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Collisions with buildings are killing millions of birds nationwide. A dark-sky movement to save them is sweeping the Bay Area.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

Shani Kleinhaus can quickly recognize a window that kills birds.“Often, I can see the pattern of the collision on the window, like the bird’s outline and wing shape,” she says.Where she doesn’t see such evidence is at the Environmental Education Center on McClellan Ranch Preserve in Cupertino — right next to the offices of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. Kleinhaus, who serves as the chapter’s environmental advocate, points to thin vertical black lines that streak the building’s windows.“The important thing is to make the glass visible to birds with some kind of visual cue,” Kleinhaus explains. “In this case, they used this ceramic pattern of dark lines in the glass, but there are all kinds of patterns you can use.”The center’s outdoor lights, too, have been designed with migrating birds in mind.“You can see it’s very targeted,” says Kleinhaus. “It only highlights the pathway that goes to the door. If you step a few feet away, you can’t see the bulbs because...

Kurtenbach: Cancel the coronation — the 49ers’ embarrassing loss to Baltimore is a gut-check that will make or break the San Francisco’s season

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

SANTA CLARA — If you’re a 49ers fan who received Super Bowl tickets for Christmas, you might want to ask for a gift receipt.That’s because the showdown between the AFC and NFC’s top seeds, the Ravens and Niners — the biggest game of the regular season — didn’t turn out to be much of a contest.Brock Purdy threw four interceptions, the 49ers’ defense was carved up like a holiday roast by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, and the Niners were blown out 33-19 at home in front of a national television audience.This was too big a game to chalk up as unimportant or uninformative. Bad luck or injuries had nothing to do with the loss.“We got our tails kicked in,” George Kittle said.And that’s the first time that’s really happened to the Niners this season without an obvious excuse.Yes, San Francisco went up against a worthy adversary and didn’t look worthy of the stage.That’s the kind of loss that throws everything into questio...

Photos: San Francisco 49ers crushed by Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day in Brock Purdy’s worst game ever as a starter

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mark Purdy’s 42.6 passer rating was his worst as the 49ers’ starter during their Christmas Day loss to the Baltimore Ravens.Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers report card: More wrong than Brock Purdy’s career-high four interceptions San Francisco 49ers | 49ers Studs and Duds: Coal for Purdy after a Christmas debacle vs. the Ravens San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ 33-19 defeat, Purdy’s fiasco against Ravens San Francisco 49ers | Gloating Baltimore Ravens say Lamar Jackson, not Purdy or McCaffrey, should be MVP frontrunner San Francisco 49ers | Purdy throws 4 INT, Niners lose 33-19 In addition to four interceptions, he finished 18-of-32 for 255 yards as the Grinch stole their win.“The first (interception) was a big mistake, and the other three were pretty unfortunate,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said.This meeting was billed as a showd...

Real estate group buys San Jose motel ahead of homeless conversion

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

SAN JOSE — A motel in downtown San Jose has been bought by real estate allies who intend to convert the property into a complex to house homeless people.PATH Ventures, a nonprofit; and Westbank, a big real estate developer with a global reach, have teamed up to purchase downtown San Jose’s Pacific Motor Inn.The alliance, operating as PMI Partners, paid $18 million for the Pacific Motor Inn property at 455 South Second Street in San Jose’s SoFA district, according to documents filed on Dec. 22 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.Related ArticlesHousing | Hundreds of new Bay Area housing units could be left sitting vacant as they await PG&E equipment Housing | Sales finally begin at fraud-tied San Jose housing development Housing | Three big Menlo Park towers are now eyed at ex-Sunset Magazine campus Housing | Thousands of seniors want to live on a 30 acres East Bay development. A 50-squar...

Medical tech titan goes on real estate shopping spree in South Bay

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

SANTA CLARA — A medical device titan has launched a new stage of a years-long shopping spree for Silicon Valley real estate, a buying binge during which the healthcare tech firm has spent hundreds of millions of dollars.Intuitive Surgical has bought several properties at and near the corner of Kifer Road and Lawrence Expressway, paying a combined total of $157 million for the parcels, documents filed on Dec. 22 show.Sunnyvale-based Intuitive bought the properties in three all-cash transactions. In each instance, the seller wasThese are far from the only properties that Intuitive Surgical has bought in recent years in this vicinity, according to public real estate records.Over five years that started in January 2017 and stretched through January 2022, Intuitive Surgical spent at least $114.3 million purchasing numerous properties in Sunnyvale, a remarkable shopping spree that has greatly widened the company’s footprint in the area.This means that Intuitive Surgical has sp...

49ers report card: More wrong than Brock Purdy’s career-high four interceptions

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Here is how the 49ers (11-4) graded in Monday night’s 33-19 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens (12-3):PASS OFFENSE: FBrock Purdy had a career-high four passes intercepted, starting with his most egregious – a late throw into the end zone rather than proceed through his progression, thus spoiling a very promising opening series. The next two interceptions came off deflections, and the fourth came only three minutes after halftime, when Purdy was hit while throwing. He left with eight minutes remaining when he got sacked and sustained a nerve-tingling stinger, his second such injury in as many games. Neither he nor Shanahan expressed long-term concern about that nerve issue which shoots pain and numbed Purdy’s left arm, but it’s not trending in the right direction. Purdy’s 4,050 yards are the third-most in a 49ers season. The offensive line didn’t help matters, and now it’s got injury issues with left tackle Trent Williams (groin), left guard Aaron Banks (toe) and backup ...

Feldman: Colorado ruling disqualifying Trump unlikely to stand

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

In a remarkable plot twist, the Colorado Supreme Court has found that former President Donald Trump must be excluded from the state’s primary ballot because he engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Now the pressure is on the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, on which the Colorado court relied, truly does block Trump from the ballot.This would be a historic case, to say the least. If the justices rule directly on whether Trump is disqualified under the Constitution, their ruling would apply in every state, not only Colorado.If you’re one of those people who want the justices to save us from the shame and danger of reelecting a president who tried to break democracy in his first term, try not to get too hopeful. Given the unprecedented nature of the case and the court’s composition, it’s likely that the justices will overturn the Colorado decision.Justices’ optionsThe high court has several means at its disposal to overturn the Colorado rul...

Here are 7 of the well-known companies that went bankrupt in 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

By Ramishah Maruf | CNNNew York  — It’s been a rough year for some household-name US retailers and businesses. As the economy emerged out of the Covid-19 pandemic, companies faced a laundry list of problems arising from high costs, supply shortages and growing competition.As a result, several big names filed for bankruptcy in 2023.A bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean a business is going bust, of course. Many businesses in the US file for bankruptcy to wind down some operations, shed debt and save on costs. A common route is Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows the company to solve its financial problems through reorganization.WeWorkWeWork had a wild ride in 2023. Once the nation’s most valuable start-up, the company seemed poised to remake the nature of work in America. Some compare its meteoric rise and chaotic, high-profile fall to the Fyre Festival and FTX fiascos.The beleaguered coworking-space company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November. It was not much of a surprise. T...

What to do when someone gives you a gift you don’t really want

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

By Taylor Nicioli | CNNWhen Abby Eckel saw the small jewelry gift bag her husband gave her for her birthday, she thought she knew exactly what was inside — a ring with a morganite gemstone that she had requested. But when Eckel opened the package and saw a necklace instead, she couldn’t hide her disappointment.“It was like this inner turmoil and conversation I was having with myself of like, do I say something? Or should I just be happy with what I received?” Eckel recalled.Eckel knew she wouldn’t wear the necklace since she has specific preferences about her jewelry. But now her husband had given her something she didn’t love, and she felt guilty for being disappointed.For many people, this disappointment — followed by guilt — is natural after receiving a gift that just doesn’t feel like you. It could be that annual sweater from your parents that isn’t in your size, a T-shirt with a band logo on it that you loved as a teen (but not anymore), or a piece of silver jewelry when you on...

Not so fast: You could toss your poinsettias, or help them ‘bloom’ again next year

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:35 GMT

I tend to view holiday decorations strictly as anticipatory objects. They’re lovely leading up to the big day, but as soon as midnight strikes, I’m ready to drag the Jack-O-Lantern or Christmas tree to the curb. Not so with poinsettias, however. The red and white “flowering” beauties can be kept year-round. And with the proper care and attention, they’ll “rebloom” just in time for next year’s festivities. (I’ve used quotes around “flowering” and “rebloom” because, technically, poinsettias do neither. Those red or white “petals” aren’t what they seem. They’re actually bracts, which are colorful modified leaves. But let’s call them “flowers” here for simplicity’s sake).Growing poinsettias as houseplants is pretty simple: Provide water, sunlight and occasional fertilizer, and they’ll be happy. Getting poinsettias to bloom again next December? is another story altogether. But if you’re up for a fun challenge, here’s how:1. After the holidays, set plants in a sunny spot, watering as need...