WMD - Nuclear Weapons

The topic of nuclear weapons is not an everyday topic but continues to linger in the minds of people.  Why do countries need Nuclear Weapons?  How are they managed?  How do we keep things in balance?  Political Science Professor Milosz Kurcharski presented a great program answering these questions.  He explained the controlling concept of "deterrence".  Because the US and Russia have similar nuclear weapon capacities, the people in control of them understand that each country is deterred from ever using them because retaliation would mean mutual destruction.  Presentation - Click Here

Impromptu Speaking

When asked to “say a few words” do you freeze?  Are you afraid of impromptu speaking?  Professor Patrick Barton helped us overcome these fears by giving us an outline that will help you quickly organize your thoughts.  Review his presentation to learn about: AGD, WIFM, Thesis, Pomp, MP1, Transition, MP2, Romp, Thesis, Closing.

Presentation - click here.
Outline - click here.

Birdfeeder Yard Stake

 

What is fun to make, looks good, and invites visitors to your yard?  Why, of course, it is a Bird Feeder Yard Stake…..another fun project created by crafter Linda Gabrielson.  This was a hands-on project where class members painted, built and decorated their creations.  I imagine that the birds are flocking to these new yard ornaments.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

We were privileged to view a Japanese tea ceremony and ceremonial dancing ladies at our campus.  The tea ceremony is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea and goes back more than 1000 years. Philosophies behind the tea ceremony include harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. It is truly a lovely ceremony.

Investment Foundation

Anita Bowman-McCormick was with us again talking about building an Investment Foundation.  She talked about the three types of income - Variable, Reliable, and Rising.  Your portfolio needs all three types.  We learned about "laddering" income so that you have stability, flexibility and diversification.  To have a review of your personal portfolio, contact Anita at Edwards Jones at 281-537-2517.  Anita's business card - Click Here.

The Hunger Games

What will society be like in 1,000 or 2,000 years?  The book The Hunger Games makes us think about that question. English Professor Laura Taggett led an open discussion on this novel where the lead character, Katniss Everdeen, struggles to survive in a society that has come out of a "dark age". What is happening in the world at that time? How do people relate to one another?  The book, and subsequently the movie, shows what might be. Click Here to see some of the talking points.

Unwrapping Poetry

What is Poetry?  It is a free and creative form of expression. You would be surprised at the many different forms of poetry.  Sometimes it rhymes, but not always.  It normally has a stanza structure.  English Professor Gail Marxhausen tells us how to look at poetry with fresh eyes.  Review her presentation by clicking here.  And to close, I’ve added a short Haiku relevant to the weather.

Rain is long overdue

Now we get bucketfuls each day

Never happy can we be

Advisory Board Minutes - Sept 2013

Fall 2013 Semester is under way with a large influx of new members.  Class attendance this first week has been good......in fact, we actually had an overflow crowd at the Monday morning class.  During this semester we will be recruiting new volunteers for the Advisory Board.  Current board members have served for a long time and feel that it is time to bring in new people.  If you would like to get more involved with the ALL program, please let us know.....there are several opportunities available.
Click Here to see the Minutes of the September Meeting.  

Campus Orientation

Welcome new members!  Cheryl LeJune, ALL member, shared the history of LSC-CyFair, the ALL group, and the many things to do on campus.  Besides the great fellowship and fun learning experiences to be found in our ALL classes, the campus is a treasure of activities.  From the music and drama productions, to the library, to student services, there are many opportunities to be as active as you would like.  The class members were also given a tour of campus by college students. See you around campus.

To view the presentation, Click Here.