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.
Because not everyone can shell out a week's worth of rent on the edible art of a hand-tweezed tasting menu, veteran restaurateur Kash Feng (owner of Michelin-starred Omakase) and consulting chef Shin Aoki (formally of Michelin-starred Kaigetsu) bring you Okane — legit Japanese fare for epicures of the 99 percent.
This is not a good introduction to the world at large. Outside the Bay Area, the term "Oikos" is most prevalently associated with the Dannon-produced Greek-style yogurt of the same name (which was advertised, obnoxiously, during the Super Bowl). It remains to be seen how marketing types will deal with the word now conjuring up nightmarish images of a deranged and, likely, misogynistic gunman. (Our calls to Dannon have not been returned).
In ancient times, "oikos" could be used to refer to one's house, one's household goods, or one's family -- or all three simultaneously. Essentially, it meant "household," and it's a term that came up plenty in the New Testament. In the Bible, "oikos" is used to simply mean "house," or "household" -- but also has a connotation of the house of God and the household of God. This begins to explain why a Christian school -- or church -- would apply this name.
Our calls to the Oakland university were answered by people whose minds were
on other things -- and who did not speak enough English to answer
questions. Since Dannon didn't get back to us, we're going to assume the makers of the yogurt chose this name because it sounded Greek and was more pleasant to the ear than other Greek terms -- like "austerity," "default," and "currency crisis."
(Branding expert Rob Frankel, by the way, says Dannon needs to "go silent for a little while" and consumers won't make the association with mass-murder three months down the road. He does not believe Oikos yogurt will face the same fate as 1970s dietary candies Ayds -- which is pronounced "aids." The notion of "losing weight on the Ayds diet plan!" was not so desirable during the 1980s AIDS epidemic).
Incidentally, per Oikos University's doctrinal statement, the school's operating philosophy includes a belief in biblical infallibility; "the full historicity and perspicuity of the biblical record of the primeval history, including the literal existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the literal fall and resultant divine curse on the creation, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge, and the origin of nations and languages at the tower of Babel"; the biblical account of creation in "six literal days," and; "the existence of a personal, malevolent being called Satan who acts as tempter and accuser, for whom the place of eternal punishment was prepared, where all who die outside of Christ shall be confined in conscious torment for eternity. He can be resisted by the believer through faith and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit."
Sadly, it seems a personal, malevolent being of a more corporeal sort has introduced us to Oikos University.
Bio:
Joe Eskenazi was born in San Francisco, raised in the Bay Area, and attended U.C. Berkeley. He never left.
"Your humble narrator" was a staff writer and columnist for SF Weekly from 2007 to 2015.
He resides in the Excelsior with his wife, 4.3 miles from his birthplace and 5,474 from hers.
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.'"
