Randy's Guide LXXIX (79)

Today is singer Mariah Carey's 38th and Angola's Victory Day; Friday is Slovakia/Czech Republic's Teacher Day; Monday is Barney Frank's (D-MA) 68th and Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) 68th; Tuesday is April Fools' Day.


Movie Alert
Screening passes for two to Leatherheads, starring George Clooney and Renee Zellweger. Showing is Tuesday evening in downtown SF. E-mail for further details!


Local News Story
This Saturday, San Francisco will join 25 other major cities in the 2nd Earth Hour, which involves turning off lights for one hour to show solidarity around the climate change issue. So, turn off your lights from 8-9pm (local time) this Saturday! www.earthhour.org


Change for Change
New charity to consider: College Track. As featured in Bill Clinton's book "Giving," College Track offers high-school students in East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Oakland free tutoring, internships, and university application assistance. To date, all 226 students have enrolled in college. www.collegetrack.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, Blue Energy, and My New Red Shoes.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Chance of rain Friday, otherwise cool and partly cloudy. Highs 55-65; lows 38-48.

High 73, Low 64: Dallas, TX (slight chance of t-storms)
- Dallas-Fort Worth added more than 162,000 residents from 2006 to 2007, the highest for any other metropolitan area

High 45, Low 30: Philadelphia, PA (rain, then weekend sun)
- The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the death sentence of Black Panthers member Mumia Abu-Jamal and ruled that he should receive a new sentencing trial

High 81, Low 70: San Juan, PR (chance of rain)
- Puerto Rico's governor faces 19 criminal counts related to the financing of his campaigns

High 47, Low 34: Tacoma, WA (rain)
- A Starbucks barista donated a kidney to a fellow customer who was battling a genetic disease

High 51, Low 37: Washington, DC (rain, then weekend sun)
- The famed cherry blossom trees are set to bloom about a week earlier than they bloomed 30 years ago, a sign of global warming that scientists believe is showing up around the world


Environmental Tips
Do not pour grease or oil down the drain! It builds up in municipal pipes and eventually can cause sewage backup and spills. Instead, use a spatula to scrape the fats into a freezable container (such as a frozen juice carton) and store in the freezer. Throw it away (or compost it) when the container is full.

Previous:
In light of the recent water study showing pharmaceutical drugs in our water supply, consumers are urged to pour unwanted pills or liquid medications into a plastic bag, add a desiccant like coffee grounds, and seal the bag before throwing it away. And, bottled water usually does not remove the drugs either.


Music Videos
"Till the End of Time" by DeVotchKa (Denver, Colo.)

A wacky mix of Slavic and Spanish influences, DeVotchKa has brought out the theremin, bouzouki, accordion, and sousaphone on stage. Their songs for "Little Miss Sunshine" earned them a Grammy nomination. They'll be passing through: Coachella, San Francisco, and Portland in April; Chicago, Asheville, Boston, and New York in May.

"D.A.N.C.E." by Justice (Paris, France)

The French electro-dance band, whose trademark symbol is a bright cross, received three Grammy nominations this past year for their first album. Justice performs at San Francisco's Concourse Center tonight and finishes its U.S. swing in Los Angeles on Monday.


Movies (through Mar. 24)
#1 Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (G): $24.6MM; $86.0MM overall; 3961 screens; $6,208 per screen
#2 Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (PG-13): $20.1MM opening; 2006 screens; $10,011 per screen
#3 Shutter (PG-13): $10.5MM opening; 2753 screens; $3,795 per screen
#10 Under the Same Moon (PG-13): $2.8MM opening; 266 screens; $10,412 per screen; the mostly Spanish-language film about a family caught in the illegal immigration debate cracked the top 10

Flawless (PG-13): Drama; about a woman who has hit a corporate glass ceiling and the janitor who helps her conduct an inside heist; co-starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore

Generation Now (NR): Drama; about an array of young individuals growing up in a modern urban environment without parental guidance

Planet B-Boy (NR): Documentary; about several international break dancers

Run, Fat Boy, Run (PG-13): Comedy; about an overweight man who must finish a marathon to win back his sweetheart, who is now engaged to another man; co-starring Hank Azaria and Thandie Newton; directed by David Schwimmer

Shelter (R): Drama; about a young idealistic man, whose family burdens intrude on his aspirations, and the writer who becomes his close surf buddy

Stop-Loss (R): Drama; about a Texas soldier who is ordered back to Iraq following the completion of his tour of duty; co-starring Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum; directed by Kimberly Peirce

Superhero Movie (PG-13): Comedy; about a high-school loser who is bitten by a dragonfly and develops superhuman abilities; co-starring Pamela Anderson

21 (PG-13): Drama; about a group of M.I.T. students who won millions in Las Vegas playing blackjack; co-starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne

Netflix pick – Colma: The Musical (R): $15,000 goes a long way for this low-budget, audience-pleasing musical about three high-school friends who contemplate life in Colma, Calif. Winner of Best Picture awards at three California Asian-American film festivals.


Free Activities
Critical Mass [Fri 6:30-8pm]: A bicycle ride from Justin Herman Plaza through San Francisco.

Yeah Baby Expo [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Win gift certificates, take photos with Nickelodeon characters, and browse vendors at the world's largest family expo. At Great America (Santa Clara). www.yeahbabyexposf.com

Greek Independence Day Celebration [Sat Noon-5pm]: Noon Parade down Market Street to Civic Center Plaza, reception at the War Memorial Veterans Building afterward (SF). www.hellenicfederation.org

Peninsula French Fair [Sat 10:30am-6pm]: At the Hillview Center (Los Altos). www.frenchfair2008.blogspot.com


Paid Activities
Live Music - Charles Lloyd New Quartet [Fri 8pm]: With Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland filling out the jazz ensemble. At the Herbst Theatre (SF), $25-70. www.sfjazz.org

Live Music - 127 Band [Fri 9pm]: With Black Idol, Get Dead, and Mojo Apostles supporting this Tehran-based punk rock band. At Fat City (SF), $10. www.127band.com

Live Music - The Ark [Sat 8pm]: Instrumental music, as part of the 23rd annual Jewish Music Festival. At the JCC (SF), $28. www.jewishmusicfestival.org

Dance - Corazon al Sur [Sun 7pm]: Featuring Argentine tangos and ballads. At the Little Fox (Redwood City), $16-18. www.foxdream.com

Theatre - A Streetcar Named Desire [through April 20]: Based on Tennessee Williams' classic. At the Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley), $20-50. www.marintheatre.org

Art - Annie Leibovitz [through May 25]: The famed photographer has her works from 1990-2005 on display. Also featured are Dead Sea Scroll fragments and other historic artifacts from Israel's Antiquities Authority. At the Legion of Honor (SF), FREE-$10. www.legionofhonor.org

Previous: Theatre - Wishful Drinking [through Apr 12 in Berkeley]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [through Apr 13 in SF] recommended; Theatre - Tings Dey Happen [through April 19 in Mill Valley]