WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

How to succeed

What does it take to succeed as a society? Hear Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, discuss his new book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, and how ecological disasters and poor decision-making can be the downfall of a people from the Polynesians on Easter Island to the Vikings in Greenland.

7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church of Berkeley

2345 Channing, Berk.

(510) 845-7852

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

*Bush bash

Show President Bush on the night of his State of the Union Speech that you don't like what he's saying. Make noise with state representative Mark Leno, Medea Benjamin, Marc Bamushis Joseph, devorah major, Will Durst, and Sunsara Taylor and silence the despicable head of state.

7 p.m., Grand Lake Theatre

3200 Grand, Oakl.

(415) 864-5153

Cubans speak up

Watch a screening of Bloqueo: Looking at the US Embargo Against Cuba, in which locals talk about how they have been personally effected by the blockade. Workers' Democracy in Cuba, an examination of Cuba's workforce, also screens. 7:30 p.m., Artists' Television Access

992 Valencia, SF. $5

(415) 821-6545

Draft handbook release

Attend the book-release party for The Military Draft Handbook: A Brief History and Practical Advice for the Curious and Concerned. Editor James Tracy appears, and Latin hip-hop group Fifth Battalion with DJ Quad and spoken word group Bay Area BADAS perform.

7 p.m., La Pena

3105 Shattuck, Berk. $5 and up sliding scale

(510) 649-8438

* Notes from Baghdad

Hear David Enders, an unembedded reporter in Iraq, talk about his endeavors to set up the independent, English-language paper Baghdad Bulletin in the country's capital as well as his experiences outside the Green Zone.

7 p.m., City Lights Booksellers and Publishers

261 Columbus, SF

(415) 362-8193

Watch the earth move

Come see local archivist Greg Gaar give a slideshow of images from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake at an event organized by the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the day the city was all shook up.

7 p.m., Park Branch Library

1833 Page, SF

(415) 437-1948

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

Carter sighting

Order tickets in advance and queue up for a book signing by humanitarian and former president Jimmy Carter, who has just published Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis. Tickets are free with book purchase and available after Jan. 2 at any Cody's location.

5:30 p.m., Cody's Books

2 Stockton, SF

(415) 773-0444

www.codysbooks.com

MLK's wishes

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was as much antiwar as he was pro-civil rights. On this long weekend commemorating the acclaimed orator's birthday, come to a all-day reading, held annually, of his 1967 speech "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence."

Noon to sundown, Oakland Federal Building

1301 Clay, Oakl.

(510) 839-5877

Tax relief

Help low-income families prepare their taxes and take advantage of credits. And if you've got them, lend your language-interpretation skills as well. Get training at one of the sessions running through the middle of January.

(415) 963-5133

www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Making peace

Watch the documentary Peacemaker4Life and learn about the San Francisco Peacemakers, a group committed to helping alleviate the affects of violence by making peace with god.

7:30 p.m.

Quaker House, 65 Ninth St., SF. Free

(415) 573-8257

www.sfpeacemakers.org

Protest Berkeley Honda

Protests against Berkeley Honda persist as owners of the auto dealership refuse to compromise with unionizing employees. Singing group the Raging Grannies perform at this week's community rally.

1-4 p.m.

Berkeley Honda, corner of Parker and Shattuck, Berk.

(510) 548-9334

beactive@sbcglobal.net

* Shame Pelosi

When House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi comes to town to give a report on national security, you can either listen to her speak in the auditorium or you can stand outside with the protesters and let her know what you think of her voting record. While Pelosi says she supports the withdrawal of troops, she continues to approve war funding.

Rally 9:30 a.m., speech 10 a.m.

Marina Middle School Auditorium, 3500 Fillmore, SF

For seats, call (415) 556-4867

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

Broaden hip-hop

Check out a new movement to diversify hip-hop at a performance by Latin hip-hoppers La Paz and Fifth Battalion with DJ Quad, spoken word group Bay Area BADAS, and other performers of color as well as disabled artists.

1-4 p.m., San Francisco Main Library, Kore Auditorium

100 Larkin, SF. Free

(510) 649-8438

MONDAY, JAN. 16

Clear your record

Don't let a run-in with the law hold you back. Find out how you can clear your criminal record at a workshop organized by the East Bay Community Law Center at its second annual event in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Love Center Church

10440 International Blvd., Oakl.

www.embracingthedream.com

TUESDAY, JAN. 17

Punk craft party

Greg Der Ananian hosts a celebration of the release of Bazaar Bizarre, a DIY craft book for punks that gives clear instruction on how to make nifty items like anarchy soap and vinyl record wrist cuffs.

7:30 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore

888 Valencia, SF

(415) 282-9246

www.mtbs.com

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18

Clowning campaigns

Fed-up Americans often write-in Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck on their election ballots. At this reading, author Larry Bogad talks about his book Electoral Guerrilla Theatre, which covers the many electoral protests throughout the world.

7:30 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore

888 Valencia, SF

(415) 282-9246

www.mtbs.com

Dog fighting exposed

As part of the Animal Agony film series, East Bay Animal Advocates hold a screening of Out of the Pit: Dog Fighting in Chicago, which exposes the illegal activity.

7 p.m., Humanist Hall

390 27th St., Oakl. $5 donation

(510) 451-5818

humanisthall@yahoo.com, www.humanisthall.net

Mail items for Alerts to the Bay Guardian Building, 135 Mississippi St., SF, CA 94107; fax to (415) 255-8762; or e-mail alerts@sfbg.com. Please include a contact telephone number. Items must be received at least one week prior to publication date. Call (415) 255-3100, ext. 573, for more information. For more events, see the Benefits listings in the Calendar section.