Randy's Guide LXXXVIII (88)

Today is former President George H. W. Bush's 84th, the United Kingdom's Trooping the Colour, and Philippines' Independence Day; Friday is Friday-the-13th and mathematician John Nash's 80th; Saturday is Flag Day, businessman Donald Trump's 62nd, and singer Boy George's 47th; Sunday is Father's Day, actor Neil Patrick Harris' 35th, and Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum's 24th; Monday is Dublin, Ireland's Bloomsday and South Africa's Youth Day; Tuesday is Iceland's Independence Day; Wednesday is singer Sir Paul McCartney's 66th and Seychelles' National Day.


Local News Story
Hundreds of free wi-fi antennas made by Meraki already blanket City rooftops and balconies. The small company plans to spend about $5 million over the next several years to provide free high-speed access for all residents. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/11/MN6N117KJU.DTL&tsp=1


Claim Your Money!
I just scored a little over $300 (with my parents also due money) by tapping into California's Division of Unclaimed Property. Go to http://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP and type in your name to see if you have funds sitting in California's treasury.


Change for Change
New charity to consider: Vital Life Services. Founded in 1987 in Berkeley, this organization provides hot meals, transportation, housing, and other services to those with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses. The group will move into the former site of Your Black Muslim Bakery once renovation is completed. www.vitalcalifornia.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, My New Red Shoes, College Track, and Foundation for the People of Burma.

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


Weekend Weather
Bay Area: Warm and sunny. Coast 70-76; bay 77-83; inland 84-90. Lows 50-60.

High 90, Low 70: Charleston, Miss. (chance of t-storms)
- Actor Morgan Freeman, a Charleston local, broke through with his decade-long pledge to pay for the entire prom, as the town's high school has finally held its first inter-racial prom

High 80, Low 55: Little Sioux, Iowa (partly cloudy)
- Four Boy Scouts were killed and 48 people were injured by a devastating tornado ripping through a wilderness camp

High 85, Low 56: Murrieta, Calif. (clear)
- Polygamist Mansa Muhummed was convicted on 25 counts of abusing and imprisoning his three wives and 19 children

High 87, Low 66: St. Louis, Mo. (mostly cloudy)
- Belgian mega-brewer InBev (owner of Bass, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, and Beck's) has launched an unsolicited bid to buy Anheuser-Busch (maker of Budweiser and Michelob) for $46 billion


Environmental Tips
Some ideas for Father's Day (which is Sunday): a solar backpack (www.brunton.com), a 95%-recycled sleeping bag (www.sierradesigns.com), or a hand-cranked two-way radio (www.etoncorp.com).

Previous:
Easy and fast - Lower your energy bill by cleaning your clothes dryer's lint trap before each load. It will improve air circulation and reduce the amount of required drying time.


Music Videos
"Great DJ" by The Ting Tings (Salford, England)

The indie-pop duo soared to #1 on the UK Singles charts with "That's Not My Name," off their debut album. They will be making an appearance at San Francisco's PopScene tonight, before stopping in Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia later this month.

Previous:
"Your Touch" by Black Keys (Akron, Ohio)

Danger Mouse, the producer of Black Keys' fifth album, also has Gnarls Barkley on his resume, which could mean big things for this blues-rock duo. They're due to perform in England, France, and Australia over the next month, with appearances in the U.S. in August and September.


Movies (through June 8)
#1 Kung Fu Panda (PG): $60.2MM opening; 4114 screens; $14,642 per screen
#2 You Don't Mess with the Zohan (PG-13): $38.5MM opening; 3462 screens; $11,130 per screen
#3 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG-13): $22.8MM; $253.0MM overall; 4190 screens; $5,440 per screen
#4 Sex and the City (R): $21.2MM; $99.2MM overall; 3325 screens; $6,381 per screen
#11 Sarkar Raj (NR): $0.6MM opening; 70 screens; $9,179 per screen; a Bollywood film featuring three top stars (all from the Bachchan family)

The Happening (R): Thriller; about a family attempting to escape from an unstoppable event; co-starring Mark Wahlberg and John Leguizamo; directed by M. Night Shyamalan

The Incredible Hulk (PG-13): Action; about a scientist searching for a cure to his Hulk disorder, while trying to avoid his arch-nemesis and the military government; co-starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt

The Promotion (R): Comedy; about two mid-level supermarket employees - one from Quebec, the other Chicago - who battle for the managerial position; co-starring John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott

Surfwise (R): Drama; about the true story of a doctor who took his wife and nine children and lived in a 24-foot camper as a nomadic surfing family

Up the Yangtze (NR): Documentary; about the effects of the biggest hydroelectric dam in history, the Three Gorges, on the families living downstream on the Yangtze River

War, Inc. (R): Satire; about the meddling occupation of an American private corporation, run by a former U.S. Vice President, in the country of Turaqistan; co-starring Dan Aykroyd, John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Ben Kingsley, Hilary Duff, and Joan Cusack

When Did You Last See Your Father? (PG-13): Drama; about a son who must come to terms with his father's imminent death; co-starring Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth

Netflix pick – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (PG-13): $5.88MM box-office gross; Oscar-nominated for Adapted Screenplay, Director, Editing, and Cinematography; the amazing true story of a magazine editor whose full-body paralysis did not deter him from writing his autobiography through the blinking of his left eye.


Free Activities
Total Wellness [Th 11am-2pm]: Fitness demonstrations, massages, health screenings, and more. At Embarcadero Center Two, Three and Four (SF). www.embarcaderocenter.com

Dolores Park Movie Night [Th 8:30pm]: It Came from Outer Space (1953). At Dolores Park (SF). www.doloresparkmovie.org

31st Annual Fairfax Festival [Fri 8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Featuring a parade, EcoFest, Water Horse screening, live music, and more. At Peri Park (Fairfax). www.fairfaxfestival.com

15th Annual Italian Street Painting Festival [Sat-Sun 9am-7pm]: Hosted by Youth in Arts. In Downtown San Rafael. www.youthinarts.org

de Young Museum [Sat-Sun 9:30am-5pm]: Opening weekend of the Chihuly exhibition, along with the permanent collection and various entertainment performances. Compliments of Target. In Golden Gate Park (SF). www.chihulyatthedeyoung.org

54th Annual North Beach Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Celebrity pizza toss, animal blessings, Italian street chalk art, and more. At Washington Square Park (SF). www.sfnorthbeach.org

Live Oak Park Fair [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: At Live Oak Park (Berkeley). www.liveoakparkfair.com

2nd Annual NorCal Pirate Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-6pm]: Sword fighting, cannon battles, tall ships, and more. Along Vallejo's waterfront. www.norcalpiratefestival.com

Native Contemporary Arts Festival [Sat noon-3pm]: At Yerba Buena Gardens (SF). www.ybgf.org

Aloha Festival [Sat 2-4pm]: At Peralta Park (Oakland). www.peraltahacienda.org

Stanford Commencement - Oprah Winfrey [Sun 9:30am]: Open to the public is this media mogul's commencement speech celebrating the latest graduating class from the Farm. www.stanford.edu

Stern Grove - Booker T. Jones and Bettye Lavette [Sun 2pm]: Get there early for these two veteran soul singers. At Stern Grove (SF). www.sterngrove.org

2008 Annual Spring Show [through July 25]: Check out the fresh talent in fashion, photography, architecture, and other visual arts. At the Academy of Art University (SF). www.academyart.edu


Paid Activities
Festival - RoboGames [Fri noon-7pm, Sat noon-10pm, Sun noon-7pm]: Showing off the best in robot technology and athleticism. At Fort Mason (SF), free-$25. www.robogames.net

Live Music - Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra [Fri 8pm/10pm]: With Faye Carol opening. At Jazz at Pearl's (SF), $25. www.jazzatpearls.com

Festival - Aquanfest [Sat-Sun 10am-4pm]: Featuring kayaking, canoeing, scuba, and fishing demonstrations. At Leo Ryan Park (Foster City), $10-25. www.aquanfest.com

Live Music - Snoop Dogg's West Fest [Sun 8pm]: With Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Westurn Union, and Mistah F.A.B. At the Fillmore (SF), $50. www.snoopdogg.com

Live Music - The Fratellis [Wed 9pm]: Scottish rock. At the Fillmore (SF), $20. www.thefratellis.com

Festival - San Francisco Ethnic Dance [through June 29]: At the Palace of Fine Arts (SF), $22-44. www.worldartswest.org

Previous: Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through July 27 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in June-July
Opera at the Ballpark [June 20 in SF]; Juneteenth [June 20-22 in SF]; Vans Warped Tour [June 21 in SF]; Fillmore Jazz Festival [July 5-6 in SF]; Coldplay [July 18 in San Jose]