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If Disney can't make money on streaming, who can?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

Shares of Walt Disney Co. fell by 9% Thursday after the company revealed not just another quarter of massive streaming losses but also that 4 million Disney+ subscribers canceled their subscriptions.Disney's direct-to-consumer division, which includes its Disney+ and Hulu streaming services, lost $659 million in the most recent quarter.Some saw that as good news in light of the $1.1 billion loss in the prior quarter and a $1.5 billion loss in the three months before that.However, the narrower loss wasn't due to a surge in new sign-ups -- as noted above, Disney+ said adios to millions of subscribers.It was due to price hikes that boosted revenue, which means Disney is now squeezing more cash out of fewer people.This isn't a winning strategy, but Disney is by no means alone in scrambling to figure out a sustainable streaming business model. Most of the major streaming services continue bleeding cash.In a sense, it's a no-win situation. They're all investing heavily in content to attra...

Popular hot sauce brand Cholula expanding into salsas, seasonings

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

The makers of one of the most popular hot sauce brands in the world have released a slate of new products that are already on grocery store shelves across the country.Lovers of Cholula can now choose between three types of Cholula-branded salsa and three taco seasoning mixes. McCormick & Company, the makers of the popular hot sauce, say it's the first time the brand has expanded into new products."We're excited to expand beyond the sauce category and into the mainstream Mexican aisle to deliver that delicious flavor and balanced heat to passionate Cholula fans in new and exciting ways," said Valda Coryat, North America Vice President of Marketing for McCormick & Company. "Flavor runs in the Cholula family and our salsas and taco seasoning mixes are no exception to the motherload of mouthwatering taste we bring to each and every recipe." McCormick said the new products are made with "fresh and quality ingredients like Mexican chiles, herbs and spices," which it says delivers ...

Rihanna and ASAP Rocky's son's name revealed

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky found love not only with each other but with their first child.As the couple currently awaits the arrival of baby number two, fans have now learned the name of their son as he approaches his first birthday. Daily Mail obtained the live birth certificate for the child and learned his name is RZA Athelston Mayers. Rihanna buys L.A. ‘Mansion in the Sky’ formerly owned by Matthew Perry Hip-hop fans will note the first name pays homage to Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The early '90s rap group from Staten Island included RZA, Method Man, the late- Ol' Dirty Bastard, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa. The artists are known for hits like "C.R.E.A.M.," an acronym for Cash Rules Everything Around Me, "Wu-Tang," and "Protect Ya Neck." Rihanna is pregnant with second child, reps confirm The birth certificate shows that little RZA shares the same middle name as his father, whose real name is Rakim Athelston Mayers. The couple's baby is ...

This SF ‘Romeo & Juliet’ has something new — a happy ending

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

Everybody knows “Romeo and Juliet.” Two teenagers from feuding families fall in love and secretly marry, and then a whole lot of things go horribly wrong.And then they live happily ever after.Wait, what?Adapted and directed by artistic director L. Peter Callender, the new version of Shakespeare’s play that African-American Shakespeare Company is presenting at San Francisco’s Marines’ Memorial Theatre beginning May 12 takes some substantial liberties with the text. Most notably, it has a happy ending.“I got a bit wary of the dead bodies on stage at the end of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’” Callender says. “I’m very concerned about teenage suicide in America. I’m very concerned that teenagers feel that there’s no hope, that no matter what they do, adults or the government or society just can’t do anything for them. So I just want teenagers especially to understand that there’s always hope. Don’t give up.”Long an acclaimed Bay Area actor and director, Callende...

Report: Ex-Marine to be charged in NYC subway chokehold death

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

By John Miller | CNNDaniel Penny, the US Marine veteran who held Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold aboard a New York train, is expected to surrender to police on Friday morning following a decision by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to move ahead with a charge of manslaughter, two sources familiar with the case told CNN.Neely, 30, was restrained May 1 on a Manhattan subway by Penny, 24, after Neely began shouting he was hungry, thirsty and had little to live for. His death has ignited protests while refocusing attention on struggles with homelessness and mental illness across America.The decision regarding the charge came Thursday afternoon after the DA’s office spent the weekend and much of this week going over the accounts of witnesses who were on the train, as well as video of the incident, the sources said.CNN has previously reported that the DA was considering whether to go ahead with charges or present the evidence to a grand jury and let them decide wheth...

The nine most expensive reported home sales in Fremont the week of May 1

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

A house in Fremont that sold for $3.4 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Fremont in the past week.In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.5 million, $925 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of May 1 even if the property may have been sold earlier.9. $1 million, condominium in the 36000 block of Soapberry cmn.The property in the 36000 block of Soapberry cmn. in Fremont has new owners. The price was $1,010,000. The condominium was built in 2007 and has a living area of 1,492 square feet. The price per square foot is $677. The condominium features 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.Soapberry cmn.8. $1 million, condominium in the 5700 block of Caprice cmn.A sale has been finalized for the condominium in the 5700 block of Caprice cmn. in Fremont. The price was $1,025,000 and the new owners took ove...

Hayward: Man charged with fatally shooting brother

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

HAYWARD — Alameda County prosecutors have charged a man with murdering his own brother in a March shooting, court records show.The homicide of 57-year-old Sammy Risti, which has not been previously reported, occurred around 2 p.m. March 1 at a home on the 200 block of Medford Avenue in Hayward, according to court records. Sammy Risti’s brother, Robert Risti, allegedly confessed to the killing as officers arrived, then later in a police interrogation room.Robert Risti has been in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin since March 1, on a no-bail hold. His arraignment, which was supposed to occur Thursday, has now been postponed twice. Risti is next scheduled to enter a plea on May 26, court records show.Authorities haven’t disclosed the suspected motive in the shooting.In addition to the murder count, Risti faces charges of assaulting another man with a gun — though it’s unclear from the charging records whether he allegedly fired at the victim or merely pointed the ...

Jury deliberates case against slain kids’ mom Vallow Daybell

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

By Rebecca Boone | Associated PressBOISE, Idaho — An Idaho jury is weighing the fate of a woman charged in the slayings of her two youngest children and a romantic rival in what prosecutors say was a strange doomsday-focused plot.Lori Vallow Daybell wanted the victims’ money, so she used sex and power to manipulate her brother and a lover into carrying out the crimes, Idaho prosecutors told jurors Thursday at the close of the weekslong case. The panel of 12 jurors began deliberations shortly after 2 p.m.” Money, power and sex,” Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood said, urging the jury to convict Lori Vallow Daybell in the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and her fifth husband’s previous wife Tammy Daybell.“What does justice for these victims require? It requires a conviction on each and every count,” Wood said.Defense attorney Jim Archibald countered that there was no evidence tying his client to the kill...

Gary Payton II still isn’t 100% from offseason core surgery, but he’s swinging Warriors-Lakers series

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Gary Payton II went from being the last man on the Warriors’ roster at the start of last season to being a player they needed so badly they traded away former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman to bring him back.That trade was nearly nixed due to the pain he still felt months after offseason surgery on a core muscle. Payton confirmed this week that he’s still not 100% now 10 months after the surgery, but the 30-year-old has asserted himself as a key piece to the puzzle that might swing the Western Conference semifinals in the Warriors’ favor.After falling down 2-1 in a series against the Los Angeles Lakers last weekend, the Warriors were in need of a change, and coach Steve Kerr had a solution.Kerr tapped Payton to start Game 4 at forward in place of JaMychal Green.The Warriors still lost that game, dipping into a dreaded 3-1 hole. But Payton stuck in the starting lineup for Game 5 Wednesday alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and D...

Outdoor spring cleaning: Get your patio or backyard warm-weather ready

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:35:02 GMT

Nothing jolts you into taking a fresh look at your outdoor living area faster than your first patio party of the season. Several colleagues had come to Orlando for a conference from colder climes, so I thought I would treat them to a spring evening al fresco in Florida.Me and my fat mouth, I think as I survey my outdoor living area and notice what I’d been conveniently ignoring: pollen-covered cushions, cobweb-draped lanterns, mold and algae on the wood trim. And when did those outdoor area rugs get so tired? I lift a throw pillow, and a lizard runs out.My patio needed a warm-weather refresh fast!“Mother Nature is hard on outdoor furniture,” said interior designer Patricia Gaylor, who splits her time between sunny Las Vegas and snowy New Hampshire. Sun, rain, wind, dirt and insects conspire to decompose all things outdoors. It’s our job to beat those elements back.I start by moving the patio furniture and pressure-washing the back of the house. Next, I vacuum the cushions, hose down...