Fall 2020 Single-Session Classes

with Ray Vergne

  RECORDED SESSIONS STILL AVAILABLE:  Although it affected, influenced, and dominated the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the XX Century, Fascism is difficult to define accurately and succinctly. This exercise in history will try to identify the major characteristics of Fascism in different countries, some of which existed under Fascist governments, some of which did not, and their differences. The roots and origins of Fascism will be explored, as well as its relationship to established religion, its economic systems, its prejudices and its implacable hostility to Communism. The circumstances around which Fascist movements developed will be discussed, whether these were in Europe, Africa, or America. Military operations (World War II) and genocide (the Holocaust) will be brought in peripherally as they relate to Fascist doctrine and ideology. The goal of this exercise is to better understand the phenomenon of Fascism, which so painfully scarred the history of the XX Century.

 3 recorded sessions still available  

 With Wayne Bell, PhD

This course is offered as a collaboration between Chesapeake Forum and the Pickering Creek Audubon Center.

RECORDED SESSIONS STILL AVAILABLE: This fall we will focus on common and not-so-common songbirds that grace our Eastern Shore backyards and parks. The course will span the months of September, October, and November to enable us to see departing summer residents and arriving winter residents as well as those species that grace our landscapes year 'round. We'll see familiar species like Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay. We'll also see birds that are often overlooked such as Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Savannah Sparrow, and yes, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. No birding experience is necessary but you may be surprised at how many species you already know! There will be one Zoom class session each month interspersed with at least two field trips to local destinations in between each class. (Due to social gathering restrictions, field trips are limited to 6 participants and available only to those signed up for the Live Zoom Class w/field trips.)  Gather up your binoculars and join us for a birder's-eye view of the place we call home. 

   3 recorded sessions still available 

with Hans Kuschnerus

 This interactive course explains the nature of change with examples (new and old) in many categories. We'll consider and discuss major concerns for the future in technology and in other life challenges.  Our present Covid-19 pandemic serves as an apt wake-up call.  Future scenarios will be presented that anticipate changes in: transportation, Artificial Intelligence and the internet, healthcare, and climate change. Participants will be given tips and tools to make adoption of change least disruptive and not so frustrating. 

 (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) 

With Forest Hansen

Most people signing up for this course would say either that the mind is a sort of immaterial entity that exists in our heads or that it is the brain. We will review the philosophical and scientific origins of these two notions. Upon close examination both present conceptual perplexities. We will then consider alternative answers to this question which claim to resolve those problems. Finally, we will discuss why this is an important issue, not just a philosophical game.  

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

With Rich Harrison and Bob DeGour

We'll choose three of the most interesting of the following eight topics: Climate Change and the Global Order, India and Pakistan, Red Sea Security, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, U. S. Relations with the Northern Triangle, China's Road into Latin American, The Philippines, and U. S. Artificial Intelligence and Data.  

 (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)