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Earlier this month, a group called  Communities for a Better Environment filed suit against Chevron's attempt to upgrade its Richmond Refinery because they claim the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was not well done, but judging by the comments of readers of SFGate, the SF Chronicle website, the timing of the lawsuit could not have been worse.   The problem: high gas prices.  The problem's turned what would normally be knee-jerk opponents into reasoned observers.   Take a look: norcalguy101 9/4/2008 10:02:56 PM Idiots. Recommend:     ( 13 ) ( 13 ) [Report Abuse] moose_activist 9/4/2008 10:06:16 PM What morons! We need to give Chevron a free pass to upgrade to lower gas a little more. We need to ship these enviornuts to China now! Recommend:     ( 23 ) ( 8 ) [Report Abuse] This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by an SFGate editor. annoying_gnat 9/4/2008 10:29:11 PM from the looks of the comments from the Humbolt area they could use some refinement. H

Look, this matter of a civil grand jury asking for travel expense data of Oakland elected officials is more -- one more -- element of gossip mongering that does not solve any problem. Why? Well, what's the benchmark of spending per person?  Hmmm?  How much is too much?  The grand jury does not  know.  But they will say "We know"  If so, show us the measures.  Otherwise this is a waste of time and money.

Terrible street design. , originally uploaded by sirgious . For all of the picts of the Cathedral of Christ exterior, here's one you're not going to see much of -- how it adresses the street. Yikes.  .

The skit accurately roasts McCain's willingness to sacrifice any shred of decency to win an election with his ridiculously specious attack ads.It evens throws in this likely McCain ad: "Barack Obama fathered TWO black children IN WEDLOCK." read more | digg story

Nicole Kidman trounces the competition in Forbes second annual ranking. read more | digg story

The Federal Reserve says it has granted a request by the country's last two major investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley—to change their status to bank holding companies. The change in status will allow them to create commercial banks that will be able to take deposits, bolstering the resources of both institutions. read more | digg story

John McCain’s campaign manager played a role in helping the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac beat back regulatory challenges when he served as president of their advocacy group. read more | digg story

A fire that broke out late Saturday inside a nightclub near the Hong Kong border caused a stampede of panicked partygoers trying to escape killing at least 43 people, and leaving more than 88 injured. What caused the inferno is said to be fireworks which were a part of a show featured inside the nightclub. read more | digg story

US taxpayers may be on the hook for one of the biggest frauds in US history. Taxpayers are mad as hell about the US government's decision to bail out Wall St with $700 Billion US dollars leaving the taxpayer on the hook. Reminds me of the movie Network 1976 with everyone screaming "I'm Mad As Hell And I'm Not Going to Take This Anymore". read more | digg story

Economist, not exactly a bastion of liberalism, finally says it like it is: McCain team's lies have taken the campaign to new lows. Choosing Palin is a cynical move that has "placed abortion, the most divisive cultural issue in America, at the centre of his campaign", and a demonstrable novice a "72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency". read more | digg story

I met Oakland City Council At Large candidate Kerry Hamill for a long -- in Internet terms -- talk about why she's running for the seat and her plans should she win the election.  As Kerry and I both worked for Elihu Harris, we had a lot to talk about.

This i s from Sfgate : A man was shot and killed and his girlfriend was wounded in a shooting in Oakland, police said. Marco Casillas, 19, and his girlfriend, a 19-year-old woman whose name wasn't released, were found suffering from numerous gunshot wounds on the 4000 block of Santa Rita Street at about 10:45 p.m. Friday, said Officer Jeff Thomason, Oakland police spokesman. Both were taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland, where Casillas was pronounced dead. His girlfriend was reported to be in critical but stable condition, authorities said. A motive for the shooting was unknown, and no arrests have been reported in the slaying, Oakland's 103rd homicide this year. Meanwhile, a suspect has been arrested in the slaying of the city's 102nd homicide. Curtis Norris, 19, is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in the shooting death of Edward Dismuke, 38, authorities said. Dismuke was riding a bicycle at about 9:50 p.m. Tuesday when he was shot near 38t