Jonathan and Luis Baez, two brothers from Holyoke, Massachusetts, were arrested late Wednesday after assaulting a pilot on a flight bound for San Francisco. En route American Airlines Flight 1755, a flight attendant noticed Jonathan sleeping during takeoff sans his seat belt fastened. "Unresponsive and appear[ing] to be intoxicated or on drugs," the pilot then returned to the gate and confronted the passenger, which is when things got ugly.
SFO-Bound Brothers Arrested for "Brutally" Attacking Pilot
Massachusetts Sues Federal Government Over DOMA
The state of Massachusetts has sued the Federal government over the Domestic Marriage Act, claiming that it discriminates against the people, namely gay folks, who want to wed. According to the , "the lawsuit, filed this morning in federal court in Boston, challenges the application of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which [Attorney General Martha] Coakley says prevents gay and lesbian couples here from receiving tax, retirement, insurance, Social Security and other benefits."
In His Own Words: Gavin Newsom On Same-Sex Marriage
Ha ha. Our mayor is better than yours. Why? Because Gavin Newsom wrote a thoughtful post for the Daily Kos regarding today's state Supreme Court gay marriage percolation. Cool, right? Sure, we're confused, jealous, and sad that he didn't turn to SFist first. But while we go hit the bottle to squelch this ego blow, we urge you to read his words of inspiration and shocking clarity:
This Is the Trash That's Going to Win?
Check out the anti-gay truck motoring around town today. Isn't it adorable? Fortunately for it, it lacks any "anti-oak tree" or "pro-Marine recruitment" signage, which would've really pissed off locals Bay Area do-gooders.
Week Around the -ists
href="http://londonist.com/2008/02/air_bound.php"> remove one man from Gatwick.
Just Shoot Us
Attention citizenry! The SFPD needs your help. if you're a web designer. They're currently conducting a poll, with the help of a Massachusetts company called, ominously, the Public Safety Strategies Group. Do you like foot patrols? Do you know where your police station is? Have you been the victim of a crime lately? These and other exciting questions will be answered on tonight's episode of "The San Francisco Police Effectiveness Review"!
The Dirty Ol' Fall Tour
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (a band with a breakfast cereal/basketball name - catchy, right?) have started their Dirty Ol' Fall Tour on the West Coast, starting in Long Beach, then L.A. and tonight in San Francisco at Cafe du Nord. At the beginning of December, they will end up in their hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts playing two final shows at Iron Hall Music Hall. Playing over 300 shows in the last two years Stephen...
IDs for Immigrants?
Tom Ammiano announced a plan yesterday to give city IDs to those who don't have IDs, mainly immigrants-- legal or otherwise. The idea, pushed by immigrant advocates, will allow those without an ID to be given access to a whole range of city services they would not normally be open to, including health care, library privileges, and the ability to use municipal golf courses. Ammiano also said he's going to work with financial institutions to let people use the Ids to open accounts.
Week Around The -ists
We at the Gothamist network would like to express our heartfelt wishes to the people of Minnesota in the days after their tragic bridge collapse. We're not trying to discount the severity of the accident by making note of it in opposition to our usual -Ist lightheartedness - we just wanted to take a moment and recognize those affected last week.
Week in -Ists
Spring appears to have, er, sprung, at least temporarily, in most of the Ist-A-Verse, so naturally, we're all feeling pretty good. (Yes, we know that spring doesn't officially start till later this month. Just let us enjoy our weather!) And that makes us that much more eager to share all of the nifty things we're up to...
Craftwork: Happy Kitschy Crafting.
There was no shortage of craft books on the market this year. From knitting to t-shirt reconstructing more and more crafters are sharing their ideas with the world.
World Peace, One Stomach At A Time
Lisa Diamond has an interesting idea, one that on a surface level is creative, informative, artistic, and has a wonderful aestheitic. On a more ambitious level, it could save the world. After all, there is that old saying about the key to a man's heart being through his stomach. Promoting understanding and appreciation of other cultures by helping people to cook and enjoy their foods is not such a far cry.
Second Time's The Charm
Ah, the most agonizing time of the year for a certain group of local lawyers is upon us -- the annual releasing of the results from the February California state bar exam. The February bar exam is traditionally the one that people who failed the bar their first go-around (the more popular July sitting) take for round two.
Across The -ist Network
Houstonist reports on cross-dressing thieves and undressing educators this week. A Peeping Tom defends himself with a papaya and an outraged onlooker asks Ken Lay, "TATER TOTS OR FRIES?" Also, FEMA wants it's money back.
Bottom of the Coffee Pot: A Few Leftovers
In the nearly year and a half we've been doing coffee-related writing here on SFist, we've taken a number of pictures that we've heretofore been unable to shoehorn into one of our "Trimethyldioxypurist" episodes. So, hey, it's time for a few leftovers.
SchwarzenWatcher Goes to the Stones Concert
So you get a bunch of free Stones tickets and a luxury box to see them opening night at Fenway handed over to you by some company out of the kindness of their hearts. So you then sell them for a cool hundred thousand to anyone who wants the pleasure of seeing the World's Greatest Rock Band in the company of our Governor. Great idea, right? What could go wrong?
Lots.
Patriot Act Author Questions Supreme Court, Bush Adminstration
We'll admit it, one of our favorite political blogs is written by a Republican. That's right, we said it. Hey, it's all about 'balance' here at SFist, if not moderation. Shades of gray, people, shades of gray! Why do we love it? Because Patrick Rodriguez covers the Cal campus political scene like only a free-market libertarian in Berkeley can, with humor and an outsider's insight.
Winos Rejoice Over Supreme Court Ruling
Okay, guess that should read "Wine Connoisseurs," or "Oenophiles" as the Supremes did not rule that food stamps could now be used to purchase Thunderbird, Cisco or Night Train. Instead, they ruled that states like New York, Massachusetts and Michigan could not prohibit direct sales of wines from other states if they allowed such sales for local wineries. You can read coverage in the Chron, the Times, the Globe or the Freep.
Medical Marijuana Case Goes to the, uh, Highest Court; Massachusetts Gay Marriage Case Doesn't
Medical marijuana finds its way back to the Supreme Court. Man, you just can't kill that weed!
SFist Blotter
Bay Area crime roundup
Matchbox Nineteen
Well, it's about time! Assuaging his secret worries that he's not really a governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger finally got his personalized booby-trapped letter.


