Seeing red ribbons? Today’s World AIDS Day. Be a Valentine. Wear red. Be aware. Don’t discriminate. No one is immune.
http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/

The President’s Address to the Nation on Afghanistan – Live at 8 PM tonight…and even FOX is carrying it.
Busboys and Poets is hosting watch events for President Obama’s speech outlining the war strategy in Afghanistan live at 8 PM tonight from West Point Military Academy. Phyllis Bennis, an Afghtanistan expert from the Institute for Policy Studies will give remarks prior to the speech at 7 PM at the 14th & V Busboys and Poets; and remarks after the speech at Busboys 5th & K venue.

For those of you who believe that there are no accidents – Greg Mortenson author of Three Cups of Tea comes to DC Thursday, December 3rd for a reading of his new book Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace With Books Not Bombs In Afghganistan And Pakistan. The reading is sponsored by Politics and Prose Bookstore and will take place at the Sixth & I Street Synagogue. There is a $32 fee (a portion will go to Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute). Mortenson’s visit comes just two days after President Obama lays down the new plan re troop deployment and strategies in Afghanistan. To RSVP call 202-364-1919 or go to the website www.politics-prose.com. I’m thinking this is sold out already, but better to call to confirm. I totally enjoyed Three Cups of Tea and will probably read Stones Into Schools. Hits me where I live.

20th WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL at the Washington DCJCC
December 3 – 13
The tag line says it all –
62 FILMS | 20 COUNTRIES | 11 DAYS | 8 VENUES
62 films in 10 days!?!
December 7, WJFF will host the DC premiere of “The Girl on the Train” from France directed by Andre Techine and starring Catherine Duneuve.

December 6, filmmaker Michael Verhoeven will be honored with a Visionary Award followed by a screening of his acclaimed film “The Nasty Girl” which won both a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1991.

For more information, schedule and tickets visit the WJFF website or email info[AT]wjff.org, or call the FILM HOTLINE (202) 777-3231.

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES FEATURES THE ARTS AND THE WPA
WPA stands for Work Progress Administration, a relief program during the Great Depression of the 1930s that aimed to put Americans back on a payroll. People debate the results, but no one can dispute the need. Even now, Congress is considering a jobs bill that’s appearing to attract support from political ideologues who would oppose a WPA. You can see concrete evidence of WPA throughout the country including in works of art created by some of its famous and not-so-famous employees. The National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC is focusing on the arts programs this month as part of “New Deal at the National Archives“. All programs are FREE and open to the public.

Tuesday, December 8, at 7 p.m.
William G. McGowan Theater
When Art Worked: The New Deal, Art, and Democracy
Under the New Deal’s Federal Arts Project, the American government helped artists get through a difficult time in history. The New Deal provided food, work, and wages, but it also employed out-of-work artists who worked to enhance community and protect our natural heritage. Tonight we present an illustrated discussion featuring rarely seen photographs of New Deal art and architecture as well as newly commissioned works. Roger G. Kennedy, director emeritus of the National Museum of American History and former director of the National Park Service, will discuss his book When Art Worked: The New Deal, Art, and Democracy. Joining the discussion will be David Larkin, editor and designer for When Art Worked. The program will be moderated by Nick Kotz, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, author, and historian. A book signing of When Art Worked will follow the program.

Thursday, December 10, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
75th Anniversary Noontime Film Series
From the Vaults: The Arts [E916 Note – these films are a MUST SEE!]
Our final installment presents a selection of short films from the holdings of the National Archives including U.S.A., a New Deal–era short about the Federal Theatre Project; Upbeat in Music, a March of Time newsreel from 1943; and Rocka My Soul, a film profile of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company produced in 1967 by the United States Information Agency. (70 minutes.)