Nashi is an increasingly popular youth organization in Russia with direct ties to the Kremlin and a mission to create an elite group of your adult activists loyal to President Vladimir Putin.  In this documentary film, Putin's Kiss, we learn about Masha Drokova, an ambitious middle-class student from the suburbs of Moscow, who joins Nashi at the age of fifteen and quickly rises to a leadership position when she becomes the host of a pro-Putin television talk show.  Along the way she becomes friends with a group of journalists critical of Putin and his policies.  After viewing the film, we'll join Angela Weck in a discussion of Putin's rise from relative obscurity to the Russian Presidency.  She will help participants consider whether he has innate political skill or has developed the ability to effectively manipulate forces around him.  How much political power does he actually have?  Is he really the "strong man" he appears to be?  Recommended reading: The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin by Masha Gessen, available new or used in paperback or electronic formats or through local libraries.

$29 - discussions led by Angela Weck, faculty member at Bradley's Institute of International Studies and popular OLLI instructor

Enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon traveling up and down the Illinois River while learning first-hand about the fascinating story of World War II B-24 bomber, Lady Be Good.  Retired history teacher Don Stamford will give a private lecture detailing the experiences of Lady Be Good and her 9-man crew, which ventured into the harsh Libyan Desert after missing their intended landing site.  We will dine on a hot buffet on the boat while we enjoy good company and the scenic view of the Illinois River.