Tuesday Courses   

Many consider Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” to be his most ambitious novel. Steinbeck himself thought it to be his magnum opus, stating “East of Eden” “…has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years.” He later said, “I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this.” The book explores themes of depravity, beneficence, love, the struggle for acceptance and greatness, the capacity for self-destruction, and issues of guilt and freedom. It ties these themes together with references to and many parallels with the biblical story of Cain and Abel. As we accompany the Trask and Hamilton families through several generations of struggle and triumph, we will consider the sources of evil in our own lives and evaluate the opportunities for redemption. In our first session we will take a close look at the Biblical story of Cain and Abel (Genesis, chapter 4, verses 1-16), on which much of “East of Eden” is based. NOTE: Students will need to read Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” in any format and should have read at least the first six chapters before the first class.

This course focuses on the finest films of combatant nations from both sides, set in the aftermath of history’s most destructive war. They reveal the depths of human trauma experienced by soldiers and civilians alike. They are not considered war films, as most of the killing and dying occurs offscreen. As an example, in the 2019 film, “Beanpole,” Russian women, who served as soldiers in combat, struggle to rebuild shattered lives in a shattered nation. The final film, “Mudbound” (2017), is an important corrective to the feel-good 1946 classic “The Best Years of Our Lives” as it shows the racism and violence that all too many United States black soldiers returned to after serving their country. Following the screenings, the instructor will discuss critical responses to the films, including thoughts on intellectual honesty. The instructor will then moderate class discussions so students can express their personal reactions to these films.

Playing the harmonica can bring joy to you, to other musicians with whom you play, and to those who enjoy listening to music. In class, we’ll listen to recordings to become familiar with the typical chord progressions one hears when listening to the blues. Then we’ll improvise harmonica “riffs” (strings of notes that sound good) that complement them. We will let our ears guide us, playing the notes that our hearts and gut-sense tell us will sound right. We will not be reading music or expecting to ever play a given song in exactly the same way twice. As with any skill, it takes practice to be a good harmonica player, so you will be expected to practice on your own between classes. The instructor will direct you to recordings and online resources that provide background music with which to practice. (Having access to a CD player, the internet, and a computer with speakers will be essential.) 

NOTE: A $15 fee is due at the first class meeting for materials. The instructor will provide each student with two “Blues Band” harmonicas in different keys, printed materials, and audio recordings. Each class session builds on the one before, so it is important that students attend all sessions. Students that know in advance that they will miss a class are asked to take the class during another term.

Best American Short Stories 2023 is the perfect course for those who might enjoy a deep dive into some of the finest short stories written last year by some major writers including Sara Freeman, Lauren Groff, and Sana Krasikov, just to name a few. Before each session, students will read three designated submissions from the short story anthology, “The Best American Short Stories 2023,” which will then be discussed in a comfortable, inclusive, intimate classroom setting. This collection explores a wide variety of settings, characters, styles, and intentions—all stunningly contemporary. Look forward to this new term with confidence that students and teacher alike will enjoy and learn from this text and from each other. NOTE: “The Best American Short Stories 2023,” edited by Min Jin Lee, is required.

Healthy breathing begets a healthy brain and its capacities. Breathing impacts all dimensions of one’s life, and every activity of the body and mind are dependent on this vital function. And yet, the general population does not place attention on the importance of healthy breathing. Learn to enhance its function and expand the potential instead of addressing the dysfunction or illness related to unhealthy breathing. Enhance the potential for physical and psychological health and fitness. Many different breathing practices are available, and this course will help you to know how the body and brain respond to the dimensions of the breath. Then you can make good use of your investment of time and breath. The foundations of breathing when cultivated in practice, which is the main focus of this course, provide a basis for the function of breathing in exercise, contemplative practices, and sleep, for everyone’s potential in self-regulation, self-organization, and self-healing. 

NOTE: Movement in this class will be similar to movement in daily life and will challenge habits that impact the breath and mind. Changing habits can trigger some discomfort; therefore, a waiver will be signed.

NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. Please register for and attend either the online or in-person section.

Healthy breathing begets a healthy brain and its capacities. Breathing impacts all dimensions of one’s life, and every activity of the body and mind are dependent on this vital function. And yet, the general population does not place attention on the importance of healthy breathing. Learn to enhance its function and expand the potential instead of addressing the dysfunction or illness related to unhealthy breathing. Enhance the potential for physical and psychological health and fitness. Many different breathing practices are available, and this course will help you to know how the body and brain respond to the dimensions of the breath. Then you can make good use of your investment of time and breath. The foundations of breathing when cultivated in practice, which is the main focus of this course, provide a basis for the function of breathing in exercise, contemplative practices, and sleep, for everyone’s potential in self-regulation, self-organization, and self-healing. 

NOTE: Movement in this class will be similar to movement in daily life and will challenge habits that impact the breath and mind. Changing habits can trigger some discomfort; therefore, a waiver will be signed.

NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. Please register for and attend either the online or in-person section.

In this course we will discuss the origins of consumerism and how it affects our economy. Beginning with a discussion of some basic economics concepts, the course will delve into how consumerism drives our economy and, in particular, why consumers do what they do. The instructor will discuss the timeline and how government policy-making has shaped consumerism. We will focus on the BBC documentary “Century of the Self,” covering the period from the early 1920s to now. In particular, the class will discuss why people make consumer decisions, how public relations and advertising firms influence those decisions, and how our government shapes the processes.

Explore the complexity and significance of women’s lives in contemporary Ukraine through stories of Ukrainian women writers, scientists, social activists, leaders, and artists whose work changed their culture and the world. The values of the matriarchal cultures that sourced Ukraine continue to be transmitted through her folk arts, music, and dance. Ukrainian women continue to bring forth from within themselves individually, and as a diverse community, new expressions of the values and beliefs of their culture. Discover the meaning of Ukrainian goddesses in Ukrainian women’s spirituality and the impact of Russian colonization on Ukrainian identity then and now. This course can be repeated because it will combine lecture, new guest speakers, discussion on current events that impact Ukrainians, and ritual circle-sharing as well as out-of-class readings and reflective writing.

NOTE: Required text: “Your Ad Could Go Here: Stories by Oksana Zabuzhko,” edited by Nina Murray.

Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss breaking news from Oregon to “around the globe” each week. All differing views and opinions are not only welcome but essential to create lively discussion. The course will cover a wide range of topics, from politics to climate change to technology, medicine, and more. An agenda with articles will be sent to you a couple of days prior to each class. Students are encouraged to send in topics and news articles to add to each week’s agenda and our discussion. Please join us for a sizzling hot journey around the world with our fast, fun, and sometimes controversial class! Better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going!

NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. Please register for and attend either the online or in-person section.

Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss breaking news from Oregon to “around the globe” each week. All differing views and opinions are not only welcome but essential to create lively discussion. The course will cover a wide range of topics, from politics to climate change to technology, medicine, and more. An agenda with articles will be sent to you a couple of days prior to each class. Students are encouraged to send in topics and news articles to add to each week’s agenda and our discussion. Please join us for a sizzling hot journey around the world with our fast, fun, and sometimes controversial class! Better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going!

NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. Please register for and attend either the online or in-person section.

Your brain is the most complex object in the known universe. Fortunately, caring for the brain is not that complicated! Each of us is getting older, but our individual brains seem to age at different rates. This course will explore what the latest science says about the range of function from subjective cognitive decline, through mild cognitive impairment, and on to dementia and Alzheimer’s. After reviewing basic brain function and definition of terms, we will look at myths, realities, and breakthroughs in brain health and aging. Then, we will consider the modifiable risk factors that may prevent or slow the rate of cognitive loss. These factors include exercise; diet and nutrition; mental, emotional, and social connection; stress; sleep and relaxation; stress resilience; meditation; and connection with nature. Finally, we’ll look at happiness and beyond—wisdom and self-transcendence. Color slides, lecture, discussion, and Q and A will be used, with a few short videos. 

NOTE: This course is based on Kalb’s book, “Keep Your Marbles, Your Game Plan for a Healthy Brain,” which is recommended reading for the course.

This course is an introduction to Qigong and simple stretching patterns. Movements will be taught both as physical and energetic exercises and as methods for improving present moment awareness and mindfulness of subtle perceptions. No special clothing or experience is required: come as you are, ready to have fun with others! Although Qigong can be studied for a lifetime, this brief series will give you a taste of the practices. Over the course of the classes you will learn a set of simple movements you can integrate into your daily routine. We will be meeting over Zoom, and the class will include social time with other students. Students will also have access to videos on YouTube and an optional DVD. This is an active class, and students need to be able to move about comfortably in a home space. Some movements will involve getting up and down from the floor. The exercises will challenge and enhance your flexibility, balance, and coordination. Classes consist mostly of active movement.

NOTE: Students will sign a liability waiver prior to the first class.

Experience the movements of a full-body fitness program (PizzazzEE-25) that engages every muscle and every joint within every completed session. The course will review each of the sequential 25 steps that encourage everyday mobility and strength and that aid in injury prevention. We will examine the correct actions for each step, while considering any personal modifications you might choose for the movements later in your own home. Videos of the fitness app will be used alongside instruction. The program is designed especially for those in their second 50 years, beginning with gentle movements that are built upon to improve and support balance, stamina, and flexibility. No experience is a plus! A waiver must be signed before the first class. NOTE: This course is not recommended for those who have had hip or knee surgery/replacement in the last six months. No exercise equipment is required. It’s important to attend the first class; more details will be sent before that class.

Microsoft Word is a powerful word processing program, but most beginning users are either not familiar with or reluctant to use Word’s wide range of features. Students will learn basic features for formatting and editing Word documents. Some of the topics covered include short cut keys; navigating the ribbon, tabs, and dialog boxes; changing fonts, formatting paragraphs, and adjusting layouts; creating and manipulating tables; using the quick access toolbar; and basic editing features. Classes will include lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises. This course is for beginning Word users, but students must already know how to open, save, and close Word documents and have some familiarity using the program. Before each class, the instructor will email students Word files they must download and save to their laptops to use during class. Students must be able to readily access documents they have saved to their laptops. NOTE: This class is based on Microsoft Word for PCs Version 10 or later. Students must bring their laptops to class with Word files from the instructor’s emails already saved on the laptops and ready to use during class.

The existential crisis we face due to global climate change has brought renewed interest in nuclear energy as a means of reducing and/or eliminating carbon emissions (net zero CO2 emission goals). Recent advances in fission reactor technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and in plasma and fusion reactor science (the “breakeven” experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) hold promise for achieving these goals. In this course students will learn 1) an historical and contextual perspective for nuclear energy; 2) fundamental physics of radioactivity, fission, and fusion; 3) how nuclear reactors work; 4) safety and risk of nuclear power; 5) recycling, radioactive waste disposal, and life cycle considerations; and 6) current developments regarding advanced systems. We’ll also discuss the socio-economic and socio-political issues that have confronted, and will confront, future development of nuclear energy.

NOTE: This course is intended for anyone interested in the subject matter. A background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics is not necessary or required. 

We live in an age of personality and yet often are unaware of what it is, how it serves us, and how we can—and often don’t—work with it. What was once a personal attribute is becoming an asset (or liability) we use in the world actively. Our individual personalities both help us and also hurt us, while others’ personalities may enchant or confuse. Personality can quickly go from “what I really need now” to “too much of a good thing” in a heartbeat. This course uses concepts from the Enneagram, adult development and mindfulness, providing a framework for building personality awareness. We will explore how personality is formed, the key components of personality and their origins, and practices and tools for working with our and others’ personalities. The Enneagram will be described with key principles detailed and put into a context that provides a framework for self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-acceptance. 

NOTE: The course is designed to be accessible and informative both for people who have previously attended and for new participants who are familiar with enneagram types. The primary reading will be “The Wisdom of the Enneagram” by Don Riso and Russ Hudson.

Shakespeare’s sonnets are universally acclaimed to be gems of the English poetic tradition. Published in 1609, apparently without permission, these intensely personal poems have been examined under every kind of literary microscope, especially for biographical clues about the writer. In this course, we will closely read a selection of sonnets through a variety of lenses, considering them both as discrete poems and as potential sources of information about possible authors, including William Shakesper (sic) of Stratford; Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke; and Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. For the reading in our final session, students will select the sonnets and their accompanying lenses. Copies of the sonnets under discussion will be provided by the instructor. Both new and experienced readers of the sonnets are welcome; the only criterion for success is the willingness to bring an open mind to the conversation.

JFK’s assassination in broad daylight on a street in Dallas has been described by many as “the crime of the century” and, for many of our generation, was the most shocking public event in memory. According to the Warren Commission appointed by LBJ, the murder was committed by a lone gunman firing three shots from the window of a book warehouse overlooking the motorcade route. Others have demurred, suggesting multiple shooters and a conspiracy. This course is a nitty gritty evaluation of the crime scene, touching on larger political and social issues that directly affected what happened in Dealey Plaza. The instructor has no preconceived “position,” and students should not expect simplistic, prepackaged “answers.” The course will be in lecture format, with questions and comments welcome. There will be plentiful maps, diagrams, and contemporary and vintage videos; some materials may be disturbing. No prior knowledge or outside reading is required.