Movie Cliches We’re Tired of Seeing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

Nobody wants to hear or see movie spoilers! — this is an unofficial rule now. However, even though we can’t banish people because of spoiling the storyline, it’s not like some movies have many revelations and plot twists left undisclosed anyway! After all, most of us have been saturated with movie cliches to a point that, more often than not, we can already anticipate what the film or series will revolve around — and the traits and personalities of characters who were cast to take on the role.Movie cliches we know all too well by now:6 Movie Cliches and StorylinesThe Good Guy/Girl Always WinsWho do you root for in movies about good vs. evil? Of course, it’s almost always the good guy or girl! But, wait — it can’t be an easy win for the protagonist. They always have to carry romantic, financial, physical, and mental baggage. It’s going to be a difficult journey for them, to say the least. But this underdog — you might not be ready for this! — always wins!Hottie Falls in Love With Not...

New script for state final: Instead of Sierra Canyon, Mitty girls prepare for Etiwanda

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

As Archbishop Mitty, at long last healthy, ascended to the top of girls basketball in the northern half of the state with one blowout victory after another, the last matchup in the journey seemed preordained.But even certainties have off nights.Mitty did its part, rolling through two overmatched opponents in the regionals after shredding four others in the sectionals. Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth fell short, the Trailblazers’ bid for an undefeated season and a third Open Division state championship since 2019 going up in flames just as Mitty posed for a team picture Tuesday night to commemorate its regional title.Instead of a rematch against Sierra Canyon, the school that routed Mitty in last year’s state Open final, the San Jose powerhouse will face Etiwanda for the title on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.Instead of Mitty’s McKenna Woliczko and Morgan Cheli vs. Sierra Canyon superstar Juju Watkins, it’ll be Cheli and Woliczko against Etiwanda’s Kennedy Smith and Aliyah...

Oakland and lender seek “win-win” rescue for Holy Names University

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

OAKLAND — Holy Names University in Oakland might remain an educational institution if a “win-win” remedy is found to cure the college’s dire financial ailments, city officials and a lender for the property believe.Several Oakland city leaders have released a letter that urges school officials to work with the municipality and the lender for the property to craft a solution to ensure the site continues as an education center.“We request your collaboration with us, Preston Hollow Community Capital and other stakeholders to preserve Holy Name’s current site use for the purposes of higher education,” the Oakland city officials wrote in the letter.Deputy Oakland Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield, Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Councilmember Carroll Fife and Councilmember Janani Ramachandran signed the letter.RELATED: East Bay university faces default on loan for its huge property“Holy Names University provides vital community needs by expanding access t...

Santa Clara County court backlog comes back into focus after DA summit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

SAN JOSE — A running backlog of criminal cases is a much bigger problem in the South Bay than it is in neighboring jurisdictions, with Santa Clara County recovering more slowly from a raft of pandemic-fueled closures and restrictions, according to officials in the local criminal-justice system.District Attorney Jeff Rosen said he got a firmer understanding of how behind the county is relative to its regional peers after he hosted an assembly of a dozen top prosecutors from the greater Bay Area last week.“At a high level, we’re an outlier because even in the Bay Area, our courts narrowed what what they were doing significantly, and really shut down operations except what was absolutely essential,” he said in an interview with the Bay Area News Group. “Other counties, except for San Francisco, were more open.”“We have a crisis,” Rosen added. “When I was trying murder cases (prior to becoming DA), we told the families of murder vict...

Two injured in I-880 collision involving Red Cross van

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

OAKLAND — Thanks to great teamwork by first responders, a potential medical emergency was averted Wednesday night after a collision between a Red Cross van carrying blood and another vehicle on Interstate 880 in East Oakland, authorities said.None of the blood was damaged, authorities said.The collision happened about 10:46 p.m. Wednesday in southbound Interstate 880 lanes just north of 66th Avenue, the California Highway Patrol said.A van belonging to the Red Cross collided with a Nissan Xterra sport-utility vehicle, causing the Nissan to roll over, the CHP said.Oakland Fire Department firefighters also responded, with an arriving battalion chief finding the two overturned vehicles with two injured people, including one trapped inside, Oakland Fire spokesman Michael Hunt said.After extricating the Nissan’s driver, both drivers were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not available Thursday night.A fire department dispatcher handling the call “...

Bay Area storm: Atmospheric river rocks Bay Area, causing closures, evacuations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

The latest atmospheric river storm system walloped the Bay Area on Thursday evening into Friday morning, unleashing a powerful combination of rainfall and gusty winds that left roads flooded and trees leveled.A vast majority of the storm’s rain fell in Thursday evening or later. According to National Weather Service 12-hour rain totals around 5 a.m. Friday, most Bay Area urban population centers hovered near the one-inch mark. San Jose received .88 inches, slightly more than downtown San Francisco’s .77. Other measurements along the Peninsula and in the South Bay included 1.23 in Redwood City, .99 in Palo Alto, 1.15 in Sunnyvale and .98 in Mountain View.The rain packed a stronger punch in East Bay communities as many communities cleared the one-inch hurdle with ease. Oakland saw a considerable amount of rain at 1.47 inches, while Walnut Creek was at 1.30. Other totals included 1.13 in Concord, 1.23 in Hayward, .96 in Hayward and 1.43 in Fremont. Most inland communities s...

Oakland rent falls year over year: Data

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

(STACKER) -- The last few years have shown costs rising due to inflation—from the price of groceries and utility bills to travel and entertainment. But one of the hardest pills to swallow has been the rising cost of rent across the U.S. As the largest expense in most Americans' budgets, high housing costs drive up the overall cost of living and require careful planning.Many cities saw rent skyrocket from 2021 to 2022. At the end of 2022, rent prices were up 4% compared to the year before. But it's not all bad news. According to Apartment List, rents fell 0.8% nationally in December 2022 compared to the month before. A bit of this decline can be attributed to seasonal trends, but it was the fourth straight month of dropping rent nationwide. Some cities are seeing this trend more than others.Rentlodex ranked large cities experiencing the slowest rent increases and even decreases from December 2021 to December 2022, using data from Apartment List.The analysis includes U.S. cities with ...

2 Bay Area suburbs named best for young millennials

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

(STACKER) -- Big cities have always attracted people who are starting over—or just starting out. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend toward moving to suburbs emerged, especially among millennials, those who were born between 1981 and 1996.Although suburbs are often dismissed as uncool or sleepy, they have recently become more popular among millennials as a comparatively affordable alternative to city life. Suburban areas boosted in popularity during the pandemic when more people were able to work from home, according to Census Bureau findings—so much so that suburban housing prices increased more quickly than housing in metropolitan areas during the pandemic.Even when millennials move from cities to suburbs, though, they're often looking for some of the comforts and lifestyle habits they're leaving behind. Mixed-use walkable developments in suburbs have been a major draw for millennials who don't want to give up the ease of getting around cities. In recent years, suburbs have ...

Ohtani leads Japan over South Korea 13-4 at World Classic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani doubled and singled for his second straight two-hit game, and Japan overcame a three-run deficit to beat South Korea 13-4 Friday night for its second straight win at the World Baseball Classic.Ohtani was intentionally walked as Japan scored four runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead, doubled and scored in a two-run fifth and hit an RBI single in a five-run sixth. The two-way star is 4 for 7 with two doubles, three RBIs and four walks in Japan’s two games while allowing one hit over four scoreless innings on the mound.Masataka Yoshida had three hits and five RBIs for Japan.The Czech Republic defeated China 8-5 in the other Group B game as Martin Muzik hit a go-ahead, three-run homer following a double by his brother Matej in a four-run top of the ninth.In Group A, Cuba beat Panama 13-4 as Yoán Moncada and Yadil Mujica drove in four runs each, and host Taiwan defeated Italy 11-7.JAPAN 13, SOUTH KOREA 4TOKYO (AP) — South Korea fell to 0-2 af...