Randy's Guide XLII

Today is former French President Jacques Chirac’s 75th; Friday is entertainer Dick Clark’s 78th; Saturday is Romania’s National Day and World AIDS Day; Sunday is singer Britney Spears’ 26th; and Wednesday is the official start to Hanukkah. Welcome to all readers! Please forward on to friends, family, and colleagues!


Special Airline Offer
Save 25% off unlimited Virgin America flights (LAX, SFO, SAN, LAS, JFK, IAD airports)! Use ELEVATE25 as your promotional code. Expires 12/7/07. Offer valid for travel through 3/19/08, with blackout dates of 12/19/07 - 1/6/08, 2/14/08, 2/15/08, and 2/18/08.


Local News Story of the Week
Community Action Marin is sponsoring a raffle that offers people the opportunity to win a multi-million-dollar home in Marin County – all for a good cause. Tickets are $150, and 349 other prizes will be handed out in February 2008. http://www.cbs5.com/local/dream.house.raffle.2598509.html


Change for Change (no change from last week)
Charity to consider: Blue Energy. The San Francisco-based nonprofit, which started as a graduate project at MIT, provides low-cost wind and solar electric systems in Nicaragua and eventually will spread its model worldwide.

Previous organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, and Bay Area Community Services.

Donate through the non-profit's Web site or your corporate donation program.


Weekend Weather
Still no rain in sight here…

High 52, Low 44: San Francisco (beaches), Daly City
High 55, Low 42: San Francisco (downtown), Berkeley, Mill Valley
High 57, Low 38: San Jose, Mountain View, Cupertino

And on the campaign trail…

High 28, Low 19: Casper, WY (slight chance of snow)
High 63, Low 41: Columbia, SC (mostly cloudy)
High 32, Low 18: Concord, NH (slight chance of snow)
High 31, Low 17: Des Moines, IA (chance of snow and ice pellets)
High 35, Low 23: Lansing, MI (chance of rain and snow)
High 63, Low 47: Laughlin, NV (slight chance of rain)
High 75, Low 54: Tallahassee, FL (partly cloudy)


Environmental Tip of the Week
Athletic shoe makers have been more open to adopting green policies, with the elimination of volatile organic compounds and PVC, the adoption of Fair Labor Association factory visits, and the publication of factory locations. Nike, Reebok, and Adidas are among the industry leaders in driving positive changes.

Previous:
You'll no doubt have leftovers from Thanksgiving. Some tips to keep your food safe: (1) use hot soapy water to clean hands, cutting boards, and sponges; (2) refrigerate everything immediately; (3) store and eat turkey within four days, stuffing and gravy within two days; (4) avoid PVC-based plastic wrap by using Best Yet/Glad Cling Wrap, aluminum foil, or Tupperware bins.


Video of the Week
“Cigarette” by Jeremy Fisher (Canada)


A new CD, a tour in Australia – how could life be better for the Canadian singer-songwriter?

Previous:
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson (as performed by prison inmates in the Philippines)


Over 8 million have viewed this video, which features over 1,500 prisoners performing a remake of the epic video.


Movie Box Office
#1 Enchanted (PG), $34.4MM opening, 3730 screens
#2 This Christmas (PG-13), $18.0MM opening, 1858 screens
#3 Beowulf (PG-13), $16.5MM, $56.7MM overall, 3218 screens
#15 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (R), $0.9MM, $3.4MM overall, 260 screens

Awake (R): Thriller; about a patient who is awake during surgery despite full anesthesia; co-starring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, and Terrence Howard

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (R): Action; an updated 35mm print of the classic; co-starring Harrison Ford

Holly (R): Drama; about a complex relationship between a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl and a 40-year-old American artifacts dealer in Cambodia; co-starring Ron Livingston

Kurt Cobain: About a Son (NR): Documentary; about the late musician-artist, in his own voice from audiotape interviews

Midnight Eagle (R): Foreign thriller; about a photojournalist who is witness to a U.S. stealth plane crash in Japan

Romance and Cigarettes (R): Musical; about a New York ironworker who is having an affair; co-starring James Gandolfini, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, and Christopher Walken; directed by John Turturro

Undoing (NR): Drama; about a man who returns to Los Angeles’ Koreatown to atone for mistakes one year after his sudden disappearance


Free Activities
Macy’s PG&E Bulb Exchange [Weekends through Dec 16, noon-4pm]: Exchange up to 5 standard light bulbs for new compact fluorescent bulbs. On Holiday Lane, Level 6. recommended

Family Day at the Asian Art Museum [Sat 10am-5pm]: Admission and activities (Korean drumming, Filipino Christmas workshop, and Chinese paintbrushing) sponsored by Bank of America. At the Asian Art Museum (SF). http://www.asianart.org/

Community Day at Museum of African Diaspora [Sat 11am-4pm]: Admission and activities sponsored by Target. At MoAD (SF). http://www.moadsf.org/

San Jose Holiday Parade [Sun 8:30am]: With Mickey Mouse as Grand Marshal, and featured musical guests Monet and Cirque du Soleil. In downtown San Jose. http://www.sanjoseholidayparade.com/


Other Activities
Lecture - Eric Schlosser [Th 8pm]: The author of “Fast Food Nation” speaks with UC Berkeley Professor Michael Pollan. At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $19. http://www.cityboxoffice.com/

Performance - Circus Oz: The Laughing at Gravity Tour [Th-Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm, Sun 3pm]: Acrobats, musicians, daredevils… sounds a bit like Cirque du Soleil, only Aussie-style. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $13-48. http://www.circusoz.com/

Ballet – Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet [Th-Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm, Sun 2pm]: At the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, $40-55. http://www.smuinballet.org/

Live Rock - Ozomatli [Th/Sun 8pm, Fri/Sat 9pm]: With rotating special guests Jurassic 5, Cut Chemist, Wisdom, Cava, Samba Da, and Lifesavas. At the Fillmore (SF), $27. http://www.ozomatli.com/

Comedy - Kathy Griffin [Fri 8pm, Sat 7pm/10pm]: At the Flint Center (Cupertino) and Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium (SF), $45-75. http://www.kathygriffin.net/

Theatre - The Producers [Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm]: At the Flint Center (Cupertino), $40-60. http://www.flintcenter.com/

Dance - Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance [Sat 3pm/8pm, Sun 1pm/6pm]: At the Golden Gate Theatre (SF), $25-75. http://www.lordofthedance.com/

Live Rock - Aimee Mann’s 2nd Annual Christmas Show [Sun-Mon 8pm]: With Paul F. Tompkins, Sean Hayes, Chuck Prophet, and Morgan Murphy opening. At Bimbo’s 365 Club (SF), $36. http://www.aimeemann.com/

Classical - Andrea Bocelli [Sun 7:30pm]: With the New West Symphony, conductor Steven Mercurio, providing backup. At the HP Pavilion (San Jose), $75-275. http://www.andreabocelli.com/

Dance - Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular [Wed 8pm]: Did you know he lives in San Francisco? With special guests Barry Manilow, Dorothy Hamill, and others. At SBC Park (SF), $55-153. www.myspace.com/bboitano

Theatre - Lovers & Executioners [extended through Dec 16]: A mix of adventure, mistaken identity, and romance, as found in the 17th century text. At the Marin Theatre (Mill Valley), $30-50. http://www.marintheatre.org/

Previous: Opera - Puccini’s La Rondine [through today]; Jazz - 25th SF Jazz Festival [through Friday]; Festival - 50th San Francisco International Auto Show [through Sunday in SF]; Festival - 29th Celebration of Craftswomen [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - The Color Purple [through Dec 9 in SF] recommended; Family - The Velveteen Rabbit [through Dec 9 in SF]; Opera - Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress [through Dec 9 in SF]; Festival - Great Dickens Christmas Fair [through Dec 23 in Daly City]; Theatre - Jersey Boys [through Dec 30 in SF]