The Alameda County Coroner’s office has confirmed rumors that a young man fell to his death from the KPFA antenna tower at 4 a.m. on the morning of Thanksgiving day. The office identified him as Steven Tassel, 25, of Antioch. -more-

Hundreds of homeless people will be given free meals this Thanksgiving in a second annual dinner hosted by a 13-year-old boy who was inspired to help the needy after receiving a liver transplant. -more-

Friday, November 19, at the tail end of a week of protests against the University of California Regents and fee increases, a small group of demonstrators marched through the UC Berkeley campus. -more-

Re-building a progressive coalition in Berkeley, and enjoying a sense of accomplishment after beating back an election attack orchestrated by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, seemed the informal themes of a post-election victory party organized by Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Jesse Arreguin on Monday, November 15, 2010. -more-

One of new Mayor-elect Jean Quan's first official acts last weekend was to welcome an enthusiastic crowd of visitors to Chabot Space and Science Center. The Center, long an Oakland treasure, outdid itself Saturday with the opening of a new exhibit, Bill Nye's Climate Lab. This is not just an exhibit, it is an experience. It is designed for people to participate, and the visitors did so with enthusiasm. A long time Chabot volunteer, I have seen the introduction of a number of new exhibits but I think this one is unique in concept and scope. -more-

NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY ALERT! -more-

Berkeley Public Library’s Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) approved the purchase of a new RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) check-out/check-in system from a new vendor, Bibliotheca, to replace the existing system from Checkpoint, despite near-unanimous opposition from members of the public at the meeting, whose concerns included privacy threats, high cost, and potential health risks to the public and staff from radio frequency radiation. -more-

Berkeley police and community volunteers gathered at Old City Hall this morning to assemble food baskets as part of the city's 26th annual Turkey Ride tradition, the Berkeley Police Department said. -more-

Roz Chast has nailed it again. She’s got a killer cartoon in the November 23 New Yorker, showing a group of her characteristically woebegone individuals, possibly a family, seated around a table. There are labels over each of their heads: “Can’t have salt”; “lactose-intolerant”; “vegetarian”; “vegan”; “macrobiotic”; “fanatic traditionalist”; “strictly kosher”; “on a cleanse”; “ultra-picky gourmet”; “allergic to gluten”.

And over the whole scene: “The Last Thanksgiving”. Yes.

We have become a culture obsessed with salvation by food, especially in those coastal enclaves like New York and California where old-time religion ain’t what it used to be. In what passes for a normal family, northern California division, every member might adhere to a different foodie sect, but all devoutly believe that if they can just get it right they’ll be saved. Berkeley blogs devote many more column inches to food than to social justice. I’m told that it’s the same in Manhattan, and it’s spreading. -more-

Will common sense and good judgment prevail? Or will we see KPFA severely damaged? -more-

More than 115 years ago, just across the Bay in San Francisco, influential conservationist John Muir founded what is now the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Since then, the Sierra Club has embodied Muir’s credo to "do something for wildness and make the mountains glad." Its members, who now number over 1.3 million, work tirelessly to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself. -more-

Are you bummed that lead-footed, gorilla-suited Bristol Palin managed to remain a contender until the final round of "Dancing with the Stars"? Are you aghast that Amazon’s best-selling book is George W. Bush’s Decision Points? Are you incensed that Glenn Beck’s Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government tops the New York Times’ nonfiction charts? Well, there something you can do right now to change that. -more-

What is at stake in the conflict at KPFA? It is not the continued existence of the Morning Show. It will be back with new hosts. It is not the competence of the hosts. By all accounts, they did a fine job. It is not whether there will be local programming at KPFA. Local programming has been a mainstay of the Pacifica Network and will continue to be. -more-

I thought some attention should be brought to the fact that Berkeley has never had a sitting school board director seeking opportunities to volunteer their time, as well as their family's, to serve in communities that are far under served and represented, to receive resources and support, to address the poverty, unemployment, crime and crime prevention and finally the education gap. -more-

In May 2010, "Chalmers Johnson called upon the U.S. to withdraw its forces from U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. "I would strongly suggest that the United States climb off its high horse, move the Futenma marines back to a base in the United States (such as Camp Pendleton, near where I live) and thank the Okinawans for their 65 years of forbearance." ~ excerpt from an article in The Japan Times by staff writer Eric Johnston (Nov. 23, 2010). -more-

If you go north on Shellmound st in Emeryville, past Ikea, there is a street sign that says: ‘Bay st.’ However, if you make a right turn you don’t end up on Bay st. Instead you are trapped into the entrance to the mega-garage that ‘serves’ the stores, the theaters and restaurants. If you think you can park on Bay st. (or just drive down to admire the myriad of shops) you will have to find another entrance. -more-

Thanksgiving, Berkeley. Teley goes dark and the streets empty of "all the lonely people...where did they all come from...where do they belong?" -more-

The Left Coast is on high alert, waiting for someone to find President Obama’s mojo. It had been missing for most of the year, but no one in the Administration thought it was a problem until the November 2^nd shellacking. Now Dems are holding their breath, praying for Barack Obama to get his act together. -more-

War and Public Health, edited by Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel. Second edition, Oxford University Press, 2008, $51.22

Back in the 60s peace activists sported a bumper sticker that read: “War is not good for children and other living creatures.” In a way, that sums up Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel’s “War and Public Health,” where 46 experts on everything from epidemiology to international law weigh in on the authors’ central premise: “War and militarism have catastrophic effects on human health and well being.” -more-

As we all know, the Republicans now control the U.S. House of Representatives and have improved their Senate numbers, which means that efforts to control global warming are now dead for at least the dying days of the 111th Congress. -more-

Some of us can never have enough field guides. It’s a kind of addiction. I’ve acquired guides to the flora and fauna of places I’ll most likely never visit, but, hey, you never know. How could I pass up Butterflies of the West Indies for just five bucks? Or Trees of New Zealand? And they’re handy for identifying things on the internet. There’s a whole Flickr pool called “ID Please!” -more-

Who said, referring to imprisonment, “

It's the boredom that kills you. You read until you're tired of that. You do crossword puzzles until you're tired of that. This is torture. This is mental torture.” Was it Phil Donahue, Sigmund Freud, Derek Humphry, Murad Kevorkian, or Ayn Rand? -more-

BOOKS INC., BERKELEY -more-

FREMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -more-

AUDIUM -more-

AUDIUM -more-

BANKHEAD THEATER -more-

"CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S OVO," -- Nov. 27 through Jan. 24. A lively rush into a world of insects and acrobatics. Written and directed by Deborah Colker. See website for times, dates and complete details. Performances take place under the "Grand Chapiteau'' at AT&T Park. -more-

ALTARENA PLAYHOUSE -more-

924 GILMAN ST. All ages welcome. -more-

Director Tom Hooper’s previous film was a brilliant profile of the legendary Leeds United soccer coach Brian Clough — a blazingly egotistical twit who could not stop talking. Now Hooper is back with an even grander film about King George VI, an insecure, self-effacing man who could barely start talking, thanks to a crippling stutter.

The King’s Speech is a glory of a film. In addition to a smart script (The King’s Speech was initially intended to be a stage play), the film features a luminous cast plucked from the upper branches of England’s acting royalty. Colin Firth inhabits the role of Albert (aka “Bertie”), the man who would (reluctantly) be king. Helena Bonham Carter is his determined and eternally supportive spouse. Guy Pearce is Bertie’s brother, the self-absorbed Edward VIII, and Geoffrey Rush is a delight as the King’s unorthodox Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. -more-

A rare event is coming to the Bay Area next week. One of cinema’s greatest works of art will screen at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 at Oakland's Paramount, accompanied by 200 singers and a 22-piece orchestra. UC Berkeley’s Alumni Chorus will present Voices of Light, an oratorio, as accompaniment for Carl Dreyer’s 1928 landmark film The Passion of Joan of Arc. -more-

Film Review: Saint Misbehavin’

When I first heard there was a Wavy Gravy documentary in the works, I wondered what any movie could possibly add to understanding such a well-known and highly public figure. Making a doc about Wavy Gravy seemed on par with deciding to make a film about that beloved oak tree that’s been in your front yard forever — the one with the tire swing that generations of neighborhood kids have teetered over. It’s all love. What’s to know? -more-

Plays make the rounds as the licensing gets released to different levels of theatres. The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is now in rotation, and it is the Masquers Playhouse of Pt. Richmond’s turn. -more-

Given the number of home foreclosures, the intrusive and demeaning "pat downs" at airports, and now the threat of North Korea nuclear attacks, it would appear that this year's holiday season is off to a dismal start. Maybe not. The child in all of us still reflects on Christmases of the past and we're not too jaded to look for activities that relate to this very special holiday. Accordingly, we offer several events that might rekindle your own holiday spirit. -more-

Remember “American Gigolo” with Lauren Hutton and Richard Gere? Have you seen the series “Hung” on HBO? How about Holly Hunter’s touching scene in “Living Out Loud” when she purchases more than a massage to get her through a lonely night after her marriage fails? -more-

I went to London last week to report to you my recommendations on what to see if you’re traveling there for a holiday visit or soon thereafter. -more-

"BERKELEY ARTISANS HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIOS," -- Nov. 27 through Dec. 19. More than 100 artists and craftspeople will be showing their works, including glass, ceramics, furniture, photography, paintings, and much more. -more-

"SUN SPHERES," -- ongoing. "Sun Spheres'' is a trio of mosaic sculptures by artist Laurel True at the intersection of Ocean and Granada Avenues in the OMI District of San Francisco. -more-

"BERKELEY ARTISANS HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIOS," -- Nov. 27 through Dec. 19. More than 100 artists and craftspeople will be showing their works, including glass, ceramics, furniture, photography, paintings, and much more. -more-

ASHKENAZ -more-

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s. Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with regular admission. -more-

ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO The Asian Art Museum-Chon-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture recently unveiled its new building in San Francisco's Civic Center. The building, the former San Francisco Public Library, has been completely retrofitted and rebuilt to house San Francisco's significant collection of Asian treasures. The museum offers complimentary audio tours of the museum's collection galleries. "In a New Light," ongoing. There are some 2,500 works displayed in the museum's new galleries. They cover all the major cultures of Asia and include Indian stone sculptures, intricately carved Chinese jades, Korean paintings, Tibetan thanksgas, Cambodian Buddhas, Islamic manuscripts and Japanese basketry and kimonos. -more-

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT OAKLAND ongoing. The Oakland Public Library's museum is designed to discover, preserve, interpret and share the cultural and historical experiences of African Americans in California and the West. In addition, a three-panel mural is on permanent display. -more-

"BROADWAY PLAZA'S PARADE OF LIGHTS," -- Dec. 2. A holiday parade, along with caroling, live entertainment, tree lighting and more. See website for directions and complete details. -more-

"BERKELEY ARTISANS HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIOS," -- Nov. 27 through Dec. 19. More than 100 artists and craftspeople will be showing their works, including glass, ceramics, furniture, photography, paintings, and much more. -more-