Half-Marathon Training Panel Daunted by the marathon but desperate to get in shape? Ask fitness experts from the University of Washington Medical Center how best to train for the Seattle Half Marathon. REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., 206-598-3748. Free. 7 p.m. Mon., April 18.
Legal Panel Two local rabbis and a Seattle University law professor contemplate "Contracts and Covenants: Religious and Legal Perspectives"—specifically, those relating to same-sex relationships—at a forum cosponsored by the LGBT Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. UW Hillel, 4745 17th Ave. N.E., 206-527-1997. Free. 7-9 p.m. Mon., April 18.
Garden Walk Stroll through Juanita Bay Park with an Audubon guide. Bring binocs! 9703 N.E. Juanita Dr. (Kirkland), 425-576-8805. Free. 8 a.m. Tues., April 19.
Blood Drive Donate some hemoglobin to the Puget Sound Blood Center. Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St. (Everett), 425-388-9508. Free. 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:15-3 p.m. Tues., April 19.
Digital Media Panel Though the big-time directors may not shoot their movies here, this WSA-sponsored panel of video-game execs and tech-sector experts will argue that Seattle is the Hollywood of the digital media industries, including software and music production. Westin Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., 206-448-3033. $56 ($40 WSA members). Reception: 5 p.m. Panel: 6:45 p.m. Tues., April 19.
Health Lecture Acupuncturist Greg Anderton demystifies Eastern medicine at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy. 4130 E. Madison St., 206-324-0701. Free. 5:45-6:45 p.m. Tues., April 19.
Mayor Greg Nickels Hizzoner lays out Seattle's Climate Action Plan, followed by a panel discussion on local climate change. REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., 206-378-0114. Free. 6:30 p.m. Tues., April 19.
Social Justice Forum Representatives of Bellingham's Community to Community Development join Community Alliance for Global Justice chair Heather Day to discuss family farms' struggle to survive in the shadow of agribusiness, both here and in South America. 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave. S., 206-405-4600. Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tues., April 19.
Sister Helen Prejean Sponsored in part by the University of Washington, the famed anti–death penalty advocate (portrayed by Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking) discusses her continuing fight against government-sanctioned execution. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-634-3400. Free (tickets required). 7 p.m. Tues., April 19.
Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker Since 1924, The New Yorker has balanced high-minded cultural commentary with reliably droll cartoons by such masters as Charles Addams and Roz Chast. Sponsored by Foolproof, New Yorker cartoon editor Robert Mankoff appears at Town Hall to discuss the publication's nearly 69,000 cartoons, and how he culled the best of them for a massive new compilation. 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-325-3554. $15. 7:30 p.m. Tues., April 19.
"Green Building" Lecture Series Sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, the series continues with "Beautiful Salvage: Finding and Incorporating Used Architectural Elements." Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 206-386-4636. Free. 6-7:30 p.m. Tues., April 20.
Noam Chomsky One of America's best-known political thinkers, the MIT professor and author appears at Meany Hall to deliver a talk titled "Illegal But Legitimate: A Dubious Doctrine for the Times." UW Meany Hall, 206-634-3400. Free (tickets required). 7 p.m. Wed., April 20.
Hot Spots in Our World The University of Washington–sponsored lecture series continues with "Human Rights in Southeast Asia," presented by International Studies chair Mary Callahan. UW campus (call 206-897-8939 for exact location and to register). $15. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., April 20.
Meet the Mammals The biweekly lecture series at the Burke Museum continues with "Encountering Whales: The Historic Return of Mammals to the Sea." 17th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street, 206-543-9681. Free (preregistration required). 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., April 20.
Miriam Rajkumar One of the world's foremost thinkers on the subject of WMD proliferation, she speaks at Kane Hall on the current U.S. policy toward Iran's nuclear program. Sponsored by the World Affairs Council. UW Kane Hall (Walker-Ames Room), 206-441-5910. $10 ($5 WAC members). 7 p.m. Wed., April 20.
Keith Boykin The author of Beyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America, about the phenomenon of black men who identify as straight but sleep with other men, talks about the research that went into the book and the media hoopla that followed. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., 206-624-6600. $7 ($5 CD Forum members/students/seniors). 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 20.
Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind A study session at Sakya Monastery that addresses four pillars of Buddhist thought: karma, death, impermanence, and rebirth. 108 N.W. 83rd St., 206-789-2573. $12. 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 20.
Seattle Follies The monthly political cabaret show at Town Hall rolls on, with Microsoft's Mike Egan as host and Seattle Times columnist Joni Balter, comedian Cathy Sorbo, and KVI-AM talk-show host John Carlson in the cast. 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $18 ($15 advance). 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 20.
