When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, it’s a good core workout. If you’re sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More
Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More
December is almost over - the New Year is coming up and everyone is busy drying off from the rain or holiday shopping. Let's take a look at what's happened this month.
You asked for it, San Francisco (or maybe you didn't), and yet here it is anyway: Gridskipper's breakdown of the Best Handjobs in the city. What exactly separates a regular handjob from one of the best in San Francisco is not explained, and sadly, only two of the six reputed grade-a chicken chokers reside in San Francisco proper, and one of them -- "Amy" -- (sort of NSFW kiddies) is out by the airport. Alas, like most good things in life, if you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself, which -- in this case -- also involves saving a few hundred bucks.
You know you want it - but is it good for poor people?
by Benjamin Wachs
Back in the 1960s, San Francisco introduced the world to the “Head Shop” – tie-die bong store that manages to stay jussssst this side of the law because its products could … technically, if you’re seriously going to … be used for tobacco.
Forty years later, legislation has been introduced to the Board of Supervisors that would regulate head shops, likely preventing new ones from opening without government approval.
PostedByDavid Downs
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Put that in your tourism brochure.
A dubious new study has shown that California is only the eighth worst place to be black in the U.S. The study was conducted by the not-so-authoritative Black Agenda Reportusing incarceration data supplied by states. The BAR also used data from the web site of the Sentencing Project, an organization which promotes reforms in sentencing law and practice. Pointing out that the population of black prisoners has increased against a backdrop of crime reduction, the Agenda writes "…if you want to know where black families fare the worst…you don't need an online survey…You count the black prisoners, and the ruined communities they come from and are discharged into." California's numbers? Three percent of our black residents are in prison. Almost five black dudes sit in jail for every one white due. Trailing behind us is Oregon and Kentucky, and at the worst offender is white-bread Wisconsin. The study also says, "Texas and California, the nation's two most populous states each account for more than a tenth of the nation's 2.2 million prisoners." Go, California!
PostedByDavid Downs
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 12:23 PM
A new, aggressive staph infection has already affected San Francisco with the Chronicle reporting that the virulent infection has hit everyone from homeless people to schoolkids and “can attack organs throughout the body, forcing doctors to amputate fingers, toes and limbs.” A January New York Times article reports that the artificial turf used in some public parks can be a fertile breeding ground for staph. If you guessed where this is going, you’re right. Photos of San Francisco’s Silver Terrace Playfield showing matter failing to decompose properly on artificial turf have surfaced. Witness all the moldy glory here.
— Andy Wright (photo from sfparks.googlepages.com)
Reading this real estate listing on Curbed for available penthouse units in the Soundworks Residences at 542 Natoma (having formerly housed the likes of Radiohead and the Cocteau Twins *heh* as they "unwound between studio sessions") I feel an almost palpable pain over the fact that I am not, nor will I ever be, a filthy rich rock star. I knew I should have kept playing the guitar in high school. The units start at $1,350,000. Curse you fate! Read the description and weep, oh poor masses:
"Warmed floors of natural stone and quartersawn walnut will coddle your feet in wintertime...A gently terraced staircase leads to a combination kitchen and dining room that opens to a heated patio. Dishware displayed in the Scavolini cabinetry becomes an aesthetic statement against the understated Bauhaus design. Ascend to a large living room infused with natural light from clerestory windows at the top of the 18’ boxed cathedral ceiling. The flow of the home is effortless and dynamic, unified by coordinated elements of the finishes like the green glass accents throughout, and the warm dark wood... "
PostedByDavid Downs
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 11:25 AM
The Wall Street Journal reports today that not only is Hillary Clinton trailing in the primaries, but she isn't a safe bet on the "prediction market" either. Web sites such as Intrade.com take bets on the outcome of various contests, from the Super Bowl to the presidential contest and even the Academy Awards. Yesterday Obama was trading at $7.12 a share while Clinton was garnering a measly $2.91, and this does not bode well for her. (No word on volume of shares traded in the story, though.) Robin Hanson, an economics professor at Virginia's George Mason University points out that prediction markets are different from opinion polls because betters stand to win something. They are "self selecting" and "willing to bet money they are right." Intrade claims to have accurately predicted the outcome of the 2004 election in every state but Alaska. FYI, the Journal hosts a political market of its own, run by none other than Intrade.com. A "Prediction Market Primer" at the bottom of the WSJ political market page says "A Wharton economist argues political markets may be the best bet for predicting the next president, by cutting through the clutter of polls and pundits." A "Wharton economist"?!?! Best get to placin' yer bets! -Andy Wright (Thank TradingSynergy.com for the pic)
PostedByDavid Downs
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 10:34 AM
The Chronicle headline in todays paper pretty much sums it up: Body Lay Undiscovered in SF Police Impound Yard While Suspects Fled. The bizarre case of the murder of Leonard Milo Hoskins reads like the plot of a Coen brothers movie. The computer software developer was clubbed in his yard near SF City College by one of roommates with a two-by-four. Then he was dragged back into his house. Then his murderer exited the premises with visible splotches of blood on his person. The kicker? The neighbor was watching the whole time. Why didn't the neighbor call the cops? He doesn't like them. For future reference: a healthy distrust of the cops is not inadvisable, but in cases where people have been clubbed with two-by-fours, seriously consider dialing 911. Hoskins' corpse was hidden in a van which was later impounded by the SFPD. The police failed to obtain a search warrant for a week, which is apparently about how long it takes a corpse to decompose to the point where a cadaver dog can smell it and alert its overseers to its existence. It's good to know the SFPD has some hardworking, motivated cadaver dogs at its disposal. — Andy Wright
PostedByDavid Downs
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Perhaps one of the last things you want to know is that your local sewage system has ""significantly deteriorating sewage pipes." The second thing you don't want to hear is that as a result of these deteriorating pipes, five million gallons of raw and partially treated sewage have poured into your local body of water. And finally, you don't want to hear that this mishap was not reported for 11 hours the first time it happened and 20 hours the second time it happened. The Chronicle reports today that this is exactly what happened when heavy rains on Jan 25 and 31 overwhelmed Marin County's sewage plant, an agency that was warned and fined last year for not having enough capacity. And in case you thought the worst was over, you were wrong. The Environmental Protection Agency warns that the existence of the worn, cracked pipes increases the likelihood this will happen again. The disgusting cherry on top of the gross Sunday? Dead birds. Numerous corpses were found near a sanctuary in Tiburon, most likely due to the contaminated water. — Andy Wright
PostedByDavid Downs
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Only a day ago, Charles Wollenberg, chair of social sciences at Berkeley City College had declared that a showdown between Marine recruiters and protesters was "an indication that the '60s are not completely dead." The face off was sparked by a Jan. 29th resolution passed by the Berkeley City Council declaring that the Marine Recruiters located only a block from the UC Berkeley campus, were "unwanted intruders" and should leave the city. The resolution, not unsurprisingly, sparked a conservative backlash the likes of which would strike terror into the heart of any liberal city council member. Today the Chroniclereports the council has now changed it's position to "we're sorry, but not officially sorry." Much of the country seemed to agree with one of the many commentors on the Chronicle's website, one of whom wrote succintly " Maybe the US military should bomb berkeley or at least the city council for treason in war times." -Andy Wright
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 9:07 AM
Concertgoer claims he was beaten, choked, and tossed down the stairs — and he wants more than an apology.
By Joe Eskenazi
Just what went down at San Francisco SOMA-neighborhood nightclub Slim’s in the wee hours of Oct. 13, 2007 is unclear. But this much is inarguable: Police crashed the party and arrested Slim’s bouncer Devin M. Williams for allegedly beating a pair of the club’s customers.
Four months later, Williams remains locked up. He has been charged with one count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and one count of battery likely to produce serious injury, both felonies. Convictions could result in a jail term of up to two years in county lockup or as many as eight years in state prison.
Meanwhile, 48-year-old local concertgoer James Paul Leuschner has made it clear that Williams’ alleged actions weren’t “likely” to cause injuries — they did. Along with friend and fellow San Franciscan Steven Rose, Leuschner filed suit against Williams and Slim’s in December claiming he was severely beaten by the bouncer, who supposedly tossed Leuschner down a flight of stairs … (Click for 'More')
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
