Instant Runoff Voting
Arise! Bookstore

Instant Runoff Voting is a unique concept that has been tried in locales such as San Francisco, Cambridge, Mass., and Ireland, and now folks are trying to bring it to Minnesota. Using this system, instead of just casting one vote for one candidate, voters rank the candidates: 1, 2, 3, and on down the line. If no candidate receives a majority of the #1 votes, the candidate with the least total of #1 votes is eliminated; then, the second choice votes from these voters’ ballots become #1 votes for other candidates. The ballots are recounted, and candidates are eliminated in this fashion until one winner emerges with a majority of the vote. Thus, the system ensures a majority winner in each election and does away with the primary. Yes, it does away with the primary. Why? There’s no need for a primary if all the candidates can run in a general election and still have an ensured majority winner … Without IRV, the winner can win with less than 50 percent of the vote. How do we really know they have a mandate (besides, of course, if they say so)? What’s more, without a primary, everyone saves money! Would this work for Minneapolis? Come to the event and find out, or at least learn more. 7 p.m. Free. 2441 Lyndale Ave S., Mpls. 612-871-7110. Erin Green

F*K*G
The Artists’ Quarter

When I was just a sapling and, having been completely floored by David King’s drumming in Love-cars, decided to check out his other projects, I discovered where his heart really lies: difficult jazz. And I mean difficult in the best possible way. Under the name F*K*G, Scott Fultz (tenor sax), Dean Granros (guitar) and King lay down some stuff that isn’t going to weasel its way into your subconscious: it’s going to kick down the door and demand to be understood on its own terms, and that’s a quality that’s sorely lacking in a lot of music these days. It’s a tricky line to walk: on one side, there’s the chasm of music that substitutes abstractness for substance; on the other, music that satisfies a base ear without trying for more. Fultz, King and Granros (performing that most difficult of stunts: taking jazz guitar past bland Wes Montgomer-ations without losing control) tap dance along that ridge, dropping in melodies and grooves as waypoints that serve to guide you through the tumult. They’ll be joined by bassist Adam Linz for this outing. 9 p.m. $3. 21+. 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 651-292-1359. Steve McPherson

International Human Rights Day Events
Various locations

Public debate heats up on the Bush Administration’s torture policy and Sen. John McCain’s bill banning torture. The December 13 California execution date for Crips’ co-founder, now anti-violence author Stanley “Tookie” Williams and the imminent 1,000th American execution, highlights the U.S. death penalty. Another “Rodney King video” surfaces of New Orleans police beating a retired teacher, exposing police brutality yet again. These are just a few of the crucial issues raised by the annual International Day of Human Rights. Various events are planned throughout the area. The Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, which sends lawyers to defend Death Row prisoners, will host a conference on Friday. 1:45 - 9 p.m. University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Ave. S., Mpls. 612-341-3302 x127 or mnAdvocates.org. On Saturday evening, Witness for Peace, who’ve used nonviolent intervention methods from Nicaragua to Northern Minnesota, hosts a forum “Righting Human Wrongs.” Speakers include Green Party Indigenous activist Audrey Thayer; co-founder of Environmental Justice Advocates Minnesota and Minnesota State Representative Keith Ellison; and activist and St. Thomas professor of Peace Studies Jack Nelson Palmeyer. Pre-panel performance of local Spoken word artists and Danza Mexica Cuautehmoc. Sat. Dec. 11, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. St. Joan of Arc Church, 4537 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. Lydia Howell

Protest Bush Visit
Hilton Hotel

GW Bush hits town for a $1,000 a plate fundraiser for Mark Kennedy (or you can get your picture taken with the Commander-in-Chief for $10,000). Twin Cities activists will peacefully protest. 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1001 Marquette Ave. S., (at 10th St.) Mpls. For more info contact Veterans for Peace at 612-821-9141 or TwinCitiesVFP.org. Howell

Chris Dorn’s Birthday Bash
Hexagon

The birthday of Chris Dorn, Hexagon booker and musician extraordinaire, is a dream night for local music. The stellar lineup of Your Loving Tiger, The Gleam, Fort Wilson Riot and Belles of Skin City is an example of what we’ve come to expect at the Hex, thanks to Dorn. With his finger on the pulse, Dorn has a nearly supernatural knack for finding and presenting some of the hottest bands around, often first. He’s breathed life into the Hex via consistently spectacular live music programming four to five nights a week, and memorable theme nights. Dorn, also leader of the Beatifics and bassist for The Autumn Leaves, deserves high praise for his contributions in the music community, and what better way to celebrate his birthday than with a bunch of the best bands in town for free? Any of these amazing bands are a draw by themselves; to see them in one night will be nearly incomprehensible fun. 9 p.m. Free. 21+. 2600 27th Ave. S., Mpls. 612-532-3688. Cyn Collins

Hot Tuna
Cedar Cultural Center

The original Hot Tuna was a hell of a band. Too bad they never recorded. Spun-off from San Francisco’s historic Jefferson Airplane in 1969 or so, you had Airplane personnel (lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bass player Jack Casady and singer Marty Balin) moonlighting with Peter Kaukonen (second guitar) and Joey Covington (drums). Still, they haven’t done bad for themselves. The two-man jam band nucleus, Chicago-blues devotee Jorma Kaukonen and dyed-in-the-wool jazzer Jack Casady, have gone through varied incarnations over some 20 albums and, maybe, the most live shows this side of The Grateful Dead and James Brown. And the boys are back in town, promoting the release of their albums Live at Sweetwater I, Live at Sweetwater II and Live in Japan. With Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin and Erik Diaz on drums. 8 p.m. $25/$28 All Ages. 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-2674. Hobbes

Winter Market
Belfry Center

Just about a month ago the Belfry Center debuted in south Minneapolis as a collectively run community space and art gallery—a collaboration among the Bat Annex Free School, Daybreak Newspaper and local radical artists. The ambitions of the Center reflect the energy and ideals of its 15 to 20 young and enthusiastic members who strive to “foster democracy and build community through arts, activism, media and education” and make all decisions by consensus. This weekend the Belfry hosts its Winter Market—welcoming guests to a holiday arts and craft sale that features items from a number of local artists. There’ll be cocoa for drinking, cookies for frosting, board games for playing and live music, too. The Belfry’s Bat Annex Free School is a unique endeavor, currently offering classes in quilting, French and Spanish to students of all ages, and they’re all F-R-E-E. Future gallery shows include a found-objects exhibit, and submissions are being accepted now. Noon – 4 p.m. Free. 3753 Bloomington Ave. S., Mpls. thebelfrycenter@yahoo.com. Nancy Sartor

Doomtree Blowout
The Varsity Theater

True heads agree, but the public at large might not know: Rap is only one of the four elements of the culture of hip-hop. If you extrapolate out from the MC, the DJ, the graffiti writer and the B-boy, think of the elements as linguistic expression, musical expression, visual expression and kinetic expression. Now, put ‘em all in a renovated theater and you’ve got the Doomtree Blowout at the Varsity. Just having the whole Doomtree roster in one place for two full-length sets is reason enough to attend (keep your eyes peeled for Emily Bloodmobile), but add in a wheat paste mural by design and art collective KHS which’ll be created live in reaction to the music, a video premiere, breakdancing crews flexing to Doomtree DJs and giveaways and you’ve got the makings for one of the hottest nights in recent memory. With P.O.S. slated to drop his sophomore album in late January ‘06, Mictlan hard at work on his debut and Sims’ Lights Out Paris sure to make many critics’ top ten lists for 2005, this show has historic potential, so don’t be the person 10 years from now telling people how you almost went, but instead stayed home to watch the Jim Carrey version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Channel 5. Cindy Lou Who can wait. 9 p.m. $8. 18+. 1308 4th St. SE., Mpls. 612-604-0222. McPherson

Chris Shillock, Desdamona, David Daniels
Acadia Café

Chris Shillock, Desdamona and David Daniels. It just might be the last time you can catch these three at the same gig. Daniels is rumored to be headed for the Left Coast. Besides which both Shillock and Desdamona need to be heading their own bills. Shillock, who denies being the headliner (but does admit to being the ringleader that set the gig up), is one of the strongest poets in town. And he’s just released the CD Invisible Jazz. Four-time Minnesota Music Award-winner Desdamona is due to blow up any minute. Especially since Sly and Robbie’s stint as co-producers on her CD, The Ledge. If Daniels is going anywhere, he sure enjoyed a hellified stay while he was around, culminating with his tour de force CD Talkin’ Roots. Fortune smiles. Three smoking performers at one shot. Wouldn’t do to sleep on this one. 7:30 p.m. $7. 1931 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls. 612-874-8702. Dwight Hobbes

Brokeback Mountain
Walker Art Center

A gay Western, huh? OK, mainstream cinema could stand to widen its scope beyond “The Bird Cage.” Director Ang Lee’s new offering, “Brokeback Mountain” does exactly that, stacking the deck with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. They play Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, modern day cowboys who fall in love and then find themselves, over the next 20 years, dealing with the consequences—not the least of which includes keeping things secret from their wives. Of course, there’s also the requisite intolerance and rabid homophobia in rural America. Gifted veteran Randy Quaid is on hand as the foreman where Del Mar and Twist are working when they meet. Winner of the Golden Lion for Best Film at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. 2 p.m. $8 ($6 members). 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 612-375-7600. Hobbes

Ang Lee & James Schamus
Walker Art Center

This should be good. The month-long series of films by director Ang Lee concludes with a discussion between Lee and his frequent collaborator, producer James Schamus. They’ll talk about their collaborative process as director, producer and co-writers of a wide-ranging body of work, reflecting as well on their creative history, and illustrating with clips from their films. Lee once said of his crowning achievement, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”: “I think … filmmakers have become more mature individually, and that’s a good sign [that] it’s not a trend that will come and go. I think it could be the beginning of a good development. In terms of subtitled movies, I hope [it] will break out of art-house ghettos. Not that it doesn’t have artistic values, but I hope we break that barrier.” Unfortunately the barrier will take at least a bit more wearing down. Meanwhile, Lee certainly has prevailed well beyond any pigeonhole. 7 p.m. $22 ($15 members). 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 612-375-7600. Hobbes