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Review: Cage is brilliant in the weirdly fascinating ‘Dream Scenario’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

By Jocelyn Noveck | Associated PressQuick: What’s a good adjective for Nicolas Cage’s screen presence? Mercurial, perhaps? Volcanic? Volatile?How about mundane, schlubby, average? Not the page we’d think to turn to in our Roget’s Thesaurus.Yet here Cage is, channeling his inner drabness to chillingly comic effect in Kristoffer Borgli’s “Dream Scenario.” As Paul Matthews (heck, even the name is drab), a college professor at nowhere famous, he performs his job with perfect mediocrity, and seems a fairly mediocre husband and dad, too. With his graying beard, wire-rimmed specs and shiny bald spot, Cage’s Paul is the guy in the room you ignore.Until, suddenly, you can’t. Because something weird starts happening. Paul starts appearing in people’s dreams. Everyone’s dreams.The premise is delicious — and precarious. It recalled for me the setup in a very different movie, “Yesterday,” where only one guy on Earth re...

Crocker Highlands beauty

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

This property has been loved by the same family for 35 years. It’s perched on a gentle slope with views of S.F. Bay from the primary en suite and living room.This view home features six bedrooms, a verdant flat yard and a fabulous neighborhood. The main house boasts six bedrooms and four bathrooms; several of which could double as work-from-home offices, a gym or space for visiting guests. The basement has a guest en suite with separate entrance and large rec room, which is perfect for multigenerational living or boomerang kids.The long driveway leads to a spacious detached garage and a verdant flat yard.This is a fantastic neighborhood near Grand Lake /Lake Merritt shopping and Park Boulevard as well as good freeway access.Location: 1118 Clarendon Crescent, Oakland 94610  http://www.crockerhighlandsbeauty.comContact: Herman Chan at (415) 787-3450, Lic. 01395481Price: $2,000,000

Single family residence sells for $6.5 million in Saratoga

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

14836 Three Oaks Court – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 14800 block of Three Oaks Court in Saratoga has new owners. The 4,599-square-foot property, built in 1990, was sold on Oct. 23, 2023, for $6,533,000, or $1,421 per square foot. The layout of this single-story home includes three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The home’s exterior showcases roofing materials crafted from wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. In addition, the house includes a three-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by both a spa and a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:A 3,789-square-foot home on the 14800 block of Farwell Avenue in Saratoga sold in November 2022, for $4,600,000, a price per square foot of $1,214. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.In August 2022, a 3,770-square-foot home on Mendelsohn Lane in Sarat...

Spain calls up Girona midfielder Aleix García for final 2 European qualifiers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called up four new players, including Girona midfielder Aleix García, on Friday for the final two European Championship qualifiers, with a place in next year’s tournament already secured.Spain ensured it will be among the 24 teams playing in Germany after winning at Norway 1-0 last month.The three-time winner will close out the qualifying phase by visiting Cyprus on Thursday and hosting Georgia three days later.García, 26, has helped Girona far exceed expectations to lead the Spanish league ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona after losing just once in 12 games.In addition to García, De la Fuente could also give debuts to Bayer Leverkusen left back Alejandro Grimaldo, Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo Riquelme and Real Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro after including them in his 25-man squad.___Spain:Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad)Defenders: Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Robin Le No...

Petrobras: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

RIO DE JANERIO RJ BR, Brazil (AP) — RIO DE JANERIO RJ BR, Brazil (AP) — Petroleo Brasileiro SA – Petrobras (PBR) on Friday reported third-quarter net income of $5.46 billion.On a per-share basis, the Rio De Janerio Rj Br, Brazil-based company said it had net income of 84 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 86 cents per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 90 cents per share.The oil and gas company posted revenue of $25.55 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PBR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PBRSource

Wynn joins Caesars and MGM in reaching tentative deal to avoid a strike by Las Vegas hotel workers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Over seven months of tense negotiations, mandatory daily room cleanings underscored the big issues that Las Vegas union hotel workers were fighting to address in their first contracts since the pandemic: job security, better working conditions and safety while on the job.From the onset of bargaining, Ted Pappageorge, the chief contract negotiator for the Culinary Workers Union, had said tens of thousands of workers whose contracts expired earlier this year would be willing to go on strike to make daily room cleanings mandatory.“Las Vegas needs to be full service,” he said last month.It was a message that Pappageorge and the workers would repeat for months as negotiations ramped up and the union threatened to go on strike if they didn’t have contracts by first light on Friday with MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts.But by dawn Friday, the union had secured tentative labor deals with MGM Resorts, Caesars and Wynn Resorts, nar...

China Automotive Systems: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

JINGZHOU, China (AP) — JINGZHOU, China (AP) — China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS) on Friday reported third-quarter earnings of $9.5 million.The Jingzhou, China-based company said it had net income of 31 cents per share.The auto parts supplier posted revenue of $137.5 million in the period.China Automotive Systems expects full-year revenue of $560 million.The company’s shares closed at $3.43. A year ago, they were trading at $4.02._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CAAS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CAASSource

Receiver CeeDee Lamb goes off for Cowboys after sounding off about getting the ball

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — CeeDee Lamb says he doesn’t think the best stretch of his career happens without the Dallas receiver sounding off about his limited role in the blowout loss to San Francisco that preceded it.Dak Prescott doesn’t want to downplay the conversations that grew out of that humbling day in California, but says the way that 42-10 loss played out was “just different.”Coach Mike McCarthy tends to agree with his quarterback on whether Lamb’s current run of three consecutive 100-yard games was sparked by the visible frustration from Lamb against the Niners.“It’s a great story, but I think he played this way last year, in my opinion,” McCarthy said. “Everybody is frustrated, and I appreciate those conversations. I don’t know if I’d say it’s a catalyst. I’d say it’s a reminder of what he can do with the ball.”To McCarthy’s point, it’s not the first time Lamb has caught at least 100 yards in passes in three straight games. But it’s the firs...

Analysis: Bill Belichick should get another opportunity if he wants to keep coaching after Patriots

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.___Bill Belichick has won six Super Bowls as a head coach and more games than everyone except Don Shula.That won’t save his job in New England if the Patriots keep losing.Belichick’s future is a hot topic as the Patriots (2-7) prepare to play the Indianapolis Colts (4-5) in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday. There even was speculation this week that Belichick could be fired if New England loses to Indianapolis.Belichick presided over an unprecedented, two-decade run of excellence, but the Patriots have steadily declined since Tom Brady departed after the 2019 season. New England’s dismal start this year is the franchise’s worst since Belichick’s first season with the team in 2000.Since Brady left, the Patriots are 27-33, including a playoff loss. In 24 seasons as a head coach with New England and five previously with Cleveland, Belichick is 82-97 in games Brady hasn’t started.B...

Dozens of principals have left Fairfax Co. schools since 2020, data show

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:14:24 GMT

Dozens of Fairfax County Public School principals have left the district in the last few years, according to data obtained by WTOP.Since the 2020-21 school year, 53 principals have retired or resigned from Virginia’s largest school system, according to data obtained by WTOP through a Freedom of Information Act request. However, some of those who retired only retired from Fairfax County.Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland’s second-largest school system, reported 43 principal retirements and resignations in the last three school years. Loudoun County Public Schools reported nine over that same span.In addition to pandemic-related burnout, which prompted educators to leave the profession across the country, three former Fairfax Co. principals said their decisions were fueled by growing pressures to overcome learning loss, a disconnect with central school system offices about what they think is happening in schools compared to what’s actually happenin...