Drug store closures leave long stretch of Northern California coast in 'pharmacy desert' https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/mendocino-county-pharmacy-desert-gualala-21959733.php #sfgate #news
French Laundry chef again scolds Bay Area town over affordable housing project https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/thomas-keller-yountville-housing-21957945.php #sfgate #news

Screw #TurboTax, you need to hire a real human accountant. #SFGATE columnist Drew Magary explains why you should absolutely not do your own taxes.

#tax #HRBlock #DrewMagary
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/turbotax-human-accountant-21324583.php

Thanks to Batman Of San José, we got news coverage from #WashingtonPost and #SFGate on our demands to Santa Clara City Council to adopt a #sanctuary policy to combat #ICE on our streets. Let's use this momentum to turn more people out 7PM 2/3/2026 to ensure they pass the policy!
#Bat-man #Batman #SanJose #BatmanOfSanJose #SantaClara #California #ResistTrump #AbolishICE #GeneralStrike #USPol #minneapolis #minnesota #GeneralStrike #DualPower #CommunityCare #Pretti #Good #NFL #SuperBowl
9 San Francisco stores are 'fronts' for illegal activity, city attorney says https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sf-stores-fronts-21327370.php #sfgate #news

#Earthquakes

Here's an article from the #SFGate regarding #EarthquakeMyths. I agree with all of them except for #DropCoverHoldOn . . . which is oversimplified.

If you know anything about guns, there is the concept of #concealment vs #cover. Concealment means you can't be seen by a possible attacker. Cover means that you are protected behind something that will stop a bullet.

In an earthquake, taking "cover" under a table or another "solid object" may or may not protect you from the roof falling down upon you.

If it's the best thing you can do, so be it but, in order to be fully protected, you need to get under something that withstand a complete collapse of the building you're in &, no matter what happens, DO NOT run outside where there is no protection whatsoever, especially if you are in a dense skyscraper dominated environment like downtown #SF . . .

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-earthquake-myths-21299654.php

California is officially free of drought conditions for the first time in 25 years https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-free-drought-conditions-21284480.php #sfgate #news
ChatGPT Health lets you connect medical records to an AI that makes things up

New feature will allow users to link medical and wellness records to AI chatbot.

Ars Technica

Here are two articles on #reading that deserve to be re-tooted not just boosted:

https://sharonecathcart.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/from-rif-to-ridicule-what-happened-to-celebrating-reading/

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/reading-crisis-solution-literature-personal-passion/685461/?gift=OiB0nX6YsGpAXB68m8k5JgGfGrAiQ-68rqx3FhAycKA

Personally, I read a lot, just not #books.

I'm on the Net everyday reading articles like these (and others), as well as news published by the #NYT, the #SFChronical & #SFGate, as well as those published by other smaller independent news agencies in SF, like #MissionLocal, #SFist and #The Voice but, while I still buy them, I seldom take the time to read books lately.

Why? I'm not sure but spending time on the Net has a lot to do with it because when I read a book, it's usually while listing to #music out of my #vinyl or #CD collection, which I also haven't been doing much lately.

So, I think it's time to start listening to music & reading books again.

From RIF to Ridicule: What Happened to Celebrating Reading?

When I was a kid, there was a program called RIF—Reading Is FUNdamental. And yes, they emphasized the “fun” just like that. There were posters in the library and little paper bookmarks. The message…

Sharon E. Cathcart