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Mission fight the power for Critical Resistance Radio. Urban Guide Listings to plan your week by Critical resistance radio launch party When it comes to locking people up and throwing away the key, California takes the cake. Even before the "three strikes" law was in effect - making small time, non-violent offenders a growing population in our prisons - California has reigned supreme with the highest incarceration rate in the world. And, despite a $22 billion deficit, Gov. Gray Davis and his cronies still plan to spend $595 million on yet another state prison. But never fear! Critical Resistance has been on the frontlines of the battle to take down the Prison Industrial Complex (or PIC for all you beginners) by organizing rallies, campaigns, lawsuits, and events that highlight the global struggle for freedom and equality. Now, after five years of grassroots spearheading, Critical Resistance is taking to the airwaves and joining forces with KPFA's Hard Knock Radio to bring the voices of prisoners and their families out of the prison walls to a stereo system near you. The show takes flight tonight at La Peña. Go down and enjoy the hip-hop rhythms of Mission, Kointelpro's R&B grooves, and the elemental spoken word of Kathy Espinoza as they join other guests to celebrate this monumental occasion. And, don't forget to tune into the first Critical Resistance Radio show this Tuesday, May 28th during the Hard Knock hour at 4pm. Wed/22, 7:30 - 10pm. La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berk. $0 -$5. 849-2568; www.criticalresistance.org. (CS) Praise be Plastic. Wankers! Whacking off rules! That's like, #7 on Tenoch and Julio's manifesto in Y Tu Mama Tambien. You know its true. And you never even went blind, or got hairy palms, or got arrested, or turned Japanese (unless you are, like, Japanese). Its just one of those things you do, like getting a drink of water or walking the dog. Yeah ... so if you think you might want to go watch other people doing it, without the risk of involvement, check out Wankers!, a one-night-only porn show of hot, explicit jack-off scenes showing at the Parkway Theater. This very special event will be hosted by Good Vibrations, in honor of National Masturbation Month (who knew?), promising to be not only entertaining, but informative, in case you're looking for some ... pointers. So grab a hanky (or something) and get on down with your bad self. The seats at the Parkway will never be the same! Sat/25. 6 and 9 pm. Parkway Theater, 1824 Park Blvd., Oakl. $8. 415.974.8985 ext. 264; www.goodvibes.com. (KE) Shake ya body on to da ground. Carijama Oakland Carnival Everything else aside -- the bright sequins, the bobbing feathers, the tipsy floats, the Afro-Caribbean-Latin rhthyms -- it's that samba footwork that takes the prize (even Travolta and Bacon would have trouble). Credit to all of Carnival's dance troupes who take such complex, layered rhythms, that we all stan-ding wayside can hear and feel, and making them come through the body with effortless conviction. It's a gift. A gift for all of Oakland this Memorial Day weekend from Carijama, the street Carnival of the East Bay. Show up at dawn for Jouvay Production's Break of Day Jump-Up and Caribbean breakfast. Or sleep in and catch the wild, colorful, snake of a parade dancing, moving, laughing down Broadway and Webster, all the way until the end of Park, where it culminates in a white sand, blue watered showdown of soca, calypso, zouk, and reggae. At this point, all those hips are greased, left then front, then right then back, and the energy's holding its peak. So much so that the Black Box is hosting a Cool-Down Fete, and Alameda's Island Paradise Lounge is spinning tropicalia all night long. Do fifteen minutes of bum and hip stretches the night before, and the morning of, just for good measure. Mon/27, 6am-7pm. Parade at 11am. Mosswood Park. 36112 Webster, Oakl. 535.2450. (EP) Picks by Kelly Eginton (KE), Erica Pedersen (EP), and Cicely J. Sweed (CS). [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]