12: Strutting and Fretting For An Hour (or Two)

Saw an excellent show at the Oxford Playhouse last night! It was a new (2011) play entitled Mogadishu.[*] The piece tells the story of a fifteen year old school bully. In the opening scene, he beats up a younger child; when one of the teachers intervenes, he lashes out in his anger and knocks her to the ground, too.

From there, the situation escalates -- slowly at first, then ever rapidly. To protect himself, the bully reports the teacher as having racially abused him... and gets his five friends to corroborate his story. The teacher is suspended. Then the police and child protection get involved. Finally, social services is brought in and the teacher is even in danger of losing her own daughter. All the while, the young bully is reveling in his own power of manipulation.

The human drama and racial tensions play out on a backdrop of two troubled households: That of the teacher and that of the bully. At the end, which is left at least partially ambiguous, there is no winner... but the audience is certainly left with a lot to think about.

Powerful stuff! For my friends in the US, you may be out of luck; but, for my friends in the UK, this play is currently on tour. If it happens to end up near you, I highly recommend seeing it!

---

[*] Though the reasons why are a bit of a mystery -- the city of Mogadishu is mentioned precisely once, in a throwaway line.

13: You Say It's Your Birthday

Helllllloooooooo again, Chicago!

As previously mentioned, your friendly neighbourhood Nomad will be making a surprise appearance in the Windy City during the first week of March. Although this is a work trip, there will be time for some fun, too! Because what's travel without fun, right?

Here is what my itinerary looks like so far:

• Thu Mar 01: 14:10 - Land at O'Hare. Go home, settle in. Poly Chicago's monthly karaoke meetup at Sidekicks in the evening! (Huzzah!)
  
  
• Fri Mar 02: 07:00 - Bring Chirp to the vet for dental procedure. Work. 15:00 - Pick up Chirp from vet. EVENING: FREE!!
  
  
• Sat Mar 03: ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY OPEN -- SEE BELOW!!
  
  
• Sun Mar 04: Breakfast at Butterfield's. Maybe some spare time in afternoon. Prepare for big work week ahead in evening.
  
  
• Mon Mar 05: Big important day of work at Fermilab. Collapse in evening. Dinner with friends possible.
  
  
• Tue Mar 06: Recover from Monday. Prepare for Wednesday. Maybe get dinner with certain friends who have recently returned from cruising.
  
  
• Wed Mar 07: Bigger importanter day of work at Fermilab. Includes delivering the Particle Astrophysics Center's weekly seminar. Professional dinner in evening. Pack like mad when all is done.
  
  
• Thu Mar 08: Depart the Event Horizon at 06:00. Fly out of O'Hare at 08:50. Sleep.

Looking at the above plan, t'would appear that the best times to see some of my lovely Chicagoland friends would be on the evening of Friday March 2^nd and on Saturday March 3^rd.

Well, it just so happens that ten days after Saturday March 3^rd, a certain Nomadic Anarchist is having a birthday. So it occurs to me: Why not throw a birthday party for myself at the Event Horizon! That would be pretty spiffy, huh? Possibly even bordering on the awesometacular if enough people show up!

Which means that it is time for that inestimable of beasts: The LJ POLL!

[Poll #1820132]

Those gentle readers who live outside of Chicagoland are also welcome to attend, of course. However, due to issues of distance and the fact that I've not yet completed work on the teleporter, tis understood if you cannot make it. This time.

Looking forward to seeing many of you lovely people sooon!!