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The 2022 Russian invasion of the Ukraine shocked political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. In the prelude to the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukraine an “artificial” nation claiming that it had always been part of Russia. On what basis does he make this claim and what shapes Putin’s broader outlook about the place of Russia in the modern world. NATO and the United States in particular, have so far rejected military interventions and opted instead to use economic leverage in the form of sanctions and weapons supplies over direct action. Yet after four years of heavy fighting, casualties on both sides running into the hundreds of thousands, and billions in Western financial aid, there is still no end in sight. How should we think about the significance of this war, its causes and its meaning for the United States in the current state of world affairs? This course aims to provide attendees with an in-depth analysis of these questions. It offers insights on the roots of Russia’s war on Ukraine, where it stands today, and the consequences of its outcome for the future of American foreign policy.

This course can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom. Walk-ins are not permitted.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

In this lecture, we will unpack how the media — in national newspapers such as The New York Times and El Universal and through alternative media like Twitter in both in Mexico and the United States — frames and portrays drug-related violence and related issues like gun trafficking. We will examine how drug-related violence and gun trafficking are framed as social problems in Mexico, while “spillover violence” is often portrayed in the U.S. as a moral panic.

This lecture can be attended virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

While a naval officer’s career is often defined by command at sea, some of the most critical "battles" are fought in the halls of the United Nations, the corridors of the State Department, and the briefing rooms of the White House. This course offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the role of the military diplomat. We will explore the complex art of "uniformed diplomacy," from drafting UN Security Council resolutions on maritime sanctions to the delicate linguistic and cultural nuances required to negotiate a new treaty with the Russian Federation. Through real-world anecdotes—including how a quote from Pushkin broke a diplomatic impasse—we will discuss the challenge of building 50-country coalitions, managing the legal frameworks of seized assets, and providing strategic counsel to the President when the stakes are nothing less than global stability.

This two-part lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom. Walk-ins are not permitted.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

As far as countries go, the United States is fairly young. Nevertheless, it has indeed made its own contributions to religion and spirituality. In this two-part lecture, we’ll examine what particular religious movements have developed in the United States, and we’ll see how those movements have affected the religious landscape in general. We’ll discuss William Miller and the beginning of the Adventists, we’ll consider Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism, and we’ll explore the Restoration movement and the two Great Awakenings. In all of these things, we will develop a stronger context for American religious life, and most importantly, better understand our own country.

This two-part lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom. Walk-ins are not permitted.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

This lecture examines the themes and arguments in Eric Gamino’s Enforcing Order on the Border, exploring how law-enforcement agencies construct, maintain, and justify “order” in the border region. We will analyze the social, political, and historical forces that shape policing practices, the lived experiences of officers and migrants, and the mechanisms through which the border becomes a site of control, conflict, and negotiation. The session highlights how border enforcement reflects broader debates about national security, immigration policy, and state power.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom. Walk-ins are not permitted.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

In his short yet brilliant career of 10 years, Vincent van Gogh created hundreds of works of art and posthumously became one of the most famous Western painters and mainstays of modern art. Through the correspondence with his younger brother, art dealer Theo van Gogh, most of what is known of Vincent's thoughts, hopes, disappointments and struggles, and flashes of inspiration are recorded in the hundreds of letters they exchanged. As we view his work through the lens of his correspondence with his brother, we'll cover his work through his early years, through his focused studies on the South of France, and ultimately his tragic final period.

This lecture can be attended virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Artificial Intelligence often arrives in our lives wrapped in either hype or fear: Miraculous promises on one side, dystopian nightmares on the other. This lecture takes a different path. We will calmly and thoughtfully explore what AI actually is, what it is not, and why it matters deeply to people over 50—while remaining equally relevant to undergraduates and lifelong learners. The central message is simple: AI is not a replacement for wisdom, but a tool to enhance human enlightenment.

Through stories, demonstrations, graphics, short videos, and carefully chosen quotations from the pioneers of AI, the talk aims to show how AI can enhance creativity, productivity, learning, health, and connection—without surrendering autonomy or dignity. This lecture also endeavors to confront real potential dangers, including: over automation, bias, dependency, misinformation, and loss of meaning. Attendees will leave, hopefully not merely informed, but empowered, amused, and equipped with a practical framework for using AI wisely.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom. Walk-ins are not permitted.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Innovative and controversial, James Abbott McNeill Whistler was a figure of paradoxes. Born in the small town of Lowell, Massachusetts, he will become one of the most influential expatriate artists of the late 19th century, splitting his time between London and Paris and traveling the world. Although dedicated to realism and painting the world he knew, he will become a leading figure in the Aesthetic Movement and have a lasting impact on modernism. This lecture will chart Whistler's career and his revolutionary emphasis on art just to be enjoyed just to be enjoyed for its aesthetic appeal.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom. Walk-ins are not permitted.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

“Have you ever wondered if it’s too late to write that novel, become an artist, learn to skydive, or play the piano?” local author Deborah Brasket muses.

Community members are invited to explore that question at a free event on Sunday, March 22 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, 420 S. Broadway in Santa Maria.
Join Brasket and Jeanne Sparks, co-executive director of Santa Barbara County Action Network, for a candid conversation about how Brasket came to publish her debut novel, When Things Go Missing, later in life. Brasket will share her journey, read from her book, answer questions, and sign copies.
The event is sponsored by SBCAN and Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library.

When Things Go Missing is about the fragility and resilience of family life. When the mother who has been holding her family together mysteriously disappears, it sets into motion a ripple of anger, grief, and regret that reshapes the lives of those left behind--her two troubled adult children and distant husband. Each embarks on their own journeys to fill the missing pieces in their lives and make their family whole again.

Visit her website www.deborahjbrasket.com to learn more. Or contact her at seastonepress@gmail.com
A limited supply of When Things Go Missing will be available to purchase (cash or check only) at the event. It’s also available locally at Gavin’s Books, 230 Betteravia Rd, Suite K, Santa Maria. It’s available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover formats online at Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble. Attendees are encouraged to purchase the book in advance to bring to the event for signing.

Riceboy Sleeps (2022) is a tender and deeply personal work written, produced, edited, and directed by Anthony Shim. The film traces the bond between a Korean single mother and her son as they build a life in the suburbs of Canada in the 1990s. Drawing in part on Shim’s own childhood, the film follows So-young (Choi Seung-yoon) and the young Dong-hyun (Dohyun Noel Hwang, Ethan Hwang), whose hopes for a better future are tempered by the racial and cultural challenges that confront them.

Filmmaker Anthony Shim will join moderator Miguel Penabella (Carsey-Wolf Center, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of Riceboy Sleeps.

This event is presented in conjunction with the the Carsey-Wolf Center and UCSB Reads program. The program’s 2026 selection is Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. For more information and tickets to attend Zauner’s free public lecture at Campbell Hall on Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 PM, please visit this page.