Facebook Inc.

Facebook Now Has 750 Million Users

People don't just like Facebook, they love it​Just when techies were asking the question: "Will Google replace Facebook?" the social-networking giant announced that it now has more than 750 million users globally who post billions of messages daily. That's good news for the Palo Alto company, co ... More >>

Interview with PieTisserie's Jaynelle St. Jean: 'People Started Calling Me the Pie Lady'

Robin JolinPieTisserie's Janelle St. Jean.As I was writing this week's review of roving pie bakers, I spoke to Jaynelle St. Jean, whose "provincial pie window" has settled for the summer at 1015 Clay, a temporary restaurant of sorts in Old Oakland. You can find pictures of her pies, as well as order ... More >>

Google Takes on Facebook, But Only a Few Can Actually Use It

​On Tuesday, Google launched a new social networking project, Google , which may bring some serious competition to Facebook. At first, the company only invited an select posse of tech insiders to test it out, but then on Wednesday users were allowed to invite any of their friends. As the exclusive ... More >>

Facebook Traffic Drops by 6 Million in U.S.

Will Facebook fizzle out?​While other countries are just now starting to "Like" Facebook, it appears Americans are losing interest already (now maybe the company will create that dislike button we've all been waiting for). A new report shows that Facebook traffic in the United States dropped by 6 ... More >>

Avoid Facebook Embarrassment With Reppler

striatic/Flickr"Did I really just post that?"​If Anthony Weiner's sordid debacle taught us anything, it's that your social networking can have serious consequences on your real life. It's not hard to think of friends who have revealed a bit too much on Facebook. Speaking from experience, we ca ... More >>

E-mail Spammers Are Migrating to Social Media

Cramming your life​This morning, I had 12 e-mails in my spambox. That includes a few false positives, so really it's only nine. Older spams are deleted automatically -- every night. A few months ago, I was getting anywhere from a few dozen to a couple of hundred new spams a day -- the overwhelming ... More >>

Facebook Depression Is Real

Next up: An emoticon for Facebook depression​Certainly, I'm not the only one who's gotten dumped repeatedly by someone on Facebook -- a former friend or lover? Maybe you, too, were never "accepted" by an esteemed colleague or classmate on Facebook. Or perhaps your friend request still sits in the ... More >>

How To Get The Band To Play What You Want

We've all been there. You hand over good money to go see a band you love, spend weeks salivating in anticipation and then, when the big night finally comes, they do nothing but play tracks from their new album. The bad one. That nobody likes. (We're looking at you, Sonic Youth...) Some artists, even ... More >>

Foursquare: The Silliest Thing Ever Invented

​Before I started using Twitter a couple of years ago, I, like many people then and now, assumed it must be the silliest thing ever invented. The stupid name didn't (and doesn't) help. Mainly, I thought people used it for telling the world what they had for lunch, but I then looked into the matter ... More >>

So Long Al, Adios Bangkok 16 ― Say Hello to New England Tacos

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Another goodbye to a long-standing neighborhood institution: Grub Street reports the shuttering of Al's Café Good Food. After 50 years, the Bernal Heights' diner closed in April; on Facebook, owner Jean ... More >>

Why Facebook's 'Whisper Campaign' Against Google Isn't Okay

​I'm a big fan of Jack Shafer, Slate's media columnist. But his libertarian worldview sometimes tends to make him go overboard with his "oh, what's the big deal" shtick. That's the case --  somewhat -- with his latest column, wherein he wonders why people are so shocked that Facebook hired ... More >>

Winklevii Twins Lose to Facebook in Court -- Again

Losers​Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the preppy twins who sued Mark Zuckerberg saying he stole their Facebook idea, lost another court battle against the social networking giant. But no, this doesn't bring the high-profile and exhausting saga to an end. A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel in Sa ... More >>

Facebook Fights Disclosure of Political Ad Funders

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg​Facebook, that oxygen-like Internet omnipresence that you were probably fooling around on a few minutes before reading this post, doesn't want you to know who's paying for the political ads displayed on its pages.That's the upshot of a letter, obtained and published by ... More >>

Facebook Hires PR Firm to Plant Negative Stories About Google

Modern day fight ​It's no secret that Google has been feeling a bit insecure lately, plotting to start its own social-networking system to fend off the threat of Facebook. But the growing tech-rivalry has now hit a new low. Recently, a top public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller, was reportedly h ... More >>

Facebook Paying People to Watch Ads Won't Work

Caitlinator/Flickr​I'm frankly amazed that in all the coverage of Facebook's plan to pay users to watch ads, nobody -- as far as I can tell -- has mentioned the several companies that tried to do something similar during the (original) dot-com boom, and failed spectacularly. The most famous of th ... More >>

Facebook Relaunches Its Music Pages, But What's the Big Deal?

​ Facebook is already an essential resource for musicians and their fans. But now the Palo Alto company is trying to reassert its presence in the online music world: Facebook recently relaunched its Music on Facebook service, which is somewhat like the current fan pages, but allegedly with add ... More >>

No, Twitter Hasn't Replaced CNN

​It's become perfectly predictable: Every time there's a major news event, people spend several days talking about how Twitter and Facebook are replacing traditional news organizations -- the (sigh) "MSM." Even if the word "replacing" isn't used, that's often the implicationIn the present case -- ... More >>

Facebook's Network Will Give Its Online-Coupon Service "Deals" a Boost

Money CAN buy friends​Now that there is a full-fledged backlash against online coupon services, Facebook has jumped on the bandwagon. Today it launched the imaginatively titled "Deals" service in five test markets: San Francisco, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas and San Diego. Sorry, snowbelt, you'll just ... More >>

Win Tickets to See Dominant Legs This Wednesday at the Rickshaw Stop

We will be so lonely and forlorn if you do not come see us plaaaaay​San Francisco blogstraordinaire Ears of the Beholder is putting on a show this Wednesday night at the Rickshaw Stop, featuring the post-Tracy Chapman pop jangle of Dominant Legs, the brand new neo-funk stylings of Dirty Ghosts, an ... More >>

Food Trucks Book Includes Locals

Ten Speed Press​Food Trucks Book Release Party When: Sun., Apr. 24, 5-7 p.m. Where: Fabric8 (3318 22nd St. at Valencia), 647-5888 The rundown: PizzaHacker, Magic Curry Kart, and Creme Brulée Cart will provide the food and the smellovision to celebrate the release of Food Trucks: Dispatches and ... More >>

See The Oh Sees' Frontman John Dwyer's Photo Show at the Rite Spot Starting Tomorrow

Claire Marie Vogel​What's it like to see the world through the eyes of a touring musician? Probably largely the same as seeing the world through the eyes of a touring non-musician, unless we're talking about Stevie Wonder or something, but why would you even say such a thing? Too soon. For al ... More >>

Facebook Sues 'Face Book of Sex' Porn Site

Zero sex appeal ​Just the other day scientists released a study that showed Facebooking (is that word?) releases the same chemicals that are released in your brain during orgasms. And when you think about it, it explains why the social networking giant has attracted more than 500 million users wor ... More >>

Facebook Hollywood Saga Comes to An End: Winklevii Twins Lose in Court

The only thing the Winklevosses can't buy ... Facebook​The notorious Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler -- who sued Mark Zuckerberg, claiming he ripped off their social networking idea to launch Facebook -- have lost another round in court with the Zuck.After the twins signed a deal with Zuckerbe ... More >>

Facebook Sued Over Intifada Page That Promoted Killing Jews

Back to court ... again​Attorney Larry Klayman is taking Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg to court, accusing the "self-hating Jew" of not quickly removing the Facebook page called "Third Palestinian Intifada," which promoted killing Jews.Klayman, who is also the founder of Freedom Watch, is asking ... More >>

Chronicle Books Bake Sale Raises Over $7,800 for Japan

​Yesterday's Chronicle Books Bakesale to Help Japan? Some three dozen bakers ended up donating treats (staff, spouses, and neighbors, as well as Poco Dolce, Sweet Constructions, and Angel Cakes), says CB's David Hawk, netting just over $2,300. Chronicle Books doubled that figure for its donati ... More >>

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Will Close Its Doors in S.F. (Exit Through the Gift Shop, Please)

​And you will know by the trail of tearful tattooed chin-scratchers down Divisadero next month that the 12-year saga of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is coming to an end. The Oakland enigma-core ensemble has announced three final California dates, culminating in an April 10th performance at the Indepe ... More >>

Greenburger's Fires Up the Grill, San Jose Rounds Up the Trucks

​The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco restaurant scene. SJ Eats/FacebookTreatbot.​Nice. Haighteration takes a good, long look at Greenburger's, which opened yesterday at 518 Haight (at Filmore), in the old Bistro St. Germain space. The pitc ... More >>

Looks Like Spire Has Morphed Into 3rd Degree Lounge

John BirdsallSFoodie thinks this is the logo for 3rd Degree Lounge.​That reconcepting the owners of Spire alluded to last month, after shutting down their 6-month-old bar and restaurant near AT&T Park? Looks like it's happened already. For the past two weekends, the space at 685 Third St. (at ... More >>

Tonight: All-You-Can-Eat Pancakes, In the Name of Art

Pancakes and Booze/Facebook​Pancakes and Booze Art Show Where: The Artists' Alley Gallery, 863 Mission (at Fourth St.), 522-2440 When: Tonight, Feb. 18, 8 p.m. Cost: $5 The rundown: A traveling temporary art show that started in Los Angeles and is traipsing across the country, Pancakes and ... More >>

Bay Wolf Staying Put, Hyde Away Blues BBQ Announces Itself

​The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco restaurant scene. Michael Bauer at the Chronicle reports that the 35-year-old Bay Wolf, which was reportedly considering an offer to buy the restaurant, is staying put. Owner Michael Wolf is instead starting up c ... More >>

Facebook Recognizes Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships

Facebook welcomes you ​Here is something to "Like" on Facebook.Facebook has created a new relationship status option that allows same-sex couples to declare they are "in a domestic partnership" or "in a civil union."Up until now, Facebook limited the relationship status options including single, i ... More >>

Spire Closing for a Month to Remodel, Sacred Wheel Cheese Shop Rolls into Temescal

​The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco restaurant scene. SFoodie received a late-afternoon press release from Spire announcing that, as of today, the SOMA restaurant is closing until mid-March to renovate and possibly rethink its concept. Spire will po ... More >>

Sunday: S.F.'s Most Elaborate Beer Run

Google MapsNot exactly Bay to Breakers, but then, B2B doesn't fall in the middle of Beer Week.​Much about beer is subjective, like what style/brewery/IBUs/glassware is best, or if a beer should taste great or be less filling. But there are a few universal truths when it comes to beer, includin ... More >>

Facebook Under Fire -- Parents Don't 'Like' It

Parents don't "like" it. ​It's perhaps a comment on the appetite of the American masses that three biggest stories from First Lady Michelle Obama's appearance on the Today Show this week were that: 1. She was wearing a $34.95 dress from H&M; 2. Barack doesn't dye his hair, and; 3. She doesn't ... More >>

Should I Defriend My Ex on Facebook?

What are the rules for negotiating a breakup on Facebook?

5 Things To Spend Your Coachella Money On Now That It's Sold Out

Guess one man really shouldn't have all that power.​If you're wondering why twenty-somethings all over the city are sulking and moping their way through today, it's because they hesitated to buy tickets for yearly Coachella music festival and yesterday it sold out, denying them an opportunity to s ... More >>

Win Tickets to See Oakland Hip-Hop Duo Zion I at the New Parish This Friday

Zion I, the lauded Oakland hip-hop duo, is playing its first show of 2011 at the New Parish in Oakland this Friday. We'd love to send you to experience some of the powerful music put out by MC Zumbi and DJ AmpLive -- especially the new jams off of Atomic Clock, the group's seventh album, which dropp ... More >>

Saturday: Rum and Pana-Mania at Smuggler's Cove

Lou Bustamante​Abuelo Rum at Smuggler's Cove Where: Smuggler's Cove, 650 Gough (at McAllister), 869-1900 When: Sat., Jan. 22, 5 p.m. sharp Cost: Free with Facebook RSVP The rundown: Put on your finest montuno and open up your locks for Pana-mania, as rum nucleus Smuggler's Cove hosts Rica ... More >>

Winklevoss Twins Want More Money From Facebook

​Lawyers representing Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the studly twins who sued Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg for supposedly usurping the social media site from them, asked a judge today in San Francisco federal court to re-open their settlement for $65 million, claiming Facebook didn't fairly va ... More >>

Can You See Who's Viewing Your Facebook Profile?

The truth about Facebook applications like MyFacebookStalker and ePrivacy.

Should You Facebook Friend a Coworker?

​I just got a Facebook friend request from someone at my work whom I've never met. I don't even know what she looks like, but I've seen her name in email threads. If this were LinkedIn, I'd easily confirm, and I'm totally fine with friending folks at work when I've at least had a one-to-one email ... More >>

Hey, All Shook Down Is Finally on Facebook. Come Say Hi.

​That headline pretty much says it all, but in case you missed it, All Shook Down (aka the blog you're reading at this moment!) now has its very own Facebook page. This is important -- perhaps not Wikileaks, Prop. 8, or who-will-be-the-next-S.F.-mayor important, but still: you fans of local music ... More >>

Facebook, MySpace Have *Very Important* Announcement!

OMG!!!​In the latest communique that gets folks in the tech media bellowing "stop the presses" -- even though there are no presses -- Facebook and MySpace sent out invitations to favored journalists for some manner of joint announcement today.  The CEO of MySpace -- which has become a metapho ... More >>

He Won't Commit To A Facebook Relationship

​My boyfriend and I have been unofficially dating for a year, and officially dating for about a month (Long story, commitment phobias, blah de blah). My problem is he won't update his relationship status on Facebook. All these slutty girls keep flirting with him, and I want to electronically stake ... More >>

Facebook Colonizes MySpace with 'Mashup'

Like MySpace, the rebellious Vercingetorix eventually surrendered to Caesar​In the latest piece of tech trivia to emerge in a technologically trivial week, MySpace CEO Mike Jones announced today that his ailing social network will now allow its users to import a wide range of information from thei ... More >>

Facebook vs. Google: Who Would You Rather Have Reading Your E-Mail?

​Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's announcement yesterday that his company is launching a consolidated e-mail/instant message/text message service has sent the technorati into a predictable tizzy. Facebook's new messaging feature is one of those tech innovations whose significance is tough to judge r ... More >>

Are You A Self-Promotion Douche?

​I am seriously on the verge of friend-dumping someone because his use of social media is so douchey and self-promotey. He posted a link to his about.me profile three times in one week on Facebook, then LIKED it. Not to mention the constant (multiple!) tumblr promotion and the tweeting! My main qu ... More >>

Facedating: How To Politely Decline a Facebook Request

​I recently went on a few dates with a young woman and after the third date she found me on Facebook and sent a friend request. It's not as if I have any highly incriminating photos of me tongue kissing a Labradoodle (on Facebook), but it is quite a window into what I'm doing in any given week. I ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Zynga Faces Class-Action Lawsuit over Alleged Privacy Breach

Life on the farm is never dull for long​No matter what they do, some companies seem chronically incapable of playing peacefully in the sandbox of American capitalism with others. San Francisco-based game developer Zynga -- the wildly successful firm behind such popular Facebook applications as&nbs ... More >>