Randy's Guide CXXVII (127)

Today is actor Ron Jeremy's 56th; Friday is singer Common's 37th; Saturday is Andorra's Constitution Day; Sunday is Japan's Honen Matsuri (harvest festival); Monday is comedian Jerry Lewis' 83rd; Tuesday is St. Patrick's Day and Boston Celtics' president Danny Ainge's 50th; and Wednesday is Aruba's Flag Day.


Local News
California's 14th district, which includes Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Santa Clara, scored as the nation's most content congressional district in the nation. The Gallup poll also placed the 8th district (San Francisco) and 12th district (San Mateo to Daly City) in the top 3%. California's 37th district (Compton-South Central LA) ranked dead last. www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/11/MNK816CRTB.DTL


Deal of the Week
Kashi, a small natural-foods company in Southern California, is offering a free frozen entree to households. Register for your coupon at www.kashi.com by Sunday.


Change for Change
Charity to consider: San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR). Providing free rape crisis services for over 30 years, the San Francisco-based organization also offers information and resources to healthcare workers, educators, and law enforcement officers. www.sfwar.org

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

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, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Bay Localize.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Very seasonal and dry. Slight chance of rain in Napa/Sonoma counties on Saturday. Record heat possible next Monday-Wednesday, so get on your Irish.

Highs: upper-50s (coast); low-60s (bay); mid-60s (inland)
Lows: low-to-mid-40s


Environmental Tips
An MIT team appears to have figured out how to quick charge lithium-ion batteries in a matter of seconds, rather than minutes or hours. This could prove especially useful as plug-in hybrids, electric cars, lightweight laptops, smart phones, and other advanced electronics will become increasingly common in the marketplace.

Previous:
San Francisco has put together a citywide "buy local" campaign that supports sustainability and smart-growth practices. Petaluma, the Peninsula, Novato, and Oakland are among the other Bay Area cities with such trade groups. www.sfloma.org www.hometownpeninsula.org www.shopoakland.com www.sustainablenovato.org


Music Videos
"Agoraphobia" by Deerhunter (Atlanta, Ga.)

The ambient punk band recently made a stop in San Francisco for Noise Pop. Previous tours they've opened include Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The quartet is en route to Europe for stops including London, Glasgow, Dublin, Paris, Helsinki, and Brussels.

Previous:
"Semi Precious Weapons" by Semi Precious Weapons (New York, N.Y.)


Glam rock makes a comeback, as even Rock Band 2 has this song for download. Bisexual frontman Justin Tranter has a jewelry line sold in Barney's and Urban Outfitters. Colorful, indeed. Catch the Village Voice's top NYC band for 2007 at Red Devil Lounge in SF tonight, along with upcoming shows in San Jose, Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, and Austin (for SXSW).


Movies (domestic revenues through March 8)
#1 Watchmen (R): $55.2 million opening; 3611 screens; $15,291 per screen
#2 Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (PG-13): $8.5 million; $76.2 million overall (3rd weekend); 2151 screens; $3,967 per screen
#3 Taken (PG-13): $7.3 million; $117.9 million overall (6th weekend); 3016 screens; $2,432 per screen
#27 The Class (PG-13): $0.3 million; $2.0 million overall (12th weekend); 88 screens; $3,330 per screen; about a French schoolteacher who works in an up-and-coming neighborhood; Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Film

Crossing Over (R): Drama; about a government worker in immigration and various lives that intersect with him; co-starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, and Ashley Judd

Everlasting Moments (NR): Drama; about a woman whose life changes after winning a camera during early 20th-century Sweden

Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29 (PG): Documentary; the epic 1968 game featuring undefeated Yale and Harvard in the final of the season; co-narrated by Tommy Lee Jones, who was a Harvard lineman and roommate of Al Gore

Last House on the Left (R): Horror; about a prison crew who terrorizes two young women at a lake house

Miss March (R): Comedy; about a young man who awakens from a lengthy coma to find out that his virginal high-school sweetheart is now a men's magazine centerfold

Race to Witch Mountain (PG): Family adventure; about a taxi driver who befriends two teens with supernatural powers; co-starring Dwayne Johnson

The Soloist (PG-13): Drama; about a journalist who discovers a former music prodigy on the streets of Los Angeles; co-starring Jamie Foxx and Catherine Keener

Throw Down Your Heart (NR): Documentary; about banjo player Bela Fleck travelling through Africa to trace the instrument's origins

12 (PG-13): Thriller; about one juror on a murder trial who tries to convince the others about his perspective

DVD Pick - Hellboy (PG-13): With all the hoopla around Watchmen, this 2004 comic-book film from the hands of Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth") is appropos. Ron Perlman is the title character, a creature from another world utilized by the government to battle other monsters. Domestic box office: $59.6 million; foreign box office: $39.7 million.


St. Patrick's Day Activities
City of Dublin Festival [Sat-Sun 10a-5p]: Featuring sheepherding competitions, hurling demonstrations, corned beef sandwiches, Irish dancers and bands, and more. In Dublin City Center, FREE. www.dublinstpats.com

St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival [Sat 10a-5p]: 158th annual. 11:30a parade from 2nd/Market to City Hall. Live Irish bands and dancing, and beer of course. In Civic Center Plaza (SF), FREE. www.sresproductions.com/sfstpatricksday.html

Festival & Barbeque [Sun noon-4p]: 53rd annual. Hearty chicken or oyster dinner spread, generous raffle, homemade goodies, and ample games. At the Dance Palace Community Center (Point Reyes), $7-15. www.dancepalace.org


Other Activities
National Hawaiian Treasures Celebration Tour [Fri 8p/10p]: Featuring three Hawaiian greats - Richard Ho'opi'i, Dennis Kamakahi, and George Kahumoku, Jr. At Yoshi's (Oakland), $25. www.yoshis.com

Arbor Day Celebration 2009 [Sat 11a-1p]: Tree climbing demonstration, kids games, and more. At Pioneer Memorial Park (Mountain View), FREE. www.ci.mtnview.ca.us

Valerie Troutt and the Fear of the Fat Planet Crew [Sat 8p]: Modern jazz. At the Red Poppy Art House (SF), $12-15. www.myspace.com/valerietroutt

London Symphony Orchestra [Sun 7p, Mon 8p]: With conductor Valery Gergiev. Focusing on the works of Prokofiev. At Davies Hall (SF), $20-95. www.sfsymphony.org

In Conversation with Ang Lee [Mon 8p]: With longtime producing partner and screenwriter, Berkeley alumnus James Scharmus. At Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), $11-30. www.calperformances.org

Sisters Bingo [Wed 7p]: Monthly charity event, with hefty cash and other prizes. Theme is "Burning Man" in honor of an opera based on the annual festival in the desert. At the War Memorial's Green Room (SF), $20-40. www.sistersbingo.com

International Asian American Film Festival [through Mar 22]: 27th annual. Best productions look to include Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata," H.P. Mendoza's "Fruit Fly" (after 2006's underground hit "Colma: The Musical"), and local filmmaker Jennifer Phang's "Half-Life." At the Kabuki (SF), Castro (SF), YBCA (SF), Camera 12 (San Jose), and PFA (Berkeley). Tickets start at $7.50. www.asianamericanmedia.org/2009

Previous: Theatre - In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) [through Sunday in Berkeley]; Theatre - Souvenir [through Sunday in SF]; Event - International Children's Film Festival [through Sunday in SF and San Jose]; Theatre - Bat Boy, the Musical [through Mar 22 in Los Altos Hills]; Theatre - Not a Genuine Black Man [through Mar 28 in SF]


Upcoming April Activities
Rupa & the April Fishes in concert [Apr 1 in SF]; Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham [Apr 18 in San Jose]; Writer David Sedaris in conversation [Apr 26 in Berkeley]