Hey gay couples! You're in terrible danger. Fortunately, we can help. Well, not we exactly -- SFist_Matt, to be specific, has taken a break from writing stern emails to Muni, and is now working on a really neat online video project to protect marriage equality. Check out Stop8.org -- Matt's working on a series of 30-second documentary videos, explaining who California's gay spouses are, why the freedom to marry is so important to us......

Pesky environmentalists gave the thumbs up to the Pacheco Pass route for the high-speed train that will whisk Californians from the Bay Area to Los Angeles in, like, five minutes. Or something like that. Wonderful news. An according to the California High Speed Rail Authority's recently released press release: The Authority concluded that the Pacheco Pass alignment was the fastest and most environmentally responsible option for the high-speed train system, minimizing impacts on wetlands......

No. 25 is alive. Again. [WhatImSeeing]"OMGROFL" [Jameth]Breaking news: Danielle Steel's "glazed" Stinson Beach home for sale. [Curbed]Anti-gay marriage measure qualifies for November ballot. How creepy. [Sacbee]Perfect for all you purgers out there: French fry coated bacon on a stick. [CHOW, via Last Appetite] Photo by WhatImSeeing......

While his Holiness is more or less meh when it comes to non-consensual sex between a man and a boy, same-sex marriage just ain't cool in his book. So stop, says Pope Benedict. While not directly referencing yesterday's California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, the Pope spoke to family values groups in Europe (white trash chic!) yesterday, saying: The union of love, based on matrimony between a man and a woman, which makes......

Heads have been exploding throughout California ever since this morning's delightful news about same-sex marriage was announced. City Attorney Dennis Herrera, in particular, is beaming--at least according to a press released sent out an hour after the ruling was announced. "I am profoundly grateful, not only for a decision that will end marriage discrimination for gay and lesbian partners in California, but for the Court's eloquence in stating its conclusion," said Herrera. "Our democratic......

According to ABC 7--who just mercifully brought The View to a screeching halt to inform viewers--the California State Supreme Court struck down the gay marriage ban. So: same-sex marriage is now legal, at least according to the California Supreme Court. ...

We're getting word that something chaotic is going down right now at Presidio & California. If you know anything, let us know in the comments. Oh yeah, and steer clear from Presidio & California for right now. If you can. 6:30 p.m.: Tons of fire engines all over the scene -- can't get any closer. Roads blocked by firemen. Presidio and Washington seems to be center of activity. Strong gas smell, but can't confirm that's......

This morning we ran north on Arguello to the Presidio. When we reached California Street, it struck us that there were no pedestrian signals at that intersection, which is rife with pedestrians, on a crowded bus line, and right near a couple of schools and a huge synagogue. Thinking back, most of the intersections to Arguello don't have pedestrian flashers, with the exceptions of Fulton, Geary, and Clement. Every other intersection - including some......

Yesterday we mentioned the delightful work trip/vacation San Francisco supervisor Bevan Dufty and city treasurer Jose Cisneros took to Australia for Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras. Trannyshack founder Heklina was there, too. And many readers fretted about whether or not city tax dollars went to pay for this trip down under -- an excursion, it should be mentioned, that will reportedly bring in much-needed tourist dollars to SF. Anyway, according to Dufty's office: No San......

The Library Tower (AKA the U.S. Bank Tower) in Los Angeles could soon be the second tallest building west of the Mississippi thanks to San Francisco's proposed Transbay Terminal. While the Library Tower, located in downtown Los Angeles, stands at an alluring 1,018-feet tall, the Transbay Terminal is primed to win the measuring contest at 1,200-feet. You know, we're just saying. Not to brag or anything. Anyway, our tallest skyscrapers so far are as......

Although last week's test on the American tap water by chemists claims to have detected the sex hormone estradiol -- found such vertebrate animals as birds, reptiles, and fish -- a more recent test conducted by the American Waterworks Association Research Foundation, says that San Francisco's "best tasting" H20 has come up sparkling clean. The Gate reports that our tap water, which is really quite tasty compared to, say, the waters of Southern California......

It looks like Mayor Gavin Newsom will take a stab at running for Governor of California in 2010. In addition to the gaggle of Democratic hopefuls looking to succeed Gov. Schwarzenegger after his reign comes to an end -- which include former governor Jerry Brown, former state controller Steve Westley, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, just to name a few -- San Francisco's very own mayor wants the title as well. And seeing......

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: Separate Is Not Equal by Gavin Newsom......

We just received word, via a former student who has asked to remain anonymous, that New College of California has allegedly lost its accreditation. It should be noted that we have yet to confirm the validity of this letter from either WASC and New College But the full letter that was sent to SFist can be found after the jump. Does the school have a plan if they lose accreditation? Yes, and it's a......

You think Muni is bad? [Nature abhors a vacuum]Hawthorne Street in shambles. [Curbed]Our college dormroom soundtrack, Kate Bush's "The Kick Inside," turns 30. [SFBG]Elizabeth Falkner's "edgy California cuisine" project, Orson, opens tonight. See you there! [Eater]Wharf diner runs out on bill, shoots at waiters chasing after him. [SFGate]......

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. That's when this article on bars working around the......

Tinkering with and/or eliminating rent control in California...

State Senator Leland Yee introduced a bill in the State Legislature this morning that, if passed, would see traffic fines double for violations occurring along the deadly strip of San Francisco road known as 19th Avenue. (Shudder.) Over the past few years, 19th Avenue -- which connects San Mateo County with San Francisco and pierces commercial and residential sections of the city rife with foot traffic -- has played host to numerous traffic accidents......

Oh dear. This Xanadu medley was conceived, produced, and seamlessly executed by the students of Lafayette Jefferson High School, a learning institution that's somewhere not in California. Anyway, be sure to check out the finale, which culminates in a smoke machine spectacular! (Source: auschglitz)......

Somehow this news story managed to slip past our radar last week, but the Gate published a story on how our wonderful state of California will be spraying the Bay Area with pesticides this summer. In an effort to eliminate the light brown apple moth (aww. Aren't they so cute?), an insect potentially disastrous for farming in California, the state agricultural department will be spraying an insecticide known as Checkmate over urban areas, according to......

Image: Adobe Tour Tracker Pro cyclist and former San Francisco resident David Zabriskie (shown above leading the chase in today's stage of the Tour of California) has announced Yield to Life, a non-profit dedicated to making roads safer for cyclists. This is good news for San Francisco: the most recent issue of the SF Bike Coalition's newsletter, the Tube Times, revealed to us that Bay Area cyclists feel that roads should be safer! The......

Silicon Valley whores less than pleased with Viagra. [Valleywag]That Nina "Bad Wife" Reiser trial is still going on, and getting interesting. [SF Gate]The rules of PDA during dinnertime. [CHOW]California, it seems, is the 8th worst place to be black. Huh. [The Snitch]Sarah Hromack breaks down SFBG's article on living the homeless life. Heh. [Curbed]MC Hammer dines at Aqua, announces "it's Hammer time" as he sits down to eat. Awesome. [Tablehopper]Don't forget about tomorrow's Valentine's......

Arf. SF's coyote population has doubled over the past year. [Examiner]With their garish tents removed, Americano declares wintertime over. [Eater]And the best Bay Area whore is...a redhead. [Gridskipper]RIP, Bush. [Nature abhors a vacuum]Three arrests in Berkeley protest. [SFGate]How you can help save California state parks. [71Miles] Image credit: K. Fletcher......

Police believe that a Santa Rosa man, who recently stabbed himself with a homemade spear just seconds before the fuzz burst through his front door early Sunday morning, is possibly connected to last Thursday's carjacking and rape incident involving a 29-year-old mother. According to the Gate, "Aristotle Quadra, 30, faces charges of carjacking, kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted murder. He is being held at a Santa Rosa hospital while being treated for self-inflicted stab......

Bay Area locals prove that some birds can chirp with their tails....

Those goddamn, dirty, lovable hippies known as the Grateful Dead -- i.e., Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Phil Lesh -- reunite tonight in honor of (our future president) Barack Obama. Looking to snare to what Joe Garofoli refers to as, "California's gray-haired ponytail vote," the Dead is backing Obama. Minus, Jerry Garcia, of course, since he is now most literally a dead head. Billed as a one-time-only event, although they got back together briefly......

SFist worried over drugstore chain Walgreens celebration of Black History Month.Gothamist was surprised that apparently New York City is the fourth most miserable city in the country, after Detroit, Stockton, CA, and Flint, MI.Shanghaiist finds out what the Chinese think of Hilary and Obama.It was with a healthy amount of schadenfreude that Phillyist reported that former Eagle, and now Cowboy (ew), Terrell Owens owes the Eagles a significant wad of cash.Torontoist is two weeks......

Congratulations to all the participants at this year's San Francisco Half Marathon & 5K...

As if the DMV weren't annoying in and of itself, now you can add sexual molestation to the list of ways that the Department of Motor Vehicles makes your life miserable. (...and what's up with airline food, huh, folks?) Four women claiming that they were touched inappropriately by former DMV instructor Calvin Hoang Cat will split $450,000 in a lawsuit settlement with the state of California. According to CBS 5: They say Cat would......

It's almost time for Super Duper Awesome Zowie Crazy Blowout Insane-O Nuts Extrav-o-Rama Tuesday primary day for California! Feb. 5! So are you going Barack or Hillary? Walnuts or Mittens? Go ahead and vote for Dennis Kucinich anyways, or go back to Nader? And what about Ron Paul? In all the presidential primary madness, though, don't forget the other sections of the ballot, where the state and local propositions are going to get decided.......