Topic: San Francisco Chronicle

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Mitt Romney's top 5 attacks on President Obama

Mitt Romney has yet to nail down the Republican presidential nomination, but he’s already attacking President Obama. Here's a look at five of Mr. Romney’s charges – and whether they’re true.
Gallery: Top 10 cities where home prices have improved most (or fallen least) in the past year

All Content

A Sense of Direction

This first-rate travel book is – like all the best travel books – most fascinating when it has the author at its center.
Farther Away

The notably unsentimental Jonathan Franzen offers a clear-eyed defense of sentiment in this essay collection.
Change Agent
Actor-activist Sean Penn says he's in Haiti for the long haul

Sean Penn's role in Haiti has evolved from heading a band of volunteers and serving as unofficial mayor of a homeless camp to becoming ambassador-at-large for President Michel Martelly, the first non-Haitian to receive the designation.
Gunman arrested in fatal shooting at Christian college in Oakland

Police report five fatalities after a student opened fire Monday morning at Oikos University in Oakland, Calif. A male suspect has been arrested. Witnesses say the shooter was a student.
Mitt Romney's top 5 attacks on President Obama

Mitt Romney has yet to nail down the Republican presidential nomination, but he’s already attacking President Obama. Here's a look at five of Mr. Romney’s charges – and whether they’re true.
Obama: No 'silver bullet' for gas price pain. GOP says drill more.

Staking his ground, and perhaps his reelection, on a 'green' ideology, President Obama said in his weekly Saturday address that high gas prices confirm the need for an “all-of-the-above” energy policy. Republicans push more domestic oil production.
Did $98.5 billion high-speed rail project just hit a wall in California?

An independent review panel says the plan for a high-speed rail corridor linking northern and southern California poses 'an immense financial risk' to the state and should not move forward.
Why would anyone steal Banana Sam, beloved San Francisco monkey?

A 17-year-old squirrel monkey named Banana Sam was stolen Friday morning from the San Fransciso Zoo. In the past, zoo thieves have tried to sell stolen zoo animals and even used them to impress girlfriends.
Chapter & Verse
'Moneyball': The movie may be great – but does it do justice to the book?

Like 'The Blind Side' – another Michael Lewis book turned into a movie – 'Moneyball' is complex. Did Hollywood capture it?
Wal-Mart aims for change with multibillion-dollar initiative to help women

Wal-Mart announced Wednesday that it will spend $20 billion on goods and services from US businesses owned by women. Other expenditures and projects are in the works as well.
As Anonymous threatens BART, stakes rise in feud over cell service cutoff

Hackivist group Anonymous targets BART website, as retaliation for the Bay Area transit agency's cutoff of cellphone service to some passengers on Aug. 11. BART acted to stymie a protest at a subway station, which was being organized via social media.
Could California lead nation in teaching of gay history in schools?

By a 49-to-25 vote, the California Assembly approved a law requiring schools to include the contributions of gay Americans in their curriculum. Gov. Jerry Brown has not said whether he would sign the bill.
Something for Nothing

A poignantly dark comedy follows a 1970s Californian businessman who takes wing as a fledgling smuggler.
Jerry Brown's State of the State: Whom does he need to impress most?

In his State of the State address Monday, Jerry Brown needs to persuade undecided Californians and at least five Republican legislators that his tax-and-cut budget plan is the right one.
Tiger Woods soap opera tops AP sports story list. Does he deserve it?

Tiger Woods had one of his worst year's on the golf course, but was Tiger Woods plight (including his divorce) deserving of the title 'Sports Story of the Year'?
Horizons
Tesla Motors revs forward with $30 million from Panasonic

Tesla Motors, which recently opened a new factory in the California town of Fremont, has received $30 million in investment capital from Panasonic. In exchange, Panasonic gets a two percent investment stake in Tesla Motors.
Bacon attack on an American mosque: prank or hate crime?

Strips of bacon spelling 'PIG' and 'CHUMP' were found in front of a South Carolina mosque Sunday. In post-9/11 America, pork – which is unclean in Islam – is a primary form of anti-Muslim protest.
Will Donald Trump try to say 'You're fired!' to President Obama?

In the wake of a favorable New Hampshire presidential poll, Donald Trump is the latest celebrity mulling a presidential candidacy in 2012. Trump announced Tuesday he was 'seriously' considering a run for the White House.
Marijuana legalization: Prop 19 in California starved for cash

Proposition 19, the California ballot measure to legalize marijuana possession and cultivation for adults has raised $2.1 million. Most of the money is from one donor: Richard Lee, a medical marijuana entrepreneur.
Horizons
Dove World, Terry Jones site pulled down by Web hosting company

The homepage of the Dove World Outreach Center, home to the Rev. Terry Jones, was taken offline today. Web-hosting company Rackspace says Jones and Dove World violated its acceptable use policy.
University of California considers online bachelor's degree

The University of California hopes to become the country's first top-tier research institution to offer a bachelor’s degree over the Internet that is comparable in quality to its campus program.
Gay pride parades held across the country.

Gay pride parades brought thousands to the streets of New York and San Francisco on Sunday.
Elena Kagan: Would she turn Supreme Court into We the People?

Elena Kagan, if confirmed as the next Supreme Court justice, would shift the balance dramatically – with three women and a Jewish-Catholic bloc. So would the high court look like We the People?
Jerry Brown stresses his frugality (but doesn't mention his $1.8 million house)

Jerry Brown is all about frugality on the California campaign trail except when it comes to his rarely mentioned custom-designed, $1.8 million house in one of the San Francisco Bay area's most prestigious neighborhoods
Horizons
White iPhone 4 preorder is 'unavailable.' But why?

Apple won't allow white iPhone 4 preorder sales. Its only explanation: the company is working 'as quickly as we can.'