Fascinating Potpourri II
Fridays, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church
January 31: Dr. Seuss Goes to War and Before! – Gregg Philipson (In-person, On-demand)
The presentation explores Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, in his early years as a cartoonist working for Life and Judge Magazines, Esso Oil and others. It concludes in 1948 shortly after his service as a Major in the U.S. Army during WWII. It includes his work as a screen writer and his propaganda art. It is a fascinating look at the side of Dr. Seuss that is seldom seen.
-Gregg Philipson lectures internationally on the Holocaust and other Jewish related subjects including Jewish Military History and propaganda art. The “Gregg and Michelle Philipson Collection and Archive” is regularly exhibited at major museums, universities, colleges, schools as well as U.S. military installations.
February 7: Bitcoin Basics: The What, How and Why – Bill Dwyer (In-person) (90 minutes) 10:30 – 12:00 PM
Everyone has probably heard about Bitcoin/Crypto Currency but not many understand it. This session will help attendees understand Bitcoin’s brief history, use case going forward and discuss the question, “Is Bitcoin the future of money, the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, or something in between?”
-Originally from Chicago, Bill Dwyer has lived in Texas for 35 years and in Sun City since 2013. His career was spent mostly in the software business within the healthcare sector. He has been a hands-on investor focusing on stocks, EFT’s, and derivatives (option and futures contracts) for most of his adult life, and leads the Active Investors Special Interest Group in the Sun City Investment Education Club. (He is not a financial advisor.)
February 14: Ancient Near Eastern Ivory Carvings – Andy Dearman, PhD (In-person) (90 minutes) 10:30 – 12:00 PM
Research has produced marvelous collections of ivory carvings from the Ancient Near East. This illustrated presentation will show photos of examples from several millennia, including some from ancient Nimrud, an Assyrian city where Agatha Christie and her husband were excavators.
-Dr. Dearman is a retired professor with broad experience in archaeological projects in the Ancient Near East.
February 21: Wonderboy — the Hoover You Didn’t Know – Gerald Faulkner (In-Person/On-Demand)
How does a young boy orphaned at nine go on to become wealthy, serve his government in a number of roles, and rise to be the 31st President of the United States only to fall from grace?
-Gerald Faulkner has a BBA in Human Resources from City University of New York with a minor in History and has completed all courses for an MBA. He has taught numerous history courses for Lifelong Learners GTX.
February 28: An Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease and New Therapeutic Approaches – Michael Douglas, PhD (In-person)
This class will provide an introduction to the current status of research on the key causes of Alzheimer’s, the new therapies, including immunotherapy, that are being developed based on early diagnosis and how these therapies should work. Included will be a discussion in layman’s terms to the molecular and cellular biology of neurodegenerative disorders and new opportunities for therapy.
-Dr. Douglas is the executive director of the Georgetown Neuroscience Foundation, and has served as a director, chairman, chancellor or CEO at universities, nonprofit medical/science foundations, and a globally held medical company. He has also headed various biotechnology startups.
March 7: Addressing Emerging Threats and Hazards to Texas – Adam Samuels (In-person, On-demand) (90 minutes) 10:30 – 12:00 PM
Homeland Security is a continuous, statewide effort to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from terrorist and significant criminal attacks and natural and technological disasters. What are the threats and hazards now and what will they be in 2030 and beyond? Extremist groups? School Safety? Border issues? Artificial Intelligence? Drones? Pandemic? Extreme Weather? This class will introduce current and emerging challenges (and opportunities) to Texas and highlight some of the state’s multi-agency efforts to manage risk while safeguarding individual liberty.
-Adam Samuels is a Strategic Planner at the Texas DPS Office of Homeland Security in Austin TX. He collaborates with over 20 State Agencies to track implementation of the Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan (HSSP). After more than 20 years in the US Navy, he was the Emergency Management Program Coordinator at the Texas National Guard HQ before joining DPS-OHS in 2022. Adam holds a BS from Texas A&M University and MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.
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