“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If there’s any truth to George Santayana’s words, the future of the U.S. is remarkably bleak.  According to a new study commissioned by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, young adults in the U.S. are woefully ignorant

It’s the 161-year anniversary of Emperor Norton declaring himself “Emperor of these United States” in the pages of the 1859 San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin. While this bizarre move catapulted Emperor Joshua Norton I to status as a beloved local cult figure for centuries, our frequent celebrations and homages to

I am extremely excited to announce the release of The Delicious Card! Delicious cardholders get awesome deals at over 30 of your favorite SF eateries! Membership is a great way to explore new places, support local businesses, and support local journalism.

All That Glitters is an homage to the dreamers and schemers that make the Bay Area unique. San Francisco artist Kaytea Petro uses a homemade hibiscus ink to illustrate historic photos, lovingly depicting a bygone era. More of her work can be seen at kayteapetro.com or on her Instagram. All

by Xan Holbrook As much as the world loves to pretend it doesn’t give a shit about the US election, it is the one event in world politics which draws the most deserved attention (I say deserved, as people ought to fret at least a little bit about whatever Caligula

by Xan Holbrook It’s approaching cliche among historians and history buffs to say that Afghanistan is unconquerable. However, its reputation as the toughest nut to crack in geo-politics – from the Parthian Empire until now – is not meritless. For most Americans, Afghanistan first permeated the national psyche during the

by Xan Holbrook During the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, I happened to be at my mother’s house. We watched a news report that detailed the extent of Jackson’s pharmaceutical drug addiction. My mother, a proud NHS nurse of 40 years, shook her head in incredulity at the drugs Jackson’s

by Xan Holbrook In the words of Vito Corleone, Drugs are a dirty business. Who can disagree, even when spoken by a pretentious hood? What isn’t so well appreciated is the way in which drugs and political power are so closely interlinked. The often-parroted Marxist misquote about faith is a

by Xan Holbrook I see you there. You’re twirling your Hercule Poirot ‘stache, adjusting your pince-nez specs and drinking espresso from a cup so small you hold it with tweezers. Sitting there, in your Fort Greene café, keeping an eye on the Penny-Farthing you rode here on. Watching the world