We'll mosey out to the Flint Hills to the Hoy family's Flying W Ranch. What could be better on a spring morning than a leisurely horse- drawn wagon ride across the Flint Hills? During the ride,we'll learn about the area's history and its inhabitants. A mouth-watering chuck wagon lunch will await us following the ride and cowboy historian Jim Hoy will sing cowboy tunes and share cowboy culture. This may be your highlight of the spring.

Friday, May 3

7 a.m.- Coach departs KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, and returns by 5:30 p.m.

8 a.m. - Coach departs Osher Institute, 1515 St.Andrews Dr., Lawrence, and returns by 8:30 p.m.

9 a.m -Coach departs the parking lot at I-70 and K-177 (near Manhattan) and returns by 3:00 p.m.

$125 fee includes charter coach transportation, ranch tour, entertainment and lunch

Refund must be requested by April 25,minus a $15 administrative fee.

Due to the popularity of this event, we have added a second trip to the Flying W Ranch. See the link below: Monday, May 6, 2019, Flying W Ranch.

Who and where are America's indigenous descendants now, and how are they faring? Topics will cover Kansas Tribes, including the Wyandot Nation; the 2012 Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Pottawatomie Prairie Band Nation and the historic Cobell v. Salazar case, alleging the U.S. government's mishandling of Indian trust funds (filed in 1996 and settled for $3.4 billion in 2009); and the Doctrine of Discovery (will it ever  be repudiated?). And, finally, with visits by Native American tribe members, we will discuss current tribal issues and also learn about the Native Americans recently elected to government positions.

We'll examine three often- overlooked conflicts in our nation's history. First, we'll focus on the undeclared 1798-1800 Quasi War with France. This maritime conflict was significant as the fledgling American Navy's baptism of fire against a foreign power, Revolutionary France. Then we'll review the American Navy's second serious conflict - the war against the Barbary States (1801-1805) when President Thomas Jefferson ordered a naval expedition to the Mediterranean to curb piratical activities. Finally, we'll focus on the Spanish- American War, a four-month war with Spain that launched America as an international power and made national heroes of Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders."

In this course,we will examine the creation and growth of artificial intelligence. Emerging AI technologies are designed to save time and energy, make jobs simpler, and allow employees to work more efficiently and productively. We will examine how computer systems are coded to mirror capabilities of the human brain and how AI has and will impact healthcare, industrial automation, and engineering, design and construction. We will also investigate how AI will impact and advance the capabilities of global military autonomous weapons.Economists and scientists alike believe this will result in a fourth industrial revolution within the next decade.

Photojournalism - the integration of pictures and text to tell a story - developed during the 20th century, due to advancing technology and a growing awareness of the impact of the visual. A "golden age" of iconic images and celebrated photographers began in the 1930s, with the advent of Life magazine, National Geographic and photo- oriented newspapers. This course looks at the history - and the future - of photojournalism, touching on equipment but emphasizing pictures and stories,including the work of Kansans Jim Richardson, Gordon Parks, Brian Lanker and others.

Around the world, highly skilled dog teams keep us safe, detecting explosives and contraband. But how did humans and canines team up in the first place? That is a fascinating, heartbreaking and largely unknown story dating back to the Civil War when dogs tagged along as battle mascots.  Soon they showed their usefulness in an amazing number of tasks taught to them by the humans with whom they bonded. The military was slow to appreciate the value of K-9 teams, but over time the dogs'devoted handlers won respect and important rights for their four- footed comrades.

This course examines three historical disappearances,one in 17th century, and two in the 19th century: The Roanoke Colony, the Franklin Arctic Expedition and the Mary Celeste. Although the sites where they vanished are widely distant from one another, they have one thing in common: no one knows for sure what happened to the people involved. There are many theories, some reasonable and some quite mad. We will set the stage, analyze the known facts and try to answer the most important question of all from these perplexing mysteries - what really happened?

Please note the dates and location for this course are different that those published in the catalog. The dates are Mondays, April 15, 22 & 29 at the North Kansas City Public Library, 2251 Howell St., North Kansas City, Mo. We apologize for the change and any inconvenience.

Edinburgh is a popular destination remembered fondly for its magnificent skyline and vibrant city life. However, behind the tourist attractions lies a proud history of ideas that have shaped the world we live in, especially from the ferment of the "Scottish Enlightenment." Great ideas oft gang awry,so we'll also review some epic disasters whose anniversaries continue to be observed. Edinburgh was the first city designated a UNESCO "City of Literature," appropriate since its railway station is the only one in the world named after a novel. As Scotland teeters on the brink of independence, its capital forges into the future as a city of excitement and new ideas.

Although John Doveton is a Sassenach, he grew up in Edinburgh where he received a thoroughly Scottish education. He will incorporate his lessons and personal experiences in a commentary on a city where past, present and future coexist vividly in the everyday.

This course will explore events leading to WWI and how western society, so full of progress and optimism, became embroiled in the most horrific conflict in history. We will discuss pre-war tensions and diplomatic maneuvering, how the nations of Europe were drawn in, the failure of rival plans for quick victory, the resulting stalemate and the evolution of extensive trench systems. We'll identify the main personalities and battles, which determined the outcome along with the factors that led to the Allied victory, including U.S. involvement. We'll examine the individual soldier and the"psychology of war," the misery of life in the trenches and how soldiers adapted.

This course examines the changes in White House speech writing, from the earliest ghostwriters in George Washington's administration to contemporary presidential speechwriters. We will examine speech writing drafts from Truman, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush as well as speech files from Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Bush. Video and audio clips from former White House speechwriters describing the process will be included. We'll view speechwriters' drafts and the final products in both written and video formats.

Imagine a day without space-based capabilities. What would happen to television? How would we forecast the weather? Global finance would grind to a halt. The stock markets would crash.Credit cards would be useless. Air travel would stop. These capabilities touch your daily life in ways that are unperceived. This course will examine the American and global dependency on these systems: Where are the satellites? How do they orbit? Do solar flares really cause problems on earth? How does GPS really work? How critical are satellites to national security and commerce? And in all of those movies, what is fact versus fiction?

What separates a great movie from a terrible one? What elements go together to create an enduring classic? How do you describe your favorite movie to a friend, family member or significant other beyond the words "awesome," "boring" or "alien invasion?"In this class, you'll learn what the people who write about movies for a living think about when they watch a film and how to use that knowledge to deepen your own understanding of your favorite flicks. Together, we'll explore the elements and artistic choices of film making through short films,images and clips from both classics and recent releases.

Chances are your retirement will look very different than the retirement of your parents. This new model promises an expanding rather than constricting sphere of personal operation, a deepened interest in life, a heightened sense of one's own authentic self and a new passion for discovery not felt since youth. Discover the 15 factors that contribute to a successful retirement and begin designing the retirement adventure of your dreams!

The stories associated with supernatural beings and events link people to their origins and provide an explanation about their existence. With influences from Shintoism, Buddhism and Taoism, Japanese folklore is filled with supernatural beings ranging from gruesome and mysterious to humorous and playful. We'll introduce prominent Japanese apparitions, but we will also look beyond the initial spectacle depicted in folktales, historical accounts,statues, prints, writings, and theatrical performances to reveal the origins and effects of such beings on Japanese culture and society.

Join us for a nostalgic tour that includes John Wayne's birthplace, the Walter Cronkite Memorial in Missouri and the iconic covered bridges of Madison County in Iowa.

Departing the Osher Institute, we'll pickup travelers at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, arriving in St. Joseph, Missouri, Walter Cronkite's hometown and site of a national memorial to "the most trusted man in America." Then we'll make our way to Des Moines, check into our hotel and enjoy an early get-acquainted reception. Then it's off to Des Moines' historic East Village - a popular venue of shops, galleries, entertainment and restaurants. It's a perfect spring evening to sightsee,shop and have dinner on your own.

On Friday, we'll be greeted with coffee and apple fritters before our guided tour of the famed Covered Bridges of Madison County with time to explore several sites. Then it's lunch on the square at the historic Northside Café - featured in the "Bridges" movie. Finally we'll visit the birthplace and museum of Marion Robert Morrison. You know him as John Wayne.

Thursday-Friday, May 9-10

7:30 a.m. - Coach departs Osher Institute, 1515 St.Andrews Dr. on Thursday and returns on Friday at approximately 6 p.m.

8:30 a.m. - Coach departs KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, on Thursday and returns on Friday at approximately 5 p.m.

$325 fee per person - double occupancy

$385 fee per person - single occupancy

Fee includes coach transportation, lodging, breakfast, admission fees and lunches on Thursday and Friday.

Refund must be requested by May 2, minus a $15 administrative fee.

At the end of the 19th century, artists began to challenge the belief that art must realistically depict the world. We'll explore the streams of intellectual thought, the innovations in science and technology, and the cultures that gave birth to the three great modern art movements: Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, and we'll see how the artists themselves were shaped by the eras in which they worked. Skeptics and enthusiasts alike will finally be able to "make sense of Modern Art."

In this course we will explore the music and lives of some of the great composers of classical music. We will track their careers from their early work, through influences that impacted their musical styles, to the late work that culminated their careers. Each class will explore one or two composers in detail, with many musical examples. Composers will range from Johann Sebastian Bach to Philip Glass and several in between.

Napoleon Bonaparte remains a controversial figure. To some,he is the heir of the French Revolution, protecting and then spreading the ideals of the revolution across Europe - but on the bayonets of the Grande Armée. To others, he is the devil incarnate; a despotic satrap intent on power and his own personal glory. This course examines the Napoleonic era, beginning with his role as part of a three-man consular government and the reforms that protected the key elements of the French Revolution while limiting its excesses. We'll also examine why Napoleon, defeated and exiled,is considered one of the great commanders of all time.

Please note: At the request of the instructor, the course will begin one week later than the date published in the spring catalog. The new dates for the course are Wednesdays, May 8, 15 & 23, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th Parkway, Lenexa. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Although federal highway construction started in 1916,the U.S. became a car-oriented nationafter World War II. Some of us recall tourist travel on Route 66 or the Lincoln Highway when they were two-lane roads,eating homemade sandwiches or foodfrom roadside diners, spending the night at modest tourist courts while on theway to the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, or lesser known travel destinations.Then came the Interstate Highways, Howard Johnsonsand Holiday Inn. We will recallthe years when gas was cheap and cars were large through film clips, historical accounts, travel music and ourown memories.

June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, France. The largest military operation of the war, Overlord was the high point of the Greatest Generation's campaign to rid the world of Nazi tyranny. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower led thousands of Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen in an operation that witnessed extraordinary acts of courage, heroism and determination. We will discuss the planning, preparation and personalities of Overlord, highlighting the airborne and amphibious forces whose extraordinary accomplishments made legendary Pointe du Hoc, Ste.- Mère-Église, and Utah and Omaha beaches.

Long before Kansas womenobtained the unfettered right to votein 1912 (a full eightyears before the 19th Amendment established that right nationally), they foundother ways to affect policy in publicspheres dominated by men. The same indomitable spirit that enabled pioneer women to withstand the rigors of frontierlife infused their efforts to shapethe society in which they lived. Sara Robinson, Julia Lovejoy, Clarina Nichols, Carry Nation, Annie Diggs, Mary Lease, and Lilla Day Monroe, among others, took on such struggles as those toabolish slavery, repel demon rum,improve the lot of farmers and secure more rights for women.

Join KU Libraries as they celebrate the golden anniversary of Kenneth Spencer Research Library. A tour of the library will include an in-depth look at the updated North Gallery,the renovated conservation lab and University Archives, as well as a thorough look at the current exhibition titled "Meet the Spencers: A Marriage of Arts and Sciences." Additionally, a selection of collection items will be pulled, providing attendees a hands-on experience with some original materials. Knowledgeable librarians will be available to provide insider details during this behind-the-scenes visit.

Friday, April 26

9 a.m. - Coach departs Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Dr., Lawrence

9:30 a.m. - Behind-the scenes tour of the Spencer Research Library

Noon - Lunch at the Kansas Memorial Union

1 p.m. - Coach departs for the Osher Institute

 $40 fee includes bus transportation, library tour and lunch.

 Refund must be requested by Apr. 19, minus a $15 administrative fee.

Slip into someone else's voice, take a walk in their shoes, deepen the conflict, complicate the joy and explore the most lifelike of the arts. In this studio class, students engage in the time-honored practice of examining character,action and consequence by recreating them for the stage. In-class activities and prompts get juices flowing for new and "used" playwrights alike,encouraging them to turn memories, experiences and curiosities into dramatic action and compelling characters. Outside writing is not required but encouraged. Willing students will have their work read aloud, brought to life,and discussed by the class. It's always fun.

Few places in the world have experienced as much historical drama as the world's longest river. For more than 4,500, years the Nile has witnessed sweeping events of discovery, conflict and engineering. It's been the stage for larger-than-life characters, remarkable edifices and far-reaching ideas. Join us for a sampling of stories that illustrate the geography, cultures and history of that primeval waterway, the Nile River.

George W. Bush and Donald Trump won recent presidential elections despite getting fewer popular votes than their opponents. They owed their victories to the role of the Electoral College, a unique institution mandated by the American Constitution. Why was the Electoral College included in the Constitution? How did it work initially? How does it work now? What prompted the changes in its functioning over the course of American history? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Can it be eliminated or reformed? What are the leading proposals to change the method by which we select our presidents? This course will address these questions.

Of all of the Italian painters of the 17th century,Caravaggio speaks most clearly and powerfully to our times. He lived hard and died young. Much the same can be said of the dramatic work of Rembrandt,which mirrors life during the Protestant Reformation of Northern Europe. This class will explore the intrigue and excitement of 17th century Italy and the Netherlands as we delve deeply into the lives of two of the world's most memorable artists during the Reformation.

As the 1916 academic year opened at the University of Kansas, Chancellor Frank Strong struggled against years of inadequate state funding while German aggression was pulling a reluctant United States into the European conflict. KU observed its 50th anniversary this fall, and we will examine its needs, its resources and its outlook. We'll learn how the KU community met its challenges -military training, volunteer services, revamped class schedules, and the Spanish influenza - and the contributions of Strong, Olin Templin, James Naismith and Alberta Corbin, among others, in the months and ensuing years that changed KU forever.

Between 1830 and 1862, the Rev. Thomas Johnson was associated with a school and a mission on the Shawnee Reservation in the area west of Missouri. The school provided both a traditional segment education and a manual labor portion and provided the opportunity for students to embrace Christianity. The story of its origin and expansion from a small day school to a substantial boarding school was due to the work of a group of missionaries, teachers and their students whose impact reached beyond their 2,000 acres. Let's explore this rich history.

This course will explore the historical development of the U.S.-Mexico border from the perspective of both Mexico and the United States.Together, we will explore how the border evolved and hardened through the creation of the Border Patrol, the Mexican Revolution and the effects of Prohibition. We'll review personal accounts, photographs and songs of"borderlanders," along with government officials providing crucial context to today's current debates. Finally, we will examine how to negotiate the border in the age of nationalism.

Please note that while the dates for this course are correct (March 21, 28 & April 4), the Osher spring catalog incorrectly lists this course as meeting on Tuesdays; it is actually meeting on Thursdays.

British India was the "Jewel in the Crown" of its Empire, starting as a small trading settlement of the East India Company that culminated in the Raj, when the British took control of the entire subcontinent. We will follow the history of trade, The Great Game,the Sepoy Mutiny, and other adventures and misadventures. The colorful events have also been captured in the fiction of Kipling and others, which explore the complex relationships between the British and their Indian subjects. The bond continues today in the English love of tea and Indian food.

Before the increasing news coverage, any mention of Uyghurs was mostly met with a puzzled look. Who are they ... and how is that pronounced? As news venues have highlighted the plight of this Turkic ethnic group in far western China, awareness is growing, but still many questions remain. In this course, we will explore the history and culture of Uyghurs living in a region that has a contested past. The goal of this course is to promote understanding of the complex historical, cultural, political and economic reasons behind the current human rights atrocities against Uyghurs and other Turkic populations in Xinjiang.

The collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II resulted in the creation of the modern American musical play, where a serious story was told through dialogue, music and dance.Building upon their decades of writing Broadway musicals with other partners, Rodgers and Hammerstein became the most important creative team in the history of the American musical theater. This course will include detailed commentary on several of their most important shows.

This course will focus on the history, types and relative potency of opiates and the causes, victims and treatments of America's opioid epidemic. You will see the emergency lifesaving treatment for opioid overdose victims. We will examine the pharmaceutical industry's direct-to-consumer advertising programs, prescription drug pricing, pharma payments to doctors, and its effects on our health care costs. We will discuss the ever-changing world of medical marijuana,research activities on cannabis and kratom, and the relatively new potential for industrial hemp in Kansas.

We will explore the Oregon, California and Santa Fe pioneer trails that made their way westward across Kansas and beyond. We'll examine the Butterfield Overland Stage Line and others that opened Kansas and the western territories to settlement. But expansion was not without hardships, adventures,endeavors and inventions, which helped the pioneers travel west. We'll review those, too, and the conflicts with Native American peoples, the Spanish,Mexican and British governments that also had strong claims and interest in the American West. Join us as we travel to see some of the remains of the old trail via video and photos.