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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-21-2024 to 05-21-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Susan PageTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisSusan Page, the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY and best-selling author, discusses her new book, "The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters." It is the definitive biography of the groundbreaking broadcaster, exploring the professional mountains she climbed, the insecurities that drove her ambition, and the heartbreaks she endured in her... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-21-2024 to 05-21-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 03:00 PM-04:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Ricky Deutsch, BS Aerospace Engineering, MS, MBA, Former Captain US Air Force, Space CommandTerm: OELocation: Zoom - San Diego OasisAlcatraz has served as a fortress from the Spanish days through the Civil War, but it’s best known as the ultimate Federal Penitentiary. It held some of the most notorious men in the criminal underworld. No one was ever sentenced to Alcatraz – they had to “earn” it. All in sight and sound of one of America’s most glamorous cities. The rock... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-22-2024 to 05-22-2024Day(s) of the week: WednesdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Daryl Davis, MusicianTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisThis singer/songwriter icon introduced the Caribbean music known as Calypso to the U.S. and went on to become an ardent activist for Civil Rights. From the front line of music fame to the front line of marches and protests, Belafonte was an intense entertainer and leader. We will explore some of the many interesting facets of this complex man, who died at... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-22-2024 to 05-22-2024Day(s) of the week: WednesdayTime: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Richard VennTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisThis class explores the evolution of baseball, tracing its origins, dispelling myths about its "invention" by Abner Doubleday, and exploring its transition from an amateur pastime among gentlemen to a robust and influential business. The narrative will unfold, capturing the essence of the sport's growth, and delving into the infamous scandal that nearly... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-22-2024 to 05-22-2024Day(s) of the week: WednesdayTime: 10:30 AM-12:15 PM Central TimeInstructor: Jim DuncanTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisEmbark on a historical journey with Jim Duncan, M.A., as he delves into the fascinating stories of women in the fur trade. The fur trade, often regarded as the catalyst for the founding of St. Louis, was mainly led by the involvement of early French settlers, with the exception of a few elite government employees. With a majority of these settlers engaged... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-23-2024 to 05-23-2024Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Steven Gimbel, Professor of Philosophy, Gettysburg CollegeTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisHumans are conscious beings--at least after our morning coffee. But what is the source of this consciousness? It seems like it has to be the brain, the mind, and/or the soul. It is only in the 20th century that the concepts of mind, brain, and soul were completely differentiated. What do we mean by these ideas? How to they relate to one another? Should we... read more
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Sessions: 3Class Date(s): 05-23-2024 to 06-06-2024Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Geoffrey MorrisonTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisEmbark on a captivating exploration led by Geoffrey Morrison, a scholar with an MA and PhD in US History, as we delve into the transformative era known as "The Third American Revolution.” This illuminating journey unravels a complex tapestry of changes that defined the period, shaping the very fabric of our nation. From pervasive distrust in the federal... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-28-2024 to 05-28-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 10:30 AM-11:45 AM Central TimeInstructor: Johnny RabbitTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisTake a chronological journey through St. Louis's political landscape with Johnny Rabbitt, exploring influential figures such as Governors Alexander McNair and David Rowland Francis, Mayors Rolla Wells and A. J. Cervantes, and County Supervisors Lawrence K. Roos and Gene McNary. Dive into the rich tapestry of St. Louis history, touching on Senators,... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-28-2024 to 05-28-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Sofia Laurein, PhD, Professor of HistoryTerm: OELocation: Zoom - San Diego OasisDid you know that the French fries are not French, Hawaiian pizza wasn’t invented in Hawaii and cheese can be used as a weapon? This tasty and appetizing presentation links your favorite foods to a major social or historical event while providing a crash course in ancient, classical and modern history. Explore the stories that wrapped up in the food on... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-28-2024 to 05-28-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 01:00 PM-03:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Pam J VaccaroTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisDive into the culinary delights of the 1904 World's Fair with author Pam Vaccaro in "Beyond the Ice Cream Cone: The Whole Scoop on Food at the 1904 World's Fair." Uncover the truth about iconic inventions like iced tea, the hamburger, and the ice cream cone, dispelling lingering myths. Explore the gastronomic landscape of the Fair, discovering what... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-29-2024 to 05-29-2024Day(s) of the week: WednesdayTime: 10:30 AM-11:30 AM Central TimeInstructor: Julie NicolaiTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisExplore the history of racism in St. Louis with Julie Nicolai, Author of "Enslavement & the Underground Railroad in IL & MO" and a local historian with a BA & MA from Washington University in St. Louis. This insightful session aims to inspire collaboration for ending white privilege. Delve into stories of historical figures like Caroline... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 05-30-2024 to 05-30-2024Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 10:30 AM-11:45 AM Central TimeInstructor: Peter John BellisTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisEnroll in a session led by Peter Bellis, Ph.D., specializing in English and American literature from Johns Hopkins University. In the mid-nineteenth century, today’s distinctions between high and low culture did not really exist—operas and freak shows could share the same stage. But after the civil war, a division began—between a vision of art as... read more
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Sessions: 2Class Date(s): 06-03-2024 to 06-10-2024Day(s) of the week: MondayTime: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: David WoodruffTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Rochester OasisThird Republic vs. Third Reich.>Ever since the age of Napoleon, the French military had been one of the best in all of Europe. That is, until 1940, when it joined with countries like Italy in the league of military jokes. France’s defeat was so rapid that the entire campaign was over in six weeks. And the leader of the French Republic even telephoned... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 06-03-2024 to 06-03-2024Day(s) of the week: MondayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Denver Brunsman, Associate Chair, Department of History, George Washington UniversityTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisAs we head into the fall election, Denver Brunsman of George Washington University will discuss the history of the Electoral College. Agreed to in the last days of the Constitutional Convention, the Electoral College persists to this day as a relic of 18th-century political thought and compromise. Why did the framers of the Constitution create such a... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 06-04-2024 to 06-04-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Richard Bell, Professor of History, University of MarylandTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisSeen through American eyes, the Revolution marks a triumphant moment. Through British eyes, it looked quite different. To the King, the war for independence was an affront, a temper tantrum by an ungrateful colonial rabble. But, as historian Richard Bell explains, beyond the palace and Parliament, British responses to the war were anything but monolithic.... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 06-04-2024 to 06-04-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Richard VennTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisIn this course, we will explore the factors that precipitated the onset of the most catastrophic conflict in human history. Participants will gain insights into how the origins of World War II can be traced back to the aftermath of the First World War, and why entities such as the League of Nations proved ineffective in averting its... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 06-05-2024 to 06-05-2024Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 01:00 PM-02:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Gloria JenningsTerm: OELocation: Zoom - San Antonio OasisMany of America’s favorite toys were introduced during the post-World War II era and gained popularity among the baby boom generation. At Christmastime, children asked Santa Claus for things such as a Barbie doll, Etch A Sketch, G.I. Joe or a Tonka Truck. Other popular playthings included Play-Doh, Slinkies and Mr. Potato Head. What fun, and not an app in... read more
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Sessions: 3Class Date(s): 06-06-2024 to 06-20-2024Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 01:30 PM-02:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Samuel F HarnedTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisEmbark on a three-part exploration, each session spanning an hour, as we dissect pivotal battles of the Civil War. While we offer an overview of battle details, our primary focus delves into crucial questions: Why did the battle unfold as it did? What was the soldiers' experience in Civil War combat, and what lasting impacts did it leave? This class caters... read more
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Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 06-07-2024 to 06-07-2024Day(s) of the week: FridayTime: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Hillary PeppersTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisEnroll in a session with Hillary Peppers, a Reference Librarian with a Master of Library and Information Science. Explore the rich history and fascinating tales behind the iconic foods that have become synonymous with St. Louis. This program also features vintage recipes, offering a delightful journey through the culinary heritage of the... read more
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Sessions: 4Class Date(s): 06-10-2024 to 07-01-2024Day(s) of the week: MondayTime: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Nartana PremanchandraTerm: OELocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisEmbark on a cultural exploration with Nartana Premachandra, the Story Editor of the esteemed journal Parabola and the President of Dances of India in STL—a 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Recipient and one of the oldest classical Indian dance companies in the US. Delve into the fascinating connection between the French sculptor Auguste Rodin and... read more