May 11

This evening, the Madison General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World holds its monthly meeting and potluck. They will provide pizza and beverages, but other items are welcome. This is at the MTI Building, 821 Williamson Street, at 6:30. For more information, call 255-1800.

Tonight, the PoliSciFi book meets to watch the controversial cinematic version of the story “V for Vendetta” by Alan Moore, in preparation for a discussion of the graphic novel itself scheduled for May 18. “V for Vendetta” is a futuristic tale in a fascist Great Britain where a freedom fighter known as V uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressive society. He rescues a young woman Portman from the secret police, and she becomes his unlikely ally. Carpools leave from Escape Café, 916 Williamson Street, at 7:30 and the film is at Point Cinema, 7825 Big Sky Drive, at 8:15. For more information, call 442-8399.

Sunday, May 21 is the Tour de Timor bike ride to raise money for the Madison-Ainaro Sister City Alliance. All proceeds support community-led projects in Madison's sister city of Ainaro, East Timor, including a maternal and child health care clinic, Ainaro's community radio station, and a grassroots reconstruction and vo-tech training group. Our yearly ride is about twelve miles and takes an hour to an hour and a half to complete. There is a registration fee that includes a union-made Tour de Timor T-shirt and free refreshments. Riders are also encouraged to collect pledges. This begins at 1 at Law Park on the corner of Williamson Street and John Nolen Drive. For more information and to register, check aideasttimor.org or call 244-4563.