E-News32-14

About OLLI E-News

OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff

Chief Editor/Technical Editor: Irene Osterman
Associate Editor:
Weekly Editorial Team: Paul Van Hemel, Sheri Siesseger, Leslie Vandivere,
Proofreaders: John West, Gordon Canyock, Susan Van Hemel
Backup Chief Editor: Sheri Siesseger

Submissions. Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles and photos. Submit material to: [email protected].
Deadline – 6:00 pm Tuesday for that week's issue (6:00 pm Monday for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words.
Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.

Print a condensed .pdf copy of this newsletter, two web pages per sheet of paper. Website   What's New   Catalog   DocStore   Facebook   Officials   Member Portal   Contact Us Event 975: Final Chapter? The Future of the Book; Presented Oct 29 by Edwin S. (“Sam”) Clay, Fairfax County Public Library Director November 7, 2014 Editor of the Week: Michelle Blandburg Table of Contents Alerts & Notices OLLI’s Inclement Weather Policy This Is Ben Bradlee Computer Club OLLI Book Club Photography Club Poet's Corner Arts & Music at George Mason Mason Highlights Meetings & Clubs About OLLI E-News Alerts & Notices The Program Committee needs your ideas for future courses. Please take this survey by the November 14th: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MDZ77C8 After next Friday Nov 14th, the E-News will be published on a reduced schedule. We will publish on Dec 5, Dec 19 and Jan 9.   Back to Top of Page OLLI’s Inclement Weather Policy By Alice Slayton Clark, Communications Associate As a rule of thumb, OLLI follows the county public school systems with respect to inclement weather policy. If the county public school systems close due to weather emergencies, the OLLI office will close and classes and events will be canceled. When county public school systems announce a delayed opening, OLLI will generally open on time. For example, for classes/events in Fairfax (Tallwood) and Reston, OLLI abides by the closing determinations of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). The following is a link to the FCPS webpage where emergency announcements are posted:  www.fcps.edu/news/emerg.shtml. You can also sign up for the FCPS messaging service, Keep in Touch (KIT) Plus, which will send you notices about school closings and related developments: www.fcps.edu/kit/. For classes/events in Loudoun, OLLI abides by the closing of the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). The following is a link to the LCPS webpage: www.lcps.org. You can also sign up for the LCPS messaging service, Loudoun Alert, which will send you up to the minute notices about school closings: www.loudoun.gov/index.aspx?NID=3145.   Because OLLI uses George Mason classrooms in Loudoun, OLLI abides by Mason decisions to delay or close there. Mason emergency notices are posted on the Mason home page at www.gmu.edu. You can sign up and receive (via email, text or phone call) emergency notices through “Mason Alerts” at www.alert.gmu.edu. At the page, click the blue button on the right that says "Guest Account," and then click the "Register" button on the next page to provide contact information. When Mason announces a delayed opening, OLLI may need to cancel the first class of the day in Loudoun only. To avoid confusion, OLLI will send an email to members in the affected classes by 8:30.    Please listen to local television or radio station for closing announcements. You can also check the “What’s New” page on the OLLI website (www.olli.gmu.edu) or the Tallwood answering machine (703-503-3384) to confirm closing information. Please use your best judgment about personal safety regarding travel to and from OLLI during inclement weather.   Back to Top of Page This Is Ben Bradlee By Robert Webb, OLLI Member   Bob Webb has been an OLLI member since 1999 and has taught many courses, including ones on early American history, the Civil War history (including tours) and the press. After eight years at the Detroit Free Press, I came to the Washington Post in 1965. Several months after I arrived, Katherine Graham hired Ben Bradlee. Ben proceeded to build a legendary staff and newsroom. I remained at the Post for 32 years, including Ben’s entire 26-year career there. Initially as a National Desk editor, I ran it nightside. I eventually supervised a dayside staff of about 30 reporters and stringers covering health, law, technology, politics and the nation at large. Bradlee had frequent requests and admonitions. For example, he told me that federal officials had alerted him of a then-unknown peril called AIDS to make it a news priority. He asked for a study of our Watergate reporting and Nixon's attempts to counter our coverage by staging other events. Ben also sought in-depth coverage on the fabrication of the Gulf of Tonkin incident. He sometimes bailed me out, as when he once found me late at night taking an abusive call from Russell Long, the powerful senator from Louisiana. Ben got on an extension and growled, “Senator, this is Bradlee. You’re s---faced. Go to bed.” Later, as an editor on the main News Desk, which was Bradlee’s arm in the newsroom, I attended story conferences with Ben and took issues to him. I occasionally called Bradlee at home if crises arose when I was the late news editor putting out multiple editions.   Finally, I was an editor in Outlook, Sunday's intellectual and commentary section where I wrote, screened, commissioned and edited manuscripts. Ben also gave me special projects, such as working with Raytheon to create the Post’s first computerized writing-editing-production system; assisting the film crew on "All the Presidents Men;" writing a new Post stylebook and serving as lead editor on Apollo coverage and the Apollo 11 mission. Ben loved and understood reporters; he had been one of them. However, he didn’t understand the quieter and more introspective editors. Ben really wasn’t an editor himself; he was a commander who assembled and deployed a grand army of journalists. He barely knew how the paper operated; he knew only that reporters wrote stories and that somehow, through editors’ alchemy, they appeared as a newspaper the next morning. These were the years when American journalism matured. After the war, (especially in the McCarthy period), the press began taking itself seriously as a protector of rights and a watchdog over government, economic and even social institutions. The Post exemplified this new role with the Pentagon Papers and Watergate. Under Bradlee, we were groundbreakers of journalism. The world will never be the same.   Back to Top of Page Computer Club By Paul Howard, Computer Club Coordinator The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet Saturday, November 15th at Tallwood. Join us at 12:30 for soft drinks and socializing in the social room. Presentations will begin at 1:00. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG website. What is Computer Forensics? Presented by Bob Osgood, Director, Computer Forensics and Data Analytics Engineering, George Mason University Computer forensics is a field where computer science, computer engineering, law, and ethics are combined with the goal of collecting, analyzing, and reporting on digital evidence, so that the evidence can be admitted to a court of law. The briefing will present an overview of computer forensics to include what Mason is doing in this area. Bob Osgood is the Director of Computer Forensics and Data Analytics at Mason and retired after 26 years as an FBI agent with extensive experience in digital forensics. Learn-30: A Brief Look at Apple Computers Presented by Lorrin Garson How do Apple computers work in comparison to Windows machines? In what ways are they similar and how do they differ? This Learn-30 is a brief overview of the basics aimed toward those who use Windows computers. This will include such topics as: (a) email, (b) contacts, (c) reminders, (d) notes, (e) the App Store, (f) checking for and installing updates, (g) invoking applications, (h) office productivity tools, (i) backup and recovery... as many topics as 30 minutes allows. See full details on this meeting by clicking here. For information on the Computer Club, see the OPCUG website. OPCUG dues of $5 for 2015 will be collected at this meeting.   Back to Top of Page OLLI Book Club   By Ceda McGrew, Book Club Coordinator     The OLLI Book Club will meet on Wednesday, November 12 at 1:30 at Tallwood. The book for discussion is The Uncommon Reader, a novella by award winning British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author Alan Bennett. In it Queen Elizabeth II becomes obsessed with reading after a chance encounter with a mobile library (bookmobile). In 2008 The Uncommon Reader was the book chosen for All Fairfax Reads. All OLLI members are welcome.   The book for December is Book by Book by Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize winning book critic for the Washington Post. Back to Top of Page Photography Club By Dan Feighery    Speakers for the OLLI Photo Club meeting (on Friday, November 14th at 9:30 in TA-1) will be Dan & Jean Feighery. They will discuss planning for stateside and overseas trips, including some important international travel tips. They will use their trip to Seattle to see an opera, illustrating how they select and take photos, as well as preparing an OLLI Trip Tales Presentation. Sizing photos for a PowerPoint or other presentation will also be covered. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the Club's website.   Back to Top of Page Poet's Corner Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop   In Arlington   Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori—Horace   In Arlington, across the rolling green That somehow speaks of drums in old tattoo, The granite hosts in ordered march are seen In final and perpetual review.   No protests here, no placards on parade, Within the ranks and columns of the dead. No chanted slogans, only silent shade And quiet affirmations left unsaid.   These hosts file past with honors old yet new. No marches play, but drums and drummers mute Keep cadence for this timeless, hushed review: And Honor, standing, takes their last salute.   Mike Mc Namara   Back to Top of Page Arts & Music at George Mason Performances, next two weeks By Shelly Gersten, OLLI E-News Staff Writer For tickets for either CFA or Hylton, call 1-888-945-2468, buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below), or visit the venue's box office. For more information see the CFA ticket page or the Hylton ticket purchase page. At the Fairfax Campus Venues Martha Graham Dance Company Fri, Nov 7, 8:00 Copeland's Appalachian Spring Suite Graham's Cave of the Heart Graham's Maple Leaf Rag (Graham's last work) Foniadakis' Echo Pre-Performance Discussion: Janet Eilber, Martha Graham Dance Company Artistic Director Concert Hall Admission: $46, $39, $28   A Little Business at the Big Top Written and performed by David Gaines Fri, Nov 7 and Sat, Nov 8, 8:00 TheaterSpace Admission: Adults, $25; seniors, $15   Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Luke Frazier, guest conductor Sat, Nov 8, 8:00 Harris Theatre Admission: $60, $45, $25   Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Three Great B's – Bach, Beethoven, and Bartok! Sun, Nov 9, 7:00 Admission: $40, $34, $24 Czech Philharmonic Fri, Nov 14, 8:00 Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano Jiří Bělohlávek, conductor Program includes: Taras Bulba by Janáček, Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S. 125 by Liszt, Symphony No. 9, "From the New World", Op. 95 by Dvořák Pre-Performance Discussion: 8:00 Josef Spacek; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Concertmaster Concert Hall Admission: $70, $60, $42.   American Festival Pops Orchestra: Lights, Camera, Action! Sat, Nov 15, 8:00 Norma Douglas Zimdahl, piano Music from the Cinema, Television, and Broadway Pre-Performance Discussion: Bryan Kidd; AFPO Arranger Concert Hall Admission: $48, $41, $29.   L.A. Theatre Works: In the Heat of the Night Sun, Nov 16, 7:00 Pre-Performance Discussion: Members of the Company Concert Hall Admission: $44, $37, $26.   Back to Top of Page Mason Student & Faculty Performances (see music.gmu.edu for additional student recitals) Honors Music Festival Opening Concert Fri, Nov 7, 7:00 – 9:00 deLaski 3001 Admission: Free   Honors Music Festival Final Performance Sun, Nov 9, 3:00 – 5:00 Concert Hall Admission: Free Mason Dance Company Fall Concert Thur, Nov 13 - Sat, Nov 15, 8:00 Fri, Nov 14, 2:00 Harris Theatre Admission: Adults, $15; seniors, $10.   Mason Wind Symphony (Guest conductor Dr. Zhang Haifeng was Visiting Scholar at OLLI's Music Sampler class at Tallwood on Oct 28.) Thur, Nov 13, 8:00 Concert Hall Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, $5.   Flute Choir Concert Fri, Nov 14, 7:00 deLaski 3001 Admission: Free   Percussion Ensemble Concert Sun, November 16, 3:00 deLaski 3001 Admission: Free   Mason Jazz Vocal Night Sun, Nov 16, 7:00 Harris Theatre Admission: Free   Jazz Workshop Concert Mon, Nov 17, 8:00 Harris Theatre     Back to Top of Page At the Hylton Center Nature Visions Photo Expo Now through Nov 16 The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00 - 6:00, Thu., 10:00 - 8:00 and two hours before performances. Gallery Reception: Thu, Oct 2 from 6:00 - 8:00. For more information about the current exhibit, visit HyltonCenter.org/gallery. For reception RSVP to [email protected]. Admission: Free Manassas Ballet Theatre: COLIN: Son, Marine, Hero Fri, Nov 7 and Sat, Nov 8, 7:30 Sun, Nov 9, 3:00 Merchant Hall Admission: $45, $35, $25, $15 The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Tues, Nov 11, 7:30 Merchant Hall Admission: Free.   Altered Terrain Today Rosemary Luckett, artist Nov 16 - Feb 1 The Buchanan Partners Art Gallery is open to the public Tue-Sat, 10:00 - 6:00, Thur., 10:00 - 8:00 and two hours before performances. Gallery Reception: Thur, Nov 20 from 6:00 - 8:00. For more information about the current exhibit, visit HyltonCenter.org/gallery. For reception RSVP to [email protected]. Admission: Free     Back to Top of Page For further details on any of the above events, please see the CFA event calendar and the Hylton Center event calendar Back to Top of Page Mason Highlights Other Mason events, next two weeks By Helen Ackerman, OLLI E-News Staff Writer Veterans Day Luncheon All veterans are invited to attend the luncheon, hosted by the Office of the President. Keynote speaker is Colonel Tom Brown, US Army War College Fellow. Tue, Nov 11, 11:45. Concert Hall Lobby. Admission:  Free. RSVP required to Conrad Brown at [email protected]. Seminar: Medicaid's Role in the U.S. Health Care Systems Dr. Anne Schwartz, Executive Director of Medicaid and the CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), discusses this important issue. Thu, Nov 20, 12:15 to 1:45. Merten Hall, Room 1202. Admission: Free.     Back to Top of Page Meetings & Clubs The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office, with direct web links added when available. The list is accurate as of mid-week but to check anytime for the latest information, please view the latest forecast of upcoming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, Kickoff Coffees, etc. (bolded below). Sat Nov 8 10:30am Tai Chi Club–TA-3 Tue Nov 11 10:00am Knitting and Needlework Club–Panera, Herndon Wed Nov 12  1:30pm  1:45pm Book Club–TA-2 Bridge Club–TA-3 Thu Nov 13  1:30pm Loudoun Program Planning Group Fri Nov 14  9:00am  9:30am 10:00am 11:00am 11:00am Recorder Consort–TA-3 Photography Club–TA-1 Craft and Conversation–Cottage Homer, etc–Annex Moby Dick Club–TA-2 Sat Nov 15 10:30am  1:00pm Tai Chi Club–TA-3 Computer Club–TA-1 Mon Nov 17 10:00am What’s in the Daily News, cont’d–TA-1 Tue Nov 18 10:00am Knitting and Needlework Club–Panera, Herndon Wed Nov 19 10:30am 10:30am  1:30pm  1:45pm Mah Jongg Club–TA-2 Tom Crooker Investment Forum–TA-1 Strategic Planning Committee–TA-3 A/V CommitteeTraining/Meeting–TA-1 Fri Nov 21  9:00am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am Recorder Consort–TA-3 Board of Directors Meeting–TA-1 Craft and Conversation–Cottage Homer, etc–Annex Back to Top of Page