TUES 11/18: News Talk, Films, Rock 'n Film

Did anyone take a Tylenol cab yesterday? I should've tried, darn it... I could be in Back Bay before 8pm -- maybe I'll ask him to take me to East Boston. Haha.

Did you hear about the BC Student who was hit by a green line trolley yesterday? Is it just me, but could the trolley driver have tried to stop as well as honking the horn???

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TUES 11/18

6pm to 8pm
Ellen Hume, "The Future of the News": Soap Box Series
at MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE

Long-time journalist and currently Research Director at MIT's Center for Future Civic Media, Ellen Hume will lead a discussion about the future of the news. I sense that people at MIT might have a good grasp on the future of most topics. It sounds like a broad topic to me, but feel free to bring some questions with you. "Refreshments served."

You can stay home and watch this live via Windows Media Player.

TUES 11/18

9pm to Midnight
"The Upsetter" w/ Reception and Q&A
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

Some might not be aware of Lee "Scratch" Perry, but he's one of the architects of reggae music as a performer and producer. Perry basically also created the remix -- which may not be something we should thank him for... This documentary looks at his life from a youth to the present and includes interview footage from artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Paul McCartney, and The Clash.

Hey, it's a free movie with a pre-screening cocktail reception as DJ Jayceeoh spins.

You can RSVP until 6pm today, and it's one of those shows where it's first-come, first-seated until they reach capacity.

TUES 11/18 + WED 11/19

7pm
"Russian Ark"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

In the ultimate example of mise-en-scene, the entire 99-minute movie is a single shot as the narrator and his companion walk through the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. In each room, they experience a different era of Russian history played out in various ways. After watching this amazing creation, you can turn to your companion and impress them with this little factoid: This was the fourth take... (FYI, the ending is digitally enhanced.)

* * * Not-so-Cheap Thrill * * *

TUES 11/18

8:30pm
Aloud: "I Just Want To Witness..."
w/ Media Made (opening)
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$12 / $7 students / All Ages

I try not to break the $10 ceiling very often; but I'm going to this, and I think it'll be pretty cool. They don't serve alcohol, so you won't spend a lot on beer...

If it was only Aloud onstage, I'd still recommend this show. I've seen them twice, and they've delivered the goods. Their recordings have a big, melodic rock sound that gets translated into a no-nonsense, driving monster that doesn't forget the melodies.

Tonight is the premiere of the multi-media show based on their CD "Fan the Fury", where the band has collaborated with filmmaker Johnathan Carr. I'm not that great at picking up the lyrics, but I had a feeling that something was being said. "I Just Want To Witness..." focuses on "themes of voyeurism, social rebellion, and modes of modern (mis)communication" on "the CD’s songs of struggle, perseverance, injustice and love." Projected video created and assembled by Carr and other artists is going to accompany Aloud through the performance. We'll have to see how to describe this accurately...