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‘Hardhat Wombat’ is a puzzle game focused on a marsupial’s unique trait

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

George Fan, the mastermind behind “Plants vs. Zombies,” has a mission. He wants the world to know the magic behind every wombat. The Australian marsupials aren’t only cute, they’re the only species known to have cube-shaped poop.Armed with this knowledge, he along with his friend Andy Hull incorporated that fact into a PC puzzle game called “Hardhat Wombat.” The idea for this mix of platforming, construction and puzzle-solving came out of a Ludum Dare game jam in 2013 based on the theme of 10 seconds.Fan built a game where players are in the role of a construction worker, who has to build structures but every 10 seconds, the protagonist had to take a lunch break or he’d perish. It wasn’t the best idea and the time limit interfered with a solid idea, so he let it sit for nearly a decade.AN IDEA BROUGHT BACK TO LIFEThe idea was resurrected when he brought up the idea of working on a game together with Hull, who needed a change after work...

Cursive returned to California school curriculum by new law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

Cursive handwriting is again part of the California elementary school curriculum under a bill signed into law this month.Assembly Bill 446, sponsored by Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-La Palma), amends the education code for grades 1 to 6 to specify that cursive will be taught “in the appropriate grade levels.”Related ArticlesEducation | How to talk to kids about conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war Education | A third of schools don’t have a nurse. Here’s why that’s a problem Education | Saratoga students qualify for National Speech and Debate Tournament Education | County honors Saratoga, Los Gatos teachers at annual awards event Education | Cupertino high school district seeks public input on trustee areas The legislation adds California to a list of 18 states that require cursive in the curriculum of public schools.Instruction in cursive dropped off sharply around 2010, with the enactment of the Co...

100-plus homes are being eyed on north San Jose office building site

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

SAN JOSE — A big housing development is being eyed at an office site in north San Jose, fresh signs of the shifting nature of the area’s real estate sector in a post-coronavirus economy.A veteran San Jose real estate firm has floated a preliminary proposal to build more than 100 residences at the corner of North First Street and Trimble Road in San Jose, documents on file with city planners show.Location of of a proposed residential development at 2611 and 2635 North First Street near Trimble Road in north San Jose, shown within the outline. Boundaries are approximate. (Google Maps)Valley Oak Partners wants to build townhomes on a 4.9-acre parcel with addresses of 2611 and 2635 North First Street in San Jose, according to the city planning files.A 107-unit development consisting of townhouses would be built at that site, the city files show. The plans were filed as a preliminary proposal to gauge the reaction of local residents, political leaders and San Jose planne...

Why road trips can make you exhausted just by sitting still

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

By William Emond | CNNTravel sickness isn’t just hearsay. Nearly a third of people experience motion sickness – and to this day we don’t exactly know what causes it. The prevailing theory suggests it is triggered by a poor perception of movement.Departure to and return from summer vacations seem moments especially prone to the stealthy advances of this sickness. We (or at least those of us inclined to travel sickness) are more often ill during these particular journeys than during our normal comings and goings.Let’s note too that lots of travelers feel a sense of fatigue, drowsiness, apathy or lack of energy without having done any particularly exhausting activity. These are in fact symptoms of mild motion sickness, which show that many more people are affected by the condition than you’d think.Why this apparent heightened susceptibility during vacation trips? There are many reasons. Compared to normal travel, these journeys feature certain conditions, all with the potential to incr...

SF Giants poach Bob Melvin from Padres to become next manager: report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

Looking for a steady hand to stabilize their franchise, the San Francisco Giants will reportedly hire Bob Melvin, poaching the soon-to-be 62-year-old Menlo Park native from the San Diego Padres to become the 17th manager in the club’s West Coast history.The Athletic was first to report the news, which hasn’t been formally announced by the club.The process has moved quickly since the Padres granted the Giants permission to speak to Melvin last week. According to The Athletic, Melvin, who had one year left on his contract in San Diego, was given assurances that he would be a serious candidate upon accepting the interview and did nothing to dissuade the Giants from hiring him in a lightning round of interviews over the past 48 hours.After firing Gabe Kapler with three games left in the season, the Giants’ search seemed to hinge on San Diego granting permission to speak to Melvin. He was in the opposite dugout for Kapler’s 543rd and final game in San Francisco an...

'I'm not OK': Moments before off-duty pilot allegedly tried to bring down plane revealed in court docs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- An off-duty pilot who allegedly tried to bring down a commercial flight from Everett, Washington to San Francisco Sunday evening engaged in casual conversation prior to "losing it," according to court documents. Documents recount the on-duty pilots who were flying Horizon Airlines Flight 2059 said that during the initial stages of the flight, "there was zero indication of anything wrong" with Joseph Emerson.Emerson, a Pleasant Hill resident and a commercial pilot with Alaska Airlines, is accused of reaching up and grabbing the plane's red fire handles and pulling them down.While sitting in the cockpit's jump seat, Emerson reportedly said, "I'm not okay," before grabbing the handles and pulling them down. Pulling the handles activated the plane's fire suppression system which shuts off fuel to the engine, according to court documents. Cruise driverless taxi and testing permits suspended by DMV It's common for off-duty pilots to ride in the jump seat on their...

Crow Canyon Road reopens following gas line break

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

(KRON) -- Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon is back open in both directions from Barbados Drive to Alcosta Boulevard following to a 2-inch gas line break, according to the City of San Ramon.According to Jenn Starnes, a public information officer, the gas leak is situated just north of Crow Canyon Road on El Capitan. "There is no need for evacuations, but individuals within a few hundred feet of Crow Canyon Road and El Capitan should remain indoors," said Starnes. San Ramon police officers are on the scene, officials said, and the Pacific Gas and Electric company is en route. Authorities are advising motorists to use alternative routes.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

14-year-old dog stolen at gunpoint in DC reunited with owner

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

A picture of the 14-year-old West Highland Terrier. (Courtesy DC Police) A picture of the 14-year-old West Highland Terrier. (Courtesy DC Police) A D.C. woman has been reunited with her 14-year-old dog, Max, who was stolen at gunpoint last weekend in Northeast.Zaleena Ahmed of Northeast D.C. told WTOP that Max was found on Tuesday morning.The West Highland Terrier, who suffers from health issues, was stolen while on a walk with Ahmed nearby her Fort Totten home in the 300 block of Galloway Street on Saturday night.A gunman demanded the dog and when Ahmed resisted, D.C. police said she was pistol-whipped by the suspect.The suspect took Max and fled in an “awaiting vehicle,” according to police.It isn...

Surprise starter Alexis Sánchez sets Inter on way to 2-1 victory over Salzburg in Champions League

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

Surprise starter Alexis Sánchez set Inter Milan on its way to a 2-1 victory over Salzburg on Tuesday to boost the Nerazzurri’s chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages.Sánchez scored in the 19th minute for the veteran forward’s first goal since returning to the club in the offseason. Oscar Gloukh briefly leveled for Salzburg but Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot in the 64th minute.That sent Inter provisionally atop Group C, three points clear of Real Sociedad, which was playing Benfica later. Salzburg is four points behind Inter.Coach Simone Inzaghi surprisingly dropped Marcus Thuram — who has been a revelation this season — to the bench in favor of Sánchez.It was a rare opportunity for the Chile forward, who had only started one of Inter’s 10 previous matches this season, and he proved it was the right decision when he gave the Nerazzurri the lead.Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s pass was probably meant for Davide Frattesi — who was also...

Bob Melvin is leaving the San Diego Padres to manage the San Francisco Giants, AP sources say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have hired manager Bob Melvin away from the division rival San Diego Padres, three people with direct knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the move publicly. Melvin will be returning to the Bay Area where he grew up, played for the Giants and then managed the Oakland Athletics from 2011-21. An introductory news conference is expected Wednesday.Melvin had one year left on his contract with San Diego but leaves amid reports of friction with general manager A.J. Preller. Melvin managed the Padres for two seasons, reaching the 2022 NL Championship Series but then missing the playoffs this season with a $258 million payroll, the third-highest in the majors.___AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed to this report.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBSource