Gavin wants your fat. According to Renewable Energy Access, yesterday our dear Mayor implemented a new program that will collect fats, oil, and grease from the city restaurants free of charge.Why? So that they can be to turn into biofuel to power city-owned vehicles. The program is called SFGreasecycle. Ew. But: awesome.

Said fat and oil, when poured down the drain, "solidifies into thick layers inside drainpipes and sewer pipes, constricting water flow the way cholesterol affects blood flow in arteries." Although we recommend finer establishments holding onto their duck and bacon fats, this is a brilliant idea. Period. And local restaurants can sign-up for free service right here. So...do it now. We said now!

Image credit: the City of Longmont / "[A] sewer manhole outside of a Longmont restaurant. The sewer line has been completely filled with grease." Have a good lunch break, folks!

See what happens, conservative counties of California? Whenever you do something like this, we then have to do something like this. It's the way we balance things out. Tis the circle of life.

Yesterday, Mayor Newsom signed into action the Tommy Ammiano-introduced legislation that requires the city to handout ID cards to undocumented immigrants and other residents who either can't or just won't apply for driver's licenses. The good news is that these IDs will help (formerly) undocumented residents gain access to the wonderful world of banking, a sense of peace before calling the fuzz, as well as "health services at city-run clinics, public library privileges, and resident discounts at museums and other cultural institutions." (Entry fee discounts at the Exploratorium: the American dream realized.)

And the down side? These cards do not parallel Social Security numbers "for those seeking employment." What's more these cards could simply start signifying "alien" and the assumption that said card holder is here illegally.

Still, we want one. For kicks. And the program will go into effect in August of 2008. Also: good.

Oh, Ed. Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed. This does not seem speedy like you promised. Then again, you promised a lot of things. Sigh.

After yesterday's whopping indictment by a federal grand jury, "[s]uspended San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in the city today to expanded federal charges of mail fraud, bribery and extortion," according to the Examiner.

Outside the Federal Building courthouse this morning, Jew's attorney said, "he didn’t do it.” He also couldn't provide details of defense arguments. Man, this is just getting sad.

Today, a little before noon, a suicide attempt occurred at Hastings Law School. We received the information via our Contribute section (which, by all means, do) and from Introducing Ashley. (Aw) She reports that a "female student had attempted to jump from the 21st floor. Luckily, her friends and local police were able to talk her back inside."

What's more, she goes on to say in her blog that "[i]t is amazing to me how much death there is at UC Hastings. We seem to be averaging one suicide a term." Really? Why are UC Hastings law students trying to off themselves at such a (seemingly) high rate? Hey, most of us wanted to get into Boalt, but that doesn't mean that things won't get better. Chin up, UCH.


image credit: Introducing Ashley