Wednesday Courses   

This course aims at broadening a student’s vocabulary and understanding of the day-to-day German spoken today. The etymology of certain words will be discussed, and the rules of grammar will be explained on request. This term we will read the author’s diary describing his travels in six European countries in 2005, reading and discussing a short section at a time. The German text is emailed to students before the term starts.

NOTE: Students should have a basic knowledge of German. Because there is no clear definition of “basic knowledge,” the instructor invites students to attend the first class to find out if their knowledge is sufficient to profit from the course.

This online lecture course is presented from an artistic and amateur scientific point of view, profusely illustrated, and designed to appeal to all levels of nature, butterfly, and gardening enthusiasts. Topics include: what it takes to create a pollinator-friendly landscape, basics of habitat, soils, basic design, growing from seed, and best plants for sustained bloom. Other topics of interest such as lawn reduction, removal or replacement, as well as irrigation and plant selection for water conservation, are emphasized. This presentation is fast-paced and packed with images, many from the instructor’s wildlife photography portfolio. No textbook is required. The basic principles discussed can be used in small spaces such as balconies, pocket gardens, raised beds, community spaces, or other planting alternatives. Extensive “insider” resources, tips, tricks, notes, and web links are provided to students to further enhance your own gardening experience. Outside activities are optional.

Ready to take a deep dive into creating your own folk masterpiece? Surprise yourself with imagery created through simple drawing, collage, and painting exercises. Then follow along as you learn to distill and simplify imagery to shapes. Finally, use a step-by-step process to paint a colorful, vibrant painting glowing with light. Each session will start with samples, a demonstration, and time to create and share. The course meets three times a week for two weeks. No art experience is required. Instruction for each class builds on the previous session. Former students are encouraged to repeat this class. A supplies list will be emailed to registered students.

NOTE: Materials can cost between $100 and $150. Students may already have suitable materials. 

Have you ever thought to yourself “I’m worried about running out of money”; “I need to get my finances organized”; or “I want to make sure I’m making good financial decisions”? If you’ve made any of these statements, this course may help you feel more secure with your finances. We will cover the basics in each of six main areas of financial planning: financial position (preparing a net worth statement); insurance (including long-term care); taxes (how to minimize them); retirement planning (Social Security, taking withdrawals, how to know how long your money will last); investments (basics of asset allocation); and estate planning (wills, trusts, and so on). The course will be taught primarily in lecture format with some optional home assignments.

This course will feature 10 classic comedy films, starting with “The Kid” (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin and ending with “Ferris Buehler’s Day Off” (1988) with Matthew Broderick. The other eight are “Trouble in Paradise,” “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town,” “The Shop around the Corner,” “To Be or Not to Be,” “It Should Happen to You,” “The Fortune Cookie,” “What’s Up, Doc,” and “Being There.” A handout for each film will be provided at the preceding session; for the first meeting, a handout will be available that day. 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 the film. Students need bring nothing more than a desire to see these special comedy films that are true classics and still enjoyable, however many times one views them.

NOTE: This begins the four-year (12-term) series of classic comedy films first introduced five years ago.

Many believe that we are experiencing challenges to our democracy that we have not had since the Civil War. These challenges, though, are coupled with the fact that many of us can no longer identify the constitutional issues that are being threatened. They are often not directly addressed by media outlets. The purpose of this class is to identify current events that are a direct challenge to our democracy and why. For example, the Supreme Court justices have a constitutional mandate to have “good behavior” while in office, yet to date that court has not developed a code of ethics which applies to them. We will identify and learn how this issue and many others apply to our democracy.

Many believe that we are experiencing challenges to our democracy that we have not had since the Civil War. These challenges, though, are coupled with the fact that many of us can no longer identify the constitutional issues that are being threatened. They are often not directly addressed by media outlets. The purpose of this class is to identify current events that are a direct challenge to our democracy and why. For example, the Supreme Court justices have a constitutional mandate to have “good behavior” while in office, yet to date that court has not developed a code of ethics which applies to them. We will identify and learn how this issue and many others apply to our democracy.

In Wines of the World, we will learn about six wine regions of the world, visiting areas not covered in Dawson’s Winter 2023 course. The instructor will lecture, using PowerPoint and multimedia, about the geography, climate, soils, history, varietals, labeling, and regulatory structure of the region. We will taste four quality wines from the region and discuss our perceptions. No special background knowledge is required, but a passion for wine is recommended.

NOTE: A class fee of up to $100 per student will be charged to cover the costs of the quality wines. The exact fee will depend on the cost of the wines. Students will be required to pay the full fee, even if they expect to miss some classes. Please note that the six classes are not continuous. There are four classes in January and two classes in March. This course will meet in January and March. There will be no class meetings in February.