Cross examination frequently produces critical evidence in trials.  It is sometimes referred to as an art form, because the attorney needs to know precisely how to elicit testimony from the opposing witness.  Mr. McCarthy, who has tried more cases in Montgomery County than any other lawyer, will discuss and show video clips of multiple cases to illustrate how lawyers master the art of cross examination.

Please join us for Oasis Volunteer Day at Comfort Cases. Comfort Cases serves children being placed in foster care.  Most are removed from their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs.  Through Comfort Cases, these children receive a special bag containing a cozy new pair of pajamas, a brand new warm blanket, and a new stuffed animal to hug during the traumatic transition into foster care. Volunteers will meet at the Comfort Cases National Center to help with processing donations, counting inventory, assembling Comfort Cases, and other miscellaneous tasks. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation.  Meet no later than 2 pm at 9300 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD  20877 (note new location). Please wear comfortable clothes that you can move in and closed-toe shoes for standing. Limit:  12

There are about 7,000 different languages. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000.” We’ll watch this TED talk together and then engage in dialogue about it. Refreshments will be served! (See other TED Talk discussions, class #106, 146, and 224)

We will explore Mucha’s unique style, characterized by flowing lines, decorative patterns, and graceful figures. From his famous posters of theatrical actresses like Sarah Bernhardt to his stunning decorative panels and innovative advertising designs, Mucha’s work is celebrated for its beauty and intricate detail.  A current exhibition at the Phillips Collection reappraises the work of this Czech artist and explores his impact on graphic art since the 1960s. This exhibition provides an opportunity to survey the development of Mucha’s style, and to explore how his art was rediscovered by later generations of artists. Mucha was a key influence on Psychedelic Art of the 1960s–70s, as well as on a wide range of visual culture from the late 20th century to today.

Buy some lingonberry hard candy at a 19thc candy shop, visit the homes and museums of playwright and novelist Arthur Strindberg and sculptor Carl Milles whose thoughtful, whimsical pieces dot the city; check out the Nobel Museum (Bob Dylan won for literature in 2016); reminisce at a toy museum in a WWII bunker; appreciate the beautiful textiles at a silk factory supplying royalty and still apprenticing weavers. European Travel Specialist Barbara Paulson offers alternatives to the more popular Stockholm sites.