Dog Bites

Oh, Come All Ye Hypocritical
The San Francisco Examiner had its staff Christmas party at the mansion on Treasure Island last Saturday night. Yes, that's the same Treasure Island to which columnist Rob Morse devoted several hundred inches of complaints about how only certain people (i.e., friends of Da Mayor) could gain access. Evidently, "certain people" now includes Morse and his colleagues at the Ex. The holiday party -- reportedly a lavish affair, which means music, food, and drink -- was the paper's first in three years. Strangely, the event was announced only two weeks beforehand -- rather late in the holiday season.

We hear the close timing was so Phil could be sure Sharon could attend. P.S.: She made it. (And don't even ask which Sharon.)

-- T.S.

The Merger That Just Won't Die
University of California, San Francisco employee unions fighting the controversial $380 million privatization of the UCSF Medical Center have taken their case to the state Court of Appeals. The California Nurses Association and various other unions are appealing Alameda Superior Court Judge Sandra Marguiles' November decision not to halt operations of the newly merged UCSF and Stanford medical centers, now combined into a private entity known as UCSF Stanford Health Care.

And, as long as the unions are going to visit the robes at appeals, why not throw in a few other things? The petition also argues that the UC Board of Regents exceeded its constitutional authority in approving the merger, and challenges state Sen. John Burton's legislation (signed into law in October) that essentially exempts the new corporation from basic public disclosure.

This is the second UCSF-Stanford merger challenge to arrive at the appeals court. The justices are still pondering whether to hear a constitutional challenge filed by taxpayer champion Lynn Vincent on behalf of a San Rafael pharmacist.

-- L.D.

Bring on the Buyout
Though Dog Bites spotted debonair Wired Editorial Director Louis Rossetto lunching at Bizou on Friday -- tucked away in the corner behind the bar and deep in discussion with Suck founder Carl Steadman -- we can't help thinking that midlevel Wired editors don't get to enjoy nearly the lifestyle their counterparts in the New York magazine industry do.

Which got us wondering: If Wired's secret investor is who we think it is, maybe disgruntled magazine staff members will soon rate better perks than just an on-staff vegetarian chef. After all, you can only eat polenta so many times a week. So hey, Conde Nast, if it's you, let's make it official. After all, San Franciscans need interest-free home loans just as much as New Yorkers.

-- Laurel Wellman

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