SAN FRANCISCO: Ruth Brinker, Founder Of Project Open Hand Dies At Age 89

Ruth Brinker, who founded San Francisco's Project Open Hand, has died at the age of 89. Project Open Hand was the world's first charity to provide meals to people with AIDS.

In 1985, having retired from a career in food services, Ruth heard about a neighbor who died of AIDS. She was shocked to discover that malnutrition was as much the cause of her neighbor’s death as the illness itself. She realized that many others living with AIDS were in the same situation and she knew she could do something. Ruth began preparing meals in her kitchen and delivering them to seven people. That number quickly grew and volunteers came to help her cook and deliver hot, nourishing meals all over San Francisco to people living alone and struggling with a devastating illness. “I didn’t think I was doing anything special,” Ruth said. “I did what anyone would have done under those circumstances.” With this simple act of kindness, repeated day after day with compassion and care, Project Open Hand was born.

Remember The Party 2011

The patrons and performers of San Francisco's legendary Trocadero Transfer will once again gather for Remember The Party on Sunday, October 9th. This year's event is a tribute to Sylvester!

Prepare to be cookin' on your feet in the Disco Heat as DJ JERRY BONHAM serves you a heaping helping of Disco deliciousness from all over the world, featuring a GRANDE SALUTE to the sweetest and hottest music that San Francisco ever served up! There's more in the mix to this Disco Dish. Think, a pinch of Patrick Cowley, a Dash of Sarah, a whiff of BearEssense, a chunk of Paul Parker, a little Boystown Gang on the side, a hint of Johnny Mathis, Loverde, Pointer Sisters, Patti Austin and more. It's all in the Technique and the whole thing's gonna be Two Tons O' Fun!

I plan on being there. And maybe this year on Monday I'll actually remember the party.

RELATED: TVOne's excellent biography on Sylvester has been posted to YouTube in its entirety. Watch it while you can.

Circumcision Ban Cut From SF Ballot

Saying it is unconstitutional, yesterday a California judge struck a proposed ban on circumcision from the upcoming San Francisco ballot.

The ruling by Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi confirmed a tentative decision she issued a day earlier and came after she heard arguments from proponents of the ban, which would have made San Francisco the first U.S. city to hold a public vote on whether to outlaw the circumcision of minors. Michael Kinane, an attorney for the proponents, told Giorgi that circumcision was not usually performed as a medical procedure. He also said the ballot measure included an exception in cases where circumcision was needed for health reasons. "If you bring in your son and say my custom, my religion requires circumcision of this little boy, the state hasn't said anything on the issue, so there is not a matter of pre-emption," Kinane argued.

Already controversial, the proposed ban garnered additional furor last month when its primary backer published a comic book that many found to be anti-Semitic.