So What: The Life of Miles Davis

(BOOK) A drug addict, abusive husband, and frail human being who suffered from all manner of illnesses throughout his life (sickle cell disease, diabetes, and recrudescent hip complications), Miles Davis was one of the greatest musicians of the last century. He was born near the start of that century and, after defining much of its beauty, died near its end. Yale scholar John Szwed's new biography, So What: The Life of Miles Davis, brings Davis' contradictions and ambiguities into lyrical and narrative order. This book has achieved the impossible. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600.) CHARLES MUDEDE

Negativland Cinema!

(FILM) NWFF's anti-consumerist mini-festival Ultra presents a weekend of movies and lectures related to one of the great culture-jamming musical artists of all time, the great Negativland. Screenings of The Ad and the Ego, an experimental examination of advertising's effect on American culture (with sound design by the group) will be hosted by Negativland's own Mark Hosler. Then, Sunday, Hosler presides over a lecture/video presentation compiling his band's media hoaxes and pranks. Killer and killer. (The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 675-2055, $7/$4.50 members. The Ad and the Ego, Thurs-Sat Dec 5-7 at 7 and 9 pm; The Media Pranks and Hoaxes of Negativland, Sun Dec 8 at 8 pm.) SEAN NELSON

Drunk Puppet Nite 2

(BRILLIANCE) Q: What's funnier than a drunk puppet? A: Practically nothing, unless that puppet is peopled by any of the fantastic talents involved in this wildly inspired event. Among them: Suzy & Nice-Nice, Sgt. Rigsby's Amazing Silhouettes, Johnny Jetpack Propulsion Labs, Teacup Sideshow, members of Cirque de Flambé, Cry of the Rooster, Circus Contraption, Islewilde, Moglotamus Theater, Thistle Theater, and your hosts, Seanjohn Walsh and Steffon & Arlette Moody. Booze. Puppets. Whaddya need, a road map? (Re-bar, 1114 Howell St at Boren Ave. Reservations: 323-0388. $15. Fri-Sat Dec 6-7, doors at 7 pm, show begins at 8 pm SHARP.) SEAN NELSON

Charles Krafft's Villa Delirium

(BOOKS) Irony, delicacy, politics, humanism: These are the elements that Charles Krafft continues to whittle to a fine, fine point with his various Delft-style weapons, including Disasterware™, Spone™, and the Porcelain War Museum Project, as well as his new series/fragrance, Forgiveness™. There are not enough words in the world to describe what is so great about Charles Krafft, but finally, someone (in this case Larry Reid, independent curator and former director of CoCA) has at least tried, with a new, beautiful book. Hurrah. (Book-signing and publication party 3-6 pm, Lucky Devil Tattoo Parlor, 1720 12th Ave, 323-1637, free.) EMILY HALL

12 Minutes Max

(PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE) Now in its 24th year, On the Boards' artist-friendly, time-sensitive performance showcase 12 Minutes Max has grown into a veritable rite of passage for up 'n' coming Northwest performers, be they writers, dancers, or wonderfully entertaining freaks. This month's installment offers a good mix of all three. In addition to dancer/choreographer Scott Phillips and writer types Melanie Noel and Gregory Hischak, the studio stage will be graced by the musical theater talents of Herbert Bergel (previewing scenes from his new rock opera) and the impressive gyrations of Pepe Quick, who blew minds and stole hearts (not to mention third prize) at this year's Pizzazz!. (On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9886, Sun-Mon Dec 8-9 at 7 pm, $7 at the door.) DAVID SCHMADER

David Rees

(COMICS) David Rees is a funny man. He takes serious issues like the war on terrorism and turns them into sarcastic, socially conscious comic strips featuring a bunch of office drones. The Get Your War On series (available on his website, www.getyourwaron.com) takes the blustering propaganda of war and turns it into lines like "Yes! Operation: Enduring Our Freedom to Bomb the Living Fuck out of You is in the house!!!" Rees, who has authored a series of equally entertaining comics, is supposedly just as witty when showcasing his work as he is in creating it, another good reason to check out the New Yorker's Seattle stop. (Confounded Books & Hypno Video, 2235 Second Ave, 441-1377, 7 pm, free.) JENNIFER MAERZ

Numbers

(MUSIC) There's good reason that San Francisco's Numbers have such a strong following with their hometown punk/indie crowd. The trio messes with no wave, new wave, and electro punk, chopping up robotic vocals with Wirelike riffs and dance-beat drumming. Their 2002 Tigerbeat6 record, Numbers Life, feels like a warp-speed trip through cut-and-paste genre-splicing, a futuristic ride through sound effects and minimalist constructions alike that comes together really well. (The Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 625-4444, $7.) JENNIFER MAERZ