Muslim group calls for interfaith vigils in wake of San Bernardino shootings // KQED News
"Condemnations and prayer vigils have become an almost immediate response by Muslim leaders in the wake of attacks perpetrated in the name of Islam. And the San Bernardino shootings were no exception."
"But some Muslims — particularly in Northern California — have been rethinking this strategy, said Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Bay Area office of CAIR."
"Instead, CAIR is encouraging community members to join interfaith vigils. The organization has staked out the position that its community members experience terrorist attacks — regardless of whether they’re perpetrated in the name of Islam — as Americans, not as Muslims."
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The tide is turning to allow women into coveted surfing competition // Take Part
"Two dozen top surfers will get two days’ notice to travel from around the world to compete in the Titans of Mavericks, regarded as one of the most challenging and dangerous big wave surfing events. This season, like every past one, all the competitors will be men. But that could soon change."
"The California Coastal Commission, responsible for issuing the permit to hold this season’s competition, has done so under one condition: that the event organizers, Cartel Management, return next year with a plan to include women."
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Bay Area firms make big bets on virtual reality // SF Chronicle
"The virtual reality industry may not be profitable right now, but once it takes off, the numbers look staggering."
"Menlo Park consulting firm Digi-Capital predicted that the market in virtual reality — technology that immerses people in a virtual world — should be worth about $30 billion by 2020. The market should take off in the next 12 to 18 months, said Digi-Capital Managing Director Tim Merel."
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Plans Unveiled for for 384 New Apartments at 14th and Alice Streets in Oakland // East Bay Express
"Developers unveiled plans last night to build two big apartment buildings along 14th Street in downtown Oakland. The buildings would add 384 new apartments at the intersection of 14th and Alice streets. Both projects would replace existing surface parking lots with housing, restaurants, and shops."
"The neighborhood’s residents met the plans with a mixture of support and concern. Many residents commented on the absence of any affordable housing in both projects. Some residents are also worried about the possible impact of simultaneous construction of two very large buildings on their businesses."
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Safeway hit with near $42 million judgment for website sales // SF Gate
"A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered Safeway to pay nearly $42 million to customers nationwide who bought groceries from the market chain’s website and were unaware that they were being charged 10 percent above store prices."
"U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar granted $30.9 million in damages and $10.9 million in interest Monday to online shoppers who had registered with Safeway.com between 2006, when the website opened, and November 2011, when the company reworded its policy to declare that online prices “may differ from your local store.”"
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San Francisco residents think they're the sexiest singles in the U.S. // Mashable
"According to a survey of 80,000 users on dating site EliteSingles, San Francisco singles rated themselves higher on a scale of attractiveness than did users in other cities in the U.S."