The week in review
Most wedding bells ringing: Hundreds of gay couples line up at City Hall in San Francisco on February 12 after the city starts issuing licenses and performing weddings for same-sex couples.
Fewest wedding bells ringing: Eight gay couples try to get marriage licenses February 13 in Richmond to no avail.
Most controversial scientific breakthrough: Korean scientists claim to have created the first embryos cloned from a woman.
Sketchiest record keeping: The National Guard produces dental records as evidence that President George Bush served in Alabama in 1972-73.
Biggest threat to drunk drivers: The House of Delegates passes several of Delegate Rob Bell's bills that toughen penalties for super-drunk drivers and repeat offenders– but nixes the bill that would send first-time offenders to jail for three days.
Biggest looming battle of the titans: Cable giant Comcast makes an offer for entertainment conglomerate Disney– and is rebuffed.
Worst legal representation: The Virginia State Bar revokes attorney Judith MacLachlan Herndon's license for closing her law practice without notifying her client, opposing counsel, or the court. Another Charlottesville lawyer, Margaret M. Cain, was disbarred in November.
Most outspoken support for not lowering taxes: Albemarle parents come out to a February 11 School Board hearing to voice their approval of Superintendent Kevin Castner's $115.4 million budget and their opposition to the Board of Supervisors slicing property taxes by two cents.
Worst speaker backfire: Two assemblies at Albemarle High School on racial and gender stereotyping have students, staff, and parents squirming when the speaker actually uses the language that contributes to negative stereotyping.
Worst impish behavior backfire: Members of the secret society IMP ignite a bonfire on the Lawn February 5 that blazes out of control, leading to an apology and a meeting with university administrators, the Cavalier Daily reports.
Best diehard Wesley Clark supporter: Even though the retired general exited the presidential race February 10, a llama draped with a "Clark '04" banner appears on the Downtown Mall February 11 in front of Christian's Pizza (and The Hook webcam).
Worst car-meets-house story: A Jeep Cherokee crashes into a residence at Greenbrier and Tarleton drives February 16 when an allegedly ill driver stops and passes out before she can shift into park.
Least likely to worry about paying for retirement: UVA über-donor Carl W. Smith retires from AMVEST, the coal company he founded, John Yellig reports in the Progress. Smith and his wife, Hunter, come in at 55 on Slate's top 60 charitable contributors.
Best act of contrition: Admitted check-kiters John Reid and Bro Pinkerton, leaders of now defunct Ivy Industries, voluntarily head off to jail in anticipation of April's stiff sentencing by federal Judge James H. Michael Jr.
Best Valentine for Pete Gillen: The Cavaliers end their five-game losing streak with a win over Georgia Tech February 14.
Most bittersweet victory: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Daytona 500 February 15, three years after his daddy, the Number 3 driver, was killed on the same track.
President with whom people most want to do lunch: Thomas Jefferson, according to a February 16 San Francisco Chronicle poll.
Worst night for Sex and the City fans: The popular HBO series airs its last episode February 22.
Saddest Valentine's Day: After 43 years, Barbie and Ken break up.
#