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June 22 – July 6 Tuesday01:00 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 3Instructor: Marcia PincusLocations: ZoomNote: This is a livestream class via Zoom. The Qigong Taoist Water Method is a 3000-year-old practice developed by Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and author of the Tao Te Ching. This qigong method emphasizes softness and specific body movements to increase the qi flows within the body and to age gracefully. Learn basic qigong movements to increase qi... read more -
July 20 – July 27 Tuesday01:00 PM → 02:15 PMSessions: 2Instructor: Gloria DrayerLocations: ZoomDo you have difficulty falling and staying asleep at night or feeling rested in the morning? Yoga can help. Gentle yoga before bed can ease your mind and reduce tension. Learn some simple yoga and breathing techniques to help you sleep better. Bring your yoga mat or a blanket for this two-session class, as we will be lying down to practice several of these... read more -
August 6 – August 20 Friday09:00 AM → 10:00 AMSessions: 3Instructor: Cindy RussellLocations: ZoomDeep breathing and gentle stretching greatly improve the body's ability to relax. Join us for an end of the week practice focused on posture, strategic breathing techniques (e.g., abdomino-diaphragmatic or "belly" breathing), and a blend of stretching techniques, including modified yoga poses. We gently stretch from either a standing or seated position (no... read more -
August 19 Thursday09:00 AM → 10:00 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Ellen TatgeLocations: ZoomHave you wondered what tai chi chih is and why it is so widely recommended, particularly for better balance, mental focus, and its calming effects? Tai chi chih is a modern form of tai chi that is easy to learn and practice. In this one-session class, practice several movements and learn the principles behind the practice. Even a short taste of this moving... read more -
May 17 – May 24 Monday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 2Instructor: Richard BellLocations: ZoomBorn the tenth son of a humble family of puritan candle-makers, Franklin's rise to the front ranks of science, engineering, and invention was as unexpected as it was meteoric. In this 2-part program we’ll examine many of Franklin's ideas to make life simpler, cheaper, and easier for himself and everyone else. It turns out that those ideas encompassed not... read more
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May 19 Wednesday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Charles SteenLocations: ZoomThe seventeenth century was a brilliant period for Rome culturally. The extraordinary design of the city took shape with long avenues connecting piazzas with beautiful fountains and elaborate churches. Music, painting and theater thrived but under close church supervision, limiting intellectual life. Rome became the center of the Grand Tour for the wealthy... read more
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June 9 Wednesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Richard BellLocations: ZoomMen of Irish heritage played crucial roles in fighting the American Revolution, siding with the patriots against the British Army in overwhelming numbers. In this program, University of Maryland historian Richard Bell explores the Revolution from the perspective of the Irish and their descendants in America. Drawing on the latest scholarship, Bell... read more
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June 17 Thursday02:30 PM → 04:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Richard FieldLocations: ZoomGermany invaded Russia in 1941, but failed to subdue the Red Colossus. After a long, hard, winter with many casualties and failed bid to take Moscow, Hitler looked for a chance to renew his offensive in the summer. He set his eye on the oil fields of southern Russia. As the offensive opened, the focus was drawn to Stalingrad. This titanic struggle which... read more
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June 21 Monday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: John M. TaylorLocations: ZoomSubmarine warfare was one of the winning components in World War II. Unfortunately, winning came at some cost. The United States lost 52 submarines during the war, taking with them 374 officers and 3,131 men. This presentation discusses losses and the importance of the submarine force. John Taylor will discuss the effort called the Lost52... read more
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June 22 Tuesday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Matthew BarbourLocations: ZoomElephants have been utilized in war throughout much of human history. Sometimes referred to as “living tanks,” their strength, height, and intelligence make them ideal for a number of tasks, including destroying enemy fortifications and serving as mobile platforms for sharpshooters. While most commonly used in India and Southeast Asia, the animals were... read more
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July 15 – July 29 Thursday12:30 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 3Instructor: Creve MaplesLocations: ZoomWhat would it be like to encounter alien civilizations? Despite differences, Asian, European, and African cultures exchanged ideas and innovations through trade and travel. In the New World, civilizations evolved isolated from the rest of the world, creating great cultures that rivaled the best the Old World had to offer. Learn about the mysterious Olmecs,... read more -
July 20 Tuesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Richard BellLocations: ZoomJoin us for a talk with University of Maryland Dr. Richard Bell, the author of STOLEN, a new book that tells the incredible story of five boys whose courage forever changed the fight against slavery in America. Their ordeal shines a glaring spotlight on the Reverse Underground Railroad, a black-market network of human traffickers who stole away thousands of... read more -
July 23 Friday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Gregory GouldLocations: ZoomGreek mythology permeates our language, arts and culture, from the mundane daily use of such terms as 'to tantalize' and 'to have an Achilles's heel,' to psychological diagnosis, such as narcissism and the oedipal complex. Our thinking is shaped by these archetypes. We'll explore insights the Greeks captured and communicated through their story-telling... read more -
August 16 Monday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Charles SteenLocations: ZoomThe Loire River Valley provided a meeting ground for the different cultures found in northern and southern France and the results are clearly seen in Orleans and Tours as well as in the chateaux in the countryside around them. Cultural life flourished as artists, architects and musicians came to the cities, following the increasing interest the monarchy had... read more -
August 16 Monday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Naomi SandweissLocations: ZoomOne typically thinks of Eastern European Jewish immigrants arriving in the US to live in crowded urban centers. Yet, Jews were settled in isolated farming communities throughout the US in the 19th century, largely funded and organized by well-meaning Jewish charitable organizations. This presentation will illustrate the many varieties of Jewish (and other... read more -
August 18 Wednesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Timothy C. GrahamLocations: ZoomA remarkable aspect of the Christian tradition has been the production of richly illustrated copies of the Scriptures. The most beautiful Bibles were produced during the European Middle Ages. Learn about the major stages in the history of medieval Bible decoration and illustration, beginning with the oldest surviving complete copy of the Vulgate and... read more
