麻豆社

馃搷Location听

All on-campus lectures take place on the second floor of

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MCLL SUMMER听2026 Workshops & Outings

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YCLML 1030 Color Hunt - Parc Angrignon (in person)

We will explore hue, tint, tone and shade 鈥� and look for their manifestations in nature on a slow, mindful walk through Parc Angrignon. Bring your camera or smartphone if you would like to keep a record of your hunt!

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MCLL SUMMER 2026 LECTURES听

YCLML 1031 Travel Photography & Africa鈥檚 Image (online)

Time: Wednesday, August 12, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Tim Ewbank
Attendance: Online

Until the advent of portable cameras in the 1850s, Africa was known only through explorers鈥� travelogues, engravings of paintings, fanciful fiction鈥� and legend. Photography offered a way to dramatically change that. The talk will examine who the early photographers were, what they did and did not photograph, how they publicized their work and what impact it had on the Victorian image of Africa. The backdrop is the expansion of the British Empire, with examples drawn鈥痬ainly from southern Africa.鈥�

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YCLML 1032 Understanding Hearing Loss (in person)

Time: Wednesday, August 12, 1:00 p.m.
Presenter: Dale Bonnycastle & Debra Fisher
Attendance: In person

Hearing loss affects at least one in three adults over 60, yet it remains widely misunderstood and frequently unaddressed. This presentation explores the nature of hearing loss, its impact on daily communication and social engagement, and why early recognition matters. Attendees will also learn about available support services, current hearing technology and practical strategies to improve communication 鈥� for themselves and those around them.

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YCLML 1033 Archaeological Frauds and Fakes (online)

Time: Wednesday, August 19, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Mitch Allen
Attendance: Online

Many ancient fakes have been uncovered over the years, from the Shroud of Turin, Jesus鈥檚 alleged burial cloth, to the Piltdown Man, the 鈥渕issing link鈥� between apes and humans. Dr. Allen, a retired archaeologist, will answer such questions as: Is鈥痑cquiring鈥痬oney the only motive for faking? How long has the practice been going on? Can鈥痜aking鈥痜ool the experts? How are fakes spotted? What happens if a museum discovers one in its collection? A series of cases 鈥� some not widely known 鈥� will be covered.鈥�

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YCLML 1034 Fiction vs. Disinformation: Cervantes (in person)

Time: Wednesday, August 19, 1:00 p.m.
Presenter: Alison Burch
Attendance: In person

In our world of inflationary media, we face insidious threats of disinformation and 鈥渁lternative facts.鈥� Cervantes was there 400 years ahead. When the printing press led to media saturation 鈥� propaganda as well as mass-produced fiction 鈥� in Spain鈥檚 Golden Age, he exposed techniques for manipulating a narrative and the risks of acting on unverified information. If you thought Don Quixote mainly tackled windmills, come explore passages in which the humour, foresight and psychological reach of this first modern novel shine!

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YCLML 1035 How Color Influences Our Perception (online)

Time: Wednesday, August 26, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Nancy Boudreau
Attendance: Online

Color influences our perception because the brain uses colors to interpret space, mood, temperature, depth, and meaning. Different colors can change how we emotionally and physically experience an environment. Our reactions to color are shaped by both biology and culture. For example, blue is often associated with trust and stability in many western cultures, which is why many companies use it in logos and user interface. So, color does more than decorate our surroundings 鈥� it actively shapes emotion, behavior, focus, and spatial awareness. Come and discover how colors can change the perception of your surroundings.

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YCLML 1036 America鈥檚 Jim Crow Era (online)

Time: Wednesday, August 26, 1:00 p.m.
Presenter: Frank Nicholson
Attendance: Online

This talk explores the discrimination, disenfranchisement, segregation and violent repression of African Americans in the U.S. South from the end of Reconstruction in 1877 until the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Frank describes how state laws and social customs enforced strict separation of Whites and Blacks in transportation, schools, housing, libraries, theatres and washrooms. He explores the thinking behind the system, the impact on African Americans and the struggle that finally brought the era to an end.

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MCLL Fall 2026 Lectures, Workshops & Outings

Fall Term Duration: September 11 - November 20, 2026

Fall Registration will open on August 4, 12:01 a.m.

MCLL Workshops

YCLML 1037 Lighten Up! The Power of Laughter鈥�(in person)

Time: Friday, September 11, 10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Robert Paris
Attendance: In person

This two-hour interactive workshop is designed to explore the emotional and health benefits of laughter in a world that often feels dark and negative. Participants will engage in fun exercises, watch humorous clips. They will experience group laughter through shared stories, videos, and games and will discover tools to bring more humor into everyday life. The aim is for participants to leave feeling uplifted, connected, and empowered.鈥�听

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YCLML 1038 2tonnes Carbon Footprint (in person)

Time: Friday,听September 18 | Part 1, 10:00听a.m., Part 2, 1:00 pm
Presenter: Denis Habib & Claire Booth
Attendance: In person

鈥�2tonnes" is an immersive, educational workshop that helps you to听identify听solutions to combat climate change and take concrete action. It听lasts听4 hours with two consecutive 2-hour sessions on the same day, with a break between the sessions. Before the workshop, you will receive instructions for completing an online questionnaire to calculate your current carbon footprint. We will then explore the future as a team using an interactive platform, learning how to reach 2 tons eq. CO2 per person by 2050.听听听

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YCLML 1040 Excel for Everyday Budgeting (in person)

Time: Friday, September听25, 1:00 p.m.听听
Presenter: Maria Ezahr
Attendance: In person

Learn how to use Excel as a simple, practical tool to manage your personal budget. This session will walk through organizing everyday expenses, building a clear spending table, and using basic features such as sorting, formulas, and pivot tables to understand where your money goes. No advanced Excel experience required 鈥� just a willingness to learn and bring your own examples.听Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops (if possible), as the workshop will include some hands-on activities. 鈥�

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MCLL Lectures

YCLML 1041 When the Irish Invaded Canada (online)

Time: Friday, September 11, 10:00听a.m.听听听
Presenter: Christopher Klein
Attendance: Online

Klein will recount the Fenian Raids of 1866鈥�71, when鈥疘rish-American鈥痸eterans of the Civil War crossed the border to strike at Britain through its Canadian colonies. He will cover the Fenians鈥� motives and organization, the Canadian and British military responses, and the position of the United States. He will walk us through the major engagement at Ridgeway, Ontario, touch on the lesser clashes in Quebec and Manitoba, and show how the Fenian threat strengthened support for Canadian Confederation.鈥�听

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YCLML 1042 Harvest Dreams for Practical Benefit (online)

Time: Friday, September 11, 1:00听p.m.听听
Presenter: Craig Webb
Attendance: Online

Learn how to cultivate, remember, harvest and act on your nighttime dreams for surprising practical benefits 鈥� including inspired creativity, emotional and physical healing, learning new skills, personal growth, and making important life choices.听The lecturer is an experienced dream analyst and author.听

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YCLML 1043 Spanish Passion in Art (in person)

Time: Friday, September 11, 1:00 p.m.
Presenter: Bonnie Taylor
Attendance: In person

Richly illustrated with PowerPoint images, this presentation听explores the interplay of art,听politics听and religion in Spanish art, tracing the history of traditional Spanish painting as the root of modern Spanish art. Over 500 years, four artists are featured: El Greco, Diego Vel谩zquez, Francisco鈥疓oya鈥痑nd Pablo Picasso, with brief coverage of Joan Mir贸 and Salvador Dal铆. The format is one hour of presentation followed by 30 minutes of discussion.鈥�听

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YCLML 1044 X Troop: Forgotten Heroes of WWII (online)

Time: Friday, September 18, 10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Michael Allen
Attendance: Online

In the early years of the Second World War, a British commando unit was formed from Jewish refugees who had escaped Nazi persecution. Known as X Troop, these young men鈥攎any of whom had lost family members in the Holocaust鈥攚ere highly trained in interrogation, sabotage, and close combat. Fluent in German, they played critical roles in the D-Day landings, the Italian campaign, and post-war denazification. This presentation tells the story of one of the war鈥檚 most extraordinary special forces units.听

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YCLML 1045 Genealogy for Beginners鈥�(in person)

Time: Friday, September 18, 1:00听p.m.听听听
Presenter: Julie Sullivan
Attendance: In person

An introduction to genealogy. Topics covered鈥痠nclude:鈥痺hy genealogy, how to start your research, how to store your findings, sources of information, and what to do when you run into a brick wall.鈥�鈥�听

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YCLML 1046 The Great Omar: a cursed book? (in person)

Time: Friday, September 25, 10:00听a.m.听听听
Presenter: Angella Lambrou
Attendance: In person

Follow the extraordinary history of Sangorski and Sutcliffe, the most celebrated bookbinders of Edwardian England, and their commission to create what was called 鈥渢he greatest modern binding in the world鈥濃�攁 jewelled binding of the Rub谩iy谩t of Omar Khayy谩m.鈥�听

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YCLML 1047听听The Medieval Industrial Revolution (in person)

Time: Friday, September 25, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Harald von Cramon
Attendance: In person

Between the 10th and 13th centuries, European temperatures reached unusually鈥痟igh levels, resulting in better harvests and significant population growth.听At the same time, many new inventions听emerged听that significantly improved people鈥檚 lives.听鈥�听

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YCLML 1048 The Ribosome, Our Protein Factory (online)

Time: Friday, September 25, 1:00听p.m.听听听
Presenter: John Felvinci
Attendance: Online

This lecture will describe the ribosome, the cell鈥檚 molecular machine responsible for manufacturing the proteins essential to life. Ribosomes assemble proteins by linking amino acids in a precise sequence鈥痙etermined鈥痓y the genetic code on DNA. This process has been active since the earliest stages of life on Earth.听Ribosome functions will be presented through clear, accessible visual representations.听

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YCLML 1049 MAiD: Where鈥疻e鈥檙e鈥痑t in Quebec (online)

Time: Friday, October 2, 10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Claude Rivard
Attendance: Online

Dr. Rivard, who has spoken to us on this topic twice before, will bring us up to date on the status of medical鈥痑ssistance鈥痠n dying in Canada and Quebec. He will remind us how鈥疢AiD鈥痓ecame legal across Canada in 2016 following a Supreme Court decision and lengthy parliamentary debates, with Quebec having enacted its own legislation the year before. He will then address how widely鈥疢AiD鈥痠s practised today, before focusing on advance requests鈥攍egal only in Quebec鈥攁nd the debate over鈥疢AiD鈥痜or patients with mental illness.鈥�听

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YCLML 1050 To Axe or Not To Axe the Carbon Tax (in person)

Time: Friday, October 2, 10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Sam Brand
Attendance: In person

Carbon taxes and other market-based solutions 鈥� such as cap-and-trade schemes under the Kyoto Protocol 鈥� have been used to address growing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Different approaches have distinct pros and cons. This presentation explains the basic types of solutions (taxes, offset credits, and trading schemes) and reviews their effectiveness, efficiency, costs, and benefits.听听听

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YCLML 1051 Separation Anxiety: Alberta and Quebec (online)

Time: Friday, October 2, 1:00 p.m.听
Presenter: Brian Webber & Ron Foyer
Attendance: Online

A referendum is central to the Parti Qu茅b茅cois platform for the October 5 election, and Alberta holds a referendum on October 19. In a joint session with the Calgary Association for Lifelong Learning (CALL), MCLL members will learn first-hand about the driving forces behind Alberta鈥檚 moves on sovereignty. We will then share with our CALL colleagues lessons learned from Quebec鈥檚鈥痯revious鈥痳eferendum experiences and the prospects for a future one.鈥�听

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YCLML 1052 Susanna and the Elders (online)

Time: Friday, October 9, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Susan van Gelder
Attendance: Online

Who was Susanna? In this story from the Bible, she was a virtuous woman who nonetheless faced a #MeToo moment as depicted by artists through the ages. This lecture will relate the story: in the visual arts she was initially represented as the virtuous woman of the Book of Daniel, but her image slowly evolved. In musical depictions she鈥痳emained鈥痶rue to the original story.鈥疻e'll鈥痶ake a tour of both arts through the ages.鈥�鈥�听

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YCLML 1053 The Necessity for Rituals in Grief and Loss (in person)

Time: Friday, October 9, 10:00听a.m.听
Presenter: Georgia Remond
Attendance: In person

Throughout human history, people have relied on rituals to mark important life transitions. In death, a prescribed way of laying a loved one to rest provided structure and comfort. This lecture explores rituals from keening to contemporary approaches to interring ashes and opens a conversation on the importance of preserving old rituals 鈥� or creating new ones 鈥� to help process grief and loss.听听听

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YCLML 1054 The Myth of Human Supremacy (online)

Time: Friday, October 9, 1:00 p.m.听
Presenter: Nandita Bajaj
Attendance: Online

The myth of human exceptionalism casts humans as separate from and superior to the rest of life. It keeps us from appreciating the incredible beauty and complexity of other beings and their cultures and justifies their exploitation. The lecturer will cover the historical roots of this myth, its contemporary practices and norms, a window into the rich world of other species, and pathways that allow us to co-flourish. The lecturer has interviewed leading animal behavior experts and scientists on her podcast OVERSHOOT.听

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YCLML 1056 Sefton Delmer's Secret War (online)

Time: Friday, October 16, 10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Harry Belsey
Attendance: Online

In April 1931, bilingual Australian Sefton Delmer became the first English-language journalist to interview Adolf Hitler. In 1940, Delmer was recruited by the British Political Warfare Executive to organize "black propaganda" radio broadcasts to Germany as part of a psychological warfare campaign. He set up several radio stations that, despite their coarseness and explicit content, became鈥痸ery popular鈥痠n Germany and, by combining facts with disinformation, succeeded in undermining support for the Nazi regime.鈥�听

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YCLML 1026 My Journey in Writing Sonnets (online)

This lecture reflects on a personal creative journey that began about eighteen months ago, when one of the presenters, having never imagined writing poetry, started composing English sonnets. Through selected examples, the talk explores what these sonnets are about, why they came into being and why writing them has become a source of joy and positive addiction. It also highlights the cognitive, emotional and social benefits of this creative practice, including the constructive use of modern tools.

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YCLML 1057 Overturning History in B.C. (online)

Time: Friday, October 16, 1:00 p.m.听
Presenter: Robin Fisher
Attendance: Online

In 1964, two First Nations residents of the Nanaimo area were convicted under provincial game laws for hunting deer out of season. They appealed, citing a treaty signed by a British governor in 1854 guaranteeing Indigenous hunting rights. The court ruled in their favour, opening the door to further such decisions across Canada. This story is of current relevance given the controversy over the status of UNDRIP, the United Nations declaration on Indigenous rights, in British Columbia.鈥�听

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YCLML 1058 Writing: Crafting of Style (in person)

Time: Friday, October 16, 1:00听p.m.听听
Presenter: Maxine Ruvinsky
Attendance: In person

This participatory lecture explores techniques and exercises designed to enhance your writing style, including the practice of modelling鈥攐ften called the royal road to style. Following a brief introductory presentation, participants will engage in modelling exercises drawn from the lecture.

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YCLML 1059 Captain Cook and the HMS Endeavour (online)

Time: Friday, October 23, 10:00 a.m.听
Presenter: Peter Atkinson
Attendance: Online

This talk focuses on James Cook鈥檚 1768鈥�71 voyage of discovery on HMS听Endeavour,听while also covering his earlier role in the Seven Years鈥� War and his two later Pacific voyages before his death at the hands of Hawaiian warriors in 1778. Originally a coal carrier, the听Endeavour听was鈥痯urchased鈥痓y the Royal Navy for exploration, later served as a transport in the American Revolutionary War, and was finally scuttled as a prison ship in Newport, Rhode Island, to block French entry.鈥�听

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YCLML 1055 Understanding Hearing Loss (in person)

Time: Friday, October 23, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Dale Bonnycastle & Debra Fisher
Attendance: In person

Hearing loss becomes more common with age and often develops so gradually that it goes unrecognized. Because hearing changes are widely misunderstood, this session highlights early signs to watch鈥痜or鈥痑nd the impact hearing loss can have on communication and social connection. It also鈥痯rovides鈥痯ractical guidance on what to do when hearing begins to decline, including when to seek assessment, what technology options are available, and how to adopt effective communication strategies.鈥�

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YCLML 1060 The Rise and Fall of the Aztecs (in person)

Time: Friday, October 23, 1:00听p.m.
Presenter: Peter Berry
Attendance: In person

At the start of the 16th century, the Aztec Empire under Moctezuma II dominated central Mexico. Within a remarkably听short time听it had been conquered by Spanish conquistadors and their Indigenous allies. The victors would go on to lay the foundations of what would become modern Mexico.听听听

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YCLML 1061 Walking: The Road Less Travelled (online)

Time: Friday, October 23, 1:00听p.m.听听听
Presenter: Cherie Gregor & Leslie Nash
Attendance: Online

Long-distance walking offers a powerful blend of physical fitness, mental鈥痵timulation鈥痑nd personal growth. This lecture explores village-to-village walking and how it improves health, reduces鈥痵tress鈥痑nd strengthens emotional resilience. Participants gain practical skills and valuable experiential learning while discovering how travelling on foot can help build friendships,鈥痗ommunity鈥痑nd a sense of accomplishment. The lecture offers an easy path to wellness, confidence,鈥痬indfulness鈥痑nd a deeper connection with the world.鈥�鈥�听

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YCLML 1062 Michel Chartier de鈥疞otbini猫re (in person)

Time: Friday, October 30, 10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Jean-Pierre Raymond
Attendance: In person

Born in Quebec City, Michel Chartier de Lotbini猫re was involved in the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years鈥� War (at Fort Carillon, now known as Fort Ticonderoga), and the American Revolutionary War. He also played a role in the negotiation of the Quebec Act. Short YouTube videos filmed in 2014 at Pointe-脿-Calli猫re are available by searching either under the presenter鈥檚 name or the character鈥檚 name.鈥�听

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YCLML 1063 Picturing the Tudors: I (in person)

Time: Friday, October 30, 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Robert Tittler
Attendance: In person

Picturing the Tudors I: The Courtly Portrait.听The first of three talks on Tudor era portraiture, this session explores how such images served the political and dynastic interests of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.听The Tudors came to rule not by inheritance but by conquest, requiring an imagery that legitimized their claims. Henry VIII's break from Rome also required an imagery to justify royal dominance over the Church. Both rulers used portraiture to stabilize their rule.

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YCLML 1064 Conquering Writers鈥� Block (in person)

Time: Friday, October 30, 1:00听p.m.听
Presenter: Maxine Ruvinsky
Attendance: In person

This participatory lecture explores the psychology behind writers鈥� block and introduces practical techniques to overcome the 鈥渟tuck鈥� feeling that every writer experiences from time to time.听

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YCLML 1065 Henry V 鈥� Preparing for Agincourt (online)

Time: 听Friday, October 30, 1:00听p.m.听听
Presenter: Alana Gowdy
Attendance: Online

Often considered one of England鈥檚 most effective kings, Henry V was a warrior, a scholar, and a shrewd politician.听听Unfortunately, Shakespeare's dramatic portrayal has provided centuries of misleading information.听听This lecture will reveal the reality of Henry's youth as he prepared to inherit a country which was at war with its neighbours and itself.听

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YCLML 1066 Existentialism Revisited (in person)

Time: 听Friday, November 6, 10:00听a.m.听听听
Presenter: Lewis Cattarini
Attendance: In person

Have we been misled by the ultra-dry realism of existential philosophy to the detriment of not recognizing values?听The lecturer will read excerpts from his philosophical book, Beyond Sartre and Sterility, which was first published in abbreviated form forty years ago. There will also be passages from influential work by other past thinkers.听

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YCLML 1068 History鈥檚 Largest Chariot Battle (online)

Time: Friday, November 6, 1:00听p.m.听听
Presenter: John Felvinci
Attendance: Online

In 1274 BCE, a battle was fought between the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II and the Hittite King Muwatalli II at Kadesh. The battle 鈥� a strategic stalemate 鈥� is described in detail in Egyptian temple inscriptions, including at the鈥疪amesseum听memorial temple. It involved armies with thousands of chariots on both sides. We will examine the challenges of training and supplying such vast numbers of horses. After the war, the oldest known peace treaty听was signed and records of it have survived to this day.听

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YCLML 1069 HORSES: History 15,000BCE to 1940CE鈥�(in person)

Time: Friday, November 6, 1:00听p.m.听听听
Presenter: Jonathan Meakins
Attendance: In person

The lecture will outline the origin of horses, their migrations,鈥痙omestication鈥痑nd early role in society. Following description of various inventions (saddles, stirrups, etc.), their importance in war, farming,鈥痶ransport鈥痑nd society in general will be illustrated with maps, drawings, images in art and photography with鈥痑ppropriate descriptions.听The speaker will show how the significance of horses has evolved.听听

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YCLML 1070 AI and the New World Order (online)

Time: 听Friday,听November听20,听10:00听a.m.听听
Presenter: Alan Freeland
Attendance: Online

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the global balance of power. This presentation explores how AI is transforming economies, research, warfare,鈥痝overnance鈥痑nd everyday life, while driving competition between nations for technological sovereignty. Using examples from the United States, China, Europe,鈥疘ndia鈥痑nd Russia, it examines which countries are best positioned to鈥痓enefit鈥痜rom AI, the risks involved and how this鈥痭ew鈥痶echnology鈥痬ay redefine prosperity,鈥痵ecurity鈥痑nd international influence in the鈥痽ears ahead.鈥�听

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YCLML 1071 US Midterm Election鈥疪esults (online)

Time: Friday,听November听20, 10:00听a.m.听
Presenter: Jeff Sidel
Attendance: Online

An in-depth analysis of the November 2026 U.S. midterm election results and what they mean going forward.鈥�鈥�听

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YCLML 1072 A Snapshot Report/Analysis: AI NOW (online)

Time: Friday, November 20, 1:00 p.m.听
Presenter: Michael Moore
Attendance: Online

An in-depth report on the state of AI since my鈥痯revious鈥痩ecture on June 5th. One hundred and sixty days on, the most recent advances, achievements,鈥痵uccesses鈥痑nd disappointments will be reviewed from an industry perspective. Specific instances of the most successful achievements and their relevance to everyday life will be鈥痵howcased.鈥�听

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YCLML 1073 US Midterm Election鈥疪esults: Repeat (online)

Time: 听Friday, November 20, 1:00听p.m.听
Presenter: Jeff Sidel
Attendance: Online

An in-depth analysis of the November 2026 U.S. midterm election results and what they mean going forward.鈥�鈥�听

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