PALAC . . . where people and ideas meet

S T U D Y D I S C U S S I O N P R O G R A M S S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 9 New leaders and hosts are the life blood of PALAC offers continuing liberal arts PALAC. Please call the office to volunteer. education to adults of the San Gabriel 626 797-2380 Valley. If you enjoy the excitement DATES TO REMEMBER and stimulation of discussing ideas Program Brunch Saturday September 7 in a new learning situation, whatever Fall Retreat Saturday October 26 Annual Meeting Saturday January 25 your educational background, you’re welcome in any of PALAC’s SUMMER SESSION 2019 programs. ______301 Zucked by Roger McNamee JOIN US PALAC offers additional advantages and If you had told Roger McNamee that he would soon be activities to members. Membership subscription is just $30 devoting himself to stopping Facebook from destroying our per person or $50 per couple per calendar year. Call 626 democracy, he would have howled with laughter. He had 797-2380 for details or mail your registration and check to mentored many tech leaders, but few things had made him prouder than his early service to Mark Zuckerberg. Still a PALAC, 1015 N. Lake #108, Pasadena, CA 91104-4574. large shareholder in Facebook, he had every good reason to stay on the bright side. Until he simply couldn’t. Zucked is REGISTER To register, submit a completed registration McNamee’s intimate reckoning with the catastrophic failure form and a check to the PALAC office. of the head of one of the world’s most powerful companies to Most groups are limited to 13-15 participants. This provides face up to the damage he is doing. ISBN-13: 978-0525561354 a comfortable, intimate atmosphere for discussion. Early Mondays, 2 - 4 p.m., August 19, 26, September 9, 16 registration will help assure you a place in your selected Leader Jane Crane Members $31

Host Steve Crane Non-Members $41 group. If you register close to the time the group begins, please contact the office to verify group openings. Place Pasadena

You will receive confirmation of your selected group(s) by ______email if you have email. 302 Leaders: Myth and Reality by Stanley Get your registration form in ASAP. Please! Once again we McChrystal will use a lottery system to allow those living outside Leaders is a discussion of what makes leaders. It covers such Pasadena a chance to get in their chosen groups. For those interesting people as Coco Chanel, Walt Disney, Leonard discussion groups and safaris that are over-subscribed, the Bernstein andREVISED Harriet Tubman. This is a very different view office will hold a lottery one week after a designated “outlier” of leadership. ISBN-13: 978-0525534372 receives her program. Be sure to get your registration form to Mondays 7 - 9 p.m., July 1, 8, 15, 22 Leader Jane Crane Members $32 the office before the lottery! And don’t forget, dues-paying Host Steve Crane Non-Members $42 members receive priority. Call the office if you are unsure if DATES you have paid your 2019 dues. Place Pasadena

We will order books three weeks before each group begins. If you plan to drop a group, please let us know before then, or we will not be able to refund you for the cost of the book.

______303 Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson 307 Make Room for Rumi; The Rumi The former executive editor of the New York Times shares Collection edited by Kamir Helminski the current state of the news business by tracking two legacy Jelaluddin Rumi (1207 – 1273) was a master of the Sufi publications, the New York Times and the Washington Post , tradition, the mystical branch of Islam. On one level, his and two upstart companies, BuzzFeed and VICE, as they poems explore the joy and anguish that emerge from his navigate economic burdens, the new technology, and the intimate friendships, married life, and duties as a religious constant demands of maintaining their audiences in a leader. At the same time, Rumi moves beyond the concerns tumultuous world. ISBN-13: 978-1501123207 of orthodox religion to awaken us to the possibility of a direct Tuesdays 2 – 4 p.m., July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 13, 20 and intimate relationship with the Divine. ISBN-13: 978- Leader Carla Barnes Members $24 1590302514 Host Fran Blackwell Non-Members $34 Thursdays 2 – 4 p.m., August 8, 15, 22, 29 Place Pasadena Leader Stanley Oropesa Members $27 ______Host Bill Butler Non-Members $37

304 Wanderlust : A History of Walking by Place Altadena Rebecca Solnit ______This esteemed essayist shares her findings about walking’s 308 Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett earliest anatomical evolution through to today’s perils of Welcome to Terry Pratchett's Discworld. This is a story about walking after dark, with brilliant chapters in between focused magic and where it goes and perhaps more importantly where on the first romantic nature writers, pilgrimages, parades and it comes from and why, although it doesn’t pretend to answer more. If you’re unfamiliar with the writer, join us in all or any of these questions. It may, however, help to explain discovering her genius as a researcher and provocateur. why Gandalf never got married and why Merlin was a man. ISBN-13: 978-0140286014 Because this is also a story about sex. ISBN-13: 978- Tuesdays 2 – 4 p.m., July 2, 9, 16, 23 0060855901 Leaders Linda Centell, Sandra Browne Members $25 Thursday 2 – 4 p.m., August 1 Host Sandra Browne Non-Members $35 Leader Gay Bruveris Members $26

Place Pasadena Host Gay Bruveris Non-Members $36 ______Place Pasadena 305 War of the Worldviews by Deepak ______Chopra and Leonard Mlondinow 309 A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry After a contentious debate at Cal Tech over the role of This novel interweaves the lives of individuals and families spirituality in science, the physicist Leonard Mlodinow (co- from various castes in 1975 India, capturing all the cruelty and author of two books with Stephen Hawking) and Deepak corruption, dignity and heroism, of India in an unnamed city Chopra, representing Eastern mystical traditions, challenge by the sea. The government has just declared a State of each other in a series of essays over how best to understand Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers – a spirited the cosmos, evolution, the brain, God, and what makes us widow, a young student uprooted from his idyllic hill station, human. ISBN-13: 0307886880 and two tailors who have fled the caste violence of their native Tuesdays 7 – 9 p.m., August 6, 13, 20, 27 village – will be thrust together, forced to share one cramped Leader Stanley Oropesa Members $27 apartment and an uncertain future. ISBN-13: 1400030651

Host Deborah Fox Non-Members $37 Thursdays 7 – 9 p.m., July 11, 18, 25. August 1, 8 Leader Marie Slonski Members $30 Place South Pasadena ______Host Sharon Larman Non-Members $40 Place Altadena 306 Advice Not Given by Mark Epstein ______Twenty-five hundred years ago in Northern India, Siddhartha Gautama (later known as the Buddha) made an audacious 310 & 311 Laemmle Theatre Groups claim – that each of us can end our own suffering in this The Laemmle Theatre always has some interesting films lifetime. And he set down eight practices to accomplish this. showing. With your input we’ll choose the best, meet for an The Buddha’s eight-fold path became the heart of life practice afternoon matinee, stroll to a nearby restaurant for a drink, for millions of people. In Advice Not Given Mark Epstein, a snack and a discussion of the movie. Several days ahead of psychotherapist and long-time Buddhist practitioner, time, your leader will send you instructions about where and discussed the role of mindfulness and meditation as parts of when to meet. Drink, food and movie ticket not included. his therapeutic tools. ISBN-13: 978-0399564345 310 Wednesday afternoons, July 10, 24, August 7, 21 Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m., July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 311 Thursday afternoons, July 11, 25, August 8, 22 Wed. Leader Carol Criqui Members $10 Leader Bill Butler Members $30 Host Susan Trauger Non-Members $40 Thu. Leader Audrey Vaughan Non-Members $15

Place Altadena Place Laemmle Theatre, 673 E. Colorado Bl., Pasadena

SUMMER SAFARIS FALL SESSION 2019 ______S10 Chinese American Museum Tour 401 Little by Edward Carey Join us for the Chinese American Museum in the Garnier Described as “canny and weird” and “deliciously macabre,” Building featuring our own docent-led tour of this historic this “memoir” depicts the unforgettable tale of a tiny, site, which includes fascinating photos and art exhibits from ambitious orphan in revolutionary Paris, befriended by both the Chinese American community from our early pueblo days royalty and radicals, and her transformation into the legendary and Hollywood years to today. We will take the Gold Line Madame Tussaud of wax image fame. ISBN-13: 978- metro from Del Mar Station and take a 10 minute walk to the 0525534327 museum. After our tour we walk to the Phoenix restaurant for Mondays, 2 – 4 p.m., October 7, 14, 21, 28, November no host lunch and return to Pasadena by Gold Line. Maximum 4 Leader Bonnie Brown Members $30 participants 20. Pay the $7 admission fee at the door.

Friday, June 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Host Clara Richards Non-Members $40 Leader Deborah Fox Members $10 Place South Pasadena Non-Members $15 ______Meeting Place Meet on the platform of the Del Mar metro 402 The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel station on Raymond Avenue in Pasadena at 10:00 a.m. Hawthorne Park at the garage adjacent to the station. TAP card The Scarlet Letter is an historical novel published in 1850. required for the train ($1.00). Metro senior (65 and over) Hawthorne takes us deeply into the culture of one of the first fare each way is $0.35 off-peak, during peak $0.75. Adult fare is $1.75 per trip. groups of Europeans to migrate to America – the Puritans, where the role of women was rigidly defined. The central ______character, Hester Prynne, conceives a child out of wedlock S11 Rifkind Center for German and is punished and shunned for this perceived great sin, but she’s never defeated. Hawthorne understood this culture well; Expressionist Studies his ancestors were Puritan immigrants, and one was a judge in This is a research facility devoted to the study of the the Salem witch trials. ISBN-13: 978-1853260292 Expressionist movement that flourished in Germany during Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m., September 4, 11, 18, 25 the early 20th century. The Center houses approximately Leader Bill Butler Members $15 6000 original prints and drawings and a splendid library Host Susan Trauger Non-Members $25 devoted solely to Expressionism. One third of the volumes Place Altadena contain original prints, including over 110 runs of periodicals, ______both original and reprinted, that date to the period. Prints on 403 Twentieth Century Music display will be discussed by the curator, Tim Benson. It will The 20th century was a period of incredible scientific and be possible for those who wish to do so to stay following the intellectual changes. We think of art and music as a mirror of tour to see some museum exhibitions. Brief orientation at life and expect musical styles to go through intense changes, PALAC office before carpooling. No host lunch at the and that it did. To music lovers, the new music appears to be museum after the tour. Maximum participants 15. dissonant and even incomprehensible. In How to Listen to Thursday, July 25, 8:45 a.m. - 3 p.m. Great Music , Robert Greenberg's book of lessons with Leader Susan Trauger Members $10 Non-Members $15 musical examples, composer and pianist Greenberg teaches us Meeting Place PALAC office, room 105, 1015 Lake Avenue, how to understand and appreciate modern music. ISBN-13: Pasadena. Carpool from the office. 978-0452297081 Tuesdays, 2 – 4 p.m., October 29, November 5, 12, 19 ______Leader Mila Gierowitz Members $29

S12 The Nethercutt Collection Host Harriett Lyle Non-Members $39 Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa St., Pasadena – Street The Nethercutt Collection features rare collectibles ranging parking – not at Lake Avenue Congregational Church lot. from mechanical musical instruments and antique furniture to the true heart of the collection: over 250 American and European automobiles dating from 1898 to 1997. Handicap accessible. Carpool to the Nethercutt at 9 a.m. Tour is from 10 a.m. to Noon. Optional lunch in area and tour individually until 3 p.m. Maximum participants 15. Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Leader Sara Munshin Members $10 Non-Members $15 Meeting Place PALAC office parking lot, 1015 Lake Avenue, Pasadena ______404 What's Been Happening in the 408 American Conservatism Supreme Court The National Review is a bi-weekly journal of contemporary Using news articles and selected passages from the Court’s news and analysis from a conservative point of view. Let’s opinions, we will discuss some of the most interesting and discuss the topics covered in two issues for a broader and consequential decisions of the past two terms. Participants more critical perspective. Expect surprises! must be able to print articles and passages from Court Thursdays. 7 – 9 p.m., November 7, 21 opinions received from leader via internet email. Leaders Brice Harris Members $24 Host Nancy Sullivan Non-Members $34 Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m., October 30, November 6, 13, 20 Place Pasa dena Leader Sue Hershman Members $10 ______

Host Coralie Whitcomb Non-Members $20 409 History's Most Creative Genius Place Glendale Walter Isaacson, best-selling author, has based his book, ______Leonardo da Vinci , on thousands of pages from Leonardo’s 405 Armchair Traveler – Istanbul, Not astonishing notebooks and new discoveries about his life and Constantinople work. Isaacson weaves a narrative that connects his art to Pictures and discussion of the historic and strategic city on the his science and shows how Leonardo’s genius was based on straits between Europe and Asia from Greek and Orthodox skills we can improve in ourselves. I hope you can join us Christian Byzantium to Ottoman and Islamic Istanbul to the for this book which combines fascinating perspectives on art, contemporary Turkish Republic. science, and technology. ISBN 978-1501139154 Wednesday, 7:15 – 9:15 p.m, November 13 Fridays, 2 – 4 p.m., October 18, 25, November 1, 8, 15 Leaders Deborah Fox Members $27 Leader Brice Harris Members $10

Host Deborah Fox Non-Members $37 Host Esther Ames Non-Members $15 Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa St., Pasadena – Street Place Altadena ______parking – not at Lake Avenue Congregational Church lot. ______406 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia 410 & 411 Laemmle Theatre Groups Owens See summer schedule for details. 410 Wednesday afternoons, October 16, 30, The wildlife scientist Delia Owens has found her voice in November 13, 20 Where the Crawdads Sing , a painfully beautiful first novel 411 Thursday afternoons, October 17, 31, November that is at once a murder mystery, a coming of age narrative 14, 21 and a celebration of nature. Owens surveys the desolate Wed. Leader Carol Criqui Members $10 marshlands of the North Carolina coast through the eyes of a Thu. Leader Audrey Vaughan Non-Members $15 7-year-old abandoned child. And in her isolation, that child Place Laemmle Theatre, 673 E. Colorado Bl., Pasadena makes us open our own eyes to the secret wonders – and dangers – of her private world. ISBN-13: 978-0735219090 Thursdays, 2 – 4 p.m., October 31, November 7, 14, 21 FALL SAFARIS Leaders Donna Jaffee, Jane Crane Members $27 ______

Host Steve Crane Non-Members $37 Place Pasadena S13 Ojos Profundos ______Marsia Alexander-Clarke, a long-time PALAC member, was 407 Writing Salon: Your Personal Stories awarded a Guggenheim fellowship last year in recognition of on Paper her accomplishments in creating video art. With this fellowship, Marsia has created a major video music project, Inspiration and guidance to record and share memorable “Ojos Profundos”. Marcia is inviting us to see her video and moments from your life - adventures, reflections, family engage in a discussion with her after the showing. Please note history or the lives of those whose memory you want to that the route to Marsia’s studio is not wheel-chair accessible honor. In addition to reading and commenting on the writing and requires climbing fifteen steps. Maximum participants 15. of others, now you will write your own. This is an Saturday, November 2, 2 – 4 p.m. opportunity to delve into the experiences you've had before Leader Bill Butler Members $10 the details are forgotten. We all have something special to Non-Members $15 share. Laptops or other writing materials are required. Meeting Place The artist’s home studio, Altadena. Street Thursdays, 7 – 9 p.m., October 10, 17, 24 parking. Leaders Jo Nelsen Members $10

Host Sharon Larman Non-Members $20 Place Altadena ______In our program brochure, PALAC publishes the cost of each S14 Chen Art Gallery discussion group. This includes the price of the book, This gallery houses the collection of herbalist and pharmacist convenient delivery to your home, and office overhead. If you Dr. Tei Fu Chen and his family, and displays artifacts choose to buy your own book rather than using the office’s spanning 5,000 years of Chinese history, including a Qing book delivery system, we request that you follow these simple dynasty throne room, Ming dynasty bedroom, jade carvings, steps: snuff bottles, cloisonné, Buddhist statues, porcelains, silk • When filling out your registration form, adjust the textiles, and traditional scroll paintings. No seating inside price to $10 for members, or $20 for non-members. galleries. Participants will be standing for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, the • When completing your registration form, check the length of the tour, but may bring their own walker, wheelchair option that says “I will be responsible for buying my own or small portable folding stool. We’ll stop after the tour at a books.” nearby restaurant for a no-host lunch or coffee before • Jot a note to yourself to remind yourself to order or returning. Each non-driver will pay $10 exact cash to the buy the book. Be sure to order your book early, to give driver on the day of the event to cover the driver's costs. the bookstore or online service time to check availability! Maximum participants 30. • Keep the ISBN in the brochure handy when ordering Thursday, October 10, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. online or shopping at a store. This ensures you will have Leader Carla Barnes Members $10 the same edition of the book as the rest of the group. Non-Members $15 Meeting Place Parking lot at Fresco Community Market at (Note: Buying your own book may end up costing you more the corner of Monterey Road and Via Marisol in Los than if the office orders the book for you.) Angeles (a block off the Pasadena Freeway). We will ______carpool from there. PALAC Board Policy Statement ______Agreed upon November 29, 2018 S15 U. S. Court of Appeals, 9 th Circuit Private tour of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Membership Terms of Service Western Justice Center (WJC) by Senior Judge Dorothy W. With regard to Board terms of service, the PALAC By-Laws Nelson. The Court has appellate jurisdiction over the district state that Board terms are three years and that a member may courts of 9 western states, as well as the territories of Guam request to serve additional terms. and the Northern Mariana Islands. The mission of the WJC is However, it is the consensus of the Board that members to increase the opportunity for peaceful conflict resolution and should serve no more than three consecutive terms for a total to displace the power of violence in our society. This will be of nine years. An exception can be made to allow members a rare insider’s look at the court led by a sitting judge. No who have essential hard-to-replace skills to serve more than host lunch will proceed the tour for those who wish to the three- term limit. These policies strengthen the participate. The tour begins at 2 p.m. A form of legal organization by protecting its organizational memory, while identification is necessary to enter the court building. Tour group will have 5-15 participants. at the same time bringing in new people with fresh approaches Friday, November 1, 11:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and ideas. Leader Susan Trauger Members $10 The Board’s Nominating Committee recommends a slate of Non-Members $15 prospective new members, as well as those members wishing Place U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit Court, 125 South to run for a second or third term. At the Annual Meeting the Grand Avenue, Pasadena membership at large votes on the slate of Board officers and Meeting Place PALAC parking at 11:45 for those who have members. lunch with the group and then tour. If only taking the tour, meet at the arbor with benches in front of the courthouse at 1:40 p.m. sharp. Nominating Committee Consideration for Prospective Board Membership ______Option to purchase books yourself The Nominating Committee will select candidates based on: • The Board has decided that all books purchased for our groups Commitment to the mission of PALAC demonstrated by past will be sent directly from Amazon to your homes. However, service to the organization by serving on committees, and/or if you wish to support another bookseller by purchasing your having a continuing record of group discussion leadership, books there, the cost of any group will be $10 for members assisting in organizing safaris and other functions, and/or and $20 for non-members (unless there is a ticket or other being active in any other supportive areas. • expense involved). We have included the ISBN in our group Demonstrating an ability, usually through participation in or descriptions to ensure that you purchase the correct edition of leadership of discussion groups and/or committees, to work the book. collaboratively and productively with others. • Membership in the organization for a minimum of 2 or 3 years depending upon level of participation. • Commitment to attend Board meetings on a regular basis.