When it comes to labyrinths, everything old -- very old -- is new again. If you've walked the contemplative steps at Grace Cathedral's renowned labyrinth in San Francisco, you probably know that its archetypal form is based on the 13th century pattern at Chartres Cathedral in France -- a medieval model you'll find elsewhere in the Bay Area and around the world.

But labyrinths comes in a variety of forms: classical (Greek, Celtic), medieval (seven-circuit, eleven-circuit), three-dimensional, natural, and a wide variety of interpretations across the board.

A labyrinth is not a maze. It's not designed to fool or disorient. You won't find a Minotaur at any of these Bay Area labyrinth locations. If you do, let me know and I'll make a note.

Labyrinth walks are an ancient meditative practice, wherein the participant enters the circular pattern and releases earthly worries on a slow amble toward the center. There's a meditative or prayer point in the middle where you can take time to contemplate. Then, as you walk the patterns from the center back outward, you rejoin and reconnect with your spiritual source, in whatever form that takes for you.

You'll find some public and outdoor Bay Area Labyrinths on this list -- where you can exercise your own form of planetary contemplation.

^{Photo © Aaron Harmon - Flickr Creative Commons}

If you spend time at Rodeo Beach, you've undoubtedly seen the groups of supervised kids hiking around the lagoon, observing the natural icons of the Marin Headlands. You may have also been by the Headlands Institute day camp area at meal time -- tortured by the aromas wafting from the buildings, when you're scrounging in your bag for a protein bar.

Now, more children from around the Bay Area will have the Headlands experience -- cuisine included. In April 2008, the non-profit Headlands Institute announced new scholarships that will bring 2000 more children, from diverse backgrounds, into the realm of the Institute's programs. Funded through a Centennial Challenge grant from the National Park System (with matching funds from private donors), the scholarships will give these kids a hands-on, interactive experience with science and nature -- in the stunning setting of the Marin Headlands.

At least 20,000 people each year benefit from the Headlands Institute programs. The Institute runs summer day camps from June to August. Also available are teen leadership programs and week-long environmental educator courses for teachers.

At the website you'll find photo galleries from the children's coastal camp, as well as registration forms and descriptions of programs offered throughout the year.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

The San Francisco Giants are at home this weekend, playing the White Sox at AT&T Park. This weekend's schedule:

• Friday, May 16, 2008 at 7:15p
• Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 6:05p
• Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 1:05p

Saturday is also On Field Photo Night where the first 3,000 fans with cameras are allowed on the field to take photos of players.

Coming up in June:

Singles Night II (6/17) | Law and Disorder: Legal Professionals Night (6/16) | Irish Night I (6/2) | Senior Citizens Day I (6/4)

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

With the high temperatures expected to last through the weekend in the Bay Area's warmest counties -- it helps to know what heat exhaustion looks like. And how to protect yourself and your pets when the thermostat inches toward (or past) 90 degrees.

Bay Area Cooling Centers

It's not that tough for most people to find an air-conditioned haven for a few hours. Or to get a reprieve at cooler, Pacific locations like Ocean Beach or Point Reyes.

But for seniors and anyone else who might have a tough time getting to a cool spot during a heat wave, some counties around the Bay have cooling centers -- primarily senior centers, where during the week, visitors are welcome to enjoy a bit of A/C chill.

These are the centers I've been able to confirm. Note that only some are open on weekends, so be sure to phone ahead if you or a relative needs their services.

• San Mateo County Cooling Centers
• Contra Costa County Cooling Centers

KRON4 also lists these cooling centers in Santa Clara County.

Information on Heat Stroke & Heat Exhaustion

• Elizabeth Quinn (About Sports Medicine) has some advice on handling heat emergencies.
• The About First Aid site offers some tips for handling heat stroke.
• Also check out this information on how to prepare for walks in the hot weather.

Heat and Your Pets

• Veterinarian Janet Tobiassen Crosby (About Veterinary Medicine) shows you how to recognize heat stroke in pets and how to keep your pet cool.
• Franny Syufy, an amazing all-around resource for cats, has some advice on preventing and treating heat stroke in cats.
• My Dog is Cool is a website devoted to educating people on the hazards of leaving dogs in hot cars.
• If you have exotic pets, veterinarian Lianne McLeod (About Exotic Pets) has information on assessing heat stroke and heat emergency in exotic pets.

If you have a garden with birds and wildlife visiting, be sure to keep your bird baths fresh on hot days, when the need for water is especially high.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

The California Supreme court ruled today (4-3) that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry. The decision takes effect in 30 days, making the California Court just the second in the Union (after Massachusetts) to legally recognize the right of gay couples to walk down the aisle.

It's been more than four years since Mayor Newsom granted that right, however briefly, at San Francisco's City Hall. Today's monumental and historic decision strikes down laws that limit marriage to heterosexuals, finding that those laws discriminate against same-sex couples.

Excerpt from that decision:

As past cases establish, the substantive right of two adults who share a loving relationship to join together to establish an officially recognized family of their own — and, if the couple chooses, to raise children within that family — constitutes a vitally important attribute of the fundamental interest in liberty and personal autonomy that the California Constitution secures to all persons for the benefit of both the individual and society. ~ p.7/S147999

Read the full opinion here.

Upon learning of the decision, a friend of mine said that same-sex couples now have "equal dignity under the California Constitution." As a Californian, I agree. I feel proud of this landmark decision -- framing the issue as one of basic rights and equality. And I'm gratified that same-sex couples and families can now exercise the same choices and options heterosexual couples and families have been granted under state law.

^{Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images}

Poll: How do you feel about today's Supreme Court decision?

On May 18, 2008

This Sunday is the third Sunday in May which means just one thing: Bay to Breakers.

Runners, walkers, centipede racers, spawning salmon, lots of pirates, and costumed (or naked) people will make their way from the Embarcadero to the Pacific breakers . . . except for the salmon, of course, who spawn 'upstream' on their own Breakers to Bay course.

See the Guide to the 2008 ING Bay to Breakers race for event details, registration information, a Footstock overview and some transportation links to help you get there on time.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

In the Bay Area, where housing subdivisions butt up against wilderness areas, humans and wild animals are bound to cross paths. When that happens, people are often surprised and relieved to learn there are wildlife hospitals in the area, tending to the injured and the orphaned throughout the year. They're places you can call upon if you find an animal in harm's way, and need advice on what to do.

In the next month, several of these organizations are hosting events and fundraisers to benefit their wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts in our Bay Area backyard:

• Marine Mammal Center - Sausalito
  Evening at the Ballpark (May 31, 2008)
  An opportunity for fans to learn more about the Marine Mammal Center. Educators and docents will be stationed throughout the park with informative displays. Fans will have chances to win Giants prizes -- and can visit the Make Your Own Lou Seal store. Proceeds go directly to The Center.
• Lindsay Wildlife Museum - Walnut Creek
  14th Annual Golf for the Wild (June 16, 2008) and Fiesta in the Park (June 1, 2008)
  Golf benefit event at the Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill -- and family day at the museum, featuring live animals, music, Mexican food, children's activities and a silent and live auction. Purchase tickets in advance.
• Peninsula Humane Society - San Mateo
  Classic Golf Tournament (June 16, 2008)
  In addition to providing sanctuary and adoptions for domestic animals like cats and dogs, the Peninsula Humane Society treats about 4000 wild animals each year. This tournament benefits the organization. The PHS/SPCA annual Mutt Strutt happens on August 16, 2008.

Two other Bay Area facilities not mentioned on the event list are International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in Cordelia and Wildcare in San Rafael (Marin). Both organizations rescued and rehabilitated oiled birds after last November's Cosco Busan oil spill. And both have ongoing wildlife hospital services year round.

See more information on Bay Area Wildlife Hospitals.

^{Photos © Ingrid Taylar}

If you live in Alameda or Contra Costa counties, EBMUD's voluntary water rationing has now turned mandatory. In an effort to stretch supplies after two dry years in the San Francisco Bay Area, EBMUD will be enforcing some restrictions on water use.

The guidelines aren't entirely fair. Single-family residences need to cut usage by 19 percent (based on an average of the previous three years of water bills). But those who've already maximized their water conservation efforts will have to make the same 19 percent cut as those with spas, pools and acres of lawn who haven't been saving at all. EBMUD says it's discussing options that would make the cuts more fair.

(You can see the EBMUD Press Release here.)

The new drought program also prohibits:

• Using water for decorative ponds, lakes and fountains if the water is not recycled
• Washing vehicles with hoses that don't have shutoff nozzles
• Washing sidewalks, patios and other similar hard surfaces
• Irrigating outdoors on consecutive days or more than three days a week
• Lawn or garden watering that results in excessive runoff

See 10 Water Conservation Tips for Bay Area residents and homeowners. Even if you live outside the realm of EBMUD, the global water supply desperately needs our help -- to sustain 6+ billion humans (and growing).

Watching a World Population Clock is always a sobering reckoning of that six-billion-plus number.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

Free Rides on Bike to Work Day

In connection with Bike to Work Day, the Alameda Harbor Bay and Alameda/Oakland ferries will give you and your bike a free ride -- all day. That's Thursday, May 15, 2008.

Get details on Bike to Work Day at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition website and at 511.org for areas outside of San Francisco.

Google Transit

There's another trip planner on the Bay Area block and its name is Google. As in Google Transit. Similar to Hop Stop and 511.org, you can type your origin and destination on the Google Transit boxes, and the website will produce door to door public transit directions.

Hop Stop is trip-planning favorite in the city. Google Transit ups the anty by including directions to and from Bay Area cities outside of San Francisco.

Muir Woods Shuttle in Service

The Muir Woods Shuttle (Route 66) from Golden Gate Transit, started its annual, seasonal service on May 3, 2008. Until May 24, the shuttle takes passengers from Marin City to Muir Woods. From May 24 to September 1, the shuttle picks up and drops at the Sausalito Ferry in addition to its regular Marin City stop.

Renovation of Terminal 2 at SFO

Terminal 2, the old International Terminal at SFO will be ready for service again in 2010, following a $383 million renovation. The first confirmed tenant is Virgin America.

Bay Area Transit - for Newcomers

If you're new to San Francisco and need an overview of your public transit options, check out the Guide to Muni and BART -- which also has information on riding cable cars and San Francisco ferries. See a system map of the Muni Metro (trains/streecars) as well as a Cable Car Route Map.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

Well, it's the first meeting of a million pirates, as far as I know. No barques, schooners or Doubloons required if you want to participate. But you must somehow identify yourself as a pirate (the historical kind or even the Seafair kind) -- and the Million Pirate March website has a blueprint for building a personal pirate ship.

On May 18, 2008 meet at Steuart and Mission at 8am. The Million Pirate March will take off after runners have cleared the Bay to Breakers starting line. Organizers ask that you register as an ING Bay to Breakers participant -- even though you are a pirate, and even though there's nothing about that in the pirate code of conduct.

Read the Million Pirate March FAQ for more info. See a map of the Bay to Breakers course for starting location.

^{Image Courtesy of Million Pirate March}