News World 212

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Armed robbery in Vallejo leads to the arrest of two East Bay men

Unboxing EASTBAY

Two suspects were arrested following an armed robbery Friday night, police said.

Police received reports of two men with handguns seen entering a home on 9th Street near Solano Avenue around 8 p.m.

Responding officers found two men exiting the house, both with guns. Police told them to drop their weapons and both men ran. One man dropped his weapon and ran, while the other took off with weapon in hand and headed north on Rice Street.

One suspect was found under a truck next door to the victim"s home, police said. The suspect is identified as Devante Akheem Costello, 21, of Richmond.

Police sectioned off the block of Rice Street between 9th Street and Central Avenue after the suspect fled, and officers began searching the area.

Another man was later found at Solano Avenue and Central Street, one block away from the robbery. Police identified him as Quentin Gordon, 18, of Rodeo.

Both a .40-caliber handgun and a Beretta 9mm handgun were recovered, according to police.

The 35-year-old robbery victim was treated for head wounds. The suspects had tried to take a large amount of cash that was found in the victim"s home and may have known the alleged robbers, police said. ------ (c)2014 Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) Visit Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) at www.timesheraldonline.com

Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_27182060/armed-robbery-vallejo-leads-arrest-two-east-bay

East Bay events calendar, Dec. 20 and beyond

Eastbay Unboxing!!!

EAST BAY

Christmas Tours at Patterson House: Docent-led tours highlighting Victorian-inspired decorations and holiday traditions from the late 1800s. Tours at 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 20-21. 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. $3-$4; plus admission to Ardenwood Historic Farm, $2-$6. 888-327-2757, www.ebparks.org/register.

"Garden Friends and Not-Such-Friends": The Lafayette Garden Club presents this talk by Gary Bogue, former curator at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and longtime gardening and wildlife columnist. 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 1. Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Email cpoetzsch@gmail.com.

Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club: Presentation on therapeutic gardening by Patrice Hanlon. 7 p.m. Jan. 6. Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive. 925-944-4898, www.phgsc.com.

Source: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/lifestyle/20141220/east-bay-events-calendar-dec-20-and-beyond

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Did Nickelodeon Just Confirm "Legend of Korra" Same-s*x Romance?

The Legend of Korra Series Finale!!

Nickelodeons popular animated series Legend of Korra ended this week and appears to have confirmed a lesbian/bisexual love story, reports Gay Star News.

A romantic relationship between the lead character, Korra, and her friend Asami has long been thought to be a part of the shows subtext by many fans/shippers who lovingly refer to the two by the nickname Korrasami and in the final episode of the Avatar: The Last Airbender spin-off, Korra is shown taking Asamis hand as the two walk off together into the spirit world.

However, the shows ending a nod to the final scene of numerous Hollywood romances where characters embrace and ride off together into the sunset isnt the first time the creative minds behind the series have hinted Korra and Asami are more than friends.

Perceptive fans have long pointed out clues of Korrasamis romance, such as the season 4 episode Korra Alone where the two trade letters and express how much they miss one another while Korra asks Asami, Please dont tell [our male friends] Mako and Bolin I wrote to you and not them. I dont want to hurt their feelings. Its easier to tell you about this stuff.

While the ending isnt as obvious as a passionate kiss, that hasnt stopped many fans from feeling the final episode was enough to validate the relationship, and they took to sites like Reddit to express their excitement. IT HAPPENED. It totally happened, wrote one commenter. I"m almost in ecstatic shock at that ending. I mean, it"s really real, right?! Best ending ever!

The final episode is available to view now on Nick.com, but you can view the last scene in the video below.

Source: http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2014/12/20/did-nickelodeon-just-confirm-legend-korra-same-s*x-romance

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (20th Century Fox, PG)

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb movie review

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Written by Lea VrbelovThursday, 18 December 2014 22:26

We have seen it all before in the previous two movies; of course, that does not make it any less entertaining.

After a couple years of silence, we return to the story of Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), now promoted to director of nighttime operations, and his lively dusk-till-dawn experiences. Once again directed by Shawn Levy, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb starts off with an Indiana Jonesstyled flashback, taking us to the archaeological discovery of the magical Tablet of Akmenrah, which is responsible for all of the mystical powers given to the displays at the American Museum of Natural History.

During a gala dinner for all of Manhattans elite, the reopening of the Hayden Planetarium, we discover a glitch in the magic, with its malfunctioning exhibits attacking the valued guests. The problem of the corroding golden tablet is traced to Akmenrah (Rami Malek) and the Egyptian exhibition. Daley, his now teenage son Nicky (Skyler Gisondo, taking over from Jake Cherry), and all his companions head across the pond to London to get advice from Akmenrahs father Merenkahre (Ben Kingsley), attempting to fix the problem before it is too late and all of our dear friends are turned back to being lifeless wax statues forever.

Naturally, the rest of the films 97 minutes consist of our well-known company of Larrys friendsTeddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Jedediah (Owen Wilson), Octavius (Steve Coogan), Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), and the rude capuchin monkeyaccompanying him to play something between hide-and-seek and catch, at first only inside the British Museum, but later also outside, in the streets of London.

Even though this family adventure comedy brings in new facessuch as Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens) the knight in shining armor searching for the Holy Grail, Rebel Wilson as a s*x-deprived English security guard, and Laa (Daleys new Neanderthal ancestor addition, also played by Stiller), as well as a brief, yet unexpectedly funny appearance on a theater stage in London by Hugh Jackman and Andrea Martinnothing super innovative has been brought to the new installment of the series. We have seen it all before in the previous two movies; of course, that does not make it any less entertaining.

There are a few funny lines and moments (usually when Kingsley is present), just as there are the awkward, not-so-funny ones (all those previously used in the earlier movies), but in general, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a pleasant, easy watch. My favorite scene is a clever chase for the tablet of Akmenrah inside one of M. C. Eschers optical illusion prints Relativity, where the worlds rules of gravity do not apply.

Starring the late greats Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney in their final performances, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb gives a nice farewell to the museum seriesleaving the door cracked open a tiny bit, just in case. | Lea Vrbelov

Source: http://www.playbackstl.com/movie-reviews/13673-night-at-the-museum-secret-of-the-tomb-20th-century-fox-pg

Hackers: Sony Very Wise to Pull Film

Sony Hack: What They"re Not Telling You

Wants trailer pulled, too.

According to CNNs Brian Stelter, hackers of Sony Pictures has sent the company a messaging praising its decision to pullThe Interviewas a very wise decision. The collective had threatened attacks on theaters if the movie was not pulled. According to reports on Friday,the FBI has determinedthat North Korea was behind the hack. In the message, the hackers told Sony, "Now we want you never let the movie released, distributed or leaked in any form of, for instance, DVD or piracy." It reportedly went on to demand that, "everything related to the movie, including its trailers, as well as its full version down from any website hosting them immediately."

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/19/hackers-sony-very-wise-to-pull-film.html

Friday, December 19, 2014

Bears regroup and profess support for both Jimmy Clausen and Jay Cutler

Stephen A. Smith Goes Bonkers On Jay Cutler

Kyle Long said he found out via Twitter on Wednesday night that Jay Cutler would be benched for Sunday"s game against the Lions.

"Not ideal," Long said succinctly on Thursday.

Bears tight end teammate Martellus Bennett said he learned of the change via text message.

"My (tight ends) coach texted me," the laid-back Bennett said. "So I"m not really tripping."

In the impersonal, what-have-you-done-lately world of professional sports, good and bad news can travel fast.

With Jimmy Clausen getting the starting nod Sunday, his teammates profess to stand by their new man under center.

"We all stand behind Jimmy," Bennett said. "He has been improving since the day he got here. I am excited for him to get a chance to show the world what he can do. He will make some plays, and we still have guys around here who can make plays. Jimmy has to show up and do what Jimmy does and not worry about anything else but performing on the field."

Long has compassion for both Clausen and Cutler.

"Obviously it is not the ideal situation to be in when you are the No. 1 quarterback," Long said. "Jay"s a great guy. He"s a great teammate and he is somebody we"ve all leaned on when we"ve had some tough times. He has been able to pick us up.

"So we are here for Jay if need be. Jay"s a tough guy mentally, so I really feel like he is going to be as supportive for Jimmy right now."

Third-string rookie quarterback David Fales said he was told about the Cutler benching during a position meeting Wednesday.

"That"s the coach"s decision," Fales said. "The rest of the guys were all supportive of Jimmy and supportive of Jay."

Hush, hush: Asked Cutler"s reaction when told of his demotion, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said it was coach Marc Trestman"s decision.

"There is never a right time to change a quarterback," Kromer said. "It is an uncomfortable situation no matter what you do when you are changing anybody."

All aboard? If there is dissension in the Bears locker room with regard to coaches" personnel decisions, the players have yet to express it publicly.

"I don"t think there is a divided locker room here in regards to who we think should be playing," safety Ryan Mundy said. "We are still onboard with our coaching staff and the decisions they make are in the best interests of our football team."

Oh, brother: Bears rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller will face his brother, Lions receiver Corey Fuller, for the second time in less than a month on Sunday.

"Just like the first one (on Thanksgiving), we weren"t talking too much about it, "Kyle said. "We were definitely looking forward to it, but we were focused on what we had to do."

Injury list: Safety Chris Conte returned to practice Thursday after missing the Saints game Monday night. Meanwhile defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (knee) did not practice. Also sitting out practice were kicker Robbie Gould (right quad); wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (not injury related), cornerback Tim Jennings (ankle) and defensive tackle Will Sutton (illness).

fmitchell@tribpub.com

Twitter @kicker34

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bits-bears-spt-1219-20141218-story.html

Sources identify mystery man freed in historic US-Cuba deal

Timeline: Main events in US-Cuba relations

By Joe Johns and Dana Ford, CNN

updated 9:36 PM EST, Thu December 18, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Sources inside the government and out tell CNN his name is Rolando Sarraff Trujillo
He was released along with Alan Gross, in exchange for three convicted Cuban spies
Sarraff, a Cuban national, spent two decades in prison

(CNN) -- Upon his release from prison, he was described by President Barack Obama as "one of the most important intelligence agents that the United States has ever had in Cuba."

Yet very little is known about the man.

U.S. officials have refused to release the spy"s name, but sources inside the government and out tell CNN his name is Rolando Sarraff Trujillo.

Sarraff, a Cuban national, was part of a historic deal reached this week between the United States and Cuba. He spent two decades in prison.

He was released along with Alan Gross, an American subcontractor held for five years, in exchange for three convicted Cuban spies.

"This man -- whose sacrifice has been known to only a few -- provided America with the information that led us to arrest the network of Cuban agents that included the men transferred to Cuba today as well as other spies in the United States," Obama said Wednesday.

Who was released?

Sarraff, now in his early 50s, was discovered and convicted of espionage in Cuba in 1995.

According to the office of the director of national intelligence, he provided the U.S. government with information that "was instrumental in the identification and disruption of several Cuban intelligence operatives in the United States and ultimately led to ... successful federal espionage prosecutions."

Specifically, the U.S. intelligence office tied Sarraff to the conviction of one-time Defense Intelligence Agency senior analyst Ana Belen Montes, who was sentenced to 25 years after pleading guilty of spying for the Cuban government in 2002.

Why the Cuba deal happened now

He"s also tied to the case of ex-State Department official Walter Kendall Myers and his wife, Gwendolyn, who pleaded guilty in 2009 for illegally aiding the Cuban government for decades.

Sarraff played a role in helping federal authorities go after the Florida-based Wasp Network, including members of the Cuban Five. Three of those five were released this week as part of the deal.

"Securing his release from prison after 20 years -- in a swap for three of the Cuban spies he helped put behind bars -- is fitting closure to this Cold World chapter of U.S.-Cuban relations," the DNI office said.