Noted private school St. Ignatius College Preparatory canceled classes for the day after an outbreak of the stomach flu struck an estimated 50 students. Ugh. According to SF Examiner, "the campus will be closed and all events, including sports games, are canceled for Wednesday because the Public Health Department advised school officials it would be appropriate to 'thoroughly' sanitize and 'deeply clean' the campus." more ›

Looking to draw attention to (cruel yet succulent) foie gras production and consumption, which will (technically) be banned in California come 2012, animal rights group Animal Legal Defense Fund stirred up a bit of media attention today after offering a rather patronizing gift to TV chef Anthony Bourdain. See, they would like to arrange to have Bourdain tested for hepatic lipidosis—which is, it seems, "the same dangerous liver disease that ducks and geese develop as a result of being force fed massive amounts of food prior to being slaughtered for foie gras." more ›

Before he died, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs wanted to world to know that he deeply regretted "wasting time" on alternative medicine while trying to combat his pancreatic cancer. During a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Jobs' biographer Walter Isaacson said: more ›

Philippines Airlines passenger Aida Alamillo delivered a healthy baby boy mid-flight yesterday while en route to San Francisco with the help of three onboard nurses and several flight crew members. The baby was reportedly delivered at 3:25 p.m., four hours before the plane landed at SFO. more ›

As the Chronicle reported on Friday, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a federal suit against Walgreens on Thursday for firing a diabetic South San Francisco cashier, Josefina Hernandez. Hernandez had quickly downed a bag of chips while working her shift back in September of 2008 in order to boost her blood sugar level, preventing an oncoming hypoglycemic attack. more ›

A bit saddened and surprised that Phil Bronstein failed to contact us immediately to get few choice quotes and some penetrative views on the human penis, we can forgive the Chronicle's Editor-at-Large since he penned a downright spectacular piece on the male piece. Specifically, the flap of skin that gets lopped off for religious and/or societal reasons is also great for freshening up a disgustingly-aged face. (By the way, hailing for Southern California, we have 0.00 problems with plastic surgery. Having work done is the Orange County version of getting a tattoo. A time-honored ritual, really.) Bronstein writes: more ›

Looking to swipe your stash, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is this Saturday. In an effort to "prevent pill abuse and theft,"government, community, public health and law enforcement partners at these sites will be working together to collect expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs that are potentially dangerous if left in the family's medicine cabinet," says the DEA. Furthermore, tossing your pills down the toilet can lead to environmental hazard. more ›

Dr. Robert Martin Kevess, 53, has been charged with sexually assaulting six male students. He had been working at the University of California at Berkeley's Tang Center for almost 22 years when 19 felony charged were filed against him this week. All of the victims were students, ages ranging between 18 to 42. "The charges against Kevess include sexual penetration with a foreign object, specifically his fingers, sexual exploitation of a patient and sexual battery under a false professional purpose," reports SF Appeal. more ›

The BAR (where one can now - at last! - comment on articles) says that HIV infections in San Francisco are now in "retreat." Over the last decade, the rate of new HIV cases has dwindled. Significantly so! Check it out: more ›

It is a scientific fact: The plume of radiation generated from the Fukushima Nuclear Plant in Japan is moving towards the U.S. West Coast. That plume is expected to reach California by Friday, however, "experts said they were confident that the amount of radiation would be well within safe limits," reports the LA Times. more ›

OC-based fast food giant Taco Bell has been hit with a lawsuit alleging they're fibbing when they say their food uses "seasoned ground beef" or "seasoned beef." In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in the Central District, Southern Division, in Santa Ana on behalf of plaintiff Amanda Obney of California, the suit "charges that Taco Bell's meat mixture contains binders and extenders and does not meet the minimum requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be labeled as beef," explains USA Today. more ›

Due to the probable closure of the Lyon-Martin Health Clinic, there will be an emergency community meeting tonight. An email being sent around reads: "As you may have heard, Lyon-Martin Health Clinic is closing at the end of the business day on Thursday. Tonight we are pulling together a community meeting at 7pm at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, room 301. The intent of the meeting is to formulate a community response./demands and develop an action plan. At 6:30pm, a few of us are planning ... come up with a tentative agenda for the meeting." more ›

While local online news sites burn pounds of ink on an increasingly tepid KUSF story, a real closure that could cause real tragedy might flare up this week, and no one in the media seems to care. Lyon-Martin Health Services (1748 Market Street), which has operated for over thirty years and was founded by legendary local lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, is rumored to be shuttering this week due to financial troubles. Queer blogger Michael Petrelis heard the news that Thursday could be the clinic's last day, and he puts this troubling news "in the larger context of gay inc here in SF," where the LGBT-serving New Leaf mental health agency closed last year, and where the LGBT Center was rumored to be having budget issues -- though those rumors turned out to be somewhat quashed, after they got a loan from the City to help renegotiate their mortgage. more ›

Jack LaLanne, who was born in San Francisco, died on Sunday. The fitness guru will be remembered tonight at a local restaurant where they serve his signature dish. "A table will be set this evening at John's Grill, a historic restaurant at 63 Ellis St. that serves a signature dish, 'Jack LaLanne's Favorite Salad,' " reports SF Appeal. "The table will have LaLanne's salad under a picture of him." more ›

Aside from publishing what history will look back on as the single most misguided and thoughtless arts & entertainment article ever written, we almost always respect Slate. So when they post a piece called "Why Steve Jobs Won't Return to Apple, we listen. more ›

Raising concerns again about his health, 55-year-old CEO Steve Jobs will take a medical leave of absence while remaining involved in “major strategic decisions” for Apple. Yikes. Jobs announced the decision in the following email to employees: more ›

Holland Reynolds, a 16-year old cross country star and captain of her team at University High School in San Francisco collapsed just short of a second-place finish in last Saturday's state championship meet in Fresno. The heartwarming part is how she pulled together enough strength to crawl across the finish line and ensure that her coach, who was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, would capture a record eight state championship titles. There, who says kids these days are all self-absorbed? more ›

Disgraced ex-HP CEO Carly Fiorina was sent to the hospital this morning due to an infection stemming from reconstructive surgery she had after battling breast cancer. She is expected to make a full recovery. Fiorina is currently fighting for the Senate seat against Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer, who sent out this warmhearted message of support: "We wish Carly Fiorina a speedy recovery and hope she is able to return to her normal schedule soon." [SFGate] more ›

The woman pictured in the photo at right was brought into San Francisco General Hospital eleven days ago after she was found lying next to a wheelchair on the Embarcadero. She has not been able to tell the hospital staff her name, and they've been unable to identify her. more ›

Did you know that San Francisco is one of the skinniest counties in the state, along with equi-pinko Marin, Sonoma, and Santa Cruz counties? According to a recent report in California Watch, it's true. CW reports: "Overlaying voter registration statistics from the Secretary of State, we find that of the five counties in California where skinny people are most prevalent, four are Democrat (San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma* and Santa Cruz) and one is Republican (Orange)." more ›

Former President Jimmy Carter was hospitalized in Cleveland, Ohio this morning after becoming ill while flying on a Delta flight. Carter was en route to Ohio to promote his latest literary effort, The White House Diary. Reports suggest he is suffering from an "upset stomach." [CNN] more ›

The Chronicle's Victoria Colliver penned a fascinating story in today's issue, one that mentions an "online report card on the health of San Franciscans" that's being introduced today "by a consortium of public and private health groups." The report will, ideally, help improve parts of the city when it comes to public health. more ›

With temperature the Bay Area expected to reach the mid 90s to around 100 near, an excessive heat advisory has been issued. This affects the very young and very old, so head for cooler climates, babies and elderly. [CBS 5] more ›

Rincon Hill will get a bit more mellow soon (which is a good thing for some people in the area) when the tony San Francisco neighborhood gets its very own pot club. A new cannabis dispensary has -- at last! -- been approved to open in Rincon Hill at 527 Howard Street (across from Temple nightclub, next door toe Eve) under the name of Igzactly Health Center, according to the Rincon Hill Neighborhood Association. more ›

More aesthetically pleasing, housing a better team, and situated in a superior neighbor -- AT&T Park can now say it's better than Dodgers stadium when it comes to food sanitary conditions. According to a food vendor health inspection survey on ESPN, a scant 4% of AT&T Park vendors were in violation, compared to the Dodgers Stadium 13%. more ›

Sunday's 6.2-mile SF AIDS Walk pulled in more than $3 million. An estimated 25,000 participants showed up to help raise much-needed funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and care. more ›

Yesterday, the almighty Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance "expanding the city's regulations against public smoking." That is to say, you can no longer light up a smooth, relaxing stick of solace at in any outdoor restaurant dining areas, in service waiting areas (like lines for ATMs, concerts, movie theaters, sporting events, taxis and bus stop shelters), multi-unit housing, and at farmers markets, homeless shelters, and charity bingo games, and within 15 feet of business doorways. more ›

Whether latching onto gay archetypes (e.g., Gypsy IS the Hamlet of the American musical, pnp party tonight, Diesel, etc.) or self-consciously avoiding them (e.g., I-don't-get-Liza-Minnelli-or-Lady-Gaga-so-take-my-gay-card-please rhetoric, on the DL, hipsterishly eschewing bathing, Dockers), all gay men can agree on one thing: finding themselves endlessly fascinating. So, it's no wonder that the bear community -- a lifestyle involving the indoctrination of plus-sized hairy men -- thrives here in San Francisco, a city endlessly fascinated with itself. more ›

While national health care faced a set back this week with the loss of the 60th Democratic senate seat, California took a step forward. A new state law sets limits on the length of time a patient must wait to see a doctor... more ›