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Each program begins at 3:00 pm, followed by a wine and cheese reception. Cost: $10 Nearly six years after the United States experienced the terrible attacks of September 11, 2001, our experience with the War on Terrorism has made one thing quite clear – neither we nor any combination of allies can destroy terrorism by killing terrorists. The continual stream of terrorist volunteers and the extensive public support, particularly for terrorism linked (correctly or incorrectly) with the Muslim faith, suggests another requirement for stability. In this discussion we will consider the motivation of those who sign up for missions such as suicide bombings and the various measures which have been taken to dissuade them from pursuing this path. For the last three years our speaker, Dr. Reppert, has worked with an international consortium representing more than 40 countries seeking to explore ways to counter the ideological appeal of terrorism. For three days in August, 1991, the fate of the Soviet Union’s future was hanging in the balance. Contemporary histories suggest that the failure of those who attempted to dispose of Soviet leader Gorbachev and reinstate a more traditional form of communism was somehow inevitable. However, it is arguable that like much of history, the outcome could have been very different. As the U.S. Military Attache to Moscow during the period of the coup, our speaker interacted with citizens, military personnel, and those rallying around Boris Yeltsin, who formed the opposition. This presentation will focus on the many personal experiences and impressions rather than the chronological narrative. As a sizeable percentage of our population ages, the role of technology will become increasingly important in meeting this large group’s special needs. Enhanced use of information technology in health care is believed to lower costs, enhance quality, and improve access to care for all Americans. Information technology designed for the aging has similar promise, and we are only in the formative stages in the design and installation of such products. Emerging technologies for the aging include smart homes, monitoring robots, talking pill bottles, virtual communities, and on line medicine cabinets. Will consumers embrace these products? Will they be cost effective? Will they ensure personal privacy? Ultimately, will they lower costs and improve care quality? For answers to these and other issues, come join us and learn how to be a wise consumer of aging-related technologies. Location: Continuing Education Center 1624 Reading of Original Poetic Works Born in Harbin, China, in 1928, Alexander Riasanovsky, along with his parents and older brother, fled Japanese invaders and arrived in the United States. After a B.A. (University of Oregon), B. Litt (Oxford University), and Ph.D. (Stanford University), this Phi Beta Kappa and Rhodes Scholar taught Russian history, culture, and literature for forty years at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was voted “best teacher” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Professor Riasanovsky went through parachute and glider training and served with the 11th Airborne Division during the early post-WWII occupation of Japan. Location: Continuing Education Center 1625 What Nature Tells Me: A Color Slide Tour of the Alps That Inspired Gustav Mahler David Irwin presents a colorful tour of Gustav Mahler’s alpine summer hideaways with songs and symphonies composed in these spectacular settings. Mahler had several summer residences in alpine areas. Irwin will focus on Steinbach am Attersee in the Austrian Alps of the Salzkammergut, and Dobiacco (Toblach), nestled in a long valley below the stunning Italian Dolomites. |