(This class will be recorded.) One of the great directors, Stanley Kubrick’s career moved from being a teenage photographer for magazines to a brilliant filmmaker known for the range, beauty, and technical innovation of movies sometimes shot on the largest scale. The class will cover Kubrick’s career and review some of his greatest films, including "Paths of Glory", "Dr. Strangelove", "2001, Barry Lyndon", and "The Shining", along with discussion of how these and other movies were filmed.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short, powerful recorded talks. In this exclusive preview of groundbreaking, unreleased technology, former Apple designer and Humane cofounder Imran Chaudhri envisions a future where AI enables our devices to "disappear." He gives a sneak peek of his company's new product -- shown for the first time ever on the TED stage -- and explains how it could change the way we interact with tech and the world around us. Witness a stunning vision of the next leap in device design. We will watch this TED talk together and then engage in dialogue about it. Refreshments will be served! Sign up for one, two, or all three meeting dates (see also class #496 and 536). Limit: 20

Level of Difficulty: 2.5 out of 5 Let's look for interesting signs of early winter as well as learn about the historical sites located in the vicinity. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes and layers.  Hiking poles are recommended since some areas have exposed roots and rocks. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. Seneca Creek State Park is located at 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Park at the Park Office building near the entrance to the park.  Available winter restrooms, however, are located only at the playground/Pines picnic area which you would need to drive to.  Walkers will leave promptly at 10:00 am, so plan to arrive and park before then. (See additional walks: #541 and #598)

Some actions are morally right while others are morally wrong. How is that line drawn? While it is true that we will often disagree over it, it is not a subjective matter. So, then what are the criteria we ought to use? Philosophers have proposed several ethical systems and we will examine their strengths and weaknesses.  (See related classes #455, 498, 538.)

Deborah Kalb is a writer, book blogger, podcaster, editor, and ex-journalist based in the Washington, D.C., area. Her most recent book is the 2023 novel Off to Join the Circus.  Each month this fall, she will be chatting with a local author of note.  This month, she'll sit down with Len Kruger, author of the novel Bad Questions, which won the 2023 fiction award from the Washington Writers’ Publishing House. He worked for 37 years at the Library of Congress, and also performs as a storyteller. Signed copies of Len's book will be available for sale after the session.  Venmo, PayPal, cash, check accepted.

While less known than some of his contemporaries, songwriter Jule Styne wrote over 1500 songs in his 50-year career, spanning the history of the American songbook and beyond. Styne began his career playing in house bands in 1920’s Chicago speakeasies, then went on to write songs for classic Hollywood films, hits for Frank Sinatra and Broadway musicals for Carol Channing, Judy Holliday, Ethel Merman and Barbra Streisand. This series will explore the trajectory of Styne’s career, and elaborate and expand upon the world he inhabited. The third session will focus on his relationship with Barbra Streisand, creating her career defining role, “Funny Girl”. (See related classes, #480 and 522)

While less known than some of his contemporaries, songwriter Jule Styne wrote over 1500 songs in his 50-year career, spanning the history of the American songbook and beyond. Styne began his career playing in house bands in 1920’s Chicago speakeasies, then went on to write songs for classic Hollywood films, hits for Frank Sinatra and Broadway musicals for Carol Channing, Judy Holliday, Ethel Merman and Barbra Streisand. This series will explore the trajectory of Styne’s career, and elaborate and expand upon the world he inhabited. The third session will focus on his relationship with Barbra Streisand, creating her career defining role, “Funny Girl”. (See related classes, #480 and 522)

Alexander Hamilton has always been known as a central player in America’s early history, but the smash Broadway musical Hamilton has focused new attention on this fascinating individual. This popular multimedia presentation draws on both Hamilton’s biography and his depiction on stage to examine his accomplishments, discuss his relationship with Aaron Burr, and reflect on the appeal of the musical. It includes many recordings from the musical's soundtrack with words projected on the screen to aid in understanding. Come enjoy this wonderful blend of history and musical theatre!

Alexander Hamilton has always been known as a central player in America’s early history, but the smash Broadway musical Hamilton has focused new attention on this fascinating individual. This popular multimedia presentation draws on both Hamilton’s biography and his depiction on stage to examine his accomplishments, discuss his relationship with Aaron Burr, and reflect on the appeal of the musical. It includes many recordings from the musical's soundtrack with words projected on the screen to aid in understanding. Come enjoy this wonderful blend of history and musical theatre!

Venice was a commercial crossroads of East and West throughout the Middle Ages. St. Mark’s Basilica (begun 1063) embodies in its architecture and art a unique blending of artistic cultures. Its ground plan is Byzantine, modeled on the ancient Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. So too the resplendent mosaics in the five golden domes. But the Venetian architect altered the plan to suit Catholic liturgical needs and local artists developed their own mosaic style to create a unique masterpiece of art and architecture.

Venice was a commercial crossroads of East and West throughout the Middle Ages. St. Mark’s Basilica (begun 1063) embodies in its architecture and art a unique blending of artistic cultures. Its ground plan is Byzantine, modeled on the ancient Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. So too the resplendent mosaics in the five golden domes. But the Venetian architect altered the plan to suit Catholic liturgical needs and local artists developed their own mosaic style to create a unique masterpiece of art and architecture.

Benedict Arnold is the most famous turncoat in American history. He was a skilled officer in George Washington’s Continental Army who began secretly communicating with British intelligence agents, giving them insider information, and dramatically defecting to their side in return for a mountain of cash. Historian Richard Bell reconstructs the life and times of Benedict Arnold, the reasons for this treason, and the larger problems of betrayal and desertion that dogged the Continental Army throughout the war.

(This class will be recorded.) This lecture looks at how Americans tried to heal the wounds of the Civil War in a series of reforms enacted between 1865 and 1877 known as Reconstruction. To accomplish this great leap forward, they rewrote dozens of laws and thrice amended the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the extension of the full rights of citizenship to African Americans. And it wasn’t just Black political participation that flourished during Reconstruction—so too did Black schools, Black churches, and various other Black-led institutions. We’ll spend today examining these dozen hopeful years and conclude by looking at how and why most of these leaps forward were swept away in the mid-1870s, only a decade after the end of the war – leaving unfinished business.

According to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Black people remain overrepresented in jail populations, admissions—and stay longer on average.  What drives this disparity in the criminal justice system?  We'll first discuss the constitutional rights of defendants and sentencing guidelines, then we'll dive into the current rates of incarceration and try to answer the question of what is causing the racial disparity.

Just because you no longer drive doesn't mean you need to be stuck at home. Connect-A-Ride is a free service that helps older and disabled adults find the transportation they need. A representative from Connect-A-Ride will provide transportation options available in Montgomery County tailored to your needs. Learn about public and private programs, volunteer organizations including local Villages, subsidized programs, programs for those who need wheelchair-accessible transport, escorted transportation, public transit travel training workshops, and more.  Thank you to MileOne Cares/MileOne Autogroup for their generous support of this program!

We will watch this TED talk together and then engage in dialogue about it. Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Refreshments will be served!