Scanning and Preserving Documents/Photographs

We all have collected many documents and photos over the years. And, there they sit. Richard Gillespie guided us through various methods of scanning and copying, backing up and managing the information. In addition, we learned preservation techniques for paper, photos, and material.

You can view Richard's presentation here.

Travel Tips

Richard Gillespie hosted a great discussion on all things travel. From planning to packing, to mode of travel, to arrival and return, we learned some tricks and tips to help make a more fun and less stressful trip. Too many things to talk about in too short a time. Great input from class members (fellow travelers), as well.

You can view Richard's presentation here.

Think Factory-The Art of Persuasion

Come join the Philosophy Department for another afternoon of fun, philosophical discussion. Mark Thorsby, LSC-CyFair Philosophy Professor, will host several guests exchanging ideas on the art of persuasion.

Wednesday, October 26 from 4-6 pm in ART building on Main Stage Theatre.

Piety and Humanism / Italian Renaissance

Prof. Matthew Backer, Professor of Art History, gave a very interesting talk on the art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods; how piety and humanism competed in the art forms of these eras. Many works of the art by Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael and Da Vinci, among others, were discussed.

You can see Matthew's presentation here.

European Expansion in Texas

Texas has a long history of European presence starting with the Spanish in the 1500s. Monte Parks, historical programmer at Jesse Jones Park, took us on a journey from those early Spanish explorers to the Republic period. We learned of the French, English, and American roles in Texas history. And, there were pirate stories, too.

You can view Monte's presentation here.

Readers Theatre Production - Johnny Got His Gun

ALL has been invited by Dean Matt Turner to the next Readers Theatre production, Johnny Got His Gun. Based on the classic anti-war novel written by Dalton Trumbo, Johnny Got His Gun is the story of WWI soldier Joe Bonham. An explosion on the battlefield has left him with no way to move and no way to communicate with the outside world. We are with him, in his mind, as he moves between his memories of his past life and his attempts to figure how - or if - to live a life in a hospital bed trapped in his body.

Performances will be in ART 102 (Recital Hall) on Tuesday, October 25 from 3.30-5pm and Wednesday, October 26 from 2-3.30pm and 6.30-8pm. Each performance will be followed by discussion with the audience.

"Almost, Maine" - LSC-CyFair Theater Production

Lone Star College-CyFair’s performance season opens with “Almost, Maine” in the Main Stage Theatre Oct. 20-29. Jeff Wax directs this John Cariani play, which takes the audience on “a delightful journey through quirks of relationships experienced in the freezing cold under the splendor of northern lights.” 

Performances will be held at 7.30pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Visit LoneStar.edu/BoxOffice for ticket information and online purchasing. Contact the Box Office at 281.290.5201 or the website for other information. Remember, ALL members get Student Pricing.

National Friends of Libraries Week - Oct 16-22, 2016

During this celebration, we would like to thank our Friends of the Lone Star College-CyFair Library who contribute so much of their time and expertise to enhance library services. Our Friends group began in 2005 and have donated over $100,000 to cover the costs of children's, teen's, and adult programming, Student Research Paper and Study-Abroad awards, and help fund special collections. They have also endowed two scholarships and are working toward a third.

Please visit the Friends Bookstore in front of the Library to find out how you can become a member and support our outstanding library.

There will be a special book sale in front of the bookstore Wednesday, Oct 19, immediately after the LIFE program. Please come by.

-Joan Everson, President, LSC-CyFair Friends of the Library

Technology and the Self

In this Philosophy-based class we discussed what "Self" is. Lynn Watts, Philosophy Professor, led us through the arguments about self considering all of the medical technology advances and how they affect us. Much of our discussion was based on the work of John Locke.

View Lynn's presentation here.

Fordlandia

Henry Ford needed rubber and lots of it for the automobiles he was mass producing. Esther Robinson, Honors College Director and History Professor, led us on Ford's journey to break the rubber barons and establish his own production in Brazil. He created his "Fordlandia" including factory and town to support demand. A fascinating, little-known story about clashing cultures and the world market place.

You can view Esther's presentation here.

Creating a Winter Bird Habitat

Richard Edie from Wild Birds Unlimited was back to help us plan for the coming winter. He discussed what birds we can attract to our backyards and how to help them survive the winter.

You can see Richard's presentation here.

Living Wills/Advanced Directives

Things happen unexpectedly in our lives, from accidents to medical conditions, that can dramatically change our way of life. Assistant County Attorney, Clinton Gambill, discussed several documents that we should have in place to prepare for these future events. Among the documents discussed were Medical Power of Attorney, Declaration of Guardian, Directive to Physicians (Living Will), and Power of Attorney. Clinton also shared a Decision Checklist for us to have on hand that identifies the key persons designated in our legal documents.


To see the document overviews, click here.
To see the Decision Checklist, click here.

Halloween Plant Stakes

It's October and we're nearing Halloween. Linda Gabrielson led the class on a mission to create plant stakes with this frighteningly, funny theme. Lots of creativity all around.

Watching the Presidential Election Like a Historian

We are getting close to the 2016 election and our ALL group is starting our election coverage with a presentation by Blake Ellis, LSC-CyFair History professor. Blake looked at the two 2016 nominees in light of previous elections; each party's establishment vs insurgent candidates and what happened this year. Lots of information and discussion.

You can view Blake's presentation here.

Pizziaolo - An Italian Dish from a Wok

Lou Master's love of cooking continues as he shared a recipe with us for Pizziaolo, a stir-fried mix of Italian flavors served over pasta. What an easy and satisfying dish for family get-togethers. The class loved it; there were no left-overs.

You can find Lou's recipe here.

The Dust Bowl

Nathalie Brandes, Geosciences professor, was back for another talk, this time about the Dust Bowl. We learned the many factors that created the event from climate to farming practices. This decade of drought played a significant role in American history with its effects on the population, government response, and better farming techniques.

See Nathalie's presentation here.

Environmental Protection

Rebekah Wendt, Harris County Attorney's Office, gave us an overview of how the office is involved in environmental protection issues. From the reporting of the problem, through the investigation, and finally to the attorney's office, we learned how and what type of civil cases are prosecuted through the HCAO.

You can view Rebekah's presentation here.

Metal Owl Folk Art

Creating with Linda Gabrielson, again. This time we had fun designing our Folk Art metal owls. What a nice fall project.

Fit for ALL - Eating Well as You Age

Ronnie Nespeca, Dept. Chair of Kinesiology, led another entertaining and informative Fit for ALL class about our nutrition needs as we age. Lots of questions and discussion.

You can view Ronnie's presentation here.

A is for Atom, B is for Bikini

In 1946, the U.S. decided it needed to perform additional tests on the atom bomb. In the remote Pacific Ocean, the Bikini Atoll was chosen as the test site. Cheryl LeJune presented the buildup, tests, and aftermath of Operation Crossroads.

To see Cheryl's presentation, click here.
To see the documentary, Radio Bikini, click here.