ONE
As part of its annual fund drive, KCSB-91.9 will present the Santa Barbara premiere of the Flaming Lips’ 2008 feature film, “Christmas on Mars.” The screening will be held in I.V. Theater this Saturday at 7 p.m., and admission is free. The trippy sci-fi flick stars Lips frontman Wayne Coyne and Steve Burns – you know, that guy from “Blue’s Clues,” who, despite the urban legends, is not dead. Donate to KCSB by calling 805-893-2424.

TWO
UCSB’s MultiCultural Center will host a conversation with one of hip hop’s most respected MCs, MC Lyte, this evening at 7:30 in Embarcadero Hall. The artist, who boasts the first gold single ever by a female rap artist, has released over 10 albums during the course of her 20-year career, and she isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.

THREE
Next Wednesday evening at 7:30, Pulitzer Prize winner and veteran NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd will appear in Campbell Hall as part of Arts & Lectures. Her acerbic political commentary, on figures like our current (soon-to-be-ex) president, Monica Lewinsky and Al Gore, have grabbed attention from all ranges of the political spectrum.

FOUR
Some of I.V.’s favorite local acts will be in town this weekend: Both Kissing Tigers and the Coral Sea are bands that have members who met while attending UCSB, and both bands have been upping their exposure on a national level in the past couple years. Catch Kissing Tigers at Biko on Friday night, and the Coral Sea at Muddy Waters on Saturday night.

FIVE
You can tell the holidays are approaching: After all, it isn’t November or December if the latest installment of the James Bond franchise isn’t racking up box office cash. “The Quantum of Solace” premieres Friday. Also in theaters: Director Danny Boyle’s latest film, “Slumdog Millionaire” and the sappy looking “A Christmas Tale.”