Randy's Guide LXVIII (68)

Today is the Islamic New Year; Friday is singer Mary J. Blige’s 37th and Albania’s Republic Day; Saturday are radio hosts Rush Limbaugh’s 57th and Howard Stern’s 54th; Sunday is Michigan’s Steve Yzerman Day; Monday is India’s Pongal (Harvest Festival); Tuesday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.


Local News Story of the Week
Stanford University, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute are teaming up to establish the Center for Ocean Solutions. With the help of an initial $25 million bequeath from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the group will address concerns of global warming, pollution, and overfishing. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7924205


Change for Change
Hooray! Randy’s Guide has donated to Blue Energy. I hope you have done your part to support this organization.

New charity to consider: My New Red Shoes. Founder 30-year-old Heather Hopkins, a Princeton University graduate, provides new school clothes to homeless and poor children in the Bay Area. http://www.mynewredshoes.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, Bay Area Community Services, and now Blue Energy.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Drying out from a week of rain. Highs near 55-60, lows in the 40s.

High 10, Low -5: Anchorage, AK (light snow)
- Global warming has forced the Iditarod to move its race start northward, shorten the ceremonial route, and truck in snow to ensure adequate field conditions

High 51, Low 30: Blairsville, GA (partly cloudy)
- Gary Hilton is the prime suspect in the decapitation of hiker Meredith Emerson and Cheryl Dunlap

High 33, Low 23: Grand Rapids, MI (light snow)
- Republican candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney began their last-minute pushes before next Tuesday’s Michigan primaries

High 53, Low 30: Park Hill, OK (partly cloudy)
- About 40 employees disappeared from the 600-acre Greenleaf Nursery in late October, following passage of a strict anti-immigration bill

High 24, Low 11: St. Paul, MN (mostly cloudy)
- The Minnesota Wild will now be owned by former Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold


Environmental Tip of the Week
With the influx of new clothes into our wardrobes, tons of used items will be leaving our closets shortly. Consider donating to a non-profit such as Soles4Souls or Dress for Success, which do not resell clothes to third-world nations. Regardless, though, we need to reduce the amount of reusable clothing items entering landfills (9 million tons in 2005!).

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Time to recycle that Christmas tree! Most municipalities now offer curb-side recycling services, which often put the trees to good use by turning it into mulch, hiking trail chippings, and beachfront erosion barriers.


Video of the Week
“Walkie Talkie Man” by Steriogram (New Zealand)

The rap-rock band emerged from obscurity after signing with Capitol Records and finding a home with iPod commercials.

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“World on Fire” by Sarah McLachlan (Canada)

$150,000 was sent to numerous global organizations in lieu of shooting an expensive music video. Check out all the different ways that expenses add up in a typical shoot… and how far that money can go in developing nations. Check out www.worldonfire.ca/donations.html for the full list of recipients.


Movie Box Office (through Jan. 6)
#1 National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG): $20.0MM; $170.9MM overall; 3762 screens; $5,333 per screen
#2 Juno (PG): $41.3MM; $15.9MM overall; 1925 screens; $8,239 per screen; 3 Golden Globe nominations; recommended
#3 I Am Legend (PG-13): $15.7MM; $228.1MM overall; 3648 screens; $4,309 per screen
#18 There Will Be Blood (R): $1.3MM; $1.8MM overall; 51 screens; $25,905 per screen; 2 Golden Globe nominations

First Sunday (PG-13): Comedy; about two bumbling criminals who attempt to rob a church to pay off a loan; co-starring Ice Cube and Regina Hall

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (PG-13): Fantasy; about a family man’s attempts to find his kidnapped wife, amidst a massive backdrop of war; co-starring Ray Liotta and Matthew Lillard

Nanking (R): Documentary; about Chinese survivors of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China; appearances by Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway, and Stephen Dorff

Persepolis (PG-13): Animation; about a young girl coming-of-age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq war; co-voiced by Catherine Deneuve; 1 Golden Globe nomination; recommended

Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (G): Animation; about three stage hands who dream of becoming theatre stars

Running with Arnold (NR): Documentary; about California’s fascinating actor-turned-governor; narrated by Alec Baldwin, appearances by Bill Maher and Rob Schneider

Violin (NR): Drama; about a musician family who doubles as a supporter of the guerrilla movement; winner of 46 festival awards, the most in Mexican film history


Free Activities
Family Appreciation Day [Sun, varying hours]: Free admission for San Francisco families with children to all 35 museums and attractions in the City. Must provide proof of residency. Free MUNI rides for children accompanying adults from 10am-4pm. Locations include the Exploratorium, Zoo, MoMA, AT&T Park, and Japanese Tea Garden. www.sfkids.org

Akatombo Ensemble [Sun 2pm/4pm]: Classical and folk styles of Japanese music and dance. 200 free tickets distributed one hour before the shows. At Tateuchi Hall (Mountain View). http://www.arts4all.org/


Paid Activities
Opera - Deborah Voigt [Th/Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm]: Soprano singing the works of Strauss, Barber, and Beethoven, with the SF Symphony supporting her. At Davies Symphony Hall (SF), $25-125. www.sfsymphony.org

Club - BT [Fri 8pm-2am]: With DJs Alain Ocavo, James Williams, and Jonathan Williams assisting. At Ruby Skye (SF), $15. http://www.rubyskye.com/

Live Music - Bill Graham Foundation Benefit [Fri 8:30pm]: With duets by Aaron Neville, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Rogers, and others. At the Fillmore (SF), $100-350. http://www.billgrahamfoundation.org/

Festival - Taste of Copia: Sonoma County [Sat 1-4pm]: Featuring more than 40 wineries, including Medlock Ames and Chateau St. Jean. At Copia (Napa), $30-45. www.copia.org/sonoma

Jazz - Monterey Jazz Festival [Sat 8pm]: 50th Anniversary tour. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $34-52. http://www.calperformances.net/

Film - 13th annual Berlin & Beyond [through Jan 16]: Films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. At the Castro Theatre (SF), $5-100. http://www.berlinandbeyond.com/

Dance - Ethnic Dance Festival Auditions [weekends through Jan 20]: Check out more than 100 Northern California dance companies, as they perform the hula, Native American trick roping, and more. At the Palace of Fine Arts (SF), $7. http://www.worldartswest.org/

Comedy - SF SketchFest [through Jan 27]: Opening night party tonight featuring Aimee Mann and Paul Tompkins. At various locations through SF, $10-250. http://www.sfsketchfest.com/

Festival - Women on the Way [through Jan 27]: Opening gala on Friday night, with appearances by Sarah Bush Dance Project, Joshua Klipp, and others. At the Shotwell Studios and The Garage (SF), $15-25. http://www.ftloose.org/

Theatre - Speed the Plow [through Feb 3]: About two movie moguls and one seductive secretary. Written by David Mamet. At the ACT (SF), $15-80. http://www.act-sf.org/

Previous: Theatre - Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza [through Jan 20 in SF]