The cause of Iraqi refugees, thousands of whom aided the U.S. military during the Iraq War in exchange for visas, was much in the news in the last 24 hours. There was this NPR story about Iraqi interpreters who are stuck in Iraq, waiting for the American bureaucracy to give them their due, meanwhile hiding out in their homes because militants would like to see them dead for having cooperated with Americans. Then the Chron publishes a story about Iraqi refugees who got visas and were provided places to live by the government, only to find that those places — mostly in East Oakland — were more hellish and dangerous than Iraq. more ›

Although some reports have claimed otherwise, gays in Iraq are being "executed in batches," convicted for the crime of homosexuality. According to Reuters, "Two gay men were killed in Baghdad's Sadr City slum...and police said they had found the bodies of four more after clerics urged a crackdown on a perceived spread of homosexuality." These killings reportedly happened last Thursday. Before the executions -- wherein hundreds of Iraqi gays are currently eligible, if you will, for execution -- sermons "condemning homosexuality were read at the last two Friday prayer gatherings in Sadr City, a sprawling Baghdad slum of some 2 million people." A Sadr City Shi'ite cleric official noted, "this (homosexuality) has spread because of the absence of the Mehdi Army, the spread of sexual films and satellite television and a lack of government surveillance." more ›

If activists, like Michael Petrelis and other Castro frequenters, really wanted to focus attention on a part of the world where gays are suffering, maybe they could take a look at Iraq. Because this is, for lack of a better word, depressing. It's unreal but all too real. Iraqi gays will be "executed in batches" this week, convicted of the crime of being queer. UK Gay News has the details. more ›

On Dec. 29, U.S. Navy reservist/attorney/councilman Otto Lee, 41, will start a trepidatious, sourjourn deployment in Iraq. The Sunnyvale representative and father of two received his deployment orders three weeks ago, which means the Lee family has had to put Christmas on pause until his return. Lee is a UC-Berkeley graduate (with degrees in chemical and nuclear engineering) and holds a law degree from UC Hastings. He has been with the Sunnyvale City Council for five years. We wish him a safe return. more ›

After hurling his black dress shoes at President George Bush last week, Muntader al-Zaidi, a journalist for an independent Iraqi television station, is being hailed as somewhat of a hero. (Word is that he was given an award for courage in Libya.) Also, according to Tim Redmond over at SFBG, just after tossing his heels, Muntader al-Zaidi had the proverbial crap kicked out of him. more ›

OK, it has been reported by the NFL Network that the 49ers may offer a position to Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice

One high-ranking 49ers official said last week, “If she’s interested in talking to us, I’m interested in talking to her.” Rice has told friends as recently as last week she would love to become president of an NFL team.

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Around 150 protesters were arrested during yesterday's anti-war protest -- "a lesson on how to do it right," raves C.W. Nevius! -- during a rally that was, for the most part, a peaceful affair. Although a few hooligans hurled glass Christmas ornaments loaded with paint at San Francisco police, which seems a bit unnecessary considering how tolerant the police force here acts compared to larger cities such as Los Angeles, people were rather friendly compared to protests in the past. Scrumptious birthday cake, emblazoned with the message "Unhappy 5th Birthday Stop the War Now," oranges, and coffee were handed out to hungry passers-by. more ›

The photographer being manhandled at around 20-25 seconds in is Luke Thomas of Fog City Journal. (Or so we're told.) Then, at the end, the camera operator receives a serious (and seriously questionable) smackdown by an SFPD officer. more ›

Our buddies over at Curbed just received word that things are getting zany at Market and Montgomery, gangland territory for the messenger community. In yet another of moment of annoying and effective-free protest happening around the city today, cyclists and gimmicky Code Pink are currently acting up. Check it: more ›

Congressman Tom Lantos died this morning from esophageal cancer at the age of 80. He represented most of the Sunset, as well as a big chunk of San Mateo County. He was the only survivor of the Holocaust to be elected to Congress, and worked for years on human rights issues. That said, he ticked off quite a few people locally by supporting the Iraq war, although he had recently been pretty critical of the way things were going Over There. Before he died, he endorsed State Sen. Jackie Speier as his successor - no word yet on whether the Governator will decide to hold a special election (that would be our fourth of the year if he does) to replace him. more ›

Brass Tax: DJs Fred Funk, Goldilox, Loosebeats, and Tung throw down house, breaks, and hip hop beats. But douchey and unoriginal said beats ain't! At Amnesia, everything is quirky and creatively beat, so...have at it at the Mission boutique club. Starts at 9:39 p.m. at Amnesia; $5.
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Let's get right to the question for it is most pressing, shall we? An SFist reader asks: more ›

This morning a press conference was held in front to City Hall about this Saturday's March to End the War Now. The parade (grumble), which will start at City Hall and drain into Dolores Park (next to the worldwide Michael Jackson choreography routine), will be honored with its own day. It seems that the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution making October 27 "End the War in Iraq" Day. (And that day only.) Hopefully, Newsom won't wuss out and pull the resolution like he recently did with el Snoop Dogg. more ›

-- Plumpjack caves in to Lights Out SF. [CurbedSF] more ›

Marines returning home from Iraq were beaten to death with puppies and aborted fetuses by Oakland Airport officials on 9/27. At least that's how some conservative blogs and other outlets have spun it, more or less. (Because the Oakland Airport has nothing better to do than come up with ineffective political statements.) more ›

Tonight's most exciting season premiere is probably the return of "Dexter" on Showtime at 9 p.m. The show, starring Michael C. Hall as a forensics expert who is also a serial killer (who only kills other serial killers), was both disturbing, funny, and oddly touching last season, and we're curious to see what this season will bring since Dexter has done away with his nemesis. Of course, the revelation of who that nemesis really was has opened up some interesting possibilities. We could take this opportunity to rant about Comcast and their ridiculous pricing schemes, and how getting Showtime would add another 60 bucks a month to our already astronomical cable bill...but we won't. We'll watch the premiere for free on Yahoo! and then rely on the Internets and friends with Showtime to watch the rest of the season. Screw you Comcast! (The premiere of "Brotherhood" follows at 10 p.m.) more ›

After staunching out the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Niners head to St. Louis to try to get ahead at the expense of the reeling Rams and claw ahead in the NFC West race. more ›

Photo of a woman trying to get in the Federal Building despite the presence Code Pink protesters more ›

Looking over everyone's favorite site to get all Cathy over, Zombietime, in order to find shots of last week's not-so savage anti-Savage protest, we came across something disturbing: adolescent protesters. more ›

Oh No, Chris Daly! We don't even know what to say right now. We'd been hearing rumors all day (thanks to those hard-working folks over at the SFist Tips line) about a fight between District 6's rebearded progressive bad boy and the more moderate and clean-shaven Bevan Dufty of District 8, but didn't get confirmation of it until the Chron went live with their story. more ›

Here's todays sports news more ›

Oh No, Chris Daly! We don't even know what to say right now. We'd been hearing rumors all day (thanks to those hard-working folks over at the SFist Tips line) about a fight between District 6's rebearded progressive bad boy and the more moderate and clean-shaven Bevan Dufty of District 8, but didn't get confirmation of it until the Chron went live with their story. more ›

A photo of Iraq war opponents Sean Penn and Carol Migden more ›

Photo of Jesse Jackson's address in the Western Addition. more ›

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Cal Performances' biennial Berkeley Edge Fest is dedicated to presenting works of contemporary music and performance. Starting this Thursday (June 7) and running through Sunday June 10 at Zellerbach Hall, the Edge Fest seems to be pushing an anti-Bush theme this year. Oh, they're just giving the people of Berkeley exactly what they want to hear! more ›

A gay African-American high school English teacher at the private Urban School is recovering from three stab wounds he received a few weeks ago while eating at the Taqueria Cancun down near Mission and 29th Street. A woman came into the taqueria and started yelling racial and anti-gay slurs at people in the restaurant, and when the teacher and his friends tried to get away from her, she attacked him with the knife. The SFPD responded and arrested the woman, who's pled not guilty to the charges. more ›

We don't even know where to start with this news item -- we had to read the article like three times before we figured it out. Who has a -war protest in San Francisco??? more ›

, Morgan's movie for the BBC about the unusual power-sharing arrangement and strained friendship between Tony Blair and chancellor of the exchequor Gordon Brown to let Blair lead the Labour Party first, and then hand it off to Brown next. more ›