MONDAY

Gary D. Cole built a career thriving at the apex of contradiction—CIA lawyer turned theatre artist, staunch conservative at Cal-Berkeley, a Bush campaign supporter who never let his politics get in the way of producing vital art. Those worlds collided after a Presidential appointment to the NEA was withdrawn because he once produced Poona The Fuckdog (a funny, smutty little play local theatre-goers may remember being produced by Cherry Red Productions). Cole retraces his steps in his Odyssey of a Republican Cultural Creative. Olsson’s Books & Records, 1307 19th St. NW., at 7 p.m.

TUESDAY

Comic book fiends will be geeking out when James Kakalios comes to town to discuss The Physics of Superheroes. Maybe for a sequel he can explain the corporate law of superheroes. How do you get zoning approval for a Legion of Doom, anyway? You’d think the NIMBYs would flip out? And is the Justice League eligible for 501(c)(3) status? Are there minority set-aside contracts available if, say, Apache Chief wants to set up his own shop? We want to know! Library of Congress, Madison Building, West Dining Room, 101 Independence Ave. SE., at 11:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY

Feel safe flying the friendly skies? Wait till you hear from Joseph and Susan Trento, whose book Unsafe at any Altitude: Failed Terrorism Investigations, Scapegoating 9/11, and the Shocking Truth About Aviation Security Today, is going to make you feel an even greater existential void in the pit of your stomach the next time you have to take your shoes off for those TSA clowns. Olsson’s Book & Records, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, at 7 p.m.