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The policy of truth: Rep. Cynthia McKinney kicks off "From Attica to Abu Ghraib." Photo by Peter Maiden

IT'S NO COINCIDENCE that Sgt. Ivan "Chip" Frederick and Spc. Charles Graner Jr., the alleged ringleaders of the worst known cases of inmate abuse at Abu Ghraib, both worked as prison guards in the United States prior to their stints in Iraq. Human rights organizations have long documented similar abuses in U.S. "correctional" facilities – including sexual humiliation, rape, the use of dogs to attack prisoners, and other forms of physical and psychological brutalization. But now human rights advocates are using the exportation of torture as a breakthrough, movement-building opportunity. As such, 'From Attica to Abu Ghraib: An Organizing Conference on Human Rights, Torture, and Resistance' represents a critical juncture. Sponsored by the International Human Rights Initiative, the conference brings together speakers like Critical Resistance director Rose Braz, American Muslim Voice executive director Samina Faheem Sundas, former political prisoner Linda Evans of All of Us or None, National Lawyers Guild executive director Heidi Boghosian, GABRIELA (General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action) Network founder Ninotchka Rosca, and Hatem Bazian of UC Berkeley's Near Eastern and Ethnic Studies Departments, among many others, and features panels on political prisoners, POWs, and torture; the new COINTELPRO, the USA PATRIOT Act, and grand juries; and U.S.-sponsored terrorism at home and around the world. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), one of Congress's most outspoken critics of the Bush administration's war on terror (she was reelected in November despite a ruthless media campaign against her), presides over the opening ceremonies. Opening event Fri/22, 6-9 p.m., St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison, Berk. $5-$100 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds). Conference Sat/23, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., UC Berkeley, Dwinelle Hall, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. $10-$100 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds). (415) 273-4608, www.attica2abughraib.com. (Camille T. Taiara)

No guts, no glory New York City experimento-jazz-thrash eclecticists Gutbucket hit town on their first cross-country excursion. The group are Knitting Factory regulars, both at the venue and on its label, where the sax-guitar-stick-bass-drum combo slots in nicely with the brand of aggro jazz-rock – and I can already hear the cries of "Don't call it fusion!" – practiced by improv artists here and beyond. Their fine new album, Dry Humping the American Dream (Cantaloupe), lays out the aural landscape, and it's a kooky, chop-filled one – teeming with a certain benevolent mania, a clearly discernible sense of humor, considerable virtuosity, and not a little imagination. If you're lucky, they might even perform the score to the French animated classic feature Johnny the Giant Killer. Transmission Quartet also perform. 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $7. (415) 923-0923. (Kimberly Chun)

Parens just don't understand Calling out that "Contra Costa stance," extolling the virtues of closeness, and dishing up chamber pop sweetness and gentle beats through the echo chamber of rock history and general eccentricity – Parenthetical Girls consort with respectable indie folk like Deerhoof, the Microphones, Kimya Dawson, the Wives, Anna Oxygen, p:ano, and Shoplifting. Hey, they get around – their loose membership includes players from Xiu Xiu and the Dead Science. Check what they do to the Rough Trade, Spectrum, Brian Eno, and Phil Spector playbooks – live or on their first vinyl-only album, (((GRRRLS))) (Slender Means Society). Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and Ho-Ag also perform. 9 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $7. (415) 923-0923. (Chun)

Clear and proud Slick production and refined musicianship often translate into watered-down acts like John Mayer and David Grey, but Josh Rouse plays the thinking person's pop with rich instrumentation and words to match. From his rock retrospective 1972 (Rykodisc) to his newest release, named after his home of the past 10 years, Nashville (Rykodisc), it's clear Rouse's music ages well – think Wilco, not Ryan Adams. The pristine aesthetics of his albums might repel impatient cynics, but persevering listeners will find a marriage of timeless songwriting – in the tradition of his new album's namesake – with a glistening recording you don't have to feel guilty for enjoying. Expect a similarly polished performance. Amy Correia opens. 9 p.m., Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus, S.F. $18. (415) 474-0365. (Keith Axline)

Head bands Burn your Army Reserve reassignment notice, change your name to Pluto, and prepare for good times, because you're about to experience the Mind Zap Festival – an afternoon affair that pairs corn dogs and moonwalks with spiritual enlightenment and hot tubs. It's like Escalon for Homer Simpson. Claiming they want to take you higher than '60s flower power, members of Still Flyin' (a rocksteady supergroup made up of 20 local indie rockers from bands like the Aislers Set and Track Star – for reals) have set up this event, which includes two Athens, Georgia-based musical oddities, Je Suis France and Lil' Flip Scoldjah, some fairy rock from Whysp and Chicken on a Raft, and appearances by Erase Errata and OK. Noon-6 p.m., McLaren Park Amphitheater, John Shelley Dr. near Cambridge (Zap shuttles run 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. from Balboa Park BART station), S.F. Free. www.jesuisfrance.com/nokahoma/mindzapfest.html. (Deborah Giattina)

Fast company In some ways, being a daughter of the 21st century must rock, what with extravagant inventions like cell phones, multiple Nickelodeon networks, Pottery Barn Teen, and Hilary Duff merchandise out-glamming the cool stuff of yesteryear (R.I.P., Garbage Pail Kids). But there's a dark side to today's consumer-driven kiddie culture, amply illustrated by a pair of 2004 movies: Super Size Me, which touched on the epidemic of overweight children, and Mean Girls, which crystallized (with only slight exaggeration, one fears) the cruelty of "girl world." Taking today's challenges head-on – and leaving them in the dust – are the participants in 'Girls on the Run San Francisco,' a 10-week program that helps young athletes build fitness (by training for a one-mile or 5K race) and self-esteem, with guided discussions covering a variety of teen-centric topics (gossip, drug abuse, body image, etc.). Support the girls – and get movin' yourself – at the Lollipop Run for Charity, a pair of races to benefit this worthy program. Lollipop 5K begins at 9 a.m.; family one-mile begins at 9:05 a.m., Golden Gate Park, JFK Drive near Stanyan, S.F. $20-$30. www.gotrsf.org. (Eddy)

Candid camera It's official: Jane Fonda is back in a big way. Her first film in years – Monster-in-Law – comes out in May, but before she shares marquee space with J.Lo, she's blitzing the world with her new autobiography, My Life So Far. And what a life: a legendary family, a successful Hollywood career highlighted by two Oscars, Vietnam-era political notoriety, a fitness empire, three wildly different husbands – all fascinating stuff, all detailed with surprising honesty. Puff up your Barbarella coif (or flatten down your Klute shag) and head to A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books to greet Fonda, appearing in her current incarnation: best-selling author. 7 p.m., A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness, S.F. Free. (415) 441-6670. (Eddy)

Latin heat Armed with a toilet plunger and a rotating band of musicians, Sergio Iglesias is here to ruin the party. Maybe you've seen Sergio Iglesias and Los Magnificos (Weasel Walter, Steve Touchton, Jake Lammert, Mariachi Tequila) fill the Hemlock Tavern with a joyful, festive cacophony. Or caught Sergio Iglesias and Los Bulliciosos (Touchton, Liz Albee, Eri Ishiyama, and M.C. Alfonso) nearly destroy the City College of San Francisco campus. If you were lucky, you might've seen Iglesias – with his signature plunger and a tape player – perform solo in and outside the Civic Center, Powell, and Montgomery BART stations, wailing atop trash cans, plunging the ground, and bewildering tourists and locals alike. But even if you did see all these shows, you still never know what to expect – except to be surprised. Iglesias plays with his Latin Love Machine. Hail Satan!, Brocas Helm, Spider Compass Good Crime Band, Wendy Kroys, and Hydrogen Pellets also play. 9 p.m., 12 Galaxies, 2565 Mission, S.F. $8. (415) 970-9777. (Sarah Han)

Free for all Take out your Bay Area pride and wave it like a freak flag – and the Mezzanine will waive the entrance fee for the first in a series of "Homegrown" shows. Peeling off the blocks are, natch, popular garage rockers the Peels, showing the love for their followers before they embark on a long national tour with Raveonettes and Autolux. Moody, winning indie rockers Scissors for Lefty join in to play songs off their self-released Bruno. Habitforming open. 9 p.m. Mezzanine, 444 Jessie, S.F. Free. (415) 820-9669. (Chun)

Bedroom warrior While the laptop is becoming more and more of an accepted presence onstage at shows, it's usually there to compensate for either the performer's lack of skill or lack of creativity in reproducing the sound of an album live. A little tech help seems essential, however, in bringing the accurately titled "bedroom rock" of Aqueduct – a.k.a. David Terry – to life in concert. Somehow manufacturing an endearing tone of sincerity with quirky lyrics and fatuous keyboards, Terry brings more sugary depth to pop songs than other acts with similar ingredients, such as Mates of State. Though Terry's uninhibited energy on his full-length debut, I Sold Gold (Barsuk), would carry a concert laptop or no laptop, he plays with an equally ecstatic band on tour while still delivering the charming samples. Audio Out Send and the Love X Nowhere open. 9 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, S.F. $8. (415) 861-5016. (Axline)

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