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News flash! Traffic is really bad around here! The Examiner is starting a six-part series this week and next, looking at specific traffic jam spots, what's wrong with them from a civil engineering perspective, and what we can do to fix them (answer: nothing). Today's piece: number one traffic congestion spot the maze (cheerily titled, "Interstate 80: Where East Bay Drivers Come To A Halt" and even more sunnily subtitled, "Poor design, lack of metering lights cause bottlenecks"). The article lovingly details that unique feeling of left-blinker Emeryville 80/580/880 merger panic (!!!), and provides a long explanation of why they can't get metering lights along the route. Meanwhile, drivers continue to lose an average of 6570 hours per day waiting to get to the toll booth. Mad props to the Examiner -- this series is going to rule. As a former Silicon Valley reverse-commuter, we're totally looking forward to Wednesday's "101: Why, Dear Lord, Why?" And we're even more totally looking forward to reading it on the BART! (Hey, Mr. Anschutz, have you considered releasing this series in mp3 format so people can listen to it on the road?) Maze from MazeMaker more ›

We'd never lie to you, so let's just be upfront: this correspondent loathes the Dave Matthews Band. The insipid guitar solos, the faux-brohemian goatee -- why? why? Dear Lord, why? Frankly, we have no idea how Dave Matthews managed to raise a million dollars in his Golden Gate Park benefit show last September. Who are you, concert attendees? What makes you tick? What will you do to celebrate San Francisco's next Dave Matthews Day on September 12? Well, we can identify at least one fan -- look at that beaming head of gelled hair hangin' with the band! Gavin Newsom's gotta be pleased that the boys have agreed to donate 25% of their earnings from the Golden Gate Park concert to build a state-of-the-art playground in Hunters Point. (The article doesn't say what the remaining 75% will be spent on.) Kids, when polled, said they wanted a tetherball court, a climbing wall, and a jungle gym. No word if anyone requested port-a-potties. more ›

summary of the Bay Area weeklies more ›