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Siskel & Ebert changed the way we talked about movies. A new book shows how.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

I have a distinct childhood television-watching memory of watching two schlubby Chicago film critics talk about a movie about a fictional British rock band in freefall from their arena-filling heyday.The reviewers were, of course, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert; the film was of course, “This is Spinal Tap.” This being 1980s Billings, Montana, I had to wait a full calendar year to rent Spinal Tap on VHS, but there is no hyperbole when I say that five-minute TV review permanently altered my cultural awareness and future professional life.Related: Sign up for our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and moreScreencrush editor Matt Singer’s new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever” tells the duo’s story, from a disastrous 1975 public television debut through the show’s successful syndication years, a plethora of memorable David Letterman appearances, and a rotating cast of co-hosts after Siskel died of brain cancer in 1999 at the age of 53....

Supernatural powers or not, some animals are Halloween symbols

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

Halloween is the season for ghosts, ghouls, goblins… and animals! As the Halloween décor takes over our neighborhoods, you’re likely to see some furry, hairy and feathered creatures among the jack-o-lanterns and skeletons.Have you ever wondered why certain animals are associated with this spooky holiday? Here are a few of the most iconic Halloween animals and their origins.BatsBram Stoker’s “Dracula” (1897) may have popularized the image of a vampire shapeshifting into a bat, but the association between bats and vampires has been around for much longer. The appropriately named vampire bat drinks the blood of other animals (though, unlike Dracula, does not commonly feed off people).Luckily for us SoCal humans, our local bats eat only insects, such as moths and mosquitoes. Bats, as nocturnal pollinators, also play an important role in our ecosystem. But, this doesn’t mean you should get too friendly with them.The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions that bats are th...

Photos: 49ers’ third straight loss, 31-17 fall to the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

SANTA CLARA – A home game disappointing third straight loss for the 49ers is the first loss at Levi’s Stadium in 12 games, dating back to Oct. 23, 2022.  The 49ers (5-3) are now in second place in the NFC West behind Seattle (5-2).Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | Say goodbye to ‘Brocktober’: Purdy turnovers costly for 49ers against Bengals San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: Coaching, QB failures have 49ers sliding down NFL pecking order San Francisco 49ers | What the 49ers are saying after losing to Bengals San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ third straight loss, a 31-17 stinker vs. Bengals San Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ Studs and Duds: Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is giving the Niners no chance to win Purdy finished 21-of-30 passing for 324 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked twice, including that fumble on the final play of the 49ers’ la...

Here’s what Americans fear the most in 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

Our fears and how they’ve changedWith Halloween days away, we thought we’d take a look at Chapman University’s Survey of American Fears.The surveyThe goal of the Chapman University Survey of American Fears is to collect annual data on the fears, worries and concerns of Americans, and how those fears are associated with other attitudes and behaviors. There were 97 topics, ranging from government, health and environmental matters to disaster preparedness, the paranormal and personal anxieties. This year’s survey was conducted by SSRS research online via the SSRS Opinion Panel and invited adults ages 18 and older to participate. There were 1,014 participants and the data was collected from March 27 to April 4.Biggest fearSkepticism of government is baked into America’s political culture and fear of corrupt government officials has remained the No. 1 fear in America since first topping the chart in 2015. However, the percentage of respondents who are very afraid or afraid of corrupt gov...

Former California planning official tailored child porn to LAUSD teacher’s liking, police allege

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

A Los Angeles high school teacher caught up in the child pornography case against a former Redlands planning commissioner allegedly sent suggestive photos taken of girls on campus and asked the commissioner for pornographic images in return that fit the same look, according to a search warrant affidavit.Rene Gregorio Estrella, a now-banned teacher at the School of Business and Tourism at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex near downtown Los Angeles, was arrested Oct. 18 based on data collected from the cellphone of Steven Frasher, who resigned from the Redlands Planning Commission two days after his arrest Oct. 3.Estrella also is identified as “Greg” in the affidavit, as that was the name that appeared in Frasher’s phone contacts when San Bernardino police scrubbed it for evidence, according to the affidavit obtained by the Southern California News Group.The affidavit alleges the two men “exchanged multiple photos of adult and child pornography,” and cites a conversation they had cons...

Word Game: Oct. 30, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — AMPUTATE (AMPUTATE: AM-pyuh-tate: To remove by cutting, especially a body part.)Average mark 16 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 20 or more words in AMPUTATE? The list will be published tomorrow.SATURDAY’S WORD — STABILITY sail salt salty sibyl silt silty slab slat slaty slay slit stab stably stat stay stilt tail tastily tasty tibia tilt ability ably alibi alit atilt bail bait basil batty bialy bias bitsy bitt bitty blast blat ibis laity last listTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wor...

Alexandria farm looks for volunteers to aid with harvest season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

This is part of WTOP’s continuing coverage of people making a difference from our community authored by Stephanie Gaines-Bryant. Read more of that coverage.Arcadia in Greek mythology is known as a pastural paradise where there’s enough for everyone, including plants, animals and humans. One Alexandria, Virginia, farm said that’s what it’s trying to create: “a place of plenty, inclusion and community.”Pamela Hess, executive director of the nonprofit Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, said the farm — located on the grounds of Woodlawn Estate with the Pope-Leighey House — is asking for volunteers each Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. throughout this harvest season.“If you want to learn how to grow your own food, there’s no better way there’s no better way than to do that next to a professional,” Hess said.Hess said their mission is to cultivate vibrant local food systems that prioritize health equity and sustainability...

BGC Group: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — BGC Group, Inc. (BGC) on Monday reported third-quarter profit of $16 million.The New York-based company said it had earnings of 3 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 19 cents per share.The brokerage company posted revenue of $482.7 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $482.7 million, exceeding Street forecasts.For the current quarter ending in December, BGC Group said it expects revenue in the range of $450 million to $500 million.BGC Group shares have increased 53% since the beginning of the year. The stock has climbed 45% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BGC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BGCSource

Court arguments on blocking Trump from the presidential ballot under the ‘insurrection’ clause begin

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The campaign to use the U.S. Constitution’s “insurrection” clause to bar former President Donald Trump from running for the White House again enters a new phase this week as hearings begin in two states on lawsuits that might end up reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.A weeklong hearing on one lawsuit to bar Trump from the ballot in Colorado begins Monday, while on Thursday oral arguments are scheduled before the Minnesota Supreme Court on an effort to kick the Republican former president off the ballot in that state.Whether the judges keep Trump on the ballot or boot him, their rulings are likely to be swiftly appealed, eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court. The nation’s highest court has never ruled on the Civil War-era provision in the 14th Amendment that prohibits those who swore an oath to uphold the constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it from holding higher office.“We’ve had hearings with presidential candidates debating their eli...

SJW: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:17:50 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — SJW Corp. (SJW) on Monday reported net income of $36.2 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the San Jose, California-based company said it had net income of $1.13.The parent of San Jose Water Co. posted revenue of $204.8 million in the period.SJW expects full-year earnings to be $2.65 to $2.70 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SJW at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SJWSource