This class runs 2 ½ hours from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. New in-person course. Format includes film and discussion.

Like short stories? Always been wary of them? Avoid them
because they’re not novels? Join a group of enthusiastic
readers and thinkers to explore the short story from a
slightly different angle than we’ve pursued in the past.
This term’s text is Pushcart Prize XLIX - Best Of The Small
Presses. Although it includes much more than short stories,
we will focus on the short stories — and you’ll have quite
a large set of additional things to explore after class
is over (the book numbers 442 pages with an additional
90 or so pages of references!).

New in-person course. Format includes discussion.

REQUIRED BOOK: Pushcart Prize XLIX Best of the Small Presses;
Ed. Bill Henderson, ISBN 9798985469769

Musicals have been a major part of American theater, from the Tin Pan Alley-driven comedies of the early twentieth century to the integrated musicals that flourished in the heyday years of midcentury America. In this course, we will explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the arrival of European megaproductions late in the century. We will profile some of the theater world's leading composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors, and performers. With the help of audiovisuals, we will study many of the most unforgettable shows including Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Show Boat, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Cabaret, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton, and more. 

In this course, we will explore how a tiny nation – Portugal – played an outsized role in world history. We will examine Portugal’s fifteenth and sixteenth century maritime expansion (once called the “Discoveries”), as well as its central role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. We will trace how Portugal, once a fringe region of the Roman Empire, emerged as the only independent kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula as Castile grew into Spain. We will follow Portugal’s rise as a global power, with outposts stretching from Brazil to Japan, and then its decline as rival empires overtook it – culminating in twentieth century poverty under Europe’s longest dictatorship. Finally, we will consider how this past continues to shape Portuguese identity and culture in the decades since a revolution ushered in democracy. As we survey Portugal’s landscapes, art and architecture, and food, we will see why record numbers of Americans are now visiting the country. 

In this course, we will explore a wide range of horticultural practices with something to offer no matter our experience level or where we live. We will cover container gardening, aquatic gardens, ornamental and fruiting plants, bonsai, landscape design, and pest management. Each week, we will focus on a theme and examine design ideas, plant choices, and long-term care practices for success. Whether we garden on 10 acres or in an apartment, we will find plenty to learn and enjoy in horticulture. 

This course will arm us with the knowledge we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe when engaging with the healthcare system. Healthcare today is more complex, technical, and volatile than ever. Medical harm (unintentional but often preventable) injuries and kills hundreds of thousands of patients each year. In this course, we will learn how to prevent the most common types of medical harm including medication errors, patient care accidents, procedural and surgical complications, infections, and diagnostic mistakes. Patient safety experts and advocates will provide us with practical tips and insights to navigate the healthcare system confidently and safely. Through presentations, videos, and group discussions, we will come to understand the common sources of error and discover tactics, resources, and cautions to help protect ourselves and our loved ones.