Presented by Rose Thomas
Santa Barbara holds an important position within the history of 20th Century community planning and architecture. It is known to be among the earliest American cities to commit to an expression of architecture related to its Hispanic past and Mediterranean climate. But many are unaware that numerous buildings and homes in our area were designed by forward-thinking women who added to the city’s character. Join historian Rose Thomas as she shares the stories and structures of five creative individuals who followed their passion and contributed to the legacy of our beautiful city by the sea. The first session covers the careers of pioneer architects Julia Morgan and Lutah Maria Riggs; the second examines the designers Harriet Moody, Mary Osborne Craig, and Anna Louise Vhay.
Presented by Florrie R. Burke
“Trafficking in persons,” “human trafficking,” and “modern slavery” are umbrella terms —often used interchangeably — to refer to a crime in which traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex. Using domestic and international cases to illustrate her extensive experience in working with trafficked persons, Florrie Burke will share her stories of more than 25 years as consultant, expert witness, member, and chair of many national and international organizations fighting to eliminate the tragedy of human trafficking here in the USA and around the world.
Presented by Charlene G. Garfinkle
When Florence Lundborg received the mural commission in 1915 to adorn the California Building at San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition, it was neither the first nor the last important commission by a woman’s exposition board. Large-scale public murals were commissioned for the 1893 and the 1933 International Expositions held in Chicago; however, Lundborg’s beautiful colors and graceful procession of figures performing their arcadian duties is very different from those other progress-themed murals, which reflected their own expositions’ themes of advancement. Lundborg ties her theme to her own exposition’s focus on California’s prosperity and the abundance of agriculture as part of a campaign to attract attention to California’s natural riches, boosting tourism and encouraging resettlement to the state.
Presented by Henry Michaels
Religious music occupied an important position in 16th-century Europe. During this turbulent period marked by the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation, music was used as a way to accomplish sometimes quite specific goals, whether to spread reformist (or anti-reformist) propaganda, mold communities, or sonically define religiously distinct spaces. It is evident that music was, sometimes above all else, a useful tool in the hands of reformers and counter-reformers alike. This three-part course will focus on several case studies as a means of exploring the myriad uses for and approaches to religious music of the 16th century.
Presented by John Ferry and Grace De Soto
Filmmakers John Ferry and Grace De Soto will discuss the making of their award-winning documentary Sitting Bull: A Stone in My Heart, which will be screened at the class (approximately 55 min.). The film makes extensive use of first-person narration taken from Sitting Bull’s own words, giving the viewer an intimate portrait of one of America’s great historical figures, who was not only the most powerful Indian chief of the Northern Plains but also a great warrior, spiritual leader, and skilled diplomat. Sitting Bull’s words, along with a narrator’s historical perspective, over six hundred archival photographs and images, and a compelling original music score bring to life the story of a great man’s struggle to maintain his people’s way of life against the ever-expanding westward movement of White settlers.
Presented by Heidi August
Heidi will tell us about her 35-year career in the most secret and powerful intelligence service of the United States. Starting as a file clerk in 1968 (the only job open to women at that time), Heidi rose to the equivalent rank of a three-star general. Following foreign language training, she received her first operational assignment as a Case Officer in Europe, where she focused on agent recruitment and counter-proliferation operations. Major positions she has held at Agency headquarters include Chief of South Asia Operations and Chief of Operations of the Counter-Terrorism Center. Her experiences range from a military coup in North Africa to being in the first group of women to compete against male counterparts in the Basic Operations Course (equivalent to Officer Candidate School in the military). Ms. August led one of the Agency’s largest overseas stations and was promoted to Senior Intelligence Service in 1996. Her last assignment was in a war-torn Middle Eastern country. She has worked closely with the NSA, FBI, US Military, and many foreign intelligence agencies. Ms. August was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal upon her retirement in 2004. On the day she retired the Agency presented her with the U.S. flag that had been flown in her honor over the Headquarters compound on that date.
Presented by Douglas Stowell
We live in a global society with instant communications, rapid travel access, and increasing awareness of multi-national issues. How well is the U.S. performing in meeting the challenges that exist in 2023? We will cover some 30 topics, including the economy, environment, education, healthcare, climate change, immigration, military preparedness, safety, prosperity, and personal happiness. The “Top 10” format provides a quick snapshot of how the U.S. compares to other nations. The sources of this information are well-vetted international surveys by highly credible and impartial worldwide organizations. Links to each source are provided for those seeking more details. As always, a complete PDF copy is available upon request at no additional charge. Do join us!
Presented by Norm Cohen
Who wrote, edited, and compiled the books of the Old and New Testaments, and when? What were their original languages? How did our present texts get finalized, and by whom? What were the social and religious considerations that affected those decisions? What were the roles of the early Church fathers and their Rabbinical contemporaries in establishing the texts? This class will look at the origins and evolution of the books of the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha, starting from their origins in oral tales, songs, and myths and through a long succession of written versions and translations.
Presented by Peter Beuret
Join us for an adventure with pirates in history, in our news, and in the movies—from Plutarch to CNN to Johnny Depp. Together we will look for common causes of piracy over the centuries and around the world and consider the ways in which people and governments have fought them. (It isn’t easy!) Then we will focus on modern piracy, especially the pirates of Somalia. Why did they appear so suddenly out of nowhere? Finally, we will consider why pirates, who we all agree are bad people who want to take our stuff and kill us, are often portrayed as fun, swashbuckling adventurers in literature and film.
Presented by Jim Hemmer
We conventionally think of time as something that flows uniformly, independently from everything else, from the past to the future, measured by clocks and watches. In the course of time the events of the universe succeed each other in an orderly way: pasts, presents, futures. And yet all of this is disputed by some scientists. Additionally, modern science has shown us that time is not absolute. For example, time passes faster for people who live in the mountains than those at sea level. We will look at this and other ways that time is different for different people. Join us as we survey what we actually know about time, focusing on the roles of philosophy and the science of physics in determining the nature of time. We’ll look at what Aristotle, Newton, and Einstein thought about the nature of time and whether quantum mechanics is relevant to this inquiry.
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
On Day 1, we will review the history of the federal rules for campaign finance, shaped and molded by the Supreme Court into a system that no one would ever enact as it presently exists. This will include Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United, the Federal Election Commission’s rules and limits, and an introduction to “dark money.” We will divide day 2 in half, first looking at California’s and other states’ rules, and then in more depth at SuperPACs and 501(c)(4)s. We’ll have several case studies of SuperPACs and dark money, including Rep. George Santos’s 501(c)(4), charities that are actually political organizations, federal contractors and foreigners who try to flout the bans on their monetary contributions, and more! On day 3 we will examine the forces that have propelled the country toward political polarization, including weak (yes, weak!) political parties, SCOTUS decisions, the realignment of politics in the southern U.S., and selection of party nominees through low-turnout primaries. Where is all this going?
Presented by Fima Lifshitz, M.D.
Obesity results from genetic, nutritional, and physical activity alterations; structural environmental changes also drive obesity, though these alterations are not usually addressed. For the previous 300 years there were minimal weight variations among people, with few severely obese individuals. However, since the 1980s a new phase of transition to overeating and under-activity has ensued. Currently, two billion people are obese and four billion are expected to become obese within the next 10 years. Excess obesity leads to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and many types of cancer. Nonetheless, politicians, governments, and industries have not addressed their responsibility with regard to the causes of the obesity epidemic.
Presented by Bee Bloeser
Based on the speaker’s observations during two years in West Africa, her course will cover restrictions imposed on women and girls—behind literal walls as well as a metaphorical one. Bee Bloeser had the rare opportunity to experience a place closed to the outside world when she was tasked with checking for smallpox scars in Kano, Nigeria’s Old City. Her smallpox-fighter husband was not allowed there because the women were “in purdah,” not to be seen by any man outside their immediate family. In addition to offering a glimpse of life behind the walls, the course will also address another kind of barrier—the lack of water. UNICEF estimates that worldwide, women and children, mostly girls, spend two hundred million hours a day walking for water, severely limiting their opportunities. Lastly, guest speaker Doug Rudholm will discuss his experience teaching inmates within a California women’s prison.
Presented by Larry Canepa
First up on our buffet—ITALY: Unified country, regional tastes. Across the globe, no country’s food and wine traditions are considered more romantic and sought after than those of Italy. Italy consists of 20 regions, each lending its own flavor to the dishes we know and love. No matter the region, the emphasis is on fresh, high- quality, seasonal ingredients. We’ll consider 2000 years of culinary history, dating back to the Roman Empire.
Next on the menu—FRANCE: Liberté, égalité, fraternité … and food. France has played an exceptional worldwide role as a center of high culture since the 17th century. From chic Paris bistros to hearty campagne kitchens, from haute cuisine to cuisine bourgeoise, from tradition to audacity, we’ll consider everything from crispy baguettes to exquisite pastries, with delicious cheese and a bottle of wine always on our table.
Presented by Norm Cohen
Railroads shaped our history in the century after the Civil War—a story chronicled in songs that had a lasting impact on American music. In this course we’ll hear and discuss examples representing railroad construction (“John Henry”), disasters (“Casey Jones”), badmen (“Jesse James”), imaginary trains (“Wabash Cannon-ball”), religious imagery (“Life’s Railroad to Heaven”), and pop songs (“Atcheson Topeka and Santa Fe,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “City of New Orleans”). Instrumental music (“Honky Tonk Train”) and classical compositions (“The Lonesome Train”) as well as an overview of the history of the railroads will also be covered.
Presented by Bruce Phillips
Ever wonder why humans wanted to fly, despite being ill-equipped for it? Certainly, early human efforts relied on studying how birds fly, the outcomes often injurious or fatal. Today, more people board airplanes than ever before. In these two presentations, we will discuss the following subjects: (i) the early history of aviation, (ii) the forces acting on an airplane during flight, (iii) airplane devices and instruments employed to maintain safety, (iv) the ground-based services, including radar surveillance, of aircraft in flight, and (v) mistakes made by pilots and air traffic controllers that contribute to accidents. Lastly (vi), we will consider the role of the FAA in maintaining safety for all airplanes during ground or flight operations.
Presented by Matt Young and Charles Hamilton
In Santa Barbara County we have experienced extreme weather whiplash between extended drought periods and high-intensity rainstorms. Join us for a discussion on water in Santa Barbara County, where we will explore the challenges and opportunities facing our water agencies. We’ll discuss the impacts of recent drought periods and the innovative solutions being developed to help us manage our water resources sustainably. In addition, we'll discuss the effects of the most recent extremely wet winter and how it has affected our freshwater sources of supply. What does this mean for our future and how can we best prepare for probable changes?
Our focus will be on the roles of the County Water Agency and the five Cachuma Project Member Units: City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water District, Montecito Water District, Carpinteria Valley Water District, and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District, No. 1. The session will be structured with ample time for Q&A.
Presented by Jim Hemmer
This timely program will consider Artificial Intelligence in the U.S. and China—covering both where we stand now and where we’re going. For those who are not Sinophiles, it’s jawdropping to realize that during just three years, China moved from a second-tier copycat to an A.I. superpower that in many ways rivals the U.S. But on October 7, 2022 the Biden Administration announced export controls intended to strangle the Chinese AI industry. We will look at this exercise of U.S. technological and geopolitical power on an incredible scale, and its geopolitical ramifications for military as well as commercial purposes.
Presented by Derek Katz
Joseph Haydn spent most of his life as a House Officer for the fabulously wealthy Esterházy family, tailoring his works and activities to the desires of the prince he served. Late in his life, and after the death of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, Haydn made two trips to London. These exposed him to a vigorous public concert culture, for which he composed his “London” Symphonies. In addition, he wrote symphonies for public performance in Paris and published chamber music purchased and played by middle-class amateur musicians throughout Europe. This seminar will explore the relationships between Haydn’s works and his patrons, audiences, and players in the Esterházy palaces, Paris, London, and Vienna. We will listen to works in a variety of genres, from symphonies, string quartets, piano trios and piano sonatas to operas and oratorios.
Presented by Jim Ingraham
The revolutions in invention that support the technology we take for granted in our lives today are at the nexus of human vision for what might be and the reality of what’s possible at that juncture in time. How did the technology in our hands today come into being? This course will chronicle the characters involved in the development of the technologies that have formed our modern age. Who were they? How do they invent, instigate, and collaborate to build the capabilities we enjoy in our computers, cell phones, iPads, and almost every appliance we touch and use today?
Presented by David Bisno
In 2019, Dr. Bisno asked VISTAS students Is This How Fascism Comes to America? and for many years he has shared with us an annual Supreme Court update—God Save This Honorable Court. The years —and, hopefully, the pandemic—have passed. But all is not healthy. During the first two weeks of this course we will appreciate that much of the world, including large parts of the U.S., are choosing to embrace Fascism with a whiteknuckled grip … if not with guns. WHY the allure? WHAT questions should we be asking? During weeks 3 and 4, we will see that the new Court seems to be saving God (instead of the other way around) while the wall between church and state crumbles. The right to discriminate is being protected while the constitutional right to abortion has been abandoned. HOW is the Court seen from the Left and the Right? WHO is looking through rose-colored glasses? Discussion is expected to be relevant and lively!
Presented by Mark Rose
The first collected edition of Shakespeare, the Folio of 1623, lists three categories of plays: Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Comedy and Tragedy are classical genres going back to the Greeks. But the history play was a new form that became popular in the 1580s. Its popularity is related to the new sense of England as a nation that emerges in the sixteenth century. In this course we will discuss four of Shakespeare’s history plays: Richard III, Richard II, Henry IV (Part 1), and Henry V. In addition, we will consider these plays in relation to comedy and tragedy as older and powerfully influential forms and also in relation to contemporary Elizabethan cultural and political developments.
Presented by Bee Bloeser
Smallpox has been referred to as humankind’s most feared disease, and its eradication was an achievement many experts had declared to be impossible. This course will look at one family’s two-year experience of the smallpox eradication/ measles control campaign in early post-colonial Africa, specifically in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. After a brief look at the political backstory, we’ll explore not only the expected challenges to smallpox eradication—logistics, communication, disinformation, politics, etc., but also the unexpected—becoming half of America’s smallest embassy and keeping a program alive in a brutal and isolated dictatorship. We’ll offer a glimpse into the final days of smallpox in Bangladesh and, finally, recognize that smallpox the disease is gone; the virus isn’t. This course is supported by private archives of personal and official documents, including photos and letters.
Presented by Denny Klos
Short stories written by acclaimed authors will be the focus for group discussion. Prior to each meeting, participants will read two stories either from The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: 50 North American Short Stories Since 1970, Second Edition, 2007 (ISBN 978-1-4165-3227-9) or from a group of PDFs, sent as email attachments to participants.
Presented by Bob Weinman
The period from the early ’40s to the late ’60s is generally considered to be the Golden Age of the Broadway musical. In previous classes we have covered the work of Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. This series of classes will feature the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The first class will cover the work of each of them before they teamed up in 1943 for “Oklahoma!,” when they worked independently with Sigmund Romberg, Jerome Kern, and Lorenz Hart. The second and third classes will cover the shows they created together. The songs from these shows have become iconic, and you will certainly be delighted by the sound of their music!
Presented by Patrick McKinley
This course will discuss the laws of arrest, search and seizure, the exclusionary rule, rules of evidence, jury trials, and sentencing. As time permits, California’s Three-Strikes law, the death penalty, and the insanity defense will also be discussed. The legal principles will be illustrated by using real criminal cases from Santa Barbara, in PowerPoint presentations. Because of the sensitive nature of these depictions of actual crimes, no cell phone photos will be permitted during the showing of crime scenes. The course will track the outline and material presented during Mr. McKinley’s earlier VISTAS course, but with some additional criminal cases added.
Presented by Dan Lewin
Cultural and historical definitions of sleep have varied greatly, and recent advances in neuroscience and sleep health provide important insights into sleep behavior as a window into consciousness and as essential to mental and physical health. The practical portion of this discussion will span optimal sleep, sleep disorders, and ethnographic and sociocultural aspects of sleep spanning 21st century challenges. The “culture to neuroscience” portion of the talk will cover definitions of sleep and consciousness, from Tibetan Buddhist practices to neuroscience. Sleep and dreams will be discussed in the context of other conscious states that have been the focus of recent cutting-edge science such as the practice of mindfulness and non-ordinary states of consciousness associated with plant medicine.
Presented by Simon Williams
During the 19th century, creative artists and the impulses that drove them became one of the most striking themes of European opera and theatre. This arose in large part from the Romantic movement (1770–1850), when the creative imagination came to be regarded as the most important source of artistic production. Consequently artists, in whatever medium they worked, could lay claim to having a vital function in a society that was modernizing fast. Although such modernization brought the “Western” world vast wealth and power, such forces were also understood to have a dehumanizing impact. In this seminar we will explore this theme through operas in which creative artists are the central figures, with the potential to change society but also destroy the artist her/himself.
Presented by Jim Hemmer
Course participants will see that each of the separate and distinct ages that are the focus of this course relied on developments and discoveries of its immediate predecessors. The Renaissance at its beginning relied upon classical Roman and Greek texts brought out of Constantinople by Greek scholars after its conquest by the Turks. The start of the Scientific Revolution also relied on those Greek texts at its beginning, especially Ptolemy’s Almagast and the Greek physician Galen’s works. The success of Newtonian physics in providing a mathematical description of an ordered world played a big part in the flowering of the Enlightenment. And it is probably not a coincidence that the Industrial Revolution took place first in England, where the Newtonian mechanistic world view became established.
Presented by Douglas W. Stowell
Remember the book 1984 by George Orwell? When it was published, THAT was the future! How about Year 2000, the New Millennium, when THAT was the future. We’ve lived through all of those futures, so what’s the next “future”? One thing we know for sure is that the pace of technological change has accelerated. Let’s first take a quick look back, just to set the stage, and then look ahead—not too far, maybe 8 to 10 years. For instance, consider how you did things prior to the Smart Phone, then imagine what’s likely to happen by, say, 2030, driven by technology. We’ll look ahead at autos, airplanes, railroads, space travel, highways, healthcare,education, climate and environment, energy generation, and more. Will this lead us to the “Future Perfect”?
Presented by David DeSelm
Jordan is an ancient land located at a crossroads of continents and civilizations that, despite limited natural resources and a small population, has played a surprising role in the story of the Middle East. Although it shares its history with neighboring countries, Jordan has its own allure, from the features of its land to the aspirations of its society. In this two-part seminar, we will explore a region of empires and religions, tectonic plates and trade routes, coral reefs and castles, Biblical legends and colonial powers, a secret city, a famous railroad, a pilgrimage route to Mecca, timeless traditions and modern ambitions, the romance of a contemporary King and his American Queen … and shrewd, caring, and charismatic leadership that made a small country a significant player in a complicated part of the world.
Presented by Mort Weisman
The Italian film director and screenwriter Federico Fellini is known for his distinctive style which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. His films have ranked highly in critical polls in Cahiers du Cinema and Sight & Sound, which listed his 1963 film 8½ as the 10th-greatest film of all time. Fellini was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and won four in the category of Best Foreign Language Film, the most ever for any director. He was ranked 2nd in the directors’ poll and 7th in the critics’ poll in Sight & Sound’s 2002 list of the greatest directors of all time. The first session of this course will be a review of Fellini’s life and work. The remaining four sessions will include full-length screenings of four great films (La Strada*; Nights of Cabiria*; La Dolce Vita; and 8½ *), followed by discussion as time permits.
*Academy Award winners
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Ted Anagnoson will present a single session analyzing the results of the November election, one week after election day. We will use surveys, graphs, maps, charts, and other data to assess who won, who lost, and who will be back next time. The major emphasis will be on the national scene, but Ted will cover the state and local elections of 2022 as well. We will try to get some historical context on this year’s results. In the past, Ted has done post-election analysis presentations together with Dr. Gerry Bonetto, who is no longer with us; he will tackle the job alone this time.
Presented by Lori Windsor Mohr
Part one: What is post-Impressionism? How is it different from its precursor? We will examine key differences using Impressionist works of Monet, Manet, and Renoir to show how post[1]Impressionists such as Cezanne, Gauguin, Seurat, and Van Gogh pushed beyond depicting the natural world, instead looking inward for inspiration. In doing so, these artists paved the way for twentieth-century abstraction.
Part two: Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime. So how do we explain his enduring fame? We will take a closer look at his most iconic paintings—the visual power of color and brushstroke—and learn about the woman to whom we should all be grateful for bringing his art to the world.
Presented by Peter Beuret
The total eclipse of the moon that will begin in the early hours of Nov. 8 will be the last one until 2025. In this class, we’ll discuss the physical influence of our moon on our planet. There are larger moons out there, so why is ours the most influential moon in the solar system? What would happen if the moon disappeared tonight and didn’t come back? What if we’d never had a moon at all? Would we even be here? Next, we will look at the influence of the moon on us as human beings—the mystical, spiritual, practical, and inspirational influences of our moon, with a bit of special attention to Jules Verne, who wrote about a journey to the moon just one hundred years before the real thing. Finally, we’ll discuss together how we observe our moon—what we see and what other people and cultures see (the Man in the Moon, the Woman in the Moon, the Rabbit in the Moon). Is the moon upside down in Australia? How and why do eclipses happen? Why do we call it a Blood Moon? We’ll also review the timetable for tonight’s eclipse.
Presented by Chef Larry Canepa
Back with us by popular request is Chef Larry Canepa, with a new offering titled “Food in History, from 10,000 BCE to the 20th Century.” Chef Larry says this presentation started with an inspiring read, Foods That Changed the Course of History, and a visit to the Washington DC Museum of American History. He promises to share with us a world history of food from prehistoric times to the present. “Food is all about transformation,” he writes, “as is civilization. From our primitive hunter-gatherer days to fast, processed food, food has shaped and transformed civilizations.” For gastronomes and history buffs alike, “Food in History” will be packed with intriguing information, folklore, and fresh insights, including how food has influenced population growth and urban expansion.
Presented by David DeSelm and Pat Sheppard
This course will tell the story of how Moorish and Spanish traditions inspired the creation of the Casa del Herrero, a National Historic Landmark. A collaboration among the owner, architects, antiquarians, and landscape architects led to the creation of the buildings, furnishings, and gardens of the Casa in 1925. We will examine the influence of the Moors, from their invasion of Spain in 711 onward, on the art, architecture, and landscaping of Spanish palaces and homes. We will then turn to the migration of Spanish aesthetics to Southern California at the beginning of the 20th Century and to the furnishings, gardens, and architecture of the Casa as the culmination of all of these influences.
Presented by Bruce Phillips
The introduction in 1955 of the first poliomyelitis vaccine was pivotal in the prevention of a dreaded disease that left many young people paralyzed or dead. Such were the fears about polio that in spring and summer each year, major cities closed public pools and beaches to prevent its spread. The Salk and Sabin vaccines changed all that and significantly influenced the develop[1]ment of other vaccines to this day. This class will discuss the real story behind the conquest of poliomyelitis: Who created these vaccines, and what was the reason for the vitriol between Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin? Who really made the first killed poliovirus vaccine? Why was the Salk killed virus vaccine abandoned for the Sabin live virus vaccine, then subsequently replaced with a newer killed virus vaccine? How did other countries benefit from the U.S. vaccines? What did we learn from the poliomyelitis vaccine development?
Presented by Norm Cohen
The Old Testament account of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, their wilderness wander[1]ings, and their conquest of Canaan includes numerous details—theological, political, historical and social—difficult to reconcile with what we infer from other sources. What really happened? Was there an exodus? What people were involved? How was Canaan “conquered”? Is Moses a historical figure? We will explore these and related questions. Our orientation will be a secular treatment of the bible using modern discoveries in archeology, anthropology, and linguistics—just as scholars might treat any complex work of historical literature that is the product of several authors who lived at different times and wrote with differing purposes.
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
We will briefly discuss how a proposition gets on the ballot—it is astonishingly easy—and then discuss the propositions that will appear on the Nov. 2022 ballot. We will also evaluate the impact of the various reforms to the state election system that have been implemented in the last two decades: the top-two primary election system and reapportionment reform. We will look at potential reforms of the recall process that have been discussed since the failed recall of Gov. Newsom in 2021 and the controversial impacts of past voterapproved initiatives. The issues in this election are broad, ranging from sports betting on tribal lands and online to K–12 art and music education funding, dialysis clinic requirements, a tax to fund zero-emission vehicle use, and the ban on flavored tobacco products, as well as a constitutional amendment on reproductive choice.
Presented by Bob Weinman
Tosca, one of the most beloved operas of all time. Tosca, a beautiful opera singer. Cavaradossi, a handsome artist. Scarpia, an evil police chief. Puccini’s great opera is a thriller filled with romance, evil, passion, betrayal, and suspense! Fortunately for all of us, Bob Weinman, a VISTAS favorite, is back with another of his delightful Zoom presentations, highly recommended for all music lovers and a must for those who plan to attend Opera Santa Barbara’s October 1 production of Tosca at the Granada Theater.
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
We won’t be making history in this course by stating that the American safety net, the group of programs intended to help people when they lose their jobs or otherwise come upon hard times, is full of holes. People who don’t need help, by most definitions, get it, and those who need it most sometimes get very little. Why is this? Is this a result of Reaganism? Does the phenomenon predate Ronald Reagan, and if so, what do we trace this back to?
Presented by Robert Benham
This course emphasizes the beginnings of the Civil Rights movement in the South starting with the 1955 abduction and killing of Emmett Till in rural Mississippi and ending with the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King. The presenter grew up in the South and paints a picture of the challenges that faced Black people within our lifetimes. Much of the course centers around desegregation and voting rights and involves numerous first-hand accounts of pivotal, and now historical, events. Many of the events may be unknown to some participants while others have faded from memory. The audience will be exposed to the fight for the vote that then existed and, unfortunately, is still an issue today. The course will cover what it was really like to live in a dual society.
Presented by Simon Williams
Few operas have had such a discouraging start in life as Bizet’s Carmen. Its first night at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875, is now legendary,as many in the audience left halfway through in droves, scandalized by what they had heard and seen on the stage. And yet, 10 years later, Carmen was the most popular opera in the world and has remained so ever since. We will examine what happened and see why the score and the action horrified audiences.
Presented by David DeSelm
When completed in 1929, the Courthouse became the symbol of a new identity for the city of Santa Barbara. It took a history of ingenuity and design to invent our city’s famous image. During this two-session seminar, we’ll look at how the design of the city and the design of the Courthouse influenced each other to create the special place we know today. We’ll focus on two innovative architects whose talents were unexpectedly brought together, and on how the building got its “National Historic Landmark” form. Finally, we’ll look at how the City became a pioneer for urban design in America.
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Presented by David Bisno
David will lead us through an exciting four-part series, an updated look at our Supreme Court over the past 18 months and how it has redirected our country. We will consider the reinterpretations of our Bill of Rights and appreciate the competing interests of individual liberties and governmental power. Profound changes have occurred in our society and on the Court, including how the newly appointed justices have influenced the protection of the former and the restraint of the latter. We will consider the fundamental American values found in the vision of individual liberty and will concern ourselves with free speech, separation of church and state, affirmative action, guns, voting rights, abortion, the right to discriminate, and equal protection of the laws.
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Presented by Peter Naylor
Day One will examine when greed, arrogance, and lack of accountability take over: Ponzi schemes; the junk bond craze and the S&L crisis; the Sub-prime mortgages and Greenspan’s Puts. Day Two will examine when foreign exchange systems are incompatible with economic realities, the international foreign exchange crises in Mexico (1994) and Asia (1997), and the Euro crisis (2007–2015).
Presented by Lori Windsor Mohr
Vincent van Gogh created a body of work and lived a life that fascinated audiences everywhere, the drama of one often overshadowing the other. We will look at both as we follow the trajectory of his brief, brilliant career, from draftsman of rural landscapes to realist painter of peasant life to the passionate expressionist who used color to communicate reactions to his 19th century world. Focused and deliberate in his artistic choices, Van Gogh created a distinct visual language through color despite rather than because of his illness. Join Santa Barbara Museum of Art Docent Lori Windsor Mohr as she previews the exhibition, Through Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources, opening February 27th at SBMA.
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Presented by Mark Rose
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and The Merchant of Venice— these four plays are considered to be amongst the greatest comedies in English. In this course we will study each of these plays, considering how they may have been performed and understood in Shakespeare’s time as well as how they have been understood since. All are romantic comedies, plays that revolve around love as a theme. The Merchant of Venice, however, stands apart from the others because of the remarkable figure of Shylock. We will therefore discuss this play last, paying attention both to the elements it shares with other romantic comedies and to its distinctive qualities.
Shakespearean Comedy Member $50.00 USD Nonmember $75.00 USD
Presented by Denny Klos
Short stories written by acclaimed authors will be the focus for group discussion. Prior to each meeting, participants will read two stories chosen from The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: 50 North American Short Stories Since 1970, Second Edition, 2007 (ISBN 978-1-4165-3227-9). The group will be limited to 16 VISTAS members. In case of over-enrollment, a second section may be held, with dates to be announced later. “Short stories are targeted, hand grenades of ideas. When they work, they hit, they explode, and you never forget them. —Paulo Bacigalupi
Presented by Daniel DeSelm
The Roman Emperor Constantine I’s impact on the history of the Christian church is incalculable. Constantine’s innovations completely redefined Christianity and singlehandedly transformed it from an obscure Jewish mystery cult into a world religion. Constantine’s shotgun marriage between the Roman state and the religious sect it once persecuted is one of history’s great turnabouts. Why did he do it? What was the political, religious, and personal context for Constantine’s conversion? What did he think he was converting to? What did he hope to achieve? Could he have foreseen the consequences of his actions? Perhaps no other single decision has had such a profound and reverberating effect on the history of the West.
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Presented by Derek Katz
From Paganini to Lang Lang, virtuoso instrumental performance has had an uneasy position in European and American concert life. Astonishing feats of technical brilliance have always been fascinating and popular, but also regarded as inferior to more “serious” approaches and repertoires. This seminar will discuss the origins of this phenomenon in the second quarter of the 19th century, starting with the violinist Nicolò Paganini, rumored to have gained his powers through a deal with the devil, moving to the 1837 Paris “duel” between the pianists Franz Liszt and Sigismond Thalberg, and concluding with the virtuosa Clara Wieck Schumann and the tours of European virtuosi to the New World.
Presented by David Bisno
We should be enjoying the best of times. But it is possible that with decisions made in Moscow coupled with our determination to defend democracy, we may face the worst of times. David will share with us the story of the discovery of nuclear energy. Let us understand the history and the science which started the atomic age. Lise Meitner, for whom the study of physics was the battle for ultimate truth about our universe … and ultimately about ourselves.
Presented by Gerry Corrigan
This is the fourth year of our H&R series. Thus far we have covered 12 individuals—seven men and five women —and, not too surprisingly, we have found no perfect hero and no absolutely awful rogue. It seems all of us blend good points with some malign ones. This course will introduce a new trio of interesting character studies. Our hope is that you will follow up on your own on any subject that intrigues you. Gerry Corrigan will lead with a talk titled “William Mulholland and the LA Aqueduct.” The focus will be on the immigrant who went on to be Superintendent of the LADWP and was responsible for bringing water to LA from the Owens Valley in 1919.
Heroes & Rogues 4th Series Member $40.00 USD Nonmember $60.00 USD
Presented by Bob Weinman
Night and Day! ~ I Get a Kick Out of You! ~ I’ve Got You Under My Skin! ~ Begin the Beguine! ~ You’re the Top! ~ Anything Goes!
With dozens more song hits like these, Cole Porter was one of our greatest songwriters, along with Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Jerome Kern. Fortunately for all of us, Bob Weinman, a VISTAS favorite, is back with another of his delightful musical presentations.
Bob Weinman has been a well-received presenter of VISTAS programs for several years. To those of you who have not yet been exposed to the " type" of program he does click here to view a video. While an opera, the video is an example of Bob’s presentations and will hopefully encourage many of you to enroll in this ZOOM presentation.
Presented by Daniel Stone
This course will examine the strange and mysterious origins of America’s food system. What was American food like before there was an America? What did Native American tribes eat, and what perished when European colonialists arrived? “Dull, brown and bland.” That’s how early 20th century food historian Clementine Paddleford—the Julia Child of her era—described the food of North America before our country’s founding. We’ll get to know some of America’s botanical adventurers, including David Fairchild and his team of USDA botanists who circled the world in search of novel plants—and in turn, they transformed the American diet.
Presented by Denny Klos
This course offers a life-span perspective on the development of the mother–daughter relationship—when the daughter is an infant, a child, an adolescent, or an adult. Mother–daughter relationships vary from “wonderful” to “terrible”—and everything in between. Besides doing research and providing counseling, psychologists have conducted relationship-enhancement workshops for mothers and daughters who want to improve or invigorate their relationships. Psychological concepts will be illustrated with many vignettes from published studies, symposia, workshops, and clips from feature films.
Presented by Patrick McKinley
Using local Santa Barbara cases to illustrate the various legal issues involved in a criminal prosecution, the course will discuss American criminal law and procedure, including laws of arrest, search and seizure, and evidence. Other topics include California's three-strikes law, the death penalty, the Miranda decision, searches of cell phones and other digital devices, and the insanity defense, among others. View flyer
Presented by John Ummel
John has put together a new program about the reclusive Huguette Clark and how Santa Barbara acquired a “gem of an estate” —based on the N.Y. Times best-selling book by Bill Dedman. John has received permission from the author to relate story of Huguette Clark, the reclusive heiress to a copper fortune who lived the last 20 years of her life in a New York City hospital, and Bellosguardo Estate, which has been vacant, but left in its original condition since 1953. View Flyer
Presented by Jim Hemmer
In 1786 the discovery was made that the Sanskrit language originated from the same source as ancient Greek and Latin, and also Persian, Celtic, and German. The precise nature of this source was disputed by scholars for the next 200 years. We now know that our languages originated with a group of Eurasian steppe nomads. This course will examine the sources of our current knowledge—linguistics, archeology, anthropology, and paleogenomics. We will delve into the history of these steppe pastoralists, and how they were able to spread their genes and their language, during the prehistoric period from 3,000 to 2,300 BCE, as far west as Scandinavia, southern Spain, and the British Isles.
Presented by: Peter Naylor
This will be our first in-person class of the year! Our first session will look at income distribution and economic organization and pose these questions: What do we know about income inequality and wealth distribution? How important is poverty, and what are we doing about it? How should we address the issue of income mobility in America? Next we’ll discuss how we organize our economy and define what we mean by the terms “capitalism,” “socialism,” and “mixed economy.” We’ll also consider the strengths and weaknesses of private enterprise vs. state-managed enterprises as well as the economic dimensions of “social justice.”
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Presented by Jim Hemmer
This program will explore in detail the devastating effects that climate change and human interventions are having on America’s great waterways, from Niagara Falls to the Gulf of Mexico and west to California. In our first session, we will look at the Great Lakes. All five lakes are part of a single drainage system, flowing northeast from western Wisconsin all the way to Niagara Falls and out through the St. Lawrence River.
Available via Zoom recording
Humans have always had a complicated relationship with the foods that nourish them. Part 1, “The Spice Trade and the Age of Exploration”
Part 2, “The Food Revolution,” and Part 3 is titled “Dinner for 7.6 Billion People.”
Available via Zoom recording
Sending secret messages, or cryptography, began with the invention of writing, and has been with us ever since. Whenever the technology of communication has changed and advanced, cryptography has changed in lockstep. From the time when people could encode and decode messages with a pencil and paper, we have advanced to a stage where a powerful computer is a necessity. View Flyer
Presented by Denny Klos
This program will explore James Baldwin’s novels, short stories, plays, and essays which depicted the subjective experience of Black people. Through his numerous talks, interviews, debates, and presence at civil rights marches, he became the national spokesperson about “this nation’s crisis of white people not seeing Negroes as human beings, while ignoring the moral failure of historic white violence toward Negroes and the mythology of white people’s superiority.” Video clips of Baldwin’s talks and passages from his fiction and essays will illustrate his eloquence, charisma, and lasting influence.
Available via Zoom recording
This online presentation will begin with a brief review of general aspects of viral diseases — exposure versus infection
versus disease — as well as how vaccines work and what we expect from them.
Dr. Phillips will then address questions from the audience, first those submitted in advance and then other questions posed
by attendees in person. View Flyer
The Coronavirus Crisis
Presented by Dr. Bruce Phillips
Spirituals, Dance Bands, and Hot Solos: African-American Musicians in the Early 20th Century
Presented by Derek Katz
The U.S. and China: The Two A.I. Superpowers
Presented by Jim Hemmer
A Trip to Opera Santa Barbara: Il Postino
Annual Short Story Discussion Group
Coordinated by Denny Klos
My Free Speech in My Front Yard but Your Church in My Back Yard?
Presented by David Bisno
Donizetti’s Three Queens
Presented by Simon Williams
“Things About Santa Barbara’s Past I Never Knew!”
Presented by John Ummel
The Scientific Revolution
Presented by Dick Norwood
All Politics Are Local: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of Local Government Decision-Making in California
Presented by Jason Dominguez
Lesser Known Heroes and Rogues (Second Series)
Coordinated by Gerry Corrigan
The Golden Age of the Hollywood Musical
Presented by Bob Weinman
The Evolution of Japanese Gardens in Japan and America
Presented by Kendall Brown
EVERYBODY COMES TO RICK’S: WWII Émigrés and American Cinema
Presente by Mort Weisman
A Trip to Opera Santa Barbara: Madama Butterfly
Intimacy Across the Lifespan
Presented by Denny Klos
The Imperial Presidency
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
The Labors of Operatic Love
Presented by Bob Weinman
Our Santa Barbara Courthouse: A One-of-a-Kind Building
Presented by David DeSelm
A Trip to Ensemble Theater Co.: Measure for Measure
Our Treasures Offshore: The Santa Barbara Channel Islands
Coordinated by Sue Mellor
Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure
Presented by Jinny Webber
A Roadmap for Successful Choices at the End of Life
Coordinated by Diane Wolf
February 21, 2019
Marathon The Patriots Day Bombing
March 21, 2019
Citizen Four
April 18, 2019
Waste Land
May 16, 2019
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
June 20, 2019
The Address
September 20, 2018
The Salt of the Earth
October 18, 2018
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story
November 15, 2018
Dinosaur 13
December 20, 2018
California Typewriter
January 17, 2019
Merchants of Doubt
13,000 YEARS OF LOCAL MARITIME HISTORY
Presented by Greg Gorga
THE SCIENCE AND ART OF "SLEEP-CLOCK" AND SLEEPING
Presented by Dr. Daniel Lewin
MEMORY LANE: A GUIDED WRITING EXPEDITION
Presented by Allison Grosfield
BUILDING A BOTANICAL NIRVANA: THE STORY OF LOTUSLAND
Presented by Rose Thomas, Paul Mills, and Corey Welles
BEAUTY, SEX, AND EVOLUTION: DARWIN'S THEORY OF SEXUAL SELECTION
Presented by Karl Hutterer
EUROPEAN MUSICIANS AND AMERICAN MONEY: ÉMIGRÉ MUSICIANS IN INTERWAR AMERICA
Presented by Derek Katz
KIPLING: POET OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
Presented by John Ledlie
TEN KEY TURNING POINTS IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
Presented by Jim Hemmer
IS THIS HOW FASCISM COMES TO AMERICA?
Presented by David Bisno
ANNUAL SHORT STORY DISCUSSION GROUP
Coordinated by Gene Waller
GOD SAVE THIS HONORABLE COURT AND COUNTRY AN UPDATE
Presented by David Bisno
A TRIP TO ENSEMBLE THEATER: DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Coordinated by Barbara Margerum
RICHARD WAGNER: THE MAN AND THE MUSIC
Presented by Simon Williams
LET'S TALK ART
Presented by Shirley Waxman & Mary Eckhart
LESSER-KNOWN HEROES, ROGUES
Presented/Coordinated by Gerry Corrigan
SANTA BARBARA HISTORY ALONG THE WATERFRONT
Presented by John Ummel
WHAT THE MOVIES DIDN'T TELL US ABOUT WWII !
Coordinated by Barbara Krahn
FROM LIFE TO LITERATURE TO OPERA: THE OPERA SANTA BARBARA 2018-19 SEASON
Presented by Bob Weinman
THE CREATIVE HEART IN ACTION
Presented by Paul Kaufman
INTRODUCING AFRICAN ART: FIVE ICONIC THEMES
Presented by Herbert M. (Skip) Cole
HAMILTON: THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE MUSICAL
Presented by George Frakes
THE INITIATIVE/REFERENDUM PROCESS, PROPOSITIONS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT,
AND THE UNIQUENESS OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY POWELL AND PRESSBURGER
Presented by Judy & Mort Weisman
HEY SANTA BARBARA! GOT DRINKING WATER?!
Presented by Charles Hamilton
The Hollywood Musical Returns!
Presented by Bob Weinman
Tunisia - From Hannibal to the Arab Spring
Presented by David & Jane DeSelm
Women and The Civil War - and After
Presented by Sarah Case
Ludwig van Beethoven: Patrons, Players and Posterity
Presented by Derek Katz
Raymond Spruance, the Quiet Warrior
Presented by Mort Weisman
Why is the sky blue?: The joy of finding things out
Presented by Phil Sokolove
The Science and Art of 'Sleep-Clock,' and Sleeping
Presented by Dr. Daniel Lewin
Annual Short Stories
Coordinated by Gene Waller
The Narrative: We Tell Stories to Live
Presented by Sandy Jones
An Afternoon at The opera: Barber of Seville
Coordinated by Doris Frey
About the Barber of Seville
Presented by Bob Weinman
Liberty in the land of Trump
Presented by David Bisno
Poetry as The Language of The Heart
Presented by Perie Longo
Writing Historical Fiction: Art, Craft, or Obsession?
Presented by N. Frankel and S. Edwards
Healthcare Beyond Bacteria: Other Factors in Illness and Health
Presented by Dennis Murphy
Winter Social
Why Women do the housework: The Industrial Revolution
Presented by Dick Norwood
Civil Unrest in the 1960's
Presented by Robert Benham
Hamilton: The Man, the Myth, the Musical - Study Group
Coordinated by George Frakes
Climate Change Denial: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Presented by Karl Hutterer & Ted Anagnoson
The Role of Wine in Cultures Past and Present
Presented by Rani Mclean
Socialism in the US After Trump?
Presented by Al Lindemann
American Freedom Train
Presented by Barry Howard
The Story of Manon
Presented by Bob Weinman
Mental Illness: Why Should I Care?
Presented by George Kaufmann
Public Policy Problems Arising from the Changing Arctic
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Three Artistic Eras: From Ancient Greece to Europe's Artistic Revolution
Presented by: Mary Winder, Shirley Waxman & Kathryn Padgett
The British Nabobs and Memsahibs: The British in india
Presented by: John Ledlie & Sharon Alvarado
Annual Fall Picnic
Documentary Film Club
The Art of Bel Canto and Donizetti's: Elixir of Love
Presented by Bob Weinman
Nuclear Weaponry and the Human Future
Presented by David Krieger
Nation Building in Post-Colonial Africa: Three Case Studies
Coordinated by Gerry Corrigan
Presenters Workshop
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Mental Illness Touches Everyone
Presented by Darcy Keep
Every Day Life in a small village in rural New England in the 1830's - Sturbridge Village Depicted
Presented by Peter Searl
David Wiesner and the Art of Wordless Storytelling
Presented by Wendi Hunter
Orchestras and Orchestral Music from the Courts to the Concert Stage
Presented by Derek Katz
The Johann Strauss Family - Their History and Music
Presented by Dr. David Bisno
Lewis Carroll
Presented by Peter Beuret
Short Stories
Coordinated by Gene Waller
Nikola Tesla
Presented by Mort Weisman
What are Your Grandchildren Learning and does it Differ From What You Learned?
Presented by Ann Lewin-Benham
The Hollywood Musicals
Presented by Bob Weinman
The Best Bible Translation For Me
Presented by Tremper Longman
History of Western Medicine - Monthly Study Group
Led by Dr. Bryan Johnson
Survival in South Africa under Apartheid Neville D. Frankel
Presented by Neville Frankel
Winter Social
The Science of Climate Change
Presented by Dr. Karl Hutterer
How to Hide Your Affair: A Short History of Cryptography
Presented by Dick Norwood
A History of Laughing and Crying
Presented by Thomas Scheff
Eleanor Roosevelt and Her Contemporaries
Presented by Sarah Case
Post Election Analysis: The Meaning and Implications fo the November 2016 Elections
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
LGBT
Presented by Marian Shapiro
CARMEN
Opera Santa Barbara
Brazil's Economic and Political Crisis
Presented by Sam Flowers
Poetry and Metaphor
Presented by Peter Karoff
Trials of The Century
Presented by Al Lindemann
The Initiative/Referendum Process and the Propositions on the Ballot November 2016
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Witchcraft and Evil in Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Presented by Jinny Webber
A Cinematographic View of American Elections
Presented by: Mort & Judy Weisman
Nonfiction Book Club
Annual Fall Picnic
Documentary Film Club
Write About Your Life
Presented by Allison Grosfield
Africa
Coordinated by Gerry Corrigan
Opera
Presented by Derek Katz
Kindertransport
Presented by Mike Wolff
Europe in Crisis: Refugees, the Euro and the Floundering European Union
Presented by Paul Warwick
Catherine The Great
Organized by Barbara Margerum
Strategic Architectures of Victory & Defeat - Part 2
Presented by John Caldwell
Short Stories
Coordinated by Gene Waller
Race to the poles
Presented by David Bisno
Serving on the Grand Jury
Presented by: Maria Millsaps, Foreperson, Mary Flink, and Andy Brown
Visual Art & Poetry
Presented by Perie Longo & Barbara Cadario
An Afternoon at the opera
Organized by Doris Frey
Systems (Insurers & Governments) and Individuals (patients and physicians)
Presented by Dennis Murphy
Campaign Finance and Political Polarization - Sources, Evidence, and Implications
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Women's Politics in the Early Twentieth Centry U.S.
Presented by Sarah Case
Silent Suffering in the Old Testament
Presented by Tremper Longman
Strategic Architectures of Victory & Defeat - WWII, Korea, Vietnam & Iraq Part 1
Presented by John Caldwell
How to Present at VISTAS and How to Develop a VISTAS Course
Presented by Ted Anagnoson and panel of experts
The First Transcontinental Railroad - Connecting the East to the West in the 1860's
Organized by Barbara Krahn
Damming the Colorado
Presented by Dick Norwood
Electing Presidents: Great Elections in American History
Presented by Jay Carlander
The Wright Brothers
Presented by Peter Kruse & Mort Weiseman
CRISES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Presented by Don O'Dowd
Stalin and Hitler and Power and Evil in Modern History
Presented by Al Lindemann
Tour Santa Barbara Hermitage
Forgiveness
Presented by Barbara Katz
The Aztecs
Presented by Russell Werner
Legal Issues for Seniors
Presented by Peter Kruse
VISTAS Annual Picnic
Our Moon
Presented by Peter Beuret
British Africa
Organized by Gerry Corrigan
Write About Your life
Presented by Allison Grosfield
Hospice
Coordinated by Diane Wolf
Hidden in Plain Sight: Banned Composers in Nazi Germany
Presented by Derek Katz
Vichy France 1940 - 1945
Presented by Nick DiNapoli
The Western Mirror: California and the American Civil War
Presented by Jay Carlander
Theodore Rosevelt
Presented by Peter Kruse
The Second Gutenberg Revolution: The Internet and the Digital Future
Presented by Micheal Gilbert
The Economics of Climate Change
Presented by David King
Pharmacology
Presented by Barbara Cadario and Rania Shenoda
Short Story - Small Seminar
Organized by Gene Waller
Roadmap for Successful Choices at The End of Life
Coordinated by Diane Wolf and Jan O'Dowd
The World of Yesterday
Presented by Dr. David Bisno
The Power of Cornography: How Corn Built America
Presented by Betty Fussell
Small Group Seminars
Reflections on Womens Liberation
Trails That Opened the West
Coordinated by Barbara Krahn
Uncertain Justice
Presented by Dr. David Bisno
Winter Social
History Under Your Nose by Neal Graffy
Preparing The Presenter 2015: An Introduction to Course Design and Session Presentation Issues
Presented by Ted Anagnoson and a panel of past presenters and organizers
Abraham
Presented by Tremper Longman
Pacific Coastal Fish
Presented by Dr. Milton Love
Argentina & Peron
Presented by Fred Sidon
History of Hawaii
Presented by Peter Searl
The Life of Amelia Earhart, and the Search After Her Disappearance
Presented by Nick DiNapoli
Women In Art
Presented by Wayne Hoffman
Military Sexual Assault
Presented by Sara Zak
Initiatives on the November 2014 Ballot
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Maya Classic Period
Presented by Russell Werner
The Paradigm Shift in Understanding Shakespeare
Presented by: Helen Heightsman Gordon
Fall Picnic
Lawn Bowling
Coordinated by Charlie Schneider
The Wit & Wisdom of Woody Allen
presented by Bob Weinman
Arroyo Hondo Nature Preserve
Organized by Sue Mellor & Don Gillies
Write About Your Life
Presented by Allison Grosfield
The Biblical Book of Psalms
Presented by Tremper Longman
A Look Back at the Vietnam War
Organized by: George Ittner
Shostakovich: Music & Politics in the Soviet Union
Presented by: Derek Katz
Ottoman Empire
Presented by: Steve Humphreys
Our MOON! - What would we do without it?
Presented by: Peter Beuret
Great Explorers
Organized by Gerry Corrigan
Short Stories
Organized by Gene Waller
God, Guns, Gays, Sex, Privacy & Edward Snowden
Presented by David Bisno, M.D.
Darwin
Presented by Dr. Floyd Sandford
Longevity - Small Discussion Group
Organized by Jan O'Dowd
Medical Ethics
Presented by Dennis Murphy, M.D.
Winter Social
The American South Through Classic Movies
Presented by Bob Fulmer
Preparing The Presenter
Presented by Ted Anagnoson and Panel
China's Wings - Part Three
Presented by Nick DiNapoli
Disaster Relief
Presented by Ted Anagnoson
Polish Your Apple
Shirley Diamond - Coordinator
Santa Barbara Movers and Shakers
Sue Mellor - Coordinator
The genesis of the class was the book California’s Knight on a Golden Horse; Dwight Murphy, Santa Barbara’s Renaissance Man by Ed Hartfeld. Ed generously passed out free copies of this book to all interested members at our picnic and the class. Even though his presentation on the modest and philanthropic Dwight Murphy was at the last session, it was of prime significance.
Kathi Brewster suggested several other speakers and shared the results of her historical research on a parade of women who broke paths in medicine, education, architecture, etc.
Patricia Kruse impersonated her ancestor for us, Maria Leyva de Bonilla, a midwife who lived adjacent to the Presidio in the 19th century.
Dr. Barbara Lindemann had produced a DVD about Pearl Chase and shared it in one of our classes.
Virginia Hayes, curator at Lotus Land, came to tell us about the embellishment of our community by the leading early horticulturalists.
Jeremy Hass talked about the early times in Santa Barbara and the colorful character of Joseph Chapman; he also painted a broad picture of Spanish culture in the early 1800's. Phil Wilcox went out of his usual mold to research and tell us of his personal connection with Thomas M. Stork.
Dr. Allison Wollitzer told us how William D. Sansum attracted so many people of wealth and vision with his treatment for diabetes.
Charlie Schneider was a natural to tell us about the founder of Union Carbide, George Owen Knapp, and his local contributions.
JJ Hollister topped off a great class with a first person account of his family's history as ranchers and city builders.
China's Wings
Presented by Nick DiNapoli
2013 Fall Picnic
Memories of the Italian Resistance
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Lawn Bowling
Lectures In Geology
Current Controversies at the supreme Court
Ancient Bible
Folk Music
Citizens of London
Lady in Gold
Health Care Ethics
Shakespeare Debate
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the world economy
Winter Social
The World's Great Religions
Imperial Presidency
Appoggiatura
The Mystique of Sailing round The Horn
Contemporary American poetry
Election 2012
Initiatives
North American indian Tribes
Astronomy
Fall Picnic
Bridge
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2011-2012 Season
Africa
Harvard Justice
Italy
Political Parties
Violin Making
Why Democracy
Health Ethics
Beautiful Music
Wisdom
Figaro
Pirates! From Treasure island to Somalia