These smoking bans aren't anything new in California, but the City of Richmond -- which, arguably, has bigger law enforcement fish to fry -- has just joined the ranks of cities that ban smoking in multi-unit housing. The city received an "F" rating from the American Lung Association in January, and apparently at a loss for what to do about gang violence and the highest murder rate in the state, the city council has committed themselves to stopping the spread of second-hand smoke. Richmond previously instituted bans on smoking in public parks and farmers' markets. more ›

Although we're only occasional smokers (read: when we're drunk or feeling awkward at a party), we sympathize with the need to have a cigarette. And while the smoking ban at bars and everywhere else has kept everyone relatively secondhand smoke free, the constant browbeating smokers receive from non-smokers is enough to make the anarchists in us want to light up in front of all the naysayers. more ›

Image credit: Nature abhors a vacuum more ›

href="http://londonist.com/2008/01/6_years_on_amne.php">Amnesty International bringing Guantanamo Bay to the American embassy to raise the profile of the continuing campaign to close the detention center.

While SFist cringed at the fatal dose of crime littering the Bay Area, it found solace in Hillary Clinton's San Francisco campaign headquarters opening, which featured loads of exposed mammary glands. In other news, SF Taxi Commission ruled that Satan's cab must keep its (in)famous medallion number, 666; and in an un-fashion-forward frenzy, San Francisco Fashion Week (chortle) bars bloggers from covering and getting smashed at their shows and parties, respectively. Also, they found a picture displaying the woes of cruising in a tacky limo on the streets of San Francisco. more ›

There's so much going on across the Ist-a-Verse that it's almost impossible to keep track these days. Fortunately, we do it so you don't have to! more ›

-Bad cops, bad cops, whatcha gonna do, watcha gonna do when they start tracking you -Man found dead in Page Street apartment is finally ID'd. The guy whose apartment it was says he hired the guy to look after his cat. more ›

Between fake terrorist alerts and scandals big and small, this just might be the Best Best of the -ists ever. We're exhausted just thinking about it. First up, SFist, who saw their little 'ole site be the center of what was a nice little scandal (even getting their editor on TV) only to find their scandal dwarfed by the even bigger scandal caused by their Mayor boffing one of his aides' wife. We're not just tooting our horn when we say we think SFist summed up the whole thing better than anyone: Holy Crap!!!!! more ›

Texas is thawing, the Northeast is freezing, and a sort of natural order seems almost restored to the Ist-A-Verse. Almost. more ›

Somehow, the world of -ists managed to make it through the week despite news that Jen & Vince broke up. more ›

The best roommate we ever had had a surefire (ha) way to summon a malingering Muni -- all he'd do was light a fresh cigarette and, like magic, the tardiest of busses would appear. more ›

We San Franciscans may be a tolerant bunch, but there is one thing we cannot abide- Republicans. No wait, there’s one thing we cannot abide even more than Republicans- smokers. After banning smoking from workplaces and bars, the Board of Supervisors is working on the banning of smoking from public parks. Because we wouldn’t want poor little Timmy and poor little Suzy’s innocent and pure lungs to be befouled by second-hand smoke wafting it’s way through the great outdoors. The law would ban "inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted smoking equipment for tobacco or any other weed or plant.” Hmm…wonder what they mean by “any other weed”? Violators will be fined upwards of $250 if caught. more ›

New York Times finally gets hip to Berkeley proposition. more ›