This course begins by explaining two approaches to studying history. The first is critical history: how are the facts of history determined? The second is speculative history: what is the meaning of history? The large share of the course deals with exploring different theories concerning how history operates. Some of the main issues are: What pushes history forward? What drives people to act as they do? Is there a direction of history? What, if anything, is the purpose of history? Instructor: Robert Rainwater, Ph.D.

(room 218). How can you establish journal writing as an everyday habit and how can that be of benefit in your everyday life? Veteran writer and editor, Norma Parker Wilson, will share tips, prompts, and motivations, maybe even some of her journal entries. You can share yours as well, if you want. Bring your journal and a writing goal or two.

(room 218) Please join this six week class aimed to help cancer survivors and caregivers to increase self-management skills to better cope with the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that can occur after dealing with this major event. Instructors: Marilyn Maxwell, past Director of Mountain Empire Older Citizen and Betsy Grossman works for the University of Virginia Cancer Center which provides cancer education, service programs, and community health based research to foster community health and help reduce cancer disparities in Southwest Virginia.

(café). Come and learn to spin with a drop spindle, and then knit the yarn you make. All levels welcome. Spinning kit (drop spindle and fleece) may be purchased at beginning of class. Maximum number 8. Instructors: Fiona Zahnke and Jo Johnston.

(room 226). Join Niota Hensley for a study and discussion of the book - edited by Richard Ford and featuring stories by Russell Banks, Alice Munro, Tobias Wolff, Jhumpa Lahiri, John Cheever, and many others. “Blue Collar, White Collar, No Collar is a profound and groundbreaking anthology exploring resonant themes of employment, service, and daily obligations as unique windows into our culture, our society, and our very humanity”.

(TEA). The 25th Amendment deals with the transition of power in the event of the death or incapacity of the President or Vice President. Let’s look at the Amendment in the context of the events surrounding its inception, its use during Watergate and its continuing relevance today. The discussion and study will be based on the book by the Amendment’s principal author John Ferrick: The 25th Amendment, Its Complete History and Applications. Purchase of the book is not required. Instructor: Susan Stancill, an inactive attorney who has taught at the university and community college level.

Please join Dr. Don Michael Hudson for what should be a fascinating look at the world’s second largest religion. Dr. Hudson is Chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at King University and is a frequent traveler to the Middle East. He has given more than 300 research and public scholarship presentations in 47 states and 21 countries.

(room 226). Everyone is a storyteller because everyone has a story to tell. Explore the basics of Storytelling, not only as an oral tradition and art form, but from the social and cultural aspects as well. Come be a part of the tale! Listen, reminisce, laugh, explore and share your story. Class Leader; Rema Keen, who is a writer and performance/teaching artist. Rema has performed in a number of regional theatres, including the Barter and toured with Appalshop’s Roadside Theater.

DVD. (room 231). Join Dr. Stephen Ressler of the Military Academy at West Point for a fascinating look at ancient buildings, roads, aqueducts, bridges and “machines”. This is one of the DVD series from the Teaching Company/ Great Courses.

(Room 222 ). A taste of the exotic has found its way to Abingdon. Local folks share memories of their travels. January 17, Frank Renault, Autumn in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks; January 24, Bill Shanks, In the Realm of the Great Explorers: Voyage to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands; January 31, Ted Pile Super Natural Vancouver Island, Wild Alaska and the Oregon Coast, February 7, Craig Ashbrook, Scenic Ireland; February 14, Eileen Garner, Exploring the Greek Isles; February 21, Bob Craig, Cruising the Mediterranean: Venice to Barcelona .

(room 226). Cultural geography is the study of the interplay of humans with the surface of the earth. It thus includes cultural ecology—the interactions between societies and their habitats, including means of subsistence; cultural landscape—the earth’s surface as modified by people, including settlement patterns, field systems, building types, and transportation infrastructure; cultural diffusion—the spreading of culture traits over time, including of languages, technologies, and religions; and environmental perception—how humans see and categorize their surroundings. We will dip into these and other fascinating cultural geographical topics. The emphasis will be on pre-modern peoples. Instructor, Stephen Jett, Ph.D.

(room 226). Have you discovered the wide variety of TED Talks on the web? Kathy Baldwin and Erin Oneisom will lead a discussion following each of 2 or 3 TED Talks watched in class each week. Subjects for the talks this term will focus on Connection, Creativity, and Discovery. Participants are encouraged to submit suggestions for TED Talks to be watched in future terms. TED is a global nonprofit dedicated to ideas worth spreading. TED’s goal is to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.

(café) Come and discuss the latest Art Array movie. There is no one leader – come and express your opinion/s.

(room 231) Join Professor John Hale for “enthusiastic” tour of Greece. Athens, Attica, Cornith, Delphi and the Islands will be “toured” – an exceptional series!

(room 149). First time ever at the COA - please join teacher/caller Judy Johnson for a lively dancing class. For beginners to advanced. Prepared to do-si-do and promenade.

(room 226). DVD from PBS. Named by American Library Association as “Best Video of the Year”. This four part series will be shown and discussion will follow. There will two additional speakers/ DVDs shown relating to our beloved region.

(room 226). This course will begin with a focus on some basic skills of critical thinking with emphasis upon the construction of good arguments. That skill will then be applied to the process of making good arguments in defense of a position on contemporary ethical issues. The instructor is Dr. T. Edward Damer, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Emory & Henry College, author of a popular textbook on critical thinking, called Attacking Faulty Reasoning.

(TEA). Please join retired cardiologist, Larry Cox, M.D., for comprehensive look into current medical topics. Class 1. Medical Epistemology (Philosophy); Class 2. Screening Tests; Class 3. Following A Healthy Lifestyle; Class 4. Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease; Class 5. General Topics; Class 6. Medical Myths

(TEA). One hundred years ago, the United States declared war on Germany in response to unrestricted submarine attacks on American ships. Our forces ranked 17th in the world with only 200,000 troops, largely trained in the past to fight frontier battles against Indians and Mexican bandits. And yet by the war's end, 19 months later, the US Army had mobilized, trained and equipped four million men. Under General Pershing's leadership the American Expeditionary Force tipped the balance in Europe, ending the stalemate that had consumed millions of lives. This is the story of our emergence as a world power. Instructor: Lee Saunders.

Why would anyone sit cross-legged, on the floor, empty-headed, doing nothing? Many people believe that mindlessness is the whole point of meditation. In reality, learning meditation involves listening to how the mind works, then adopting more skillful ways of managing awareness. Stress reduction, lower blood pressure, longer life, a healthier body and happiness result from a meditative mind. Come practice with us and learn some techniques about how to achieve your goals. Instructor: Rob Smith, who has had a practice of meditation and Buddhism for more than 15 years.

(room 231). Join Chef Bill Briwa of the American Culinary Institute for a great cooking course. Chef Bill will cook classic dishes from Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Istanbul, and Greece. Copies of recipes will be passed out each class.

(TEA). Erin Oneisom will host this wonderful look at some films of one of Hollywood’s most famous leading men. Movies to be shown include Arsenic and Old Lace, Father Goose, Operation Petticoats, Destination Tokyo. Did Cary ever really say Judy, Judy, Judy?

Join August Lageman, Ph.D. for a look at the shamanistic modality of healing. Open to beginners as well as experienced practitioners.