Photography exhibit, talk

Photographer Livia Corona, recipient of a 2009 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, will talk about her book "Of People and Houses," Oct. 18, 5:15 p.m., Lewis Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall. Her talk will be followed by a reception, 7-8 p.m., in the John Hartell Gallery, Sibley Dome, where her photography will be on display through Oct. 22.

'Obama in the World'

President Obama's success or failure in the world will be the focus of the 2010 Lund Critical Debate, Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m., Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall. Fred Kaplan, national-security columnist for Slate and a senior fellow for the New America Foundation, and Max Boot, a senior fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, will present opposing views; Peter J. Katzenstein, the Walter S. Carpenter Jr. Professor of International Studies, will moderate. Information: http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/news.

Learning the art of fiber

This fall, the Johnson Museum will hold a series of free workshops on fiber art. Upcoming: Curator Nancy Green will lead a tour of the museum's fiber art collection, and Julie Schroeder, owner of Homespun Boutique in Ithaca, will provide a hands-on workshop, Oct. 19 at noon. Future workshops will be Oct. 24 at 2 p.m., Nov. 16 at noon, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Information: http://museum.cornell.edu/.

Hollywood's failings

Television writer/producer and business journalist Larry Meyers '89 will present "Hollywood's Broke: What the Changing Landscape of Entertainment Means to You -- Whoever You Are!" Oct. 19 at 4:45 p.m., at the Film Forum of the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. Meyers has been involved with such TV shows as "Picket Fences," "The Outer Limits," "Early Edition" and "Crossing Jordan." His newest book, "Inside the TV Writer's Room: Practical Advice for Succeeding in Television," was published earlier this year.

Hip-hop, storytelling blend

The Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts will present a dance performance by the Rubberbandance Group, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Kiplinger Theatre, including choreographic works that examine human relationships through a hybrid of hip-hop dance and contemporary storytelling.

Tickets and information at the Schwartz Center, 430 College Ave., 12:30-4 p.m. weekdays; call 607-254-ARTS; or purchase online at http//www.schwartztickets.com.

Cornell Store book events

At the book signings, these books will be discounted 20 percent.

Writing After the Holocaust

Michal Govrin, Israeli poet, novelist and theater director, will read from and discuss her work "Hold on to the Sun," Oct. 20, talking about her early writing as it emerged from the unspoken legacy of her mother, who survived the Holocaust, and about later moments of her life of writing. Her presentation will be in Hebrew at 4:30 p.m., 106 White Hall, and in English at 8 p.m. in G08 Goldwin Smith Hall. A reception will follow each discussion. Information: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/jwst/events.html.

Alumnus presents documentary on first openly gay mayor

John Mikytuck '90 will present his new documentary, "The Newcomer," about Richard Heyman, America's first openly gay mayor, elected in 1983 in Key West, Fla., Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Schwartz Center, Film Forum, and will be part of a panel discussion following the screening. Some material from Heyman's archive, recently donated to Cornell's Human Sexuality Collection, will also be on display, and curator Brenda Marsten will be on hand to talk about the collection.

Campus Club history walk

The Cornell Campus Club is sponsoring an architecture walk on the Arts Quad, Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. Architectural historian Roberta Moudry will lead, covering the history of the quad's buildings, the quad's siting, the curricular and aesthetic intentions of the founders and the implementation of their visions. Those with limited mobility are encouraged to attend.

'Voices of the Great Whales, Drowning in a Sea of Noise'

Christopher Clark, director of the bioacoustics research program, Laboratory of Ornithology, will speak about the effects of low-frequency ocean noise from boats and research on whales and other species in which acoustic communication is biologically critical, Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m., Boyce Thompson Institute Auditorium. His free talk is open to the public and sponsored by the Cornell Association for Professors Emeriti.

All about rice

Rice, Cornell and Southeast Asia will be the topic of a two-part series that begins with a free public talk by Randolph Barker, professor emeritus, applied economics and management, on Cornell's research on rice and Norman Uphoff, professor emeritus of government and former director, Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, will discuss the system of rice intensification, Oct. 21 at noon, 102 Mann Library.

Lunch will be provided, with cooked varieties of rice to sample in the Mann lobby. Information: http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/SoutheastAsia/.

Blogging and LGBT issues

David Lat, founder and managing editor of the widely read legal blog Above the Law (www.abovethelaw.com), will discuss his career path from high-powered attorney to influential gay blogger, Oct. 21, 4:30-6 p.m., G90 Myron Taylor Hall. The blogosphere has played an important role in advancing the gay rights movement at the same time that blogs have presented challenges to, and created conflicts within, the LGBT community. Lat will also field questions from students and lead a discussion of both the good and the bad that blogs have brought to the gay world.

Co-sponsored by GPSAFC, the LGBT Resource Center and LAMBDA.

Literary Luncheon with Lennon

Cornell professor and fiction writer J. Robert Lennon will be the featured author at the next Literary Luncheon, Oct. 26 at the Cayuga Heights residence of Professor Robin Davisson and President David Skorton.

Lennon is the author of seven books of fiction, including "The Funnies," "Mailman" and "Pieces for the Left Hand," a collection of 100 very short stories. His most recent novel is "Castle" (2009). An associate professor of English and creative writing at Cornell since 2006, Lennon also produces the Writers at Cornell blog and is a musician and photographer.

A light lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., with Lennon's presentation at noon. The event is free and open to the first 25 people who respond by Oct. 21 to special-events@cornell.edu.