It is a curious fact that Great Britain – famous for the stability of its political system – does not have a written constitution.  Furthermore, British leaders treat the very idea of a written constitution with disdain verging on contempt.

However, Great Britain does have a Constitution which is referred to frequently.  By their Constitution, the British mean the unstated assumption that Great Britain is implicitly governed by three separate entities, each with its own traditional powers.

With canny and almost perverse wisdom, the British have instinctively appreciated that written Constitutions are fictional devices that in no way impede or prevent anything from happening.  They allow everything.  That is the true essence of a written constitution.

The Soviet Union had a written constitution more glorious and democratic than anything our cynical Founding Fathers would have conceived.  Yet it allowed and provided cover for the enforced starvation of eight million people – men, women, and children.  It also gave a legal basis for the murder of millions in forced labor camps.

The universally celebrated American Constitution, augmented by amendments, and interpreted by the Supreme Court, has allowed social changes in areas that would have confounded, appalled, and repelled its original authors.  We are entering a period in which factionalism, irrationality, and declamations have replaced what was once called “reasoned thought” or “rational thinking.”

The two most powerful stylists of English prose this nation has ever produced both grew up in extreme poverty – one on the Virginia frontier, the other in Illinois.  With limited formal education, each had the ability of re-reading the same book, over and over again, as they had only a few books in boyhood.  In the case of John Marshall, it was John Dryden’s poetry, then the most beloved of English poets.  Lincoln had six books, which included Pilgrim’s Progress and Aesop’s Fables.

Armed with their memorized familiarity with those works, these men achieved the two highest positions in the United States.  Relying entirely on a foundation of English prose and prosody, each made of the American Constitution the document he wanted it to be.

Benito Rakower, Ed.D., was educated at Queens College and Harvard University, where he received a doctorate in the teaching of English. Before getting his degree at Harvard, Professor Rakower was trained professionally at the piano in German Baroque and French repertoire. This semester Dr. Rakower is teaching a course, “Against the Grain: Ordinary Beginnings With Extraorinary Outcomes,” which will begin on Friday, Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m.

What a great semester we have ahead of us!  To serve the interests of our 7800+ members, we’re offering over 57 enticing courses and lectures this semester. I would like to thank our staff, curriculum committee, and all of the volunteers who assisted us with selecting classes and instructors.

I’m also pleased to welcome back our long-standing faculty members who have attained the highest praises from our members. Our veteran faculty members will once again provide a vast array of subjects for each of your interests.

Brian Balogh, Ph.D.

This semester, we have added new lecturers in the areas of health, history, science and sports. I hope you will join us for “Shopper-in-Chief: Presidential Leadership in America’s ‘Consumer’s Republic’” for a look into how historians, starting with post-World War II American society, have chronicled how an individual’s identity has shifted from an emphasis on production to a fascination with consumption. This lecture will take place on February 16 at 9 a.m. with visiting professor Dr. Brian Balogh from the University of Virginia.

On that same day, we will have Dr. Bennet Omalu, the first doctor to diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in NFL athletes, at 7 p.m. The movie Concussion, based on Dr. Omalu’s discovery of this disease, was released on December 25, 2015.  We will also have renowned sports commentator and author, John Feinstein, who will join us for a discussion on sports on February 23 at 7 p.m.

Thomas Bannister, Ph.D.

Lastly, Dr. Bannister will explain where we are on the “War on Cancer” with his lecture, “Winning the War on Cancer: New Ideas and New Approaches for Eliminating ‘The Emperor of All Maladies,’” on March 9 at 10 a.m.

This is just a taste of what the winter catalog has to offer. I predict it will be difficult to choose from so many lectures and classes. I anticipate an exciting semester.

Welcome back to school!

Josette Valenza

Lifelong Learning Society Director

2015 is drawing to a close and we’ll soon be singing “Auld Lang Syne.” As we look back and count our blessings, I know one of the things I am so grateful for is the high quality of our professors and the courses and lectures available to us this past year at FAU Jupiter Lifelong Learning Society. Another blessing has been the old friends I have made here at LLS and the new friends I continue to make through attending classes and LLS volunteer activities. I don’t know of a better way to maintain an old friendship or to make a new friend than by inviting a fellow student to lunch before, between or after LLS lectures or events.

Abacoa Golf Club

We are lucky to have such a wide variety of international dining choices available close to the LLS campus here in Abacoa. Let’s start off with the Abacoa Golf Club restaurant and its ample, free parking. Generous servings, with most lunch entrées around $10, fast service and a spectacular dining view, all presided over by the kind and very efficient Clubhouse Manager Kris P. Koerber. If you’re lucky enough to have lunch there before the gorgeous Christmas greenery and decorations come down, you’re in for even more of a treat. They also have a Happy Hour from 3:30 to sunset with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. No dinner service but open 7 days a week for lunch.
Abacoa Golf Club Restaurant
105 Barbados Drive
Jupiter, FL 33458
Tel: (561)622-0036

Interior of Le Metro Neighborhood Bistro

Our second choice is Le Metro Neighborhood Bistro, run by the charming Mary Ellen with her husband Christian Alunno, an international French chef from Nice, in the kitchen. Having lived in Paris for 25 years, I can attest to the excellence of the cuisine at Le Metro. For smaller appetites, they have a $6.99 Lunch Special available featuring quiches, deli sandwiches, salade niçoise, cheeseburger sliders w/fries, flatbreads, soups, tuna melts, mussels, etc. Their regular and quite varied lunch menu includes many French specialties. The Early Bird dinner special is not to be missed, either. For $19.95 pp, they offer an appetizer, main course, dessert and a beverage. Lots of special culinary events scheduled throughout the year and, of course, Happy Hour available most days. Check their website for hours and details.
Le Metro Neighborhood Bistro
Abacoa Town Center
1155 Main Street, #120
Jupiter, FL 33458
Tel: (561)429-5464

The CopaCabana Restaurant

For those of you who may have been inspired by our recent blog post on Cuba to take a trip there, why not try out some Cuban cuisine while making your travel plans? The CopaCabana is a family restaurant owned and operated by Gustavo and Marion Garcia. Their lunch menu offers tasty beef, chicken or pork traditional entrées as well as a well-thought out offering of sandwiches with a Cuban twist. With the exception of their Churrasco at $11.95, everything on the lunch menu is under $10. Live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday night.
CopaCabana
Abacoa Town Center
1209 Main Street, #101
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone: (561)360-3378

Interior of Nina’s Fresh Bakery

The latest gem in Abacoa’s culinary crown is the adorable Nina’s Fresh Bakery, run by Nina Tomasik, which has just opened its doors. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., it’s the perfect spot for an espresso and a delicious, home-made European breakfast pastry before those LLS morning classes! It’s also a great place for a quick lunch with their Panini sandwiches, salads and quiches. Homemade cakes, pies, tarts, brownies, cupcakes and cookies also available. Everything is made daily from scratch using natural ingredients and no preservatives. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Nina’s Fresh Bakery
Abacoa Town Center
1200 Town Center Drive, #110
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone: (561)508-7889

This may come as a surprise to many of you, but you can have lunch or dinner for a reasonable price right here on campus at the FAU Dining Hall, just a short walk from our LLS building. Hot lunch (choice of entrée) and salad bar from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and hot dinner (choice of entrée) with salad bar from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All self-service. Special rates are sometimes available, so mention that you are an FAU LLS student here on campus before paying.

Other Abacoa Town Center restaurants include Jumby Bay Island Grill, Costello’s Trattoria, Hokkaido Hibachi & Sushi, JJ Muggs Stadium Grill, and Das Biergarten.

Make it a New Year’s resolution to enjoy more lunch outings with friends!
MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT KEEP THE OLD, ONE IS SILVER AND THE OTHER IS GOLD.

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!

Guest blogger Sandi Page is a LLS volunteer and student.

Have you had the desire to ask some of your LLS professors questions that did not particularly pertain to their classes? Would you like to know more about the profession the professor would choose, if he, or she, had not pursued becoming a professor? Or if he, or she, could meet one famous person (historical or alive now) who would it be? The Professor’s Corner, featured during each semester, will allow students to get to know their LLS professor’s personal side. This week Dr. Jeffrey Morton, a Professor of Political Science and Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association, is interviewed by his daughter, Emily Morton.

Jeffrey Morton, Ph.D.

1. What profession would you choose to pursue had you not become a professor of political science?

• A professional billiard player, because I like the combination of geometry, pressure, and big-time winnings.

2. Which is your favorite destination that you have traveled to thus far?

• The south of France, specifically St. Paul de Vence.

3. Which country or destination would you like to add to your list?

• Mongolia, in order to visit the birth place of Genghis Khan, in the Khentii Mountains.

4. If you could meet one famous person (historical or alive now), who would it be?

• Benjamin Franklin, because he was America’s first diplomat.

5. University or life experience, which do you feel best prepares you for life?

• On a very practical level, working my way through college and being self-supportive from an early age taught me valuable life lessons and the importance of being responsible. During college, I was selected to attend the prestigious International Law Commission training program at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.  That experience, along with the connections that I made, was very important for my career development. I would say, therefore, that the two experiences—life and university—combine to best prepare young people for life.

6. What is the one thing that should be taught in school that isn’t already?

• I find that college students, for the most part, are unprepared to manage their own finances. Young people should be taught about personal debt, financial investments and the importance of financial planning.  With only a basic understanding of how finances work, many of the debt problems that American citizens are burdened with throughout their lives would be mitigated.

7. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?

• July 14, 1789.  I would want to be in Paris at the onset of the French Revolution.  I would have to remember to keep my head down!

8. How many cities have you lived in? Which has been the best experience?

• I’ve lived in Charlotte, N.C., New Brunswick, N.J., Los Angeles and Boca Raton. My best experience was in Los Angeles.  I was there for 2.5 years in between undergraduate and graduate school.  I worked hard to save up for grad school at Rutgers and played competitive volleyball.

9. Who is your favorite world leader (historical or alive)?

• William Wallace, the voice and leader of the Free Scotland movement in the late 13th century. My ancestors fought with Wallace and one was executed in the 1290s. The Morton Castle remains my favorite place in Scotland.

10. You have been teaching at LLS for 20 years. Did you ever expect for it to last this long?

• From the beginning, I could tell that this program was going to blossom into a premiere learning institution. Now I look forward to the next 20 years.

Emily Morton and Dr. Jeffrey Morton

Emily Morton is currently finishing her undergraduate studies at the Honors College of Florida Atlantic University, majoring in Environmental Science. She enjoyed working as an intern at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. She is involved in Model United Nations and is a recipient of the Jupiter Lifelong Learning Society Scholarship for the 2015 FAU Diplomacy Program. Emily intends on traveling after graduation and is interested in obtaining a Master’s Degree in the Environmental Sciences, focusing on conservation and sustainability.

According to Coco Chanel (1883-1971), the silhouette of flapper fashion was born more of chance than design. She told us: “One day in Deauville, I put on a man’s sweater because I was cold. I tied it with a handkerchief at the waist. Fellow vacationers asked, “Where did you get that dress?”  I responded, “If you like it, I will sell it to you.”  Ten dresses later, the signature Chanel frock was born. This scenario describes just how fashion trends begin.

After that, Chanel seized the opportunity to design for this new adventurous woman whose day combined work, sport, and leisure. She began to blur the lines
between masculine and feminine, and between costume and real jewelry. Recognizing the evolution from Victorian Society to a more streamlined Modernism, Chanel began to do a brisk business in navy blue blazers, turtleneck sweaters and other loose-fitting garments she created out of knit, flannel, and the new sexy rayon material that no other dressmaker had ever dared to use. Her main objective was to make every women feel comfortable and attractive.

Chanel opened her Paris fashion house in 1921 at the very start of the Jazz Age. The most familiar ingredient of her flapper fashion was the shortened hemline with skirts that were fourteen inches above the ground. The New York Times reported from the French fashion shows: “Display of Spring fashions shows them barely long enough to cover their knees.”  Women bobbed their hair short and began to wear skirts in which they could jump onto a bus easily, or even better, do the Charleston. Chanel’s innovation of the little black dress has been called “the Ford of Fashion.”   Everybody had one (and most women still do)!  This trend scandalized defenders of the old order who were alarmed at the sight of bare legs. Silk stockings, created by Pierre Poiret, became a feature of the look. Many took the “New Woman” in stride – and even the conservative Ladies’ Home Journal wrote, “…American women are now noted for their pretty feet and ankles.  It is pleasant to
know that skirts are going to be short…though one must adjust length to becomingness.”

Coco Chanel encouraged women to use what they already owned in clothing and accessories, but she encouraged them to add modern touches to their outfits like a brightly colored scarf, a handsome hat, an attention-getting brooch, or fantastic footwear.

When I was a student studying design at Pratt Institute, I would to go to the old Metropolitan Opera House and sketch the subscribers as they arrived for opening night. The parade of society ladies was a feast for the eyes in color, fabrics, and shape with each diva attempting to outdo all the others. How delicious it was to see this panoply of extravagance and consumerism!  There will never be its equal.

In my career as a designer, I embraced Chanel’s ideas in order to make my own creations timely.  I always attempted to bring a new look into my work – but not an extreme one. The women who bought my clothes wanted to look attractive – not weird. I think back in pleasure at how Chanel, my muse, influenced my thinking and my love of French Couture. Coco Chanel was High Fashion herself!

Terryl Lawrence, Ed.D., earned her doctoral degree in art and education from Columbia University and has had many exhibitions of her paintings and photographs in New York and Florida. She has written several published articles, was a New York fashion designer and photographer and wrote the preface to Chaim Potok’s “Artist in Exile,” has taught photography and art at C.W. Post College and SUNY Empire State College. She is an NEH Fellow in the Humanities. Professor Lawrence currently teaches Art History and Mythology at Palm Beach State and Broward Colleges.

Sandi Page, LLS student, volunteer, member of the LLS Jupiter Marketing Committee, and guest blogger

There are several ingredients that make up the recipe for a happy retirement.  Good health, a comfortable financial situation and a strong social network are three of the more obvious ones.  Studies over the years have shown that those who are the most content in their retirement years also have a sense of purpose in life and many are finding that purpose in volunteering.

In talking with fellow LLS students, I found that volunteering is important to a sizable number of them and local organizations such as the Jupiter Medical Center, Hospice, the Maltz Theatre, animal rescue groups, churches and synagogues are among the lucky recipients of their talents, time and energy.  One of their favorite places to volunteer, however, is right here at our Lifelong Learning Society where volunteering opportunities abound that may also suit you, your interests and your schedule.  There is the always popular Class Greeter program which attracts over 100 volunteers each year.  An orientation meeting is held annually to train and update both old and new greeters alike.  LLS thanks these greeters each spring with a much anticipated and well-attended Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.  LLS Advisory Boards are often looking for new members to add their life’s experience to the task of creating a better learning center for all.  An S.O.S. via email is often sent out before the beginning of each semester asking for volunteers to stamp class catalogs and tickets and to stuff envelopes.  Our annual Lunafest film festival, which raises money for breast cancer research and FAU scholarships, always needs volunteers for various responsibilities.

Gene and Tom Monahan taken by LLS staff at the FAU LLS Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in 2015

My conversations with LLS students yielded some interesting reasons as to why they so generously give their time.  One gentleman shyly confided that he loves the pats on the back that he gets from volunteering. A very thoughtful response came from one of our most photogenic greeter couples, Gene and Tom Monahan.    They have been attending classes and volunteering as LLS class greeters since 2003.  They volunteer because, as they say, “We love education, being with smart people and hearing the wonderful lectures.  It gives us an opportunity to grow intellectually.   As we don’t play golf or bridge, volunteering at LLS gives us a structure to our week that we need.”  Gene and Tom have greeted both as a couple and individually, usually volunteering for at least one class and some one-time events each semester.  Gene generally volunteers for more classes than Tom while Tom has taken over 130 classes at LLS.  They enjoy meeting other volunteers and becoming friendly with them and also enjoy feeling that they are a part of the LLS experience.

René Friedman, LLS Jupiter Founder

Whatever the reasons behind our students’ desire to volunteer, LLS appreciates their efforts.  As René Friedman, Founder of LLS and all-around femme extraordinaire told me, “Without volunteers, I could not have had the help needed all these years to devote my energy to growing and developing this wonderful program.  I thank you all.”

For further information about volunteering at LLS, please contact Wendi Geller, Class Coordinator, at (561)799-8814 or e-mail her at wgeller@fau.edu. 

HOT  TRAVEL  PICKS  

Guest blogger and LLS student Sandi Page

One of the commonalities among our L.L.S. student population is our love of travel to new destinations which goes hand in hand with our love of learning.   A long-time friend, fellow L.L.S. student and inveterate traveler Jean Dessoffy recently emailed me a travelogue of her four-day trip to Cuba with a friend.  I found it so fascinating that I asked her permission to edit it and share it with our L.L.S. community and she graciously agreed.  Jean owned and operated a travel agency in the Washington, D.C. area for 25 years.

CUBA – HAVANA

Red Ford Edsel convertible. A flop in the U.S. market lives on as a private taxi toting American tourists around Havana.

First Impressions–It only took 45 minutes to fly from Miami to Havana, but two hours to go through immigration and get our checked baggage. Our small suitcases were no match for the tons of large screen TV sets, coffee makers, and 70-pound bags of food and clothes being brought into the country by Cubans for their families or for resale in a land where there are no U.S. goods available in the stores.

The airport was very “third world” but our hotel, The Habana Capri, was quite nice with air conditioning, safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, and BBC, CNN, and China TV, all in English.  The lobby bar and buffet restaurant were both first class. The only negatives about the hotel were the very slow manual check-in process and the slow Wi-Fi/internet in the lobby. Our guide told us later that the hotels had Wi-Fi but as the locals could not afford to subscribe to internet service, they would buy an hour at a time of Wi-Fi from the hotel for the equivalent of $2.  Thus, the hotel lobby and the sidewalk outside were full of people using the internet which slowed down access. We gave up after the first wasted hour.

The Embargo–Since the Kennedy administration, the U.S. has imposed a ban on any trade with Cuba. With only a few exceptions, that ban still exists and has created a lot of pain for ordinary Cubans. American credit cards cannot be used. No companies will take U.S. cash dollars. Sometimes individual Cubans will take U.S. currency because they know where they can safely convert to Cuban currency at a more favorable exchange rate than the tourists can get. The typical Cuban earns less than US $50 per month. The absence of U.S. products in the marketplace has caused prices for imported, manufactured goods to be high. Cuba’s main trading partners are now China and Venezuela. Cubans need and want to trade with us.

There was nothing we saw in the markets that was made in China. Our guide expressed a negative opinion of the quality of Chinese merchandise.

Limited private industry is now permitted in Cuba. Here, a coconut milk vendor advertises his wares.

Our Group–There were only 8 tourists in our group which was nice. Our guide was 29 years old, spoke very good English, and knew his Cuban and world history. Everyone got along fine.

Havana–Havana is an enigma. One minute, you are driving down a boulevard that would rival Paris with its beautiful buildings and an opera house, all of which are being renovated. Then the next, the scene would suddenly look like you were in Haiti with poor markets and people trying to earn a living as best they could.

The people looked healthy with their free medical care from birth to death, government-guaranteed shelter, organically grown fruits and vegetables, and free education through the university level, if qualified.

We had a meeting with a retired University of Havana professor who had earned her Ph.D. in economics in Russia after being educated in the U.S. She lectured at Harvard but after one year had to leave the United States because the U.S. would not extend her visa. She answered questions for two hours about Cuba and her thoughts about the world.

The Cubans welcomed the Pope a few days after we left. According to our guide, only a small percentage of Cubans are Catholic with most religions practiced there having African roots with Catholic statues – just one more enigma. He also told us the Cubans were hoping “Papa” would come with his purse to help the poor people.

On our final night in Havana, we were treated to a ride in one of their vintage cars which are all over the city. We rode in a 1956 white Chrysler convertible with a loud V8 engine and a push-button automatic transmission and joined our other tourist companions in a classic car parade to the Caribe Restaurant. As we were having dinner, our guide asked one member of our group if he could take her picture. Flattered, she willingly cooperated when he asked her to move over a few inches to the right. He said he would tell us why he was taking the picture after we were back on the street. When he showed us the photo, in the background we could see a man who we were then told was, in fact, Fidel Castro’s eldest son.

Neighborhoods are being decorated using tiles arranged to reflect Cuban culture. Cuban muralist and ceramist José Fuster, described as the Picasso of the Caribbean, began decorating his own yard and then started doing his neighbor’s yards. Now the neighborhood for blocks around is his gallery. Jean Dessoffy is pictured seated.

After dinner, we walked over to a jazz club where the musicians of the “Buena Vista Social Club” group had played. Only one of the musicians is still alive but their unique style of Cuban music and dance has been preserved. PBS did a nice “American Experience” program featuring the Buena Vista Social Club’s visit to New York City and Carnegie Hall, which is available for viewing on YouTube.

Winding Down–On our final day, we were bused to the airport where a very limited duty-free shop allowed us to buy some Santiago Rum, made with equipment and aging barrels left by Bacardi when they pulled out shortly after the revolution. The airport did have air conditioning and toilets but the toilets had no seats and there was no toilet paper.

Should You Visit Cuba?

Of course! But it is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of walking on unpaved streets with plenty of objects to trip over. There are lots of stairs to restaurants and shops and few operational elevators. One place had a broken elevator which the guide explained was made by a U.S. company. It broke after the embargo went into effect so no spare parts or services are available. On the positive side, Cuba has a very low crime rate with lots of music and warm, welcoming people. We hope that when the embargo is lifted, the Cuban people can get on with the repairs and renovations which seem to be needed everywhere.

Our tour company was Cuba Explorer. They arrange everything, including charter air service, visas, hotel, and tour guide/transportation.

http://cubaexplorer.com/tours/havana-weekend-tour/

My fall film appreciation course provides an opportunity to see two films by British directors – David Lean and Michael Powell.  Both directors achieved critical acclaim and popularity.

However, it would be difficult to find any artistic or even British similarity between these two directors.  Their differences are so great that one could easily imagine them disliking each other.

In his epic films such as “Doctor Zhivago” and “A Passage to India,” David Lean reveals his passion for depicting trains crossing a vast, continental space.  Lean is unquestionably the film poet of a journey by train.  His respectful portrayal of historical and cultural themes reflects his enormous sense of craft and intellectual discipline.  Lean spares no financial expense to produce his grand effects and to make it all seem realistic.

Julie Christie in “Dr. Zhivago” (1965)

Yet, there is an air of contrivance in his work.  What David Lean can do with mastery is to take an actual situation and enlarge it enormously through naturalistic, cinematic means.

We are thrilled watching his actors in the locales in which he places them. We are interested in their emotional distress and outbursts.  Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia is shameless and almost embarrassing in some scenes.  But in the end, we have not really learned anything new about people from a David Lean film, however great the entertainment.  They have merely been magnified.

Michael Powell is in a class by himself.  Though quintessentially British in background and manner, Powell had very little interest in the real or actual world.  He was not interested in politics, social issues, or the depiction of historical events.

Deborah Kerr in “Black Narcissus” (1947)

What Powell understood completely was the way strong-willed women could be deflected, defeated, or humiliated by masculine egotism.  In “The Red Shoes,” the heroine ballerina can only escape by leaping to her death.  In “Black Narcissus,” Deborah Kerr is driven to becoming a religious recluse by one man’s fecklessness.  Even then, she is repeatedly mocked by another man. There is nothing like the psychological novelty of a Michael Powell film.

Even more astonishing is that Powell’s films do not enlarge the real world as Lean’s films do.  Instead, they turn everything familiar into pure fantasy.  We always seem to be in a fairy tale in Michael Powell films.  In his own words, they bring us to “the other side of beyond.”

There are moments in a Michael Powell film that haunt our imaginations.

Dr. Benito Rakower was educated at Queens College and Harvard University, where he received a doctorate in the teaching of English. Before getting his degree at Harvard, Dr. Rakower was trained professionally at the piano in German Baroque and French repertoire.