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Winter 2009 Courses
Winter 2009 Courses
1. Home Computer Security
Instructor: Sam Wormley
Tuesdays 9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Four weeks, January 13–February 3
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
Problems continue to be found in operating systems, applications software, networks, and technology. There is an ongoing battle between the good guys fixing the problems and the bad guy exploiting the problems. Your role is important in this ongoing drama!
The following topics will be discussed:
- Introduction and Security Check
- E-mail—Use Care When Reading E-mail
- CERT, SANS, and Staying Informed
- Review & Resources
After taking early retirement from Iowa State University’s Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, Sam Wormley could no longer rely on ISU computer experts and had to become his own computer guru. Sam has degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering and is currently an adjunct professor in astronomy at Marshalltown Community College.
2. A Literary Landscape of Iowa
Instructor: Henry Campbell
Tuesdays 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Four weeks, January 13–February 3
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
Four early 20th Century writers and how they influenced the wider culture will be discussed. The topics for this course include:
- Carl Van Vechten and the Harlem Renaissance
- Ruth Suckow—the Quintessential Iowan
- Josephine Herbst—“The World Is My Beat”
- Floyd Dell—Major novelist and spokesman for the Literary Left
From his college years as an English major, Henry Campbell pursued a keen interest in literature, authors, and all aspects of the literary world. Since retiring 18 years ago as a parish minister, he has immersed himself in this world as an avid reader, collector, bookseller, and researcher into the unexplored territory, and in recent years into the fascinating and often overlooked region of Iowa literary history.
3. Art Beyond the Museum
Coordinator: Anita Beal
Tuesdays 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
Four weeks, January 13–February 3
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
Art is all around us, not just on the walls of museums. Our four presenters will show that art exists in many forms in everyday life and how this is achieved. Each of the presenters is an expert in his field, sometimes as an avocation, but always with a deep interest and knowledge.
Architecture as Art:
How can we describe “the essential difference?” We would not call most barns or factories architecture, but would probably not call a state capitol, a concert hall, or a mansion anything else. In this session, we will examine the nature of this difference and discuss it, as we look at projected images from modern and historic times. We will compare our ideas with what the architects and writers from those times have thought about architecture.
The instructor for this session is Wesley Shank, emeritus professor of architecture at ISU and emeritus member of the American Institute of Architects. He taught courses in the history of European and American architecture.
Cinematography as Art: Light and Shadows on the Silver Screen—How Movie Cameramen Created High Art out of Pop Culture:
In his session, Thomas Beell will explore the work of several cinematographers acclaimed for their visual style. Through movie clips and handouts, he’ll show what made their pictures extraordinary.
Tom Beell is a professor of journalism in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Co-host of the monthly “Talk of Iowa” movie show on WOI radio, Tom taught film making at Iowa State and was film reviewer for the Ames Tribune for 20 years. His love for movies dates back to the 1950s, when, as a teenager, he managed movie theaters in his hometown of Tacoma, Wash. Tom has taught several CFS classes on this subject.
Advertising as Art:
This session will draw comparisons between visual commercial advertising, and the theories and practices of contemporary art. With advertising in the mass media shaping everything from our views of political candidates to the self-image of our bodies, understanding the impact of the multitude of image messages we confront every day is an important consideration. Artistic thought promises to give new insights into how our world view is formed.
The instructor for this course is Dennis Dake, who recently retired from the Department of Art and Design at ISU College of Design. He also taught visual communications theory, which includes visual communication in advertising, for the Greenlee School of Journalism.
Bonsai as Art:
Japanese in origin, bonsai is an art form using living horticulture materials that is now practiced worldwide. This session will examine the essential characteristics of good bonsai with a review of basic styles and methods of development. The goal is a better informed understanding of the art form and an enhanced ability to read it. Live bonsai and technique demonstrations will be utilized in the session.
Ivan Hanthorn retired from ISU’s Parks Library, where he developed the preservation program used today. He now enjoys his avocation of growing these mysterious plants known as bonsai.
4. Our Fascination with Railroads: “I Hear that Lonesome Whistle”
Coordinator: Martha Rasmussen
Tuesdays 3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Four weeks, January 13–February 3
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
The whisper of the wind passing the window, the click of the wheels on the track, and especially the sound of the whistle in the night. Remember the days of yore when you could hop on a passenger train to …..? This four-week course will offer CFS students a way to recapture this magic through presentations by speakers.
- How It was to “Work on the Railroad,” and A Passenger’s View of Railroad Travel Today—January 13 Roger Sogard retired from Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co. where he worked for 38 years as a station agent and telegrapher. His friend, Delmar Gifford retired from Chicago Great Western and the Chicago & Northwestern Railroads with a 47-year career as train dispatcher, superintendent, and telegrapher. Roger will talk about his work as telegrapher and agent; Delmar will speak about his experiences as a train dispatcher and cover the rules and safety required of the job. Cliff Cessna is president of the ISU Railroad Club and a student in civil engineering. Cliff will share some of his experiences of railroad trips (a total of 26,400 miles in U.S. alone) and how to discover and enjoy the most popular tourist railroads and museums.
- Railroad History Development and the Way it Worked—January 20 Charles Mischke is emeritus professor of mechanical engineering and a 10-year volunteer on Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. He will cover the development, history, and operation of U.S. railroads; the role of standards of gauge, couplings, car equipment, and communication; the impact on Iowa of steam-powered railroads and interurban electric lines; and the railroad boxcar and what happened to it.
- Railroad Modeling—A How-To for Indoors and Outside—January 27 Student members of the ISU Railroad Club will explain model railroading, and the variety of areas available; advantages and/or disadvantages of various sizes of models; and what to consider if you want to set up a model railroad of your own. Dennis and Jane Vajgrt are garden railway hobbyists and will outline their experiences in creating a “garden railway” during a ten-year span before retiring to Ames three years ago. A “garden railway” can provide a hobby involving outdoor fun and interaction with family and friends. Reiman Gardens had a “garden railway” display over the past two years where the Vajgrts volunteered as hosts.
- Restoration and Preservation of Our Railroad Heritage—February 3 Bryan Anderson is a member of board of directors of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railway and the head of the BSVR Restoration Committee. Bryan will give us the benefit of his work with the Boone & Scenic Valley and will focus on preservation of railways in the U.S. and the actual process of restoring some of the cars and other issues involved in the process.
5. Digital Photography—Point and Shoot Basics
Instructor: Sam Wormley
Wednesdays 9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Four weeks, January 14–February 4
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 40
Just about any camera, regardless of how good or bad it is, can be used to create outstanding photographs for magazine covers, winning photo contests, and hanging in art galleries. The quality of a lens or camera has almost nothing do with the quality of images it can be used to produce. In this class you will learn what you can and can’t do with your digital point-and-shoot camera. Questions may be directed to Sam Wormley, 515 296-2627. Topics will include:
- Understanding your camera manual
- Ways to improve your digital photography
- Connecting to your computer; storage and printing
- Composition and lighting: getting beyond the snapshot
Sam Wormley is a well-known local photographer who regularly contributes photographic services to Co-Motion Dance Theater, the Dance and Music Departments at Iowa State, and the Central Iowa Symphony.
6. Mark Twain
Instructor: Keith Carlson
Wednesdays 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Four weeks, January 14–Feburary 4
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
For his day, Mark Twain was the best-known and most successful writer in America. We will explore his art in several different works and studying the personality and life history of the man who redefined American literature.
Specific topics to be covered in the course include:
- Overview of Twain, his life and his writings
- The shorter works
- The longer works
- The later works and the darker side of Twain
Keith Carlson taught English at Ames High School for 33 years. For 17 of those years, he was department coordinator and taught American literature.
7. Travels and Travails of George Washington
Instructor: Clair Keller
Wednesdays 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
Four weeks, January 14–February 4
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
The phrase “George Washington slept here” has lots of credence. No president until Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential campaign visited every state in the nation. (This may not be true, but it’s a good line.) We can say, however, that no President toured every state during his presidency.
Washington’s life can be divided into 4 phases:
Phase I: Earning a reputation
Travels: Carrying a message to the French
Travails: Surrendering to the French at Fort Necessity
Phase II: Becoming a national hero
Travels: Assuming command of his army at Cambridge, Mass.
Travails: Retreating from the British
Phase III: Sacrificing tranquility to save his country
Travels: Exploring the west
Travails: To attend or not attend the Constitutional Convention
Phase IV: Serving his country again
Travels: Journey to presidency, his eastern & southern tour
Travails: Keeping the peace
Professor Clair Keller held a joint appointment in the Departments of History and Secondary Education at ISU for 32 years where he taught early American history and social science methods. He also supervised student teachers. In 1987 he began holding historic press conferences portraying George Washington in schools and to community groups.
8. Making Green Choices
Coordinator: Carol Alexander Phillips
Wednesdays 3:00–4:30 PM
Four weeks, January 14–February 4
Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
This course will be divided into four discussions and will be facilitated by Anne Kimber, director of energy services for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. Each participant is asked to read a few short articles prior to each class and think about responses to assigned questions. Class members will use a study booklet, “Choices for Sustainable Living,” from Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI). This booklet has a specifically designed structure and each class format will begin with a focused opener followed by probing discussion questions. The cost of the booklet is $20 and will be included in the class fees. The checklist “Ames, Be Cool: Action Guide” will be used individually as an assessment tool to focus on what are the possibilities for each individual and lay the groundwork for community changes related to sustainability.
Session One: Why are “green” choices being promoted? What is sustainability? What are some basic ecological principles? How has land use changed since the founding of the U.S.? What are the economic changes that have occurred during your lifetime? What is an ecological footprint? How is it assessed? What are some of the critical issues related to climate change?
Session Two: How are spending, production, and consumption related to being ”green”? How are wants and needs related to consumption and use of resources? How do you distinguish which it is? What are the issues with a society based on consumption? How has Americans’ use of energy changed in the last 50 to 100 years? How can one distinguish between excess and enough?
Session Three: Why should I eat “greener”? Where can I buy “green” foods? How many miles does your food travel to get to your table? What is organic farming and what are the benefits? What is community-supported agriculture? How have the buying, selling, and delivering of food changed in the last 50 or 100 years? What are the benchmarks for evaluating products?
Session Four: How can sustainability of a neighborhood be increased? What are some sustainable design elements being incorporated into public and private buildings? What actions have you taken to protect and sustain the environment? Why are these actions important to you? What can you do to protect the earth? What is meant by living off the grid and working to create a more sustainable community? What policies and procedures need to be changed?
9. Geology—Mountains, Basins, Geysers, Hot Springs
Tuesdays 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Instructor: Carl Vondra
Seven weeks, March 31–May 12, 2009
Reiman Family Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center
Class limit 60
… plus 13-day field trip to South Dakota and Wyoming, July 11-23, 2009
The College for Seniors is again offering a special two-part course consisting of lectures followed by an optional field trip to South Dakota and Wyoming. The focus of the trip will be the geology of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We are taking reservations this winter semester because plans must be confirmed for the field excursion by February. The maximum number of travelers for the trip is 35 and the minimum is 20.
Lectures
The seven lectures are open to any College for Seniors member. The geology and geologic history of the mountains and intermontane basins of Wyoming will be discussed and illustrated. The focus of the course will be the Badlands, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks, which are well known for their spectacular geology as well as scenery. The fee for the lectures will be $60.
Field Trip, July 11-23, 2009
The optional field trip is open to those who have participated in the lectures. This will be a 13-day trip to the national parks and monuments and the museums of the region studied. The cost of the excursion is $2,500 based on double occupancy. An additional $1,100 will be charged for travelers requesting single accommodations. Included in the price of the excursion are: motor coach transportation, lodging, and entrance fees for the parks and museums. Most continental breakfasts and boxed lunches are also included, with the exception of the last day of travel. Evening meals are at your expense. A $200 deposit is required in order to make your reservation. Final payment will be due on March 1, 2009. You must be in good physical condition to take this trip.
Itinerary For July 11-23 Excursion
- Day 1 Ames to Valentine, Neb., with a visit to Ashfall Fossil State Park, Royal, Neb.
- Day 2 Valentine to Rapid City, S.D., via Badlands National Park
- Day 3 Rapid City to Hot Springs, S.D., via Mt. Rushmore National Memorial and a visit to the Hot Springs Mammoth Site
- Day 4 Hot Springs to Sheridan, Wyo., via Devil’s Tower National Monument and a tour of the Wyodak Coal Mine near Gillette, Wyo.
- Day 5 Sheridan to Cody, Wyo., via the Big Horn Mountains and a visit to the Buffalo Bill Museum
and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art
- Day 6 Cody to West Yellowstone, Mont., via Yellowstone Canyon, Yellowstone National Park
- Day 7 Lower, Middle and Upper Geyser Basins, Yellowstone National Park
- Day 8 West Yellowstone to Gardiner, Mont., via Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
- Day 9 Gardiner to Jackson, Wyo., via Tower Falls and the West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
- Day 10 Jackson to Riverton, Wyo., via Grand Teton National Park
- Day 11 Riverton to Chadron, Neb., with a visit to Ft. Robinson State Park and the Trailside Museum
- Day 12 Chadron to Lincoln, Neb., via the Sand Hills
- Day 13 Lincoln to Ames, Ia., with a visit to the University of Nebraska State Museum
Carl Vondra is emeritus professor of geology and distinguished professor in liberal arts and sciences at Iowa State; former director of the ISU Geology Field Station; and chair of the ISU Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences from 1991-1997. He has conducted research projects in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
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