Randy's Guide LXIII

Today is Saint Nicholas Day, jazz musician Dave Brubeck’s 87th and craigslist founder Craig Newmark’s 55th; Saturday is commentator Ann Coulter’s 46th and Panama’s Mother’s Day; and Tuesday is Philippines’ Pampanga Day. Welcome to all readers! Please forward on to friends, family, and colleagues!


New Special Airline Offer
Receive one free companion fare when you purchase a seat on the same Virgin America flight (LAX, SFO, SAN, LAS, JFK, IAD airports). Use DIGGNATION as your promotional code; select two passengers to view fares. Expires Friday 11:59pm. 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.


Special Airline Offer – extended!
Save 25% off unlimited Virgin America flights. Use ELEVATE25 as your promotional code. Expires 12/21/07. 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
Kirkwood ranked last out of 19 California ski resorts in the 8th annual survey of green practices by a skiing coalition from Colorado. Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley came out 1-2 for addressing such issues as storm water runoff, energy consumption, and wetlands preservation. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/04/MN68TNG4R.DTL


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. www.blueenergygroup.org


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
Raindrops keep falling on my head… but only until Friday night.
High 51, Low 38: Hanford
High 54, Low 35: Santa Rosa, Pittsburg
High 54, Low 39: Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Mill Valley, Mountain View, San Jose
High 54, Low 43: SF, Daly City

High 75, Low 65: College Station, TX (mostly cloudy)
Mitt Romney discusses religion and Mormonism on Wednesday
High 21, Low 10: Omaha, NE (chance of snow)
An AK-47 rampage results in nine total deaths at a shopping mall on Wednesday
High 81, Low 70: Pearl Harbor, HI (rainy)
A day which will live in infamy has its anniversary on Friday
High 40, Low 29: Vernonia, OR (mostly cloudy)
The Portland suburb starts to dry out after being evacuated by National Guard rafts on Tuesday, following two major storms of massive rain and 100+ mph wind gusts over the weekend


Environmental Tip of the Week
You may wish to consider bamboo kitchen equipment for your holiday cooking needs (and 2008!). Bamboo is a grass that grows quickly and is very renewable. Check out cutting boards, salad servers, and salad bowls at www.branchhome.com and www.3rliving.com.


Previous:
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.


Video of the Week
“Umbrella” by Tegan and Sara (Canada)

The lesbian twin sisters are going to regret covering Rihanna’s hit, judging from the high fan response. They’re back on tour showcasing its latest album “The Con,” with a sold-out date at Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall tonight before heading Down Under for a few shows.


Previous:
“Cigarette” by Jeremy Fisher (Canada)

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


Movie Box Office (through Dec. 2)
#1 Enchanted (PG), $16.4MM, $70.0MM overall, 3730 screens
#2 Beowulf (PG-13), $8.2MM, $68.9MM overall, 3249 screens
#3 This Christmas (PG-13), $7.9MM, $36.4MM overall, 1858 screens
#15 I’m Not There (R), $0.5MM, $1.7MM overall, 138 screens

Atonement (R): Romantic drama; about a young woman seeking forgiveness for lying about a man’s crime to get back at his love for her older sister; co-starring Kiera Knightley, James McAvoy, and Brenda Blethyn

Diva (R): Drama; about a Parisian postman who secretly records his favorite opera star, only to be chased by several groups for an incriminating tape secretly placed in his mailbag

The Golden Compass (PG-13): Action-adventure; about a young girl who is set on an epic quest to save the world; co-starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Ian McKellen, Kathy Bates, and Kristin Scott Thomas; directed by Chris Weitz

Man in the Chair (PG-13): Comedy; about a teenage film fanatic who is trying to escape his dreadful home by winning a film-school scholarship; co-starring Christopher Plummer and Robert Wagner

Nina’s Heavenly Delights (PG-13): Comedy; about a young Scottish Asian woman who returns home to find her childhood friend a wannabe Bollywood drag queen, and her love directed toward a woman who owns half of her family’s restaurant; director in person on Saturday evening in San Francisco

Revolver (R): Action; the follow up to “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” about gamblers and a major drug deal; co-starring Jason Statham and Ray Liotta; directed by Guy Ritchie


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, in Macy’s Union Square (SF). Recommended – got my bulbs last weekend!

Presidio Holiday Show [Fri 5:30-6:30pm]: Featuring the San Francisco Conservatory Carolers, with light refreshments. At Lincoln Blvd and Funston Ave (SF). www.presidio.gov/calendar

Winter Wonderland [Fri 11am-9:30pm, Sat-Sun 5-9:30pm]: Along Paseo de San Antonio (San Jose). www.sjdowntown.com

CalTrain Holidays [Fri 5pm, Sat-Sun 4:30pm]: Lighting ceremony at 4th/King stop, music by San Francisco Concert Chorale, visit by Santa Claus, and historic Pullman train tours. At 4th/King (SF). www.caltrain.org

Santa Visits Alameda [Sat 2-5pm]: At Webster/Taylor (Alameda). www.westalamedabusiness.com

Silver Bells Arts & Crafts Faire [Sun 10am-4pm]: Featuring more than 60 Asian & Pacific Islander artisans. Partially benefitting Kimochi. In Hotel Kabuki (SF). www.kimochi-inc.org


Other Activities
Comedy - Brian Regan in concert [Th-Fri 8pm, Sun 7:30pm]: Comedy Central’s funnyman tours the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium (SF), then Santa Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center, and finally Hanford’s Fox Theatre. (Hanford appears to be a small town near Visalia.) $35-39. www.comedycentral.com

Opera - Puccini’s Madama Butterfly [Th 7:30pm, Sat 1pm/8pm]: At the War Memorial Opera House (SF), $10-275. www.sfopera.com

Live Music - Live 105’s Not So Silent Night [Fri 8pm]: With Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, and more. At the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (SF), $40 general, $105 VIP. www.live105.com

Ballet - Western Ballet’s “Nutcracker” [Fri 7:30pm, Sat-Sun 1:30/7:30pm]: At the Center for Performing Arts (Mountain View), $18-23. www.westernballet.org

Live Music - Debbie Reynolds [Fri 8pm]: The star of “Singing in the Rain” croons at the Herbst Theatre (SF), $48-78. www.debbiereynolds.com

Theatre - Argonautika [extended through Dec 23]: Adapted from “The Voyage of Jason and the Argonauts.” At the Berkeley Rep, $17-69. www.berkeleyrep.org

Live Music - Tori Amos [Fri-Sun 8pm]: With Yoav opening. At the Paramount Theatre (Oakland), $38-56. www.toriamos.com

Festival - 37th KPFA Crafts & Music Fair [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Free shuttles from Civic Center BART and 4th/King CalTrain. At the Concourse Exhibition Center (SF), FREE-$10. www.KPFA.org/craftsfair

Ballet - Peninsula Ballet Theatre’s “Nutcracker” [Sat 7pm, Sun 2pm]: At the Creative Arts Building (Pittsburg), $10-20. www.peninsulaballet.org

Live Music - Deborah Harry [Sun 8pm]: The front-woman for Blondie performs, with Kristoffer Ragnstam opening. At the Fillmore (SF), $42. www.deborahharry.com


Previous: Theatre - The Color Purple [through Sunday in SF] recommended; Family - The Velveteen Rabbit [through Sunday in SF]; Opera - Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress [through Sunday in SF]; Theatre - Lovers & Executioners [through Dec 16 in Mill Valley]; Festival - Great Dickens Christmas Fair [through Dec 23 in Daly City]; Theatre - Jersey Boys [through Dec 30 in SF]