Randy's Guide CIX (109)

Today is journalist Maria Shriver's 53rd and Finnish Swedish Heritage Day; Friday is evangelist Billy Graham's 90th; Saturday is actress Parker Posey's 40th; Sunday is World Freedom Day; Monday is Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss' 65th; Tuesday is Veterans Day and actor Leonardo DiCaprio's 34th; and Wednesday is soul musician Booker T. Jones' 64th.


Local News
Results from the historic election on Tuesday are nearly finalized. The $70 million-plus spent on Proposition 8 resulted in a 53-47% victory for same-sex marriage opponents. San Francisco is still tabulating ranked-choice votes for three key Supervisor district seats. And Americans got their fill of free Starbucks coffee, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and Krispy Kreme donuts on Tuesday...

California (12 total propositions)
--Proposition 1A: YES on high-speed rail between San Francisco and Los Angeles. PASSED
--Proposition 2: YES on improving conditions for farm animals. PASSED
--Proposition 4: NO on restricting abortion rights for minors. REJECTED
--Propositions 7 and 10: NO on outside interests meddling with our strict environmental programs. BOTH REJECTED
--Proposition 8: NO on eliminating marriage rights for same-sex couples. PASSED

San Francisco (22 total propositions)
--Proposition H: YES in joining Sacramento, Santa Clara, and other communities to move toward public, green power. REJECTED
--Proposition K: NO on reducing law enforcement activities related to prostitution. REJECTED
--Propositions R and U: NO on trivial measures renaming a sewage plant after President Bush and opposing additional funding for the Iraq War. REJECTED R; PASSED U
--Proposition V: YES in voicing support for reinstating JROTC programs in public high schools. PASSED


Change for Change
Charity to consider: Natural Resources Defense Council. Reader Rene L. is a proud worker for NRDC and recommended its inclusion in the Guide. I appreciate its multi-pronged approach to environmental issues, with pressure placed upon various levels of our government. Though headquartered in New York City, NRDC has a regional office here in San Francisco. www.nrdc.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, Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel Fund, and San Francisco Health Services Coalition.

Donate through the nonprofit's Web site or your corporate donation program.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Mostly sunny, aside from a slight chance of rain in the North Bay on Saturday.

Highs: Near 60 (coast), mid-60s (bay), near 70 (inland)
Lows: Mid-40s (inland), near 50 (coast and bay)


Environmental News
RecycleBank awards recycling households with redeemable points that can be used to make purchases for various stores or brands. Currently, 13 states, with communities ranging from Wilmington, Del., Lincoln, Neb., and Philadelphia, Pa., work with RecycleBank. www.recyclebank.com

Previous:
Let's try to avoid vinyl masks, disposable costumes, and chemical-laden makeup. Instead, try second-hand or homemade outfits, and use natural cosmetics that don't have parabens, phthalates, or formaldehyde.


Music Videos
"White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes (Seattle, Wash.)

Another up-and-coming American band with sold-out shows in Ireland, England, Belgium, and Australia. Their debut album came out in June, and their network television debut was on David Letterman in August.

Previous:
"Time to Pretend" by MGMT (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE
They've opened for Beck, Radiohead, M.I.A., and Of Montreal. Spin, Rolling Stone, and BBC have all lavished praise on the newcomers over the past year. It's off to Europe for several shows, then Asia and Australia in December.


Movies (domestic revenues through November 2)
#1 High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G): $15.3MM; $62.0MM overall; 3626 screens; $4,224 per screen
#2 Zack and Miri Make a Porno (R): $10.1MM opening; 2735 screens; $3,680 per screen
#3 Saw V (R): $9.7MM; $45.5MM overall; 3084 screens; $3,159 per screen
#4 Changeling (R): $9.4MM; $10.0MM overall; 1850 screens; $5,055 per screen; Clint Eastwood's latest film starring Angelina Jolie as a Prohibition-era mother whose son is kidnapped

All for Free (NR): Drama; about a man who offers free items from his cafe-bar as he roams around post-war Bosnia

The Boy in Striped Pajamas (PG-13): Drama; about a German boy whose father is a Nazi and whose friend is in one of the Holocaust camps

The Fish Fall in Love (NR): Romance; about a woman who runs a restaurant along the Caspian coast in the home of her former fiancee

The Haunting of Molly Hartley (PG-13): Suspense; about a girl about to turn 18 who stumbles upon the supposed evil in her path

Let the Right One In (R): Suspense; about a 12-year-old Swedish boy who befriends a vampire

Loins of Punjab Presents (NR): Comedy; about seven contestants who sing in a Bollywood-style reality game show

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG): Animated sequel; about a lion and his three pals as they trek through Africa; co-voiced by Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen, David Schwimmer, Chris Rock, and Jada Pinkett-Smith

Repo! The Genetic Opera (R): Musical; about a future dark Earth where organ failures are frequent and a corporation emerges as the main source for organ transplants

Role Models (R): Comedy; about two energy drink company drivers who are sentenced to community service; co-starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott

Soul Men (R): Comedy; about two aging soul singers who take a road trip to attend a musical tribute at the Apollo Theater; co-starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac

Stranded: I've Come from a Plane That Crashed in the Mountains (NR): Documentary; about the Uruguayan rugby players who survive for two months in the snowy Andes; featured in the Ethan Hawke film "Alive"

Synecdoche, New York (R): Drama; about a stressed theater director in upstate New York who decides to lead a production in New York City after winning a major grant; co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener; directed by Charlie Kaufman

DVD Pick - La Vie en Rose (PG-13): Marion Cotillard scored an Oscar - the first for a French-language role - as singer Edith Piaf. Her remarkable rise from a flophouse and travelling circus to international star is detailed in a non-linear fashion. $10.1MM domestic gross; $81.9MM worldwide.


Free Activities
Buena Vista Cafe 56th Anniversary [Sat-Mon 9am-2am]: Celebrate the Irish Coffee with bagpipes, Celtic bands, and dancers. At Buena Vista Cafe (SF). www.thebuenavista.com

Peninsula French Fair [Sat 10am-6pm]: A day in France, with various imports and authentic crepes. At Hillview Community Center (Los Altos). http://frenchfair2008.blogspot.com

Armenian Food Festival [Sat noon-9pm]: Featuring traditional Armenian music, desserts, and handicrafts. At Calvary Church (SF). www.cacc-sf.org

Starry Plough 35th Anniversary [Sat 3pm-2am]: Featuring about a dozen local bands. At the Starry Plough (Berkeley). www.starryploughpub.com

Tyler Florence [Sat 5pm]: Meet The Food Network chef during a book signing and cooking demonstration. At Sur La Table (San Jose). www.tylerflorence.com


Paid Activities
Live Music - Stephen Schwartz and Friends [Th-Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm/8pm, Sun 1:30pm/5pm]: The composer of Wicked will perform his works with lyrics help from Broadway performers. At the San Mateo Performing Arts center, $25-45. www.broadwaybythebay.org

Event - Fabulous Food Festival [Sat-Sun 10am-5pm]: Featuring live music, food demonstrations, and more. At the Concourse Exhibition Center (SF), $7-10. www.pacificexpositions.com

Live Music - Jake Shimabukuro [Sun 3pm/7pm]: Famed young ukelele star. At the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre (SF), $5-50. www.jakeshimabukuro.com

Dance - Theatre Flamenco [Sun 7pm]: Performing El Camino Perfecto, with guest artists from Spain. At Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, $32. www.theatreflamenco.org

Live Music - Preservation Hall Jazz Band [Mon 8pm/10pm]: Featuring the world-travelling jazz band whose home is New Orleans' Preservation Hall. At Yoshi's (SF), $12-20. www.yoshis.com

Previous: Theatre - The Quality of Life [through Nov 23 in SF]; Theatre - Insignificant Others [extended through Dec 7 in SF]; Art - Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul [through Jan 5 in SF]; Art - Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes [through Jan 18 in SF]


Upcoming Activities in December
The Christmas Ballet by Smuin [Dec 3-7 in Mountain View]; A Christmas Carol by ACT [Dec 4-27 in SF]; NSSN 08, featuring The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and Jack's Mannequin [Dec 11 in Oakland]