sfexaminer

Fiction, paperbacks, book boxes for kids this year

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Fiction, paperbacks, book boxes for kids this year
“What I’m hoping is that this holiday season will not be as bad as the last one in which there seemed to be a lot of people pulling back and scaling back really rapidly,” said Michael Norris, a senior analyst for the media and publishing research firm Simba Information.

Gift Guide

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Gift Guide
Toshiba’s digital media frames offer a sleek, highgloss design and easy connection to your home network with WPS security and Wi-Fi access at the touch of a button. Updating photos is simple and sharing them with friends and family is possible with FrameChannel.

Gift Guide

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Last-minute shopping tips

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Last-minute shopping tips
It’s hard to go too wrong with chocolate, and Recchiuti Confections offers chocolates with a heartfelt local twist, available at the Ferry Building or online.

Last-minute shopping tips

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Last-minute shopping tips
It’s hard to go too wrong with chocolate, and Recchiuti Confections offers chocolates with a heartfelt local twist, available at the Ferry Building or online.

Ho-ho-woof: Holiday gift suggestions for pets

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Ho-ho-woof: Holiday gift suggestions for pets
Your dog and cat may not know it’s the holidays, but admit it, most of those pet presents are really gifts for ourselves. Brighten the dark winter days by watching your furry family have fun, and solve some common pet problems with the following suggestions:.

GIFT GUIDE

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE
ForzaHome’s towels are made from 100 percent organic Turkish Bergama cotton from the Aegean Sea and are hand loomed in the 17th century tradition by master weavers in Bursa, Turkey. Offering a 1,200 thread count, the towels maintain their superior quality, softness and sizing through many washes.

GIFT GUIDE

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE
Hers: Clipa handbag hanger $24.95 A sleek, circular 3-inch handbag hanger attractive enough to wear as jewelry, the Clipa helps extend the life of your handbags by providing a way to keep them off the floor and away from germs, water, dirt and more. Perfect for settings where no hooks are available.

GIFT GUIDE

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

His, hers and ours

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

His, hers and ours
His: Gurkha Cigars From $12 to $750 Gurkha Cigars offers luxury stogies for every budget, from the $12 cognac infused Grand Reserve to the $750 His Majesty Reserve, the most expensive cigar in the world.

His, hers and ours

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Technology gifts dominate this year’s shopping lists

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Technology gifts dominate this year’s shopping lists
The holiday season is officially underway and consumers will be hitting the stores to shop for their loved ones. Hot on holiday wish lists this year. Technology.

When money is no object

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

When money is no object
$400-$500 For a giant-sized gift that won’t clutter up the recipient’s home, consider adopting a humpback or blue whale. Recipients get a color photograph and information about their selected whale, as well as a chance to name the whale.

GIFT GUIDE

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE
Yamaha AvantGrand Hybrid piano Starting at $15,000 Recreate the sound, resonance, touch and playing experience of a $125,000, 9-foot concert grand piano, in an instrument half the size and one-fifth the price.

Great gifts for the holiday season

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Great gifts for the holiday season
However, finding the right gift can be a daunting task when each person has a unique set of qualities and interests. Shorten your shopping time with this list of products sure to create smiles this holiday season. After all, it’s always easier when you get a helping hand — especially at this time of year.

It’s not just a gift ... it’s an adventure

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

It’s not just a gift ... it’s an adventure
From Scrooge’s ghost-guided time-traveling to a trip to the North Pole aboard an imaginary express train, the holidays and adventure go hand-inhand. And the gift of an adventure may be just the right fit for that hard-to-buy-for someone on your holiday list this year.

Wine is a gift of flavor, knowledge

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Wine is a gift of flavor, knowledge
Is there a person on your holiday gift list who has always wanted to become a little more cultured about wine? Perhaps he or she has attended several wine tasting events to sample different styles — just to pique his or her interest even more.

When money is no object

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Great gifts for the holiday season

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Great gifts for the holiday season
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and your shopping list is filled with loved ones awaiting the perfect gift.

It’s not just a gift ... it’s an adventure

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Wine is a gift of flavor, knowledge

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Technology gifts dominate this year’s shopping lists

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Gift Guide

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Gift Guide
Bella Ink’s personalized stationery will please the old-fashioned letter writer on your list, while fun notepads will help anyone keep track of their life and the shopping list.

Tough economy, creative ideas

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Tough economy, creative ideas
Steven Smith, founder of Stash and Tazo Tea, has launched a line of 12 small-batch, whole-leaf teas. Working with many of the same people who helped him launch Tazo in 1994, Smith handblends each batch from his studio in Portland using rare and high quality ingredients.

Gift Guide

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Gift Guide
Bella Ink’s personalized stationery will please the old-fashioned letter writer on your list, while fun notepads will help anyone keep track of their life and the shopping list.

Tough economy, creative ideas

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

GIFT GUIDE
For a gift of music, eMusic provides gift subscriptions starting as low as $29.99 and gift cards in denominations of $10, $15, $25 or $50. The online service offers better value than other providers, with music available for download for as little as 41 cents per track.

GIFT GUIDE

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Movies, T V, games! Oh, my!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Movies, T V, games! Oh, my!
This 70th anniversary, five-disc set with a digital copy of the iconic movie comes from Amazon.com in limited release, one-of-a-kind packaging on Blu-ray and DVD. The 16-hour collection has four new hours of material, including new documentaries and featurettes.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Nov. 27-Dec. 20, Cow Palace The fair revives the tradition of an old-English Victorian Christmas — with theaters, a music hall, dance parties, taverns, shops, stalls, food, street vendors and period costumes.

TRAVEL TIPS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Prohibited items — liquid, aerosol and gel items that should be put in a checked bag or shipped ahead — include cranberry sauce, cologne, creamy dips and spreads, gift baskets with food items, gravy, jams, lotions, oils and vinegars, perfume, sauces, snow globes, soup and alcohol.

2010 Sonata gives the most for money spent

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

2010 Sonata gives the most for money spent
By Warren Brown
It doesn’t surprise me that Hyundai’s August sales topped those of its rivals. Nor should it surprise anyone who has driven a Hyundai lately. Hyundai is the Wal-Mart of car companies. It has turned “value” into a word meaning substantially better than “cheap.

A’s split Rangers series, depart for final roadtrip

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A’s split Rangers series, depart for final roadtrip
Eric Patterson drove in three runs, Adam Kennedy doubled twice among his three hits and Rajai Davis had an RBI triple in a balanced offensive attack for Oakland, which sent the Rangers to just their second loss in their last seven road games..

College Football HOF moving to a new home

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

College Football HOF moving to a new home
By Paul Newberry
Hall of Fame officials held a news conference Thursday to formally announce the move to downtown Atlanta. A new building will be c o n s t r u c t e d alongside the park and is projected to open in the summer of 2012, within walking distance of popular tourist attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca- Cola.

O’Hair sitting on 1-shot lead

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

O’Hair sitting on 1-shot lead
“I believe in what he said, and I think it’s the key for me to kind of take my putting to another level,” O’Hair said. “Getting advice like that from good players is obviously awesome, but getting it from basically the greatest of all time is pretty cool.

McNabb likely out at least another game

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

McNabb likely out at least another game
Donovan McNabb is still not able to practice and it appears unlikely he will play this week. McNabb, who suffered a broken rib in a season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, is expected to miss his second straight game as the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) meet the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at Lincoln Financial Field.

Cal vying for Pac-10 supremacy

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Cal vying for Pac-10 supremacy
But the Bears won the last time they played there, in 2007, and coach Jeff Tedford has been preparing his team by playing loud crowd noises over the loudspeakers at practice. And the Bears won a tough road game in a hostile environment at Minnesota last Saturday with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Masoli feeling the heat

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Anne M. Peterson
He’s been there before. “I just block it out, man,” said Masoli, who had fans booing him last season as he orchestrated a game-winning drive against Stanford. “I get good advice from my elders and they just tell me to block it out, that’s all you can do.

Lack of aerial attack ultimately falls on Russell

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Lack of aerial attack ultimately falls on Russell
By Josh Dubow
“His numbers are not impressive,” said Tollner, the passing game coordinator. “We don’t like them, he doesn’t like them and we’ve got to do something about it. All we can try to do is clean up all the areas around that support him to be more productive and then he’s got to make the play at that point.

O-line still a work in progress

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

O-line still a work in progress
San Francisco ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing offense last season. The 49ers allowed a franchise-record 55 sacks each of the past two years and have had problems so far this season protecting quarterback Shaun Hill, who has been sacked four times in each of the team’s first two games.

ONE TO WATCH

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

ONE TO WATCH
Two of the nation’s top women’s college volleyball teams square off tonight when No. 10 Stanford travels across the Bay to take on No. 12 Cal at 7 p.m. in the Pac-10 opener for both schools. Stanford, led by two-time All- American Alix Klineman, and Cal both enter the match with 7-3 records.

NEWSMAKERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

NEWSMAKERS
The hockey legend abruptly resigned as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. Hours after Gretzky steped down Thursday amid the financial turmoil surrounding the team, the Coyotes replaced him with Dave Tippett, the former Dallas Stars coach.

QUICK TAKES

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

QUICK TAKES
Jessica Biel plans to scale Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in January for a clean-water organization..

Mackenzie’s stepmother: She’s lying

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Mackenzie’s stepmother: She’s lying
Phillips has followed up her shocking claim that she had an incestuous relationship with her father, John Phillips, with even more disturbing revelations. The former “One Day at a Time” star told Oprah Winfrey that she terminated a pregnancy because she wasn’t sure whether her husband or her own father was the father.

THE LIST

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

THE LIST
Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St., S.F., (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org.

Change resonates in music

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Change resonates in music
By Greg Archer
Raising the level of awareness about Iranian citizens, the country’s Persian roots and its fascinating music, some centuries-old, is one of the main things Shams Ensemble hopes to accomplish as it kicks off a three-city North American tour in The City on Sunday at Davies Symphony Hall.

Double your fun at Oroville’s two casinos

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Double your fun at Oroville’s two casinos
By Albert C. Pacciorini
Gold Country, on the road to the Oroville Dam visitor center, opened as a Bingo hall in a few trailers in 1996. It grew to occupy two sprung structures and expanded again five years ago, into a six-story hotel and casino.

MEET YOUR MIXOLOGIST

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

MEET YOUR MIXOLOGIST
In a saloon town such as San Francisco, the bartender plays a crucial role. Confessor, friend, sounding board — the man or woman behind the plank sees to it that our needs are met with elegance, grace and often wit. They see humanity at its best and most convivial, but also offer a nod and a welcome to the lonely.

Introduce yourself to a rare Loire red

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Introduce yourself to a rare Loire red
Grown in Touraine and Anjou, Pineau d’Aunis was very popular in the Middle Ages and apparently was a favorite among the nobility. To me it smells a lot like tequila (and that is a very good thing) and a humidor (appealing provided the cigars are never lit).

Limon bursts back onto scene

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Limon bursts back onto scene
finally reopened a month ago after a fire. In the year and a half it took to rebuild, Peruvian cooking jumped out of neighborhoods onto The Embarcadero, where La Mar Cebicheria burst onto the scene. Straight from Lima, it brought the high-style, cutting-edge excitement of big-city Latin American restaurants to The City.

HOT SPOTS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Actually, chicken turns out to be a star here. Juicy Vietnamese chicken salad ($6.95) — a slaw of finely shredded cabbage, cucumber, carrots and velvety chicken, topped with crunchy peanuts and rau ram, a dusky, cilantro-ish herb — is pure fun to eat. The clear chicken broth in pho ga ($6.

Movie directory

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

9:40. Special Engagement; Sat (11:25)-1:50- 4:15-9:40. Special Engagement; Sun (11:25)- 1:50-4:15-7:05-9:40. Special Engagement Love Happens (PG-13).

Pieces don’t quite fit in ‘Plain’

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Pieces don’t quite fit in ‘Plain’
By Anita Katz
“The Burning Plain,” brought to you by Trauma Central, is an ordinary melodrama — romance, disaster, guilt, redemption and insanely unlikely coincidences — that novice director and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga has fractured and reassembled into a wannabe jigsaw sizzler.

Reimagining of ‘Fame’ dazzles in a chaste way

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Reimagining of ‘Fame’ dazzles in a chaste way
By Christy Lemire
Yet dancer and choreographer Kevin Tancharoen, making his feature directing debut, doesn’t turn “Fame” into slick, overly edited eye candy. In a world where people aspire for instant recognition by making idiots of themselves on reality TV, there’s still something appealing about the idea of working hard for artistic glory.

OPENING

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

OPENING
Ecuadorian lawyer Pablo Fajardo, with the help of a large Manhattan law firm, takes on Chevron Oil on behalf of 30,000 indigenous rainforest dwellers in this investigative documentary about the $27 billion “Amazon Chernobyl” case. Not rated. At the Lumiere.

Tales of an unlikely American patriot

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Tales of an unlikely American patriot
By Sean McCourt
“I like having these tattoos underneath the suit, every now and again when I’m putting on the white, pressed button-down shirt to get ready for the talk show,” he says. “I see the tattoos in the mirror and it kind of helps me remember I’m not their [pawn], and that’s the same thing that stand-up does.

THE DAILY OUTRAGE

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

THE DAILY OUTRAGE
Apparent homicide.

JUST MY OPINION

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Newt Gingrich
A close ally of Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez sits barricaded in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, having been lawfully convicted of attempting a slow-motion coup in the country. Paid bands of his rent-a-thugs are terrorizing and looting the city.

Kristol was a giant who walked humbly among us

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Kristol was a giant who walked humbly among us
By Irwin M. Stelzer
To the world, Irving is best known as the godfather of neoconservatism, although the persuasive tools at his command were not those of Tony Soprano or Marlon Brando’s godfather figures, but only those contained in his numerous essays, talks, columns and what he called his “small magazines,” such as The Public Interest.

FROM READERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Even Wilson apologized for his lack of self-control, but Gregory Kane wrote that this disrespect to America’s president should be repeated. Can we expect to see other columns published by your newspaper to support graffiti, vandalism, rape and other wrongful acts? Your standards should not celebrate thuggish behavior.

Gadhafi endorses Obama and other U.N. lunacies

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Gadhafi endorses Obama and other U.N. lunacies
dictator Moammar Gadhafi may have rambled in near-incoherent fashion for more than 1½ hours when he spoke to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, but on one point he was crystal clear and also enthusiastically applauded: President Barack Obama is “our Obama.

MARKET WATCH

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

MARKET WATCH
Thursday’s retreat came a day after investors looked past a more upbeat assessment of the economy from the Federal Reserve and worried about what will happen once the government starts to wind down its economic stimulus efforts. Investors are also questioning how much higher the stock market can climb.

Home sales down in August

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Home sales down in August
Home resales dipped unexpectedly last month, falling 2.7 percent from a month earlier, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday, reversing steady monthly gains since April. Most economists, however, called the drop temporary and said they expected sales to strengthen later this fall.

MARKET MOVERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Red Hat Inc. $3.07 to $27.95 Shares of the low-cost Linux software distributor hit a 12-month high after a jump in subscription revenue boosted quarterly earnings..

Vaccine helps prevent HIV

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The vaccine — a combination of two previously unsuccessful vaccines — cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31 percent in the world’s largest AIDS vaccine trial of more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, researchers announced Thursday in Bangkok.

Treasure found in England

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Treasure found in England
By Raphael G. Satter
LONDON — An amateur treasure hunter prowling English farmland with a metal detector stumbled upon the largest Anglo-Saxon treasure ever discovered, a massive seventh-century hoard of gold and silver sword decorations, crosses and other items, British archaeologists said Thursday.

NEWSMAKERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

NEWSMAKERS
The Afghan election official warned that Afghanistan has a small window in October to hold any presidential runoff before winter snows arrive. Preliminary results show President Hamid Karzai winning with 54.6 percent.

Teen arrested in bomb plot

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A statement from the U.S. attorney’s office in Dallas said Hosam Maher Husein Smadi was arrested Thursday after placing what he thought was a bomb at the 60-story Fountain Place office tower. The decoy device was given to him by an undercover FBI agent..

Climate pitch may fall short

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Climate pitch may fall short
By Julie Mason
President Barack Obama, looking to burnish his credentials as a global environmental figure at a summit for world leaders in Pittsburgh, is looking to satisfy his international counterparts without intensifying domestic economic worries..

NEWSMAKERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

NEWSMAKERS
Gov. Deval Patrick named the former Democratic party chairman to the late Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat and said the rushed, temporary appointment was necessary because the issues before Congress were “too important to Massachusetts for us to be one voice short.

Group takes offensive to repeal state’s same-sex marriage ban

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Submitting wording to the California attorney general is the first step in qualifying a measure for an election. Once the language is approved, backers would have until mid-April to gather the 695,000 signatures needed to put the initiative on the November 2010 ballot.

L.A. water mains rupturing daily

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

L.A. water mains rupturing daily
By John Rogers
A recent break in Studio City sprouted a gusher the size of Old Faithful, unleashing water 2 to 3 feet in streets, closing businesses, flooding homes and garages, and carrying away patio furniture. One water break created a sinkhole so big it nearly swallowed a fire truck.

ROUNDUP

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rallies, teach-ins and class walkouts were held at all 10 UC campuses to protest deep budget cuts that have led to layoffs, furloughs, enrollment cuts, course reductions and higher fees. The largest rally took place at UC Berkeley. — AP.

NEWSMAKERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

NEWSMAKERS
The governor will head to a Marine Corps training base today to sign a bill honoring Vietnam veterans, after vetoing identical legislation two weeks ago in a political standoff with lawmakers. The legislation will establish March 30 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

THE BLOTTER

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The officers asked the passenger if he had marijuana. The passenger said yes and that he was on probation for narcotics violations. Officers confirmed his probation and search condition before scouring the vehicle and occupants..

UNDER THE DOME

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

UNDER THE DOME
Six undercover officers rode lines 14, 49 and 9x from 2:30 to 8 p.m. They cited eight people for boarding at the back of the bus, five for eating on the bus and four for fare evasion. In addition, two youths were cited for cigarettes, one for riding a skateboard on the sidewalk, one for littering at a bus stop and one for possessing alcohol.

One more for the road: Doyle ramps closing

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

One more for the road: Doyle ramps closing
By Will Reisman
Heavy construction on the Presidio Parkway project is scheduled to begin in November. The rebuild, which is expected to be finished by 2013, will completely replace Doyle Drive with a more seismically secure thoroughfare..

District deficit may choke negotiations

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Kamala Kelkar
More than 200 of The City’s public school principals, assistant principals and administrators are trying to get better benefits out of their current contract, despite a $61 million deficit the San Francisco Unified School District is facing during the next two years.

New law would limit housing demolitions

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

New law would limit housing demolitions
By John Upton
That project, which was approved earlier this year, was the only demolition project that would lead to an overall loss of housing units to have been approved since anti-demolition policies were formalized and adopted by The City in March 2008, Planning Department data shows.

ASK MAUREEN

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In this economic climate, the need to impress at a job interview has never been more important. The following are some pretty common blunders to avoid..

Illegal immigrant fights S.F. drug charge

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Illegal immigrant fights S.F. drug charge
By Brent Begin
Valle, who listened to the trial through an interpreter, claims he was the victim of human trafficking and was forced to sell drugs in order to pay a $500 debt to a smuggler. His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Hadi Razzaq told the jury on Thursday that the smuggler, also known as a “coyote,” put a knife to Valle’s throat, forcing him to sell drugs.

THE 3-MINUTE INTERVIEW

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

THE 3-MINUTE INTERVIEW
Michael Gaffney The founder of the nationally acclaimed School of Flower Design is launching a four-week program in San Francisco, kicking off Oct. 1. The school is located at 640 Brannan St. in the heart of the Flower Market..

2006 MURDER

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A San Francisco Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced a gang member to 28 years to life in prison for the 2006 stabbing murder of a Mission district man mistakenly believed to be a rival gang member..

Jump in jail population strains tight budget

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Jump in jail population strains tight budget
By Joshua Sabatini
The warning is the latest bad news for The City’s budget, which recently took an $8 million hit from state budget cuts. San Francisco’s budget is expected to undergo mid-year cuts as more budget hits are expected and as officials attempt to close next year’s projected budget shortfall of more than $300 million.

Nabbing burglars is no easy feat

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Nabbing burglars is no easy feat
By Tamara Barak Aparton
San Francisco police Sgt. Lyn Tomioka said the difficulty in catching the burglar often comes down to simple details — the crime is committed in the middle of the night and perpetrators can spot patrol cars before being spotted by officers..

Holiday happenings nixed by zoo

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Holiday happenings nixed by zoo
By Kamala Kelkar
The cutbacks come as the recession and the fatal Christmas Day tiger mauling of a zoo visitor in 2007 have pummeled the facility’s bottom line. Admission has dropped, visitor spending is down and donors have invested less in the 80-year-old organization.

CITY HEARTS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

CITY HEARTS
PUNK’S S.F. HISTORY Mikey O’Connor and Laura Ray look at photographs by Ruby Ray on Thursday in the exhibit, “Punk Passage: San Francisco First Wave Punk,” on display in the Jewett Gallery at the Main Library. The exhibit runs through Dec. 6..

NEWSMAKERS

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

NEWSMAKERS
HASSANI CAMPBELL Volunteers are organizing another search for the missing Fremont boy at Coyote Regional Park in Fremont starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The search was originally scheduled for last week, but it was canceled due to permit issues.

Bridge district gives drivers Golden fleecing

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Bridge district gives drivers Golden fleecing
The Examiner reported this week that the bridge district’s deficit has mushroomed despite the toll hike, which was supposed to raise $93 million, because of fewer drivers. And we can all relate to the reason individuals and businesses are hurting right now, but that’s not news for the bridge district.

The Lottery’s mistake is one woman’s gain

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Lottery’s mistake is one woman’s gain
It turns out that one of the lottery’s publicized winners, 61-year-old Josefina Sineriz, owes her $2.8 million payout to a mistake by game officials, who inadvertently transposed the names of contestants on forms, which resulted in almost 20 of them being assigned to different segments of the “Make Me a Millionaire” show.

Arduous regulations are bad for business

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The study, done by the Center for Small Business at Sacramento State University, found that California would receive $16 billion in business taxes without the regulations. And the report seems to jibe with other recent surveys, which found California among the least attractive locales for business in the country.

Second take on parks plan

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Second take on parks plan
There’s at least one good thing about our governor being a former film star: He apparently reads his reviews. And the news clippings for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to close 100 state parks as a way of saving California money were decidedly hostile.

Halls of art slated for transit terminal

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Halls of art slated for transit terminal
Plans are under way to demolish, rebuild and reopen the Transbay Transit Center at First and Mission streets by 2015, and officials recently approved incorporating $3.5 million worth of work by five artists into the $1.6 billion project. The money will pay for materials, labor, travel and other expenses.

GOOD WEEKEND!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

GOOD WEEKEND!
San Francisco City Guides, a 31-year-old nonprofit organization conducting free walking tours spotlighting San Francisco history, architecture, legends and lore, is a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Tours are offered seven days a week year round.