Monday Courses   

Why are there 88 keys on a piano? Can you get cancer from your microwave oven? A static shock from touching a doorknob can be 3,000 volts or more, so why doesn't it kill you? What is the Green Flash?  Why is the sky blue?  What is a black hole? Why do diamonds sparkle?  Why are rainbows semicircular? Why is wine radioactive?  Is there really more energy in a pound of chocolate chip cookies than a pound of TNT?  Where does energy come from anyway and what does E=mc^2 have to do with it?  Time ticks at the same rate everywhere, right?  What does general relativity have to do with GPS? If you would like to know the physics behind these questions, think about signing up for this four-session class.  No math needed, though I don't guarantee I won't put an equation or two on the board to talk about.

This is an in-depth, systematic presentation of universal Presence made experientially accessible through an embodied practice by which the basics of ordinary experience open into their Ground in Presence. The path makes conscious the foundations implicit in every moment of experience and is not based on belief, authority, or special experiences. It helps restore our sense of the Sacred Mystery of Being rather than promoting a specific doctrine. Drawing on the influence of various teachers (notably Adi Da, Hameed Ali, and Gurdjieff), a unique path of teachings and practices evolved over 30 years that was marked by the creation of a series of seven core mandalas. The course will follow this series to integrate the spiritual, psychological, and embodied dimensions of being human. The universal and integral spirituality emerging in our times is made accessible in a unique manner conveyed through lecture, practice, and discussion. All that is required is openness and a willingness to learn.

NOTE: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

Most families have secrets that conceal shame-based histories and experiences. Some of these secrets become the subject of private or public memoirs. Many of these secrets involve taboos about sex, criminal behavior, war trauma, ancestry, or other shame-filled pasts. Some are buried with their secret-keepers. As we age, some of these secrets hold less power over our lives, and others are so painful or would create so much pain for others, that we keep them hidden. Using psychologist Evan Imber-Black's book, “The Secret Life of Families,” students will read chapters from the main text with optional additional articles for reading provided on-line. Journal prompts (optional) will be offered but not assigned to be turned in. No one will be expected to reveal secrets, and this is not intended to be group therapy. It is an academic exploration of the social and interpersonal dynamics in families that lead to secret keeping, and the motivations behind secret-keeping and revealing. 

Required text: “The Secret Life of Families: Making Decisions about Secrets” by  Evan Imber-Black, PhD (1998)

In this course we will explore the structure, function and primary movements of the jaw, head, neck, and face and how they are connected to the entire skeleton and you as a complete human being. Each class features a different exercise, or lesson, and involves gentle movements done slowly with minimal effort, while paying attention to your own personal experience. You determine how big, how fast, or how “good” you do the exercises. You will be guided through enjoyable sequences, exploring and discovering ways of moving with spontaneity and awareness. You can think of these exercises as safe, fun puzzles for your nervous system and brain. Each lesson is designed to help you learn patterns about yourself and the world — helping you remember, learn, and create new patterns of behavior. You will be involved in your own process of learning. This course is ideal for all ages and abilities. You will increase your balance, reduce the fear of falling, and learn to turn with ease.

NOTES: A liability waiver must be signed before taking this course. There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

The global pandemic has been one of many situations testing our ability to not only survive, but thrive in the midst of change. We are experiencing a tech-driven society, social unrest, and unexpected personal situations. It's time to be intentional with the steps you take to master your life in family situations, relationships, community work, and more. Embracing change, changing your thought process, functioning in the midst of uncertainty, and being willing to take risks are just a few of the ways to enhance the more adaptable version of yourself. Students will be introduced to the Four Cs of adaptability: culture, connections, collaboration, and character, as well as discover ways to build personal adaptability when putting the Four Cs to work in reaching their limitless potential.
 

NOTES: Required Text: “Adaptability in Talent Development” by Esther Jackson (2021). There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

How can one safely ensure one’s money lasts a lifetime? An important step is to develop a customized retirement plan. The instructor’s retirement planning process has already benefitted over 800 people. Students will be given a template to develop their own financial plans for review. The instructor will explain the financial world of the stock market, banking, bonds, mutual funds, as well as other issues, and review in layperson’s terms the economic factors that affect retirement, including Social Security, healthcare, and taxes. Students will learn to divide their assets into three buckets: the “pay your bills” bucket, the “refill” bucket (in case the roof leaks), and the “safe investments” bucket to help their savings and invested money grow. Lastly, students will learn about the Efficient Frontier Portfolio model. Through working with the Standard and Poor’s index and a conservative bond index, one can set up a safe portfolio that historically has doubled every seven to ten years.

NOTE: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

Are you ready to take a step forward in your Spanish learning? If you have the basics of grammar and common vocabulary, can carry on more than a formulaic conversation, and can read simple texts in Spanish, you may benefit from this class.  You should have some knowledge of commonly used present tense verb conjugations, possibly some knowledge of past tenses, and a vocabulary that will get you through a day - but maybe not easily. We will read a very short, simple Spanish novel and use it as a basis for acquiring fluency and expanding understanding of grammatical structures and vocabulary.  You'll get more of a feel for how and when to use past tenses by seeing and hearing them used in context. It will help you tremendously to have your own copy of the "textbook," a very short novel (53 pages plus glossary). This class does NOT follow directly after the instructor's OLLI Spanish for Absolute Beginners 2 class of Fall, 2022.  It meets twice a week for four weeks.

NOTE: Textbook:  “Piratas del Caribe y el mapa secreto,” by Mira Canion and Carol Gaab. Available from several online booksellers. If you are at a more advanced level of Spanish than that which might result from a couple years of high school Spanish, you might find yourself over-qualified for this class and slightly bored.

Knit a child's size sweater from start to finish in one term. The "Wonderful Wallaby" is a "hoodie" sweater with a pouch and a hood. Wallabies are cherished by children and adults. While knitting a complete sweater, learn to knit in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles; learn how to knit a pouch, a hood and a placket with a buttonhole; and learn how to invisibly join segments together. This is NOT a beginner's class. Participants MUST KNOW how to knit, purl, cast-on and bind-off. There will be homework between classes and knitting in every class. If you don't have a small child in your life, knit a sweater for a neighbor child or for someone in need.

NOTES: Required text: “Wonderful Wallaby for Kids,” available for $8 online through Ravelry.com. This is a digital text that you may wish to print for yourself. Needles and worsted weight yarn are required. The instructor will email detailed information to all registered participants. There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

On August 11, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR), titled “Trade Regulation Rule on Commercial Surveillance and Data Security.” This ANPR is the first in a series of steps by the FTC that, if completed, could culminate in the adoption of the first nationwide, sweeping privacy regulation. The ANPR asks a wide range of questions about privacy, data security, and algorithmic uses, and suggests a number of paths forward for greater regulation of privacy and what it calls “commercial surveillance.” This course will explore the topic of online privacy and examine the questions posed in the above ANPR.  In particular, we will look at the various ways that the internet (online) access may intersect with privacy and discuss mechanisms that can be used to block personally identifiable information from release to online entities when desired.

NOTES: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16. Two sections of this course are being offered, one on Zoom and one in-person. These sections will meet at the same day/time, e.g. a "hybrid" course. 

On August 11, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR), titled “Trade Regulation Rule on Commercial Surveillance and Data Security.” This ANPR is the first in a series of steps by the FTC that, if completed, could culminate in the adoption of the first nationwide, sweeping privacy regulation. The ANPR asks a wide range of questions about privacy, data security, and algorithmic uses, and suggests a number of paths forward for greater regulation of privacy and what it calls “commercial surveillance.” This course will explore the topic of online privacy and examine the questions posed in the above ANPR.  In particular, we will look at the various ways that the internet (online) access may intersect with privacy and discuss mechanisms that can be used to block personally identifiable information from release to online entities when desired.

NOTES: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16. Two sections of this course are being offered, one on Zoom and one in-person. These sections will meet at the same day/time, e.g. a "hybrid" course. 

Have you: Ever felt nauseous on an elevator? Wondered how the planets circled the sun? Felt something push you to the side when your car goes around a corner? Learned how your GPS uses Einstein’s theory of gravity to calculate your location correctly? In this course after studying motion and forces, you’ll learn to understand the answers to these questions and how Einstein modified Newton’s Laws of Motion and Newton’s Law of Gravity. The course will consist mainly of lectures using PowerPoint presentations, supplemented with animations and other illustrations from the internet. Questions are always encouraged!

This course gives students a structured opportunity to write and share short personal narratives. The format is derived from "The Sun" magazine which includes "Readers Write" every month. We will review samples from past issues and write our own responses to prompts from “The Sun.” We will also look at upcoming topics and write essays that we may choose to submit for publication. In addition, each week we will be discussing writing practices that support strong and compelling pieces. Students should commit to writing one 200 - 600 word essay each week and be prepared to post it on our interactive course website on SOU's Moodle. Students will read and respond to each other's work.  Together, we will create an encouraging, supportive setting in which to share. This course has been taught several times before; however, all new prompts will be given this term.

NOTE: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

This course will feature ten classic musical films starting with "The Three Penny Opera” (1931) starring Rudolf Forster and Lotte Lenya and concluding with “Cabaret" (1972) starring Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey. The other eight are "Duck Soup,” “One Night of Love,” "Curly Top," "Born to Dance,” "Alexander’s Ragtime Band," "Pinocchio,” “Cover Girl,” and "Carousel.” A handout for each film will be provided at the preceding session; for the first meeting, a handout will be available that day. Films will be viewed in class. Before each film, the instructor will point out anything of particular note and will entertain questions and comments. A guided discussion will follow the end of each film. Students need bring nothing more than a desire to see these special musical films that are true classics and still enjoyable, no matter how many times one views them.

NOTE: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.

Barriers to women's freedom are many, and most can't be resolved by individual action. The eight selected films in the course will explore how women are constrained in their work and family lives, and how women band together to wrest a freer life for themselves and those who follow. The films will portray women who pursue a collective response through the legal system, as well as women who build alternate pathways to justice. In class, we will discuss how these efforts light the way to a better world amid the obstacles that remain. Members will watch the films prior to class, and two films will be discussed each week. A list of film titles and themes will be emailed in mid-December. The films are a mix of narrative and documentary and are available for viewing or renting on streaming channels (Amazon Prime, Apple, etc.)

NOTE: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 16.