THUR 5/7: Plenty of Cheap Options...

It might be a difficult choice for the politically-inclined individual with a discussion on Afghanistan and Zinn speaking. One might even want to mix 'n mingle with the liberal radio folks.

Or maybe it's a night to dance and/or laugh...

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THUR 5/7

6pm
Howard Zinn & Jimmy Tingle present: "A Young People's History of the United States"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 (tix available at Harvard Book Store or 617-661-1515)

Howard Zinn should be considered a great American for simply writing "A People's History of the United States", historical episodes from a perspective of the people who were actually being affected instead of the grand actions of statesmen and generals. Everyone should read it, and I guess the different editions should be considered channels to reach as many people as possible.

Zinn and humorist Jimmy Tingle will probably engage in a thought-provoking discourse.

THUR 5/7

6pm to 9pm
AM1510 revolutionBOSTON: Kickoff Party
at Revolution Rock Bar, 200 High St, Boston (Financial District)
FREE w/ RSVP

Progressive talk radio returns to Boston. I assume there will be some free drinks/apps... RSVP to get on the guest list. I wonder if Jay Severin will be there...? (More info at Blue Mass Group)

THUR 5/7

6:30pm to 8pm
"Afghanistan": Panel Discussion
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Afghanistan seems to be the perennially forgotten nation. It usually gets attention only when a larger concern is involved. Now a panel discussion is scheduled when Pakistan's government might be on the verge of overthrow.

What's the best-case scenario for Afghanistan? This panel will discuss the history and the current issues:

-- Paul Fitzgerald & Elizabeth Gould (authors of "Invisible History: Afghanistan's Untold Story")
-- Nick Mills (Prof. of Journalism at BU, author of "Karzai")
-- Sima Wali (former Afghan exile, President of Refugee Women in Development)

Moderated by Alan Berger (Boston Globe editorial board)

THUR 5/7 (and TUES 5/12)

7pm, 9:30pm
Boston 48 Hour Film Project
at Kendall Square Cinema, 370 Binney St, Cambridge
$9.75

About 90 filmmaking teams created shorts from start to finish over this past weekend. On Friday they were each given a genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue. After writing, acting, and editing in 48 hours, they turned in the final product on Sunday night.

All of them are shown over 4 nights (2 sessions per night); tonight and next Tuesday to see them until the eventual 'best of' screening. I've watched a few of these instant films in the past, and they are usually pretty good.

THUR 5/7

8pm to Midnight
MP3 Beatdown: Championships
at Puma City, about 28 Northern Ave, Boston (Waterfront/Fan Pier)
FREE

Teams from local outfits of cool and hipness (stores, free weeklies, DJ's, etc) do battle by bringing mp3 players with their phattest jamz.

I remembering reading a report from the first report the first "Beatdown" (in February), and teams advance via head-to-head bursts of mp3 mixes -- maybe 5 to 15 minutes. I really believe the GIF below is from a previous night.

Think of getting free drinks at the open bar (beginning at 8pm) as a competition between you and the masses...

THUR 5/7

10pm
Pariah Beat
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

There are a few biggish bands with accordion and violin around town that make a rootsy stew of rock/gypsy/country/folk, but Pariah Beat pops with brightness and passion.

THUR 5/7

10pm
"Lafta Obscura" w/ Ken Reid, Sean Sullivan, Nate Johnson
at Somerville Theatre Screening Room, 55 Davis Sq, Somerville
$10

AltCom: The Alternative Comedy Festival has returned for an expanded second year. Besides the bigger comedy names (thru SUN 5/10), they're presenting a few programs with a local scope like this version of a comedy night that used to happen at the Paradise Lounge.

Three funny guys perform in the "Screening Room", apparently a new addition at the Somerville Theatre. Do you know why this is my favorite movie theatre? They sell beer.

Note: If you want to go to one of the main shows, try entering LAUGH as the promo code at Ticketmaster for a discount...