Brightest ideas of the week: Nov. 2, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO — 1. Fewer hookahs

Ban on new head shops introduced

Details: Yes, Haight Street is known for being the Mecca of drugged-out counterculture types, and the large number of retail outlets in which marijuana paraphernalia is available helps it live up to that title. However, a ban on new head shops introduced at the Board of Supervisors this week by Ross Mirkarimi arrives at the right time. The could help bring other types of retailers to the area, offering people who aren’t comparison-shopping for vaporizer choices of their own.

2. Newman benefit

Actor keeps on giving after death

Details: Stars turned out for an annual benefit for the Painted Turtle kids camp in San Francisco this week, even though the spearhead of the project wasn’t around. For years, Paul Newman spent much of his free time working to improve the lives of less fortunate people, and his dedication to camps for special-needs kids led to the annual fundraiser. After his death Sept. 26, his Hollywood pals stuck to their word and came to The City to keep the tradition going, helping to raise $1 million.

3. Singletary’s statement

Interim coach lays down the law

Details: Niners interim coach Mike Singletary wasted no time as the Hall of Fame linebacker known for his intensity ripped into tight end Vernon Davis during the team’s embarrassing loss to the Seattle Seahawks in his head-coaching debut and sent the underachieving former first-round pick to the showers early. That wasn’t Singletary’s only bright move — he yanked quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan late in the first half in favor of the steady backup Shaun Hill, who was quickly anointed the starter for the near-future.

4. Get the lead out, zeppelin

Airship offers local tours

Details: Zeppelins nearly went the way of the Dodo bird after the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. But now a California startup company is bringing the silent airborne behemoth back to American skies. Airship Ventures’ Zeppelin NT is now offering rides from Moffett Field in Mountain View that provide a bird’s-eye view of wine country, the Big Sur coastline, San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area. The ride is pricey, though, with tickets starting at $495 per person for an hour.

5. Spreading Goodwill

Nonprofit’s ad makes point

Details: After all the hubbub about the GOP’s purchase of $150,000 in clothing for vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, it seemed nothing more original could be said about it. Then, Goodwill took out ads across the nation thanking Palin for her future clothing donation and telling Barack Obama it would be happy to have his $1,500 suits as well. It’s rare for a nonprofit to be able to step into a politicized arena without looking to take sides, but this struck just the right chord and brought home the point: No matter our differences, we should always remember to help others.

6. Your ticking heart

Falling back may be good for hearts

Details: Swedish researchers looked at 20 years of records and discovered the number of heart attacks dipped on the Monday after clocks were set back, possibly because people got an extra hour of sleep. Moving clocks forward in the spring appeared to have the opposite effect. There were more heart attacks during the week after the start of
daylight-saving time, particularly on the first three days of the week. Perhaps this is a good argument for the mid-day nap.

7. Fire fine

Campers hit with $850,000 bill

Details: State law requires Cal Fire to charge the person or persons responsible for a fire for the costs of extinguishing it — in the case of the recent fire that blazed through Angel Island, the better part of a million dollars. Fire officials have determined the fire was human-caused, and are now investigating whether that person caused the fire intentionally or accidentally. While we understand $850K is a lot of money, it wouldn’t be fair if taxpayers had to take on the costs of someone else’s carelessness.

8. Identifying the problem

ID cards may see tight restrictions

Details: In response to concerns that The City’s new municipal identification cards for illegal immigrants could be fraudulently used, requirements for obtaining one may be tightened. The changes were introduced Tuesday by Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who initially proposed the card. The move is prudent; if San Francisco is going to provide the cards, it should make sure that they’re not taken advantage of.

9. An ounce of prevention

Vatican issues priest guidelines

Details: The Vatican issued new screening guidelines for seminarians Thursday — the latest effort by the Roman Catholic Church to be more selective about its priesthood candidates following a series of sex-abuse scandals. The church said it issued the new guidelines to weed out candidates with “psychopathic disturbances.” Critics say the real problem is that the Catholic Church doesn’t do enough once it learns of the abuse.

10. Nellie’s nurturing

Warriors coach re-signs

Details: With Baron Davis’ departure and Monta Ellis’ career-threatening ankle injury looming over them, the Warriors’ season opener didn’t seem to bring much reason to celebrate. But before their first game of the season Wednesday night, Golden State announced coach Don Nelson had signed a two-year contract extension — if the fun-loving Nellie can stay away from his Hawaiian playground for that long. Even if the Warriors aren’t good at least they’ll still be playing the fun
Nellieball style that has made the Warriors the NBA’s most exciting team the last two years.

Bright bulb of the week