While visiting San Francisco for a couple of fundraisers on Thursday, President Barack Obama stopped off at Chinatown's Great Eastern Restaurant to grab some dim sum. Many of us have done this before, right? Right. They have some of the best dim sum in town. However, did you know that Great Eastern still sells shark fin, which was banned at the start of 2012? That's right, Obama buys dim sum at restaurants that aid in the destruction and depletion of the shark population. Classic socialist behavior. more ›

In a move poised to stave off children looking like white trash, Governor Jerry Brown banned kids from using tanning beds. The legislation, singed over the weekend, makes California the first state to adopt such a ban. Doctors, nurses, American Cancer Society, and people with commonsense backed the bill penned by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance). more ›

Following on the heels of yesterday's report that, as soon as the ban goes into effect, foie gras will turn into an underground treat for gastronomes—all of this fattened liver talk has made us very, very hungry for it, by the way—a noted animal rights group asked the government today to label the taboo treat with a warning to consumers. more ›

As a friend succulently pointed out just now, "Obama just ended 'don't ask don't tell.' So much for staying in tonight." Indeed. President Barack Obama today signed a certification of Congress' repeal of the United States' antiquated ban on gay men and women from serving openly in the military. The 18-year-old Clinton-era law will officially be squashed on September 20 more ›

Over the past year, the San Francisco Health Department has tirelessly worked to shutdown the scourge known as hookah lounges. For those not in the know, hookah lounges are a rite of passage for anyone new to the Bay Area. At these cesspools of moral bankruptcy, one can partake in smoking innocuous, flavored tobacco (which violates the indoor smoking ban) while ordering a side of dolmas or hummus and pita triangles. They're as bad as Hitler. more ›

R&B duo Matier & Ross have word that the San Francisco Animal Control Commission suggests a citywide ban on goldfish sales. While buying pets from puppy and kittens mills are a oneway route to the lower circles of Hell, we're shocked to hear that pet store fish are also a problem. And that truly saddens us. Poor little Nemos. more ›

The state Assembly voted against fishermen who rip off shark fins and toss the still-barely-living sea creatures back into the ocean. "AB376 bans the sale, trade or possession of shark fins, a delicacy that costs hundreds of dollars per pound and is used to create a soup popular among Asians," reports KTVU. "The Assembly approved the bill 60-8." Although the extinction of these sharks pose a threat to underwater ecosystems, some have decried the shark fin ban as an assault on Asian cultural cuisine. Namely, both Mayor Ed Lee and mayoral candidate Sen. Leland Yee champion the destruction of our endangered shark population for soup. more ›

Get it? On hold? Anyway, a plan to ban plastic bags in the city of Berkeley faces serious delays after the Coalition to Save the Plastic Bag raised a stink. "A ban on plastic bags will not be approved anytime this year, city officials said this week," reports The Daily Cal. "What originally appeared to be a simple way for the city to become more green has become increasingly complicated over the last five years, as some environmentalists question the benefits of using paper over plastic, and opponents of the ban look to stall progress through a number of lawsuits." more ›

Not that we compare ourselves to San Jose that often, but our neighbor to the south has just become the largest city in the country to ban plastic grocery bags. We've been plastic-free at major grocery chains in the city for awhile now, but as the Weekly points out San Jose's 10-cent fee for paper makes more sense than our own legislation that allows us to double-bag with reckless abandon. more ›

During Kamala Harris' victory party last night at the Delancey Streey Foundation in South Beach, where she celebrated a narrow win against Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley in the Attorney General's race, she promised some sort of surprise. That apparent surprise, at least for Californians outside the Bay Area, was the announcement that she will not defend Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban. more ›

You know that not-so crazy plastic bag ban spearheaded by San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi? Well, openly Republican (heh) Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger now also supports the eco-intelligent ban. So, you know, kudos to you, Mirkarimi. more ›

Although approved by the Board of Supervisors in March, a law banning smoking on restaurant patios went into effect this week. "Restaurants must not post signs advising customers they can only smoke at the curb or in a spot that is at least 15 feet from exits, entrances, windows and vents," reports KTVU/AP. "Failure to comply could cost restaurants a $500 fine." This is terrible news great news because now we can all be a little bit healthier. Delightful. more ›

Another day, another proposed ban in San Francisco. This week the city mulls over banning bottled water at all any and all events held on city property. The city's environmental commission will meet to discuss it today. more ›

Sure, soda is unhealthy (except for Diet Coke, which gives life with each sip), but we here in the U.S of A have something called freedom of choice. But, don't tell that to Gavin Newsom (famous for his own, to put it delicately, possibly unhealthy control issues with food) who ordered a silly ban on all soda machines on city property from selling Squirt, Coke and other sugary drinks. (The only logical ban, of course, would be a ruling in favor of a Diet Pepsi genocide. Wait, do you drink Diet Pepsi? If so, where did you go wrong in life, you diseased human being?) While seemingly healthy, SF Weekly points out that a pop-ban won't help one's pin-thin aspirations. "It's not really helping with obesity," explains U.C. San Francisco critical care nutritionist Irma Ishkanian. more ›

The effort to get a Proposition 8 repeal measure on the 2010 ballot fell short today, which would have given California voters the chance to decide on removing the ban on same-sex marriage. The Associated Pres (via CBS 5) reports: "Restore Equality 2010 chairman Sean Bohac said Monday that the volunteer-run group fell short of gathering the nearly 695,000 signatures needed to put the initiative before voters. Monday was the deadline for submitting the signatures to the Secretary of State's Office." more ›

Though it was shot down last year by local businesses, on Tuesday the city reintroduced legislation that would bar the merciful release of nicotine "near the doors, vents and operable windows of any building, including restaurants, shops, offices and housing complexes." more ›

Though not a new idea, its sanity level, or lack thereof, remains the same: permanently removing vehicles and Muni lines from Market Street. This is the latest idea tinkering around inside Newsom's sleek head. more ›

If you're heading down to Santa Cruz this weekend to buy and take illicit drugs -- a common practice in a city that seems to have crashed into the side of California -- remember on thing: you won't be able to smoke outdoors starting today. IN certain areas, at least. Santa Cruz's outdoor smoking ban went into effect today. According to KTVU, "[a] new ordinance, approved by the City Council on Sept. 22, prohibits smoking on Pacific Avenue, Beach Street between the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Third Street, and West Cliff Drive." Over the last ten years, Pacific Avenue -- once a bastion of unwashed, methed out looking for a tuppence or two -- has turned into more of a boutique street. more ›

The July 2 issue of Sacramento News & Review, it seems, wasn't the most popular issue of SN&R. Why? Well, the cover story -- featuring a safe couple, Ben and Lonny Phillips-Lesenana, and the headline, "5 easy steps to marriage freedom" -- proved very unpopular with Sacto ilk. So much so that the paper's return rate that week was staggeringly high. more ›

As expected, U.S. judge in San Francisco denied an injunction yesterday on a federal lawsuit that challenged Prop 8. What does this mean? This: So, after the California Supreme court came down with their ruling that even though state law gives gays a right to marry, you can take that right away. David Boies and Ted Olsen (former adversaries during the Bush v Gore brouhaha who came together for in order to protect "human decency") filed suit saying that Prop 8 violates federal constitutional law. Why? So that this one would go to the U.S. Supreme Court and cover everyone in America, win or lose. Anyway, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker decided not to rule on the question right now, but is going to have a trial soon to go over all the history of homophobia in the U.S., the effects of Prop 8 in California, etc., which should actually be interesting (even though it sounded like yesterday's trail was listless.) According to CBS5 / BCN, Walker has yet to set a trial date. "but ordered lawyers on both sides to submit a statement to him by Aug. 7 detailing which facts they agree on, which facts are in dispute and a 'plan of action' for resolving the case." (Hat tip: Rita Hao for her legal expertise.) more ›

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a law on Tuesday banning any and all loitering outside of SF nightclubs. This, it seems, will help stop violent crimes that happen in front of nightclubs. Now thugs looking to punch or murder other patrons will have to walk a few feet away from a nightclub in order to commit their preferred acts of violence. A dirty, evil loiterer is, for those of you who don't know, a person who "remains a pedestrian for a period of over three minutes within ten feet from the entrance of a nightclub or within ten feet from any point on any lines formed at the entrance to a nightclub." If a loiterer is caught in the act of mischievous loitering outside a nightclub, according to SFBG, they will be "fined $50-$100 and/or community service. But if charged with a misdemeanor, they will be punished with a $200-$500 fine and/or community service, or six months in the County jail, or fine and jail." In related news: You weren't using those First Amendment rights anyway, were you? more ›

Just after Ross Mirkarimi's pro-life hummus breath suggested a citywide ban on foie gras - you know, in addition to the other one set to go in 2012 -- Gavin Newsom also kowtowed to PETA by temporarily banning the hotly debated dish at all Plumjack restaurants. (Pft.) We say "temporarily" since they want to replace the right way too make the deliciously plumped duck/goose liver with some sort of "humane" way. (You're lucky you boast a superb happy hour, Jack Falstaff; otherwise, we'd be picketing outside your doors wearing this.) more ›

According to a Field Poll of 761 registered voters, "48 percent of those surveyed would support a new ballot initiative repealing Proposition 8, while 47 percent would favor keeping the ban in place," according to reports." That is to say, almost of the state of California is complicit in allowing discrimination into the state constitution. Unnerving. more ›

Prop 8 bit starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Margaret Cho, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, and more. Oh, and it's good. Real good. more ›

Senator Mark Leno and (new!) Assemblymember Tom Ammiano will introduce measures that prove Proposition 8 is "an improper revision of the California State Constitution," according to reports. The measure, which should be announced today during the second day of the 2009-20101 legislative session, is sponsored by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Prop 8, if you recall, could ban same-same marriage, effectively altering the California constitution to allow discrimination. more ›

A new theory is percolating about Gus Van Sant's ?" and "[I]f the film had found an audience early enough, could it have made a difference?" In our post-Prop. 8 world those are good questions, ones that we personally cannot answer. But one thing is for sure: Milk will land the sympathy vote come Oscar night.
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Gone are the days of free love, free LSD, and freedom to eat whatever you want. After last week's historic decision to make San Francisco the first in the country to ban the sale of cigarettes in pharmacies Walgreens and Rite Aid stores, City Hall isn't stopping there. The Board of Supes also wants to bar you from lighting up in city parks, ATM lines, and common areas of apartment buildings; voted for chain restaurants to post nutritional information on menus; have shunned delicious trans-fats (which is semi-ridiculous since high fructose corn syrup is the real enemy, but that's an entirely different post altogether); charge restaurants a fee for selling sugary sodas (which is good since Diet Coke tastes better); and close down city streets in an effort to get you to participate in mass jazzercise. more ›

Plug 1 from WhatImSeeing (he seems to be everywhere all at once!) sent us this image today after he picked up a pack of cool, smooth, refreshing Parliament Lights. It seems Walgreens, a chain that can do no wrong in our eyes, is handing out these flyers when you buy cigs today. Check it: more ›

The entertaining/controversial Chris Daly, who seems a bit quiet as of late, has a new target now: wafts of cigarette smoke. We're told that his latest push of legislation "calls for a smoking ban outside of restaurants, in waiting areas, within 20 feet of nonresidential buildings," and in common areas of apartment buildings. That is to say, you might have to look elsewhere to spark up that Capri or Virgina Slim while eating out. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the measure come Thursday. more ›

While his Holiness is more or less meh when it comes to non-consensual sex between a man and a boy, same-sex marriage just ain't cool in his book. So stop, says Pope Benedict. more ›