2020 FALL CLASSES & 2021 WINTER CLASSES

September 16, 2020
Exploring the Art of Banksy and Mark Rothko   Presented by Duane Ray (SSI Member)
September 16, 2020 Presented by Duane Ray (SSI Member) Banksy is an unidentified British graffiti artist whose originality has attracted interest all over the world. We’ll start with some local graffiti and move on to important and multimillion-dollar examples. Mark Rothko produces panels of color that, at first, are hard to understand as being art. We will follow the development of this art form in an attempt to understand his final achievement - the Rothko Chapel.
https://youtu.be/uaywOo7zDjA 

October 14, 2020
Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth   Presenter: George Davidson (SSI Member)
Over 3500 architects and engineers have signed a petition calling upon the U.S. Congress to open a truly independent investigation into the World Trade Center destruction. Why? Their goal is to move our collective understanding of the WTC destruction beyond the misinformation so that we as a society may arrive at an accurate understanding of one of the most important events in our recent history. During this class you will see and hear what these experts have to say. Learn the truth, learn the facts. Your beliefs should match the facts and not the other way around - when people change the facts to match their beliefs the result is cognitive dissonance. The cure? Truth.
https://youtu.be/kRRj9AqFeAI

October 21, 2020
Breaking the Climate Silence Habit  Presenter: Dr. Mick Smyer, PhD, former Provost and an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Bucknell University. He is also a Senior Fellow in Social Innovation at Babson College.
We have a climate silence habit in the United States. Although 66% of the US population is very or somewhat worried about global warming, 64% rarely or never talk about it with family members or friends. The net result is that most people underestimate the shared concern about climate issues and the possibility of taking collective climate action. Drawing on insights from psychology, human-centered design and climate communication strategies, Dr. Mick Smyer has developed an interactive set of activities to help individuals and organizations move from anxiety to action on climate issues. Although 66% of the US population is very or somewhat worried about global warming, 64% rarely or never talk about it with family members or friends. The net result is that most people underestimate the shared concern about climate issues and the possibility of taking collective climate action. Drawing on insights from psychology, human-centered design and climate communication strategies, Dr. Mick Smyer has developed an interactive set of activities to help individuals and organizations move from anxiety to action on climate issues.
https://youtu.be/L4U-xCh4tSE

October 26, 2020
History of the US Post Office: Past, Present & Future  Presenter: Kathy Jackson (SSI Member)
October 26, 2020 Presenter: Kathy Jackson (SSI Member) The history of today's U.S. Post Office dates back to 1792, when the Postal Service Act laid the foundations for what would become a nationwide service. The nation's Founders recognized the public service as a crucial tool for well-informed, free people governing themselves in a democracy. A 1958 federal law confirmed that the U.S. Postal Service was "clearly not a business enterprise conducted for profit," and polls to the present regularly confirm its strong support by the vast majority of Americans. And, yet, today's news is filled with stories of debate over the management and financial solvency of the postal service. This program offers an historical long view, allowing audience members to understand the democratic ideology that spurred the creation of the Postal Service., the legislative updates that have kept it current for well over a century, and the recent attacks that have been leveled on the agency.
https://youtu.be/RIHU7azV-hE 

October 29, 2020
Nevertheless They Persisted: Stories From the Long History of Suffrage   Presenter: Sandy Miller (SSI member)
Oregon Historical Society has put together an original exhibit that connects Oregon history to the national history of women suffrage and commemorates the bravery of the women (and men) who demanded the vote and used their rights to shape our nation and our world.
https://youtu.be/oeywhhwSXwQ 

November 18, 2020
Cord-cutting Tips & Tricks: Get the TV You Want to Watch and Save Money, Too!  Presenter: Kathy Jackson (SSI Member)
If you are still paying for a cable box to sit on your TV you are likely paying too much. There are lots of better options available today that will give you the TV channels you want to watch, usually for less money and often free! Learn the tips and tricks to cutting the cord and find out how to get better TV options on your TV --or on your computer, smartphone or iPad.
https://youtu.be/KhS60tNQMQ0 

December 2, 2020
Seeking Justice for Human Trafficking Victims  Presenter: Joel Shapiro, JD, Founder and Exec Director of the Trafficking Law Center 
Presenting facts and misnomers about sex trafficking in Oregon (which mostly involves U.S. citizens as victims -- primarily vulnerable teenage girls). The class will also cover: how victims are recruited and exploited; policy responses to prevent sex trafficking; and the hurdles and remedies available to trafficking victims through the justice system to hold perpetrators accountable and to seek financial justice. The presentation will draw upon examples from recent litigation in Oregon on behalf of trafficking survivors, as well as a discussion of the mission and model of the Trafficking Law Center in providing trauma-informed legal representation for trafficking survivors.
https://youtu.be/dZsZ2WXfsWo

January 6, 2021
Civics for Seniors 2: The Courts and the Constitution    Presenter: Barry Bennett, JD (SSI member)
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett just before the presidential election highlighted the importance of the Supreme Court, which has become the arbiter of many of the most controversial issues in American life. In this class we will discuss the Court’s role in interpreting the Constitution as we cover the most important constitutional provisions, including the powers of Congress and the Bill of Rights. We will also cover the basics of the judicial system, as the lower courts play a critical role and have become a significant political issue in their own right.
Link: https://youtu.be/y9b9ipfV9Z4 

January 13, 2021
Byzantium - Part 1 of 4: The Forgotten Empire of the Middle Ages  Presenter: Dr. Sean Munger
While Western Europe suffered through the Dark Ages, the Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the center of Christianity, culture, learning, wealth and power for over 1100 years. Founded by Constantine in 330 and lasting until its fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, this fascinating society is often overlooked in histories of western civilization. This class will illuminate the darkness and explore the splendor of Byzantium and its major contributions to world history.
https://youtu.be/lYRnTNs63tM

Byzantium - Part 2 of 4: The Forgotten Empire of the Middle Ages  Presenter: Dr. Sean Munger
https://youtu.be/B-U4HlakDh4

Byzantium - Part 3 of 4: The Forgotten Empire of the Middle Ages   Presenter: Dr. Sean Munger
https://youtu.be/QsyhPXNxsZA

Byzantium - Part 4 0f 4: The Forgotten Empire of the Middle Ages    Presenter: Dr. Sean Munger
https://youtu.be/3P7znybDVww

January 12, 2021
The Next Carrington Event, or the End of the World as We Know It.    Presenter: Don Anderson (SSI member)
Recently on PBS they showed the first part of a British show called “COBRA” about what happens if a Carrington Level solar flare hits Earth, and much of our power grid, communications systems, and satellites in orbit may go away. SSI member Don Anderson will discuss the science behind the Carrington Event that was depicted in the TV show.
https://youtu.be/d3l0rsqsvuQ 

January 21, 2021
Gravitational Wave Detection (1st hour) and Climate Change (2nd hour)  Presenter: Duane Ray (SSI member)
Detecting gravitational waves allows us to obtain information about our universe that is obtainable in no other way. Gravitational waves were first detected in September of 2015. This amazing achievement was by detectors in Louisiana and nearby Tri-Cities in Washington state. Come along as we visit the first ever Gravitational Wave Detector in Washington and go behind the scenes for a rare view of the equipment involved. It’s a new window into our universe. More detectors will soon be online. Combating climate change has become critical to our continued life on planet earth. We will review the science to understand what we know and where this leads us for solutions. We will look at our climate progress in several fields. Because there is no single answer, we need to look at the things that we can do to keep global warming within necessary limits.
https://youtu.be/T5GLnVMa4MQ

January 25, 2021
A Powerful Thirst: Three Drinks in Human History  Presenter: Sandy Miller (SSI member)
Join SSI member Sandy Miller in delving into six beverages that have figured prominently in human history and culture. Can you guess what they are? A major source will be "A History of the World in Six Glasses" by Tom Standage. This is a global topic--we may even sing a sea chanty or two! If you like, come to class prepared to lift a glass, or cup--or bowl?--with the drink of your choice.
https://youtu.be/lJk47c9-IAA  

January 25, 2021
A Powerful Thirst: Three Drinks in Human History  Presenter by Sandy Miller (SSI Member) 
Join SSI member Sandy Miller in delving into six beverages that have figured prominently in human history and culture. Can you guess what they are? A major source will be "A History of the World in Six Glasses" by Tom Standage. This is a global topic--we may even sing a sea chanty or two! If you like, come to class prepared to lift a glass, or cup--or bowl?--with the drink of your choice.
https://youtu.be/YbCuAvYRKSk 

​January 26, 2021
Aesthetics: Can Quality in Art Be Measured?  Presenter: Sy Brandon, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Music from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He is a published composer, author, and poet. He was a speaker for the Pennsylvania Council for the Humanities on the subject of Aesthetics in Music.
What makes art good? Is it good because an art critic says it is good or a well-known artist creates it? Is it good because we like it? Is it good because it is cutting-edge? This presentation will give the audience some measurable values to judge art. It will discuss both how the mind and the emotions are involved in the creative and it’s appreciation.
https://youtu.be/esT0dZAqoyY

January 28, 2021
The Luck Factor  Presenter: Susan Schenk (SSI Member) 
Can you influence how lucky you are? Can luck be learned or are you just born lucky? Learn the results of a psychologist’s scientific study of lucky and unlucky people to learn the four essential principles of being a lucky person, regardless of your past, your intelligence or your age. By understanding the nature of luck, you can create a luckier lifestyle and even change your future.
https://youtu.be/zv-tyJr2lNc

February 24, 2021
Climbing Everest - and Beyond!  Presenter: Duane Ray (SSI member)
We start with the variety of people who have summited Mt Everest – and the way some have descended. We then expand to mountaineering around the world and finally end with our local mountaineering club the Mazamas founded on the top of Mt Hood. People do amazing things!
https://youtu.be/61WRdKqJtXI

February 25, 2021
Patterns in Nature: The Fibonacci Effect  Presenter: Marilyn Ellis, OMN, CIG, Oregon Master Naturalist
What do pinecones, a sunflower, and a honeycomb have in common? We often assume that most of the beauty in nature is random and without design. Actually, nature is very orderly. Fixed designs and patterns are in us, on us, and all around us. Leonardo da Vinci realized these patterns in his Vitruvian man while studying the human body. Leonardo Fibonacci realized it in his mathematical sequence discovery while studying patterns in nature. In this fun and explorative presentation, we will look at: Da Vinci's concept of beauty in the human body. How "Fibonacci's sequence" describes the patterns that nature creates. Come, learn, and gain a new sense of wonder in your world as we examine images and samples of patterns throughout nature.
https://youtu.be/H6FQtkaxedg

March 2, 2021
Sacco and Vanzetti  Presenter: Kathy Jackson (SSI member)
March 2, 2021 Presenter: Kathy Jackson (SSI member) Sacco and Vanzetti brings to life the story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolommeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrant anarchists, who were accused of a murder in 1920, and executed in Boston in 1927 after a notoriously prejudiced trial. The ordeal of Sacco and Vanzetti came to symbolize the bigotry and intolerance directed at immigrants and dissenters in America. Millions of people around the world protested on their behalf. Their story continues to have great resonance today as civil liberties and the rights of immigrants continue to be under attack.
https://youtu.be/QZSpbKszojg

March 4, 2021
Multiple Personality Disorder: Split Personality or Split Profession?  Presenter: Michael R. Jackson, PhD, clinical psychologist
Multiple Personality Disorder--also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder--has been a focus, over the years, of many medical, scientific, and popular publications and discussions. Some mental health professionals have questioned the reality of "split personalities," while others have argued that this phenomenon is much more common than many people realize. This presentation will examine this psychological disorder--its history, dynamics, and possible causes, as well as the controversies surrounding it. Some of the reasons for the controversies will be explored, and some ways in which the controversies might be reconciled will also be considered.
https://youtu.be/V6uPmKL4njU

March 16, 2021
Nuclear Power – What’s It All About?”  Presenter: Duane Ray (SSI member)
Global Warming is an increasing concern for all of us. Nuclear power could be a solution. We will review nuclear power – its problems, its possibilities and many myths about it. I’m very much in favor of nuclear power. Come join the discussion. – And what about Fusion Power? We’ll discuss it all. Some useful background would be my SSI Climate Change talk on January 21st.
https://youtu.be/GSnkv2tg5ww 

March 18, 2021
Indigenous Peoples And Environmental Justice in Canada  Presenter: Deborah Davis Jackson, PhD, Research Professor, Cultural Anthropology  
The Indigenous peoples of Canada share much in common with those in the U.S. – both culturally and historically – while at the same time some of their struggles and experiences are unique. This presentation addresses those similarities and differences, with an emphasis on the environmental injustices endured by Native peoples. An in-depth look into two cases – one in Northern Alberta, the other in Southwestern Ontario – brings to life both the grave challenges faced by these communities, and the ways in which they continue to fight for justice.
https://youtu.be/IlxOKm3VXqU

March 22, 2021
Leonard Bernstein: American Superstar of Classical Music  Presenter: Gordon Neal Herman
With his last-minute replacement of Bruno Walter conducting the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein was propelled into stardom. He became well known as a conductor, a composer of both classical music and theater music, and a beloved music educator. This presentation will explore his career through recordings and video.
https://youtu.be/mjr4_lPW5xA

March 25, 2021 
Mothers of Invention: Creative Women in a Man's World  Moderator: Sandy Miller and a panel of SSI members
Learn about women who have excelled in traditionally male-dominated fields, including science, medicine, and music.
https://youtu.be/ctW-HFczQuo

                                                                      2021 SPRING CLASSES  ​ 

Monday Mar. 29 
Title: Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing! How birdsong inspired the great composers and how they still inspire us today!
Presenter:  Marilyn Ellis, OMN, CIG
Oregon Master Naturalist
Certified Interpretive Guide
Description: 
⦁ What bird inspired Mozart’s  5th Symphony Da da da dum! ?  
⦁ Which Benjamin Britten masterpiece required singers to sing like birds?
⦁ Discover The 14th century musical instrument invented to imitate birdsong
⦁ Listen to the tribe in Asia that can sing like birds.
⦁ And so much more...
Link: https://youtu.be/dQkLOvpjfXw

Tuesday Mar. 30 
Title: Far-out Future Tech
Presenter: Paul Buchman, SSI member
Description: Invisibility? Mind-controlled devices? They sound like science-fiction but someone is working on them right now!  And there’s more, much more.
Link: https://youtu.be/DPefmYIzUNY

Wednesday Mar. 31 
Title: Alzheimer's Disease Today
Presenter: Dr. Michael Mega
Description:
The field of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has changed significantly in recent years with more individuals relying on cognitive care than ever before. During this session we will discuss the following:
⦁ How to recognize a change or problem with cognition or thinking
⦁ How to reduce your risk for MCI and AD
⦁ Overview of FDA approved treatments currently available for use
⦁ Overview of FDA investigational medicines currently being assessed in clinical trials
⦁ Overview of upcoming treatments in the pipeline and novel research theories.
Link:  https://youtu.be/zZC9RqqwyaE 

Thursday Apr. 1 
Title:  All Fool's
Presenter: Susan Schenk, SSI member
Description:
All Fool’s Day, April 1st, is a day set aside for playing harmless pranks on others and calling them out as fools for falling for your trick. Its history is murky, and may go back to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales or even to the Old Testament. We will explore the history of this special day, discuss the nature of pranks and recount some of the more notable pranks on record. Audience members are encouraged to share their memories of pranks they orchestrated or times when they were the “fool" whether it was on April 1 or another time.
Link: https://youtu.be/LmiBZwj2gzA

Tuesday Apr. 6 
Title: Sister Carrie and the industrialization of America
Presenter: Alicia Harding
Description:
Set against the backdrop of the industrialization of America this classic novel by Theodore Dreiser exemplifies the lives of the people who lived through it. From the newly created rampant consumerism, to the misery of factory work, to the desperation of union strikes, these are the social conditions in which the characters try to make sense of their lives.  It is helpful to have the read the book but not required. 
Link: https://youtu.be/yOb5O8CtK3M 

Wednesday Apr.  10am-Noon
Title: The Social Dilemma
Presenter: George Davidson, SSI member
Description:
Never before have a handful of tech designers had such control over the way billions of us think, act, and live our lives. 

The Social Dilemma focuses on how big social media companies manipulate users by using algorithms that encourage addiction to their platforms. It also shows, fairly accurately, how platforms harvest personal data to target users with ads – and have so far gone largely unregulated.

This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.
Link: not recorded 

Thursday Apr. 8 
Title: The Three Zones of Handwriting
Presenter: Joyce Brizendine
Description:
Usually one's handwriting will dominate in one of three zones: 
⦁ Upper Zone: Abstract Imagination
⦁ Middle Zone: Mundane 
⦁ Lower Zone: Material Imagination
Each zone has its advantages and disadvantages. In this class we will explore the characteristics of each zone and apply it to samples of writing to explore. Lastly, we will look at our own handwriting to determine our dominant zone. Participants are asked to bring their own unlined pen and paper to class.
Link: https://youtu.be/NLUJI-xkGj8

Monday Apr. 12 
Title: The Pollinators
Presenter: Kathy Jackson, SSI member
Description: 
A cinematic journey around the United States following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honey bees as they pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables we all eat.
Link: https://youtu.be/u9GH9KA4tGQ

Tuesday Apr. 13 
Title: Mariachi Music
Presenter: Sy Brandon PhD, SSI member
Description:
During this presentation, Dr. Brandon shares information and examples on the development, instruments, and styles of Mexico’s Folk Music. Many YouTube videos will used to illustrate the content of this presentation. The audience will be tapping their foot and smiling as they experience this upbeat musical style.

Dr. Sy Brandon is Arizona Centennial Composer
Winner of the 2016 Hillcrest Wind Ensemble Composition Contest
Thor Johnson Memorial Commission winner for 2018
2016 Honorable Mention in the American Prize in Chamber Music
2013 finalist in the American Prize Chamber Music Composition Competition and semi-finalist in the  Band Composition Competition
2012 semi-finalist in the American Prize Orchestral Composition Competition and Choral Composition Competition
Link: https://youtu.be/R-ywjRPxok4

Wednesday Apr. 14 
Title: The Ten Most Powerful People in the World
Presenter: George Davidson, SSI member
Description:
Who are the real influencers on the world stage? Who makes the decisions that determine war and peace? Economic growth or stagnation? Global cooperation or political stagnation? 

This lecture answers the question of who the most powerful people in the world are by examining how we think about power and influence in international politics. We will consider traditional answers based on military might and examine how globalization, technology, ideology, and economic interdependence are changing the ways we should think about power and influence.

After engaging in an analysis of power and influence in today’s world, we will consider ten particular individuals—some expected, others perhaps unexpected or even unknown—who are calling the shots in global affairs today. The lecture concludes with a detailed look at what their influence means for our global future.
Link: not recorded 
​
Thursday Apr. 15 
Title: Mediation to Help Families get Out of Conflict
Presenter: Tsipora Dimant
Description:
Tsipora Dimant has been a mediator for the past 30 years. Her experience includes workplace, business, neigborhood, divorce and family mediations. Over the years she has helped families have difficult conversations that result in clearing up misunderstandings and angry feelings that people harber for years. Tsipora will present on how the process of mediation can help people have the right conversations that will reconnect them and help them become more skillful at handling conflicts in the future.
Link: https://youtu.be/3xd_tV1BpBc

Tuesday Apr. 20 
Title: Second Amendment Controversies: Past, Present and Future
Presenter: Jim Oleske, JD
Description:
Come learn about the historical debates and judicial precedents that underlie the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Second Amendment "right to keep and bear Arms." The presentation will also include a discussion of how future firearms regulation might fare in the courts given the composition of the judiciary.
Link: https://youtu.be/jDYTwKwAiKI

Wednesday Apr. 21 
Title: Strategic Intelligence in World War II
Presenter: Donald Steury, PhD, SSI member
Description:
The role of intelligence in national security decision making changed dramatically in the first half of the twentieth century. This presentation will look at two developments that played a major role in Europe: the Enigma secret and the growth of overheard reconnaissance.
Link: not recorded 

Thursday Apr. 22 
Title: Universal Basic Income
Presenter: Warren Karmol, SSI member
Description:
You probably have heard or read about the term Universal Basic Income or UBI for short. Since first arising in 16th Century Tudor England, when Sir Thomas More argued in his book Utopia that every person should receive a guaranteed income, numerous variations have evolved and have been discussed.  This presentation will briefly explore the history of the idea, the various iterations of the idea (focusing primarily on those of the past 60 years), why UBI is needed, UBI experiments (past and current), and finally how it could be successfully funded today. Come with an open mind, but be prepared to become a member of the "Yang Gang"!
Link: https://youtu.be/QdTTpZrdVGI

Monday Apr. 26 
Title: Korea: The Forgotten War
Presenter: George Davidson, SSI member
Description: 
The Korean war began on June 25, 1950, when some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. Come find out more about this ongoing conflict: no peace treaty was ever signed just an armistice.
Link: https://youtu.be/_iJ1Wzc_tDk
Check out the PBS special at https://www.pbs.org/video/the-forgotten-war-iowans-in-korea-f87wid/ 

Tuesday Apr. 27 
Title: Spice It Up!  How the Chile Pepper Flavored Chinese Culture
Presenter: Brian Dott, PhD
Description:
Chinese cuisine without chile peppers seems unimaginable, yet there were no chile peppers in China before the 1570s.  Introduced from the Americas, chiles initially struggled to gain a foothold in China, but now they are so common that many Chinese assume that they are native.  This talk examines the many ways the chile changed Chinese culture.  Part of the chile's success in China arose from Chinese recognizing its versatility.  Chiles became integrated into traditional Chinese medicine, garden aesthetics, and literary references, as well as cuisine.  In addition, its versatility also allowed Chinese from different regions to emphasize varying aspects of the chile, leading to regionalization.  The chile even changed the meaning of the term spicy (la).
 
Bio:  Brian Dott received a Master’s degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Michigan and his PhD in Chinese History from the University of Pittsburgh. He teaches in the History Department and Asian & Middle Eastern Studies Program at Whitman College. His passion is studying changes in Chinese cultural practices from 1500 to the present.
Link: https://youtu.be/LphknhENHoA

Wednesday Apr. 28 
Title: The Evolving US-China Relationship
Presenter: Jim Gradoville, SSI member
Description:
Since China's opening in 1978, the pendulum of US-China relations has swung widely: from a sideline player in the US-USSR cold war to embracing China for its lucrative market; from global cooperation to today's strategic competition and emerging adversarial relationship.  This class will trace China's meteoric rise as it strives to reach President Xi Jinping's "China Dream" while the U.S. and the West shift tactics. Will the Biden Administration follow Trump and play hard ball? Will the two economies decouple?  What is China doing to expand its global influence?  Will the West 'gang-up' on China or will China divide and conquer?  How does climate change and human rights fit in?
Link: https://youtu.be/r8Hapu9xCeo

Thursday Apr. 29 
Title: The Nile: 5000 Years of History, Pt. 1 of 2
Presenter: Kathy Jackson, SSI member
Description
Professor Bettany Hughes sets sail on an epic journey through the history and highlights of Ancient Egypt. Travelling on her own traditional Dahabiya boat, Bettany journeys almost 1,000 miles from Cairo to the Aswan Dam on the mighty River Nile stopping off at the most iconic and dazzling sites along the way.
Link: not recorded 

Tuesday May 4 
Title: Resolving Bioethical Dilemmas
Presenter: Erleen Whitney, PhD, SSI member
Description:
Advances in science and medicine and changes in climate and environment provoke new bioethical dilemmas for us personally and as a society.  Questions are easily asked but not easily answered.  Genetic Enhancement?  Scarcity of health resources?  End-of-life care?  This presentation will examine the ethical theories and principles used in resolving bioethical issues.
Link: https://youtu.be/QOnvY24q-eM

Wednesday May 5 
Title: Aliens and Flying Saucers (UFOs!)
Presenter: Duane Ray, SSI member
Description:
Do you believe Aliens have arrived on planet earth? If so, why, if not, why not? We will look at the Universe and discuss the possibilities of life around other stars. Then we will discuss the possibility that they might be visiting here on our planet. There are lots of photos and videos – and some first-hand accounts. What are your thoughts? If you have had a UFO experience, please contact Duane before class.
Link: https://youtu.be/a1FnlgIo4Y4

Thursday May 6 
Title: The Nile: 5000 Years of History, pt. 2 of 2
Presenter: Kathy Jackson, SSI member
Description
Professor Bettany Hughes sets sail on an epic journey through the history and highlights of Ancient Egypt. Travelling on her own traditional Dahabiya boat, Bettany journeys almost 1,000 miles from Cairo to the Aswan Dam on the mighty River Nile stopping off at the most iconic and dazzling sites along the way.
Link: not recorded 

Monday May 10 
Title: The Real Mulan
Presenter: Cicely McCaffrey, PhD
Description: 
The recent release of Mulan (Disney 2020) has excited many critical discussions about the representation of China’s best known woman warrior. Join Dr. Cicely McCaffrey for a discussion of an equally fascinating figure, the eighteenth century Chinese female rebel Wang Cong’er. In this talk, Dr. Cecily McCaffrey will explore the accumulation of tales about Wang (who herself left no written record), considering in particular the moral overtones expressed in both imperial and contemporary writings – and asks whether the comparison to Mulan might be warranted.
Link: https://youtu.be/E8py9rNOZ_o

Tuesday May 11 
Title: The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century: climate change, famine, war, and plague
Presenter: Lisa Sarasohn, PhD
Description:
The fourteenth century endured many of the same crises that haunt the twenty-first century. It was the beginning of what's called "the little ice-age," a period of climate change that resulted in wide-spread famine. The Hundred Years War between England and France caused death and destruction and seemed to go on forever. And worse of all, the bubonic plague or Black Death killed half the population of Europe and resulted in civil and social unrest. Taken together, these events caused what historians call "The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century."
Link: https://youtu.be/taBXobeXpaA

Wednesday May 12
Title: The Armenian Genocide
Presenter: Aram Mahshigian
Description:
The greatest atrocity that took place against civilians during World War 1 was the Armenian Genocide. An estimated 1,500,000 Armenians, more than half of the Armenian population living on ifs historic homeland were destroyed on the orders of the Turkish leaders of the Ottoman Empire. The vast murders were carried out through execution, death marches, drowning, burning and other means.

The American ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, wrote in his memoirs; ‘’When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and in their conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact.’’ 
Link: https://youtu.be/o-n2AhPqpaM
                             
Tuesday May 18 
Title: Remembering the Eruption of Mount St. Helens
Presenter: Kathy Jackson, SSI member
Description:
On May 18 1980, after two months of earthquakes and small explosions, Mount St. Helens cataclysmically erupted. A high-speed blast leveled millions of trees and ripped soil from bedrock. The eruption fed a towering plume of ash for more than nine hours, and winds carried the ash hundreds of miles away. Lahars (volcanic mudflows) carried large boulders and logs, which destroyed forests, bridges, roads and buildings. These catastrophic events led to 57 deaths, including that of David Johnston, a dedicated USGS scientist. This presentation will review the eruption and encourage SSI members to share their memories of this cataclysmic event.
Link: not recorded 

Wednesday May 19 
Title: Hawaii, pt. 1 of 2
Presenter: Sean Munger
Description:
From its ancient origins through medieval kingdoms and rapid change in modern times, Hawaii's history is one of the most unusual and fascinating of any place in the world. This class will survey the long story of Hawaii and its place in the broader scope of Pacific, American and world history.
Link: https://youtu.be/bUKGuRzwP-g

Thursday May 20 
Title: Japanese Folkcraft
Presenter: Lynn Geis, SSI member
Description
Lynn Geis has a collection of over 170 papier-mache animals of the Asian zodiac and other folk characters. They are handmade and vary in different parts of the country, and also change over time. Lynn will talk about how they are made. She will explain the zodiac, and talk about other folk tale characters that are represented in her collection.
Lynn made a 3 minute video for Mochitsuki, the annual Japanese New Year's event. It is still available to see on mochipdx.org, the January 12th entry.
Link: https://youtu.be/ZENuJsagc-w

Monday May 24 
Title: Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum
Presenter: Martin Nicholson, Curator of the Portland Arboretum
Description: 
As Curator of the Hoyt Arboretum Martin Nicholson offers his unique perspective on this valuable resource. A place to hike among and appreciate global tree diversity, a center for research and conservation, and a community treasure – Hoyt Arboretum is many things to many people. Learn what makes this place special.
Link: https://youtu.be/ne8PtusJtuE

Tuesday May 25 
Title: Mankiller: Activist. Feminist. Cherokee Chief.
Presenter: Sandy Miller, SSI member
Description:
This is the story of an American hero.  One who stands tall amongst the likes of Robert Kennedy, Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Someone who humbly defied the odds and overcame insurmountable obstacles to fight injustice and gave a voice to the voiceless.  And yet few people know her name.  This is the story of an American legend, Wilma Mankiller, who overcame rampant sexism and personal challenges to emerge as the Cherokee Nation’s first woman Principal Chief in 1985.  MANKILLER examines the legacy of the formidable Wilma Mankiller.
Link: https://youtu.be/t_BJ4vmyRoM
Check out the PBS documentary film, "Mankiller":   https://multcolib.kanopy.com/video/mankiller-0
​(Just hover your cursor over the link above in black and click on it to access the film.) 

Wednesday May 26 
Title: Hawaii, pt. 2 of 2
Presenter: Sean Munger
Description:
From its ancient origins through medieval kingdoms and rapid change in modern times, Hawaii's history is one of the most unusual and fascinating of any place in the world. This class will survey the long story of Hawaii and its place in the broader scope of Pacific, American and world history.
Link: https://youtu.be/744sQhlYbqQ

Thursday May 27 
Title: Oregon Geology: Great Missoula Floods/Oregon's Shoreline
Presenter: David Lonsdale
Description
⦁ MISSOULA FLOODS-CATACLYSMIC GEOLOGIC EVENTS & THEIR DISTINCTIVE LANDSCAPE: An Outrageous 1923 hypothesis that ended up explaining the geology behind today’s remarkable landscape of Western Montana, Idaho, Eastern Washington & Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge.
⦁ BUILDING OREGON’S SHORELINE: 200 Million Years of multiple geological events responsible  for today’s  dramatic Oregon  coastline.
Link: https://youtu.be/u6mf8GISz1U

Tuesday Jun. 1 
Title: Artistic Exchange Between China and Europe in the 17th and 18th Centuries
Presenter: Dawn Odell, PhD
Description: 
In this presentation, Professor Dawn Odell discusses the circulation of art works between China and Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.  In a period in which merchants and missionaries frequently travelled the world, so to did porcelain, printed books, maps, paintings, clocks and other mechanical devices, tapestries, and furniture.  Professor Odell highlights the Dutch role in the trade with Asia, and specifically the Dutch response to Chinese art.  For the many Netherland citizens who would never travel beyond the walls of their small towns, what did art tell them about another region of the world?
Link: not recorded ​

Wednesday Jun. 2 
Title: Supreme Court Cases That Have Shaped Our World—Part 1
Presenter: Barry Bennett, JD, SSI member
Description:
Many of our most contentious political and social issues end up before the United States Supreme Court, which has final authority to decide all constitutional questions. Thus, the Court has defined the limits of free speech and legitimate protest; voting rights; the allowable reach of campaign finance reform; protections against racial discrimination; privacy rights, including the right to abortion and same-sex marriage; and many more. We will explore the major Supreme Court cases in these areas, and along the way highlight the three most infamous decisions in Supreme Court history.
Link: https://youtu.be/l5RxqmnoNPQ

Thursday Jun. 3 
Title: What Do Numbers Do in Their Spare Time?
Presenter: John Schilke, SSI member
Description:
We all use numbers every day.  Have you ever stopped to think about how these characters get on in their own world?  They associate, form series and groups, and do very well.  We'll explore their antics and their games.
Link: https://youtu.be/kXuQMHHAQCA

Tuesday Jun. 8 
Title: Abstract Art
Presenter: Susan Schenk, SSI member
Description:
Have you ever looked at abstract art and said, “My grandchild could do that!” Do you find yourself emotionally pulled into abstract art or scratching your head trying to figure it out? Can you appreciate it without “getting” it? 

We will explore the history of abstract art and learn to find a way into art that doesn’t have an obvious entry point. We will compare traditional classic art with abstract art and other non-representational art. You may find that your next museum visit takes you to the contemporary wings instead of the staid and predictable classics. "Tolerance of ambiguity" is the mantra of  docents who lead tours of  modern art at the Portland Art Museum. Come and see if widening your tolerance for ambiguity also widens your world.
Link: https://youtu.be/GISMbHQ5Jjc

Wednesday Jun. 9
Title: From Marching Bands to Big Bands: The Story of Early Jazz
Presenter: Gordon Neal Herman
Description:
This presentation traces how the combining of marching bands and ragtime gave rise to Dixieland jazz and how the big bands grew out of the dance band movement discovering jazz.
Link: https://youtu.be/OjcS_9CBXZE

Thursday Jun. 10 
Title: Theravada Buddhism
Presenter: Margaret Darby, SSI member
Description:
Of the many traditions of Buddhism introduced to Western cultures, Theravada Buddhism seems to have been the most widely received. Theravada translates as “The Teachings of the Elders,” an oral tradition passed down by the Buddha as expressed in the Pali Canon.
I’ll share some of the history of the practice  how daily practice of this tradition can enhance ones life in ways never expected.
Link: https://youtu.be/RcCMSWA3u9A

Monday June 14
Title: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution - A 2021 Oscar Nominee
Presenter: Marti Summer, SSI member
Description: On the heels of Woodstock, a groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teenagers with disabilities to build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality. This spirited look at grassroots activism is produced by former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama. 
Link: not recorded

Tuesday June 15
Title: Studio Ghibli
Presenter: JJ Jackson
Description: The Japanese animation company, Studio Ghibli, has produced more than twenty films, earning countless awards and a legion of devoted fans around the world, including Spirited Away, winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Picture. Their films are renowned for their imaginative animation, accessible stories, and charming characters. Come join us and explore the works of Studio Ghibli and famed director Hiyao Miyazaki. 
Link: not recorded ​

Wednesday June 16 
Title: A World Without Privacy, How Surveillance Impacts Our Lives
Presenter: AJ Rice, Portland privacy advocate Class
Description: AJ Rice will provide an overview of what the internet knows about us, how companies and governments track us with and without our knowledge, and why they track us. Rice will then discuss how surveillance impacts our lives and why we should care about privacy even if we have nothing to hide. Finally, the session will conclude with some tips and tricks, as well as steps we can take individually and collectively to better protect our privacy. Speaker bio: AJ Rice is a privacy advocate and the Founder & CEO of Privo Mobile - a Portland tech startup making dumb phones designed for kids and seniors. AJ is a Board Member atPDX Privacy - a non-profit focused on advocating for privacy and increasing transparency on the use of surveillance in the Portland area. AJ is also author of the privacy blog Private Matters.
Link: not recorded 

Thursday June 17
Title: Entangled - prize-winning documentary about the Right Whale
Presenter: Kathy Jackson, SSI member Class
Description: ENTANGLED is an award-winning, feature-length film about how climate change has accelerated a collision between the nation’s most valuable fishery, one of the world's most endangered species, and a federal agency mandated to protect both. The film chronicles the efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales from extinction, the impacts of those efforts on the lobster industry, and how the National Marine Fisheries Service has struggled to balance the vying interests. Entangled, from the makers of Lobster War and Sacred Cod, won a 2020 Jackson Wild award, known as the Oscars of nature films. It also won Best Feature Film at the Water Docs Film Festival, Best Conservation Film at the Mystic Film Festival, and the John de Graaf Environmental Filmmaking Award at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. 
Link: not recorded ​